It is believed that the words "party", had meant the "Lenin". Debatable, but absolutely no doubt that today, saying, "ViewSonic" the vast majority of people mean by "Monitor". And by and large, these people are right - two years ago, the company ranked first in Russia by the number of selling displays. In recent years, ViewSonic few lost their positions, but nevertheless, if you ask a dozen people on the street, in the eyes which can be seen that they are not alien to the life of computer topics, eight or nine probably answer that makes the ViewSonic monitors, and a good monitor. However, our readers have a few days before today's presentation to know that a positive contribution to the advancement of high-tech monitors is not limited. We already wrote about the new Pocket PC for Intel XScale, which price shall not pass for $ 300. Today it emerged that ViewSonic is still a lot that could please fans of mobile electronics.
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So yesterday, in "Congress Hall" hotel "Renaissance" held a press conference the company ViewSonic - the first official press conference in our country. First, because prior to this company for a long time to lead the Russian market displays, had its office in the country. Just two weeks ago, this office opened (now in his state three people), which suggests that the company apparently decided to regain market leadership. However, enough of the monitors. At ViewSonic is more than we are happy. The press conference was also a presentation - on the table in front of beauties-LCD panels were device related to a class of mobile and wireless. Among them are two new items - the first plate or "tablet" personal computer (Tablet PC), running on operating system version, Windows XP, specifically designed for use in devices of this class, and what the company calls a "wireless display" airpanel 100. Surprised that ViewSonic suddenly engaged in such things? That is not quite suddenly - the first models of "tablets" ViewSonic appeared more than a year ago. Such as this - with built-in digital camera and a wireless keyboard:
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Nevertheless, the decision still very unexpected. However, the manager of mobile and wireless products Aaron Frith (Aaron Fright) found a remarkable obyasenie: "Look at cell phone. Now look at the personal digital organizer. Now look at the laptop. Quite different things, right?" What they have in common? Display "And you, I think, agree that it really displays ViewSonic can do!". Indeed it seems a very sensible idea to the company that the system unit in modern computers more and more compressed, occupies less space, and soon in general, "reduced to below the floor," as kerrolovskaya Alice. Nevertheless, the means of exchanging information between the user and the computer is necessary. And what could be more user-friendly interface than the monitor? And that is why most modern computers are composed of only one display, which in fact, ViewSonic and demonstrated.
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First "vyusonikovtsy" talked about the monitor, which includes a computer - on the tablet V1100. When fully "notebook" functionality it weighs only three pounds. Screen, as some of the best representatives of the genus PDA - transflective. But the resolution is quite "adult": 1024x768 pixels. However, the screen is brought to an HP iPaq 3970 has seemed to me more light and contrast. Nevertheless, it is seen in V1100 everything just fine. But the sensitivity of the sensor layer is very low.The stylus has thoroughly dent in the surface and the nail (do not tell ViewSonic'u that I tried :-)) work at almost does not work.
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"Iron stuffing" - as in most modern laptops. Mobile version of the processor Pentium III, running at a clock frequency of 866 MHz, 20 Gbaytny hard drive, 256 MB of RAM (I have a house less!). Intel 830MG graphics adapter works very well. Toys on the tablet could not run in view of their absence, but in any case, Windows XP with all the "niceties" simply works "Hurrah" - nothing slows down, everything is very smooth and fast. Battery capacity 5400 mAh, which, according to company representatives is sufficient for 3-5 hours. Um ... 5 hours, with a Pentium III processor and a screen this size? In general, wait until the device comes to us for testing, then check this out. And here is a set of communication functions is well-founded admiration. Any PDA like not even dreamed of. And not all laptops have all these opportunities. Thus, the V1100 has a built-in wireless data stanarta 802.11b, also known as Wi-Fi or Wireless LAN. It allows you not only enjoy wireless internet access points, especially oborudovannh or work in a wireless local area networks. With this module for the tablet, you can connect a wireless keyboard, which also managed popolzovavshis at the presentation. True, it was connected to an older model. Next: connector for modem cables and built-in modem V.90, connector for Ethernet LAN and built-in network adapter, two built in USB (however, version 1.1, not newfangled 2.0), a PCMCIA slot and a slot Compact Flash Type II, connector connect an external monitor, FireWire port and connector for an additional docking station. It seems that nothing is forgotten, except that the headphone jack and built-in stereo speakers. Working all this wealth in a specially adapted for use on a Tablet PC version of Windows XP, which, in particular, have built-in "manual" input (remember that there is also a smart wireless keyboard). This virtual keyboard and handwriting recognition. Keyboard perfectly ordinary. True, large and comfortable due to the size of the screen (the image on the user, by the way, can quickly deploy to 90 degrees in the so-called "landscape" mode). But the recognition just fine, better than Transcriber, to which we are accustomed to your PDA. The point, perhaps, not so much exactly how much in speed. Although the accuracy and at a height of - new algorithm "sampled" (digitizes) the image 133 times per second, which allows almost completely avoid making mistakes.
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In the rest - a very familiar Windows XP, with built-in Internet Explorer 6.0, Outlook, Media Player and so on. The most frequently used functions (power, input, cursor control, launch the main menu, etc.) tied to the hardware buttons on the front panel. Unfortunately, no prices on the tablet or the "wireless monitor" (about which below), the company did not name, saying only that they will not differ from the pan. However, the price of a new tablet is not listed yet, even on the site itself ViewSonuc. But airpanel 100 worth $ 860. Let's see what the company decided to evaluate this sum.
