Handwriting Recognition on X41 Tablet/ Upgrading from X40

[Stunt101]

Hey guys/gals,

i currently have a 1.2 ghz x40. while i like it, it is too slow. also, while i love taking it to class and taking notes on it, i woudl like to have tablet functionality to enable me to take better notes in humanities/social sciences (draw diagrams when appropriate) and to be able to take notes on my computer in science classes (i am a biology concentrator at the moment). while i have read a lot about tablet software converting handwriting to text, i was wondering what members of this forum think about the x41's abilities to handle this task. i have horrendous handwriting, and i write extremely quickly when taking notes.

The tablet I am looking at has the following spects:
- ThinkPad X41 1866
- Pentium M 758 1.5 GHz LV
- Microsoft® Windows® XP- RAM 512 MB (i will upgrade to 1 gb)
- HD 60 GB
- Mdm
- LAN EN, Fast EN, Gigabit EN, Bluetooth, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g
- Centrino Tablet PC 2005
- 12.1" TFT XGA (1024 x 768)
X41 TABLET PENT M LV 758 (1.5) 12 WAXGA 512 60GB ABG XPT 8C

and my college offers this model at slightly less than 1600 USD.

Therefore:
1) can the software tackle sloppy handwriting?
2)will the specs listed have much better performance than an x40 w/ 1.2 ghz, 40 gb hd, 512 mb ram , x40's intel integrated graphics?
3) should I wait for longhorn to come out so i dont have to upgrade shortly?
4) will new mobile chips/other upgrades come out for the x4X series?

Thank you for answering all or part of my questions

Stunt

[Wholesomer]

1. I don't have the anser

2. The X41T will have better performance due to the faster Pentium M and the better intergrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900.

3. I don't think Longhorn will work with the X41T with its current specs.

4. X41T is a brand new model and still in short supply. You won't see another upgrade for at least 6 months or maybe even a year.

[aamsel]

Longhorn will somewhat work with any current notebook/desktop in "XP compatibility mode" for the video. Basically, since it will not meet the full specs for Longhorn, it will run the video in "crippled" mode. You won't get the full scalability and other features that Longhorn will offer.

Microsoft can not risk the bad press they would get by making current notebooks/desktops not function at all under Longhorn.

A DirectX 9.0 compatible video card is required for full Longhorn capability, not sure how much video memory is needed.

Longhorn is not due out until late 2006. Also, I have read informed opinions that the switch from XP to Longhorn for most people will take many years, much longer than the switch from Windows 98 to XP, which took 4+ years for 60%+ to switch. (may be 70%+).
Anyhow, the switch from XP to Longhorn is anticipated to take 6+ years for 70% or more to switch.

That is a long, long time.

Frankly, I would buy a notebook or tablet that meets your current needs, and I wouldn't worry at all about Longhorn. There will be much better and much different hardware products introduced in the next 2-5 years. Worry about Longhorn then, at least, that is what I am going to do.

Unless you want to buy and run Longhorn immediately after release, it really doesn't matter that much.

I don't think that it pays to be concerned about meeting the specs for an operating system that is 1+ years away from release.

Yes, I had the same concerns as you, but I have read a lot about it, and came to that conclusion.

Hope this helps you!

Andrew
Austin, TX

3) should I wait for longhorn to come out so i dont have to upgrade shortly?

[Stunt101]

thanks for hte very detailed info and advice!

what are your thoughts on the mac switch to intel chips? i wasnt even considering a powerbook because i thought i shoudl wait for the new chips. while i like the tablet functionality, the 12" powerbook is much more powerful.

[bhtooefr]

As for the HWR, I've used the MS Office HWR (same engine, AFAIK) using a MOUSE (which is MUCH harder), and it was able to read it almost perfectly.

[aamsel]

I have never purchased ANY Mac/Apple product (other than an iPod) so, not sure. However, we don't know yet that the "new" Macs will actually run XP or other PC OS, although there is a possibility of it. That would make the Apple product interesting, and potentially far more competitive IMHO.

