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This is my first tablet and my first Thinkpad as well!
When the package came, I was surprised at how small and light it was. The packaging is simple, contains the tablet, a pen, power brick(very small by the way), spare caps for the trackpoint, spare tips for the pen, a troubleshooting manual, and a getting started sheet. That's it.
First things first, I had a 1gb sodimm ready to be installed, and so flipped the tablet around, unscrewed a couple of screws, popped open the cover, inserted the dimm and was ready for startup in less than 5 minutes. While I had the cover off, I noticed the wi-fi card and the modem card, both looked like they could be easily replaced.(5 min jobs) My model didn't come with bluetooth, so I've already ordered the bluetooth/modem card from the IBM parts dept.(About $88 dollars in parts)
My thinkexpress model came with a 4-cell battery.(8-cell should be on it's way) The battery is small and light and comes charged so I was able to start playing right away.
The first startup is obliviously slow because you have to go through the setup routine, but after that the startup time isn't bad, but it isn't good either. I hope to reduce the time a bit by perhaps using BootVis and reducing some startup items.(There are a lot, too many imho) I've found the best way to avoid boot times is not having to boot. The tablet goes into standby instantly, but it takes about 20 seconds to go in and out of hibernation.
When the tablet launched into windows, I noticed how gorgeous the screen was. I turned the screen from side to side, and was wowed at how visible everything was on the screen regardless of angle. The antiglare coating works particularly well, because there was a lot of glare in my room but I could still see everything on the screen clearly. The only other tablet screens I have seen are from Toshiba. As far as viewing angle, it's not even close, the X41 blows the Toshiba away. I've have yet to come to a point where I have to fight with the viewing angle to see something clearly.
Other Thinkpad owners probably already know this, but this being my first thinkpad, I can't believe how solid this thing is. No rattles, no creaks. The hinge is firm, and there is the perfect resistance as far as open closing and rotating. I tried to twist from the sides of the screen instead of the middle, but it didn't matter, there was no flex. Ditto for the keyboard. Compared to my Toshiba laptop, this thing actually looks/feels like it will last the three year warranty that's behind it.
Somebody asked about the fan noise in another thread, I decided to just cut and paste my answer here.:
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"As I write this the fan is not on. It is barely on when I'm doing non intensive things like cruising the web; posting on forums. writing notes, etc. this is with the tablet plugged in; and cpu running at full speed. (1.5 ghz) . The fan turned on just now; it is medium loud for the first few Seconds and then quiets down very quickly and then turns off. Then the loudest thing is the harddrive ; which sounds; like an ipod (not very loud at all).
As far as heat this is no Toshiba. It never gets uncomfortable to hold. Warmest spots are under the hd and the ram slot area.
Again this is with it plugged in and at full power settings. I'll provide an update later under battery power. CPU temp at the end of this message is53. degrees Celsius. Hd temp is-41.Oh, and the palm rests are fine you do notice the difference in temp but its never hotter then warm and doesn't get close to as warm as the bottom of the tablet. I equate the bottom of the tablet as hugging some one warm and the palm rests as holding someones hand warm. Hope that helps."
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As far as writing on the tablet, it's hard to say without really using a lot of other tablets. When I write, it writes(everything); it's not quite a piece of paper, but it's not glass either, I have yet to slip using the pen. The pen is really light, probably too light, I'm thinking that I would be more comfortable with something a little bit heavier, say with the weight of a real pen or lead pencil, instead.
Again, the coating on the screen works fairly well, because even after the oils from my hand are on the screen, with smudges all over the place, I really don't notice until the screen is off and I shine bright light over it.
The Intel Wireless B/G works pretty well, I think the antenna array in the screen does wonders for signal strength and it definitely out performs my Linksys Wireless G card. I can see access points now, with good signal strength, where I couldn't see them at all with the Linksys card.
Ok, even though I've fallen in love with this thing, I have found one gripe. The pen slot is a little finicky. It's spring loaded and the pen is suppose to pop up a little so you can grab it. Well sometimes it doesn't quite pop up, or pop up far enough, and the whole thing just seems kind of flimsy and cheap. I wish IBM would have designed this a little differently, because the design quality of the slot doesn't match the rest of the tablet at all.
Well, that's it for now, if anyone has questions feel free to ask. Meanwhile, here are some pics..
[Admin note: while we usually frown on pics rather than links to a pic i think there will be enough interest to let these stay for a while
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Edited by Moderator: That was a nasty shock to anyone on a dialup line. Links, not images, unless you put a warning in the subject line.
Sorry about that, but I don't quite like seeing those links so visible either.....warning added.
