Former Apple engineer, Joshua A. Strickon (whose name is on several Apple multi-touch patents) told the paper it couldn't be built because the battery and graphics sucked, and the parts themselves cost $500 bucks.

But technology has come along way, Apple's iTunes could be the next big bookstore, the Newton's developer has been rehired, and Apple Tablet rumors have reached a fever pitch.

As another former Apple executive, who couldn't be named due to Apple's secrecy policies, told the Times:

"I can imagine something like the iPhone with a much bigger screen being a gorgeous device with great capacity, but I don't know where I would fit that into my life. Those are the debates that have been happening inside Apple for quite some time."

The paper's write-up is a good recap of all the buzz circulating right now; definitely worth a read (and not just because they quote our own Mr. Lam). [New York Times]

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]

Apple fans are an expectant bunch, and one thing or another has gotten their hopes up nearly every year since the death of the Newton. But more recent—and especially post-iPhone—tablet rumors have become so intense, varied and inconsistent that it's hard to come away with a coherent picture of what to expect. Here's what we've got, and what it means.

Patents
Patent applications have kindled more bizarre Apple rumors than I can count, but there has been an undeniable cluster of activity around tablet-oriented tech as of late.

The earliest seeds of the current tablet frenzy can be traced back to 2004, when Apple filed for a European design trademark on a device that looked like "an iBook screen minus the body of the computer." It was much larger than what people are expecting now, but in some ways the design prefigured the aesthetic of the next few generations of iMac, and even the iPhone.

Skip forward to 2006, when Apple filed for a patent for an onscreen keyboard, gesture recognition and a virtual scroll wheel. Again, some of these technologies would find their way into the iPhone before too long, but the application contained a telling mockup of a tablet-esque product, smaller than the 2004 version, but which fit most of its description.

A flurry of offhand "tablet" shout-outs in tangentially related patents followed, but none carried much weight. It wasn't until August of '08 that something truly momentous passed in front of the weary eyes of a Patent Office employee: A huge, generously illustrated filing describing how OS X could be adapted to touch input. In it were descriptions of iPhone-like interface element magnification, a full-sized multitouch onscreen keyboard, and finally, plenty of drawings of a tablet device being prodded by inexplicably troll-like horror-fingers (shown at left). A hardware patent—kind of like the 2004 tablet patent—surfaced a few months later, outlining a keyboardless device not unlike the one sketched previously.

In a nutshell, even though an Apple touchscreen tablet doesn't yet exist, your lawyer would probably still advise you against trying to knock one off.

Rumors (and Facts)
Companies file patents for all kind of reasons, and when you're as big as Apple plenty of them go unused. They only provide context for other juicier rumors—employee leaks, coded statements from company leadership, hardware orders processed through three layers of Taiwanese press—that can really grow legs. Apple tablet rumors have short lifespans—they either come true within a reasonable timeframe or they fizzle out. Point is, right now there's a glut of them.

The current groundswell of wild speculation harks back to late 2007, when AppleInsider conjured a rumor that Apple was working on a slightly larger version of the iPhone. This was the first time in a while that anyone had talked about such a product, and it was exciting: Jesus mocked up a beautiful version himself, which led to a massively popular Photoshop contest.

In 2008, a loose-lipped German Intel executive let slip that Apple may be working on an Atom-based unit, which he referred to as a "version of the iPhone." This odd outburst was quickly minimized, but was soon followed by a full-throated alert from MacDailyNews that an OS X-equipped MacBook Touch would drop by October.

Next came a NYT report in October that a "Macbook Nano or iPhone Slate" device had been discovered in the traffic logs of a major search engine. As was the tendency those days, people honed in on the possibility of a Mac netbook, to which Steve Jobs cryptically replied that Apple would "wait and see" how sales held up, and that in the event that they enter the ultraportable market, they've "got some pretty interesting ideas..." Oh good gracious, what could that mean?

This is when things really picked up. TechCrunch stuck their necks out too, saying that they'd talked to "three different sources" close to Apple, all of whom confirmed an iPod Touch-like device. This means—counter to MacDailyNews' talk of a fully operational tablet computer—that it would run a stripped down mobile OS X like the one in the iPhone.

