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Am I a candidate for a Tablet PC?

F

Fraggable

Platinum Member
I am a college student with about 4 years of school still ahead of me. Right now I have a Gateway 7422GX lappy and a desktop gaming system, specs are below. Recently I got to play with a Toshiba Table PC where I work, reinstalling WinXP and office and such after it for gummed with spyware. I was always critical of them because of relatively weak specs and small screens but now I'm thinking I might have a use for one. It would be incredibly valuable for taking notes in class, especially since I have a OneNote license I could use on it. I used to play BF 1942 a lot on my Gateway and bought it for that reason, but I haven't played a game on it since finishing my desktop 3+ months ago. If I got a tablet though, it would be nice to at least have a discrete video card in case I felt the need to play a game in class... My current lappy has a 80Gb HDD, 70 Gb usable, 15.6Gb free so I'd need something with a 80Gb HDD I think, possibly a 60 if I wasn't going to have games on it.

My question is, would it make sense for me to sell my current lappy and get a tablet PC, and if so, where is the best place to get one? I don't have much cash to add to the value of my laptop so I'm definitely looking for an incredible deal.

Laptop specs:
AMD 64 3400+
1Gb DDR
80Gb HDD
ATI 9550 64MB
15.4" widescreen
DVD-+ DL DVD drive
XP Home
3 year BB warranty +a few months of manufacturer warranty left

What do you think I could get for it?

Thanks for any advice, i'm pretty new to the table PC area.

EDIT: The last one that sold on Ebay went for $1200, and I have the BB warranty to add to that (if that's worth anything).
 
The question is:

Are you going to buy a Tablet PC, or are you going to buy a notebook that converts to a tablet.

If you're going the notebook to tablet route, then I would say no. if you were interested in a real Tablet PC, then yes.
 
I was thinking the kind that looks like a notebook but you can flip the screen around and use it like a tablet. Why would you say no? Because it isn't that much different form a regular notebook? Battery life not great enough?

Right now I'm looking at the Toshiba R10/R15 series PCs. They seem to be a great value and have 15% off right now.

edit: starting at $1899 is a bit out of my budget, though those Lenovos do look nice. The Toshiba's I mentioned start at $1100 or so and I can get one with 512MB ram, 80GB hdd and a Pentium 735 processor for under $1300.
 
Actually I find that the convertibles work the best. I also am a student (have a tablet pc I'm selling but no discreet video so you probably wouldn't want), and I've tried taking notes directly with pen. Unless you're in math class, there's just no point. THat's what a pen and paper are for. However, when I'm in my econ class, and the prof just talks and throws up a crap-load of text on his PP lecture, I LOVE having the laptop.
I can type 2-3x faster than I can write, and infinitely more legibly. And then when he pops a graph out of the middle of nowhere, I grab the pen and sketch it out on OneNote. I would definitely reccommend the convertible over the slate, but I really wouldn't base your decision on game-playing abilities. That's why you (and I) have desktops, keep the laptop so you can actually get some work done on it. Trust me, the wireless internet provides far more distraction/amusement during class than a game ever would.
 
Originally posted by: Fraggable
I was thinking the kind that looks like a notebook but you can flip the screen around and use it like a tablet. Why would you say no? Because it isn't that much different form a regular notebook? Battery life not great enough?

Right now I'm looking at the Toshiba R10/R15 series PCs. They seem to be a great value and have 15% off right now.

edit: starting at $1899 is a bit out of my budget, though those Lenovos do look nice. The Toshiba's I mentioned start at $1100 or so and I can get one with 512MB ram, 80GB hdd and a Pentium 735 processor for under $1300.
Click to expand...

I would say no because it's just not much different that what you have now. Like HermDogg says, you can usually type faster than you can write (i can anyways) so if I'm going to lug something the size of a regular notebook around, I'd rather just lug a notebook around since that's what I'd be doing anyways.

Now, if you were looking at a real Tablet PC with like a 10" or 12" screen, lightweight that you wanted to jot quick notes down on (quick, nothing lengthy), didn't care about playing games on, wanted to use it for reference in class with quick searches on the net and stuff, that would be awesome.

As far as trying to sell your notebook to buy another notebook where you can flip the screen around, I don't see a point. if you're looking for a quick way to get notes into your computer, there are better ways. You can buy a cheap flatbed scanner and use OCR software to get it into word. You could buy a Logitech IO Digital pen. It requires special paper, but would be cheaper and less of a hassle.
 
Originally posted by: The Linuxator
Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
Those X Series tablets are sweet. Starting at $1899. 3.5 lbs., 6.3 hours of battery life, Lenovo quality and durabilty. X series fa sho.linky
Click to expand...


LEAVE THE GUY ALONE IBM SUCKS ASS !!!, any way here is a laptop you might be intrested in The A84 !!
Click to expand...

You have an R50E????? Also, i never said he had to get a tablet but if he was, an X would be a good choice. Thats an X41 series in the pic. WTF is wrong with you? Did you think that was funny?

 
Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
Originally posted by: The Linuxator
Originally posted by: andrewbabcock
Those X Series tablets are sweet. Starting at $1899. 3.5 lbs., 6.3 hours of battery life, Lenovo quality and durabilty. X series fa sho.linky
Click to expand...


LEAVE THE GUY ALONE IBM SUCKS ASS !!!, any way here is a laptop you might be intrested in The A84 !!
Click to expand...

