Tablet

We've witnessed a fascinating evolution in computer hardware during the last couple of decades.

Through the mid-'90s and up until very recently, most of you either owned a laptop or a desktop--or both.

Desktops were critical for work, school, and gaming--a dependable workhorse and the first computer experience for most. Laptops then became a staple for many, especially when the devices became cheaper, more powerful, and infused with longer battery life.

Many of you remember when PDAs hit the scene; they were rather clunky in design and had somewhat arduous to use operating systems. And you can't forget about the meager battery life and expensive data charges.

Evolution swept up the mess. And now we're on the precipice of a dual-core smartphone becoming the norm with access to thousands of apps that can do just about anything. Wireless data is affordable and fast and is often easily available. … Read more

When it comes to Android hardware makers, Dell is not a name that immediately comes to mind.

Thus far the PC giant has had a tough time cracking the Android market thanks to uninspiring phones and tablets. I see many people carrying around Android devices, but I've yet to notice someone with a Dell Aero or a Streak tablet. Companies such as HTC and Samsung own the smartphone space, while traditional computer companies struggle in this new war. Thankfully, the tablet wars are just now getting underway. As a result, Dell could find itself turning things around in short … Read more

The year started out with only one Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet on the horizon (the Motorola Xoom). Today, nearly halfway through the year, we have so many Honeycomb tablets flying around CNET that it's hard to keep them all straight. More importantly, the prices on these things are steadily creeping downward, making them a more compelling alternative to Apple's lowest-priced iPad 2. Two of the latest low-cost Honeycomb tablets to hit the shelves are the Acer Iconia Tab A500 and the Asus Eee Pad Transformer. The only trouble is, it's almost impossible to tell the two … Read more

Comcast has updated its iOS Xfinity TV app to version 1.5, bringing a much requested feature, previously available only on the Apple iPad, to the software.

Apple iPhone and iPod Touch owners can now stream a massive collection of video content from the Comcast vaults over Wi-Fi. At last count, there was more than 4,500 hours of content available through Comcast's Xfinity On-Demand video service. The app also serves as a remote control and DVR controller for supported cable boxes. … Read more

When Google announced Android 3.1 Honeycomb was coming to the Xoom last week, I was pretty excited. Honeycomb's already a great tablet OS, so any improvements could only add to its functionality and efficiency. Unfortunately the version 3.1 update was released over the air and was rolled out in spurts. Our Xoom didn't receive its update until earlier this week. Google detailed changes to expect, but I wanted to check and see just how well some of them were implemented.

Browser Aside from a few annoyances, I thought the Chrome browser in Honeycomb 3.0.1 … Read more

We've been testing and reviewing Windows tablets for many years, the latest being the new Acer Iconia Tab W500P, but have typically found them lacking--both in comparison with more powerful Windows laptops, and with other tablets, such as Apple's popular iPad.

One Windows tablet that we've been eager to check out after seeing it at CES 2011 is the Asus Eee Slate EP121, a high-end touch-screen tablet with a separate Bluetooth keyboard. Asus is, for the uninitiated, most responsible for the (now faded) popularity of low-cost Netbooks, and the company is now pushing the boundaries of what … Read more

T-Mobile is the latest carrier to have its product lineup leaked and, to no one's surprise, it's full of Android phones and tablets.

Customers coming up for renewal between now and the end of 2011 will have plenty of Android-powered options to choose from, as it looks like the wireless provider will be rolling out nearly a dozen new phones and tablets from a variety of manufacturers starting next month.

June 8 will see the debut of two Android phones in the form of the HTC Sensation 4G and the Samsung Exhibit. As many of you know, the … Read more

Selling PCs isn't the business it used to be.

HP said yesterday that revenue from consumer notebook and desktop sales dropped 23 percent in the last quarter, Dell reported yesterday its sales of computers to consumers dipped 7 percent, and Acer's shipments dove 16 percent percent. Meanwhile, tablets, specifically the iPad, are flying off shelves. Gartner is predicting Apple will sell 47 million iPads this year, out of 70 million tablets worldwide, and that the overall number of tablets will grow to 108 million next year.

Taken together it's easy to conclude that the relatively new tablets are cannibalizing PC sales in the consumer market. And they are, but not in a way you might expect. A recent study from Forrester showed that people who buy a tablet are more likely to have purchased a computer in the last two years. Forty-four percent of them had bought a PC in the previous year, 28 percent in the previous two years.

The more accurate conclusion is that tablets are establishing themselves as a replacement for a second or third computer. Consider the tablet the replacement for that computer people would like to have but could do without. … Read more

iPads are catching on among business users, a study released today has found, but most of them don't have a clear strategy for the tablets.

Dimensional Research, in a survey of 448 businesses, found that 22 percent have deployed tablets, 22 percent plan to do so this year, and 24 percent plan to next year.

And although Apple isn't known for its corporate focus or market penetration, it's the leader when it comes to tablets: 83 percent said they would be using iPads. That compares to 17 percent for RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook, 14 percent for HP'… Read more