Just a few months ago, something resembling hard evidence emerged: The Commercial Times, Dow Jones news wire and Reuters all reported that Apple had ordered 9.7" multitouch panels from Wintek. These would be the displays in a device set for a Q3 release. Shortly after, the WSJ reminded us that Steve Jobs was still pulling all the strings at Apple, and went out on a limb to say that he was working on something:

People privy to the company's strategy say Apple is working on new iPhone models and a portable device that is smaller than its current laptop computers but bigger than the iPhone or iPod Touch.

BusinessWeek then put on their rumor-blog hat too, recently corroborated these rumors with sourced rumors of their own, fingering Verizon as a potential carrier for a 3G-enabled "Media Pad". They were even so bold as to peg the summer of '09 as a possible release date.

Deja Vu?
Something striking about these rumors is how conceptually similar they are to rumors from 7 or 8 years ago. This is from a 2002 eWeek "hunch" post, the last time that Mac tablets seemed "inevitable", mostly on account of Apple's rival Microsoft, and its over-hyped promotion of all things tablety:

This pre-release hardware combines a next-generation, low-power Motorola PowerPC chip and formidable screen real estate into a typically impressive Apple industrial design. The hardware is lightweight and slender, and the battery life skunks comparable Tablet PCs...the software is homegrown, pairing Mac OS X with the company's impressive handwriting-recognition technology

The writer, Matthew Rothenberg, later specified:

[It's a] device that superficially resembles a large iPod with an 8-inch diagonal screen, lacks a keyboard, packs USB and FireWire ports and runs Mac OS X along with a variety of multimedia goodies

A large screen that serves as the primary input device, a minimalist design, a proprietary Apple input system and better-than-average battery life? That describes the theoretical devices of 2009 nearly as well as it does those of 2002. Anyway.

The Most Compelling Evidence
Hidden somewhere amidst all the patent-filing and reputation-staking are some legitimately convincing pieces of information:

• Steady allegatons of Apple's long, storied interest in tablets—buoyed by occasional patent filings—count for something, as does their consistent cynicism about netbooks (the only real alternative to tablets in the ultramobile computing space).
• The late 2008 patent app for a multitouch tablet interface is thorough, practical, timely and contains a plausible (if basic) mockup.
• The Wintek 9.7" panel order is the closest thing to hard evidence that we've got. It's a good bet that Apple has them, or will soon, and that they're putting them to use—but not a sure one.
• That the device has no keyboard, is moderately sized, and that it's media-centric are all ideas shared by those who've separately floated sourced tablet rumors (TechCrunch, BusinessWeek, MacNewDaily).

It looks like there's a good chance a tablet is on its way. Separate rumors point to similar launch dates: Some say Q3, some say June, but they all could be talking about the same date, or at least the same swath of time.

What to expect as an OS is more difficult to divine from the above speculation, but common sense is instructive: iPhone OS wouldn't work on a larger device. It'd be more trouble than it's worth to reconfigure the core interface for a 10" screen, and all the thousands of third-party apps written with the iPhone's screen size and shape in mind would becoming all but useless. Barring some kind of app-in-a-window workaround—which doesn't sound very Apple-like—or an entirely new version of OS X—which doesn't seem necessary—desktop OS X with a modified shell, as shown in the 2008 interface patents, stands as the most likely candidate. It works pretty well on 9" netbooks as is, so a 10" screen with smart multitouch interface would make for a solid user experience.

Another common thread that runs through most of these rumors is the sense that this device would (or will) be a disruptive, industry-altering product, like the iPhone or iPod. But it's difficult to see exactly how it would be: Far from setting new standards for smartphones or revolutionizing the portable music player industry, an Apple tablet would be treading where many others have before. It will be smaller than older tablet PCs and lack the keyboard, but that's not worlds different, functionality-wise than MIDs and UMPCs like the OQO. It'd be thinner, wouldn't have a keyboard and would pack OS X, sure, but it might not be distinguishable enough from existing hardware to really shake things up.

