Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet PC Review Discussion

[queshy]

wow, nice review!

I'm thinking about getting the x61 tablet but with the higher res, non multitouch screen. Good idea?

I just don't know how good the inking experience will be, I've only ever tried passive screens.

I've never tried the pointing stick, but the touchpad never bothered me, although my wrist does hurt after a long time of using the trackpad. Also, with the 700m, the trackpad is starting not to work so well, and dirt accumulates inbetween the cracks of the trackpad (hard to explain). The only thing I'd miss from the trackpad is the ability to scroll I suppose.

[feffrey]

Unfortunately, there is no shortcut for middle-click

There is one on the X61
the middle mouse button is the middle click. I had a r40 for a few months before I figured out what that button did.

quick question
the PC card is compatible with pci express 34 while being a pcmia card also. If you plug in a pci express 34 card into it, would it be pci express 34 speed, or would it be pcmia speed?

[Chaz]

Great review Tiffany, I really like how Vista looks in tablet mode.

Oh, how I cannot wait to get my hands on mine . . .

[hp79]

wow, nice review!

I'm thinking about getting the x61 tablet but with the higher res, non multitouch screen. Good idea?

I just don't know how good the inking experience will be, I've only ever tried passive screens.

I've never tried the pointing stick, but the touchpad never bothered me, although my wrist does hurt after a long time of using the trackpad. Also, with the 700m, the trackpad is starting not to work so well, and dirt accumulates inbetween the cracks of the trackpad (hard to explain). The only thing I'd miss from the trackpad is the ability to scroll I suppose.

Even though I want a higher res screen, I ordered a multi touch just because it has a brighter screen compared to SVGA+ on the X60t reviews. Now, I found out that X61t improved the brightness on SVGA+ screens so SVGA+ is even brighter. I would have got that, but too late. I'll just try to enjoy the advantage of touching my screen with my fingers.

I have a dell latitude D420, and use both track point and touchpad. My touchpad is also getting dirty as time pass by. I really use the track point a lot, and sometimes I find myself looking for the track pointer with my fingers between the G and H key on my regular desktop keyboard.

About the inking, I saw a video that 'got to be mobile' made. They demonstrated writing on a multitouch screen, writing with the digitizer pen looked like at least ten times better compared to passive pressure sensitive writing. And also, the digitizer always have priority over passive pressure sensitive.

My x61t shipping date shows 7/10/2007. Can't wait to try it out.

[queshy]

Argg, 07/10 is ridiculous! Where is it coming from, Jupiter?

Yeah my touchpad is pretty dirty, and I never eat in front of the computer! It's also not fastened to the chassis properly (hard to explain...) - it feels like it is not properly installed and is pretty uncomfortable to use.

Another thing I'm worried about - when I write, I like to write on a stack of maybe 20 papers. but writing on an inch thick computer? I'm wondering how my wrist will be able to adapt to that. Tablets are a great idea, but I'm doing all I can to figure out if it has been perfectly implemented - if there is one serious flaw (can't write with detail, PC too thick to write on top of, etc), then I wouldn't buy one.

You have a very nice machine - and you'll probably benefit tons from the multitouch. That screen is also much more viewable outdoors ( I watched all the Gottabemobile videos!). I also am wondering why a 4 lb machine has no optical drive...I mean I realized I don't need it (I only need it to install programs 2-3 times a year or so), but why no room for an optical drive? My 700m is around 4.5 lbs w/ extended battery and has one!

The pointing stick seems to work very well for a lot of people. I've only tried one once...and I don't really remember if I liked it or not.

[LabVIEWMD]

I've been reading TPCReview for a while now and wanted to thank you all for the helpful info. I'm starting medschool in August and contemplating buying a tablet.

I do have a question about the PC card on the X61 Tablet. Is it a PC Card slot or and ExpressCard slot? I can't find an official spec sheet for the X61T so I'm going off of the one for X60T that says "1 Type I / II PC Card slot or 34mm ExpressCard via USB adapter." If it is ExpressCard does it connect through USB2 or through PCI Express. (I'm not sure I completely understand the way ExpressCard words on this but that probably isn't a question for here.)

I ask this question because while I plan to use the tablet primarily for taking notes, I do occasionally play games. I'm wondering if I could use and Asus XG Station with the X61T for when I'm playing games and thereby avoid having to also have a desktop.

[schuma79]

You mean single tap? It can be disabled - my TP only accepts mouse clicks from the buttons.

Strange, I never had any problems with pointer precision using a TP before. It might jump one or two pixels at higher cursor speeds, but I find that a fair tradeoff for speed.

I know single tap can be disabled. I have it disabled. But, and this is probably just my mouse software on my laptop, eventually it resets and becomes re-enabled. Usually after a few installs or updates and a shut-down. But it's more than just single-tap. All the features of the trackpad, aside from being a mouse, in my opinion, just cause more stress.

It's not a big deal with the precision. It just takes more time to accurately get to the right place. Again, this could just be the touchpads that I have used, but I challenge people with dell's and lenovo's who have both to try and click on things that are really small and various other tedious operations a few times, and see which device they like more.

As for shortcuts, I've found that if you try hard enough, you can get a key-board short-cut for anything. Further, since I can do so many more short-cuts with the keyboard, i'd prefer to use it. (Mean there are people out there who are so fast with a keyboard they hardly need a mouse).

It really is just a matter of preference though. Glad to see there are actually people out there who like the trackpad, and it's not just some conspiracy to piss me off.

[feffrey]

I do have a question about the PC card on the X61 Tablet. Is it a PC Card slot or and ExpressCard slot? I can't find an official spec sheet for the X61T so I'm going off of the one for X60T that says "1 Type I / II PC Card slot or 34mm ExpressCard via USB adapter." If it is ExpressCard does it connect through USB2 or through PCI Express. (I'm not sure I completely understand the way ExpressCard words on this but that probably isn't a question for here.)

I ask this question because while I plan to use the tablet primarily for taking notes, I do occasionally play games. I'm wondering if I could use and Asus XG Station with the X61T for when I'm playing games and thereby avoid having to also have a desktop.

I called up lenovo one day to find out about this. It is supposed to be a pcmia card with a built in pci express 34 adapter. (isn't built in adapter an oxymoron ) So unless they make a 34 version of the xg station I don't think you would be able to use it. All of the pics I have seen have shown it to be a 54 slot, but it makes sense that they would have a 34 version since most of the hardware is in the station.
I would think, but I do not know if the pci express card is a true pci express card and that it will perform at a true pci express card speed.

[Spare Tire]

Another question concerning the touchscreen. How small must the touch be to be registered? Do you have to point with your fingernail or does it work with a whole finger?

[jlee]

I'm really excited about the Thinkpad X61 tablet. Has anyone successfully ordered and received one from Lenovo yet? Does anyone know the difference between "SuperView" and "MultiView"?