A MyDellMini forum member by the name of Rob is the man responsible for this elegant mod, turning his Del Vostro A9 (business version of the Mini 9) into a Windows 7 touchscreen with a 16GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, 1GB of RAM and an Intel Atom N270 processor. Rob is also planning to add an accelerometer to automatically adjust the screen orientation and a small USB fan to help keep the temperature down. If you think you are up to doing a similar conversion, Rob has laid out details of the build in his forum post. [MyDellMini via Slashgear]

The Archos 5 improves on some of the complaints we had about the previous Archos 5. Archos has upped the storage with loads of options—it now comes with flash (8GB or 32GB) or an HDD (160GB to 500GB). The flash version's way thinner, at .4-inches. The metal backing felt nice in my hand.

But the real changes are to the operating system: It's using Android, with Archos' customer interface built on top, like the Super Widget, a series of multimedia shortcuts on the main Android screen. Beyond that you'll find the usual Android drawer full of applications, since Archos is throwing in a few preloaded.

Multimedia is the Archos 5 Internet Tablet's bread and butter. Its Texas Instruments ARM Cortex A8 plays back 720p video smoothly and you can buy a dock to output it to a larger display. It is a sweet device for storing video, photos and music. Archos has always been able to do that really well. It also has a 3D map software program for GPS navigation.

Too bad it falls down on actually being an internet tablet: It runs on Wi-Fi using Android's built-in browser, but it won't automatically load full web pages—it defaults to mobile versions. Yes, you can go to Flash websites like NYTimes.com and others but you have to make adjustments to the browser, just like you have to on a Android phone. The tablet does not support full Flash yet (only Flash Lite), which means no streaming video. (Even though HTC managed to build Flash support into the Hero.) Archos is instead waiting until there is Flash 10 support from Adobe.

It might sound spoiled, but on a device that is meant for the internet I want to be able to get streaming video and full Flash websites. I don't want the broken internet on a standalone device. What Archos does do is throw in a bunch of Android apps (including some paid apps). Apps are great, but sometimes you want to just visit a site and not have to page around or adjust the settings. To its credit, Archos says they will be updating soon when Flash 10 is available for download. (Which they tell us will be in December, not than the predicted October). If you are buying the tablet for internet I'd wait until then or at least plan to upgrade, however as a PMP Archos is still more than solid. [Archos]

The new report gets more specific than previous rumors by breaking down which Taiwanese component manufacturers will handle production. They include current iPhone screen-maker, Wintek (display), and Dynapack (said to be gearing up to produce more than 300,000 batteries a month).

The supply chain is expected to start delivery to Apple in December.

Playing hypotheticals: Are you excited enough for a tablet that you'd pay that much money for no keyboard? [Taiwan Economic News via Tabletage via Engadget]

The 0.63-inch thin Archos 9 feels pretty sturdy, but one major complaint is that it feels heavy. Archos says it only weighs 1.2 pounds, but something about the balance is wrong, because it felt heavier than that in my hands. The hardware is pretty simple—a 9-inch resistive touchscreen (no multitouch) with a few surrounding physical buttons.

There is a Ctrl+Alt+Delete button and a keyboard trigger on the right, the latter which quickly launches Win 7's finger-friendly keyboard. (Archos will also market a USB keyboard along with a case.) If you don't like using your finger on the screen, there is a tiny optical trackpad on the right and two mouse buttons on the left side. The touchscreen is pretty responsive, and there is a stylus on the back, so I don't see the need to really reach for the bitty mouse. I've always found optical trackpad annoying as hell.

The Archos 9 comes with Windows 7 Starter (remember that means no wallpaper changing or Aero) and its 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z515 processor and 1GB of RAM run it well. Watching a 720p Windows Media clip was decent, and when I fired up Wi-Fi and launched a browser, I was able to watch some streaming Hulu videos.

It only has 60GB of storage space, which could get cramped if you plan on keeping loads of video on it but doesn't seem like a deal breaker to me. My biggest worry is battery life. It has a 4-cell battery (which is actually swappable) but I am guessing it won't get more than 3 hours of juice.

I'll withhold final judgment until the full review. I am in search of a tablet like this for sitting back on the couch and surfing. The Archos could be it—though $500 is a bit much—but I've also still got my fingers crossed for a thinner and lighter Apple one.

