Notion Ink's Adam Is A Working Man's Tablet

First In-Use Videos Go Up

Dec 19 2010, 4:31pm CST | by Robert Evans

Notion Ink's Adam Is A Working Man's Tablet

Notion Ink has finally posted up video of the Eden UI in action on the Adam. For the first time, we have video of an Adam functioning in real-world conditions. The tablet was shown with Mail'd, the Browser, the Navigation App, the Canvas (similar to Paint) app, a Calendar, a Calculator, a PDF file, the file browser and an E-Book reader running at once.

Eden is built on OpenGL, and tab scrolling and app selection move very rapidly. 'Widget' control panels for your apps run in a three panel system that allows you to multitask with great ease. Side-scrolling brings up your other open applications. While the panels are rather thin, they stretch automatically as you browse.

The PDF viewer ran -really- well, even with a bunch of apps open in the background. The look and feel of Eden is very distinct from both iOS and stock Android. It has the feel of a large desk space, filled with useful tools. You've got your calendar, email, calculator (displaying the golden ratio), your writing app and your e-reader all just a touch away.

The panel system allows the Adam to function like a computer with a multiple-monitor set-up. The ability to interact with one app while still monitoring two others is huge from a productivity stand-point. Factor in excellent battery life, that Pixel Qi display and easy plug-and-play for USB devices, and you have something unparalleled in the industry.

The iPad is a useful gadget, but it is not a full laptop replacement. If the production Adam works as smoothly and quickly as this video, and if the Adam's photo-editing and office programs prove sufficiently robust, we could have a tablet that is a legitimate laptop replacement.

Sure, the HP Slate and its Windows-packing ilk offer enough functionality to do the job, but there is no real benefit to such a device. They have crappy battery life and more bulk than something like an Air or a netbook. And they offer (generally) poor touch integration to boot. Your laptop at least has a decent keyboard.

Looking at the Adam in these two videos, I'm fairly certain I could do my job entirely from such a tablet. A lot will depend on the on-screen keyboard. The fact that NI allows you to split up the keyboard for easy two-handed use makes me hopeful. Unfortunately, no video can give you a real idea of how comfortable an on-screen keyboard will be to use.

There are still reasons for caution- namely the fact that the Adam's full spec list is still unknown. But Notion Ink promises to release new videos daily showing different Eden apps in-use. We now know the product is real- we'll see how it works in January.

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Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.