Gateway S-7225c for DCC?

[Edo]

A big hello to everyone here at Tablet PC Review!

I've read many a post here but now I've finally felt that it's time to add my first post to the forums so here it is (especially since there seems to be little info available on Gateway's S-7225c).

So here's the deal, I live near Vancouver in Canada and I just got off the phone with Brandy at Gateway sales in South Dakota as I was looking at possibly purchasing the Gateway S-7225c tablet pc (after getting more information on it).

The sales rep at Gateway confirmed a few things:

1. The screen is a Wacom screen. I asked several times to ensure it was, but I haven't yet called Wacom to confirm that this model of Gateways' tablet pc's actually have Wacom screens. Unfortuantely the resolution is only 1280 by 768 (on a 14-inch WXGA TFT Active Matrix display panel).

2. It has the option of coming with a X1400 (Chassis w/ ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1400 64MB Graphics with up to 256MB HyperMemory) 945PM Chipset (and judging by this review "http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3056&guide=Graphics+Card+Guide+ 2006" it's a middle of the line graphics solution, for who knows how much longer with DX10 out) but may suffice.

3. It has a max capacity of 4GB's of RAM..

4. Unfortuantely, It's currently not available in Canada.

While it prices out at well over US$4100.00, it seems that I'm out of luck even if I wanted to spend the money since it doesn't seem to be currently unavailable to the Canadian market.

Like many people I've seen post on this topic, I'm looking for a high end tablet pc. In other words, it has to have a high resolution screen (preferrably greater than 1280 by 768), 4GB RAM capacity, 12 cell (or 4-5 hours running time). I would be using this tablet pc for a range of functions but primarly for a mobile solution that would allow me to work with XSI/Maya/Zbrush/Mudbox and photoshop (using the pen functions). I can withstand a little bit of "system lag" but not much so I would really need something fast (C2D 2.16 Ghz and up, which is an option for the Gateway S-7225c).

It seems like this was one of the closet options in the running, although I would have preferred a greater screen res (like Toshiba's), but anyways, it's not available to me at the moment so I guess no use continuing on about it.

I have looked at the Toshiba M7 (which is still availabe in Canada), but it seems that the Nvidia Quadro NVS 110 isn't much of a dedicated graphics solution for 3D work and the processor isn't offered at even 2 Ghz. Online, I've also previewed LG's C1-PB01A9, Asus' R1F-K018E, ThinkPad X60, and Fujitsus' T4215 but all seem to fall short in terms of performance (on either the processor or graphics for possible 3D work). The availablity to view tablet PC's at stores seems to range from little to none, and of this date I've had to cross the border to view an HP tx1000 at Circuit City which I was very dissapointed with (especially it's screen/pen responsiveness).

Finally, I'm starting to resign myself into buying a decent desktop and waiting a year or two for mobile technology and/or marketing to catch up to my needs. Is this what others, in a similiar wants/needs category are thinking?

Well, thanks for reading and curious to hear where others are standing with this...

Edo

PS Here's a link to Gateway's S-7225c in case you were curious:
http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529666062.php#
(and click on customize to see some options for it)

[SimsHsia]

Hi Edo,

There's one problem that I see here about the S-7225C (for those unfamiliar, it is similar to the C210X):

1. The screen is a Wacom screen. I asked several times to ensure it was, but I haven't yet called Wacom to confirm that this model of Gateways' tablet pc's actually have Wacom screens. Unfortuantely the resolution is only 1280 by 768 (on a 14-inch WXGA TFT Active Matrix display panel).

The model that you have does not have a Wacom digitizer, I believe the sales representative was confused between the two Tablet PCs that Gateway now offers. The S-7215C is the Tablet PC that Gateway sells that has a Wacom Digitizer (a.k.a the 12.1" WXGA screen Tablet PC). The S-7225C, or the Tablet PC you are getting, comes with a Finepoint digitizer; which is still an active digitizer, but utilizes different technology (the pen has a battery in it and sends a signal to the digitizer to let the system know where the pen is being pointed at) from Wacom's digitizer system (battery-less).

Other than that, the type of digitizer is the only thing that is incorrectly stated by the Gateway sales representative.

[Edo]

Hi SimsHsia, thanks for the reply.

As I suspected, which is why I asked the Gateway rep several times to confirm, but I didn't realize that the S-7215C had a Wacom Digitizer. Speaking of which, I didn't see anything listed for the S-7215C. Any chance for a link? Is it similiar or the same as the 7225 but with a Wacom Digitizer?

I checked out the C210X and it's nearly the same as the 7225, but once again I'm left wondering if it has a Wacom Digitizer and when/if these would be available in Canada.

Thanks for the clarification!

Edo

[SimsHsia]

Hi Edo,

Sorry, got the model numbers mixed for the Tablet PC that has a Wacom digitizer, the correct model number is the S-7125C; the link is here. The S-7125C is the same as the C-120X or the E-155C.

Is it similiar or the same as the 7225 but with a Wacom Digitizer?

No, it's a new Tablet PC with a different look and different screen size ~ the S-7125C/C-120X/E-155C has a 12.1" WXGA screen with a Wacom digitizer; whereas the Tablet PC you are purchasing is the S-7225C/C-210X that has a 14.1" WXGA screen with a Finepoint digitizer.

[jared2]

Sims,

I seem to have found you over here as well....as these are all active digitizers, would none of them allow for finger touch usage?

[SimsHsia]

Hi jared2,

The S-7125C/C-120X/E-155C is actually utilizing both technologies of active and passive digitizers, regardless of configuration, it comes with both digitizers to allow both pen and touch-based input.

[Edo]

Well, thanks again Sims for the response.

I contacted Gateway for the 3rd time today (after being given 2 contradictory responses) and it really seems that there just isn't any way to get a pre-configured tablet pc shipped to Canada. The only way I can purchase one is through Costco, Futureshop or BestBuy and ironically all 3 companies seem reluctant to carry any range of tablet pc's.

So, I guess it's time to resign myself to a wait and in the meantime purchase another desktop. Maybe in a couple of years they'll have something out that'll meet all my needs.

Thanks again!
Edo

[JDragon]

Well, thanks again Sims for the response.

I contacted Gateway for the 3rd time today (after being given 2 contradictory responses) and it really seems that there just isn't any way to get a pre-configured tablet pc shipped to Canada. The only way I can purchase one is through Costco, Futureshop or BestBuy and ironically all 3 companies seem reluctant to carry any range of tablet pc's.

So, I guess it's time to resign myself to a wait and in the meantime purchase another desktop. Maybe in a couple of years they'll have something out that'll meet all my needs.

Thanks again!
Edo

Just aheads up for you EDO.

From the conversation I had with a Best Buy sales rep they only carry Tablets during the late summer/ early fall in preperation for back to school as thats when they get the most interest. So if you can wait 3 more months or so you may be able to find some options at BB. Can't promise anything but thought I would throw it out.

I've also read on the boards here somewhere a way people have found to get products not sold in thier country by going through a company that will provide you with a US billing/shipping address to make the purchase with. Maybe one of the mods or someone else can point it out.

[ships10]

Try a CompUsa store in Seattle, WA if there is one there.

[jared2]

Hi jared2,

The S-7125C/C-120X/E-155C is actually utilizing both technologies of active and passive digitizers, regardless of configuration, it comes with both digitizers to allow both pen and touch-based input.

Hmm...Ok...but how about the S-7225C/C? Does this one allow for the screen to be controlled by touching?