Notebooks & Accessories

Review: Tablet PCs From Gateway and Electrovaya

The impressive battery life and performance of Electrovaya's $2599 Scribbler SC-2010 and Gateway's $2100 M275XL illustrate how much Tablet PCs have improved since their introduction in November 2002, says PC World's Anush Yegyazarian. The Scribbler, with an impressive battery of more than 6 hours, earned 4 stars out of a possible 4 in her review. The Gateway tablet offers a large screen and good battery life, but is a bit heavy. Anush's assessment: 3.5 stars.

Review: Tablet PCs Not Ready to Replace Notebooks

After living with a Tablet PC for a couple of months, PC World's Richard Baguley concluded that the devices leave something to be desired for the average computer user. Only a few applications are digital ink-enabled; the Tablet PC operating system's built-in handwriting recognition tends to be inaccurate; and editing text after it has been recognized is awkward and time consuming.

Ultimately, he found it easier to use the keyboard, so for him the advantages of a Tablet PC over a notebook seemed negligible.

"I can also see how a Tablet PC would have advantages for certain users, particularly people who spend much time inputting information into specialized software (for health care or education, for example) or those who attend meetings where typing is not allowed," Baguley concludes. "But overall, the Tablet PC just didn't make my job easier."

Tip: Learn to Speak Wi-Fi

Pop quiz: What's the difference between 802.11a, b, and g? Answer: I have trouble keeping all that stuff straight too. Luckily, there's a handy glossary of wireless networking terms at the Wi-Fi Alliance Web site.