Hi-tech Mobile Slate

A portable device that’s in between a laptop and a PDA in physique, Skorydov’s PC Slate is exactly what the name suggests–a slate-shaped PC. It weighs around a kilogram and is about the size of an A4 sheet. 

The PC Slate comes with a stylus and a touch-enabled screen. When you write on the Slate, it converts your writing to text. Initially, it takes a little time to recognize your handwriting, but then gets used to it. However, for it to recognize your writing accurately, you have to write clearly in joint handwriting. Otherwise, you can use the stylus to touch the letters you need to input on a software keyboard. You can synchronize the data saved on the Slate with your PC or laptop via a serial or infrared port.

It runs on a 129 MHz MIPS-based processor, has 32 MB SDRAM, and 16 MB ROM to house the OS and applications. It’s based on Windows CE 3 and comes with word processing and spreadsheet applications, a scratchpad, a mail client, and IE. You can add a CompactFlash card or portable hard disks in the provided slot. You can also install applications if they support Windows CE. To connect to the Internet, it has a PCMCIA Type II slot.

Other features include a built-in speaker and microphone, jacks to connect headphones or an external mike, and two USB ports to connect external keyboard, mouse or other devices. It has four buttons: to switch on and put the device to sleep, launch IE, launch the keyboard, and set preferences on the Slate.The device uses NiMH batteries, which are claimed to last eight hours. An LED shows you the status of the battery. As a power-saving feature, the Slate goes to sleep if not used for two minutes.

All in all, it’s a handy device for mobile needs. More details are available at
www.pcslate.com. Price: Approximately Rs 52,600.

Pragya Madan in Mumbai