Tablet PC Query

I'm using the IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad tablet (the X60 model--now they're up to X61 with a better processor).
I'm really pleased with it. Its running Windows Vista - which I'm pretty ambivalent about...the one good thing that MS has managed to do is to integrate the tablet/writing functions right into Vista (whereas with XP it was a bunch of add-on programs, right?) Handwriting recognition is fantastic -especially for my chicken-scratches. And it has some type of learning function where it gradually gets better at understanding your input.
When I bought it, the battery upgrade from the 4cel to 8cel was free so I took the better battery. Turns out this was a good idea: a lot of the tablet user forums had complaints about how poor the 4cel battery life was.
Weight is definitely not a problem, even with the slightly larger battery. Most of the time its on a table or in my lap, but when I do carry it around its not an issue.
Screen size seems a little small for me...but that's more of an issue with the limitations on screen resolution that my model has. Since its a touch-screen (not just the pen, but finger-touch too) it doesn't let you set the resolution very high so items on the screen stay big enough to manipulate with fingers.
The whole touch-screen thing is nice, but I'm still not convinced that its worth spending the extra $200 for - I think that using the pen is enough.
I'd recommend shelling out the extra cash for 2Gb of RAM- i'm running only 1GB and the machine can be a little sluggish at times.
No CD/DVD Drive available on my model (only with the extra dock which I didn't get) most software you can get off the web now, and IBM puts a program which will let you basically copy an image from a CD/DVD over a network and store it on your HD. Never used it, but good to know its there.
I spent about $1800 on it, but could have gone without touchscreen and gotten for around 1500-1600. I think that you should more or less expect to pay $1500
The forums at GottaBeMobile.com proved really helpful both before and after I bought it.

This isn't intended to be snark, but what does a tablet PC do for your that a legal pad can't?

This isn't intended to be snark, but what does a tablet PC do for your that a legal pad can't?

It allows me to project hand-written annotations onto the screen in the classroom when I lecture off PowerPoint, and I can save the slides with the additional notes as a PDF, which I can then easily post to Blackboard. I can also hand-write problem set solutions into electronic format directly, without the hassle of scanning in pages from a legal pad.

(Yes, I could type my problem set solutions in LaTeX, but that takes much longer, and can't be done while watching football on tv.)

A good rule of thumb is to just go for the biggest screen size available, because even that will be too small.

Technically, an Apple _is_ a Windows machine, since you can run Windows on it either through virtualization or natively using Boot Camp. That said, Apple doesn't have a tablet PC in production, although some company is aftermarket modding MacBooks into tablets they call the ModBook.

Sorry for the aside.

I haven't used a Lenovo tablet, but I just bought a Thinkpad T61, which I assume has much of the same innards as the tablet mentioned above. I love it so far.

I am pretty happy with mine, Toshiba Portege M200, it is two years old so there must be newer version by now. I do like "convertibles", meaning they can be rotated to become conventional laptops, rather than being only a tablet.

On the other hand Toshiba, as far as I can tell, does not send you re-installation CD for the operating system. This is unlike most other companies (certainly Dell), and it makes you depend unnecessarily on their customer service, which is not that great. I also don't find it completely ethical, seems to me you should own a license for the operating system you use.

Moshe: You don't own the license, it's an OEM license that is bound to the machine and not transferable to other machines. Hence the stickers that go on the computers now, instead of the license key in the manual, to emphasize the attached nature of the license.

Chad: I'm writing this on a ThinkPad x61t, which I love overall, but has an irritating design issue that causes the glue in the bezel to come loose so there's eventually a 1-2mm gap between the bezel and the screen on the bottom edge. My review of it is here.

Note that the wonderful 1440x1050 screen I got isn't available from their web site right now (they've had supplier issues with it), so if you order today, you'd have to get the much lamer (in my opinion) regular 1024x768 screen. Although that's what Bylsko has above, and he seems okay with it, so maybe you'd get used to living in 1993 again, resolution-wise. Come to that, the Toshiba you're using now almost certainly does not have more than 1024x768, so if you're okay with that...

As tablets go, the ThinkPad is on the portable side, with a 12" screen and 4.3 pound weight (with extended battery). I think this is pretty ideal, as a tablet invites carrying around in a way that a regular laptop doesn't, and I'd recommend that class of device over the bulkier 5+ lb laptops with 14" displays.

Also, Apple has no tablet right now, which basically means that nobody cares about them despite how awesome they are, but when Steve introduces one, you'll start hearing paeans to their coolness.

I own the Thinkpad X61 tablet. I really love it, and I believe the price just dropped again. The only downside is the lack of an optical drive (I don't really notice, but some people love their cd's)

Mike, I was being unclear: when I get a machine with no original re-installation CD, with unique number etc., I suspect things are not quite kosher, e.g. maybe the software is not licensed. In any event it is something to look for, very inconvenient not to be able to re-install the OS yourself.

BTW, screen resolution on the M200 is 1400 by 1050, I think most other things are comparable to the thinkpad models.

Another X61 Tablet here. You really want the 1400x1050 screen, and extra RAM if you plan on keeping Vista (I bought another 2 GB on the open market, much cheaper than Lenovo's upgrades).

It's a very nice machine, but I'm still working on my usage patterns. Currently, my main gripe is that note-taking appears to be an application that generates lots of heat, and thus actually using it on lap top leads to uncomfortable warming of your private parts. Also, coming from an old X series ThinkPad made by IBM, a couple of things stand out as "Lenovo innovations" - the keyboard no longer has the same crunch, the screen attachment isn't as rock-solid as it used to be (even though a bezel of course is much harder to get right than the traditional double hinge, I can't help but imagine that IBM would have gotten those right), and there's funny stuff like a ThinkLight key on the keyboard though the device doesn't have a ThinkLight.

I convince myself that these are minor nits and that it works great, but you can't take anyone seriously who has to justify a 2000 dollar purchase to themselves :)

Also Lenovo has the worst customer service I have ever experienced in any context. And that was dealing with the SALES department. I'm given to understand that tech support is even worse.

Love the machine, hate the company.

Anyway, if you're looking for non ThinkPad suggestions, Fujitsu has two models out, one of which has the 1440x1050 screen (but is ridiculously expensive); HP and Toshiba both have models that get reasonably well reviewed; and Dell is releasing a Latitude XT in the next month or two. I suspect that each of them has their pluses and minuses.

"I'm using the IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad tablet (the X60 model--now they're up to X61 with a better processor)."

It is really a beautiful machine.

"Also Lenovo has the worst customer service I have ever experienced in any context. And that was dealing with the SALES department. I'm given to understand that tech support is even worse."

I have heard this before, but my experiences with Lenovo sales and tech support have been outstanding. Possible caveat: This has all been through a big institutional university account.

I've been using a Gateway convertable for about a year and a half and would be hard pressed to recomend a convertable. I find that when trying to hold the thing like a legal pad I'm always hitting the latch, either with my hand itself when held the most natural way grasping the larger battery, or with my body/arm when held the other way round.

Within the past month the hinge is starting to loosen up to the point where getting the screen to sit at a good angle when in typing mode I have to pull the screen forward to find some resistance in the hinge then push it back to where I like it.

So unless someone is trying to get by with having only one PC I wouldn't recomend a convertable. Even though there is nothing cooler than a hand written email.

Toss that into the thought process...