May not be the most powerful, but I got the convertible Toshiba (refurbed) from Ubid for $1200; 1.2/512

Excuse me, http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=9453173&CATID=1001&SPOTID=4

1.33/512/40 for only $1089, not trying to be a salesman but that is pretty good.

I just finished looking at all of them, and decided on the Toshiba M200. I have not received it yet, but I have high expectations for it. It seems to be the one that people choose when they want to get any sort of development done.

-James

Check out my Acer C300 review. I use Cubase SX on it with a MOTU 828 firewire rackmount - among other things.

http://steve.wedevelop.net/archives/000191.html

Toshiba M200, best thing is its high resolution. Feels so much better than all these 1028x768 tablets.
BTW I use it with Band-in-a-box and Finale 2004

Recently went through the review/selection process for a Tablet PC. I don't compose music so I can't say much about that as a use, but here's my bits...

Top three for me:
Toshiba M200
Acer C300
Gateway 275

I picked the Toshiba partly because of the higher resolution display (1400 x 1050 max vs 1028 x 764 max for the others). Even with the 12.1 in. dispaly it suits my preferences for everyday work better.

The real deciding factor for me was the feel while writing using the pen. The response of the Toshiba felt more nearly *real* to me than others I was able to test drive. All of them were fast in terms of showing the ink as I penned. The higher resolution made the writing look more like what I'm comfortable with on paper.

I definitely recommend the convertible form (which pretty much seems to be a no-brainer, but who am I to judge...I'd hate to think no one said it and someone didn't think about it). Also, if you can get your hands on them, you'll definitely want to try before you buy. OneNote is an *ABSOLUTE* must have for a tablet - better than sex with that just-a-bit-TOO-skinny girl from the neighborhood where you grew up. Every time. (Ok, so maybe it's only better than that chick from where I grew up, but the point is the same; OneNote is worth having - comes included on the Toshiba at last check.)

I've had my tablet for just about a month now and am using it exclusively for note taking and everything documentation oriented (LOVE that OneNote), e-mail, and lately even some development. The thing is with me almost everywhere now so it makes perfect sense. I used to carry paper notebooks and folders. Not anymore.

Negatives:
1. The digitizer makes the display a bit dark but it's still quite readable even at a decently wide viewing angle.
2. The pen is dorky. Not just ugly but it also has a 'right-click' button (programmable, so I could shut it off but I haven't yet) in the area where I hold it when writing and it screws me up more than I like unless I'm paying careful attention. I don't care all that much for paying close attention to a button I don't want to use when I'm writing. (Toshiba offers a different pen for about $40 too. I didn't buy it so I can't say if it's any better.)
3. At ~4.4 lbs. it's a bit heavy for truly *clipboard-like* tablet use for note taking and handwriting but I'm adjusting. (The Gateway was significantly heavier and the Acer notably lighter - the Acer felt a bit *flimsy* to me though and the ink seemed too coarse (mostly because of the screen resolution).)

Current rating for the Toshiba (Scale of 1 to 5 where 1 = "I'm going to slam this up the rectal passage of the first Toshiba marketing rep I meet" and 5 = "Who needs a desktop PC or a wife now that I have my M200?":
4.0

You may quote me on that...

Small listing of what is out there. :) Also do check out http://www.tabletpctalk.com/faqs/comparison/2004.php for a good comparison chart. Also keep in mind also, right on the crusp of Dothan and Lonestar (SP2), but any current Centrino can more than handle most tasks.

• Acer TMC111, TMC111Ti-G -  10.4", 1.0 GHz ULV, 3.2 lbs.
• Acer TMC115, TMC120 - TMC115/TMC120 - 1.5 GHz to Dothan, 10.4" (Forthcoming)
• Acer 250PE - Pent 4, 2.6 GHz (laptop with Tablet functionality)
• Acer TMC300, TMC301XCi-G - 1.5 GHz, 14.1"
• HP Tablet PC TC1100 - 10.4", 1.0 GHz and Celeron 800 MHz (NVIDIA Video)
• Electrovaya Scribbler SC-2000/2010 - 12.1", 1.2 GHz LV, 9 hour battery life
• Fujitsu-Siemens LifeBook T Series T3010 (D) Tablet PC - 1.4 GHz, 12.1"
• Fujitsu Stylistic ST5000 (D) Tablet PC - 12.1" and 1.0 GHz+ Centrino (Slate model, 3.2 lbs.)
• Sharp Actius TN10W - 12.1" XGA AGLR TFT LCD, 1.1 GHz MLV
• Tatung TTAB-B12D - 12.1", 900MHz ULV and 1.2 GHz LV
• Viewsonic Tablet PC V1250 - 12.1", 1.0 GHz ULV
• LGIBM Tablet PC Xnote LT-20-11BK, LT-20-12DK, LT-20-13EK - 12.1" XGA WAV, 1.4GHz-1.6 GHz
• Toshiba M200/M205 Tablet PC - 12.1", 1.5Ghz, nVIDIA (32M RAM), SXGA+ 1400x1050
• Gateway M275X / M275XL Tablet PC - 1.4 GHz and 1.6 GHz, 14.1"
• Motion 1400 - 1.1-GHz ULV Pentium M, 12.1" XGA TFT (160/170 degree WVA)

I tripped over <a href="http://www.tabletquestions.com">Tablet PC Questions</a> and found some great answers. It looks like a growing site for tablet users. Maybe you should post on it and see what others say.

