Why a tablet PC?
With work draining my previously plentiful hours, I haven't had much time to add something back here. However, I've been itching to put a certain question to rest...
Why a tablet PC?
That's right, I'm finally buying something portable, and not only that but it's currently on its way. They're more expensive than traditional notebooks or laptops, and they have more restrictive hardware options, but they're becoming more popular, especially in the education and business fields. Before I go into my reasons for getting a tablet PC, here is what I'm getting:
Toshiba Tecra M7 (Custom)
Windows XP Tablet PC edition
Core Duo Processor: Intel Core Duo T2600 2.16GHz
Disk Drive: 100GB 7200rpm
Display: 14.1" WXGA+ High Brightness Display (1440x900)
Graphics Controller: nVIDIA Quadro NVS 110M with 128MB DDR SDRAM
Memory: 2048MB - 1024MBx2 DDR2 667MHz
Optical Drive: 8x DVD SuperMulti (Double Layer)
Wireless 802.11: Integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG 802.11a/b/g
Wireless Bluetooth: Bluetooth Version 2.0
Extra: Toshiba Slice Expansion 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery Pack
I think the specs are very reasonable and enough to last me at least as long as the 3 year warranty. Now that you have an idea of what I'm getting myself into, let's go over the 'why':
1) Swivel screen
This is something fairly unique to tablet PCs - the ability to rotate the screen around without revolving the base.
Why is this important? I can swivel it around, clamp it down over the keyboard and all that I'm looking at is the screen. This is great for portability since I am able to carry it around fairly easily and use the pen at the same time. Pretty hard to do that with a laptop.
I also have far more flexibility in terms of how I want to read a document or ebook. Some people are perfectly fine with reading on a laptop, however I tend to find it cumbersome during the times when I'm not sitting upright at a desk.
2) Expanded input
In the past, the main inputs to the laptop were the keyboard and mouse/pointer device (including those small pads for cursor movement with your finger). While great for writing an essay, or just general browsing, they lack a certain control that a pen & paper provides. By control, I'm referring to both the style and accuracy of the input.
Let's take an example. I'm sitting in a lecture for one of my courses, when the prof starts sketching a very complicated diagram on the board that I need to copy down, along with any annotations or descriptions residing in or near it. With a pen & paper, this is easily done - just sketch whatever the prof is drawing on the board.
However, let's assume that you've ditched paper and are only using a laptop. You could try and maneuver well enough to draw an accurate diagram in a graphics program and then paste it within your document. Or you might try describing the diagram, hoping to picture it later with acute accuracy. Or you might try your hand at some ASCII art. While these options might seem reasonable to some, I'm on a different spectrum. I want the flexibility of the pen & paper, while retaining the laptop. With a tablet PC, I can just sketch it right on my screen and into the document. Easy enough.
What if you want crisp, clean equations from physics or math in your document? There just so happen to be special tools out there for the Tablet PC edition of Windows XP for you to draw the equation, and then have it accurately converted into a very nice looking equation (using TeX, I believe).
Also, I just love the look of notes on paper. There's something about being able to easily provide a custom layout, write anywhere, and organize my information how I want with few limitations, that I don't get with a standard notebook.
3) Scribble
The word scribble usually conjures up an image of haphazard drawing, and that is probably the best way to describe what I'm referring to. You've got a quick note to add to your document? Just scribble it in. Special case or reminder that you don't want to get mixed in the text of your document? Scribble it in the margin. This leads partially back to my last point, but I think it's a good one to make. It also makes it very easy for creating quick diagrams without resorting to the mouse.
4) (Nearly) Paperless
Combined with a scanner, you can pretty much go paperless as either a college/university student or a working individual. This was one of the most intriguing options for me. Not only can I create all of my documents directly on the tablet, but the writing is searchable in many applications. Far less shuffling papers or reorganizing notebooks. Everything I need will be right at my fingertips. I can finally get rid of the piles of accumulated papers, strewn about my house.
5) Power
Until recently, getting a tablet for a 'power' user just wasn't all that possible, but with the onset of Core Duo processors, reasonably sized screens, and a fair chunk of memory, it's very easy. For my tablet, up-time should be a non-issue - with the slice pack attached, the Tecra M7 has a great battery life of approximately one working day (~8 hours). It's no slouch in the memory department, either.
I decided to upgrade the graphics option in order to avoid any issues with the integrated Intel 950. That also opened quite a few doors, previously closed with the pre-built setup of other M7 models.
Overall, this baby can handle a shitload and keep on coming, which is exactly what I need.
6) Portability
One of my final reasons for getting a tablet, which isn't specific to having a tablet over a notebook, is the portability of it. Doing an assignment at university without logging onto a computer in a noisy lab, or being trapped in a dark basement, is a HUGE plus for me. I'm a victim of both cases all too often and it wouldn't hurt me to get a little more Vitamin D, especially during the stressful times.
This was the first and most important reason why I looked into portable computers in the first place. I just so happen to have decided that the custom Tecra M7, a tablet PC, was the best fit for me.
------------
I ordered my custom Tecra M7 through a retailer in the US called Allegiance Technology Partners (AllTP). According to them, custom tablets are shipped out within 5-10 business days of order confirmation. Considering that it first goes to them, and is then shipped internationally (to Toronto), I'm taking this figure with a grain of salt. I figure that I'll receive the tablet during the first week of October.
Unfortunately, I had to take that route since Toshiba refuses to send custom tablet PCs to Canada. It's a shame really... not everyone wants the low-end base models and there shouldn't be any problem with the shipping custom models into Canada, other than an extra cost applied to the customer.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend AllTP to anyone looking for a tablet PC that they could otherwise never receive in their present location. I spoke back and forth with John Hill, who was probably the single most helpful person I've ever had the pleasure of doing business with. Cudos to him... he got his sale.
