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Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime: The Rolls-Royce of Android tablets – Computerworld

December 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Transformer Prime manages to pull off the rare feat of combining power and style: It’s sleek and sexy, yet also jam-packed with robust functionality. And it’s armed with a secret weapon: Asus’ optional keyboard dock, a slim attachment that instantly turns the tablet into a full-fledged laptop computer. The tablet itself costs $499 for a 32GB model and $599 for a 64GB model; the dock is sold separately for $149.

On paper, this thing has it all. So how does it perform in the real world? I spent several days putting it to the test to find out.

Body and display

First, the surface-level stuff: As I mentioned, Asus’s new tablet is no slouch in the looks department. The Transformer Prime features a 10.1-in. display guarded by a gorgeous metallic-spun back, available in “Amethyst Gray” or “Champagne Gold” color schemes. Both designs look classy and — yes — expensive.

The tablet is thinner than any other on the market today, with a depth of just 8.3mm. It’s light, too, weighing in at a waif-like 1.29 lb. In the big picture, of course, we’re talking fingernail-sized differences from one tablet to another — the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is 8.6mm thick and 1.25 lb., while the iPad 2 is 8.8mm thick and 1.33 lb. — but all comparisons aside, the Prime looks fantastic and feels great to hold.

Despite its slight frame, the Transformer Prime doesn’t seem the least bit delicate; on the contrary, it has a solid and sturdy feel. The screen uses Corning Gorilla Glass, which protects it from nicks and scratches. Coupled with the tough outer casing, the Prime is a lightweight tablet with heavyweight-quality materials.

Speaking of the screen, the Transformer Prime features a 1280 x 800 Super IPS+ display that rivals any other tablet display I’ve seen. Images are crisp and clear; colors are rich and brilliant. The screen includes an outdoor viewing mode that, according to Asus, boosts brightness up to a level 1.5 times higher than any competing tablet; with this mode activated, I found the Prime perfectly easy to view even in bright sunlight.

The Asus Transformer Prime has a microSD slot, a micro-HDMI port and a volume rocker along its left side; a power button on the far left of its top edge; and a 3.5mm headphone jack along its right side. The bottom of the tablet holds a 40-pin connector port for charging along with two connectors for attaching the tablet to Asus’s keyboard dock.

There is one speaker on the back of the unit along the rig

via Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime: The Rolls-Royce of Android tablets – Computerworld.

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In-depth: Google’s Chrome OS and Samsung’s Chromebook – Computerworld

June 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Samsung Chromebook: Hardware and design

Google’s Chromebooks are available in two basic models: the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook and the Acer Chromebook. Both come in two versions: Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi with 3G. I was able to test the 3G model of the Samsung Chromebook.

The Samsung Chromebook features a 12.1-in. 1280 x 800 display. The screen is bright and easy to read; its matte finish is a pleasant change from the glossy screens on most notebooks these days, particularly in outside or otherwise glary conditions.

At 3.26 lb., the Samsung Chromebook is slightly lighter than the Cr-48 test system that came before it — that notebook weighed in at 3.8 lb. In terms of design, however, we’re looking at a night-and-day difference. Whereas the Cr-48 had a minimalistic and angular matte black exterior, the Samsung Chromebook has a smooth and glossy top with rounded edges and a colorful Chrome logo. The system is available in either an “Arctic White” or a “Titan Silver” finish. Both options are classy and sleek.

The left side of the Samsung Chromebook has a 3.5mm headphone jack along with a USB port and a mini-VGA port (a standard VGA adapter is included). One low point: The plastic cover protecting the USB and VGA ports feels a bit flimsy, like it might snap off after a few months of regular use.

A four-in-one memory card reader sits along the front of the unit, and on the right you’ll find a second USB port next to a covered SIM card slot. There’s also a “user-mode” switch that lets you switch from the default setup to hack-ready, giving you access to tinker with the system, if you’re the adventurous type. There is no Ethernet port; this is a wireless-only machine.

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Above the Samsung Chromebook’s display is a 1-megapixel HD webcam and a microphone; a preinstalled Google Talk app makes both video and voice calls easy to manage, though Skype is not available as a Web app at this point and thus cannot run on Chrome OS. The notebook has two small speakers along its lower edges. Sound quality is decent enough — more than fine for phone calls, but a bit on the tinny side when listening to music. If you want a full, bass-filled sound, you’ll want to bring along headphones when using this system.

The Samsung Chromebook has a customized keyboard similar to what I saw in the Cr-48, though with darker printing and a glossier material surrounding the keys. In place of the standard PC function keys, the top row of the keyboard sports keys dedicated to Web-centric functions like navigating backward and forward, refreshing a page and switching among windows. Generally speaking, I found the keyboard to be outstanding; its chiclet-style keys are nicely spaced and conducive to speedy typing.

Samsung’s Chromebook touchpad also performed quite well in my tests. The trackpad was reliably responsive — a nice contrast from the Cr-48′s temperamental touchpad. Even right-clicks, achieved by tapping two fingers down at the same time, were easy to accomplish; on the Cr-48, it often took me several tries to get those to work.

via In-depth: Google’s Chrome OS and Samsung’s Chromebook – Computerworld.