On the other hand, the disruption could come from the way it is introduced. Wireless carriers are eager to expand revenue streams and keep people under contract, and many rumors and abstract executive comments focus around the idea that tablets—not just Apple's—will be inherently wireless devices, and they will be sold by carriers. That may seem far fetched now, since we're generally used to buying laptops without a service plan, but it could easily be the next revolution in wireless hardware.

There is plenty we don't know, and very little we can depend on. In the end, we have a screen size, a likely form-factor, an OS and a probable release window. Past that, the info is all chaff, and your guess as to how this thing will look—or if it will ever come out—is as good as ours. And guess you have—over the past few years everyone and their mom has mocked up an Apple Tablet. Here are our favorites from readers and industry insiders alike:

The dv5 has a 15.4" display, along with 4 USBs and an NVIDIA graphics card. Available this month, the minimum on this notebook is $700 for AMD, $900 for Intel.

The top-of-the-line dv7 has a 17" display, multi-channel audio with subwoofer, 4 USBs, ATI and NVIDIA graphics cards, and a hard drive up to 640GB. It'll start at $950 for AMD and $1230 for an Intel chip when it's out in July.

The Pavilions also have LightScribe laser etching for CD/DVD-Rs, and accelerometers inside that stop the hard drive of a falling laptop to prevent data loss. In fact, the only downside to the Pavilion series is that it runs Vista.

A docking station, the xb4, will also be available for the new Pavilion line for $250 in July. One great thing about the docking station is that USB drives will run directly from it.

Last but not least, HP is also introducing a new tablet PC. The tx2500z has a 12.1" display that rotates 180 , up to 320GB hard drive, a 5-in-1 card reader, and 3 USBs, among other features. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet.

HP Fuses Style and Entertainment in Next-generation Notebook Portfolio

BERLIN, June 10, 2008 - HP today unveiled six consumer notebook PC series that push the boundaries of innovation and aesthetics, embodying the company's blend of mobile computing and design expertise.
Announced at the company's Connecting Your World event, the entertainment-packed HP Pavilion "dv"-series notebooks is adorned with a sleek, liquid-metallic HP Imprint 2 surface design, "magic chrome" touch controls that appear at the touch of a finger, and intuitive, one-click access to high-quality TV,(1) photos, movies and music from nearly any location. The notebook series also features built-in HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection, which automatically stops the hard drive from spinning after it detects sudden movement, helping to prevent the loss of data.

Also new are three series in the Compaq Presario notebook PC line, which provide high value and attractive designs in an array of sizes and configurations. All HP consumer notebooks are also designed with protecting the environment in mind, with energy-efficient features and select materials for easier recycling. In fact, HP has set a goal to remove all mercury - a potentially hazardous substance commonly found in notebook screens - from its entire notebook line by the end of 2010.

In addition, HP announced accessories to personalize the mobile experience with multimedia docking stations, power adapters, extra capacity batteries, TV tuners,(1) remote controls, speakers, color-matched accessories and much more, enabling consumers to do more with their notebooks.(2)
"HP is creating notebook computers that captivate consumers by combining sleek and striking designs with immersive entertainment capabilities that make for a great user experience," said Kevin Frost, vice president and general manager, Consumer Notebooks, Personal Systems Group, HP. "As the No. 1 consumer notebook brand, our new lineup raises the bar even higher, with notebooks that are tailored for the ever-changing lifestyles of people who are on the go and need to stay connected."

HP Pavilion notebooks deliver exquisite design and powerful entertainment
HP Pavilion notebooks set a new standard in notebook design with unexpected innovations such as invisible "magic chrome" controls that light up and become fully interactive upon power up. Smooth lines, optional HP BrightView Infinity Widescreen flush-glass screens, along with color-matched keyboards and touch pads create a frameless, thin and elegant appearance.

The new HP Pavilion notebook series also offers consumers a choice of the latest AMD and Intel processors and a high-speed eSATA interface for backup to external storage drives. The series also introduces to consumers built-in HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection technology, which was previously available only in HP business-class notebooks. This technology automatically detects if a notebook has been dropped and, while the notebook is on its brief journey to the floor, automatically stops the hard drive from spinning, helping to prevent the loss of files and data.

