Comments on: Apple iPad: a skeptic’s review

By: Chris Davies

Chris Davies — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:57:00 +0000

Yes, the tc1100 uses an active digitiser with a special Wacom stylus – it will only respond to that stylus, not palms, fingers or anything else. The downside is that you can’t use your fingers to touch icons, it has to be the included stylus.

Some more recent tablet PCs have dual-mode screens, that work both as a multitouch finger display as on the iPad and as an active digitiser whenever the special stylus comes near. In the latter case, the touchscreen is turned off and only the digitiser used, so you can rest your hand on the screen.

Unfortunately the tc1100 is too old for that sort of tech; it’s worth remembering that it’s a considerably older machine now and the specs won’t be anywhere near as impressive as a current notebook. Still, the relatively low prices of them second hand reflects that.

By: mindy108

mindy108 — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:54:30 +0000

Chris,

I’m looking at purchasing a used tablet PC. Can you tell me if the TC1100 HP lets you write easily on screen? Can you comfortably place your palm on the screen without it registering?

The only thing I don’t like about the iPad is that your palm also a “touch”.

Thanks,
Mindy

By: University of Pi

University of Pi — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:22:25 +0000

or a netbook

By: Raideen

Raideen — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:35:29 +0000

at the point you need a bag, camera and a keyboard, wouldn’t an old school laptop not be a better choice? So much for redefining the way we use a computer. /facepalm

By: turn_self_off

turn_self_off — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:02:52 +0000

as the camera kit have not yet launched, its hard to judge what kind of limitations there may be on the use of the usb port.

if they allow a hub to be attached, and usb keyboards, fine, but if they limit it to some kind of camera protocol, or maybe tries to detect of the inserted device is usb stick, and not a camera, forget it. Heck, it may be that only the album app can be used to manage files stored on the inserted devices. This based on there so far being no general file management (just observe the iwork apps).

By: turn_self_off

turn_self_off — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:59:43 +0000

ah, the tc1100. That and one of the early acer tablets (the screen was held with a dual hinged arm, rather then a rotating joint like they all use today) had interesting design solutions.

to bad they all settled on the rotating hinge, so that it was easier to just order a bunch of the same basic design with different trim from some chinese factory.

By: Victor Losse

Victor Losse — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:13:31 +0000

Additionally if you need a keyboard then any Bluetooth keyboard can be connected you don’t have to buy Apple’s Keyboard Dock.

By: Victor Losse

Victor Losse — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:07:44 +0000

I agree with a great many things you’ve said in your review I have found myself marveling at the same things while using my iPad. However I really wish reviewers would take into account some of the Apple accessories and at least make mention of them. For example your problems with the metal back and it feeling slippery are solved if you simply pair it with the intended Apple case. Not to mention it give you a nice way to protect the screen and display the IPad vertically. I also would have mentioned the camera kit that gives you a USB port and SD Card slot.

By: Chris Davies

Chris Davies — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:38:30 +0000

Ah, thanks for catching that. Too many “multi” prefixes!

By: Daniel Bader

Daniel Bader — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:36:34 +0000

“Some of this will be addressed by iPhone OS 4.0, which will bring with it multitouch support”

Multitasking, not multitouch.

But otherwise, I agree with you on most things in the article. I am so used to the Android notification bar alerting me when I have a new tweet, I am resentful every time one of those stupid popup notifications comes on, because I am torn between replying then and there (which I could easily do on Android with Quick Reply) or ignoring it, and likely forgetting it.