HP Compaq TC1100

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TC1100 in slate mode with the keyboard removed
TC1100 in slate mode with the keyboard removed
TC1100 unfolded with keyboard attached
TC1100 unfolded with keyboard attached

The HP Compaq TC1100 is a tablet PC that was the follow up to the Compaq TC1000. The TC1100 had either an Intel Celeron or an Intel Pentium M chip set and could be upgraded to a maximum amount of 2 gigabytes of memory. These upgrades from the TC1000 were much welcomed after numerous complaints about the slowness of the TC1000. The TC1100 was the last version from HP in this style of tablet. It was replaced by the HP Compaq TC4200.

Contents

[edit] Design

The TC1100 shares the same basic design as the TC1000. It has a unique design that has been coined by many as a hybrid tablet. This refers to the fact that it has the properties of both a convertible and slate tablet. All the necessary hardware components are stored within the casing of the display and digitizer. This allows it to work with or without a keyboard attached. With the keyboard attached it can either be used in the same fashion as a laptop, with the keyboard supporting the rest of the tablet, or with the back of the tablet folded into the keyboard allowing the user to write on the screen easily. This sort of design gives much versatility and has gathered a cult-like following due to the lack of similar designs on the market.

The ability to upgrade hardware is key to extending a computer's life and the TC1100 allows for easy access to its memory, hard drive, and wireless card. The memory comes standard as either 256MB or 512MB and can be upgraded to 2GB. The hard drive is also easily upgradeable and most 2.5-inch IDE hard drives are compatible with it. The wireless card can be accessed from the same area as the memory, but some tablets that did not originally have a wireless card installed may not have the antenna installed either making a new installation either hard or impossible.[1]

To help with the lack of interface utilities when writing on a tablet, HP implemented 6 customizable buttons, 3 external and 3 ingrained in the edge of the display, as well as a "jog dial" below the 3 external buttons. The jog dial allows the user to scroll up and down and can be pushed in to call the Enter command equivalent on the keyboard. The 3 buttons located on the display can only be accessed using the tablet's digitizer pen.

Small "feet" were also included on the back on the tablet, allowing for an angled writing surface when extended. Unlike the corners of the tablet, the feet are not rubber tipped and therefore can lead to movement of the tablet on smooth surfaces.

[edit] Discontinued

By the end of 2005, HP had discontinued the TC1100. There has been much debate and discussion on the Web as to why the tablet was discontinued. It has also gained an almost cult-like following and can still be bought through certain retailers and eBay. HP's official response to questions asked about the TC1100's discontinuation is that "HP remains committed to the Tablet PC platform".[2]

[edit] TX1000 Series

Since discontinuing the TC1100, HP has released a new line of tablets, the TX1100US and the TX1200US being the first of the line. These updated versions are substantially more powerful than the TC series, but are of the more conventional convertible design.

[edit] Appearances in Popular Culture

  • The TC1100 was used by Tom Cruise's character, Vincent, in Collateral.
  • The TC1100 was also seen in the movie Alien vs. Predator.
  • The TC1100 was also used by Dr. Cameron in an episode of House MD
  • The TC1100 can also been seen in the film The Island starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johannson.
  • The TC1100 was also used by characters in the TV show Alias
  • The TC1100 was also used by characters in episodes 18, 19 and 22 of season 3 and 4 of 24
  • The TC1100 was also used by characters in the TV show CSI: Miami
  • The TC1100 was also used by characters in the TV show House
  • The TC1100 was also used by Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin) in the TV show "Bones"

[edit] References

  1. ^ Christopher J. James (2005). TC Upgrades. Retrieved on 2006-11-29.
  2. ^ Mark Payton (2005). What is HP Thinking. Vermont Slate. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links