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- Cwo655321, on 10/11/2007, -3/+33they just need to become more affordable. No one is going to pay several hundred dollars more than a laptop "just to take notes"
- TheBobbyx, on 10/11/2007, -5/+29Can i start looking now? My eyes have been closed for sometime...
(P.S. Don't ask how I typed this.) - gerbalblaste, on 10/11/2007, -2/+24I'm using my tablet pc right now. granted mine is a convertible so i still retain the standard functionality of a laptop.
A tablet pc is worth it, you won't want to use it to keep your grocery list, but it is excellent for business meeting and taking notes in classes. Plus the added bonus of gadget envy.
The pen interface is wonderful and amazingly useful, The onscreen interfaces in games like EVE online and most rts games work amazingly with the pen and i can register more command per minute than i can with a mouse and keyboard.
my only qualm is the absence of reliable linux drivers for some brands of tablet pc. - thatsmyaibo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+19Actually I think that would make them more useful. Instead of spending so much on college books, you could just download them as PDFs so you don't have to carry 600$ worth of 100lbs books.
- Phocion55, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17I love my Fujitsu LifeBook - it consolidated all of my college notebooks and papers from sophmore year on. I had all class materials on demand. Art History class? All of the paintings are there at my fingertips for reference. Complex Software Design class? Pull the latest code off our SVN server, and test from anywhere.
WinXP Tablet Edition is a solid platform IMO. 4+ years and still goin strong. - Dontlooknow, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12Somebody called?
- pastaq, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11I agree. I use my convertible tablet for most of my photoshop work and class notes. Also, Starcraft + touchscreen is friggin' awesome.
- syafthegeek, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Tablet PC is for the future. Pen and paper will last longer than that.
- solemnraven, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11i have the new gateway convertible notebook, and the base is 899.99 (its 999.99 right now but you can wait a bit and they will do the extra 100 dollar discount) that is reasonably priced for any type of laptop let alone a tablet. i use it to take notes with MS One note in class and it is VERY useful as it's handwriting recognition is pretty good. i also upgraded the video card (which is decent enough to run a MMO at low settings.) Yeah, it's kind of heavy but overall the tablet is great for its price.
- sexycommando, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7@thatsmyaibo
I tried that for med school. It would work except for the fact that hardly any publishing company sells their textbooks in pdf. - Waredgo, on 10/11/2007, -4/+11Tablet PC's will never replace the pen/pencil and paper, not while they are still made of glass and plastic.
However, there are a lot of other applications and uses for it...bought one myself the other day to read eBooks on while listening to music. I think thta their utility is finally coming to light.
Take a look at the HP Compaq 2710 coming up - sweet! - Kazbaeden, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6"they just need to become more affordable. No one is going to pay several hundred dollars more than a laptop "just to take notes""
They cited the most over-priced tablets on the market. You can get very decent tablets for as low as $1000, and while they may cost a little more than a similary configured non-tablet, they also have that additional method of input, which I think is worth the tablet tax. - FortyCaliber, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Well put. I don't own one... I simply can't find a good solid lengthy use for it. However, that's the point.
If I was in college, or did a lot of work that required extensive use of prior notes, I'd be all over it. When a tablet pc is used well it is well used. My wife bought one because "it's cool." She has never, to this date, used the pen. In fact, I don't even think she can get it out any more.
For the record, I use a Dell M1210. It works well for me because I can hold it in one hand and I know how to type about 25+ wpm with one hand. And it's easy to carry from IDF to IDF or to the MDF or to a downed computer's room. - alaren, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I agree. I also have a Fujitsu. I am a second-year law student and it has been awesome for notetaking because I can draw my charts, draw arrows from one place to another... I would say however that OneNote 2007 is far superior to the original OneNote, especially the lasso tool. I love my tablet!
- MDrake, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Artist's best friend? yes?
- Kazbaeden, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4You couldn't have it more backwards; business and "real world" scenarios are where the Tablet PC shines.
For example, when meeting a client, a laptop screen acts as a barrier or fence between you and her. With the tablet's flat screen, that barrier is eliminated and you become more personable, while still having all your business materal with you. Instead of carrying a load of paperwork, you carry all your files on the tablet. When it's time to close the deal, your client can just sign off on the tablet and the documentation can be sent to headquarteres via the internet; there's no need to drive back and drop it off.
