HP TouchSmart Tm2t vs Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t vs Apple iPad
Today on whattabletpc.com we’re going to look at another couple of alternatives to the iPad. These fall into a different category compared to the Archos 9 reviewed last week in that they’re not out-and-out tablets. These are netbooks but with a swivel screen that allows you to transform them into a tablet PC. They have their own attached physical keyboard but with flexibility to adapt to a less cumbersome device. That said, this design also makes them much more chunky and heavy than the iPad or Archos 9 device.
Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t - image courtesy of Lenovo
So how do the specs compare?
For the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t we’re going to focus on the highest spec available starting around $650. For the HP TouchSmart we’ll be going for the lowest spec starting around $900. Clearly this difference in price shows that the HP one is going to be significantly more powerful but at least we can look at what else you get for your money.
Lets take a look at the techincal side first…
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What do the other versions of the IdeaPad S10-3t do?
You can get a cheaper low spec IdeaPad that just has Windows 7 Starter edition, a less powerful processor (Intel ATOM Processor N450 – 1.66GHz 667MHz 512KB), less memory (1GB), 160 GB Hard drive and no blue tooth. Taking the spec down makes it less powerful but would save you around $100 (roughly £70) on the price.
What do the other versions of the HP TouchSmart tm2t do?
Upgrades on the HP website for the TouchSmart include Windows 7 Professional 64 bit, processor upgrade to Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 (1.60GHz, 800MHz FSB) with 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4550 Graphics, 8 GB of memory, 500 GB Hard drive, external Blu-Ray drive, finger print reader, Bluetooth, mobile broadband, additional battery, Microsoft Office Professional upgrade and various other software options.
How do the IdeaPad S10-3t and TouchSmart tm2t compare to the Apple iPad?
In comparison to an iPad these are very different. The netbook hybrids have a much more powerful processor, an operating system that allows you to install whatever applications you want and a separate physical keyboard.
Both devices offer substantial storage space for music, films, media files and other applications – far more than an iPad.
Both have wireless connectivity as well as the ability to plug in a 3G USB stick to connect to the web or via an Ethernet port for a wired network connection. The Lenovo IdeaPad has 2 USB ports whilst the HP TouchSmart has 3 for attaching external devices or transferring files via memory sticks.
Both are portable devices with the HP being heavier and larger than the Lenovo but perfectly good for mobile computing at just under 12 x 9 inches.
How does the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t stack up?
Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t image courtesy of Lenovo
Feedback is a bit mixed with the negatives revolving around Windows 7 Starter edition shipping on the standard models which isn’t a tablet friendly operating system. The standard IdeaPad also has a heavy and protruding 8-cell battery, touchscreen not as responsive as other devices, slow speeds and poor audio from built in speakers
On the flip side the higher spec’d device with Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate installed the device runs much more smoothly and although the touch screen takes a bit of getting used to it’s much better. The device has a good screen quality and strong battery life. 2GB memory is essential so avoid the 1GB version and also avoid the extra software that ships with this device that can slow down this netbook – remove what you don’t need.
Fundamentally though this is a netbook that has an added bonus of having a tablet option – not the other way round.
How does the HP TouchSmart tm2t stack up?
HP TouchSmart tm2t image courtesy of HP
The HP device is a rounded PC, well designed with pleasing aesthetics. A well built unit with good quality keyboard and Windows 7 Home Premium means a responsive touchscreen (through use of a “digitizer pen”). Start-up and shut-down times are also quick. The TouchSmart has a strong battery life and the high spec. processor means that multitasking doesn’t heavily impact performance, plus it’s capable of running pc standard games with the dedicated graphics card. A crisp LED screen and decent enough internal speakers give this netbook excellent movie playback and music capabilities. And with plenty of USB ports and a HDMI output, there’s scope to add external devices and feed any movies direct into your HDMI enabled TV for high-definition movies on a larger screen.
The only negative is the price which is high but then again, you get what you pay for. Realistically this is a small notebook rather than a netbook with the added bonus of the tablet option. Some users have bemoaned the lack of a built-in DVD drive given they see this more like a notebook but external DVD drive options are available to buy and you’d never get a DVD drive in a netbook.
So how do these both stack up to the iPad?
The key thing here is that these are true computers – netbooks – mini versions of notebooks. Totally customisable. If you have the technical know-how they can be manipulated to do exactly what you want as you would a desktop or laptop with a similar specification. If you know what you’re doing, you’re quite happy navigating around Windows and you’re prepared to fiddle with it a bit to get your software working you’re going to be very happy with these devices. They’re a bit cumbersome if you want a totally portable solution and it’s not as simple as having your iPad to hand as you’ll need a Windows boot up to start. However, if you want a true mobile computing experience you’re going to be very happy with these.
We’ve got a bit more techy than we hoped to get in this review but these last couple of reviews on alternatives to the iPad have showed that Apple have positioned the iPad to totally redefine what people see as mobile computing.
The Archos 9, the IdeaPad S10-3t and TouchSmart tm2t are laptops or notebooks shrunk into a portable device. The iPad is a media consumption device that is locked down for a controlled environment to ensure maximum user experience. These are very different things. We’ll explore this in more detail next week.
Note: For a more detailed technical review of the IdeaPad S10-3t check out the Engadget website.
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The Hp tm2t blows these low powered tablets out of the water but it’s a totally different PC than a tablet. Netbooks offer mobility but cover business and productivity. IPad’s are for watching films, Reading ebooks, casual surfing, listening to music. You can get by with dealing with email but the virtual keyboard limits how much productivity you can get out of an ipad.