You have an R50E????? Also, i never said he had to get a tablet but if he was, an X would be a good choice. Thats an X41 series in the pic. WTF is wrong with you? Did you think that was funny?
Click to expand...

I think IBM PCs are the best period, and " WTF is wrong with you? Did you think that was funny? " COME ON whats' wrong with Anandtechers these days don't you have some sense of humor ? Couldn't you realize I was just jokin? DUH. How can I hate IBM and have an R50e Thinkpad in my sig, and I show him super big resolution pic of an X 41 Tablet and name it as A84 a random name so he thinks it's something else...etc
 
Originally posted by: HermDogg
Actually I find that the convertibles work the best. I also am a student (have a tablet pc I'm selling but no discreet video so you probably wouldn't want), and I've tried taking notes directly with pen. Unless you're in math class, there's just no point. THat's what a pen and paper are for. However, when I'm in my econ class, and the prof just talks and throws up a crap-load of text on his PP lecture, I LOVE having the laptop.
I can type 2-3x faster than I can write, and infinitely more legibly. And then when he pops a graph out of the middle of nowhere, I grab the pen and sketch it out on OneNote. I would definitely reccommend the convertible over the slate, but I really wouldn't base your decision on game-playing abilities. That's why you (and I) have desktops, keep the laptop so you can actually get some work done on it. Trust me, the wireless internet provides far more distraction/amusement during class than a game ever would.
Click to expand...

The more I research this and think about it, the less important video seems. I guess I don't need a discrete video card.

Slate tablets don't interest me at all, I don't think that's what i'm looking for. A Tablet PC with a 12.1", possibly a 14" widescreen is what I need.

Math class is one of the big reasons I need it. I have 12+ credits of it ahead of me, not to mention all the application of it in other classes.

Gimme a linky to your table for sale and I'll let you know if i'm interested. Especially if you're interested in a trade for a laptop.

HermDogg your sig links are all messed up.
 
Yes, descrete graphics are just not needed on portables, unless you have a huge 8 or 9 pound notebook that you don't plan on doing any travelling with.
 
heh. My current notebook is 8.5-9 pounds without the power adapter, which I usually carry because I need to use it for 4-5 hours a day. It leaves home at least once a day so portability is a primary concern. I don't mind the weight, I mean I can handle and extra 3-4 pounds in my backpack every day, but I'm realizing that wanting exceptional video performance in a tablet is unreasonable because that's not what they're designed for.

Does anyone think I could get $1300 or so for the system in my OP?
 
Only on ebay. I'd only offer about $700 for it because I could probably get a i9300 with a GF6800NU for 3-400 more.
 
Originally posted by: Fraggable
heh. My current notebook is 8.5-9 pounds without the power adapter, which I usually carry because I need to use it for 4-5 hours a day. It leaves home at least once a day so portability is a primary concern. I don't mind the weight, I mean I can handle and extra 3-4 pounds in my backpack every day, but I'm realizing that wanting exceptional video performance in a tablet is unreasonable because that's not what they're designed for.

Doe Get an R50e or one of the other affordable lappys at Lenovo and you are set.s anyone think I could get $1300 or so for the system in my OP?
Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head right there.

I wouldn't get a tablet anyway.

A tablet sounds nice but its really not worth it in the long run.

If you insist on a tablet, i would say get a convertible like the X series tablet at lenovo. Not only is it a great tablet, but you can flip that screen around and its a great portable lappy. Its basically ideal for your situation.
 
I guess i should quit saying I want a 'tablet pc', what I really want seens to be called a convertible. One of the ones with a keyboard. And yes it is ideal for my situation. All I have to do now is figure out how to get the money for one.
 
If you already have a onenote licence you might consider a peripheral upgrade to your existing system. A (relatively) cheap Wacom tablet connected by USB to your existing laptop could give you pen input considerably more cheaply than buying a tablet could. It wouldn't, of course, be quite as good as a real tablet, since you couldn't write on the screen; but it might help.
 
I had thought of that, but battery life would still be an issue. I can't plug in in most of my classes, so I would need at least a 3 hour battery life and my current lappy won't last that long. Thanks for the suggestion though.
 
Originally posted by: Fraggable
I had thought of that, but battery life would still be an issue. I can't plug in in most of my classes, so I would need at least a 3 hour battery life and my current lappy won't last that long. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Click to expand...

The Lenovo X series tablet gets 6.3 hours of battery life according to the site. If you can get the funds, i don't see why you wouldn't get an X.

 
Originally posted by: Fraggable
Well I don't really have the funds for a Lenovo tablet. $2200 and up is more that I can spend.
Click to expand...

I dunno then. Convertibles are fairly expensive at the moment...A T42 may be in order then?

 
The Toshiba R10 and R15 series convertibles start at $1100 or so and I can get what I want for under $1400 easily. Gateway also has a line for ~$1300 that has what I want.
 
Fraggable, sent PM. I am selling a convertable with a 12.1 screen and nVidia 5200 go graphics with all software and extras.

LMK
 
Originally posted by: jspeicher
Originally posted by: Fraggable
it would be nice to at least have a discrete video card in case I felt the need to play a game in class...
Click to expand...


kidding right?
Click to expand...

Now i am.

Though the Toshiba m200 series seems to have 5200Go's and most of the newer models do have an ATI mobility or NVidia Go GPU.
 
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