Tablet
PCs in Today's World
by Del McCool
Microsoft announced
the release of its new operating system this
past week on 7 November. This operating
system is an XP version designed for use on
tablet
computers, somewhere between a PDA and a laptop.
Tablet computers
have been around since the early '90s but MS
has now decided they are more than just a fad.
Within the field
of these tablet computers, is one brand that
stands alone as being built for the most rugged
users. These tablets
are made by Xplore Technologies with its corporate
office in Toronto, Canada, its manufacturing
in Austin, Texas and its European office in
Helsinki, Finland.
These guys have
long been involved in making these tablet PCs
for the public safety markets.
![[Photo: This is the law!]](images/delpic1.jpg)
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New Xplore tablet
with MS Tablet PC OS.
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Recently a used
PC dealer is selling one of the older models
of the Xplore tablet on eBay. Now instead
of spending $3,000.00 for a tablet you
could get one for $200.00. This model
is called the Genesys I, and comes with a docking
station called the xpod.
I took one of
these Genesys I and loaded my favorite Atari
8-bit emulator on it.
![[Photo: Genesys running Atari 8-bit emulator]](images/delpic2.jpg)
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Xplore Genesys
with Atari 8-bit emulator running.
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Mounting the
Genesys in the xpod you can hook up a PS/2 keyboard,
USB speakers while sitting on the desktop.
![[Photo: Genesys on desktop with speakers and keyboad]](images/delpic3.jpg)
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Xplore Genesys
mounted in the xpod on desktop, running M.U.L.E.
through the Atari 8-bit emulator.
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![[Photo: Genesys running M.U.L.E.]](images/delpic4.jpg)
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The nice thing
about a tablet is you can take this with you
as a portable PC and use the on-screen keyboard
while you hand carry it running off batteries.
![[Photo: You now have an Atari Tablet PC]](images/delpic5.jpg)
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You now have
an Atari Tablet PC.
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Finally I loaded an Atari ST emulator on the Genesys I and it ran fine also.
When I enlarged
it to full-screen size the touch screen seems
a little slow to move the mouse. In the
reduced screen it seemed to work just fine.
![[Photo: The ST Pad becomes reality?]](images/delpic6.jpg)
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The ST Pad
becomes reality?
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In closing, using
the Atari computer can be as limited or vast
as you like. For more information on tablet
PCs check out the links below.
del@myatari.co.uk
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