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Among the new products at CeBIT can be found not only extravagant concepts, but it would seem, have already become familiar and not causing much excitement devices. Here, for example, the company Seiko Instruments introduced in Hanover electronic pen InkLink. It can be used as a normal ink pen with replaceable cartridges, which in itself is interesting (even to - watch Seiko, pen Seiko - a complete set of business-dandy). But e-filling pen turns it into a portable digitizer. Everything that you write it on paper, will be recognized, converted into digital format and transmitted to the computer - a desktop machine, laptop and even a pocket typewriter - through an infrared port. To connect to computers in the kit to handle InkLink is connected to a USB adapter Data Clip. Well, stick to handhelds can work without any kind adapter. Is it worth the pleasure to $ 150 (they certainly do not have). Something similar has already appeared on the market. However, more cumbersome, is not as elegant and significantly more expensive. But if you walk to the site Seiko (if not the knock came near their booth in Hannover), to look at one more closely related to InkLink, the development company. Namely - to pad SmartPad 2 (there is also the first model, which is also talk a little bit). The fact that SmartPad 2 turns Palm handheld into almost an adequate substitute for a laptop, if a small computer is needed for working with text, and not for the network of wandering or playing games.
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Perhaps at first glance a notebook and not impressed - another, albeit convenient, but only a cover for a PDA. But we must look closely and reflect. Include the imagination, to recall their own anguish at a lab trying to collect on the Palm a couple of kilobytes of text ... folded notebook SmartPad 2 resembles paper organizer in a leather cover with a zipper and a dashing temlyachkom in the end - sort of hand "noose", designed to not to lose the desired entries in the city behind, along with a fashionable handbag. Dimensions - slightly larger than that of the most popular organizers, but significantly less than the A4. That is, the hands do not draw it out and cling to the passers-by will not. Unzips and disclose SmartPad 2. Cover unfolds like a folder of papers. In this case, the right half will be ordinary paper notepad, something flat-plastic under it which is not throwing paper pile notebook, perhaps, not be seen. In the center left of the crease, pen (almost the same as InkLink, but other design and name - Ink Pen). Attached Velcro "fasteners" PC Palm - anyone from model III, including all clones (it goes without saying that the computer should attach itself - notebook is sold as an accessory). Below is a computer pocket for credit cards or business cards (or, say, a removable flash memory cards). Above left - some sly flourish, upon closer look reveals the merging infrared adapter for PDA from Handspring. Below - cell phone holder. Total - paper notebook, an infrared pen digitizer, PDA and cell phone. That still need to live a computerized traveler? But that's not all! That plastic gizmo that is hidden under a notebook - this keyboard. Yes, the usual QWERTY keyboard, similar in size on a computer keyboard Psion. (Manufacturer gives a more specific indicator - notebook keyboard more on-screen keyboard Palm in 2,5 times - it is easy to figure out how it looks in its natural form).Now for sure - all ... Now let's deal in handy if we have this Seiko, whether it is their $ 200 (as usual - without a single cent), which gives a practical sense. I think any owner of cars Palm without any doubt will say - a wonderful thing. Even if in the notebook was only one keyboard, and then the Japanese could put their "smart blokonot" top five. To computers Palm, as the most popular PDAs, produced a number of different keyboards. They are available for the Pocket PC, but everything is a little more complicated - and the compatibility between different models (it simply does not exist), and the cost (Pocket PC is a computer Hi-end, and because the price of peripherals for them, too, "High-End" , although the difference is not so great). But what kind of keyboard or choose, to use it is not very convenient. Folding should be expanded and somewhere to attach. Flexible lay out is not necessary, but without a solid surface is a natural jelly. Portable join can be used even in the air, so the buttons are sometimes too small. Not in a world of perfection ... The keyboard such babes as Psion Revo and 5mx - this is hardly an ideal solution either. The dimensions are such that the ten fingers are not going to print, but two (both novice typist) - easily. At the same time, the machine is quite compact and fits in any pocket. Keyboard SmartPad 2 are made on the same principle. It is large enough to print two fingers, with minimal errors. At the same dimensions of the computer is not increasing - it is quite possible to shove in my pocket. A SmartPad 2, respectively - the armpit (in a briefcase or a product string bag). Who will now say that the Pocket PC from this symbiosis with the external keyboard is too big? By the way, unlike the first, issued without serial number, model SmartPad of SmartPad 2 - in the absence of the keyboard. So that the user has a choice - whether it is enough "advanced" handwriting information, or even better to err and hardware keyboard. In a typical situation when notebook is opened and resting on a table or on your knees user, the keyboard is covered by a pile of paper sheets. The chip is that it is more convenient to write on paper than on a small keyboard. Fluent writing with a fountain pen (probably Scooter - I honestly could not see) on paper - is familiar to us from childhood, school, and therefore familiar. But as soon as there is no need to hurry and a digitized