UMPC Review: TabletKiosk i7210

Jeff Jones, Research Fellow

Writing any hardware or software review is always a little problematic. On one hand people rely on them for purchasing decisions yet on the other they are simply one person's opinion. How many times have you read a scathing movie review written by some self proclaimed "critic" only to find later that you loved the film (I still don't understand why "Fast Times" was never even nominated for an Oscar)?

That being said, many of you have written asking for more information on the different devices DaVinci is designed to run on. To this point, a la mode's stand has been to provide you with the best software tools in the industry but to allow you to make the decisions regarding your hardware. We understand in this case that decision is made more difficult by the fact that most retail vendors do not stock a variety of UMPC's, convertibles and tablet PC's. They may have one or two on display but that's about it.

So how do you choose? These devices are not cheap and making the wrong purchase can cost big $$$. Without making outright recommendations, we've decided to provide you with some unbiased reviews of the "demo" devices we've personally been using over the last few months.

So here goes...

Mine is the TabletKiosk i7210. It's a UMPC or Ultra Mobile PC. It's sort of a cross between a PDA and a Tablet PC. Bigger than a PDA and smaller than a tablet, it's about the size of a large paperback. I think mine is an older model having been replaced by the sleeker and more feature packed v7110. In short, I don't like mine very much. There I said it but read on. The issues I have with the device may not apply or be important to you.

The problem I have is not in any way related to the TabletKiosk brand. It really has to do with the formfactor itself meaning the overall design and function of all devices in this class. In short, I fail to see their value. They cost as much as a convertible laptop and offer far fewer features. What these devices bring to the table is their small size and inherent portability. I see them as the next PDA…fun for a while but quickly loosing their appeal to professionals in the field trying to get the job done.

Let me be more specific. I do like the portability. That's what it's all about with these units but that portability comes with some pretty significant tradeoffs. This thing runs a full featured version of Windows XP and in theory can do anything your laptop or desktop can do…in theory. Its lack
of expansion ports limits it's usefulness in the field. There is one USB port and an SD card reader. In addition there are ports for headphones and a microphone. Where's the PC or ExpressCard slot for my cellular broadband card? The i7210 does have built in WiFi but for that I'll need a HotSpot. If I'm truly going to be mobile, I need to be able to use my broadband card in the field for internet access. With this device, I can't do it. For me that's a deal breaker.

The single USB port is another problem (i.e. I can't connect both a portable keyboard and printer at the same time although I think newer devices provide two ports). On the subject of the keyboard, the UMPC design calls for the user to utilize the on-screen virtual keyboard or handwriting recognition while in the field. This process works fine (with a little practice) on the larger tablet PC's but not so well on the UMPC. The numbers and letters are so small, it's very easy to hit the wrong thing. If you plan to use the device exclusively for field gathering, I would recommend using your QuickLists and Recent Response drop downs as much as possible.

Avoid typing altogether. DaVinci is designed to limit your need to type while in the field so this may not be such a big deal unless you plan to use other applications such a MS Word, Excel, etc. that require the on-screen inputs.

The screen is a big problem for me as well. Its 7" measured diagonally and uses a native resolution of 800x480. It's awful small for my 40 year old eyes however it is relatively easy to see outside in all but direct sunlight. If you have a good prescription, you should be able to see your forms. If not, you might consider getting one.

Battery life is OK. Its will last about 2 or 3 hours in the field with the WiFi cranked up and probably longer if you turn that off. Also, the unit doesn't get as hot as I thought it would but the fan is a little on the loud side. Overall build quality seems good and the unit comes with a docking station that provides better expandability while at the office. You can even add an external monitor, up to four USB devices and Ethernet and keep them attached to the docking station. In that configuration, the i7210 could double as your desktop although that might be a bit of a stretch. If you are even considering that option, make sure you have a bulletproof backup plan in place as these devices are subject to all the rigors of the field and therefore sometimes end up damaged, lost or stolen.

I think you get the point. Take this type of device for what it is…basically a big PDA. The screen is about twice the size of my old Dell Axiom and it does have a USB port and runs the full version of Windows but that's about the extent of the differences. Oh and it cost $1000 plus dollars. The argument that, unlike a PDA, this device could double as you desktop PC when used with the docking station just doesn't hold water with me. I don't think any reasonable person would use it in this manner. It would help tremendously, if a manufacturer could find a way to add support for my broadband card and give me a least 2 USB ports. It wouldn't make up for the small screen but that just comes with the package. For my money, I'll take the Tablet PC or convertible laptop.

Sure they are bigger but the trade off's for the portability of the UMPC just aren't worth it to me. In summary, the small screen and lack of PC card support would send me shopping for a tablet PC or convertible laptop. If you have good eyes and you don't mind looking for a Hot Spot for internet access, the UMPC just might work for you.