OK, this isn’t a Tablet PC, but it’s exciting nonetheless. Today Sony announced its new version of the 505 notebooks–some models of which are 1.7 lbs. Amazing. My NEC Tablet PC LitePad is 2.2 lbs and one of my favorites because of this. The one pound difference between my LitePad and other small Tablet PCs is quite noticable after carrying around for extended periods of time. As a heavy note taker, I find I use the LitePad more simply because it’s easy to pick up and carry around. A Tablet PC under two pounds would be phenomenal.
Some of the techniques Sony enlisted to produce this ultralight notebook are:
* Miniaturization of the motherboard to reduce overlap with other components.
* Carbon fiber casing
* Reducing the keyboard backplane to 0.4 millimeters
Other features, such as a 10.4″ display, 1GHz Pentium M processor, and 20GB drive, no built in CD/DVD make it sound a lot like a Tablet PC. In fact, maybe Sony could throw in a Wacom digitizer, thereby creating the lightest Tablet PC too.
I wondered where the 505 series had gone; always great favorites with me, and Loren is right…the next best thing to a tablet. Thanks for posting this.