Intel Studybook Tablet Formally Released

Rumors about the Studybook tablet have been crawling around the web for over a week now, but they can be finally set to rest as the actual launch has now arrived.

The Studybook tablet, the newest addition to Intel's Classmate PC product line, doesn't really have the most self-explanatory of names.

After all, it is not shaped like a book at all, even though it is meant to replace such things, to an extent.

Basically, the Studybook is a table that, Intel hopes, will be used by students instead of paper textbooks.

In other words, rather than log around a backpack full of books all the time, or having to maintain a locker with all sorts of materials, people will just need to have their tablet with them when going to school.

“An Intel studybook offers students limitless opportunities to enhance their learning experience,”said Kapil Wadhera, general manager of Intel’s education market platform group.

“Expanding the Intel Learning Series portfolio of affordable, purpose-built educational devices brings us closer to our vision of enabling more students and teachers to participate in high quality education.”

The 7-inch Studybook has an Atom Z650 system-on-chip as a central component: 1.2 GHz speed, 512 KB cache, 3W TDP.

The display is an LCD with a native resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels and capacitive touch support.

Backing the CPU is 1 GB of DDR2 memory and up to 32 GB of NAND flash storage space (4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB are the exact possibilities).

Finally, the product boasts two cameras (0.3 megapixel at the back, 1.2 megapixels on the front), a microSD card slot, HDMI, a light sensor, an accelerometer, a speaker, a microphone and, of course, wireless support (802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, optional 3G and Bluetooth).

It should be noted that Intel added some special software, to suit the Studybook's role: LabCam, an optimized e-reading tool, a user interface that allows student-teacher collaboration, etc.

As for the physical design, it is actually quite rugged, with a single piece of plastic as the back layer and shock-absorbers around the screen (accidental drops from the desk should be unable to damage the slate, water and dust protection is reasonable, etc.).

The price of the tablet will be decided by OEMs, but it is estimated at under $200 (probably just as many Euro in Europe, instead of 151). No word on how soon schools will start using it.

Posted in: Preview, Tablet