Types of Tablet PCs

• Become familiar with the different types of Tablet PC before buying. Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images

  There are three types of Tablet PCs: the convertible, the slate and the rugged. Each type is designed with a specific user in mind. Whether you're looking for something sleek and extremely portable or extremely durable, knowing the choices available will help you decide which is best.

Convertible

• The convertible Tablet PC is much like a laptop. In fact, at first glance you would be hard pressed to see any different at all. The main difference, however, is the convertible's capability to turn the screen 180 degrees and close on top of the keyboard with the screen facing up. In this position, the convertible functions just like a Tablet PC by responding to the touch of a finger or stylus. The convertible comes packed with all the conveniences and functionality of a laptop computer, with the sharing and presentation power of a Tablet PC. The one downside of the convertible, compared to other types of Tablet PCs, is that with a full-size keyboard, the convertible has a little more weight and bulk.

Slate

• The slate Tablet PC was designed to be lightweight, sleek and extremely portable. The slate looks very similar to an enlarged version of a PDA. Slates are fairly powerful PC computers with a high level of functionality. To interact with a slate, simply drag, tap and loop a finger or a stylus across the screen. Without the burden of an attached keyboard, the slate is perfect for frequent transportation. However, the slate does have several ports, including several USB ports to connect a keyboard, mouse, external hard drives, etc. In addition, the slate has the capacity to connect to a monitor or data projector, making it convenient for presentation and sharing purposes.

Rugged

• The rugged Tablet PC is designed to be extremely durable. It's built with a shock-mounted internal hard drive and a protective shell that can handle almost any sudden drop. They are very functional computers for a person who needs to conduct research or work out in the field, where accidents are more likely to happen.