Is it a tablet? Is it a clock? No, it's Sony's Dash, a 7-inch touch screen that was surprisingly enjoyable to use when I tried it out at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.
The Dash is a bit bulkier than what you'd normally consider a tablet -- Sony's not using that terminology, by the way -- as it's thick enough to stand upright on its own. It can also be flipped over and rested on its backside, so that it faces upwards with a slight incline towards the user.
Within seconds, I had figured out how to access key features such as music, weather and social networking. There's a box at the bottom left corner that handles a wide variety of widgets, such as stocks and Facebook. From here you can check status updates and even type out messages with a small virtual keyboard. On the right side, there are boxes for music, photos and a widget browser. The touch screen was pleasingly responsive, and operation was quick.
The idea is that you can either pick up the Dash and use it for some of your favorite Web functions or let it rest, so that you can casually glance at the time, weather or other information as you walk by. Sony says there are over 1,000 free apps available for the Wi-Fi-connected device. Unfortunately, the devices on display were plugged in, and there's been no word on whether the Dash will operate on batteries.
Overall, I came away impressed with the device, whose $200 price tag is also surprising given Sony's propensity for high-dollar items. Yet I can't say that I'd actually want one. It's not quite tablet enough to be used outside of the home due to its thickness and the lack of a battery option, and even inside the house you'd have to decide on one place to put it.
So while Sony has come up with a very cool device, it may just be the neatest gadget you'll never use.
