<p>I questioned the Tablet PC Market exactly as you are now, and I was surprised to see that you have the EXACT same list of possible choices as I did. I pulled all nighters going through countless websites with Tablet PC reviews, pored over editorials, and comparing different features, the works. I spoke with computer nerds too, and after talking to a guy from with a degree in computer science, I ended up settling on the Gateway CX2620, the one I am using now to type this message, and I am extremely happy I did. I see in your other posts that you are concerned about the benefits of having a tablet PC, and well, at least for me, the versatililty is sooo worth it. Having a tablet PC is easier on the hands, makes doing research and looking through information so much easier and faster with the feature of touching the screen, and it is a huge investment if you plan to be using the Tablet for gaming, watching movies, and general entertainment. The Gateway is a little bit pricey, but if you are on a budget or just want to be a little bit more conservative with moolah, I would defintely consider the Toshiba model. It was second place runner up in terms of dependablity, customer service, warranty value, brand name recognition, and overall best performance. Somebody I know had the Acer model you listed, and well, it only lasted a few weeks...I've read that it is the one of the more lesser known laptop brands, and with a brand name like Toshiba or Gateway, you are bound to recieve more bang for your buck, and have a much better quality product. I recommend either of those...They are both just as powerful as a desktop, hardly without any sacrifices, or at least that I know of. I too, was looking a laptop that would last me a long time and something that would be upgradable if needed in the future. My Gateway model, is one of the "best of the best", given that (I think I am right, forgive me if I'm not) Gateway was the computer company that first came out with the technology, and while others came out with similar technology, Gateway remains one of the premier Tablet PC's. Toshiba comes awfully close though too...I recommend you look into these two models and decide for yourself. If you have any questions about the Gateway, message me, and I would be happy to answer you. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Well I'm actually waiting for late August for the new Intel processors to come out. By then I'll start looking again. I really like the Toshiba M7 even though that's just on the European site. I'll see at the end of the summer what happens.</p>
<p>I'm curious to know about student discounts. The other day I had called Dell up and told them I was looking a laptop online for my friend who was going to college. I was interested in a monthly payment plan and they set me right up after I gave them the information. But they also gave me a bunch of student discounts on the laptop since it was for college use. I was able to customize it over the phone and everything. Does anyone know if a company like Toshiba or Gateway (or any of the other companies that make TabletPCs) have student discounts available over the phone?</p>
<p>Balmes, Gateway reps earn commission and so they are willing to bargain with you. I expressed "horror" that my state taxes and shipping increased the price by $150. Call them up, and spend time customizing one, they won't let go of you after spending 30 minutes talking without a sale would they?</p>
<p>For Dell, the program is called EPP (Employee Purchasing Program, which you can get through your university). The past month they offered amazing (first-ever) discounts to the XPS lines through EPP. I didn't jump on the boat because I decided to go with a Tablet, which Dell doesn't make. Talk with your University's EPP rep, they're also very flexible about pricing and probably will take the extra initiative since they live on your campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on Gateway. How about for Toshiba? Do you know if they have something similar like Gateway or Dell?</p>
<p>Interestingly enough when I called Dell for my friend's laptop they didn't even bother to verify that he was going to college. They just asked what the laptop would be used for and that was that. And he still went out of his way (well at least it seemed like it) to give us a bunch of discounts. A laptop that cost $1600 got almost $400 reduced, after state taxes that is. It meant a lot to my friend who needed a computer right away. In fact he called me just this week from Syracuse to tell me he got it.</p>
<p>bumpy bump</p>
<p>Do you want a really good note taking device? Here's my choice:</p>
<p>Thank you. You've been so helpful in answering my last question.</p>
<p>Now if someone can actually answer my last question I'd appreciate it.</p>
<p>"Thanks for the info on Gateway. How about for Toshiba? Do you know if they have something similar like Gateway or Dell [student discounts]?"</p>
<p>Toshibadirect is running an educational sale on their M400 Tablet PC: <a href="http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/ebtext.to?page=tabletpcfam&seg=PSE%5B/url%5D">http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/ebtext.to?page=tabletpcfam&seg=PSE</a></p>
