budding graphic artist with a few other needs (FORM FILLED)

[Agent 9]

No, the T901 has an optional Nvidia NVS 4200M, and even the ones that have the Nvidia option still have the Intel 3000 [as its built into the processor] and it is able to switch between the two GPU's to have better performance or better battery life... also that listing is a bid, you have to be the highest bidder at the end of the bid/ auction in order to get it, so don't bother bidding up till the very end because you will simply be driving the price up (that's one thing I don't understand, how few people actually recognize that)

[DoctorBunsenHoneydew]

Hi there!

Just a bit of warning: if you're even remotely serious about doing 3d work, you're going to almost need a dedicated gpu. Just for reference, I have the latest integrated gpu on my monster desktop PC, and even that is useless for modeling more than one or two objects in a scene.

So I'd say if you do 95% 2d painting, and very very simple modeling, then go for a tablet. Or if you have another machine at home, and this is your "portable painting thing", then that's cool too. But if you plan for any current tablet to be your only content creation device, you're going to end up overpaying and still not getting a usable workstation.

The Fujitsu you mentioned is really the only modern option, and it's about twice as expensive as a comparable ultrabook/ Wacom bamboo combo.

Sorry to rain on the parade; I just want to make sure you get a setup that will work for you, and won't cost a ton of money.

[icantdecidehaha]

Hi there!

... if you have another machine at home, and this is your "portable painting thing", then that's cool too. But if you plan for any current tablet to be your only content creation device, you're going to end up overpaying and still not getting a usable workstation.

Yeah, it's going to be a supplement to a desktop and my macbook pro. I currently have a bamboo but it just does not suit me. Am planning on replacing it with a yiynova.

The Fujitsu you mentioned is really the only modern option, and it's about twice as expensive as a comparable ultrabook/ Wacom bamboo combo.

Sorry to rain on the parade; I just want to make sure you get a setup that will work for you, and won't cost a ton of money.

Not raining on my parade! I'm 100% sure I want a tablet pc for what I call digital "pen and paper" content creation, that is creation directly on the screen via stylus and a digitizer. Because of physical limitations I do a lot of my work in bed and a tablet pc will be perfect for me here, supplemented by a yiynova on a articulating arm hooked up to my desktop or mb pro when I need more power and/or a larger canvas.

[icantdecidehaha]

No, the T901 has an optional Nvidia NVS 4200M, and even the ones that have the Nvidia option still have the Intel 3000 [as its built into the processor] and it is able to switch between the two GPU's to have better performance or better battery life...

Ya, thing is I know it's optional but I'm unclear what that means. What I can't seem to find out is whether I can buy the card separately and add it on myself or if I have to buy a T901 that already has the Nvidia card (like soldered on or something).

also that listing is a bid, you have to be the highest bidder at the end of the bid/ auction in order to get it, so don't bother bidding up till the very end because you will simply be driving the price up (that's one thing I don't understand, how few people actually recognize that)

Yeah, I realize that. I mispoke then I edited my post. lol. I'm just very hopeful. Thanks.
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[Agent 9]

Sorry, I forgot to touch on that, unfortunately it is a 'chip' that is soldered on the motherboard, and there is no way you would be able to add the Nvidia 'card' after the fact. If you get it with Intel only then you are stuck with that... but that Nvidia card is not that much better than the Intel 3000 that is already there, plus the processor is already quite powerful as are the other components so it should be able to serve you quite well for a long time, its just it wouldn't do exactly as well as (but the difference in performance IMO is not worth the difference in price as the 'base' T901 will be able to do 95% of what the top of the line T901 will be able to do)

[icantdecidehaha]

Thanks Agent 9, for some reason I couldn't find the answer anywhere. Disappointing though, but like you said, relatively speaking the Intel HD3000 is pretty good so... Strange though, I can't seem to find very many reviews of the T901. Why is that.

How much better would you say the T901 is compared to my second in line, the 2740p?

