Tablet Computer
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Tablet computer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For tablet devices in the tradition of the Microsoft Tablet PC, see Tablet personal computer. Tablet computer The Apple iPad A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen. It often uses an onscreen virtual keyboard or a digital pen rather than a physical keyboard.[1][2] Computing devices with data input and output on a flat information display have existed as early as 1888.[3] Throughout the 20th century many devices with these characteristics have been ideated and created whether as blueprints, prototypes or commercial products, with the Dynabook concept in 1968 being an spiritual precursor of tablets and laptops. During the 2000s Microsoft attempted to define the tablet PC product concept[4] as a mobile computer for field work in business,[5] though their devices failed to achieve widespread usage due mainly to price and usability problems that made them unsuitable outside of their limited intended purpose.[6] In April 2010 Apple Inc. released the iPad, a tablet computer focused on media consumption. The shift in purpose, together with increased usability and overall quality with respect to previous tablets, was perceived as defining a new class of consumer device[7] and shaped the commercial market for tablets in the following year. The term may also apply to a variety of form factors that differ in position of the screen with respect to a keyboard. The standard form is called slate, which does not have an integrated keyboard but may be connected to one with a wireless link or a USB port. Convertible notebook computers have an integrated keyboard that can be hidden by a swivel joint or slide joint, exposing only the screen for touch operation. Hybrids have a detachable keyboard so that the touch screen can be used as a stand-alone tablet. Booklets include two touch screens, and can be used as a notebook by displaying a virtual keyboard in one of them. Contents [hide] • 1 Tablet computers and tablet PCs o 1.1 Traditional Tablets based on IBM-PC architecture o 1.2 Post-PC Tablets not based on the traditional PC architecture • 2 History o 2.1 Early tablets o 2.2 Microsoft Tablet PC o 2.3 Apple's iPad o 2.4 Reactions to the iPad • 3 Touch user interface o 3.1 Handwriting recognition o 3.2 Touchscreen hardware • 4 Form factor o 4.1 Booklet o 4.2 Slate o 4.3 Convertible o 4.4 Hybrid • 5 System architecture • 6 Other features • 7 Operating systems and vendors o 7.1 Traditional Tablet PC operating systems o 7.2 Post-PC operating systems • 8 Comparison with laptop computers o 8.1 Advantages o 8.2 Disadvantages • 9 Tablets in developing countries • 10 See also • 11 References • 12 External links [edit]Tablet computers and tablet PCs This section (with obsolete Tablet PCs information)'s factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please helpimprove the article by updating it. There may be additional information on the talk page. (June 2011) As of 2010, two distinctly different types of tablet computing devices exist, whose operating systems are of different origin. [edit]Traditional Tablets based on IBM-PC architecture Main article: Tablet personal computer A tablet personal computer (tablet PC) is a portable personal computer equipped with a touchscreen as a primary input device, and running a (modified) classic desktop OS.[8] designed to be operated and owned by an individual.[9] The term was made popular as a concept presented by Microsoft in 2000[10] and 2001[11] but tablet PCs now refer to any tablet-sized personal computer regardless of the (desktop) operating system[12] Tablet personal computers are mainly x86 based[13] and are fully functional personal computers employing a slightly modified personal computer OS (such as Windows or Ubuntu Linux) supporting their touch-screen, instead of a traditional display, mouse and keyboard. A typical tablet personal computer needs to be stylus driven, because operating the typical desktop based OS requires a high precision to select GUI widgets, such as a the close window button.[citation needed] [edit]Post-PC Tablets not based on the traditional PC architecture See also: Mobile operating system Since mid-2010, new tablet computers with mobile operating systems forgo the Wintel paradigm, [14] have a different interface instead of the traditional desktop OS and have created a new type of computing device.[15] These post-PC mobile OS tablet computer devices are normally finger driven and use multi-touch, capacitive touch screens instead of the simple resistive touchscreens of typical stylus driven systems. First of these was the iPad with the iOS operating system. Samsung Galaxy Tab and others continue the common trend towards multi-touch and other natural user interface features, as well as flash memory solid-state storage drives, and 2-second warm-boot times; also a standard external USB keyboard can be used. Most often their OS is a Unix-like OS, such as Darwin, Linux or QNX. Some have 3G mobile telephony capabilities.[16] In forgoing the x86 precondition (a requisite of Windows compatibility), some tablets use a version of an ARM architecture processor for longer battery life versus battery weight, heretofore used in portable equipment (e.g., MP3 players and cell phones). Especially with the introduction of the ARM Cortex family, this architecture is now powerful enough for tasks such as internet browsing, light production work and gaming.[17] [edit]Developing programs for tablet computers A significant trait to define whether a tablet computer can be regarded as a personal computer is the ability for the final user to install arbitrary or self-developed software. The new class of devices heralded by the iPad has spurred the tendency of a walled garden approach where the vendor reserves rights as to what can be installed. The software development kits for these platforms are restricted and the vendor must approve the final application for distribution to users. These restrictions allow the hardware vendor to control the kind of software that can be used and the content that can be seen in the devices; this can be used to reduce the impact of malware on the platform and to provide material of approved content rating, and also to exclude software and content from competing vendors. Proponents of open source software deem that these restrictions on software installation and lack of administrator rights make this category one that, in their view, cannot be properly named personal computers.[18][19][20] But there are newer mobile operating system based tablet computers that don't use the walled garden concept, and are like personal computers in this regard. [edit]History This article or section needs consensus. Please discuss any content disputes and controversial issues on the article's talk page. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. (March 2011) Main article: History of tablet computers [edit]Early tablets The tablet computer and the associated special operating software is an example of pen computing technology, and thus the development of tablets has deep historical roots. The depth of these roots can be quite surprising to people who are only familiar with current commercial products. For example, the first patent for an electronic tablet used for handwriting was granted in 1888.[3] The first patent for a system that recognized handwritten characters by analyzing the handwriting motion was granted in 1915.[21] The first publicly-demonstrated system using a tablet and handwriting text recognition instead of a keyboard for working with a modern digital computer dates to 1956.[22] Alan Kay attempted to formulate his Dynabook concept as a tablet as early as 1968; to this day, his concept has not yet been fully realized. In addition to many academic and research systems, there were several companies with commercial products in the 1980s: Pencept, Communications Intelligence Corporation, and Linus were among the best known of a crowded field. Later, GO Corp. brought out the PenPoint OS operating system for a tablet product: one of the patents from GO corporation was the subject of recent infringement lawsuit concerning the Tablet PC operating system.[23] In 1987 Apple Computer started its tablet project, which considered release of devices of three sizes, with the one eventually released in 1993, Apple Newton, being the smallest (yet it was quite substantial device with 6" screen and 800 grams of weight).[24] One early implementation of a Linux tablet was the ProGear by FrontPath. The ProGear used a Transmeta chip and a resistive digitizer. The ProGear initially came with a version of Slackware Linux, but could later be bought with Windows 98. [edit]Microsoft Tablet PC Main article: Microsoft Tablet PC In 1999, Microsoft attempted to re-institute the by-then decades-old tablet concept by assigning two well-known experts in the field, from Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, to the project.[4] In 2000 Microsoft coined the term "Microsoft Tablet PC" for tablet PCs built to Microsoft's specification, and running a licensed specific tablet enhanced version of its Microsoft Windows OS.[10][25]Microsoft Tablet PCs were targeted to address business needs mainly as note-taking devices, and as rugged devices for field work.[5] In the health care sector, tablet computers were intended for data capture - such as registering feedback on the patient