Why your next PC will be a tablet

摘要

Sleek, ultra-mobile computers are being designed to cater to bridge the gap between what PCs do and what mobile phones do. An array of new tablets, including offerings from every major computer and phone maker, are being launched in many different sizes. The most popular slate so far is the Apple iPad. The iPad measures 9.5 inches tall by 7.5 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and carries a 9.7-inch screen. Meanwhile, at the larger end of the spectrum, a company called Kno is producing a line of Linux-based slates aimed at the textbook market, Inspired by bulky college texts, the Kno measure 14 inches diagonally; a planned future release promises a foldable double-slate format that will enable students to view two full-size pages at once. Mobile gaming, meanwhile, will receive a powerful shot in the arm from tablets. Both Apple's App Store and Google's Android Market already teem with high-definition 3D games such as EA's Madden 11 and Firemint's Real Racing.