Matching outer style with inner power, the new HP Pavilion series offer a broad range of features and sizes to match consumers' lifestyles.

The ENERGY STAR -qualified HP Pavilion dv4 Entertainment Notebook PC packs the latest technology into a 14.1-inch diagonal display. Already lightweight and power-efficient, an HP SmartBay enables the use of an included weight saver in place of the optical drive for even greater mobility. Entertainment-ready, the HP Pavilion dv4 offers a choice of integrated TV tuner(1) and Blu-ray(3) optical drive, delivering a portable high-definition(4) experience. Other options include broadband wireless(5) for those who wish to stay connected without a wireless hotspot, and a brighter, mercury-free LED display.(2)

For users seeking an ideal balance among mobility, performance and screen size, the HP Pavilion dv5 Entertainment Notebook PC delivers a mid-size, 15.4-inch diagonal display, exquisite design and powerful entertainment with optional discrete graphics from NVIDIA.

The HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment Notebook PC's 17-inch diagonal display and sleek design deliver powerful high-definition entertainment for TV,(1) photos, movies and music with full-size realism that makes it an ideal alternative to desktop PCs. The HP Pavilion dv7 brings together a rich set of standard features such as premium multi-channel audio and options such as subwoofer, Blu-ray optical drive, built-in TV tuner(1) and robust graphics from ATI and NVIDIA.(2)
Style made simple and affordable

Designed for those on the go, the versatile HP Compaq Presario notebook PC line includes a new industrial design and HP Imprint 2 surface finish, a range of optical drives, built-in wireless(6) technologies and high-quality audio, webcam and analog microphone capabilities.

The Compaq Presario CQ45 Series Notebook PC is a powerful system that pays equal attention to design and performance. The 14.1-inch diagonal display offers a built-in TV tuner,(1) optional Blu-ray and discrete graphics technology that bring together the paramount combination of consumer entertainment and notebook computing.

The Compaq Presario CQ40 and CQ50 Series Notebook PCs are 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch diagonal display notebooks, respectively. Versatile and affordable, the notebooks are built to travel, offering essential mobile and wireless technologies.
Personal accessories for the mobile lifestyle
HP accessories are loaded with innovative features to let users personalize their notebook experience.

The HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station combines the comfort of a standard notebook stand with the connectivity of a port replicator. Convenient and easy to use, the dock requires no software for set up and connectivity is achieved by a single cable that passes all signals, including USB, video, audio and power. For superb audio output, the dock includes speakers, a subwoofer and an auxiliary audio-in port to play music from MP3 players and other external devices.

HP Bluetooth Stereo Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation allow consumers to stream music wirelessly from a wide variety of audio sources, including MP3 players, notebooks and desktop PCs and CD players. Active Noise Cancellation reduces ambient noise and improves the listening experience and enhances audio quality.
Pricing and availability(7)

The HP Pavilion dv4t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $999 and will be available beginning later this month. The HP Pavilion dv4z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $799 and are expected to be available beginning in September.

Both the HP Pavilion dv5t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs, starting at $899, and the HP Pavilion dv5z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs, starting at $699, will be available later this month.

The HP Pavilion dv7t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $1,229 and will be available later this month, while the HP Pavilion dv7z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $949 and are expected to be available in July.

The Compaq Presario CQ45 and CQ40 Series Notebook PC availability and pricing varies by region.

Compaq Presario CQ50 Series Notebook PCs start at $499 and will be available later this month.

The HP Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones start at $149 and are available now. The HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station starts at $249 and is expected to be available in July.
Customers can shop for the new HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario notebook PCs by calling +1 888 999 4747, via chat, online or at retail outlets nationwide.

