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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:57 pm
by andreas74
yes, im pretty sure ill have to wait till at least the x80 untill we get true multi-finger touchscreens on these things. Maybe longer. It wouldnt be that useful for the standard windows app anyway, i guess, or fear...

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:10 pm
by somlaifischer
yes, i also think you might be right. on one of the gottabemobile videos the lenovo guy explains that the touch input detects how the touch area looks like, and decides if its a finger or not. but its true, this sadly doesn't mean it can tell its coordinates, etc.

also this roundup
http://www.pixelsumo.com/post/multi-tou ... n#comments
seems to suggest, that it probably could not be available yet.

too bad...

but still, its many many new features we can be happy about :)

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:33 pm
by Tab
somlaifischer wrote:yes, i also think you might be right. on one of the gottabemobile videos the lenovo guy explains that the touch input detects how the touch area looks like, and decides if its a finger or not. but its true, this sadly doesn't mean it can tell its coordinates, etc.
It has to be able to tell the coordinates of presses to map them to the corresponding screen location. I think the question is does the entire hardware chain pass through multiple concurrent touches?

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:15 pm
by dmar
The x60tablet is officially up on the Lenovo.com website.

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/thin ... s&trac=HPB

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:34 pm
by RUSH2112
I have no experience with tablets, so I speak with ignorance here, but wouldnt a finger-touch screen get horribly mauled with fingerprints? And wouldnt "writing" on the screen and constantly pressing it ultimately lead to pressure spots and scratches?

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:49 pm
by dmar
The premise of the tablet is to be interactive, and handled in such a manner that, yes, fingerprints and your afternoon lunch will get all over the screen and tablet. Small price to pay for all the options of interfacing with the laptop.

As for the screen surface -- the best way I can describe it is, the tablet screen on the x41t has a hard glass-like surface that is supposed to be resistant to scratches, and should be pressure tested to handle repeated pressure.

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:53 pm
by kelvinq
I've been thinking that it's about time that we get a true multi-touch computer. We are reaching the limits of computing in terms of what the keyboard-mouse metaphor can allow us to.

Touch is really the next step. The iPod, though late in the mp3 game, won out largely due to the intuitive touchwheel.

Touch is really as natural as computing can get, besides controlling via thought ("brainwaves"). You really wouldn't want a thought interface. It's really dangerous. Browsing certain websites will be nearly impossible without attracting alot of attention...

The next iPod might just feature a multi-touch interface, according to speculations on the Internet. Just do a google.

I suspect that the touch panel the X60 tablet features have multi-touch capabilities. That's just a mere guess though. I just can't see why a touch sensor will only be able to decipher one contact point when it's made up of many independent capacitance sensors across a 12.1" screen.

Lemur (http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_features.php) has a very interesting application for music, but hey, we should be able to use it for windowing too.

When multi-touch becomes a reality (it should have been years ago), we can then finally say that computers have a zero learning curve and is truly for everyone, whether young or old.

Because touch is universal.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:57 am
by andreas74
kelvinq wrote: Lemur (http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_features.php) has a very interesting application for music, but hey, we should be able to use it for windowing too.

When multi-touch becomes a reality (it should have been years ago), we can then finally say that computers have a zero learning curve and is truly for everyone, whether young or old.

Because touch is universal.
I dont know about that zero learning curve. I guess they said that too when the mouse came around. You still have to know where to touch, after all....(but i certainly agree it would be useful).
The lemur has been around for something like 1.5 - 2 years now!
As far as i know its still the only multitouch thing available.
I know *loads* of people who would immediately buy the thing (or a similar one) if it wasnt for the price...(2000 euros (it already came down;)). Including myself:)
Btw, it sends OSC (open sound control), totally configurable. Thats an open protocol....much more versatile than midi, and not only useful for audio apps.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:41 am
by stgreek
kelvinq wrote:
So as the hardware is there, it should not take long to get its reading out and to start making new applications. The software side is aways easier
I tried my best not to bring it up, but you did anyway.

Yes, software is *supposedly* easier. Even though IBM was the first one to build a gyroscope/acclerometer into their hdd, no api were ever released. Apple caught up and, guess what, somebody went to reverse engineer it.

So right now we have MacBooks using the accelerometer for application switching and motion sensing. Wow.

