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interface on top of its Android operat-
ing system that lets you flip through 3-D
icons (representing books, videos, apps,
websites andmore) on a virtual bookshelf.
The Fire is a ractively small, at 7.5 inches
across, and, naturally, offers full one-click
purchase integrationwithAmazon books,
music and video, including free stream-
ing of TV shows and movies for Amazon
Prime members.
The sexiest of the stack is the
Sony
Tablet S
($500, sony.com), which has a
sloping design that puts extra weight
on one side. This makes the device feel
lighter, which is handy for reading or
watching a movie in bed. The inclined
viewing angle also makes reading the
tablet edition of your favorite newspaper
over breakfast much easier, since there’s
no need for a clumsy external stand. At
9.4 inches across, the Tablet S is about
as compact as the iPad, but, like the Fire,
lacks an HDMI output.
Appealing to those for whom bigger
is be er is the
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet
($499, lenovo.com). I never thought that
I’d want a heftier tablet, but this slab’s
0.6-inch thickness packs quite a punch.
In addition to a built-in 3-in-1 media card
reader, the ThinkPad has a USB 2.0 port,
thereby eliminating one of the reasons
I usually bring a laptop on work trips. I
can use the port for quick file transfers to
an external hard drive, as well as for con-
necting a mouse, speakers or other USB
devices (and even power an iPad). And
though it harks back to tablets of yore,
the included digital stylus—easily stored
in a built-in compartment—is convenient
for taking notes and drawing.
Equally business-ready is the
Asus
Slider
($500, asus.com), which, like the
ThinkPad, has a built-in 3G SIM slot,
meaning that you can use it with most
mobile carriers across the globe (you’ll
need to sign up for a plan and get a SIM
card with the appropriate carrier first,
of course). As the name suggests, this
tablet’s touchscreen pivots to reveal a
full QWERTY keyboard with physical
keys. While this might sound gimmicky,
the mix of touchscreen and keyboard
is surprisingly effective. The keys are a
bit smaller than average, but on a recent
cross-country flight I found this tablet,
in its upright, opened position, to be the
perfect size for, say, banging out a maga-
zine column without having to contort
myself like a circus performer—which is
a victory in itself.
Hemispheres
tech columnist
TOM
SAMILJAN
is still waiting for someone to
invent a tablet with a built-in cup holder.
56
MARCH 2012
•
HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
MARCH CROSSWORD ANSWERS
Amazon
Kindle Fire
$199
Lenovo
ThinkPad Tablet
$499
Sony Tablet S
$500
Asus Slider
$500
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