(1) Availability of signals limited by the strength and accessibility of the originating TV signal, location and other factors. Performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product.
(2) Sold separately or as an add-on features.
(3) Blu-ray is a new format containing new technologies. Certain discs, digital connections, compatibility and/or performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product. Flawless playback on all systems is not guaranteed. In order for some Blu-ray titles to play, they may require a DVI or HDMI digital connection and the display may require HDCP support. This Blu-ray drive does not support writing to ultra-high speed CDRW media (16X to 32X advertised performance). HD-DVD movies cannot be played on this notebook PC.
(4) High-definition content (for example, WMV HD files) is required to view high-definition images.
(5) Broadband technologies require separately purchased wireless data service contracts. Check with local service provider for coverage and availability.
(6) Wireless access point required and is not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited. Wireless Internet use requires separately purchased Internet service contract.
(7) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

This adds to past rumors of a mystery Apple device making use of Atom, though Schwaderer's supposed semantic choice calling it a "version of the iPhone" seems odd, given that Atom is designed more for UMPCs than traditional mobile devices. Also, too much bigger and it's not much of a phone-sized gadget anymore—more like a mini-tablet or as Jesus has called this particular phantasm, the Son of Newton. As always, we'll believe it when see it. [ZDNet.de via MacRumors]

Basically, the Triped combines the mouse, the touchpad, and the digitizer pen into one ergonomic device. That having been said, its main advantage over the traditional pen is in the area of text entry. According to the product page, the combination of mouse and pen functions, with improved document navigation would make it a better choice. Unfortunately, we won't know if these claims hold water until the device is picked up by a manufacturer—but something tells me that will probably happen fairly soon. [Simtrix via Stuff.co.nz]

The sorta interesting claim about the price itself is that it's only "a slight premium to our competition (emphasis on the word 'slight')," which is based on the math its "non-standard features" only carry a 13 percent premium over the competition. If you're still not convinced it's worth it, they're going to be following it up with more posts explaining why you're wrong.

The problem is that however much it surpasses other tablets, when you come down to it, $2500 is still two-and-a-half grand, and that's just for the base model. You bump the processor to dual core, the RAM to 2GB and expand the hard drive to 80GB, you're talking closer to $3,000 for what's really the acceptable spec configuration. And that kind of money makes most consumers antsy, however fancy your wares. We know we'll be waiting for it to plunge to more plebian prices, though we do appreciate the tech inside, Dell. [Direct2Dell]

Dell Adds New Touch to Tablet PCs Round Rock, Texas, December 10, 2007

* Dell LatitudeTM XT system is the only sub-four-pound 12.1-inch convertible tablet with ground-breaking capacitive touch technology
* System is the thinnest and one of the lightest convertibles available
* Optional daylight viewing display offers the brightest display in its category
* Hardware supports future multi-touch functionality

Dell is setting new benchmarks for tablet PCs with the addition of the Latitude XT, the thinnest and one of the lightest 12.1-inch convertible tablets available. It is also the brightest in its category with an optional daylight viewing panel. The system starts at $2,499 and Dell will begin to take orders and ship the Latitude XT by the end of the year.

The Latitude XT is also the industry's only sub-four-pound convertible tablet with pen and capacitive touch capability. Capacitive technology senses the touch of a finger with no pressure required for the system to recognize input. It is also the forerunner to emerging multi-touch capabilities that allow the use of more than one finger for tasks such as zoom and repositioning a picture, to name a few. Other touch features available on the Latitude XT include:

* Accuracy and speed - touch response times on the Latitude XT are faster than the Lenovo X61T1
* Advanced digital palm rejection technology, helping prevent inadvertent contact that disrupts pen input
* The digitizer technology on the Latitude XT is rated up to 10 times more durable than competing resistive touch digitizer technology
* Maintenance-free, no-battery pen with eraser and "right" mouse click functionality

"We are listening and aim to exceed customers' expectations," said Margaret Franco, director, Dell Product Group. "Until now, customers have been forced to make tradeoffs in tablet functionality to have usable systems. With Capacitive touch technology, the Latitude XT will revolutionize the way customers interact with their systems, allow customers to take full advantage of tablet technology and enables customers to get more done with greater speed and precision."

Most competitive tablets on the market today rely on resistive touch that requires the application of force for the system to recognize user interaction. The older technology can be less accurate and durable than capacitive touch and may not support multi-touch. In addition, many customers who use resistive tablets that support both pen and touch functionality may disable the latter because the palm rejection technology is subpar.