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In-depth: Google’s Chrome OS and Samsung’s Chromebook – Computerworld

June 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Samsung Chromebook: Hardware and design

Google’s Chromebooks are available in two basic models: the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook and the Acer Chromebook. Both come in two versions: Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi with 3G. I was able to test the 3G model of the Samsung Chromebook.

The Samsung Chromebook features a 12.1-in. 1280 x 800 display. The screen is bright and easy to read; its matte finish is a pleasant change from the glossy screens on most notebooks these days, particularly in outside or otherwise glary conditions.

At 3.26 lb., the Samsung Chromebook is slightly lighter than the Cr-48 test system that came before it — that notebook weighed in at 3.8 lb. In terms of design, however, we’re looking at a night-and-day difference. Whereas the Cr-48 had a minimalistic and angular matte black exterior, the Samsung Chromebook has a smooth and glossy top with rounded edges and a colorful Chrome logo. The system is available in either an “Arctic White” or a “Titan Silver” finish. Both options are classy and sleek.

The left side of the Samsung Chromebook has a 3.5mm headphone jack along with a USB port and a mini-VGA port (a standard VGA adapter is included). One low point: The plastic cover protecting the USB and VGA ports feels a bit flimsy, like it might snap off after a few months of regular use.

A four-in-one memory card reader sits along the front of the unit, and on the right you’ll find a second USB port next to a covered SIM card slot. There’s also a “user-mode” switch that lets you switch from the default setup to hack-ready, giving you access to tinker with the system, if you’re the adventurous type. There is no Ethernet port; this is a wireless-only machine.

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Above the Samsung Chromebook’s display is a 1-megapixel HD webcam and a microphone; a preinstalled Google Talk app makes both video and voice calls easy to manage, though Skype is not available as a Web app at this point and thus cannot run on Chrome OS. The notebook has two small speakers along its lower edges. Sound quality is decent enough — more than fine for phone calls, but a bit on the tinny side when listening to music. If you want a full, bass-filled sound, you’ll want to bring along headphones when using this system.

The Samsung Chromebook has a customized keyboard similar to what I saw in the Cr-48, though with darker printing and a glossier material surrounding the keys. In place of the standard PC function keys, the top row of the keyboard sports keys dedicated to Web-centric functions like navigating backward and forward, refreshing a page and switching among windows. Generally speaking, I found the keyboard to be outstanding; its chiclet-style keys are nicely spaced and conducive to speedy typing.

Samsung’s Chromebook touchpad also performed quite well in my tests. The trackpad was reliably responsive — a nice contrast from the Cr-48′s temperamental touchpad. Even right-clicks, achieved by tapping two fingers down at the same time, were easy to accomplish; on the Cr-48, it often took me several tries to get those to work.

via In-depth: Google’s Chrome OS and Samsung’s Chromebook – Computerworld.

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New Microsoft Tablets Will Take Aim at the iPad – NYTimes.com

December 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Next month, at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft will give it another try, presenting a slew of new slates that it hopes will offer some competition to the Apple iPad, which has quickly become the leader in this market.

According to people familiar with Microsoft’s plans, Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, is expected to  announce a number of these devices when he takes the stage at C.E.S., showcasing devices built by Samsung and Dell, among a number of other manufacturing partners.

The people with knowledge of these devices asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak publicly by Microsoft or partnering companies. Microsoft declined to comment about coming products that have not been announced.

The Samsung device is described as “similar in size and shape to the Apple iPad, although it is not as thin. It also includes a unique and slick keyboard that slides out from below for easy typing.”

The people familiar with this device said it would run the Windows 7 operating system when in landscape mode, but will also have a layered interface that will appear when the keyboard is hidden and the device is held in a portrait mode.

via New Microsoft Tablets Will Take Aim at the iPad – NYTimes.com.

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On-screen Keyboards on Google Translate – Google Translate Blog

December 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Today Google Translate supports translation between almost sixty languages, but typing many of those on a standard QWERTY keyboard ranges from difficult to impossible. That’s why today we’re happy to announce the addition of on-screen keyboards to Google Translate. Whether you’re a native Georgian (ქართული ენა) speaker travelling abroad, or a student learning German with no way to type those tricky umlauts (ü), we hope this new feature will come to your rescue.

You’ll notice a small keyboard icon in the bottom corner of the text input box. Click this to open a virtual keyboard for the selected input language. You can either click the letters on the on-screen keyboard, or type using your real keyboard while the on-screen keyboard is visible.

Some languages such as Vietnamese and Armenian have more than one popular layout for local keyboards. Our on-screen keyboards support multiple layouts too, and you can switch between these layouts by clicking on the arrows at the top of the on-screen keyboard

via On-screen Keyboards on Google Translate – Google Translate Blog.

