No matter how you prefer to input your data, the Gateway M275X Tablet PC has you covered. If you favor traditional methods, the M275X is packaged with a flip-open full-size keyboard. If you'd rather work with a stylus, the unit's swiveling display allows you to write and store information, sketch pictures and annotate documents via your own handwriting. Versatile, adaptable, compact and substantially more powerful than the majority of competing tablet PCs, the Gateway M275X is ready to handle virtually any situation and user preference.<p> Certainly Gateway has designed the unit with portability in mind. Tipping the scales at just 5.7 pounds and measuring 12.6 by 10.8 by a mere 1.1 inches, the Gateway M275X is larger than many tablets but substantially slimmer and more lightweight than the notebook norm.<p> Gateway has turned to Intel's new Centrino platform to power the system. Centrino, a technology built upon a triad of three interconnected elements -- an Intel Pentium M CPU (with 1 full GB of Level 2 cache), an Intel 855 chipset, and a cord-free network connection -- allows portable computers to be smaller, more power efficient, and faster than their rated CPU speeds might indicate. The Gateway M275X features a snappy 1.4 GHz Pentium M processor and a smallish alloent of 256 MB DDR SDRAM as its power base, and an Intel Extreme Graphics 2 3-D graphics chipset with 32 MB shared (not dedicated) video memory to drive its 3-D visuals. Consequently, the unit is ready for most standard mobile 2-D tasks but will have some troubles in intense multitasking situations and when trying to smoothly display midlevel and high-end 3-D apps and games. <p> The distinctive Gateway M275X sports several other desirable amenities, including a generous 14-inch XGA TFT Active Matrix display (large by tablet standards), a 56K modem, a 10/100 Ethernet connection, and an 802.11b wireless networking card for trouble-free LAN and Internet access in any environment. The enclosed 40 GB hard disk is of average size, and the system's optical drive handles CD playing and burning and DVD playing but doesn't support DVD writing. Connectivity options include two high-speed USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port (typically used for downloading from digital camcorders) and an integrated 4-in-1 card reader for linking with memory cards from PDAs, digital cameras, and the like.<p> The bundled software package features Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition, Microsoft Works 7.0 and a 90-day free trial with the respected Norton AntiVirus utility.