LG LT20-188R - notebook + Tablet PC
Today, you can't thrill anyone with a notebook PC - the prices
are gradually going down, and some computers become affordable even to
those who did not ever dream of that before. Especially nice is that
notebook PCs of absolutely different, a bit nontraditional designs, are
appearing.
Take, for instance, the emergence of Tablet PC computers in
the High-Tech world aroused a storm of positive emotions among
potential buyers. However, the user can't do with merely one "tablet",
and to be fully comfortable when working at the monitor, you have to
buy extra at least a notebook PC, or even a desktop PC, a PDA and lots
of other modern devices. Of course, that adds to the budget and the
mass of your carrying bag.
The way out is in merging these devices. In my view, such
approach is in fashion today. Many manufacturers have already released
"notebook + tablet PC" computers, but it's not so easy to create the
"right" hybrid. Just see for yourselves - at functionality, that should
be a full-featured notebook PC of "tablet" sizes, weight and thickness.
Today we'll see how LG coped with that task having implemented
the idea in its LT20-188R hybrid.
Specifications
| Processors |
Intel®
Pentium® M 1800 MHz (2 MB of L2 cache) |
| Chipset |
Intel®
855GME 400MHz
|
| Display |
12.1'' 1024x768
16.7 mln |
| Hard disk |
80 Gb ATA-100
|
| Memory |
512 Mb DDR333 |
| Video subsystem |
Intel®
855GME GMCH 64MB UMA SDRAM
|
| Audio subsystem |
AC97 /
Integrated speakers |
| I/O ports |
LPT / FIR
(IrDA1.1) / Monitor port (VGA) / IEEE1394 (FireWire) / RJ45 (LAN) /
RJ11 (fax/modem) / USB 2.0 (3 pcs.) / Line in / Microphone in
|
| Network subsystem |
RTL8139 10/100
Mbit/s Ethernet LAN |
| Wireless communications |
Intel®
PRO/Wireless 2100 802.11b
|
| Modem |
V.44, V.90 |
| Battery |
Li-Ion 6 hrs
|
| Physical characteristics |
289õ243õ26.5mm
/ 1.75 kg |
Package bundle
The box of LT20 is light, compact and stylish - neither
faceless nor flashy like a parrot.
Along with the thoroughly packaged notebook PC, inside the box
there is one more box containing all whatever needed for work: a
battery, a power adapter with network cable, a modem cable, additional
full-sized digital pen (the smaller one is inserted in the notebook
itself), a tissue paper for cleaning the monitor, a super-brief
installation manual, a manual on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and a
guarantee coupon.
No additional CDs or instruction leaflets were in the bundle.
Design and exterior
Exterior
The stylish silvery notebook PC by LG proved to be quite
small. In any case, it won't be a burden in your carrying bag.
The main colors are silvery and black, nothing redundant. All
the connectors are positioned on the left and rear sides. On the left
side, there is a connector for plugging in a power supply adapter, a
card reader for SD cards, a USB port, an IEEE 1394 port, a slot for
PCMCIA cards, and a couple of sockets for mini-jacks - audio input and
output.
On the back, there are two more USB ports,
a VGA output to plug in an external monitor, and two
connectors for plugging in an integrated modem to the telephone line
(RJ-11) and to connect the notebook to LAN (RJ-45).
Besides, on the back there is a jack with a small digital pen
to operate the computer.
That's it... as you can guess, no CD-ROM drives are provided.
Clearly, the compact dimensions of the hybrid proved possible owing to
that, which made it not only a notebook, but a tablet PC. On the whole,
that's not bad at all - the only shortcoming is that you would need an
external power source for the external optical drive.
There is also another shortcoming - the computer is not
shipped with an external CD-ROM drive, so you would have to buy it
elsewhere. Perhaps, the manufacturer thought that such thing like a
CD-ROM drive may be of use far not to all users. A strange approach,
isn't it?
What is really cool is that the number of USB ports is as many
as three, with more on two different sides, as well as the IEEE 1394
won't be an excess, especially for plugging in a digital camera.
But.. let's move on. Over the right side of the computer,
along with the vent holes to cool the hot heart of the machine, there
is a jack for the security lock.
The silvery bottom of the computer apart from the rubber legs
has special soft light inserts on the vital components.
What really appealed is that despite its hybrid character, the
device provides easy access to all the interiors necessary for upgrades
- to the memory modules,
and to the HDD.
I really liked the battery - it offers three indicators that
light up on pressing the Push button depending on the charge level.
I intentionally left the front panel "for dessert".
It is all clear with the indicators - they are as many as six!
This number is caused by that while in a regular notebook PC you could
read information from LEDs inside the housing, here in the Tablet PC
you simply won't see them.
Note the stylish geometry of the front panel - it is
skew-symmetric. In making a notebook into a Table PC, the lines of the
display cover will fully match the casing. A very smart design
solution.
Under the cover
I will tell about this transformation in what follows, but for
now let's look inside the cover of the notebook.
While silvery is the main exterior cover, it is black inside.
Looks very effective. Even the keyboard does not protrude - it is as
black as the casing.
Under the same touchpad, there are two oblong silvery keys.
The swinging key used instead of the mouse wheel is missing - not very
good, but it works well for a hybrid.
The only speaker is fitted under the LCD - otherwise it would
have been hidden by the screen whenever the device runs in the Tablet
PC mode.
Those six operation indicators which I mentioned above are
made in a way facilitating the view form above, i.e. with the cover
opened. It's a pity LG decided not to sign then from the top - the
operation is not that difficult.
All the control buttons, as they should be, are positioned
around the LCD panel. In the bottom right part, there is Esc, a couple
of "up" and "down" arrow keys, and "Enter".
In the top-right corner there is the EZ Menu, a button to
start the Windows Journal, a button to rotate the image and the Power
button.
Tablet PC
So, what has to be done to turn this stylish notebook PC into
the tablet form? If some of you noticed it, the rear panel, or more
precise, the upper strap of the rear panel has two hinges. Yes, it tips
up thus doing two functions at the same time.
First, it is something sort of a leg to operate the notebook.
It is very convenient to use the raised notebook when it is fitted on
the table. Also, note that the manufacturer also marked all the
connectors on the back side with care, with the leg lowered.
Secondly, having lowered this leg you allow the upper cover
rotate on the hinge at 180 degrees.
The last step in this wonderful transformation is fastening
the cover on the housing in such upturned positioned.
To that end, engineers from LG equipped LT20 with an inverted
lock which can be easily re-snapped from one position to another.
There is one more thing definitely worth noting is the
rotating element on which the LCD is fastened to the notebook PC
housing. The quality and reasoning of its make is above all praises -
you should have seen that. Even with the lowered leg strap, the screen
will never turn by itself - you've got to apply some effort to lower
the protective plate. This aspect is very important in operating the
device as a regular notebook PC while using a spoon.
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