The display achieves a brightness of 1,100 nit with a 120-degree viewing angle, meaning that it should be clear even under direct sunlight. Inside the aluminum chassis, the 8404 also includes an Intel Atom processor, non-rotating compact flash drive and a hot-swappable battery. On a construction site the 8404 could be ideal, but I wouldn't expect any bargains here when the sticker price is revealed. [Hot Hardware via Ubergizmo]

In order for the system to work, a receiver must be placed on top of the screen to capture pen movements, but the result is a decent-sized screen for your doodles. That sounds like a pretty handy device for around $104. [Hanwha via Akihabara News]

The DDR3 means that you can upgrade it to have 5GB of memory, pretty awesome for a notebook. It also comes with a 1.2 or 1.4 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, and 80/120 GB HDD or 64 GB SSD options. [Engadget and Dell Japan]

This wasn't the first—Dell's Latitude XT took that honor—but HP had moved further ahead with touch interface design, and could have really knocked this out of the park. But the touch interface has two problems, according to Laptop's review: The software isn't as good as it could be, and the screen itself isn't responsive enough.

The MediaSmart software was half-baked. It loaded slowly and when it was running, there was no easy way to toggle between music, photo and video, because they're all separate applications. Thankfully the touch controls worked in non-HP apps such as IE and Word. And while fun gestures like forming the McDonald's arches launched the MediaSmart browser, intuitive gestures like two-fingered scrolling (found on the Dell Latitude XT) were not enabled here.

The responsiveness of the panel was also a concern, though this might have been less to do with the touchscreen itself and more to do with the power of the system. Though Laptop got sent a high-end build, it seems to have struggled with basic Windows functionality. With regard to touchscreen peformance, Laptop has a few examples like this one:

When we used two fingers to zoom in and out of Web pages in Internet Explorer 8, the page looked jerky while resizing, and the response was delayed.

We may check this thing out ourselves, at some point, but Laptop's review doesn't really make me so thrilled about the prospect. That's right folks, you may have to wait a little longer for a decent reason to put your oily, smudgy fingerprints all over your computer screen. [Laptop]

Axiotron Launches Modservice, New MacBook-to-Modbook Conversion Service

Innovative service enables customers to transform their existing Apple MacBook into an Axiotron Modbook.

El Segundo, CA (PRWEB) October 28, 2008 — Axiotron® today launched Axiotron Modservice™, a one-of-a-kind service exclusively performed by Axiotron Authorized Service Providers that enables Apple® MacBook® owners to transform their existing computer into an Axiotron Modbook® complete tablet Mac® solution. Order requests for Axiotron Modservice can be placed beginning today at 10 a.m. PDT at http://www.axiotron.com/modservice.

Customers taking advantage of Axiotron Modservice can get a new, full-featured Modbook for as low as $1,299.

The award-winning Modbook's state-of-the-art pen-based digitizer technology gives users drawing and writing functionality along with the ability to manipulate the Mac OS® X operating system environment without a keyboard or mouse. Through Axiotron Modservice, almost any Intel® Core™ 2 Duo-based Apple MacBook computer can be transformed into an Axiotron Modbook.

"Customers have been requesting a program like our Modservice," said Andreas E. Haas, Axiotron's CEO. "There is something intrinsically appealing about the idea of taking your computer and turning it into a new and exciting product like the Modbook."

How to Place an Order Request:

Customers can enter an order request for Axiotron Modservice at http://www.axiotron.com/modservice beginning today at 10 a.m. PDT. No payment is necessary to place an order request. Customers must provide contact information and their Apple MacBook serial number. The website has information to help customers determine if their MacBook is eligible for conversion. Most non-aluminum Intel® Core™ 2 Duo-based MacBooks are eligible.

Order requests are taken on a first come, first served basis. The first Axiotron Modservice conversions will be performed in late November.

How Modservice Works:

In the coming weeks Axiotron will announce an expansion of its U.S. service and support network with the addition of Axiotron Authorized Service Providers who have been trained to be the exclusive providers of Modservice.

Axiotron will forward Modservice order requests to the Axiotron Authorized Service Provider closest to the customer that has openings available to perform the service. This designated service provider will contact customers to verify eligibility of their MacBook, arrange payment and set a service performance date. Customers can also request upgrades to their MacBook base system such as more memory and larger hard drives. Customers with MacBooks running Mac OS X version 10.4 ("Tiger") or earlier will be required to purchase an operating system license for Mac OS X version 10.5 ("Leopard").

Customers are responsible for transporting or shipping their Apple MacBook to their designated service provider, who will provide any necessary shipping instructions. A charge applies for outbound shipping of the completed Modbook if required. Since Axiotron Authorized Service Providers have retail locations, in-store drop-off and pick-up are available.