As for the 12"/14.1"/17" Powerbooks, I have seen and tried them. Although they are a very nice design, I can't say that they are powerful machines (although they may be).
They seem to be optimized for graphics work, but not for text.
I looked at text on them from Microsoft Word, and also from two of their web-browsers, and I found the text quality to be very poor, somewhat blurry and pixelated.

Their nicest feature is that they have a built-in CD/DVD drive on a small, compact 12" notebook.

I can not say that they would be better than any Tablet PC or PC-based notebook.

I personally have tried to sell myself on a Tablet PC for about a year now, and have not been able to "finalize the deal".

I have stayed with T series Thinkpads to this point.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[bhtooefr]

The x86 Mac developer boxes can run Windows, and (IIRC) Apple said that the release x86 Macs will be able to run Windows.

[aamsel]

Great, then we can compare them "apples-to-apples"!
Sorry!

Andrew
Austin, TX

The x86 Mac developer boxes can run Windows, and (IIRC) Apple said that the release x86 Macs will be able to run Windows.

[DrDan]

Hi Stunt-

This is model "SU" right? I think I had the exact same deal for $1571 from Harvard. If it is the same model, I have to tell you two things:

1. You are getting an unbelievable deal.
2. You wont see the machine for a loooong time.

They are finally starting to produce this model. I ordered mine on June 7th and I still have not received it. They say mine should ship before the end of the week but who knows? Hopefully an order placed now will have a faster delivery time than mine. Producing this particular unit was not a priority for IBovo.

Dan

[mathguy91748]

that is one [censored] good deal.....send one my way........my dumb school uses dells

[Aviator]

Stunt you are lucky to get any tablet for that sort of price ...... and since this is IBM you have to consider yourself really lucky to be getting such a deal.

Unfortunately, my Univ is still stuck with Dell and they don't have any great discounts also.

Let me know what university has this offer, I will find a friend to buy this for me

And don't worry about the delay, hopefully the tablets should be shipped by mid august, just in time for the start of semester.

Avi

[Stunt101]

aviator:

like dr. dan, i get my deals through harvard (im an undergraduate).

i do have one legal issue that needs to be resolved, however:

on the harvard web site, it says that resale is strictly prohibited. is this intending to prevent resale of new computers at a profit? for example, if i get the tablet, is it illegal for me to sell my old x40?

[JHEM]

The resale prohibition is primarily there to prevent someone from purchasing several units and attempting to flog them locally or on eBay as NIB.

You shouldn't have any problems selling your used X40, nor will any alarms go off at IBM/Lenovo suggesting you've become a reseller of Education model Thinkpads based on one sale.

Regards,

James

[Aviator]

Stunt:

Like James mentioned, when you are upgrading you should not have a problem in selling your old laptop. The clause is only for people who might misuse this offer and try to make profit out of it.

And I think your price of $1500 is wrong, Lenovo had a website error on the prices of tablets and thanks to “Wholesomer” lot of people took advantage of this and got the bundle offer for $1575 under the employee discount and for $1675 under the credit card discount. But now, even with the employee discount the bundle offer is for $1900.

I know that Harvard has a special pricing with as high as 33% discount on select models, but I am sure that tablet is not covered under that.

If it is I will be happy to buy another tablet 

And just go ahead with your order, I am sure you would want it before your semester starts, hopefully if you order now you will get it by mid august.

Avi

[DrDan]

Hi Stunt-

Sorry I forgot all about this thread. Yes, you can resell your old X40, just not in the unopened box as new. I just sold my X 40 on ebay because, like you, I wanted a tablet.

I am so glad Harvard does not use hell, er, dell. BTW, there is even a very good continued discount for alums, but the deals we get are not as unbelievable as the student pricing. My advice to you is to pick up the absolute top of the line T43P before you graduate, along with all peripherals. It is an even better and more unbelievable deal than the tablet. I did, and it is an absolute beast! Love ThinkPads!

BTW, my tablet shipped Monday so you should get yours soon.