high performance notebook with a digitizer.

[rituraj]

I have considered a number of devices like surface pro, ThinkPad helix but now I feel that I want something more powerful but still with a digitizer. A 2+GHz core i5/7 with gpu performance near gtx 650m/660m or iris pro 5100/5200. I intend to use it mainly for graphic work like AutoCAD, photoshop and sketchbook pro, word processing and gaming - mostly racing and fps; no multiplayer. I also need some decent CPU power for writing and running codes in MATLAB and C++. I am not settling with anything without a digitizer. I had a look at the Fujitsu Lifebook t902 and it's really impressive but currently there is only the Intel HD 4000 version and no iris. Also it doesn't have an option for discrete graphics.

I have previously considered one small tablet with digitizer and a high grade workstation, but my current budget doesn't allow both and since I don't really need a blazing fast workstation and also not a super portable tablet for reading and browsing (my Samsung note2 does that quite well) I have decided to go this route but there seems to be no product meeting my requirements as of now. Or is there? Am I missing something? Is something coming up? Guide me folks.

 

[rituraj]

Budget less than $2000 if that helps.

 

[Imaginer]

Look at the Wacom Cintiq Companion. Can double as a monitor with the traditional Cintiq interface with a high powered workstation.

Can function as a stand alone tablet (in a more laptop paradigm - sans keyboard) workstation in either Android or Windows 8 modes depending on the Cintiq Companion model.

May not have a dGPU though. But more digitizer options than the Surface Pro and an i7 option.

 

[rituraj]

Guess what? The last place I looked at for a wacom enabled notebook was the Wacom website. Thanks. I am just going through that series.

 

[Imaginer]

I have yet to find any digitizer built in options with mobile laptops and tablet PCs that sport anything decent from nVidia or AMD's GPU lineup. You aren't the only one looking. Many still are...

 

[rituraj]

I hope someone build one with iris pro. That will be ok up to some extent. But honestly I don't mind 4 to 6 hours of battery life as my current laptop dies in 1.5 hrs and I will have the performance than Battery or portability. I will keep searching and hoping and praying.

 

[Imaginer]

To be honest, outside of not working with Mudbox, 3D manipulation and editing in AutoCAD and 3DS Max is acceptable for light workloads. Heavier involved files may tax the HD4000 iGPU a bit, one will need to free memory by closing programs that otherwise might eat the iGPU shared memory space.

I chose not to wait any longer and accepted the performance versus a gain in working in any environment, anywhere, beyond a typical desk and office.