Sounds like the Toshiba M200 is the one to get.

Does anyone know when the "next generation" of Tablets is due out? IOW, is this a bad time to buy one?

Thanks for all the great comments!

I've heard that the 2nd gen of tablets is coming in the fall, which is when I'll be looking.

The Toshiba M200 is already a 2nd-generation Tablet. I've been using a Toshiba Portege 3500, its 1st-generation ancestor, for a year. I'd love an M200, but my boss just claimed it :)

Definitely get yourself a nicer pen though - I like the Cross pen (http://blogs.msdn.com/jonathanh/archive/2004/03/12/88938.aspx)

Already in the 2nd and on verge of the 3rd. On verge of 2nd Gen software-wise come June with Lonestar (SP2). 1st Gen's are cheap and good (not as powerful but where inexpensive comes into play), 2nd Gen's are more than powerful enough, and 3rd's will be even better. Now is a great time, things will always get better, but it's beyond the beta-test stages. At some point have to bite the bullet.

But to answer your question, Dothan is expected around May 10th, but it will take awhile before it all trickles down to Tablets and gets mass volume. So I am eye'ing July for the 3rd Generation, complete with SP2. This Summer will be buy season ahoy, imho. :)

1st Gen - Pent III
2nd Gen - Centrino
3rd Gen - Dothan and beyond...
4th Gen - who knows? Solid State HDs and Fuel cells? A hope. :)

I thought about waiting, but the M200 really has everything I need. At some point you really do have to pony up and buy, as I am sure you know you can play the waiting game with forever. :)

-James

Glad to see that I manage to drag you into this ;-)

I think the next one I will buy is the new Toshiba. The main thing I do not like about my current tablet (first generation Acer) is the screen resolution (asides from the lack of horsepower). I think horsepower is about the same across all brands. The large display is what sells me though, because it means that I can 1) use VS on that machine the way I normally would use it, and 2) I can terminal server into my desktop machine and still see most of the things I am interested in...

Rick, I miss you! :)

I have a toshiba M200 with bluetooth. I have a laptop & a desktop too (toshiba), so .. mistake on my part, I should have bought a slate instead of convertible. I find 3.2 lbs too heavy to comfortably hold in my hand and read the news while on the pot in the mornings.

For music composition, there's a powertoy by microsoft.

Overall review of tablet - Good for geeks, not ready for primetime yet. OneNote needs serious help. (Just my views). I can't wait to see the list of applications that come out of the tablet pc $100,000 sweetstakes.

My ideal Tablet -

P5, less than 1 lb weight, slate, better than current handwriting recog (though the current is vastly better than PDA), all sorts of wireless, virtual keyboard.

My ideal one note -

Must have figure representation recogonition, i.e. drawing circles, squares etc, should allow me to logically easily select (rather than clicking on toolbars all the time), and drag drop/create space in the middle etc.

Current killer app for tablet -

Microsoft Reader and e-books. Yes those are awesome.

Good things are happening, a slew of Tablet PC Events are upcoming...

Mobility Road Show
http://www.chrysalisevents.com/tabletroadshow/

Tablet PC Demo Days
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/evaluation/demodays.asp

Microsoft Tablet PC Developers Tour 2004
http://www.tabletpctraining.com/microsoft/

Tablet PC Campus Demo Tour
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/evaluation/campusdemo.asp

Student Mobility Tour 2004
http://www.mscampustour.com/

AngelBeat Conferences 2004
http://www.angelbeat.com

I've been totally happy with my Toshiba 3505, and would buy an M200 in an instant based on the experience if I had to buy again today. However, I'm waiting for the next gen ones after the M200, but will probably buy Toshiba again.