Or take this scenario: Your warehouse managers aren't the most computer savvy guys, but you'd really like a powerful computer system to make inventory management more robust. That's not a problem, because your managers do know how to write, and they do know how how to use their fingers. So, you can design an intuitive pen/finger based interface for them to tap into the powerful inventory management backend. Moreover, these guys are going to be standing most of the day, so the tablet is the perfect form factor for them to operate with.
So you see, there are plenty of business and real-world applications for the tablet PC. You just need to get out of the keyboard/mouse mindset and thing more naturally. - Feanor, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4bat - and where do you shop?
- Kazbaeden, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5I scan and OCR all of my textbooks. This enables me to carry around 7 books to all my classes, something I would not be able to do with 7 traditional textbooks. With the tablet, I can also annotate my ebooks and sell my textbooks in mint condition.
- LowROI, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5Just let me know when to look...
- EtherGnat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3It's possible that people are using them and you're just not noticing. I have a Gateway convertible tablet, and unless you were looking very closely it'd look like any other laptop.
- alienfubar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I bought the compaq.. sis-inlaw uses it now. That thing was awsome, but once I graduated it was useless for me. They market these things for the wrong croud. It was the most awsome utility in college, but at work it's not useful in any way.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Its hard to scroll around the map in starcraft though and you have to play in the 640 *480 res or else it won't calibrate correctly.And keyboard shortcuts always beats the pen. Its still a really interesting way to play games though.
- shartman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I have a Gateway for work. The resolution SUCKS, And it weighs a ton.
- JrGhoull, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@tomthewambat
that bit about the cost outweighing the benefit can be said about virtually any feature in a computer (in terms of personal need). for me, this would be great for when i need to take notes in unorthadox ways (such as diagrams) and/or when i'm required to create certain images that do not exist on a keyboard (think science class) - greeneyes137, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I completley enjoy my tecra m4. I like it better than the new M7 because the m4 came with a separate graphics processor (got the 128 meg nvidia geforce in it and enjoy playing LotR:o on it.)
The new acer line has a very nice 6200? nvidia in it and the LG that is coming out looks poised to be very very nice with a 256 meg nvidia though it looks to only be a 1.2 or 1.6 ghz. - Mach5, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I had a HP/Compaq TC1100 for 2 years, on loan from my college, and I loved it. I'll never get a traditional laptop because of it.
- legendxx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2My sister needs a tablet for college, can anyone recommend one that is fairly powerful and VERY reliable? Even a manufacturer would be great.
- bat-21, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@Feanor
Go to Froogle.com and search for tablet pc. Now's a good time to get one because retailers and manufacturers are dumping Windows XP tablets to make room for Vista. - DEIx15x8, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4Who cares about replacing paper for notes? I hate tablet PCs but after seeing all the cool thing done on Pixel Perfect and then looking at my mouse drawn versions i have been wanting a tablet mac solely for the ability to draw pictures combined with the power of photoshop.
- Kazbaeden, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Correct, the pen is inefficient for writing papers and IMs the same way the keyboard and trackpad are inefficient for writing equations, sketching diagrams and graphs, and drawing pictures. That's why they invented Convertible Tablet PCs, which give you both worlds and allows you the flexibility to choose how you use your computer based on your situation.
Why does it seem that everyone who's ever used a Tablet loves it, and the only people who think they're retarded never used one? - QuantumParadox, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Pencil & paper may be cheepr but it's the Tablet that attracts the girls.
- jpowlus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Is cost really that much of an issue any more? I know you needed $3k to get a decent one a year or two ago, but I just spec'ed out a ThinkPad X60 Tablet (convertible) because I need 30 of them for work ... fairly well equipped for about $1750... really not too bad. I've had 2 of the Motion Computing tablets in the past, and they are pretty decent, too, but the ThinkPad is my favorite. Tablets really are pretty cool... I wouldn't want it to replace my laptop (unless they start making them with bigger screens), but there are so many useful things you can do with them. Stuff you don't really even think about being useful until after you use one for a while. Really great for reading e-books while on the crapper, among other things.
Even the free painting software MS offers as part of their tablet "experience pack" is pretty damned cool. I use it for making rough sketches of stuff for work all the time. - emiliogtz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I was skeptical about tablet pcs for a long time. Last month I had the chance to grab a Toshiba Tablet convertible for a few weeks, and it won me over, really. I'm looking forward this year to replace my widescreen laptop for one of those tablets. Granted, the display looks a bit dull, especially when running on battery, but I guess you can get over it given the extra functionality.
- aristotle0dude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Pencil and paper is cheaper and more reliable.
