Over the recent years, laptop computers have been getting bigger and more powerful, to the point manufacturers started calling them notebooks, because you're really not supposed to put them on your lap anymore.

Slightly more recently, manufacturers came out with a new generation of sub-notebooks, which are basically half the size of regular notebooks and quite affordable, one of the more popular ones being Asus's Eee PC range. Other names for similar concepts are netbook and Ultra-Mobile PC.

Especially the UMPCs attracted my attention. They are a continuation of the Tablet PC idea, a portable computer with a touch-sensitive screen. This is something which I'd love to have as some sort of electronic sketchbook, the equivalent of a Cintiq glued to a portable computer. Preferably at a lower price point, too.

Unfortunately, Tablet PCs suffered from a very high price, poor battery life, and poor performance; and UMPCs are a bit too small, more the size of a modern GPS unit. Rugged UMPCs found use as glorified barcode readers and units for couriers to record signatures on and the consumer market for handheld computers has been cornered by Apple's iPhone.

However, now they're starting to make, well, tablet sub-notebooks, such as the Asus Eee PC T91 and the Gigabyte M912V. Sub-notebook size and price, but tablet PC form factor and a touch screen. So far, all using passive digitizers (like found on smart phones) and nothing using Wacom tech yet, but even without pressure sensitivity these might make for a very nifty and relatively affordable electronic sketchbook. I'll see if I can try one out in a store sometime soon.