Best tablet with active digitizer?

[alizee]

I'm looking to replace an old-but-trusty ThinkPad x61t (old school convertible tablet) with something newer, but I'm kind of list trying to sift through a million tablet configurations from a hundred different vendors. I'm in college, and I use OneNote a lot for notes in class, handwriting them with the digitizer. I also use it in "laptop-mode", writing papers and programming along with other homework (WebAssign, etc.). That's pretty much my use case for this computer, I have a desktop for gaming, etc. I'm not necessarily concerned about weight or thickness, but I would like something comparable in size to my current computer (12", 4:3 screen), but maybe going down to 10" wouldn't be so bad.

My other thought would be this, I currently have an iPad and, as long as there is a really good stylus (Bluetooth maybe?), I could potentially use that for taking notes, and get my keyboard and everything else from an ultrabook.

Thanks for the recommendations!

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's expensive, but the Surface Pro 2 improved the battery life of the old Pro, upping it to 6 hours. It runs Windows 8.1 and the type keyboard is pretty good.

 

[alizee]

I definitely have given some thought to the surface 2 pro. I'm not sure if I'm completely sold on the type cover for programming or extended length papers.

 

[arandomguy]

Check out the new Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga, on paper it seems like a a fit for you. I'd just make sure to get some confirmation on what digitizer it uses (if that matters to you) before purchase. It supposedly is a wacom. http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops...a-series/yoga/

The Acer Aspire R7 on paper seems rather good (if you don't mind the N-trig instead of wacom) especially if you want the extra size and factoring in the price - http://www.anandtech.com/show/7534/acer-aspire-r7572-haswell-and-an-active-digitizer

Alternatively you could get something like the Dell Venue 8 Pro for a smaller and cheaper specialty device.

Something to keep in mind regarding screen sizes though is that displays nowadays are 16:9 for the most part (Apple i-devices being a popular exception to this). A 12 inch 16:9 has very different size characteristics than a 12 inch 4:3. You can use this to get a better idea - http://www.displaywars.com/12-inch-16x9-vs-12-inch-4x3

 

[gorcorps]

What's your budget? Sony just released their Vaio Flip convertibles and I really like them. They're pricey but also look very well made

 

[DaveSimmons]

I definitely have given some thought to the surface 2 pro. I'm not sure if I'm completely sold on the type cover for programming or extended length papers.

I've done some programming using the Pro 1 type cover while testing touch support at work, and it is harder to do.

For that you can always attach a USB wired or wireless "real" keyboard and mouse.

 

[alizee]

Check out the new Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga, on paper it seems like a a fit for you. I'd just make sure to get some confirmation on what digitizer it uses (if that matters to you) before purchase. It supposedly is a wacom. http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops...a-series/yoga/

The Acer Aspire R7 on paper seems rather good (if you don't mind the N-trig instead of wacom) especially if you want the extra size and factoring in the price - http://www.anandtech.com/show/7534/acer-aspire-r7572-haswell-and-an-active-digitizer

Alternatively you could get something like the Dell Venue 8 Pro for a smaller and cheaper specialty device.

Something to keep in mind regarding screen sizes though is that displays nowadays are 16:9 for the most part (Apple i-devices being a popular exception to this). A 12 inch 16:9 has very different size characteristics than a 12 inch 4:3. You can use this to get a better idea - http://www.displaywars.com/12-inch-16x9-vs-12-inch-4x3

I had been looking at the Lenovo tablets, I was a little annoyed that they didn't update the x220t, but I can't imagine they were a big seller. Besides the Haswell update on the ThinkPad Yoga, what are anyone's thoughts compared to the ThinkPad Helix? I do like the TrackPoint on both of those devices, it's a really nice input device that I don't think gets the "recognition" it deserves 🙂

As for the Acer, I don't think I like the form factor enough; when I want to use it as a laptop, I think I'd like the "traditional" laptop experience with the trackpad in its normal location, I don't care enough about touch.

For the Dell Venue 8, does it actually use an active digitizer? Their specs page is lacking any info on it, unless I just glossed over it. That might be a decent option for the ultrabook+tablet tandem, notes on the Venue and the rest on an ultrabook.

I'm kind of annoyed that everything has been moving to 16:9. I realize that's a good aspect ratio for movies, but does anybody except for me use their tablet in portrait mode? I know Brian Klug doesn't understand that concept, but I think Anand does. On my ThinkPad, I take notes in portrait, and on my iPad, I generally use Safari or iBooks in portrait. On the few Android tablets that I've played with, it is a less-than-optimal experience when not in landscape.

What's your budget? Sony just released their Vaio Flip convertibles and I really like them. They're pricey but also look very well made

I hadn't even seen that Sony offered any tablets with a digitizer. Good call. I haven't really put a firm budget together, I'd like to get the "right" device, if that makes sense.

I've done some programming using the Pro 1 type cover while testing touch support at work, and it is harder to do.

That's definitely something to go off of, thanks.

 

[Torn Mind]

Fujitsu Lifebooks, HP 2760p, Gigabyte Padbook S1185 might pique your interest. I've been scouring the web these past few days looking at used convertibles myself.

 

[rituraj]

^ this.
I am currently looking for something similar but also need it to be powerful. The fujitsu lifebook T-series really caught my attention as they have everything I could ask for. Of course they are pricey and heavy but they are basically laptops first and since you have no problem with weight and your first preference is the digitizer, I seriously think you would like them. And on the plus they are really powerful with intel core i* xxxxM processors, not 'U' and still provide excellent battery life. They are also very much configurable unlike the recent ultrabooks and tablets.

 

[arandomguy]

I suggested the Thinkpad Yoga in part because it is larger since you mentioned that size/thickness isn't as paramount for you. The consideration being that you will lose quite a bit of height or width (landscape/portrait) by going from 4:3 to 16:9. Also keep in mind 16:9 has less overall area as well for the same given diagonal.

Also in general since you have experience with the Thinkpad brand and they are generally regarded well for their keyboards (another requirement you mentioned).

The Thinkpad Yoga is very new however (I believe it actually just went on sale the last week?) as such I don't think you will be able to find much actual on hand experience with it at this point beyond what it is on paper. One benefit is that actually buying from Lenovo is a no hassle free returns if you did happen to want to try it out and not like it.

I'll be honest I can't really stand laptop trackpads in general and prefer the pointing sticks (trackpoint). Maybe it is because the first laptop I ever experienced used a stick. Personally I would think a touchscreen paired with a pointing stick is rather complimentary, the stick for precision and the touchscreen for speed.

The Dell Venue 8 Pro uses a synaptics digitizer which leads to my next bit of information.

Not all digitizers are the same by the way. The digitzer you are likely most familiar with is Wacom ones, used on the Surface and Lenovo (should be). But there are also N-trig digitzers (Sony's for example) and now Synaptic (Dell Venue). Wacom at the moment I believe is the only one that as Wintab support (needed for programs like Photoshop) while the others only support MS Ink.

If you want other options Samsung also has notebooks with an active digitizer. Dell has the Venue line with more sizes than just the 8. Sony I believe has sizes all the up to 15 inches. That's just off the top of my head in addition to MS, Lenovo and Acer. There is quite a few companies offering this now.

Also the Tegra Note 7 which doesn't actually have an active digitzer but does have pen support. But the only information I know about that is from the Anandtech review at this point. It is cheap if you wanted something low priced.

Regarding 16:9 it really is an economy of scale issue making 16:9 simply easier and more cost effective to source being more ubiquitous. Apple being the exception is likely since they can move by far the most units of any single product line among the OEMs and their excellent vertical integration.