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airpanel 100 enters the market as a "wireless monitor", but in essence - is a full-fledged portable PC based on a modern operating system Windows CE.NET (version 4.0, not 4.1).And working as a "wireless monitor" device allows the supplied client Citrix ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) - software that allows you to remotely control a desktop workstation owner. By the way, built-in wireless transmitter in airpanel 100 no, so that the "wireless", this "monitor" can be called with some exaggeration. But there are two expansion slots: PCMCIA and Compact Flash, where you can "plug in" appropriate devices - Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, or GPRS, or CDMA 2000, which will help machine to transmit data over the air.
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Processor in airpanel 100 - is already well known to us Intel StrongArm, clocked at 206 MHz. With this screen size (and he's airpanel 100 for the same size as that of V1100, albeit with lower resolution - 800x600 pixels) and then "not a quick" processor may experience a problem drawing the screen - the processor bus all the time loaded. But ViewSonic has taken care of. In airpanel 100 equipped with a separate chip, is responsible for drawing the graphs of Media-Q MQ200 with two megabytes of RAM on board. Thanks to her - no "brake". Moreover, an additional graphics controller allows you to connect an external monitor and display it with an image resolution up to 1024x768 pixels with a refresh rate of 85 Hz. Unusually for a lot of familiar PDA memory - 128 MB of "RAM" (with the standard 32 MB ROM). Display with the back illuminated, bright and contrast. Unfortunately, to go out with a valuable 'stuff' was not, so how the display behaves in the sun - is unknown. However, it is still all the morning rain poured down :-). Another of the valuable "tricks unit would like to mention a host-USB. The presence of this line will connect to airpanel 100 most common "desktop" keyboard, and in circumstances where it may enjoy the comfort of "full size" typing. By the way, probably the work of "suspended" with such a device - a phenomenon not very often. Weighs airpanel 1,1 kg, battery capacity is inferior V1100 - only 1400 mAh. It is clear that the processor consumes less power, there is no hard disk, which is very "energoprozhorliv, but still unlikely airpanel especially durable in terms of battery life (the exact figures are not called). Obviously, this solution is designed for the corporate market, but at the press conference, the ViewSonic talked about the possibility of implementing airpanel 100 and retail. V1100, incidentally, in November this year, too, to go on sale. In this case, unfortunately, most "retail" and the most exciting product for us - V35 Pocket PC to Russia has not yet arrived. "I did not even held in my hands," - complained the head of the Russian representative Vadim Stepanishina. Well, we too are frustrated. Frustrated, the more that is not yet known whether this handheld - with an XScale, but less than $ 300 (about which we have already mentioned) sold in Russia. Product manager Aaron Frith was quite optimistic on this score, saying that a month or two or three V35 will appear on the Russian shelves. But Vadim Stepanishina was more cautious in their projections: "We are now analyzing the market, looking at other applications and decide whether it makes sense to sell the V35 in our country." Hopefully, it's worth!
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As for new products that are before the press conference yet arrived ... Their fate in Russia, I think it will be difficult, though predictable. Why buy a device with Wi-Fi, if public access points, we have practically no? Even in countries where it remains much smaller than ours - Tablet PC used primarily mobile workforce of corporations. Imagine a huge building, and better yet a whole town (what is called the campus), is fully occupied by a single company. Of course, many employees are not sitting in his office, and moved to this area, which can occupy tens of square kilometers.What to do if you see came from the morning e-mail, and to a computer at work to go half an hour? The answer is obvious, given that most campuses are fully covered by different wireless networks, including Wi-Fi. All great Tablet'u Three cheers, but now think, and where you saw these corporations in Russia? And even conducted with wireless networks? But these are often used Tablet PC and a traveling "employees. Indeed, that may be easier ... Find the point with the Wi-Fi network, and such points, say in the U.S. for another month and a half ago was, if not mistaken, around 18 thousand. So, find the point to connect using the Tablet PC to my work computer, which can be in three hundred miles, and update the list of tasks. Question. Where though, would be in Moscow, not to mention the provincial cities, there are some points? Is that along the lines of some long-distance rail links (such as the IPU should start such a project), but who said that you will use them? As for airpanel 100, then the prospects are probably brighter. If against the Tablet PC will work habits and commitment to the traditions (such as a laptop, but where is the keyboard? "), Then to the PDA, which still closer airanel, businessmen seem to have started getting used to. Plus airpanel 100 in that this device can be used for different purposes. On the one hand, the "rolled" and as the organizer - in a pocket, of course, do not climb, but to haul in the car and carry a briefcase (and ViewSonic expects it on the corporate sector - people with cars and portfolios) can be. On the other hand, can be used for "capital" designation. Benefit, 802.11b is not embedded and can use the connection type of your choice (in the V1100, of course, too, but for 802.11b buyer pays anyhow). For example, GPRS. And yet a thing dear. Almost $ 900. There is no doubt that our companies will decide to spend such money on mobile workers, especially when there are cheaper handheld with the same Windows CE.NET, which in principle can perform the same function. However, time will tell. And while we wait for machines for testing in order to acquaint the true lovers of mobile technology with the "how it all works." The authors, translation:
Konstantin Vorontsov