Market Impact of Dell Tablet PC
"Dell's plan to enter the tablet PC market will help promote the platform among its large number of customers and help facilitate the product category to go mainstream," said Doug Bell at industry analyst firm IDC.

The Latitude XT is designed with the future in mind with the capability to support multi-touch. As the technology matures, the system can serve as a premiere development platform for applications that can take advantage of multi-touch.

"By integrating our DuoSense technology into the Latitude XT, Dell creates the ultimate machine destined to lead the tablet PC market," said Amihai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. "Customers using the new Latitude XT will find that the zero pressure touch combined with the accurate stylus changes the usability of tablet PCs. Once they try it, they won't want to go back."

As part of Dell's ongoing goal to be the "greenest technology company on the planet," Energy Star 4.0-compliant configurations of the Latitude XT will be available in January 2008.

Other features of the Latitude XT include:

* Optional media base for docking and optical media
* Full-size keyboard with dual pointing
* Up to 64 GB2 solid state drive; up to 120 GB2 hard drive
* Optional battery slice designed to provide up to 9.5 hours of battery life3
* Intel® Core 2TM Solo and Duo ULV processors
* ATITM RadeonTM X1250 UMA integrated graphics

[Dell, Dell Blog via I4U]

TOSHIBA UNVEILS COMPANY'S FIRST TABLET PC WITH TOUCH SCREEN LED BACKLIT DISPLAY

New Portégé M700 Series, Toshiba's 9th Generation Tablet PC, Provides Mobile Professionals a Powerful and Versatile Solution

IRVINE, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2007) - Building upon its award-winning legacy of Tablet PCs, Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the Portégé® M700 Tablet PC series. The Portégé M700 is the company's first Tablet PC to incorporate a touch screen LED backlit display.
As the ninth generation of Toshiba's innovative Tablet PC product line, the Portégé M700 series offers enhanced versatility, performance and productivity to attend to the needs of on-the-go professionals, "corridor warriors," educators and students.
"Toshiba's Portégé M700 Tablet PC provides mobile professionals with an exceptionally intuitive Tablet PC to meet their mobile computing needs," said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. "Building upon many years of successful Toshiba Tablet PC platforms, the Portégé M700 incorporates our customer's most requested features resulting in Toshiba's most powerful and versatile Tablet PC to date."
As Toshiba's first Tablet PC with a touch screen supporting both fingertip input capabilities and traditional pen-based input, Toshiba's Portégé M700 empowers users with a more flexible and convenient Tablet PC computing experience. The Portégé M700 detects the presence of a digital pen or a user's fingertip, automatically switching between the different input methods, with the digital pen given priority when both inputs are simultaneously detected.
The Portégé M700 series incorporates an LED backlit display with anti-glare coating, which allows Toshiba's new Tablet PC to be viewed in a wide range of environments both indoors and outdoors. The LED backlit display produces superb image quality and rich color saturation indoors. While outdoors the anti-glare display delivers a clear, easy-to-view image.
The resolution offered by the widescreen 12.1-inch WXGA display of Toshiba's Portégé M700 yields 30 percent more detail than a standard 12.1-inch XGA display. This affords users enhanced clarity for viewing multimedia files and multiple page documents side by side. The Portégé M700 Tablet PC display mirrors the layout of a standard sheet of paper when in portrait mode to give users a familiar writing workspace.
The Portégé M700 series uses high-performance Intel® Centrino Pro processor1 technology, including Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processors2, Intel® 965 Express chipset, Intel® Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN supporting draft 802.11n3, and Intel® Active Management Technology (AMT 2.6). Intel's AMT 2.6 delivers the ability to remotely deploy systems and supply proactive security and maintenance measures. This provides the network manager better control of mobile computing assets to minimize user downtime and provide greater efficiency at the office of when traveling.
The Ultra SlimBay® on the Portégé M700 gives users the flexibility to change the configuration of the Tablet PC to adjust to their individual user needs. With support for an internal optical drive, second hard drive or weight saver, the Ultra SlimBay helps eliminate the bulk and inconvenience of carrying additional external components. The Portégé M700 comes with a DVD SuperMulti Drive4 and weight saver as part of the standard configuration.
To simplify the transition from notebook computer to Tablet PC, the Portégé M700 design incorporates an improved hinge and display guide/peg mechanism as well as latch-less design to provide greater ease of use and industry leading stability. This combination of features ensures the display is securely locked into position in both notebook and Tablet PC mode.
The inclusion of the latch-less design enables Toshiba to cleanly integrate a Webcam and microphone on the bezel of the Portégé M700. The 1.3 megapixel Webcam provides mobile professionals the flexibility to communicate face-to-face with colleagues, co-workers and loved ones when out of the office or traveling. The Portégé M700's Webcam can take still photos, record video clips and record audio notes.
Featuring the full suite of Toshiba's third-generation EasyGuard™ technology5, the Portégé M700 brings a more reliable and secure mobile computing experience that includes:
• HDD Protection—Because the hard disk drive (HDD) is one of the most critical Tablet PC components and that a dropped Tablet PC rarely falls in a single linear direction, Toshiba implemented the 3D accelerometer. This mechanism detects the acceleration caused by a sudden fall from multiple directions. The 3D accelerometer helps guard the HDD against awkward accidental drops, including a spinning, falling Tablet PC, by rapidly removing the HDD head from between the HDD platters, better protecting the Portégé M700 in all three rotational dimensions of pitch, roll and yaw.

