In case you’re new to the Tabletscape, I’ve put together a little Tablet PC Hardware Dictionary to help you find your way. This isn’t meant to incorporate every detailed spec but to give you a lighthearted overview of Tablet Hardware. Enjoy. Feel free to add to the dictionary with comments to this post.

Tabletscape - A parallel universe where ink is King, OneNote is Queen and guys like Kevin Tofel can be rock stars.

Slate Tablet - A PC running Microsoft’s Tablet PC operating system, which allows using a special pen and which does not have a built in keyboard. Often this is used by advanced tableteers seeking freedom from the tyranny of the Qwerty. (Example: Motion LS800)

Convertible Tablet - A PC running Microsoft’s Tablet PC operating system, which allows using a special pen and which has a built in keyboard. User often select convertibles as a hedge against learning to use the pen or if they have heavy data entry requirements. Convertibles are typically heavier than slates. Unlike cars, convertibles are not necessarily cooler. (Example: Lenovo X60 which may actually be cooler, go figure)

Hybrid Tablet - A PC running Microsoft’s Tablet PC operating system, which allows using a special pen and which has a detachable keyboard. Hybrids offer some benefits of both Slates and Convertibles. They also have a high cool factor and often a high cool factor price. (Example: HP TC1100, sadly discontinued)

Apple Tablet - See Fairytales, Myths and Legends. (Example: See Photoshop ’cause that’s the only picture you’re gonna get)

Dell Table - See Holy Grail

Keyboard - See Anti-Christ

Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) - A smaller version of a slate tablet with a 7 inch touch screen and high cool factor, usually weighing less than 2 lbs. (Example: Samsung Q1)

The Perfect Carrying Case - See Holy Grail. Currently you can only use The Perfect Carrying case to carry the Dell Tablet or the Apple Tablet since none of these exist.

Active Digitizer - A tablet pc screen that responds to electronic impulses from the pen. Touching the screen with anything other than the pen has no effect. Active digitizers may be more accurate than touch screen input, until of course, you lose the pen. Then touch screens are always more accurate.

Touch Screen - A tablet pc screen that responds to touch input and does not require a special pen. However, many touchscreens can result in vectoring (stray inputs) from the users palm or heel of their hand. Please don’t use other body parts with your touch screen. Enough said.

EVDO - High speed cellular leash connection that allows broadband class speeds. Currently available in and around major cities with a special card. Mine works at the beach. Yours will only work at the beach if I’m with you.

Tablet Like PC - PC’s with specifications similar to a Tablet PC or UMPC but not running the MS Tablet PC OS. (Example: Sony VAIO UX280P or Flybook)

A 2 lb convertible tablet with a Pentium processor, high resolution touch screen, anti-vectoring features, daylight viewing angles, 8 hr battery life, WWAN, WIFI, Bluetooth, Windows Vista Ultimate with Aero and a 100mb hard drive for under $1,000. - Ha Ha Ha Ha ROTF LOL crying! It’s fun to dream!

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