I really need something to read A4 PDFs on. an Iliad is the best choice in the eInk department at present. If I could get a light tablet PC it might be a better choice. Actually thin and light. Probably a slate rather than one with a twistable screen and keyboard.

Which are the lightest slate type tablet PCs on the market?

Ian

I really need something to read A4 PDFs on. an Iliad is the best choice in the eInk department at present. If I could get a light tablet PC it might be a better choice. Actually thin and light. Probably a slate rather than one with a twistable screen and keyboard.

Which are the lightest slate type tablet PCs on the market?

Ian

You may want to check out Motion Tablet PC (http://www.motioncomputing.com/)

They have several, one small and light but very expensive. A couple of others a little bigger and it would seem to me better for reading PDFs but they do weigh more.

I have had one of their older Tablet's for several years. Works great!

I second the Motion, or the Sahara.
Still we are speaking of 1,5 kilos or more.

I myself have a Toshiba M200 almost 3 years old now and that puts’ me into the 2,1 Kilos.
I have a 10.4” Acer C110 as bakup - old and can not be found anymore - and this one weights 1.35 Kilos.

A tabletpc is perfect for reading A4 PDF’s.

what about fujitsu u1010 ?
screen size around 6"
in india HCL introduced 7" touchpad swivel Laptop..Milleap Y,
whether it will be useful..

The fujitsu u1010 is not a tabletpc but a Umpc.
It can read A4 PDF's quite well (half page at a time).

I've been looking at UMPCs - these are laptops & tablets that have screens smaller than 10". They usually are in the 4" to 8" screen size, and can have extra large batteries that last up to 12 hours. Weight is usually under 2 lbs, before the extra large battery.

Check out www.umpcPortal.com

For tablets, Fujitsu is the best, but they cost quite a bit. I picked up a Stylistic 3400 used on eBay for $300 loaded, but battery life is limited, even with extra batteries and external dual chargers. You don't need a lot of processor to read pages.

I've seen the Fujitsu St5111 listed as a good option, but we're talking $2500.

Andy

Thanks everyone for the pointers.

Ian

For the record. I ended up getting a MacBook Air. I needed something light to use when travelling. I'm a Mac user. So I got the Air. No more aching shoulders after traipsing through airports!

It's very nice :-) The screen is excellent. It'll do for my PDF reading needs when away from home when I don't want to have paper copies of docs.

Ian

For the record. I ended up getting a MacBook Air. I needed something light to use when travelling. I'm a Mac user. So I got the Air. No more aching shoulders after traipsing through airports!

It's very nice :-) The screen is excellent. It'll do for my PDF reading needs when away from home when I don't want to have paper copies of docs.

Ian

HA!!! now that was a surprise. But the MBA is a really elegant device. Has a few issues to around, but the only one that would frustrate me is the recessed USB port. I hardly ever use a DVD/CD drive other then to watch DVD's so I would not miss it. And at 3lbs, plenty of processing power and a slick sexy design...nice decision!!

The fujitsu u1010 is not a tabletpc but a Umpc.
It can read A4 PDF's quite well (half page at a time).

I'd stay away from this model for reading, it's screen is too small and Fujitsu wasted a ton of space regarding screen real-estate. Secondly, it's actually quite think for an UMPC, the sales pics are way deceptive on how it actually looks. In case you're wondering, I've played around with this one off and on at the local PCDepot here in Japan (just saw it again last night next to the resolution-challenged Asus Eee PC).

I wouldn't recommend anything less than 7" for reading off of. I have a couple OQO's and the screen is too small to make it useful for reading Techie PDF's (not to mention the keyboard crampage). :chinscratch:

Now thos St models from Fujitsu look nice, I'll keep my eyes open for a hands-on. Glad to hear you got an Air, hopefully you got a good deal and didn't get ripped off on it. I'm still awaiting the HTC Shift, though I'm torn that they've taken so long to get it to market so I wonder what their support would be like...

The Samsung Q1U is only 900g (less than a pound) and has a stunning 7" 1024x600 screen - another serious possibility for anyone wanting a light, reasonably-priced tablet UMPC.

I bought one a few months ago, but have decided to sell it in favour of an iRex iLiad, because what I mainly want a mobile device for is reading and making notes - and since I spend all day looking at a computer screen, e-Ink is nice and restful for my eyes :)

The Samsung Q1U is only 900g (less than a pound)
You sure? (http://www.google.com/search?q=900g+in+pounds)

The Samsung Q1U is only 900g (less than a pound)

Ahem!

