Hiton HT-960: Yet another 9 inch, Atom-powered tablet

The Apple iPad is the first blockbuster tablet computer. While companies have been pumping out Windows tablets for the last 10 years or so, none has gotten as much attention as the iPad, and while I don’t have the sales numbers, I’m not aware of any other model that sold 300,000 units on the first day either. And Apple’s success in building hype for the iPad has led dozens of other companies to prepare similar machines with touchscreen displays and no physical keyboards. The problem is that many of them are missing the thing that makes the iPad work: A truly touch-friendly user interface.

Latest case in point? The Hiton HT-960. This 8.9 inch tablet has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, an 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel touchscreen display, 802.11b/g WiFi and a SIM car dslot for an optional 3G modem.

Unfortunately, the tablet also runs Windows XP, which is an operating system that wasn’t really designed with touch in mind. In fact, you could make the case that even Windows 7 which has touch-friendly features like simulated right-click feels like touch was thrown in as an afterthought. Some software takes advantage of Windows 7 touch features, but most apps simply don’t.

Anyway, the long and short of it is, I can’t see why users would be happy with a tablet like the Hiton HT-960 which is basically just a Windows XP netbook without a keyboard and touchpad.

On the bright side, at $418, the tablet is a little cheaper than an iPad plus it can run Windows apps, has 16GB or more of storage, an SD card slot, and 3 USB ports for peripherals. It also has a 0.3MP webcam. On the less bright side, shipping is $69, which kind of eats into that price advantage.

via Engadget

Microsoft Windows XP

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key specs
reviews • 61
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TypeComputer OS
Source modelClosed
Architecture64-bit, 32-bit
Released10/25/2001

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Posted on Thursday, April 8th, 2010, 6:38 pm by Brad Linder

http://twitter.com/stevjosco Steve Scott

I completely agree with you Brad. A desktop OS is not the best solution for devices with dedicated touch operation.

But I would also go a step further and say that Atom processors are also misplaced in these types of devices (at least the current crop) where the benefits of instant-on and always connected really make them worthwhile. This is where ARM processors really come into their own and why I think any company that makes a slate-like device without a low power sipping but powerful CPU is wasting their time.
mlabrow

I agree with the OS comment completely. Give me a touch based OS for a touch device.

That said, I don't think the processor makes much of a difference one way or the other. I find the ATOM dissapointing on a lot of other levels, like the fact that it's integrated graphics core and circuitry tend to be very weak compared to most ARM SOC solutions. The fact that it does it at 2.5 times the power draw at a minimum is also disheartening… That said, it is a generally more powerful chip than any Cortex A8 solution I've seen… Now whether the A9's are faster with their out of order cores or not… That will put the nail in ATOM's coffin if that is the case. Only time and a compelling need to have the x86 ISA available will tell if Intel's mighty mini chip has a roll in this category space or not.

That being said, the performance advantage as it stands right now still makes a pretty strong argument for the ATOM, assuming you don't mind hanging out near a power plug more often than you would with your typical ARM solution.
mlabrow

I agree with the OS comment completely. Give me a touch based OS for a touch device.

That said, I don't think the processor makes much of a difference one way or the other. I find the ATOM dissapointing on a lot of other levels, like the fact that it's integrated graphics core and circuitry tend to be very weak compared to most ARM SOC solutions. The fact that it does it at 2.5 times the power draw at a minimum is also disheartening… That said, it is a generally more powerful chip than any Cortex A8 solution I've seen… Now whether the A9's are faster with their out of order cores or not… That will put the nail in ATOM's coffin if that is the case. Only time and a compelling need to have the x86 ISA available will tell if Intel's mighty mini chip has a roll in this category space or not.

That being said, the performance advantage as it stands right now still makes a pretty strong argument for the ATOM, assuming you don't mind hanging out near a power plug more often than you would with your typical ARM solution.
Hilldomain

how is Hiton as a company?reliable? they seem to have a lot of different low priced models in the PMP price range.
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Hiton HT-960: Yet another 9 inch, Atom-powered tablet

Microsoft Windows XP

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