14 DAY TRIAL // Tablets have only started getting attention from the media for a couple of months but they are already seen, often without strong grounds, as a threat to other, more or less established markets, such as those for netbooks and e-readers. In fact, slates are so hyped right now that there is barely, if any, tablet-shaped electronic that escapes comparison with Apple's loved and/or hated iPad. As such, it is no surprise to hear of yet another tablet PC getting ready to make a foray into the newest niche.
The item currently under the watchful gaze of the media is an 8.4-inch tablet developed by Meizu and seems to promise quite a lot. It measures a reasonable 210 x 140 x 14 mm and has a capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1,024 x 768. This, in itself, is already noteworthy, but what seems to be more likely to cause waves is the actual system configurations housed within. Basically, the sneak peek at the specs reveals both high performance capabilities, as well as a battery life longer than that of most tablet or netbook-sized electronics to date, namely 12 hours.
The processor sitting at the heart of the Mbook will have a frequency of 1.5GHz and, most likely, will be the ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon. The amount of memory, storage and the graphics solution implemented were not disclosed, but it was implied that the mobile PC itself would support 1080p video content. This capability will be enjoyable via the integrated HDMI output, which will let HD videos be shown on full-sized screens. Unfortunately, the operating system is still unknown, with a modified version of Android being the most likely candidate.
Naturally, the slate will be equipped with all the necessary GPS, WLAN and 3G connectivity capabilities. The release date of the device is a mystery, however, which means that end-users still have time to think of what may or may not be possible for the Mbook to perform, compared to the iPad.