Why a tablet PC?
That's right, I'm finally buying something portable, and not only that but it's currently on its way. They're more expensive than traditional notebooks or laptops, and they have more restrictive hardware options, but they're becoming more popular, especially in the education and business fields. Before I go into my reasons for getting a tablet PC, here is what I'm getting:
Toshiba Tecra M7 (Custom)
Windows XP Tablet PC edition
Core Duo Processor: Intel Core Duo T2600 2.16GHz
Disk Drive: 100GB 7200rpm
Display: 14.1" WXGA+ High Brightness Display (1440x900)
Graphics Controller: nVIDIA Quadro NVS 110M with 128MB DDR SDRAM
Memory: 2048MB - 1024MBx2 DDR2 667MHz
Optical Drive: 8x DVD SuperMulti (Double Layer)
Wireless 802.11: Integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG 802.11a/b/g
Wireless Bluetooth: Bluetooth Version 2.0
Extra: Toshiba Slice Expansion 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery Pack
I think the specs are very reasonable and enough to last me at least as long as the 3 year warranty. Now that you have an idea of what I'm getting myself into, let's go over the 'why':
1) Swivel screen
This is something fairly unique to tablet PCs - the ability to rotate the screen around without revolving the base.
Why is this important? I can swivel it around, clamp it down over the keyboard and all that I'm looking at is the screen. This is great for portability since I am able to carry it around fairly easily and use the pen at the same time. Pretty hard to do that with a laptop.
I also have far more flexibility in terms of how I want to read a document or ebook. Some people are perfectly fine with reading on a laptop, however I tend to find it cumbersome during the times when I'm not sitting upright at a desk.
2) Expanded input
In the past, the main inputs to the laptop were the keyboard and mouse/pointer device (including those small pads for cursor movement with your finger). While great for writing an essay, or just general browsing, they lack a certain control that a pen & paper provides. By control, I'm referring to both the style and accuracy of the input.
Let's take an example. I'm sitting in a lecture for one of my courses, when the prof starts sketching a very complicated diagram on the board that I need to copy down, along with any annotations or descriptions residing in or near it. With a pen & paper, this is easily done - just sketch whatever the prof is drawing on the board.
However, let's assume that you've ditched paper and are only using a laptop. You could try and maneuver well enough to draw an accurate diagram in a graphics program and then paste it within your document. Or you might try describing the diagram, hoping to picture it later with acute accuracy. Or you might try your hand at some ASCII art. While these options might seem reasonable to some, I'm on a different spectrum. I want the flexibility of the pen & paper, while retaining the laptop. With a tablet PC, I can just sketch it right on my screen and into the document. Easy enough.
What if you want crisp, clean equations from physics or math in your document? There just so happen to be special tools out there for the Tablet PC edition of Windows XP for you to draw the equation, and then have it accurately converted into a very nice looking equation (using TeX, I believe).
Also, I just love the look of notes on paper. There's something about being able to easily provide a custom layout, write anywhere, and organize my information how I want with few limitations, that I don't get with a standard notebook.
3) Scribble
The word scribble usually conjures up an image of haphazard drawing, and that is probably the best way to describe what I'm referring to. You've got a quick note to add to your document? Just scribble it in. Special case or reminder that you don't want to get mixed in the text of your document? Scribble it in the margin. This leads partially back to my last point, but I think it's a good one to make. It also makes it very easy for creating quick diagrams without resorting to the mouse.
4) (Nearly) Paperless
Combined with a scanner, you can pretty much go paperless as either a college/university student or a working individual. This was one of the most intriguing options for me. Not only can I create all of my documents directly on the tablet, but the writing is searchable in many applications. Far less shuffling papers or reorganizing notebooks. Everything I need will be right at my fingertips. I can finally get rid of the piles of accumulated papers, strewn about my house.
5) Power
Until recently, getting a tablet for a 'power' user just wasn't all that possible, but with the onset of Core Duo processors, reasonably sized screens, and a fair chunk of memory, it's very easy. For my tablet, up-time should be a non-issue - with the slice pack attached, the Tecra M7 has a great battery life of approximately one working day (~8 hours). It's no slouch in the memory department, either.
I decided to upgrade the graphics option in order to avoid any issues with the integrated Intel 950. That also opened quite a few doors, previously closed with the pre-built setup of other M7 models.
Overall, this baby can handle a shitload and keep on coming, which is exactly what I need.
6) Portability
One of my final reasons for getting a tablet, which isn't specific to having a tablet over a notebook, is the portability of it. Doing an assignment at university without logging onto a computer in a noisy lab, or being trapped in a dark basement, is a HUGE plus for me. I'm a victim of both cases all too often and it wouldn't hurt me to get a little more Vitamin D, especially during the stressful times.
This was the first and most important reason why I looked into portable computers in the first place. I just so happen to have decided that the custom Tecra M7, a tablet PC, was the best fit for me.
------------
I ordered my custom Tecra M7 through a retailer in the US called Allegiance Technology Partners (AllTP). According to them, custom tablets are shipped out within 5-10 business days of order confirmation. Considering that it first goes to them, and is then shipped internationally (to Toronto), I'm taking this figure with a grain of salt. I figure that I'll receive the tablet during the first week of October.
Unfortunately, I had to take that route since Toshiba refuses to send custom tablet PCs to Canada. It's a shame really... not everyone wants the low-end base models and there shouldn't be any problem with the shipping custom models into Canada, other than an extra cost applied to the customer.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend AllTP to anyone looking for a tablet PC that they could otherwise never receive in their present location. I spoke back and forth with John Hill, who was probably the single most helpful person I've ever had the pleasure of doing business with. Cudos to him... he got his sale.
posted by Matt at 11:48 p.m.
1 comments
