X41 Tablet - How to improve performances?

[Yotam]

Ok, got my tablet (18666TU) 2 days ago, a hour before my flight back from NYC...

First impressions: very nice computer, VERY nice screen. Noisy keyboard, noisy HDD (not really noisy, but as was writen before - making some "ticks" when working). Memory upgrade is NEEDED and will be done as soon as possible.

Now for my question(s): How can I improve the tablet perfomance?
I canceled all startup programs except those I'm not sure what are they:
- BTTray - I'm not using BT every day, should I cancel its loading and open it only when I want to use BT?
- Alias SketchBook Snapshot - What is it???
- Digital Line Detect - Same question!?!

Moreover, ther are the following programs:
- Norton - which I'd really like to get rid of - what antivirus do you recommend?
- IBM Access Connection - do I need it to connect my WLAN? Can't I use only windows program for that?
- Shock protection - shuold I leave it there?
- Tablet and pen settings - I don't want this program in my systray - how can I do this?

Is there any way to improve windows startup time, before running startup programs?

Do you have any other recommendations for this topic?

Thank you!

[bhtooefr]

Digital Line Detect is a program that checks for a digital line when you plug your modem in. See, if you plug your modem into a digital line, it'll fry it, unless that's running. And, some hotels use digital lines.

So, you don't need it unless you're plugging into a phone line that you're not sure about.

I recommend Avast for antivirus.

You can use Wireless Zero Configuration for WLAN connections.

Shock protection - how much do you move your laptop, or how likely is it that you'll drop it?

Tablet and pen settings - if you're talking about what I think you're talking about, this is a part of Windows. I'm not sure that it can be disabled.

[Yotam]

Thanks,
I have two more questions - not related to the perfomance issue:
1. Is there any way to add "notes" to a PDF file in the tablet (Like the pen in PowerPoint)? any program that does so?
2. How do I make a rescue CD/DVD? Can I delete the hidden partition after making this CD?

[bhtooefr]

Hmm... I'm not experienced with tablets, but I think Acrobat Reader has built-in Tablet PC support. Someone tell me if I'm wrong, though...

As for making a rescue CD/DVD, Rapid Restore can do that, IIRC. I don't know how to do that, though.

[joprodse]

I just switched from Norton Antivirus 2004 to Grisoft AVG Free Antivirus. I'm totally pleased with AVG and highly recommend it.
I like IBM Access connection and think it's one of the better software bundled with the thinkpads.
I don't have shockprotection, but I'd leave it alone if I were you. It might save you from loosing your data when you drop your tablet... which might be more likely with a tablet then a regular laptop actually...?

[Yotam]

Thanks for the answers

About the Adobe Reader - AFAIK and as far as I can find there is NO option to add hand-writen comments.
The only option I found is to use Microsoft Windows Journal - which improrts every document by printing it to a special file format and then allows to write, mark, add comments papers and more - very nice but has one major problem - it makes 1MB pdf to 8MB file.
Another thing is selecting text - while in Adobe Reader you can select text and copy it to another program - in the Journal you can't because it's actualy an image. Also, you can't click on links in these documents - because of the same reason.

So - if anyone knows about a better solution - let me know.

[Sushi-D]

THe folks at TPCBuzz sweat by "PDF Annotator." It's trialware, but I plan to buy it.

While you're at it, grab CutePDF -- lets you "print" to PDF files.

[Yotam]

I'll try the PDF Annotator. Anyway, the Windows Journal is realy nice program. I started working with it and found more than I thought.

[beq]

Thanks for bringing up some of these questions. I too have been thinking about how to best trim down some of the numerous apps that get loaded at startup (for faster performance and faster startup too).

One of my favorite utilities is PCMag's Startup Cop just for the one-place convenience. Usually I'm able to juse use this and the Services control panel applet (under Administrative Tools) to manage all startup programs and services. In fact, Startup Cop lists a whole bunch of startup apps on my X41T, many of which I wouldn't normally even see (including lots of new tablet-related apps).

Anyways, I've disabled Digital Line Detect. I'd also disabled BTTray in my previous ThinkPads, but after I started using BT more often I tend to leave it in. Also turned off Alias SketchBook Snapshot from running at startup.

I use Symantec AV Corporate Edition 9.0 as my primary resident access scanner (installed in unmanaged mode, self updating), but I also like to install secondary AVs to complement on-demand scanning and scheduled weekly scans.

I love Access Connection and use it to manage my different network profiles.

I think I'll leave the Shock protection, the fingerprint Control Center, etc, etc, for now...

Not sure about the Pen and Tablet Settings, Snipet (from Sniping Tool part of MS Experience Pack), etc. Or the OneNote 2003 Quick Launch. I'd upgraded to the full FarStone Virtual Drive Utility & Burning Suite and I've also let it run in the tray at startup just 'cuz I haven't figured out how to prevent that (actually it's two startup apps, vdtask.exe and rdtask.exe, the latter for RAMDrive).

Argh, just so many stuff, hard to keep track of it all. I have to be constantly vigilant to disable all the bloated apps and updaters and stuff from running at startup such as from iTunes/QuickTime, Yahoo Music, Real stuff, and all the IM apps and whatnot...

Anyways, I'll have to double check but I believe the full version of Adobe Acrobat 7.0 lets you append notes to PDF files? I think Adobe now also has a cheaper version called Adobe Acrobat Elements or something like that, that may also support this, I'm not sure. The full version also lets you print to Acrobat print driver (Distiller) which is nice. Even more convenient is the PDF toolbar added to IE/Explorer and major apps like Office 2003.

Speaking of the full Acrobat 7.0, I've been disabling both "Acrobat Assistant 7.0" and "Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher" from startup, but I do see that leaving them in lets Acrobat load much faster. What's the difference between these two startup apps?

As for the rest of the Adobe suite, I've also liked to disable Adobe Gamma Loader, and always disabled Adobe Version Cue CS2 (both in startup list and also in the Services list).

Sorry, didn't mean to ramble so incoherently...