• Shock Absorbing Design6—The Portégé M700 Tablet PC features enhanced protection zones that run along all sides of the Tablet PC to help the Portégé M700 better withstand accidental drops. Toshiba also placed reinforced ribs within the rounded edges of the display to better protect critical components including the display and inverter by dissipating energy resulting from accidental bumps or drops. For further durability, Toshiba encased the display with magnesium alloy, a lightweight, rugged material utilized in structural, automotive, industrial and aerospace manufacturing.

• Spill Resistant Keyboard7—Toshiba improved its spill resistant keyboard to help protect against accidental spills of water and other liquids, including soda and coffee with cream and sugar. This enhanced feature affords users time to save work and shut down the system in the event of an accidental spill — helping to prevent the loss of data.

Additional information about Toshiba's EasyGuard technology is available at www.EasyGuard.Toshiba.com
In addition to providing a reliable and secure mobile computing experience, Toshiba has incorporated several value-added features, including two "Sleep-and- Charge" USB ports. These ports allow users to charge compatible electronic devices, such as select cell phones or MP3 players whether the system is on or off. The Sleep and Charge USB ports eliminate the bulk and inconvenience of carrying extra chargers to recharge mobile devices. Toshiba's Portégé M700 is compatible with several Portégé M400 accessories including: Express Port Replicator, digital pen, reserve pen, battery and secondary battery.
The following configurations demonstrate the various specifications and price options available within the Portégé M700 Series:
Portégé M700-S7002 Recommended Configuration (ESUP $1,799)8
• Genuine Windows® Vista™ Business (32-bit version)
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T75001
o 2.2GHz, 4MB L2, 800MHz FSB
• 2048 MB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM memory9
• 160GB (5400 RPM) Serial-ATA hard disk drive10
• 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen LED backlit display
o supporting digital pen and touch screen
o Indoor/outdoor display
o Wide viewing angles
o 1280 x 800 (WXGA) native resolution
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with 8MB-251MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory11
• Integrated DVD SuperMulti (+/-R Double Layer) drive4
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
• Intel® Pro 82566MM 10/100/1000 Ethernet
• Bluetooth® v.2.0 + EDR
• Integrated 1.3 megapixel Webcam® with built-in microphone

Portégé M700-S7001X Recommended Configuration (ESUP $1,699)8
• Genuine Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7500
o 2.2GHz, 4MB L2, 800MHz FSB
• 1024 MB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM memory9
• 160GB (5400 RPM) Serial-ATA hard disk drive10
• 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen LED backlit display
o supporting digital pen and touch screen
o Indoor/outdoor display
o Wide viewing angles
o 1280 x 800 (WXGA) native resolution
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
• Integrated DVD SuperMulti (+/-R Double Layer) drive4
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
• Intel® Pro 82566MM 10/100/1000 Ethernet
• Bluetooth® v.2.0 + EDR
• Integrated 1.3 megapixel Webcam® with built-in microphone

