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Miscellaneous laptop discussions : Tablet PCs?
Tablet PCs?
by tbyron - 5/13/05 9:51 AMI was looking at Notebooks for college this fall, and noticed the Tablet PCs. But i've been hearing for years that they have numerouse shortfalls and havn't exactly been perfected. I'm not sure if this is a valid assumption anymore. If anyone has any advice on these machines and has some solid evidence to back it up, it would be greatly appreciated.
Here's you evidence.
by R. Proffitt
- 5/13/05 9:55 AM
In reply to: Tablet PCs? by tbyron
Visit retail outlets and see what tablet PCs are offered.
Results?
Here's why its good research. The major stores don't stick with items that don't sell for long. Tablet PCs have been pulled up as "the solution" every few years.
The one thing was they never defined what the problem was.
Bob
Major stores????
by samtaylor23 - 6/29/05 4:52 PM In reply to: Here's you evidence. by R. Proffitt
Major outlets don't carry a lot of products for a lot of reasons. It is not that simple. IBM not in stores, Fujitsu (maybe 2), dell. I am not sure why that is a valid answer to if they have overcome their shortfalls
And the tablets were in the stores for months.
by R. Proffitt - 6/29/05 5:00 PM
In reply to: Major stores???? by samtaylor23
Be forewarned I'm a Palm/PPC developer so I know the interface of pen to screen all too well.
-> The market or sales didn't materialize so they evaporated from those venues.
If you want one, go for it.
Bob
I've seen the Thinkpad tablet at the ariport
by Nooorm - 9/9/05 11:58 AM In reply to: Major stores???? by samtaylor23They have kiosks set up where you can try one. I also heard that they might be putting some into retail like Office Depot or Office Max.
I had a chance to test drive one back when it was first announced. It's a solid ultraportable and fully functional tablet. Worked like a champ.
Marketing
by Bhaltair - 12/9/05 1:13 PM In reply to: Here's you evidence. by R. Proffitt
Bob,
I've been reading your comments about Macs and other items on this one forum here, and I'm really starting to think you're a moron.
Tablet PCs are a new item - since around 2003. Tablet PCs are expensive, but they are becoming more mainstream now and you are seeing them become evident in numerous retail outlets.
In being a new item, it's actually remarkable that they are in "Best Buy" and other stores within that time limit. Do you realize how long it took for any of these other items to get retail recognition?
Just because it's not in a retail store (Meaning they aren't competing on price yet and are also not cutting costs enough to become your typical Wal-Mart valued product) doesn't mean anything except the fact it's highly specialized. Tablet PCs will be found at hospitals, medical offices, college campuses, and other specialized field areas. Not in retail stores because the general population has no use for this technology to justify the higher cost. Plus the internet has lower cost to retail vendors. Duh Bob.
Next you'll tell me that the IBM ThinkPad must suck because you won't find it at best buy. Do you see Macs in best buy? Do you see Macs anywhere other than a Mac store? And take a good look at how much market share Mac has. Very little compared to anything else on this planet.
Open your eyes buddy.
As far as Tablet PCs -
They are more expensive - about .5 times more expensive than a laptop is. Take a trip to www.tabletpcbuzz.com or www.studenttabletpc.com or any other place that actually have users of tablet pcs readily giving information. I started a thread on a forum and it's up to 4 pages with user pictures comparing types of slates. Go ahead and go ask your questions there!
Been to the Mall lately?
by JamHam - 6/28/05 10:54 PM In reply to: Tablet PCs? by tbyronThe Tablet PC (I have Viewsonic V1250, and Toshiba M200, used to have Acer TravelMate) is fabu. Used both for over a year. Same software as the desktop, OneNote performs wonderfully in particular. Have run compilers on both, no difference from laptop. Have no fear, the Tablet is here!
I think the sales folks working a retail market for portable computers are concerned about confusing the buyer by introducing the Tablet into the sales transaction. Since the Tablet has so many advantages (lighter, digital ink, converts to flat) I certainly would not buy a conventional laptop dollar for dollar over a Tablet.
However robust the Tablet software and form factor maybe, the hardware is up in price with the mid range laptops. So if you walk in to buy a low end laptop, the "up sale" is to a more expensive laptop rather than introducing a new choice like the Tablet when salesfolk are trying to close a (commission) sale. Retail is strictly about incentives (from the store or manufacturer) and commission on certain models/brands at certain times.