<p>Best Buy is selling the Gateway (CX2724) Tablet: <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7889207&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01175&id=1149206139931%5B/url%5D">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7889207&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01175&id=1149206139931</a></p>
<p>Don't mind MacTec92... For someone who still has a working Apple Lisa, a pack of pencils is probably a technological "step-up"!</p>
<p>It's interesting you send me that link from the Toshiba website. When you click on Tablet PCs on their home page it lets you choose what it will be used for: Home/Home Office, Small/Med Business, Enterprise, and Eudcation/Govt.</p>
<p>Now when you click on Home Office you get the following models and base prices: Protege M400 ($1,699), Satellite R20 ($1,259.10), Protege M200 ($1,649).</p>
<p>When you click on Education/Govt: Protege M400 ($1,699), Terca M4 ($1,563.08), Protege M200 ($1,649).</p>
<p>I just don't see where the discount is. There just seems to be a change in models from the R20 to the M4.</p>
<p>On a side note I've noticed that the Terca M7 seems to be available on the Toshiba website. I'll be looking closely at the M7 and the M400. As it is, I think the M7 looks slightly better.</p>
<p>Which one is the better model: Gateway CX210X, CX2620 or the CX2724?</p>
<p>I was messing with customizing some of the Toshiba laptops and I noticed that some of the upgrades are ridiculous. I'll definitely be looking at other websites to upgrade the RAM and HDD.</p>
<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I just bought my Gateway CX2724 today and although its my first day with it, i'm loving it already. the microsoft one note program is also extremely useful. you can even record ur prof's lectures through that program! i would totally suggest a tablet just bc its got that extra tablet feature on it for just a bit more money...that is, if ur willing to spend about a grand or so on a lappy. i got mine for a little less than $1200 at best buy bc of some sale going on at the moment.</p>
<p>jepar: What do you think about the screen? It seems to be better than the tablets from last year, but it's not as bright/vivid/bold like some of the other non-tablet pcs, espcially the Vaios. How well does it hold up in sunlight?</p>
<p>And how is the inking? Are you able to write quickly and still retain recognition quality?</p>
<p>How's the battery life?</p>
<p>Thanks. Please update with more info as you are trying the stuff out.</p>
<p>uapplicant, to be honest, i hadnt touched a tablet before the one i bought today. ummm i would say that the screen is just fine. after all, im probably sticking around in the college of liberal arts and sciences so i dont think i'll be needing extremely nice screens or anything. i dont know anything about the sunlight, just bc i havent been outside with it. the inking, or writing with the stylus, is actually really good. i had a pda that had delayed handwriting recognition, and that was a little annoying. but this tablet pc takes down ur strokes instantaneously and is very easy to use in my opinion.</p>
<p>i mean, im not a huge computer guru (my dad is, and he's the one that picked this one out for me) but i can tell that i'll be using this gateway for a very long time and i think that it'll be extremely useful. theres also a ton of free downloads on microsoft.com to make the tablet even more useful. i STRONGLY recommend it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply! Don't forget to report back as you get more info. :)</p>
<p>Actually, as old as that working Lisa is, it has a pretty decent word processor with a SPELL CHECK!!! The program is called LisaWrite and is copyrighted 1983. Power-wise it's on the same level as WordPad, but with a spell check.</p>
<p>At 68 pounds or so, the Lisa does make a pencil seem like an upgrade in note-taking devices...and yes, I was just kidding with everyone about the pencils--though they do work and they're pretty cheap too.</p>
<p>i dont know if this was already mentioned, but my gateway tablet has a program that is like a binder. u can organize ur notes into each class, and even record ur prof's lectures as ur taking the notes with the stylus during class. ithink that's way cool, and im so psyched to use it this fall. also, those free downloads i was talking about...those are super cool too. theres a program that allows u to make flashcards on the computer. i mean, talk about a paperless society/education! although i didnt check out many other tablets before i bought this gateway one...wow, it really is a winner. like i said before, i STRONGLY/EXTREMELY/VERY MUCH SO recommend this baby.</p>
<p>I have a HP tc1100 Tablet PC.</p>
<p>I am very ignorant in regard to its capabilites. I know how to use the pen but that's about it. In any case, I love the laptop..it's portable and durable.</p>
<p>Re: Gateway CX2724...a core duo TabletPC with a 100gig hard drive and 1 gig of memory...and on sale. Probably the best deal out there.</p>
<p>The Toshiba M7 is more money and can be upgraded to faster core duo processors. It's a better Tablet PC if you have "deep pockets". In it's favor is the fact that you can customize it with a better video card with 128 meg of memory.</p>
<p>Toshiba doesn't seem to much in the way of educational discounts relative to other computer companies. When my nephew got his Toshiba M200 a few years ago, the best deal was from Amazon...</p>
