Tablet computing is the next big thing, or so the pundits are telling us. But in some industries, tablets are already old hat. In situations where a PDA screen just isn't big enough, such as filling in surveys, taking inventories, or tracking multiple jobs, a wide range of tablet computers are already available. The big news will be when tablet computers break into the consumer market.
However, there's nothing consumerish about the Coraccess Companion Web Tablet-it's aimed squarely at those corporate uses. It uses a National Semiconductor Geode processor, which is an integrated x86 core, graphics controller, PCI controller, and memory controller. It has 64MB of SDRAM and 32MB of flash memory to store the operating system and applications.
It has a PC-Card slot, which is usually taken up with a Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless network card, a CompactFlash slot, and a USB socket to attach an external keyboard, mouse, or printer.Unlike a PDA, you can't easily install your own applications-to run your own applications, you'll need to put them on a CompactFlash card, or organise with the distributor to have a special version of the OS with your application. The distributor says this is done for reasons of stability, since many applications install drivers that might cause problems with the OS.The unit we reviewed shipped with Windows CE 3.0, but by the time you read this, the Companion Web Tablet should also ship with Windows CE .NET; a Linux port is also on its way.
Windows CE .NET will feature better wireless support, including Bluetooth, better security, and improved multimedia capabilities. However, unlike Windows for Pocket PC, this OS does not support handwriting recognition. You enter text using the stylus with an on-screen keyboard, or by attaching an external keyboard. The Companion Web Tablet comes with terminal emulation, Windows Terminal Services, and a Citrix thin client pre-installed.
At the moment, the Companion Web Tablet can only synchronise with your PC via infrared, but should soon be able to synchronise via wireless or USB cable. It will also support GPRS mobile phone data connections, either connecting to a mobile phone via Bluetooth, or using a GPRS PC Card. And of course, if you're developing a custom application, you can write your own conduit.
It has an 8.4in TFT screen with an 800 x 600 native resolution. Its construction is very solid, and it looks like it could easily handle the inevitable bumps.As we said, it's not a consumer device, especially at around the price of a rather decent notebook. It's currently finding a great deal of use in the medical industry, where hospital staff use it to fill in patient data and automatically update this information to a central server. It would also make a great tool for system admins who want to administer their servers remotely over a wireless network.
| Product: | Product Coraccess Companion Web Tablet |
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| Price: | AU$3699 |
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| Vendor: | Anitech |
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| Phone: | (02) 8845 0200 |
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| Interoperability: | 
PC Card, CompactFlash, USB, and infrared connectivity. |
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| Futureproofing: |
Windows CE.NET should have all the features you need for years to come. |
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| ROI: |
½ Expensive, but indispensable in some circumstances. |
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| Service: |
1-year RTB warranty. |
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| Rating: |
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2%
4%