As far as the thought that Tablets will go by the way of the dinosaur, that's highly unlikely because of the ActiveSync, Windows CE technology investment and all the billions of copies of Windows out there. What would have to happen to make my Tablet PC obsolete? Oh, maybe when connectivity will be handled telephatically from brain to hard drive....download me Scottie!
the mall...
by stfunny - 9/9/05 7:09 AM In reply to: Been to the Mall lately? by JamHamCan you recommend some stores where I can check out tablets? I've been to Circuit City - they don't carry tablets. I've been to Best Buy - they only carry the Toshiba Satellite. I'm not really sure where else to go. I live in the suburbs of Chicago.
I am very interested in purchasing a tablet within the next week or so for graduate school. I plan on taking notes on it. I would also welcome any suggestions on particular tablets that work well for students.
On my current laptop, I don't use much more than word, excel, explorer, itunes and palm software. I use my Tungsten T5 a lot so being able to connect my T5 and my ipod to the tablet will be pretty important.
Thanks!
StFunny
Tablets are awesome
by MikeDodger - 10/11/05 4:28 PM In reply to: Tablet PCs? by tbyronFor what it is worth, I was working at Compaq when the tablet PCs were released, and I can tell you that the technology is GREAT for some specific applications.
In general, because the tablet digitizing technology is expensive and adds some extra weight, this type of laptop is more expensive and typically slower then the latest laptops. That said, I believe that for those of us that like to think creatively, make drawings, flow charts, or show concepts to others the tablet is the best way to go for me. Plus, the ability of the software to actually do a search on the written word is quite amazing - when was the last time that you could find that one note in a pad of paper from months ago? Honestly, these new tablet PCs are great if you dont want to carry around paper.
In the early days the tablet PCs were quite under powered, but now a days there is more then enough horses to pull most loads.
About 6 months ago I did some research for a friend and I found that the Toshiba tablets seemed to be the best value, even tho they are at a higher price point. And now with larger screens it really is as good as a normal laptop (but probably not great for video games that require high end graphics).
So, where can you go to check them out? If you can find a Microsoft employee/sales-dude/dudette I think they standardized on the platform. Barring that look for trade shows. The reason that most box stores don't carry the tablet is that it is primarily a corporate or educational market segment - if you can find a box store that supports those markets then you might have a chance. And as one respondent indicated, the sales for these products are a fraction of the main stream laptops.
You might also try emailing one of the tablet companies to find out if/when they will be in your area with a trade show. If they were really nice they might even point you to a reseller who can help.
To conclude - tablets are awesome for many specific tasks. You are on the right track, so keep looking for someone with one to see if the fit is right for you.
Good luck,
Tablet are awesome -- but expensive!
by gadget girl - 10/13/05 4:37 PM In reply to: Tablets are awesome by MikeDodgerI tested a tablet for a friend and loved it. Couldn't afford it. But that made me guarantee that I could do some of the features on a iPaq (and believe me I did not buy top of line.) I love it, but I always want to try other gadgets.
When someone see reputable tablet PCs at student price, let me know...
Check out the Averatec tablet PC
by JBK - 10/11/05 8:57 PM In reply to: Tablet PCs? by tbyronI bought the Averatec C3500 from Circuit City in March and just love it. I just checked the Averatec website & "find a store" for my zip code andonly came up with MicroCenter. Here is the Averatec URL so you can find a store in your area:
http://www.averatec.com/notebooks/C3500.htm
For students, a tablet PC is great for taking handwritten notes (and getting them converted to "typing" if you want). And Microsoft has lots of free "power toys" to help you learn how to use the stylus.
The Averatec has lots of features usually only found on tablet PCs costing much more. I must confess that the first one I got had a problem (think it had a bad hard drive) within the first few days, so I took it back to Circuit City and swapped it for another one. After 7 months, it has never given me one minute's trouble.
Another place to check out for more info is
http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/
Comparison of Tablet PCs
by JBK - 10/11/05 9:06 PM In reply to: Check out the Averatec tablet PC by JBKThere are comparison charts on:
http://thetabletpc.net
Tablet PC comparison
by Bhaltair - 12/9/05 1:16 PM In reply to: Comparison of Tablet PCs by JBKBe careful - the data on tabletpc comparison charts are faulty. Electrovaya does NOT support bluetooth. THere are many other flaws with this site when I started to actually compare and study these brands myself.
So so so ... SoTec.
by R. Proffitt - 10/12/05 6:58 AM
In reply to: Check out the Averatec tablet PC by JBK
Research where Avertec came from and you can uncover a sordid history of issues.
Would you buy from them?
Bob
Yes, I suppose I did buy from them
by JBK - 10/24/05 7:27 PM In reply to: So so so ... SoTec. by R. Proffitt
I have no idea what you are talking about when you mention their "sordid history", but my Averatec is a nice little machine.
Janice
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