<p>Re: Blaze991 Tabletpcbuzz.com has a HP forum that can answer any questions you may have: <a href="http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=21%5B/url%5D">http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=21</a></p>
<p>Tabletpcpost.com has a lot of downloadable programs made for Tablets:
<a href="http://www.tabletpcpost.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.tabletpcpost.com/</a></p>
<p>Mactec92: Nothing beats an IBM pc (64k of memory) and Wordstar 1.0 with spellcheck (5 1/4" Single sided floppy) and Mailmerge (for creating "spam" and spread via the US Post Office)! </p>
<p>Here in Michigan (the Great Lakes State), a 68 lb. Apple Lisa=Boat Anchor. If I were "Floridauncle", I'd suggest dumping it into the Gulf of Mexico and creating a new coral reef...</p>
<p>Hey michuncle, it's about time that you commented on a tablet pc thread. :) So what do you really think about the Gateway CX2724 besides that it's a good deal?</p>
<p>For comparison sake, what actual card is an integrated graphicss chipset (945) similar to?</p>
<p>How long of a battery life is expected for average use of a tablet?</p>
<p>Lastly, what do you think that Vista will have to offer for tablet users? What effect will it have on current tablets when Intel releases Core 2 Duo?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The Gateway CX2724 Tablet PC comes with a duo core processor (1.6Ghz), 1 G of ram, 100 GB hard drive, a dual layer DVD burner, wireless a/b/g, and the Intel integrated graphics 950 chipset for $1100.</p>
<p>The downside is the weight (7 lbs) and the integrated graphics. See the following analysis of the 950 chipset:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/cpu/article.php/3261_3513091__2%5B/url%5D">http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/cpu/article.php/3261_3513091__2</a>
<a href="http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mobile/display/centrino-duo_7.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mobile/display/centrino-duo_7.html</a>
<a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/82938/intel-core/page3.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/82938/intel-core/page3.html</a></p>
<p>You should have no problems running 2D games, but the above articles suggest that 3D games will not really play well using this chipset. If gaming is important to you, a dedicated graphic card will be a necessity. Think Toshiba M400/M7 with their optional video card upgrades.</p>
<p>Battery life depends on your power settings. Most laptops will allow you to set screen brightness, drive access, processor speed and other parameters to increase battery life. Typical Tablet PC battery life runs from 2 ½ to 5 hours on a single charge (depending on the manufacturer and power settings). If youve got a lot of classes spread out over the day, think about an extra battery or bringing along your charger </p>
<p>There is Vista capable and Vista Premium Ready. See the following: <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/vistarpc.mspx%5B/url%5D">http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/vistarpc.mspx</a></p>
<p>You should be looking at Vista Ready: 1 GB of memory, at least Intel Integrated Graphics (950 chipset) with 128 M of shared video ram and DirectX 9 support.</p>
<p>For a fuller analysis of the impact of Vista on the Tablet PC landscape see:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/VistaAndInkAMissedOpportunity.aspx%5B/url%5D">http://www.gottabemobile.com/VistaAndInkAMissedOpportunity.aspx</a>
<a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/WhatImLovingAboutVista.aspx%5B/url%5D">http://www.gottabemobile.com/WhatImLovingAboutVista.aspx</a></p>
<p>While there are improvements that MS could make to Vistas Tablet PC functionality, the basic functions for most students is the ability to take down written notes in your own handwriting and being able to link them together rather than flipping through a paper notebook looking for information. </p>
<p>Consider the following: If your notes were digitally searchable, you have the capability to do Boolean searches that would be impossible if your notes were done with pencil and paper. Instead of just reviewing facts, you could be finding relationships. Say youre studying Colonial History. You have notes on George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, the Continental Congress, et al. If you were interested in George Washingtons interaction with the Continental Congress and you have paper notes, youd be flipping through all of your notes trying to find relevant information. With a Tablet PC, you can do a Boolean search looking at all of your notes that mention George Washington and the Continental Congress. And you could create links with Encarta and articles found on the Web. </p>
<p>In the sciences, you may want to find relationships between two or more chemical substances. Quite easy with a Tablet, not so easy with pencil and paper </p>
<p>You can certainly do the same if you used a program like OneNote and just typed in your lecture notes. However, many students have commented in these forums that few students they see in class actually type their notes into a laptop. For those who can, great Everybody else will write. If youre going to write and can afford a Tablet PC, youre ahead of the game.</p>