PC Tablet Combines The Power Of Handhelds

The Qbe Personal Computing Tablet (PCT) combines the power and functionality of a notebook computer with the mobility of handheld systems. The Qbe Vivo is a computer, Internet appliance and portable wireless device all rolled into one small unit having a footprint measuring just 9" x 12" and weighing under four pounds. And its 1.8" profile makes room for processors ranging from a 500-MHz Celeron up to a 850-MHz Pentium, as well as for up to 128 MB of RAM (expandable to 384 MB) and a 5 to 20 GB hard drive. The 10.4" XGA TFT display provides images in portrait or landscape modes. The system also includes a 56K modem, 10/100 Ethernet connections, one Type II/III PCMCIA slot, two USB ports, and a built-in 802.11b wireless radio card. The tablet also offers a battery recharging docking station that includes a parallel, serial and three USB ports for total connectivity. Users can carry the unit like a clipboard and simply take notes, fill out forms or report data, or, with voice recognition software, create documents, send e-mails, and navigate the system using voice commands. The Qbe Vivo also includes a built-in digital CMOS camera for taking photos, shooting a video or even video conferencing via the Internet. Other components include stereo speakers, sound input/output jacks, as well as four built-in noise canceling microphones. And with its battery-power management system, it provides 2.5 to 3.5 hours of computing time. The starting price is $1,799.