Tablet PCs

Arguably the most versatile class of notebooks, Tablet PCs have screens that react to input from a stylus and, in many cases, the touch of your finger. These machines make it easy to write notes and enter data on the go, as well as navigate menus and create sketches. Prices generally range from $499 (for a touch-enabled netbook) to more than $2,000 (for a multitouch tablet aimed at business users).

Tablets appeal to a wide spectrum of users. Among average consumers, a convertible tablet is ideal for a students who prefer to jot handwritten digital notes in class, rather than type. Typical home laptop buyers, too, might prefer the flexibility of a tablet when finger-swiping their way through the Web from the couch.
 
For businesses, a convertible can serve creative professionals who need to turn ideas into sketches, as well as workers in the medical profession, warehouse personnel, and field employees who need to fill in digital forms. Anyone who needs to operate a computer while standing and walking around will appreciate the ability to enter data with one hand.

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What Can You Expect From a Tablet PC?

• Display: Because touch panels are expensive, most tablet PCs feature LCD screens that are 12.1 inches or smaller. A new generation of tablet netbooks are equipped with 8.9- and 10-inch screens. Resolutions of 1280 x 800 or below are common.
  
  
• Pen-Aware Applications: The Windows operating system that comes preloaded on your machine will feature some pen-aware functionality and utilities. But look for other bundled applications that lend themselves to pen input, such as Microsoft OneNote.
  
  
• Optical Drive: Because most tablets are designed to be used in the crook of your arm, you won’t find integrated optical drives on most designs. However, it’s easy to get around this omission if you download software and videos.

Buying Tips for Tablet PCs

• Resistive or capacitive touch? Better quality panels use capacitive touch technology, which is more responsive and finger-friendly because it registers the current from a human finger as inputs. Resistive screens are less expensive (and responsive) because they only register physical force against the screen as touch.
  
  
• Go for multitouch support: The ability to use multiple fingers at the same time to achieve gestures such as pinch-to-resize or swipe-to-scroll is critical. You won’t find this feature on inexpensive systems or tablet netbooks, but it’s worth the money where you can find it.
  
  
• Look for a touch-friendly interface: Although Mircosoft’s Touch Pack for Windows 7 offers a nice peek of the future, for now you’re limited to what notebook vendors provide on top of Windows. HP, for example, offers MediaSmart with its Pavilion tx2z, and ASUS offers Touch Gate for its its Eee PC T91 tablet.
  
  
• Make sure it supports Windows 7: Microsoft’s newest operating system has great built-in touch support. Be sure your system comes with Windows 7 or an upgrade certificate to let you get Windows 7 when it comes out.