Every Axiotron Modbook comes with a one-year limited hardware warranty that applies to the Modbook's Axiotron components. Additional warranty options for Modservice will be announced soon.

For more information about Axiotron Modservice and to initiate an order request for the service, customers can visit http://www.axiotron.com/modservice.

About Axiotron:

A high-tech solution hardware manufacturing company and an Apple Premier Developer, Axiotron produces the Modbook, the one and only tablet Mac solution. Following its unique vision of Customizing Your World™, Axiotron is dedicated to becoming a leading high-tech innovator through the conception and development of intriguing digital lifestyle products. In addition, Axiotron offers its product development expertise to companies in need of custom hardware solutions. Founded in January 2005, Axiotron is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: AXO) in Toronto, Canada, with headquarters in El Segundo, California.

Axiotron, Modbook, Modservice and Customizing Your World are trademarks or registered trademarks of Axiotron, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Apple, Mac, Mac OS and MacBook are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Intel and Intel Core are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

This news release is based on current expectations and contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and the respective actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties about Axiotron's business are more fully discussed in Axiotron's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at SEDAR. Axiotron assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements.

###

Axiotron Corp.

Mark Perlstein

(310) 426-2674

The F5's magnesium frame, outdoor friendly display, resistance to dust and moisture and an easy-to-clean surface add to the semi-ruggedness of this Tablet PC. At 3lbs., it houses an HDD or an optional 32GB solid-state drive, a 2-megapixel camera, and, like its bright-red ancestor, a built-in mono speaker. There's no optical disc drive, though, as often is the case with these smaller tablets. It'll be priced from $2700 to $4000, not including the sweet dock, external keyboard or mounting hardware for the dashboard of your intergalactic space saucer emergency vehicle. [Motion Computing]

Jesus Diaz: Are you working with other big brands on this? And I mean BIG (wink wink nudge nudge)...
Abigail Solomon: Yes, N-Trig is in discussions with other leading brands, but we are not in a position to discuss who.

JD: What kind of companies?
AS: Well, not only notebook makers. N-Trig's technology is not limited just to notebook PCs. Think gaming, handhelds, medical devices, TVs, computer screens... anything with a screen.

JD: How does this technology compare to Wacom's pressure sensitive displays, which seems like the current leader? I know theirs is not capacitive touch, but I thought their pen technology was unmatched.
AS: N-Trig's sensor materials are combined with sophisticated software algorithms which enable true digital touch and can be easily be integrated and supports any type of LCD or size.

JD: But does your pen require a battery?
AS: The pen is an electrostatic pen, so no, it doesn't require a battery. The stylus is light, ergonomic and customizable and requires no internal power source. It has an integral sensor that changes transmission frequency in accordance with tip pressure, which has a more natural, hassle-free and life-like pen experience. It also features right-click and eraser capabilities.

JD: How many pressure levels does it support?
AS: It currently supports 256 pressure levels, since it is the standard for mobile computing devices. For other types of devices we may enable more pressure levels, as it may be required by each device standard. [By comparison, Wacom display technology supports 1,024 levels, plus tilting and bearing, but no finger touch.]

JD: Does it support tilting and bearing like the Wacoms?
AS: No, the pen does not support tilting and bearing since it isn't required by the operating system. However, in terms of touch performance DuoSense introduces outstanding accuracy and full compatibility with Microsoft Vista requirements and features.

JD: How does the dual input work, having to cope with the hand touching the surface while using the pen?
AS: We have a feature called "intelligent digital palm rejection," which enables the user to switch seamlessly between the pen and the touch functionality. The DuoSense displays knows when you are using the pen or expecting it to react to your finger input.

As you can see, this technology is completely new and totally different from what current tablet manufacturers have in the market now. So new in fact that when we first talked with N-Trig back in October, they were still in the process of ramping up manufacturing and couldn't even discuss the technology in detail. The Israeli company, which has offices in Tel Aviv, Taiwan and Austin, had Dell lined up at the time, as well as other undisclosed OEMs.

The ability to have electrostastic, battery-free pen input with 256 levels of pressure and being able to seamlessly switch from pen to hand back to pen without a hitch is quite unique, to the point of justifying a price much higher than that of regular pen-based devices.

More importantly, it feels natural and simple. That simplicity is what got me thinking that, if the rumors and patents hold any water, a company like Apple would have to use DuoSense or something equivalent to it, if it exists. It's one of those things that Steve Jobs would set as a requirement for any portable with multitouch and ink (pen writing) capability, the latter already supported in Mac OS X.

