A Tablet PC is a cross between a notebook and PDA. Designed for truly mobile computing, there are two types -- convertible and slate.

Convertible tablets, such as the Toshiba Portege M400, look like traditional notebooks but have displays that swivel and fold flat facing outward.

Slate tablets, like the Fujitsu Stylistic ST5031, have no attached keyboard and are basically all screen.

Both types use a special version of Windows XP that makes it possible to navigate and enter data using a stylus -- no keyboard necessary.

Tablets account for only a small percentage of overall notebook sales in Australia, mainly because they cost significantly more than traditional laptops, and they usually offer inferior performance and battery life.

The questions to ask to determine whether you should consider a tablet are:

• Do you regularly use a clipboard?
• Is the ability to take signatures important to you?

If so, the tablet form factor and handwriting-recognition software offer a nice way to digitise your notes and files on the fly. Otherwise, you're probably better off with a more traditional ultraportable laptop.

In this guide, we show you what's available in Australia, whitepapers for making a business case to purchase Tablet PCs, and popular Tablet PC forums, blogs and resources.

Tablet PCs: What's on the market in Australia

Model	CPU	RAM	Weight	Display	Price	First look
Acer TravelMate C200 Series	Pentium M 760 2GHz	512MB	2kg	12.1"	$3,499
Pioneer DreamBook Tablet 200C	Pentium M 1.3GHz	256MB	2.6kg	14.1"	$1,655
Fujitsu Stylistic ST5031	Pentium M 1.2GHz	512MB	1.55kg	10.4"	$4,199
Hewlett-Packard Compaq tc4200	Pentium M 1.73GHz	512MB	2.1kg	12.1"	$3,599
Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet	Pentium M 1.5GHz	512MB	2.1kg	12.1"	$3,749
Motion Computing LE1600	Pentium M 1.5GHz	512MB	1.4kg	12.1"	TBA
Toshiba Portege M400	Intel Core Solo T1300 1.66GHz	512MB	2kg	12.1"	$3,190

Source: Compiled from individual vendor Web sites, 2 June, 2006.