What is a tablet PC?
The “tablet” is slate or tablet shaped mobile computer with typically a 12″ or less touchscreen or stylus pen activated screen. Anything much larger would be too cumbersome to carry about, and then your well into laptop territory.
These computers, although around for over a decade have been reborn, made possible by miniaturization of chip technology and advances in screen (LCD) cost reductions. There was an attempt to entice people to purchase smaller screen touchscreen devices, similar to a mobile phone, but then manufacturers realized that there was a minimum screen size and specification that consumers demanded.
Only a few years ago if someone asked you “What is a tablet PC?”, it would be a computer with a touchscreen and stylus pen, attached with a foldaway keyboard of some sort and would normally be used as a graphical or design based tablet. Like the HP Pavilion Tablet in the picture.
Old skool tablet PC with attached keyboard
Nowadays the tablet or slate PC is an all in one device, without any attached keyboard, sometimes without pen, used for watching videos, surfing the web, showcases photos and tonnes of other applications.
The quality of screen now makes it feasible to watch HD content, while previously a CRT monitor would be the best thing to watch it on.
These hand held portable computers come in many brands with the most popular being the Apple iPad range and more recently the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Asus EEE Slate, The Motorola Xoom and many others.
Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab
They also run all the common computer platforms like Windows, Apple OS, Linux and also Android. Some even have their own custom platforms dedicated to the device. Choice of platform is one thing to look for when deciding on the best tablet pc.
Only the best tablets make it into the Top 10 Tablet PC so look out for more improvements and enhancements coming soon