Are you productive with a tablet PC?

[patrick24601]

Last year I bought an Acer Convertible Tablet PC. Absolutely love it. But it is kind of heavy and it has typical laptop battery time. So I cannot use it all day (8-5) without being close to power outlet. It is sitting at home more and more.

I have used a slate tablet pc (i.e. No Keyboard) and they are nice. Very light. It seems like they would last longer on the battery.

Does anybody have a slate? Can it last all day with no charge? Can you recommend a slate tablet PC that has a huge battery life?

Thanks,
P

 

[Fox5]

I have a convertible, thinkpad x41t. Very light, but I didn't find it all that productive due to its low performance and various other issues (such as the software not being all that useful).
I think I'd rather have a slate. The fujitsu st5100 looks incredible nice though.
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecomme...ldseriesbean.do?series=ST5100&ptype=TB

HP also used to have a tablet that came with a small, lightweight dockable keyboard that seemed pretty neat, but I don't know of anyone currently using that form factor.

 

[patrick24601]

Thanks. I take it you were using XP Tablet PC with OneNote? Just confirming.

 

[Fox5]

Yep, XP Tablet PC with OneNote. Occasionally crashed, sluggish, would hang up, and the handwriting (even without recognition) just isn't all that natural. Not to mention that the pen doesn't work properly if you write at an angle since the pen writes from the center of the magnetic field. Vista is better, but my laptop didn't really have the performance for it, plus it kills battery life.

 

[jimbofoxman]

I have a Fujitsu Stylistic (not a convertible) that I use at work. I am an estimator and the program we use was written and design on these tablets, so this is why we got the unit. I think as far as tablet PC's go, it's a good unit. I bought the tablet that came with the brighter indoor/outdoor display but on a full sun day, you still can't see the screen. The software allows us to draw right in there and do the estimate. I end up leaving the tablet in the truck and doing my estimate in the truck after I go out with paper and pen and do the estimate. Then come back in the truck.

I bought a RAMM truck mount for it, plus an HP Printer for my truck which is all nice. The tablet talks to the printer via bluetooth. Now that I got the RAMM mount, I think I would rather have my old laptop back.

I like the writing fuction of it and it's lightweightness. But for me, it fits the bill to an extent.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Fox5
HP also used to have a tablet that came with a small, lightweight dockable keyboard that seemed pretty neat, but I don't know of anyone currently using that form factor.

I used those for a multimedia module in university, they're a joy to use and if you need the keyboard the plugin is rather useful. The battery life seemed good and they weren't too heavy, if a bit warm.