California based Always Innovating have just given us a preview of the Touch Book they are launching which is essentially a Netbook and a Tablet as it combines the features of a standard Netbook with a detachable keyboard and a 3D touch screen user interface.
You might ask what you can use it for or why you would want one. I mean we already have a plethora of netbooks, notebooks and laptops to choose from so what makes this one special? I think probably its versatility.
“The Touch Book is perfect for these tough economic times because you can use it in so many ways,” says Gregoire Gentil, founder of Always Innovating and creator of the Touch Book
“You can use it as a Netbook computer, a hand-held game machine or a video player. You can even reverse the keyboard to prop it up on a table in an inverted ‘V’. Finally, because it is magnetic, you can remove the keyboard and put the tablet on the fridge to serve as a kitchen computer or digital frame.”
Sounds pretty good so far but let’s have a look at the specs.
The Touch Book comes with ARM Texas Instruments OMAP3 chip and the default Touch Screen OS but apparently it will be easy to install any other OS you fancy. Of course it has Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth. For storage there’s an 8GB micro SD card.
It measures just over 9 inches by 7 inches and about 1 and a quarter inch thick. It weighs 2 pounds all in all. The screen size is 8.9 inches with a resolution of 1,024 x 600. It has 3 internal USB slots, 2 external ones and a mini USB port and 10 to 15 hours of battery life.
The long battery life is great but only if the keyboard is attached. Different story for the Standalone Touch Screen though, the battery will only last around 3 to 5 hours.
I love the fact that it is mercifully silent. Another definite plus is that it’s incredibly low on power.
Basically the Touch Book would be perfect as a second portable Netbook that you can take out and about with you. It’s small enough to carry around no matter where you go and it’s functional enough to do everything you would want to do.
Before you rush off to buy one, they aren’t available until late Spring early Summer but if you’re interested then Always Innovating are taking advanced orders now and you can expect to pay around £250 or $375 approx for one.
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