1 kg = 2.2 lb

Therefore 900g = 0.9 x 2.2 = 2 lb

Ahem!

1 kg = 2.2 lb

Therefore 900g = 0.9 x 2.2 = 2 lb

So for the cost of another lb the OP got a whole laptop. ;)

FSC Lifebook P1610
http://extranet.fujitsu-siemens.com/vil/pc/vil/datenblaetter/mobile/en/ds_lifebook_p1610.pdf

FSC Lifebook P1610
http://extranet.fujitsu-siemens.com/vil/pc/vil/datenblaetter/mobile/en/ds_lifebook_p1610.pdf

This one sounds quite doable, though regardless of the weight, Fujitsu is notorious for making thick laptops campared with Sony's, esp. regarding their LCDs. I like the size of the screen, though you really cannot trust pictures of the product alone without having some human reference in the same pic; i.e., hands actually using the device, not just holding it. Thanks for the ref!

This one sounds quite doable, though regardless of the weight, Fujitsu is notorious for making thick laptops campared with Sony's, esp. regarding their LCDs. I like the size of the screen, though you really cannot trust pictures of the product alone without having some human reference in the same pic; i.e., hands actually using the device, not just holding it. Thanks for the ref!

We use Fujitsu-Siemens laptops at the company I work for. They're pretty good - reliable and sturdy. Not "sexy", certainly, but good everyday business tools.

You sure? (http://www.google.com/search?q=900g+in+pounds)

:smack: That's what I get for surfing too early in the morning! My brain got confused by the fact that 900g is both less than one kilo and fractionally less than two pounds, and combined the two systems...

We use Fujitsu-Siemens laptops at the company I work for. They're pretty good - reliable and sturdy. Not "sexy", certainly, but good everyday business tools.

I am currently writing this on the Fujitsu P7120. It's not a "tablet", but it's quite a small laptop, and has a form-factor I like. I prefer small footprint to thinness, though I should point out that this impacts screen size negatively (not a problem for me, but others have different preferences). As you say, the Fujitsu is certainly not "sexy", but, then, I'm not after "sexy". It's solid, gets a good knockaround with nary a whimper (I'm sure you're not suppose to pick it up regularly by the top of its screen :eek:), and it's got a nice, long battery life if you want it (note, low-power processor also means slower processor). It also slips into my little Crumpler bag - the Breakfast Buffet - with enough space for a book (or an Iliad) in the front. This laptop was definitely designed with a good corporate bashing in mind, but was priced accordingly. (Note, I choose a bag big enough to hold the laptop, the power adapter if necessary, and a book - anything else tempts me to load-up with a whole heap of other crap, which defeats the point for me of aiming for "small" and portable).

I'd not previously considered Fujitsu prior to this. The other choice in this size was a Sony, and it didn't have a required CD/DVD drive, nor did it seem quite as well-built when I played with one (there were expressions of weakness in the build of the screen in some reviews, though it should be noted that "flex" does not always equate with breakage - sometimes flex is preferable to the alternative :) ). I think the Sony was very marginally smaller again too (I think it was in the screen thickness); it was definitely sexier, though in a "pay for it" kind of way. ;) I know that, from my experience working IT procurement for a couple of companies, and buying from multiple manufacturers, these Fujitsu laptops have been one of my better choices for the required purpose. My former boss absolutely loves his (he's had a gazillion laptops in his time, and he's quite hard on them) and that was always good news for me. ;)

(Note, my "procurement" and IT experience has never extended to Apple - they were for a couple of reasons - none of them to do with quality - incompatible with the corporate requirements of both companies I have worked for in that field).

Cheers,
Marc

Just to follow up on this. Apparently I'm getting one of the new Dell tablets for testing in work. I don't know what type of screen are on the ones that are on order. Looks good though. See:

http://www.dell.com/tablet?s=biz&cs=555

I'll post a mini-review after I get it and have used it for a while.

Ian

Just to follow up on this. Apparently I'm getting one of the new Dell tablets for testing in work. I don't know what type of screen are on the ones that are on order. Looks good though. See:

http://www.dell.com/tablet?s=biz&cs=555

I'll post a mini-review after I get it and have used it for a while.

Ian

That would be great as I was just shopping them the other night.

I got my grubby mitts on the Gigabyte M704 this weekend (didn't have any in-stock to purchase though... sigh...). It's actually on of the better UMPC/small size Tablets I've played with recently. It was actually at a decent price-point too ~$800. My only qualms were not knowing if it flips to portrait-mode or not and the smallish-keyboard, other than that it had an awesome resolution & size. Screen ~7"