Thinkpads Forum

How many tablet users in a class setting actually use the tablet function to take notes? I have this great idea to type my notes on in the laptop function and whip out the stylist to insert graphs and such. However, I have heard that many people start out this way but a month into it have completely stopped using the tablet function. It's a pretty big investment and i would be looking to get the x61t so any advice would be appreciated.

also... 32 bit vista or 64 bit vista... uhh what's the difference between the 32 and 64 and is vista the way to go for OS?

gongo wrote:How many tablet users in a class setting actually use the tablet function to take notes? I have this great idea to type my notes on in the laptop function and whip out the stylist to insert graphs and such. However, I have heard that many people start out this way but a month into it have completely stopped using the tablet function. It's a pretty big investment and i would be looking to get the x61t so any advice would be appreciated.

also... 32 bit vista or 64 bit vista... uhh what's the difference between the 32 and 64 and is vista the way to go for OS?

Typing is by far faster, but how many clacking keyboards can you have in a class and still hear the instructor?

Why not buy the X60T now while it's on sale?

I was hoping to get the x61t. also 64bit is supposed to support 64 bit applications.. but what the hell does that mean?

As far as I know, the only advantage to 64-bit applications is that they can make use of more than 4GB of memory. Obviously there are very few programs which would need that much RAM but it becomes essential for enterprise servers, scientific simulations etc.

ah so basically for my personal note taking and applications.. i'll be using 2gb.... so 32 is the way to go? Although I read that applications will be heading towards the 64 bit soon... so maybe i should just get that instead.... so confused.

gongo wrote:also... 32 bit vista or 64 bit vista... uhh what's the difference between the 32 and 64 and is vista the way to go for OS?

In several years, the PC world will have migrated to 64-bit: with all 64-bit applications (i.e. computer programs), which in turn will run only on 64-bit operating systems, which in turn will run only on 64-bit processors, which in turn will require all 64-bit drivers. But the 64-bit world for most of us is still several years away. Until then, it remains a 32-bit world, except for a few.

Vista 64-bit should be used today only by those who use 64-bit applications: serious engineering (CAD/CAM), digital content creation, scientific/technical computing, complex financial analysis, game development, and high-quality media creation. Of course, Vista 64-bit runs only on systems with 64-bit processors, which must have 64-bit drivers. In fact, the biggest obstacle today is finding 64-bit drivers -- this is now the most-reported problem.

For everythone else, we live in a 32-bit PC world. Thus, the vast majority of students will continue to use 32-bit OS (XP or Vista).

typing may be faster for some but that depends on how you take notes. if you short-hand your notes then using a tablet may be helpful in certain class settings. i spent several terms handwriting notes and rough diagrams during lectures directly on power point slides which were supplied to us by the instructors before class began. that was a great way to go. highlights, underlining, and graphical representations are difficult w/o tablet functionality.

however, 90+% of my X41T's usage was non-tablet stuff, just straight laptop usage. it was great for that the same as if it didn't have tablet functionality, so there was no compromise.

Maybe I'll find a Tablet user here that might know the answer... If one uses ENG Vista, can the non-english handwriten text (inking) be recognized?! Say my native language is Slovenian, German, French whatever... and the OS is English, will the text be recognized or not?

IF not, is there some sort of a plugin available?

I know for sure it can recognize chinese, japanese, korean handwritten characters on EN vista business. Not sure about other specific languages.

Well I guess if it recognizes those you've mentioned, it should probably recognize pretty much any other language there is.

Thanks.

if it was just typing notes i wouldn't need a tablet.. but all of my professors give us a pdf with the powerpoint slides from their lectures. and it's great to take notes in one note while in class easily on the ppt slides.

gongo wrote:How many tablet users in a class setting actually use the tablet function to take notes? I have this great idea to type my notes on in the laptop function and whip out the stylist to insert graphs and such. However, I have heard that many people start out this way but a month into it have completely stopped using the tablet function. It's a pretty big investment and i would be looking to get the x61t so any advice would be appreciated.

also... 32 bit vista or 64 bit vista... uhh what's the difference between the 32 and 64 and is vista the way to go for OS?

What program are you in? I don't have personal experience (yet), but it seems to me that tablet functionality would be a lot less useful in an arts or business program than in math (unless you're really good with latex) or science...

Just received my X61 Tablet. Will blog about it a bit later, it's just that i realized it CAN NOT recognize handwriting for the selected input language which is BAD. I hope there is a plug-in or add-on available. Does anyone know about it?!

Cheers

oconnell wrote:

gongo wrote:also... 32 bit vista or 64 bit vista... uhh what's the difference between the 32 and 64 and is vista the way to go for OS?

In several years, the PC world will have migrated to 64-bit: with all 64-bit applications (i.e. computer programs), which in turn will run only on 64-bit operating systems, which in turn will run only on 64-bit processors, which in turn will require all 64-bit drivers. But the 64-bit world for most of us is still several years away. Until then, it remains a 32-bit world, except for a few.

Vista 64-bit should be used today only by those who use 64-bit applications: serious engineering (CAD/CAM), digital content creation, scientific/technical computing, complex financial analysis, game development, and high-quality media creation. Of course, Vista 64-bit runs only on systems with 64-bit processors, which must have 64-bit drivers. In fact, the biggest obstacle today is finding 64-bit drivers -- this is now the most-reported problem.

For everythone else, we live in a 32-bit PC world. Thus, the vast majority of students will continue to use 32-bit OS (XP or Vista).

Computers are going to be 32bit backwards compatible for a VERY long time man, things are not going to change that quickly.

There are very few situations in which the tablet is useful unless of course you're taking notes all the time. For me its perfect, my engineering classes are full of circuit diagrams and such.

jamess wrote:Just received my X61 Tablet. Will blog about it a bit later, it's just that i realized it CAN NOT recognize handwriting for the selected input language which is BAD. I hope there is a plug-in or add-on available. Does anyone know about it?!

The only thing I can think of is the additional language packs you can download for Vista Ultimate. But I don't know if they also include handwriting recognition.

I found this forum post that lists all the supported languages for handwriting recognition. It was written before Vista was released so I don't know how accurate it may be.