Convertible or Tablet Computer Experience - Page 2

Bullitt · 07-13-2007, 09:05 PM

I looked into getting one when looking for a new pc after my old desktop died. I liked the somewhat textured surface on one in particular, I think it was the IBM. But even that could not convince me to part ways with my norm of taking notes in class on the good ol' spiral notebook. Even though the functionality is there with the tablet for things like highlighting, etc., it always just seemed easier and faster to use my notebooks. Not to mention you can get them for dirt cheap at back-to-school sales, which doesn't really make up for the extra cost of having a tablet over a regular laptop to me.

HungLikeJesus · 07-25-2007, 04:17 PM

The ThinkPad X61 just arrived - 3 weeks early.

I haven't opened the box yet.

May I should do a photo documentary.

DanaC · 07-25-2007, 04:19 PM

Yes!! Yes do.

Uisge Beatha · 07-30-2007, 06:20 PM

Oh, dude! It's been five days, HLJ. Please at least tell us it works and how much fun it is.

HungLikeJesus · 07-30-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uisge Beatha

Oh, dude! It's been five days, HLJ. Please at least tell us it works and how much fun it is.

Doesn't that give you a clue - five days without a note. Not have I bathed, neither ate, nor drank, etc.

I wish I had my camera with me so I could - wait, I have my phone! Hold the line.

Ok, the first picture below shows my current work set-up.

I used my phone camera and sent the picture to my e-mail, then opened it in OneNote 2007. I annotated it in OneNote, then took a screen clipping, which I saved to my desktop (as a PNG). I then had to open the PNG in The GIMP and save it as a jpg to upload to here.

Despite all that effort, it's a pretty crappy picture.

I've got the ThinkPad on it's docking station, in multi-monitor mode, with a Gateway 24-inch flat screen LCD monitor. I'm using a wireless mouse and an external keyboard. I have an external hard drive for backup purposes.

I'm happy to say that I've been able to get the computer to recognize the network, so I have internet, I was able to install both network printers, and I was able to get Outlook 2007 to work with our Exchange server.

The only thing I can't figure out is how to synchronize Outlook through a Wi-Fi or dial-up connection. (I really don't like Outlook Web Access.)

Last night I made a drawing using the digitizer tablet and The GIMP. I've added that picture at the bottom.

Uisge Beatha · 07-30-2007, 08:37 PM

Sweet! I'm glad you're happy, HLJ. Thanks for letting us know.

HungLikeJesus · 07-30-2007, 08:41 PM

The funny thing is, I'm using this at work, but, with the exception of the wired keyboard, everything in that set-up I paid for myself (Tablet PC, docking station, 24" monitor, wireless mouse, external drive, plus all the software).

xoxoxoBruce · 07-30-2007, 09:10 PM

Tax deduction.

skysidhe · 07-30-2007, 10:31 PM

lol

HungLikeJesus · 08-17-2007, 02:01 PM

I thought that I would post an update for those people who might still be considering a tablet PC.

With the exception of art/drawing programs, I don't use the tablet functionality very often. But for what I do use it, I'm glad to have it. Below are two pictures I made using the free version of ArtRage 2.

The battery life (3 to 4 hours) is much better than my previous laptop, but less, I think, than the manufacturer's estimate.

I like the fingerprint reader, which substitutes a fingerprint scan for typed passwords. The password can still be typed in as an option.

Bootup and shutdown times are long; therefore, I rarely turn the computer off, but rather put it in sleep mode by closing the cover. Restart is almost instantaneous and battery use is minimal.

I've downloaded about 10 movies to the hard drive and found that this method of watching movies (with Etymotic ER6 earphones) is quite good. I watched two movies this way while travelling back from Germany last week, and one more at home.

The only video output available from the X61 is a standard monitor connection; there is no S-video or component video, so I don't know if I can connect it to my home projector.

I want to buy a large external drive and rip about half of my movies to it, so that I can transfer them to this computer for travel. A friend of mine estimated that it would take about 1.5 years to rip and convert 500 movies (i.e. 1 per day).

This computer came loaded with Windows Vista, which has worked fine so far, though it does have a few annoying "security" quirks and won't run my favorite synchronization program, FolderMatch.

Here are two flower pictures I'm working on. The first one is free-hand and the second was done using ArtRage's trace option.

07-13-2007, 09:05 PM	#16
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	I looked into getting one when looking for a new pc after my old desktop died. I liked the somewhat textured surface on one in particular, I think it was the IBM. But even that could not convince me to part ways with my norm of taking notes in class on the good ol' spiral notebook. Even though the functionality is there with the tablet for things like highlighting, etc., it always just seemed easier and faster to use my notebooks. Not to mention you can get them for dirt cheap at back-to-school sales, which doesn't really make up for the extra cost of having a tablet over a regular laptop to me. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

07-25-2007, 04:17 PM	#17
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	The ThinkPad X61 just arrived - 3 weeks early. I haven't opened the box yet. May I should do a photo documentary. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

07-30-2007, 08:41 PM	#22
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	The funny thing is, I'm using this at work, but, with the exception of the wired keyboard, everything in that set-up I paid for myself (Tablet PC, docking station, 24" monitor, wireless mouse, external drive, plus all the software). __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

07-30-2007, 09:10 PM	#23
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Tax deduction. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-17-2007, 02:01 PM	#25
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Update I thought that I would post an update for those people who might still be considering a tablet PC. With the exception of art/drawing programs, I don't use the tablet functionality very often. But for what I do use it, I'm glad to have it. Below are two pictures I made using the free version of ArtRage 2. The battery life (3 to 4 hours) is much better than my previous laptop, but less, I think, than the manufacturer's estimate. I like the fingerprint reader, which substitutes a fingerprint scan for typed passwords. The password can still be typed in as an option. Bootup and shutdown times are long; therefore, I rarely turn the computer off, but rather put it in sleep mode by closing the cover. Restart is almost instantaneous and battery use is minimal. I've downloaded about 10 movies to the hard drive and found that this method of watching movies (with Etymotic ER6 earphones) is quite good. I watched two movies this way while travelling back from Germany last week, and one more at home. The only video output available from the X61 is a standard monitor connection; there is no S-video or component video, so I don't know if I can connect it to my home projector. I want to buy a large external drive and rip about half of my movies to it, so that I can transfer them to this computer for travel. A friend of mine estimated that it would take about 1.5 years to rip and convert 500 movies (i.e. 1 per day). This computer came loaded with Windows Vista, which has worked fine so far, though it does have a few annoying "security" quirks and won't run my favorite synchronization program, FolderMatch. Here are two flower pictures I'm working on. The first one is free-hand and the second was done using ArtRage's trace option. Attached Images __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

07-25-2007, 04:19 PM	#18
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Yes!! Yes do.

07-30-2007, 06:20 PM	#19
Uisge Beatha Lecturer Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 945	Oh, dude! It's been five days, HLJ. Please at least tell us it works and how much fun it is.

07-30-2007, 08:37 PM	#21
Uisge Beatha Lecturer Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 945	Sweet! I'm glad you're happy, HLJ. Thanks for letting us know.

07-30-2007, 10:31 PM	#24
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	lol

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)