And, if we think about it, Apple has a user base that I think is barely one-fifth of that of Thinkpads, yet they get all the cool stuff.

So, while we may have Thinkpads implementing a multi-touch screen, when they will ever release more apis for us to play with is anyone's guess. I'm sure if this feature is on a MacBook now, users will be scrambling to crack it.
I do not know about Windows, but on Linux there are some cracking applications for the APS sensor, like slapping your thinkpad to return from standby or screensaver lock, or shaking it to restart when your kernel panics. I know they are not "business-useful", but neither is shaking your 2k$ powerbook mid-air to kill the bad guys.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:22 pm
by lfeagan
In spite of the reality that the X60 Tablet does not include everything one might ever desire in a tablet, I still am extremely impressed and once the full variety shown in the tabook becomes available will be purchasing one. I am thinking about getting the MutiView/MultiTouch screen with WWAN for working outdoors--something I love doing but which is next to impossible on a T42p 14.1" SXGA+ screen. Even indoors under "normal" lighting I always run at 6 or 7 on the backlight brightness. Only in dark meeting rooms do I change to level 3. For anyone who has used the screen, any thoughts on how it compares to the somewhat lousy viewability under bright lights on the 14.1" SXGA+ screen would be appreciated. From watching the videos at GBM it looks much more readable under the lighting shown in the videos. First hand experience is what I am asking for.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:56 pm
by Tab
lfeagan wrote:For anyone who has used the screen, any thoughts on how it compares to the somewhat lousy viewability under bright lights on the 14.1" SXGA+ screen would be appreciated. From watching the videos at GBM it looks much more readable under the lighting shown in the videos. First hand experience is what I am asking for.
You can ask the folks at GottaBeMobile.com who have played with engineering units. They've been good about answering posts.

Thanks for mentioning the tabook (pdf), it's gotten me more interested in ordering the X60t. The hardware manual (pdf) is also online.

Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:27 am
by sugo
Tabook says 1.9 - 2.1kg with 8 cell battery. I wonder if different screen options explain the different weights.

Isn't 2kg too heavy for ongoing tablet mode operation? It's difficult to hold my T42 (2.2kg) one handed for an extended period.

The 4 cell will make it lighter but it only lasts 3.3 hours on paper. Practical use may mean less than 2.5 hours.

Finally, still no sign of MC8775 UMTS card ...

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:56 pm
by Tab
So, what model of X60t are y'all considering?

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:03 pm
by somlaifischer
Tab wrote:So, what model of X60t are y'all considering?
high res screen, faster cpu, small+large battery, 80gb sata, (dual boot xp+ubuntu)

6363-A7U from the tabook

based in budapest, so i guess it won't be before january.

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:09 pm
by Saikou
Hi I was really excited when Lenovo announced the x60 tablet, b/c it was a core duo tablet, and the main reason I did not want to get a x41 was concerning speed issues with it being only a Pentium M processor versus a Core duo or even a Core 2 duo. Were the reasons why Lenovo didn’t have a Core duo tablet in the past because of power issues and not having a Low Voltage Core duo to work with until now or because of another reason? This then brings me to my next question; I noticed that Intel is planning to release a LV Core 2 duo in April of 2007.
Merom was released on July 27, 2006, and has since been adopted by notebook manufacturers.

A second wave of Merom processors featuring an 800 MT/s FSB and using the new Socket P is expected to launch in April 2007. [15] These chips will be part of the platform codenamed Santa Rosa.[16] Low voltage versions are also planned for release in the same timeframe.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2)
Merom being a Core 2 Duo processor and knowing that in April they are planning on releasing a Low Voltage Core 2 Duo, does any one know/ think that they are going to incorporate this into the x60 tablets thus having a Core 2 Duo x60 Tablet? Or am I just having wish full thinking? And would it be worth waiting for?

And if they aren’t would most definitely purchase the current x60 tablet that is going to be released, But still don’t know whether the SXGA+ (1400x1050) with its higher resolution is better than actually being able to interact with you laptop with the MultiView/ MultiTouch XGA (1024x768) with the outdoor/indoor Anti-Reflective/Anti-Glare coatings. SXGA+ vs. the MultiView/ MultiTouch XGA I still don’t know which to choose, if I choose not to wait for a x60 tablet that may have core 2 duo.