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TDual screen Acer Laptop Prototype Images Leaked

September 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Seems like dual-screen laptops would be the next major thing in mobile computing. Acer has been quietly developing dual-screen laptop and images of the prototype were tipped by TechReviewSource. From the images, the laptop looks like a laptop integrating a tablet to get touchscreen keyboard and trackpad. The source who passed on the images to TRS noted that the dual screen laptop was merely a prototype and was sluggish. At this moment, details about the distinct functions of both screens haven’t been divulged or leaked.

Back in June, Toshiba announced limited edition Libretto W100 dual screen laptop with multi-touch support on both screens. Acer might be working on this dual screen laptop that houses 2.66GHz Intel Core i5 microprocessor. This dual-screen laptop would run Windows 7 operating system but there’s no word on whether both screen would support multi-touch or not. Let’s hope that the laptop makes the best of touted touchscreen capabilities of the Windows 7 operating system.

via Techtree.com India > News > Consumer Electronics > Dual screen Acer Laptop Prototype Images Leaked.

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Today’s Tip Ten Ergonomic Tips for Setting up Your Home Workstation – BusinessWeek

April 8, 2010 By

Two-plus years working from the couch and kitchen table had my back and wrists all cranky, to say the least. I recently set up a permanent workstation, taking into account some best ergonomic practices. As a result of my mostly minor modifications, I’m happy to report that almost immediately my back and wrists responded graciously. Here are some ideas for your office:

1. Keep your head aligned over shoulders; don’t stretch your neck forward.

2. Your eyeballs should be looking straight ahead, not up or down. To achieve this, the top of your monitor needs to be no higher than eye level. You might need a riser to help lift your laptop or monitor to a good, eyeballs-dead-center position. A chair with adjustable height may help here as well.

3. Sit as far away from the screen as is comfortably possible.

4. Shoulders should be relaxed and comfortable, not raised or hunched forward.

5. Keyboard should be at seated elbow height. This really helps with keeping shoulders relaxed and lowered and is the one thing that can make or break many backs. (Laptop users: Consider installing a real keyboard at your workstation.)

6. Elbows should be at a 90-degree angle. Again, a keyboard tray can work wonders here.

7. Typing wrists should be straight, parallel to the floor. Support nontyping wrists with a wristrest or armrests. (Laptop users: Consider installing a real mouse at your workstation.)

8. Support the curve in your lower back. Either your chair must have some sort of lumbar support or a pillow or backrest achieves this.

9. Feet flat on the floor or footrest.

10. Take breaks. Move. Really. It helps. A lot.

Good luck and happy, ache-free computing to you.

Keri Calhoun

Operations Manager

BatchBlue Software

Providence

via Today’s Tip Ten Ergonomic Tips for Setting up Your Home Workstation – BusinessWeek.

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David Pogue’s Techies Review of the iPad – NYTimes.com

March 31, 2010 By

Review for Techies

The Apple iPad is basically a gigantic iPod Touch.

It’s a half-inch-thick slab, all glass on top, aluminum on the back. Hardly any buttons at all — just a big Home button below the screen. It takes you to the Home screen full of apps, just as on an iPhone.

One model gets online only in Wi-Fi hot spots ($500 to $700, for storage capacities from 16 to 64 gigabytes). The other model can get online either using Wi-Fi or, when you’re out and about, using AT&T’s cellular network; that feature adds $130 to each price.

You operate the iPad by tapping and dragging on the glass with your fingers, just as on the iPhone. When the very glossy 9.7-inch screen is off, every fingerprint is grossly apparent.

There’s an e-book reader app, but it’s not going to rescue the newspaper and book industries (sorry, media pundits). The selection is puny (60,000 titles for now). You can’t read well in direct sunlight. At 1.5 pounds, the iPad gets heavy in your hand after awhile (the Kindle is 10 ounces). And you can’t read books from the Apple bookstore on any other machine — not even a Mac or iPhone.

When the iPad is upright, typing on the on-screen keyboard is a horrible experience; when the iPad is turned 90 degrees, the keyboard is just barely usable (because it’s bigger). A $70 keyboard dock will be available in April, but then you’re carting around two pieces.

At least Apple had the decency to give the iPad a really fast processor. Things open fast, scroll fast, load fast. Surfing the Web is a heck of a lot better than on the tiny iPhone screen — first, because it’s so fast, and second, because you don’t have to do nearly as much zooming and panning.

via State of the Art – David Pogue’s Review of the iPad – NYTimes.com.

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Transliteration goes global

December 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Most of us use a keyboard to enter text; it’s one of the most basic activities we perform on a computer. However even this simple activity can be cumbersome in many parts of the world. If you’ve ever tried to type in a non-Roman script using a Roman keyboard, you know that it can be difficult to do. Many of us at Google’s Bangalore office experienced this problem firsthand. Roman keyboards are the norm in India, making it difficult to type in Indian languages. We decided to tackle this problem by making it very easy to type phonetically using Roman characters and we launched this service as Google Transliteration.

Using Google Transliteration you can convert Roman characters to their phonetic equivalent in your language. Note that this is not the same as translation — it’s the sound of the words that are converted from one alphabet to the other.

via Official Google Blog: Transliteration goes global.

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