[DoctorBunsenHoneydew]

I have pretty much the exact same setup as you: Beefy laptop already, so what I really want is something akin to a real sketchbook. Something I can open quickly, sketch something out for like 5 minutes to a half hour, and then toss it aside just as quickly.

To me, that's sounds like exactly what an iPad is good at... but there's no good input device for that

It's not out yet, but have you considered something like the galaxy note 10.1? Personally, i'm not buying anything until I try that thing out.

[icantdecidehaha]

I have pretty much the exact same setup as you: Beefy laptop already, so what I really want is something akin to a real sketchbook. Something I can open quickly, sketch something out for like 5 minutes to a half hour, and then toss it aside just as quickly.

To me, that's sounds like exactly what an iPad is good at... but there's no good input device for that

It's not out yet, but have you considered something like the galaxy note 10.1? Personally, i'm not buying anything until I try that thing out.

No way I'm going to "toss" a several hundred dollar device. haha.

iPad is not for me. As many others do, I'd argue iPad is not for any artist, but of course I can't speak for others needs and wants. There's very little software for content creation on the iPad and what there is is just paired down versions of stuff you can get full power on a capable windows device. This is what I need. And certainly I need a digitizer screen so iPad is out the window. I was originally attracted to the HTC Flyer but I've heard a lot of problems with it's accuracy and stuff. One of the poorer N-trig implementations I've read about.

For anyone that likes android though, which does include me (a happy Galaxy Note owner!), the galaxy note 10.1 is a little drool worthy. But alas, android has the same limitations for an artist that iOS does, lack of applications, lack of hardware power on the devices made to run it. I need to do full fledge photoshop and dreamweaver.

So, unfortunately looks like I can't justify buying that since I hear it will be at least $600. That's a load of cash for something I would only use to do notetaking, android games, and perhaps some simple sketches with the paired down android equivalent of photoshop and sketchbook pro. Also I don't think it's going to have the latest in mobile processors, so no quad-core which limits my dreams of rooting the device and installing ubuntu.

[DoctorBunsenHoneydew]

haha yeah I feel you. Had the Lenovo one, and it feels a good 3 years away from actually being useful.

I guess then the next best option is to wait for windows 8/ ivy bridge, and see if some manufacturer accidentally makes a great artist tablet in the next 6 months?

[Agent 9]

I had a 2740p with a i5 560M in my hands for a handful of days just recently, I did not have the time to thoroughly test it, and I have not used a Sandy Bridge Tablet PC yet... but I found that 2740p to be quite powerful and a decent difference between my 2730p, especially when paired with my eGPU setup (but my 2730p is a Low Voltage C2D and GMA 4500 MHD; while the 2740p used a higher end Full Voltage Core-i processor and the Intel HD GPU, so there was already a decent difference to start with), but as others have found with the first generation core-i processors, the thing ran a bit warm and always kept the fan at a good level [because Intel rushed the first gen core-i processors & GPU to market so their efficiency was not what it should have been at all].

But the Second Generation Core-i processors are supposedly considerably better than the first generation processors at both raw power (CPU to an extent and more notably GPU) and especially efficiency department (where they run cooler and thus quieter, and with noticeably improved battery life)


I wouldn't bother with the first generation Core-i devices as the second gen ones can be had for similar prices, and the difference in power and efficiency should well make up for the difference in price... If budget is a concern to you though, I would advice checking out the HP Refurb center Refurbished business products go under 'Tablet PC's' and you should see several 2760p's, some in the $900-1000 range for a second generation core-i5; basically these are 'open box' devices with little to no wear or use at all, and they are going for substantially reduced prices, they do have shorter warranties (I think they come with 1year warranty) but you can extend them to 3year for about $200 or so (I think)... my 2730p was a HP refurb that someone bought, didin't use, sold to another person who didn't use it, then sold to me who as used it a ton; its still holding up great even after well over a year of pretty heavy use so I would say the HP refurbs are well worth it if money is an issue and you want a good powerful device.