Right Brain Thinking

Toshiba's New multiscreen tablet (for which read netbook form factor without the keyboard) is supposed to herald a revolution in PC design. The tablet features the award winning Windows 7 operating system. Is this an iPAD beater?

Good Points about Libretto W100:

What is good is the small size in the hand and the addition of a webcam which is a must. It includes a USB port and a built-in memory reader. In other words it is extendable which is sorely lacking from the iPad. It weighs in at under 2 pounds - approximately 1.5 pounds which is light compared to netbooks

Bad Points about Libretto W100

Number 1: it uses Windows 7 which is a dead weight as a mobile system and works appallingly on netbooks. I own a Toshiba NB200 which came with Windows 7 preloaded and it is the worst and slowest computer I have ever experienced over 25 years. When Toshiba offer me a full Windows 7 experience: I take that as a threat!

The design, like all Toshibas, is boring as hell. Do they actually employ product designers?

It looks completely confusing. What do I want two screens for? I just don't get it at all. If I want a computer to work on I can use a desktop or laptop, if I want something to carry around and enjoy then a single screen tablet is perfect. If I want a combination I can use a wireless keyboard which would be perfect.

A lot of reviewers have criticised the iPad for being a blown up iPhone as though that is a bad thing. It is great: the OS is stable and mature, it is fast and it operates to clear user interface protocols that exactly match the touchscreen interaction. Android operates in a very similar way. Both start from the touchscreen and the mobile experience. The trouble with Windows is that it tries to coopt desktop paradigms to other situations. It has not worked for Windows Mobile and it won't work for Tablets. One major problem is that Windows is file centric rather than app centric. The codebase is a nightmare and oh boy is it a disaster when you dont have the necessary grunt and memory for the operating system. That is the problem with my Netbook - it is so slooooooow.

Toshiba will need to look hard at Android and then produce an Android based Tablet and soon...