Right now, the only game in town is Dell, and even then, the new Latitude XT doesn't have multitouch support—yet. There has been some speculation about why the Dell doesn't support multitouch at this point, with some people blaming Vista for the lack. While it's true that—thanks to system-wide programming interfaces—future multitouch support in Vista will make things easier for any program to support the capabilities of the DuoSense, we're told, "Vista is not the issue."

According to N-Trig, "All it takes is a firmware upgrade and it's ready to go," like the pressure levels. Why not throw it all in, then? At this point, N-Trig offered up the obligatory "This is all we are allowed to say at this time," which makes us speculate that it was a strategic decision due to the lack of multitouch-enabled apps. Surely all this secrecy must have a very good reason.

We will have to wait and see who's the next in adopting DuoSense. Until then, here's a great demo to drool over:[N-Trig]

- Single or dual-core Intel ULV CPUs (with integrated graphics)
- LED-backlit WXGA 1280 x 800 display option - Outdoor viewing WXGA 1280 x 800 display option
- Pen and touch support (digitizer and touchscreen)
- (3) USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet (duh), 1394, VGA out
- Wi-Fi options up to 802.11n, optional Bluetooth
- Optional 3G (HSDPA, EV-DO Rev. A)
- ExpressCard slot, optional Smart Card slot, fingerprint reader

The case is magnesium alloy, and it's built so that dust, sand, rain and sub-zero temperatures won't affect it at all. It's quite well featured too, with Intel Core 2 Duo, 3G, Bluetooth and GPRS as well as a claimed six-hour battery life. The price hasn't been released, but is guaranteed to be big. [T3]

Kohjinsha has added touch capabilities to the 7" 800 x 480 screen on its Japan-only SA1F00 UMPC tablet computer, letting you massage your way through Windows XP Home even when it's running as slow as Keanu Reeves putting frozen Heinz Ketchup on a bullet-time burger.

That's because rather than jumping on the Ultra Mobile 2007 platform bandwagon with their new model, they just decided to keep the same 500 MHz AMD Geode LX800 processor. At least they painted it KITT black, probably hoping that the new color will add some TurboBoost to it (replacing XP for Linux would have achieved the same without the need for leather pants). In fact, all the specs remain the same, with 40GB HD, 2 USB 2.0 ports, SD, MMC and Compact Flash slots, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. All except the extra 30 grams that push its fighting weight up to 990 grams (2.18 pounds). One pic of the white model, its release dates and prices are after the jump.

The Kohjinsha SA1F00W also has the same features, and both are priced at $840 (this goes up to around $1100 for the 100GB hard drive.) Only the Japanese will get their digits over this on the 3rd of May, so add some extra import dollars if you are planning to get one using Dynamism and the rest of the usual suspects. – Jesus Diaz

The manufacture human building, 7 type notes PC which load touch panel [Impress PC Watch]

The 10.4-inch ST5111 and the 12.1-inch ST5112 both pack a Core Duo ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor and can house up to 4GB of memory and a 100GB SATA drive. All the usual connections are included (USB, FireWire, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet) along with some added security features like a fingerprint reader and a shock sensor utility that parks your HDD should your slate take a nose dive.

Both models weigh under 4 pounds and sound very promising spec-wise, but all that power won't come cheap. The entry level config will start at $2,199. That's kind of a lot for a machine that looks like a clipboard. – Louis Ramirez

Fujitsu Stylistic ST5100 [via Daily Tech]

In their very lengthy dissertation (which includes 5 videos) Notebook Review's Andrew Baxter gushes over the new Tablet. Among the things he praises are the system's new 2.5-inch drive (which now runs at 7,200rpm) and the Tablet's 5-hour battery life (which was achieved using an 8 cell battery). Baxter also demos the Tablet's MultiTouch feature, which lets you use the your digits as an input device. The idea of giving your laptop the finger may seem inviting, but as Baxter points out, using the pen is much easier. Another cool feature is Active Rotate, which automatically rotates the screen so that it's never misaligned when the Tablet is moved.

A couple of things to note. The $1,700 X60 has no built-in optical drive and the mono speaker is located on the bottom of the Tablet, which I'm sure will make for some nice muffled audio. So despite the solid show, our stance on Tablets remains the same, but should we ever call for one, this is where we'd put our money. – Louis Ramirez

Lenovo ThinkPad X60t [via Notebook Review]