Another 256 MB Tablet: HiPAD II

Call me crazy, but I have a hard time getting jazzed about Tablet PCs with 256 MB of RAM. Having said that, the new kid on the block appears to be the HiPAD II, which looks more like an Etch-a-Sketch than any recent new product; at least the red model does. This is another AMD Geode LX800-based Tablet PC running on, you guessed it, 256 MB of RAM which is actually on-board. You can upgrade the memory to a GB, so all is not lost, but it concerns me that consumers might skimp on memory to add other features and then become totally disillusioned by a Tablet PC for all the wrong reasons. [Hint: don't skimp on the RAM]

The 10.4-inch touchscreen is only SVGA capable natively, but the HiPAD does have a few perks that not all smallish tablets have: PCMCIA slot, Compact Flash, two USB 2.0 ports and an integrated fold-out stand. No word on price, but this looks geared for the Far East market so we may not see one in the flesh.

-kct