Thinkpads Forum

So, for school the recommended laptop is the Dell tablet... so I was ordered the Dell XT2 by my family. However, apparently I have been ruined by the T42 I had during undergrad because I can't stand it. I can't function without my red trackpoint and the scroll button (on my T42 the touchpad is turned off because I can't stand it).

So, the XT2 does have a little keyboard stick and the two buttons but they're all squished up and tiny... and all the rest of the space is wasted by a TOUCHPAD.

I see pics of the X200 and weep.

I know it's a Tablet, so the pen thingy is the big deal but I type WAY faster than I can write stuff out. I'm sure the stylus feature will be very useful for more graphical stuff (Powerpoints, etc), but the keyboard is very important to me.

So, I've read one or two things comparing the two and I don't know anything about Windows 7 and all the multitouch stuff... can someone explain to me how that could possibly be relevant to my type of usage? (Typing papers/making notes on Powerpoint/surfing the web/minimal game-playing).

I got a Nintendo DSi recently and have gotten used to using a stylus with that device. But my new laptop doesn't write as smoothly as my Nintendo! I'm sure it's probably very very different technology (I know the stylus for the Dell is way more sophisticated than just a plastic stick)... but why isn't it writing as well? How does the Lenovo compare?

Also, what's the deal with Lenovo, as in the company/service? I got my T42 when it was still IBM while an undergrad. My undergrad university, however, is now recommending and servicing Dell computers so I was just wondering what led to the fall from grace? Seems a lot of schools use Toshiba/Apple/Dell now. The rest of my family is die-hard Dell so they don't get why I'd want a Chinese computer. :-O

I'm so weird that I'm judging a computer solely by something so silly as the keyboard (especially on a TABLET) but I really cannot stand the Dell keyboard!?!

I really want to send the Dell back (I don't know if I can?) It would be dumb to because the Dell is what my school will service...

Ugh.

How old is the machine? Typically I think Dell's return policy for the Latitude/Vostro/Precision is 30 days with no re-stocking fee. I think Dell even picks up the return shipping. If you're within the 30 days I'd get on the phone with Dell pronto. If you bought from the Dell Outlet, I think it's 21 days. I bought and returned a Latitude from the Dell Outlet. There was no restocking fee, though I was on the hook for the original $20 shipping, which seemed pretty reasonable. I've not seen either tablet, so no help there.