August 3rd, 2009

Always Innovating Touch Book hybrid device now shipping

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 9:49 am

Categories: Gadgets, Netbook, Ultra portable PC

Tags: Touch Book, Tablets, Keyboards, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Peripherals, Matthew Miller

I have jumped between slate Tablet PCs, convertible Tablet PCs, and netbooks in the past and it really came down to the familiar form factor and easy text input of a physical keyboard that won me over with my MSI Wind. If you are one of those that sees the benefits of both form factors and can’t decide then you may want to pick up the Always Innovating Touch Book device that is now shipping to buyers. The Touch Book is a hybrid device that appears to be a netbook, but transforms into a slate tablet when the display is lifted up and off of the cradle.

Specifications of the Always Innovating Touch Book include:

• Custom Linux-based operating system
• Texas Instruments OMAP3530 with Micron 256MB (RAM) + 256MB (NAND) Memory
• 8.9 inches 1024×600 pressure sensitive touchscreen display
• Main storage: 8GB SD card — we decided to change from Micro SD to standard SD, so that you can easily upgrade it
• Internal USB wifi 802.11 b/g/n powered by a Ralink 3070 chipset
• Internal USB bluetooth class 2.1
• US Qwerty 24cm-large keyboard — around 95% of the size of a standard keyboard
• Cirque Touchpad
• Two Owolff high-quality internal stereo speakers
• 3D accelerometer
• Two internal batteries 6000 and 12000 mAh — it can be replaced with a screw driver
• 7 USB ports: three external, four internal, three of them may be reserved for wifi, bluetooth and keyboard
• Bi-color silver/black case with a dark-red back cover
• Secured attachment system of tablet into keyboard
• Independent magnet system for the tablet

As you can see on their site there is a large backlog so those who first pre-ordered the device will get it while others may have to wait longer.

The device sells for $299 (for tablet only) and $399 (with the keyboard).