Using Tablet PC penabled options on a desktop pc

[Heinster]

Is there any way that I can use my tablet pc as a cintiq on a pc?

[NamelessPlayer]

Unfortunately, no. Even if you could set it up as a secondary monitor with certain software utilities, transferring the pressure sensitivity information and such over a network instead of making it crudely emulate a mouse (as it would do with something like Remote Desktop) is another matter.

However, a desktop installation of Windows Vista/7 will suddenly turn on the Tablet PC features if you install a standalone drawing tablet or a Cintiq.

[Hattori Hanzo]

Yes, there is - theoretically!
You need a converter to make the display accept something else than LVDS signals. This is going to be interesting to implement when the Tablet should still work on it's own, though.
The tablet itself is usually connected through a serial port. You just need to figure out the pinout.

I actually saw such a thing, but it was done with just the screen assembly of a defective TabletPC.

[Agent 9]

Well, if the right software was there, and there was a link between the two computers that was supported by the software... then yes it could be possible...

Either a windows application or a different OS + application (quite possibly based on a light version of Linux) would read the data from the pen and transmit it to the other computer, and accept display info, all via the connection (possibly USB, but best would be using Expresscard -ie: a PCI connection- or Lan/ Wi-Fi )... it would depend heavily on how well the software would work, and it would possibly take away from CPU and GPU power on the main computer
This kind of setup could be especially useful when using a older Tablet PC with a large/ high res screen -such as the M400 with the high res screen; as it has the screen and Wacom capabilities, but will throw a fit if you try to do any GPU intensive work

... so that would be a 'no' to it being doable at this point in time



Though I would be far more interested in moding a 21" Cintiq with a full laptop (ie: quad core CPU and very powerful single/ SLI video card setup, all put together in a 1-3" thick slate form factor using a nice housing, and even with the laptop's screen used as a 'secondary slide out' or 'detachable' screen)... I know I have the know-how and skills to put it all together, though it could take some time to 'polish it up' and figure out some of the little issues (weight would be the one factor that would be unavoidable, but a quad core SLI dual screened 21" Wacom penenabled & 17" FHD setup that has any portability would be completely awesome and worth the lap crushing weight it promises to bring ). All I need to do is get the parts and spend the time on it... one day when I have more free money to spend I will have to do it

[Heinster]

The reason I am asking is because I've already been pushing my T730 fujitsu to its limit.

I made a wallpaper for my sun that I got printed on wallpaper. The file was eating 80GB of scratchdisc and if it was a picture it would be done by a 350! MP camera.

Looking at how tablet pc's are evolving I still see quite a gap between them and desktop machines. So I was thinking if it was possible to use my old TC4200 and somehow hook it up to a high end desktop.

[NamelessPlayer]

I wasn't trying to say it was impossible. It's just that there are no current solutions that are practical and don't involve extensive hardware modification.

If someone codes an app to turn a Tablet PC into a network-interfaced Cintiq, though, count me among one of the first users!

[Heinster]

I would think here should be a way like people controlling their pc's by a nintendo ds.

But so far I have found nothing usefull.