ViewSonic airpanel V150 15" Smart Display

by ViewSonic

Product Details

Product Manual [20.97mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007A5K0
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,363 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 15, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Early Adopters Pick: January 2003. The first wireless, touch-screen monitor that uses Microsoft's Smart Display technology, which lets you connect to your Windows XP Pro PC from anywhere in your house.

The ViewSonic airpanel V150 is a 15-inch wireless, touch-screen LCD monitor that lets you use your computer from anywhere in your home. Thanks to Microsoft's Smart Display technology, you can remotely access all the data on your Windows XP-based home PC--surf the Web from the couch, check e-mail while lying in bed, download recipes in the kitchen, share digital pictures on the patio--regardless of where your PC is located. And it's truly portable, weighing less than six pounds.

The V150 includes a powerful 400 MHz Intel XScale processor for speed, power savings, and efficiency. The operating system, Microsoft Windows CE for Smart Displays, works much like that of your Windows XP Pro PC, so you'll already feel familiar with its applications. A convenient directional pad and hot buttons make navigation fast and simple. Memory is an ample 64 MB ROM and 128 MB SDRAM. The long-life lithium-ion battery lasts up to five hours.

Colors are vivid and text is crisp, thanks to the bright, full-color transflective display. The 1,024 x 768 resolution keeps your image details clear. You can use the V150 as the primary desktop monitor for your home computing system by adding the optional docking station. Also, charge the battery when the V150 is connected to the dock and attach keyboards or a mouse for added input functionality.

Included in the box are integrated wireless support and an 802.11b airsync USB wireless adapter for your home PC. Although the V150 requires your primary PC to use Windows XP Professional, it comes with a free upgrade for current users of Windows XP Home Edition. --Mike Brown

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great for home and garden use, February 1, 2003

By 

P. Eirich "AudiobookFan" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ViewSonic airpanel V150 15" Smart Display (Electronics)

many comments compare the SmartDisplay with a laptop. in this comparison almost any laptop naturally wins, but in my opinion the AirPanel is a stand-alone product that serves a completely different purpose. the V150 is supposed to turn your main workstation into a portable device, and it does that job very well. no need to sync or update files, one can print while laying in bed or access info on how to plant flowers, while surfing the net in the backyard. the possibilities when, where and how to use the AirPanel are nearly endless. accessing a home network or other LAN workstations? no problem with this easy to setup and use device. SmartPanels like this won't revolutionize the wireless world, but -again- i don't think they are meant to do so. it is not a device that one absolutely needs for home-computing but it makes it a whole lot easier and most important of all it adds the "fun-dimension" to it!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Smart Display, June 17, 2003

By 

McAkins (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ViewSonic airpanel V150 15" Smart Display (Electronics)

I think the so called "Technology" pundits giving negative reviews of this technology should be ashamed of themselves. These products/technology is called Smart Displays, therefore don't even compare them to Notebooks nor to Tablet-PCs.

They were designed to solve a single problem some of us who spend hours behind the pc face in our job: "Spend some time with the family!" Sit with your kids on the couch and draw some mickey mouse that can be colored and printed out! Try that with your desktop pc and your crt monitor on the couch. Get a life guys.

So you want to compare the RDP of Terminal Services with Netmeeting or VNC? I thought you said you're a geek? There is nothing to compare, RDP leaves all your other solutions in the dust. Try VNC or NetMeet on a 56K line. Try to watch Video or listen to music with your VNC or NetMeet. Wake up guys.

I have been in this business for quite sometime now. I can tell you for a fact there is nothing to compare with other technologies sending bitmaps and keystrokes on wire.

Smart Display will prove their place in the future. Have you ever been to a meeting where everyone has a laptop and trying to keep a meeting note? Have you ever been to a Elderly Club meeting and trying to take a note; or sitting in the train trying to read all those Microsoft's White Papers?
Notebooks are obtrusive in these cases. I've heard people tell me the staccato of my Ten-finger typing on my notebook is disturbing in the management meeting. Solution is these cases: Tablet PC or a Smart Display. Office 2003 is on its way. Go use OneNote with your VNC/NetMeet and see what I mean.

Lastly, so you wanna read that favorite eBook while lying in bed with your not-so-Digitally-inclined darling of yours? Go ahead, take your notebook/tablet pc to bed with you. Soon you will have a divorce because of constant zooming of the ventilation fans, and sleeplessness of your spouse.

Smart Displays are designed to be less obstrusive, and family friendly. Your wife can now read her mail without having to sit behind your 21" Programmer's CRT. Get a real life guys!

Smart Displays is an emerging technology, so you pay the early adopter's price. Of course price will drop in the future, but then, geeks don't wait till the future. For a real geek, the future is today; now.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD INVESTMENT, February 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: ViewSonic airpanel V150 15" Smart Display (Electronics)

I think allot of you writing these reviews do not have the money to buy one and are jealouse. No it is not a laptop. No it is not a tablet pc. It is almost a grand below a tablet pc. Which only packs a 12" monitor at the most. Us that have laptops and have to copy data back and forth all the time know how cumbersome that can be. I think this product is a step in the right direction. Of course it is pricey it's new and new technology is always pricey. The thing works almost perfect. I have no problem surfing the internet or playing games. Granted this is not the best graphics machine and it does have video playback issues. Laptops are not gaming machines either. This serves a completely different purpose for people who want to stay home and not be constrained to the computer desk. I only gave it four stars because the video problem. Audio playback for me is fine. I am typing this write now from the monitor I don't find it that cumbersome. Anyone who wants mobility and all their same programs and files on one location this is a must have!!!