Electrovaya Scribbler SC 3100

Along with Motion Computing, Electrovaya is one of the only manufacturers to work almost exclusively on tablet design, and this laser focus shows in the quality and usability of the Scribbler SC 3100 Premium. It represents only a modest tweaking of last year’s SC 3000, but this is one of the most versatile, if costly, pure slate tablets available. A superb screen, rock-solid feel, and very good all-around performance add up to a model that should be on any tablet shopper’s short list.

The SC 3100’s upgraded 1.6-GHz Centrino CPU is very snappy when working with the 768MB of system RAM. Intel’s accelerated graphics push windows around the screen without lag or shadowing. The 5,200-rpm 60GB hard drive keeps up with the rest of the hardware by loading even weighty graphics programs quickly. Like most tablets, the SC 3100 couldn’t run our MobileMark 2005 benchmark, but in terms of real-world performance this slate proves that the bad old days of sluggish tablet performance are long gone.

The SC 3100 keeps up the speed without giving off too much heat. The unit sports a small fan that hums very slightly. Electrovaya models are known for their longevity between charges, and the SC 3100 generally lasted a solid four hours with active use.

Little has changed on the outside, which is fine with us for the most part. The generous and programmable dedicated launch buttons sit on both the left and right upper quadrants of the SC 3100 for easy access. The rubber scrolling stick has a firm feel and response. Most of the external connectors around the unit’s edges are either covered or recessed, which is no small matter when a slate spends long stretches in the crook of your arm. Nevertheless, we wish Electrovaya would smooth out the few protruding edges on the back of the unit and offer some kind of rubberized edge or strip for easier gripping.

It is not a convertible, but the SC 3100 does have a unique lid with embedded keyboard and touchpad. Even after all this time, the design is still a bit strange, with the tablet sitting a bit precariously in a groove and against a raised flap. Nevertheless, the arrangement actually works well in a pinch and gives the SC 3100 that extra bit of versatility over other slates. The premium model also includes a wire stand for handsfree use.

The stylus is ergonomically smart; it’s the size of a roller pen with slight contouring for added comfort. Its action button is obvious, which helps you avoid click errors. The hover action could be more sensitive, however. We found ourselves needing to keep the pen very close to the screen for the system to recognize gestures.

The new wide-angle LCD is remarkably crisp and remains bright and viewable at all but the most extreme viewing angles. The SC 3100 has a very good light sensor that adjusts brightness on the fly. The dual-array microphone highlights voices very effectively for recording meetings and dictation, and it can be optimized for narrow- or wide-range sensitivity.

The biometric security sensor is among the easiest we have used. Rather than a swipe, you simply press your finger on the pad for very accurate readings. We trained the hardware with our print quickly, and it worked beautifully, with no false negatives locking us out of the system.

The software suite is passable, with a full version of Corel Grafigo, a virtual drive utility, a sticky notes tool, and trial versions of Alias Sketchbook and Franklin Covey Tablet Planner.

Electrovaya makes an awfully good tablet; it’s responsive and much more ergonomic than the common convertible. The price remains a hurdle, however. The Premium package will skim your wallet of $2,629. (A stripped-down model with minimal system RAM and a smaller hard drive starts at $2,099). However, with long battery life and a highly usable design, the SC 3100 is one of the very best slates you can buy.