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FCC Pics of the IBM ThinkPad X41 Tablet PC
jkendrick writes "jkOnTheRun has posted pics of the rumored IBM ThinkPad X41 Tablet PC pulled from the FCC filing. It looks as expected, a nice black ThinkPad with a major exception, the swivel screen and the Tablet OS."
I sold them for many years and while they are, indeed, black, ugly, and heavy, they also tended to be sturdy and very reliable. I sold 76 to NASA for Shuttle missions (they used them onboard for several years but I have no idea what they use now).
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Does Linux work on tablet PCs?
I guess I'm asking if the touchscreen works on Linux.
...for widespread acceptance of Pen PCs. Microsoft has never given up with the tablet format (Unlike A--le), and I'm glad. I'm a big believer in this; I have a transmeta-based tablet here that's too slow for general use, and I also use the Logitech/Anoto pen for all engineering notetaking. I'm really hoping for a good tablet so I can go completely paperless...
Best Buy can have you arrested
In the early 90's, when Pen for OS/2 was around, I had asked IBM about a ThinkPad where the LCD rotated around and covered the keyboard. A guy from IBM said that IBM had that but discontinued it.
I've never seen a reference to this but supposedly, IBM once had a tablet Thinkpad( heavy as a brick ) over 10 years ago.
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
Tablets have their place -- scribbling pictures, taking notes when space is limited, etc. However, there are some jobs that a keyboard is simply better suited to do.
Don't think of it as half-a-tablet, think of it as a useful hybrid. When you factor in the hard drive, CD burner, and a little space to cool the components inside the case, there's not much space added by the keyboard. May as well leave it there for the jobs that demand it.
The only good reason to remove the keyboard completely is if you want to make a half-tablet PC -- about the size of the cover of a hardcover novel, which would be too small for typing on comfortably but just large enough to be easy to read. Before you do that, OS providers need to improve the handwriting recognition a bit further. And like you said, you'll probably see more of those being designed when and if the tablet form factor is widely embraced.
I am a current Thinkpad X31 owner, and I've been considering Tablet PCs for a while. The thing that has consistently held me back is the XGA (1024x768) screen. I have XGA on my current Thinkpad and it's just too small for Photoshop or some of the other programs I use on a daily basis. I've been taking a serious look at the Toshiba Portege M200, which uses 1400x1050 (SXGA+) resolution instead. While I'm excited that IBM, which is by far my favorite laptop brand (Toshiba being a close second), is coming out with a Tablet PC, I'm disappointed in the screen resolution. What really makes this Tablet PC unique? It's just like most of the other ones. I'd still rather have the Toshiba.
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About two years ago I attended a presentation with one of the heads of IBM's industrial design group, and he had some pretty interesting things to say about why the ThinkPads look the way they do. The one that stuck in my head was that "they're boxy and angular because pretty much all of the interior components are boxy and angular... introducing curves, beveled edges, and round corners would just result in wasted space".
As a long-time PowerBook owner (replete with curves, beveled edges, and round corners) I walked away from the discussion still thinking that the machines were ugly, but recognizing that they were purposely ugly, rather than from trying to look cool and failing miserably.
I'm rather surprised that the "living room palmtop" idea hasn't taken off yet. Here's what I'd buy for sure:
:)
Price range: ~$400
Slate-like Tablet PC (pen-driven) interface
1280x1024 or 1400x1050 resolution (1600x1200 would really be ideal)
802.11b/g wireless networking
Has Windows Pocket PC or similar small OS installed, with some games, etc.
Set up so that I can Remote Desktop into my Windows PC upstairs
This would be a godsend. I'd set the thing on my coffee table and use it to just check my email without having to run upstairs to my desktop.
I know Microsoft had this with Mira a while ago, but Mira devices were costly ($900-$1200) and mostly ran at 800x600 or 1024x768. Now that LCDs have dropped so far in price, I really feel this is a good marketing opportunity. Also, put Pocket PC on it and the thing can play games, etc. without having to be connected to the PC upstairs. Marketed properly and with the right price point, I bet we'd see these in most geek living rooms. It could even double as an interactive photo album with a stand and SD card slots, or a DVD player with a USB hookup. I'd welcome a device like this at $400 or less.
Waiting patiently for the manufacturers to catch up to my imagination...
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Thinkpads, in my experience, are the only truly *good* pc laptops. They're ugly, but they do the job and if you need to you can beat a rhinoceros to death with one.
But, looking at the swivel, and knowing that IBM's selling off the Thinkpad line to the chinese company Lenovo (???), I can't help but wonder if the quality will still be what it was. This isn't meant to be a cut against the Chinese -- really it's my concern that without IBM looking over their shoulders, will the quality remain high? And it's not like the Chinese are famous for high quality manufacturing.
Regarding the form factor, the swivel seems like a good way to have your screen break off. I've seen some swivel laptops in stores, and -- for god's sake -- the demo units are creaky and nearly broken. Sure, people mess with the demo units, but those units aren't being put in backpacks or being taken everywhere you go. On *all* the demos I've seen the screens have several degrees of free play, and look like they'll break off if you look at them too hard. On a few I actually saw breakage as the friction clamp torqued out the plastic housing. Not good.
If anybody can pull this off, IBM can, but I'm not holding my breath.
And, one more rant factor -- can't anybody make a laptop which doesn't look like a frankenstein's monster of parts thrown together? There's so many air vents, access panels and other hoo hah that the damn thing looks like the death-star, but flattened into a laptop form factor. There's too many things to catch on your bag, or break off. Apple does this right -- their laptops are smooth and have nothing to catch on anything or break off.
lorem ipsum, dolor sit amet
" I've seen the Toshibas up close and personal and they just reek of mediocre design and build quality."
I don't generally have a high opinion of Toshiba, but I really do like my M-200. It feels sturdy, plus there are nice design touches that are worthwhile. For example: It has an acellerometer built in so that when you orient it for portrait or landscape, it figures it out based on how it's actually oriented. (You can have it orient properly at ANY orientation, even 'upside down')
There are things I don't like about it. I think the screen is bright, but the viewing angle felt like a throwback to 2 or 3 years ago. Dell's ultrasharp screens really had me spoiled.
On the flip side, it's one of the few laptops with a > XGA screen. It was a PAIN IN THE ASS to find a tablet that did 1440 by 1050. I imagine they'll become more common place, but for now.. blah.
It's light and very battery efficient. I get roughly 3-4 hours out of it with normal use. Considering that it's not bogged down with battery, I'm kinda surprised by this.
All in all, I like the machine. Not a bad use of $1,700. (I'm an artist and I use it like a painting canvas. Far cheaper than a Cintiq.) I don't feel like I'm going to accidently break it. I also feel it was pretty friendly in design. But.. that damn viewing angle. Argh. heh.
"Derp de derp."
I always loved the Transnote, an older Thinkpad with an integrated art tablet. It was designed for architects, engineers, etc., who liked to be able to sketch things.
Sign me up for one of these!