Computer Control in KS2         Lego MindStorms RoverBot

 

 

First Impressions 

(Week beginning 19/11/20030)

 

See also article: Why purchase tablet PCs

 

Toshiba Portege Tablet PC 3500

Toshiba have taken a different design approach to the Tablet PC. Other manufactures feature systems with detachable keyboards, while the Toshiba Tablet resembles a standard slimline laptop, without the usual CD-ROM and floppy disc drive. With its light weight, unique swivel interactive display and Toshiba quality build, it maybe offers a more sensible solution for those wanting a more traditional form factor.

Pros

·         Excellent 12” TFT display. Most of the competitors are 10" displays.

·         Faster processor than other Tablet PCs currently reviewed

·         Unusual design – more like a small laptop but with the benefits of a Tablet PC

·         To prevent accidental switch off, the ON/OFF button can be locked

·         Excellent Wireless functionality

·         A decent length of cable on the power supply, allowed me for the first time to plug the system in and use without an extension cable. So simple and yet so easy to overlook!

Cons

·         The Pentium PIII Processor will not offer the same level of battery life as the Intel Centrino based systems. This is addressed along with faster wireless connectivity in the new model due out in the next few months.

·         I would have preferred a round pen and a hole to attach a string, as on a the Compaq.

·         Not everyone will like the traditional form factor

 

Specification

For the non anoraks, the important points from the specification below are:

·         Bigger screen than many of its rivals

·         Four hours of battery life – limited, so could be a classroom management issue

·         Excellent wireless capability with Wireless LAN + Bluetooth + Infra-Red.

 

      Mobile Intel Pentium M III processor 133Mhz

256 Mb RAM

40 Gb Hard Disc

12..1“ TFT screen (Most other rival Tablets are 10”)

Network 10/100 and Modem 56K ready

Wireless LAN

Bluetooth

Infra-Red

Weight: 1.85 kg

CF and SD card slots

Lithium-ion battery – upto 4 hours

W x L x H: 295 x 234 x 29.9/32.8 mm

Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition

 

Conclusion

With this quality and well featured product, Toshiba deserve to make major inroads into the Tablet PC educational market.  They could further increase their market share, by including or offering a software bundle, possibly with discounted training and targeted at the Primary and Secondary educational sectors. I would recommend the Granada SuperTools bundle for Primary and Tablet PC version of MS Office for Secondary.

Granada SuperTools

A complete suite of software to address many areas of the curriculum, which includes:

PawPrints (Desktop publishing)

Fresco (Paint package)

Decisions 3 – (Branching Database )

WriteAway - (Word processor )

BlackCat LOGO- (excellent Logo program )

NumberBox 2 – (Spreadsheet )

Information Workshop - (Database )

www.granada-learning.com/school/catalog/jsps/product.jsp?product=591