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:31 pm
by Tab
Will they upgrade the tablet to Core 2 Duo soon or wait another year is the big question.

As far as the screen goes, if you consider XGA a usable option, you could go with it and use a high res monitor when at a desk.

Order

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:07 am
by Lorem
Too bad thing thing won't be shipping until mid Dec. My pre-order is just sitting around :(

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:50 pm
by scapp
I saw the 3 versions on the pre-order screen, but does anyone know how you can customize one, like with say 2GB ram, the 100 GB 7200RPM HHD and the SXGA+ screen?
Is that possible yet?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:43 am
by tbz
What a tablet machine, lenovo ThinkPad X60t!!

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2058315,00.asp


The only one thing that this tablet lets me down is the [censored] graphic card, intel graphics media accelerator 950.

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:45 am
by NJ_IT
scapp wrote:I saw the 3 versions on the pre-order screen, but does anyone know how you can customize one, like with say 2GB ram, the 100 GB 7200RPM HHD and the SXGA+ screen?
Is that possible yet?
I tried to search a 'SXGA+' model availablity in Lenovo web,but I could not see it(including customiztion).
During search , I found a 'SXGA+ model X60T' in CostCentral ,
it is 6366AJU(X60 Tablet Exp L2500 2x1gb 100gb 12.1sxga Ultra+dvdr Xpt).
I ordered it after price comparison , I can not wait for delivery(12/Mid?)

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 7:09 am
by Tab
Supposedly on November 28th one will be able to configure and order systems on Lenovo's website.

In one of the GottaBeMobile.com inkshows they said something about the WWAN models not being out until January, but I'm not sure if you can order them before then.

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:37 am
by JaneL
The more I read about the new tablet, the more I want one. I have no idea how I will make use of its features - I just want it.

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:32 pm
by pianowizard
sugo wrote:Isn't 2kg too heavy for ongoing tablet mode operation? It's difficult to hold my T42 (2.2kg) one handed for an extended period.
2 kg is indeed unacceptably heavy and makes it the heaviest X-series model ever. I wish there was a 5400rpm 1.8" HDD option, which would help quite a bit.

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:42 pm
by somlaifischer
>>I wish there was a 5400rpm 1.8" HDD option, which would help quite a bit.

there is. its called the x41 tablet :) i had one, and i think the performance loss with that slow drive was quite huge...

also, i agree that 2 kg is too heavy for real slate mode, for that i think one should buy a slate-only tablet. all convertibles today are in this range 1.8-2.x kg, and they are indeed difficult to hold in one hand.

I am still planning to get one, as I would use it most of the time as an ultraportable x60, with the tablet mode for drafting ideas and talking about things with others (the wide viewing angle screen is really good for this, also you can pass it around easily). also note taking, while on a desk is quite fine in my experience.

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:44 pm
by pianowizard
somlaifischer wrote:>>I wish there was a 5400rpm 1.8" HDD option, which would help quite a bit.

there is. its called the x41 tablet :) i had one, and i think the performance loss with that slow drive was quite huge...
There isn't. The X41 tablet has a 4200rpm 1.8" HDD. With a 5400rpm 1.8" HDD (which doesn't exist), there would be less performance loss.

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:45 pm
by somlaifischer
yes sorry, you are right

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:47 pm
by pianowizard
somlaifischer wrote:yes sorry
You are forgiven LOL!

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:28 am
by jbee
Hi,

the MultiTouch-Feature of the X60 sounds amazing. Stupid question, I haven't found any information about yet:

How to simulate a right mouse click with your finger on the touch screen? As far as I know, no buttons at the side of the display will explicit support this function.

Any idea how this could work?

Cheers!
jbee

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:30 am
by somlaifischer
jbee wrote:How to simulate a right mouse click with your finger on the touch screen?
most probably holding your your finger down for 2 secs, like it is with the pen today.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... click.mspx

and i guess more importantly vista has a hovering larger mouse-looking interface designed for finger input... there is a video of this on gottabemobile.com

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:16 am
by jbee
Hi,

> holding your finger down for 2 secs


OK - it's called "Press and Hold". Another feature I never noticed on my tablet pc. I think this was way to easy. ;-)

Thanx somlaifischer
jbee