The Orbit Web Tablet form Qubit Technologies is the Internet appliance for the modern family! It can be used to keep track of appointments; manage finances, including portfolios and investments; do homework research; make purchases; keep in touch with friends; entertain the kids with games and enhanced TV features; and keep abreast of news, weather, and sports. Not only does the Orbit give you all this functionality, it also comes with you from room to room because it is absolutely portable and wireless.

The Orbit Web Tablet provides wireless access to the Internet via 56K dial-up modem, DSL, or cable modem from up to 200 feet away from the base station. It is also ISP-agnostic, which means IP addresses, one for everybody in the house, from nearly any provider. Add to that its 10-inch 800 x 600 pixel screen, simple, intuitive interface, and customizing features, and you have a tool -- or toy -- for the whole family.

While the emphasis might be on tool with the Orbit's ability to connect you to your finances with online banking and portfolio management, keep your life in order with the calendar features, and keep you tied to ecommerce availability so you can run errands sans the running, this device also comes with some impressive entertainment features. It streams audio and video if listening to music and books or watching clips on the net is your bag. It also has gaming features for stand alone programs (its small memory might limit which games work effectively) or online competition. And if you prefer to watch television, you can do that and interact online simultaneously with the Orbit's enhanced TV features.

The only problem you may have with the orbit is fighting over who gets to use it next. The battery life is approximately 3 hours.

Pricing and availability

Qubit's Orbit Web Tablet is available now for $720, plus $120 for the base station so it can be used wirelessly.

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