electronic pen filled text is transmitted via infrared to the handheld computer and is recognized, it is time to change their runaway scribble. Here in handy keyboard ... and such a case. Print, print, and suddenly tired. You take a pen and - writing. Even the laptop does not offer such opportunities. A person who writes a capricious creature. Sometimes he wants diversity. In short, it's great - write by hand and typing when you want it. Indeed, a wonderful thing. But here, in this SmartPad 2, there is also a cell phone. Not for nothing, huh? Exactly - an ulterior motive. Now even the SMS-message can be written by hand and then transfer who should, blocking all records of typing speed at Spartan telephone keypad. And paired with the laptop SmartPad 2 may be tender calf with two cows. Pen notebook without reason reminds InkLink. The entire problem - in the proper software support. And she, in general, provided - notebook can work as a digitizer with a PC during synchronization with the latter. Something like this is implemented as a program that turns your computer screen Palm into a tablet. But we should not lose sight of that with notepad SmatrPad can draw on two conventional and fairly large-sized paper, not on the tiny screen of your Pocket PC. Can set SmartPad 2 + Palm to replace a laptop? In some cases - yes. Yet large text type is more convenient for full-size keyboard laptop computer. But to write an article, click Edit final text, enter the address base of hundreds of addresses and phone numbers, plan, list of current affairs - and why not? By weight, overall price and performance handheld electronic notebook and Seiko will give odds to any laptop (unless it's an old wreck on the outdated processor). Incomparable and battery life. Finally, you can even use a notebook on the subway, in the case of the laptop is problematic.Perhaps, we should not overestimate the possibilities and the product Seiko. Either connect to the PDA peripherals, especially such a cumbersome, takes little car from the category of pocket. But the owner SmartPad 2 and PC Palm is always a choice. When a work is not expected - PDA live in your pocket. Conversely, the looming meeting or a creative journey - it's time to grab a clever cover.
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In times of registration computers Newton (pictured) on these glorious machines most people stare writers, such as journalists. In fact, the powerful, convenient diskless machine, which can without much risk of damage to carry around everywhere. At the same time, the keyboard is a modified Newton - the school car iMate - was ideal for working with text, since the same size keyboard with a laptop. And native attachable keyboard for Newton were quite comfortable. Add to this a remarkable and hitherto unsurpassed ability PDA from Apple's handwriting recognition, an excellent tool turns. But the idyll is destroyed the high price of the kit. IMate same cost as a decent laptop. Not depart from him and Newton with attachable keyboard ... However, that now to talk about what is not? A sad story. Notebook SmartPad 2 from Seiko reviving almost forgotten already pretty dream journalist have a complete portable tool for use on the road. Had this thing in our stores (with the active capital company specializing in sales and support of portable computing, wait, I guess not for long), and many users would Psion sighed with relief. Keyboard computers attract exactly possibilities of working with text, not as something unimaginable prettiness software. In general, it is strange. It is strange that the keyboard handhelds, virtually no developing. Appear conceptual prototypes or models with very small keyboards (like the new products from Sony). But whether they are convenient for writing man? Or is it just we are eyeing the PDA as a laptop replacement? Maybe leave Caesar? But again - a limited battery life, considerable weight, fragility of the hard drive. By the way, the industry's laptops are observed similar attempts - connecting a laptop with a handwriting input device in a pen that could write on plain paper. Talking about IBM Transnote - a laptop, "packaged" in the same leather folder with a paper pad and electronic pen. But this machine produces very short time, appeared in Moscow shops (impressing potential buyers of high-cost) and has been discontinued.
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Versatility Transnote was beyond praise. The touch screen of the computer could be placed on the keyboard, turning your computer into a web-tablet, could give the traditional screen, like all laptops, the situation could expand the screen to show presentations, leaving before the keyboard. A folded IBM Transnote looked almost like SmartPad 2 - leather folder, beautiful, graceful, but no more.
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With regard to the practical application of the notebook from Seiko (if you want and be able to buy it), it seems to me that the most effective supplement to it will be another electronic pen - scanner C-Pen with built-in recognition software and a translator. C-Pen is available for a long time, and in particular needs no advertising.It should only be noted that with Palm computers this pen scanner works without any kind of problems. But in writing the owner of Palm will be a reliable means of data entry, powerful translator (superior quality translation translation program), and partially lifted an important problem. We do not say anything about Russification SmartPad 2, right? Not a word said about her and producer. And the C-Pen, part of the Russian language is all right. This pen perfectly "understood" in Russian. However, what do we want? Had not yet otshumet CeBIT (almost like Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin, classic oratory - "still wet kisses"), and we have to try on new items for themselves. The authors, translation: