I need some help :/

[hdmhusmn]

I will be heading to college next year and am dead set on a tablet. I'm sure all of you understand that . I'm a debater and will need to take notes regularly on it, not just in class. I need some help finding what I want though. A lower price would be nice, but I really just want all possible options.

SPECS

1. What is your budget?
Really it's not a big deal, but lower is always better

2. Do you prefer a Slate, Convertible or Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC)?
Must be Convertible

3. What size Tablet PC would you prefer?
Just not "clunky".

4. Which country do you intent to purchase from?
USA

5. Do you have any preferences to brand loyalty or dislikes?
I don't really like fujitsu, but could easily be swayed if it's what I'm looking for.

6. How many hours battery life do you require?
As many as possible. I'll probably need to be able to use an additional battery.

7. What do you intend to use the Tablet for?
Almost entirely detailed notes with sketches.

8. Do you have an OS preference?
I like XP and Vista, but I love the adapability of Tablet Edition (writing in portrait rather than landscape orientation)

9. What software and tasks do you intend to run?
One Note, Word, Adobe (pdf), Internet

10. Do you intend playing Games. If so please list.
No

Screen Specifics

1. Do you prefer standard or widescreen?
I'd like standard. 14" is a MUST.

2. What resolution do you prefer?
Something that isn't pixellized on a 14" screen.

3. Do you require an Indoor only or Indoor/Outdoor screen option?
Primarily indoor, but I don't want to have to struggle outdoors. It's not a deal breaker though.

4. Do you require a Passive or Active Digitizer?
ACTIVE

5. Do you require Wacom or Finepoint Technology?
Wacom

Component Specifics

1. What size Hard Drive and Memory do you require?
Average HD is OK, I'll be investing in an external. Lots of memory is a big think though.

2. Do you require an Optical Drive?
Yes, DVD-CD Writable

3. Do you require ability to add a second Battery or Hard Drive (Modular Bay technology)?
Yes

Misc

1. Wireless AND Bluetooth are a must.

2. I need to be able to use as many USB ports as humanly possible. I have many flash drives, will have an external HD, and lots of sync cords that I need to be able to use simultaneously.

3. I'm a student, crap happens. I need a great warranty.


I have spent months searching and I am convinced there is something out there comparable to what I want, but I'm just not looking in right places. Any suggestions would be really Really REALLY appreciated! THANKS!

[leaftye]

Wanting a 14" screen and lightness are contradicting requirements. The Gateway C-140X is the only good 14" tablet. The Asus is a little behind with it a 13.3" screen. The Fujitsu has a 12" screen, but higher resolution than the Asus or Gateway. All of these can have an optical drive, or two batteries. I think any new tablet will be fest enough for "multiple programs".

You can switch orientation in Vista, and Vista has better support for inking.

Don't buy one now, but do order it at least two months before you need it.

[SimsHsia]

Hi hdmhusmn,

You have well over 8-9 months until that time when you graduate from high school, and the summer vacation before you go into college. Technology changes quickly over that time, there are new processors (codename Penryn, Intel Core 2 Duo successors for the current Merom processors), and possibly a plethora of new Tablet PCs between now and next summer.

It's known that Dell will be introducing their own 12.1" Tablet PC before the end of the year, so it is definitely something to look forward to. Toshiba still has yet to update their current line (M400 and R400) to the latest Santa Rosa platform, perhaps they are waiting until the Penryn processors are released sometime in the first half of next year. Other manufacturers will be updating their lines to the new Penryn processors, probably before or during the summer of next year. Thus, there are many possibilities between now and before the start 2008-2009 academic year. And, as such, I'm agreeing with leaftye to hold off purchasing a Tablet PC for the moment, and look into it beginning next year, but not making your final decision until maybe May or June 2008.

However, we're not holding you back from actually making your purchase, it is of course your decision to make to pull the trigger now, rather than later, to get a Tablet PC. We're giving recommendations and suggestions, and we are all aides/advisors to your journey down the purchasing and ownership of a Tablet PC.

However, for the current offerings, the only Tablet PC available today with a 14.1" display is the Gateway C-140X. However, keep it mind it is a widescreen display (16:10 or 8:5 ratio) and not the standard 4:3 ratio, thus the screen resolution is 1280x768 or WXGA.

Most likely by next year there will be more offerings to compete with the currently waning 14.1" display field, but who knows, Gateway may still continue to reign at the 14.1" display market for Tablet PCs. The majority, and thus the mainstream option, is the 12.1" display for Tablet PCs.

If you don't mind an older generation Tablet PC, you may be able to find either the discontinued Toshiba Satellite R20/R25, Toshiba Tecra M7, or the older Toshiba Tecra M4.

[leaftye]

I'd recommend against the Toshiba. Unless they've drastically improved recently, their customer support is atrocious, like material for a funny commercial bad.