- Kazbaeden, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The Tecra M4, at almost 7 pounds, is heavy by all laptop standards, Tablet PC or otherwise. Most tablet PCs today weigh in at a nice 3-4 pounds, and are not a bother to hold for any extended period of time. Tablet PCs have really come down in weight since 2005 when the M4 was introduced.
"Pentium 4/Centrino-based TPCs was dismal battery-life" Yeah, that was 2 years ago, but today with the Core2Duo and santa rosa, we're expecting to see 10 hours in the fourthcoming HP 2710p laptop with extended battery. Also the GMA 950 runs Aero with perfect fluidity - unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I have a gateway as well, but its pretty good, its weight is not so great but that will be fine since she will be sitting at a desk when she is using it. Its a flip screen so its useful for just about everything. Its powerful enough to run HL2 at a playable rate when at semi-high graphics.
- arbulus, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4I'll just go ahead and get the rest of them out of the way:
But will they blend?
In Soviet Russia, tablet PC uses you!
I'm in ur tabletz, writin' ur notez!
Now, I hope we've taken care of that for today. - one2gamble, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1As the tech improves the interface they will catch on more. We have a lot of laptops that are used in trucks and whatnot now that could turn into tablets if the interface wasnt so clumsy.
I know I wish I had one in college. - fr34k5h0w, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The inking system has been in there since 10.1 I believe. It's main use is for digitizing tablets and their interaction with the OS as an input device.
- unusualbob, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Are you kidding me, these are great for doing quick notes for network diagrams. I use mine all the time on walkthroughs for new networks. Its so easy to use and i dont have to worry about losing peices of paper like I always do.
- JrGhoull, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2well i hope that the linux programmers can get at least a little bit ahead of the game and start coming up with their own open sourced hand recognition software so that when these things do get popular, that linux will be waiting with software far ahead of anything that either OSX or windows has.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The naysayers aren't dogmatically opposed to Tablet PCs, as the summary implies. They're waiting until the technology matures, becoming cheaper and more reliable, before they buy it.
- Kazbaeden, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Not really. A Gateway CX210X costs $900, and it comes with 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD, and 1.86GHz Core Duo. Sure you're paying more for the tablet than a similarly configured normal computer, but you're also getting the digitizer, which of course isn't free and adds A LOT of functionality and flexibility.
- DjDimitrious, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2As another college-aged tablet pc user here (gateway convertible), i'd have to say it's made my life a whole lot easier. I take all my notes in OneNote, and since a lot of class assignment giving/receiving is done online now, it's great to be able to have everything in one place.
- BlueCadenza, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Doesn't anybody have a clue as to the fact that a tablet has A LOT more uses than just taking notes?? Think about it...you can write words....so it also lets you...DRAW images...
I have a tablet PC and its infinitely better for illustrations than a Wacom tablet. Art Rage 2 is awesome with it. Since touch-screen monitors can go into the 10,000+ range, a tablet PC with a decent resolution is much more accurate than using a seperate tablet.
http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/to/toshiba-portege-3500-(pp350e-002f6-en).jpg
I own this one and its extremely portable as well (about the size of a college-ruled notebook), though its a considerably older model, it does the job. - bat-21, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3People who complain about tablets costing too much don't know where to shop. Earlier this year, I got a widescreen Gateway tablet with a dual-layer DVD burner for $750 and I love it.
- vostek, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I recently grabbed an HP TC4400 for $900 on Ebay. I've become quite attached to the little bugger, and the touch screen does greatly increase productivity and enjoyment compared to the *shudders* touch pad. Solid.
I was going to wati for multi-touch to come to market, but hell, that'll take a couple more years to be mainstream methinks. - Phocion55, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Hi, nice to meet you.
There's one. - forensicmeteobo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I have a Toshiba M400 and love it. It's not cheap, but personally, it's worth the price. Just FYI: Tons of crapware preloaded, and you have to burn the recovery discs yourself if you want them. Other than that, the build quality is pretty nice. My only complaint would be the occasional dust under the screen (a common problem among tablets).
Also, if you want to demo a tablet, go here: http://www.alltp.com/content.aspx/c/48hourdemo
You can 'borrow' a tablet for a 48 hour trial if you pay for shipping both ways. - gerbalblaste, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Toshiba makes several excellent tablet pcs. The UNC has contracted with toshiba to replace overhead projectors with toshiba tablets and projectors.
The brand i have is gateway, while it is a tank, it weighs a ***** load and the pen is not nearly are responsive as the toshibas i've used. -
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