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It's official: I'm a tablet addict

Some of you may remember my post earlier this year about getting a tablet to evaluate how usefull they would be for developers.  Well, as far as I'm concerned the verdict is in:  They freakin rock!

Now, this isn't me as a developer talking, but me as regular laptop user that attends to many meetings (and may possibly be the most unorganized person on the planet).  From a strict developer stance, tablets don't seem to bring a lot to the table.  They're basically laptops, only they aren't as powerful.  So if you never leave your cube, and you only need a laptop for development purposes, then a tablet will be lost on you!

But, if like me you find you're self attending more and more (and more and more) meetings on a regular basis then think about buying a tablet next time you're in the market for a laptop.  Even if you have to develop on it also, some of the new tablets have enough steam to power VS.NET/SQL Server/JBuilder/IIS/WebLogic/insert memory hogging dev tool here.

I'm currently using a Acer TravelMate C300.  I love it.  It's a bit heavy (right Rajin), but it's better than having to carry around a laptop and a tablet (which I was doing for a while).

BTW, don't even think of trying to use a tablet without OneNote.  OneNote is the killer app for tablets!

 

Published Feb 15 2004, 04:57 PM by dbrowning

Comments

 

SBC said:

I was lucky to work with one last summer for ~3months. It was a Motion 1300. Here's hoping to get another TPC project. They still are a bit expensive (~$2k min).
February 15, 2004 5:02 PM
 

Don said:

Good luck... They'll have to pry this one from my cold dead hands!
February 15, 2004 5:05 PM
 

Julie Lerman said:

heh heh heh, and they called Microsoft the dark side! Welcome to tabletville. Can I assume that you left Redmond with Lonestar in hand?
February 15, 2004 7:23 PM
 

Don said:

Absolutely...
February 15, 2004 9:51 PM
 

Christopher Coulter said:

Lonestar was what should have been handed down upon Launch, 2nd Gen software, 2nd Gen machines...onward. It has arrived. Price points, battery life and teh lack of consumer awareness are the only downsides. But some form of Pen Computing, was what everything was made for, from the (DynaBook) Alto to now.

Insofar as OneNote being killer app, wellll (imho), not yet. OneNote came from the Applicational text-side and it shows, the Ink functionality is in need of a serious cure-up, not to mention the lack of an API and a rash of 1.0 glitches. Tablet Planner 3 to me is the "killer app", but then MindManager too.

New Tablets...

On the horizon: New Centrino’s forthcoming from Acer, Sony (reported 2Q 2004), HP (12.1" Convertible) and FIC. With one from BenQ (possible) later on; also possible are: Samsung and TriGem. And the Dothan slew, once Intel actually releases it, that is. :)

New Tablets
-----------
• Acer TMC111, TMC111Ti-G -  10.4", 1.0 GHz ULV, 3.2 lbs.
• 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"
February 16, 2004 5:40 AM
 

James@root6.com said:

Don - I Agree - I have a Toshiba M200 with a big disk / RAM and it is great - I'm switching to it as my primary development machine. As you say, lugging two machines around is a pain.
February 16, 2004 7:00 AM
 

Chris Auld said:

I have switched to a Tablet as my primary travelling PC. I still use a big GRUNTY notebook for coding, but my Tablet is more than adequate for a support role while travelling.
I'm using a Panasonic TF18 fully ruggedised tablet- this makes it REALLY good for travelling. I've used it in rain (literally) and it still works just great. I take it with me on scuba diving trips to download my digi photos. It is heavy but has a small footprint and really is builtm like the veritable brick outhouse.

If I had one complaint about Tablets it's that Microsoft didn't spec a good quality Microphone (to use with OneNote) in the Tablet PC hardware requirements. Don't know what OneNote is!?! Don't know what you are missing!
February 17, 2004 5:39 AM
 

Mark A. Richman said:

Been using my Motion 1200 for a year now and I'm loving it!
February 17, 2004 8:41 AM
 

TrackBack said:

Don likes his tablet apparently .
February 19, 2004 6:37 PM

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