document updated 17 years ago, on Jun 24, 2007
I want a tablet computer (thin,
battery-powered, touchscreen, a larger-sized screen than PDA's, no keyboard) that does no
processing/storage of its own, but instead simply connects to a local computer via WiFi, and allows
you to interact with THAT computer as if you were sitting right in front of it, as a normal
computer.
The use-cases are:
- A car-computer... having the tablet mounted on the dash (albeit plugged in to 12V) would allow
the display to be independent from whatever computer is embedded in the car, but would still allow
it to display regular updates about the gauge data. I think a laptop is nearly optimal for a
car-computer, except for the fact that you don't need the keyboard, and the display can't be
separated, thus this idea.
- Toilet/bed... a way to surf the web, play flash games, and have audio controls over
iTunes while stuck on the toilet, or falling asleep.
- TV remote... okay, it's a pretty friggin large TV remote, but since I'd use the
hardware for the above use-cases so much, it can definitely be used for this purpose. It would have
the extra bonus that it could be used for web-surfing while watching movies. The "TV remote"
functionality comes from the fact that... the tablet itself doesn't have an IR transmitter, but the
desktop does.
Specific requirements
- Shouldn't have a hard-drive... no need, when 1-8GB of flash would more than sufficient.
- I probably don't care about audio output... in most of the use-cases above, I have sound wired
up independently. (however, having a headphone jack WOULD be appreciated, which would make it minimally useful when other people are around).
- It turns out that the "ultra-mobile" form factor is a pretty close match to what I'm looking for (usually no keyboard, 7" touchscreen, ...)
List of models
Specific models
- Sony VAIO UX, great, though I don't need the keyboard or HDD. One of the few small form-factors that supports more than 800x480. But, really, 800x480 at 7" seems just fine?
- eo, at $900
- Samsung Q1 Ultra, 1024x600 7" display, it was supposed to come out for $799, but is currently at $1000 for the cheapest model (which is the one I'd want)