I have a motion computing 1300 slate. I use it for surfing, outlook, onenote (recording, note taking), marking up and watching divx and sometimes listening to dotNetRocks! For this a slate feels much more appropriate and easier to hold in meetings. 4hrs battery life is good and the supplied usb keyboard/stand combo is abbysmal - I find the best way to work with it for non tablet use (ie as a laptop) is to plug it into the network and use remote desktop to get full screen access from my desktop pc - this works really well. The new version (M1400) I think has built in bluetooth, better mic's and a fingerprint reader. The biggest bugbear I have with the slate is having to use the pen to put your password in - hopefully the fingerprint reader will fix this - considering ebaying mine and getting a new one just for this. (Appologies for the essay)

This article by Dan (Visicalc) Bricklin may be of interest:
http://danbricklin.com/log/tabletpc.htm

So, one day in, my verdict: I can't see ever buying a portable laptop that isn't a convertible -- the benefits are too great for me. It's a Tablet PC, not a Pen PC, and not a Clamshell PC, and that's a win. While these are clearly still basically a version 1 or 2, they are still very useful. If you read a lot on a PC, and move your laptop around a lot, and have benefited from 802.11, and don't mind using early software that works but is basic (like the original VisiCalc was), and are in the market for a new laptop, take the next step and move up to a tablet. Corporate evaluators must start learning about these systems, because as they improve and the price difference disappears, you'll have to figure out how to configure them, what type of software to insist upon, etc. If you always wanted to do your composing with a pen, and expect handwriting to be as reliable as a keyboard, stick with the keyboard, and wait for "handwriting computing" to happen, if it ever does. It's not that important. Tablet computing is. It will make reading on a computer even more pervasive. I think Microsoft and the hardware manufacturers who were willing to take a chance trying to advance the state of mainstream personal computing are to be commended for what they've done.

I too am in the market for a tablet pc. I love the idea. I used a Newton MP2K for over a year and loved it...I haven't been happy with any other PDA's since. None live up to it.

Sorry for the tangent.

I want something light...less than 1 lb and fast. It has to have 802.11g or better and bluetooth would be very handy. I had considered the NEC Versa Litepad but have read some really bad reviews of it. I prefer a true slate...I'll use my laptop when I need a laptop. I think I'll be waiting for the next wave of tablets. Thanks for "listening".

Hi. I have read comments back to 4/25 - Thank you to all. I am looking for a tablet that I can drive cross-country with and get email, download e-books, search the internet, run some games and design house plans. Nothing elaborate like programming. Questions: 1. Is there a satellite system that can be rigged to car that can pick up internet signals even in remote regions? 2. What email system do you recommend? 3. I can buy this between now and June 15- which system/tablet is the latest and greatest? Where is the best place to order it from or purchase from store? Thank you very much for your response.

Need a recommendation for a very light and small pure slate for mostly note taking purposes. The only processing requirements are a good recognition software and wireless compatibility for email.

BTW, what is the verdict on the TDV Vision V800XPT?

Just spoke with Toshiba and they are releasing the Dothan Tablet Wednesday 6/23/04. The wait is over!

I really need to use Alias StudioTools software to do all my sketch, and some 3D CAD... I founpd sketching on tablet pc to be the ultimate experience... except... the grahpic card can not handle "hardware overlay" featured in all Nvidia Quadro graphic cards...

I was sucessful hacking my dell notebook with geforce2go to quadro2go with rivatuner... now it shows my little brush size with hardware overlay... BUT I need to lug around a real TABLET to sketch and do a 3D CAD...
I would like a tablet pc with nvidia card that can handle hardware overlay (geforce2go or geforce3go or Quadro cards) hoply 1gb RAM capable.. Toshiba Tablet PC was close .. it had big screen 2GB memory capable.. but geforce4 type graphics.. which can not display hardware overlay.. some one help me find my ultimate tablet pc

To the guy who spoke with Toshiba regarding Dothan Tablet PCs--who did you speak to? I just called today and the sale representative had no ETA on the arrival of the Toshiba M200 line using Dothan.

i think Acer TravelMate 303XMi is the best , becouse its have every thing , is there any body with me ?

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I would reccomend you check this Best Tablet Chart

http://besttablet.tumblr.com/

H.D.T .Indrajith Perera

No.12B, Nelumpura Road,

Thelawala

Rathmalana.

Sri Lanka.

Tel.: +9477 6044015 / +94112623396

E-Mail Address: thushan­­_indrajith@yahoo.com

19.11.2007

Dear Sir,

REQUEST OF FINANCIAL AID & EMPLOYMENT.

May I have a moment of your precious time to place my grievous and humble position before you for your kind and sympathetic consideration please.

Sir I am an unemployed person aged 30 yrs. I am married and living in a rented out house with my wife small daughter and my old and feeble father.

This house is rented out on monthly basis and Rupees 10,000/= paid monthly .It is a big amount for me since I am an unemployed person. Before my arrival to the present house, the house that had been inherited to me from my father was sold out some time back and later the whole amount of money received was lost due to the fact that I became a prey of a group of cheerful person.

We are of course now in a very helpless situation and I most respectfully request you sir that I may be helped financially to enable me to buy a house here in Sri Lanka and also to get me and employment in your country. A normal house costs about $150,000 (US Dollars) in Sri Lanka.

Your kind response to me is awaited with great respect.

Thanking You Sir,

Himidumage DonThushantha Indrajith Perera.

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