Complete product specifications for all the Portégé M700 models are available at www.sell.toshiba.com or www.toshibadirect.com.
The Portégé M700 series is available with a three year standard, limited warranty12, which includes carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country; or customers may utilize any of the 4,460 UPS Stores and Mail Boxes Etc. locations nationwide for packaging and delivery of the product to a
centralized depot for prompt turnaround service. Customers can also choose to upgrade the Portégé M700's service plans, including up to four years of extended warranty coverage.
All new Toshiba notebooks and Tablet PCs are RoHS-compatible13, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances. This coupled with a mercury-free LED backlit display has earned Toshiba's Portégé M700 the Green Electronics Council's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) gold status. To achieve this status, the Portégé M700 had to pass a strict set of criteria created to reduce the impact electronics have on the environment. The Portégé M700 is Toshiba's sixth mobile computing solutions to earn the EPEAT gold status.
Toshiba also offers a computer trade-in and recycling program to reduce environmental impact and promote efficient utilization of resources. All Toshiba computers qualify for free recycling, while non-Toshiba computers and other consumer electronic products can be recycled for a small fee. For more information please visit: www.reuse.toshiba.com

The internal document shows the XT will have a 1.2 GHz Core 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage processor, 1 Gig of RAM (expandable to 3), Bluetooth 2.0 and built-in mobile broadband. Other cool features include a biometric reader, ambient light sensor, digital array microphone, and a score of quick control macros along the screen bezel. The media bay can also support a dual-layer DVD burner, or an additional 80 GB HDD.

Another point of interest is that the document had the XT lined up for release last month. I'm curious as to what caused the delay on this, seeing as it would have been popular this holiday season. [istartedsomething]

Here's what we know so far, plus the vid. (Never mind the shirt)

Clarke claims the Tablet will be one of the lightest convertibles out there when it debuts later this year. And from the looks of it in the video, we gotta agree. It looks damn slim. Apparently Dell also paid extra attention to the system's interface. The Tablet is being aimed at the education, healthcare, and corporate markets. More details as they unfold. – Louis Ramirez

Dell Tablet PC [Direct2Dell via jkOntheRun]

The device, which was designed by Daniel Alexander, is also water-resistant, making it a nice companion for outdoorsy types who want to remain connected without being bogged down by a laptop. Overall, it's an interesting concept that we hope manufacturers pick up on. – Louis Ramirez

Product Page [via Sci-Fi Tech]

Toshiba New Zealand let Craig Pringle take their new M400 Tablet PC out for a spin last month and he's posted a detailed hands-on review on his blog, complete with photos. Pringle says he's been using mostly tablets for the past year so he should know what he's talking about; he's pleased with the M400 overall, even though it's slightly heavier than most tablets and "feels like it has been designed as a laptop that converts into a tablet—rather than a tablet first device."

The M400 comes with a biometric fingerprint scanner with security but our favorite feature of the ones Pringle points out is a Toshiba utility: Remote Capture, which lets you trigger your cameraphone via Bluetooth—can't wait till the first M400-toting upskirt-moblogging pervert gets arrested!

Hands on Review of the M400 [Craig Pringle]
PREVIEW - New Toshiba M400 Tablet PC w/ Dual Core Processor (pics) [TabletPCReviewSpot.com]
Toshiba Portege M400 Series Tablet PC [ToshibaDirect.com]

Product Page [Gateway via MobileWhack]

Product Page [Via Tablet PC Review Spot]

Hand on with Nokia's 770 Internet Tablet [Mobile Burn]
Maemo Information
Nokia 770 Gets FCC Nod

The ZeroConf Project [Internet Tablet Talk]

Retail price for the Lifebook T4020 starts at $1,599, while the Stylistic ST5032 is selling for $2,499. Both are available now via Fujitsu's website.

Product Page: Lifebook T4020 [Fujitsu]
Product Page: Stylistic ST5032 [Fujitsu]
Press Release [Fujitsu]
Fujitsu unveils LifeBook T4020 and Stylistic ST5032 tablets [InfoSync World]