ViewSonic Tablet PC V1100
You may know ViewSonic for its computer monitors, but the company is branching out with a new line of handhelds and tablet PCs intended to do more computing for less cash. But unfortunately, the company's new V1100 Tablet PC doesn't weigh less. In fact, the ViewSonic Tablet PC V1100's "slate" design is thicker and heavier than that of the Motion Computing M1200, which provides a larger screen and a few more amenities. At less than US$2,000 (Viewsonic have yet to decide on local Australian pricing), the ViewSonic spars nicely in the low-cost tablet playground, but its clunky size, middle-of-the-pack performance, and short battery life disappoint.
The ViewSonic V1100's AC adapter adds nearly 500 grams to the already porky total. Include the 280 gram keyboard and the 280 gram leatherette portfolio case, and the travel weight climbs to more than 2.2Kg.
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Tablet PCs |
Clothed in basic black with silver accents, the new ViewSonic V1100 looks like the ViewPad 1000 (another ViewSonic Tablet PC) but all grown up, thanks to its larger screen. Housed in a flat, unhinged case, the V1100 boasts a true slate design, with a separate keyboard and a face dominated by an oversized bezel around its 10.4-inch screen. The ViewSonic V1100 feels solid and easy to handle in either horizontal or vertical mode.
At 28.7 by 25.15 by 2.8cm and 1.55kg, however, the ViewSonic V1100 is surprisingly large, thick, and heavy for its screen size. Without its keyboard, the V1100 is about the size of the hybrid Toshiba Portégé 3505 tablet, which includes a built-in keyboard. The ViewSonic is positively huge compared to the similarly equipped Fujitsu Stylistic ST4000, another slate-style tablet.
Unfortunately, the rest of the ViewSonic V1100's design doesn't justify its size. We were disappointed to note that some ports have rubber covers to protect the electronics from moisture and dust, while others are left open to the elements. And though the V1100's pair of speakers play at a decent volume, they create a buzzing noise so that spoken material seems otherworldly. Listening to music on the V1100, you'd think it's coming from a cheap AM radio.
Along the right side of the screen, a row of buttons controls the machine's major functions. One of the most useful is a four-way navigation pad to scroll through pages vertically and horizontally.
In case of a system emergency, tap the Security button (marked with a key), which emulates the three-finger salute of Control-Alt-Delete. The Windows Task Manager then appears so that you can tweak settings, show system status, and shut down unruly programs. Instant-launch keys lead to Journal (a new program in the Windows XP Tablet Edition), the Start menu, and the input panel, which is part of the handwriting-recognition technology in the new OS.
The V1100's thin, penlike stylus is a gem. Its smooth, even response makes writing on the screen easy. (Improved handwriting recognition is a big part of the specialized Windows XP Tablet Edition OS.) But you might want to wear a glove; in addition to picking up a lot of stray reflections, the screen gets hot to the touch after about 30 minutes of use.
With its 866MHz Pentium III-M processor, 256MB of RAM, and 20GB hard drive, the ViewSonicV1100 is truly a midrange tablet, but you can add another 256MB of RAM. An Intel 82830 graphics accelerator that can use up to 48MB of the system's memory feeds the 10.4-inch XGA screen.
The ViewSonic V1100 packs its case with all you'll need for general computing and connecting with most peripherals, including ports for a LAN, an external modem, audio, an external monitor, and FireWire. The tablet also includes a pair of USB slots, conveniently located on the top and the right of the tablet; that way, you can connect the included keyboard to one and a mouse to the other. When back at your desk, just snap the ViewSonic V1100 into its optional black desktop-docking station for access to a CD-ROM drive, a LAN, and USB outlets (there's no floppy drive).
The V1100 includes a PC Card slot, but the tablet can use CompactFlash as well--perfect for, say, importing images from a digital camera.
Software is a mild bright spot for the ViewSonic V1100. Along with the new Windows XP Tablet Edition OS and Acrobat Reader, you'll also get a 30-day demo version of Franklin Covey's surprisingly nifty Tablet Planner; not only does the program mimic the paper organizer's format, you can use it horizontally or vertically.
Unfortunately, the ViewSonic V1100 isn't the consummate clotheshorse. Sure, its included black leatherette portfolio protects the tablet while you're on the road, but it doesn't make room for papers, and the cover blocks the slot for stashing the stylus.
The ViewSonic V1100 is a strong performer that, for the most part, keeps up with its tablet peers. Compared to similarly configured tablets such as the Fujitsu Stylistic ST4000, with its 800MHz Pentium III-M processor the ViewSonic held its own in our mix of productivity applications. Although it couldn't match the Fujitsu, which scored five points higher, the difference adds up to very little in real-world performance.
Performance is a strong point for the ViewSonic V1100, but its battery life left us wanting more. Battery size made all the difference; the ViewSonic's small, 7.4V, 3,900mAh battery prevents it from getting significantly long battery life. It conked out after 129 minutes. Thanks to the the Fujitsu's 10.8V, 4,000mAh cell, the ViewSonic didn't come close to the Fujitsu's 180 minutes.
Viewsonic expects the V1100 to be available locally in mid-december.
Viewsonic Tablet PC V1100
Company: Viewsonic Australia
Price: Est US$1,999
Release Date: December 2003
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