Just ordered X41 Tablet !!

Message

#1 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:27 pm

Well, I just ordered an X41 Tablet today, and am very excited!!
I was at the original Comdex 3 years ago where the Tablet PC was introduced, and have been thinking about one ever since.
Hopefully, someday, it will actually ship, and I will have it!

BTW, I ordered the W7TABLP bundle.
I really wanted a 4 cell battery, but could not turn down the deal.
Figured I would order a 4 cell separately.

Also, I don't plan to use the sleeve, but what the heck, it was thrown in for free.

Andrew
Austin, TX

usccharles · #2 Post by **usccharles** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:42 pm

Congrats

now don't mean to pop your bubble, but:

http://tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25839

#3 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:04 pm

I don't care if I have to wait for it.
I had already read all of those threads before I ordered.

Notice that I wrote:
"Hopefully, someday, it will actually ship, and I will have it!"

Andrew
Austin, TX

beq · #4 Post by **beq** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:21 pm

I just placed an order for the W7TABLP bundle earlier today, too! I'm in Houston BTW.

I'm just sad that I procrastinated this long (I've been meaning to research and order ever since the X41T was first announced earlier this summer). If only I had done it 1-2 weeks ago, could've gotten it for $200-250 cheaper

Plus I would've been earlier in the waiting queue as well...

Since the notebook configuration in the kit bundle is fixed, I had to buy upgrades/accessories separately and ended up adding them in separate orders.

For some reason the X4 Dock can be found on the education site but not on the businesscenter site. On the other hand, the 512MB RAM stick and X41T digitizer pen can be found on the businesscenter site but not on the education site. And for items that I found on both sites (usually at the same price), the sites display widely differing availability status, go figure

(FYI the new 72W Slim AC/DC Combo Adapter [73P4485] can't be found anywhere.)

So I ended up with 2 additional orders.

Businesscenter site:
(73P3842) 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SODIMM stick
(73P5167) X41T 4-cell Li-Ion battery
(73P5186) ThinkPad Leather Ultraportable case

Education site:
(250610U) X4 Dock
(73P3342) Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay Slim drive

One notable thing, buying the RAM stick separately from IBM/Lenovo actually costs less than adding it to a notebook configuration. I assume the latter includes the labor cost of installing that RAM stick into the slot, heh. Buying it separately was cheap enough (comparable to Crucial's price) that I didn't want to bother with cheaper generic RAM sticks.

Anyways, I'm still disappointed with the non-portability of the X4 Dock as compared to the UltraBase (which I'm using with my X40 right now). That's why I'm looking for a good USB 2.0 enclosure for Ultrabay Slim drives, so after I switch to the X41 Tablet I can still take the Multi-Burner Plus drive with me in a portable formfactor.

Incidentally this is my third Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay Slim drive this year (the previous two are being used in our T43 and Ultrabase for the X40, both also purchased just this year). I just wish they would come out with a Double Layer model.

beq · #5 Post by **beq** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:29 pm

I don't know how small the ThinkPad Leather Ultraportable is. The one I'm using with the X40 right now is the Thinkpad Leather Attache for its looks (had also bought the ThinkPad Office Executive and other ThinkPad cases like the Alpha Rolling Carry Case, etc).

#6 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:38 pm

I don't really agree with everything that you ordered, although I do hope that you enjoy it:

1.) I plan to buy Cross "Penabled" pens to use with the X41-T. Do you know of any reason not to?

2.) I have no use for a dock or an IBM ultrabay slim drive. I plan to use an external DVD burner, haven't decided if it will be a full size drive in a
5 1/4" case, a small external DVD burner or both yet, but I won't buy the IBM/Lenovo brand.

3.) I don't plan to use the included sleeve, and I don't think that the leather case you ordered will fit the X41-T perfectly. I think it will be oversized, and somewhat "universal." I am waiting for a perfect sleeve for the X41-T.

Andrew
Austin, TX

beq wrote:I just placed an order for the W7TABLP bundle earlier today, too! I'm in Houston BTW.

I'm just sad that I procrastinated this long (I've been meaning to research and order ever since the X41T was first announced earlier this summer). If only I had done it 1-2 weeks ago, could've gotten it for $200-250 cheaper Plus I would've been earlier in the waiting queue as well...

Since the notebook configuration in the kit bundle is fixed, I had to buy upgrades/accessories separately and ended up adding them in separate orders.

For some reason the X4 Dock can be found on the education site but not on the businesscenter site. On the other hand, the 512MB RAM stick and X41T digitizer pen can be found on the businesscenter site but not on the education site. And for items that I found on both sites (usually at the same price), the sites display widely differing availability status, go figure
(FYI the new 72W Slim AC/DC Combo Adapter [73P4485] can't be found anywhere.)

So I ended up with 2 additional orders.

Businesscenter site:
(73P3842) 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SODIMM stick
(73P5167) X41T 4-cell Li-Ion battery
(73P5186) ThinkPad Leather Ultraportable case

Education site:
(250610U) X4 Dock
(73P3342) Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay Slim drive

One notable thing, buying the RAM stick separately from IBM/Lenovo actually costs less than adding it to a notebook configuration. I assume the latter includes the labor cost of installing that RAM stick into the slot, heh. Buying it separately was cheap enough (comparable to Crucial's price) that I didn't want to bother with cheaper generic RAM sticks.

Anyways, I'm still disappointed with the non-portability of the X4 Dock as compared to the UltraBase (which I'm using with my X40 right now). That's why I'm looking for a good USB 2.0 enclosure for Ultrabay Slim drives, so after I switch to the X41 Tablet I can still take the Multi-Burner Plus drive with me in a portable formfactor.

Incidentally this is my third Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay Slim drive this year (the previous two are being used in our T43 and Ultrabase for the X40, both also purchased just this year). I just wish they would come out with a Double Layer model.

#7 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:42 pm

I think the bottom line is this:
There are essentials, such as battery and chargers which should be genuine IBM/Lenovo.
For most other accessories you are better off going aftermarket. Yes, there will always be tons of junk aftermarket accessories, but, if you research carefully, there are products that are better than those offered by IBM/Lenovo. I always read reviews, and user opinions on forums such as these.

However, I did notice that you are trying to use some of these accesories "across product line" which does make some sense.

Feel free to PM me if I can offer any advice/assistance at any time.

Andrew
Austin, TX

beq wrote:I don't know how small the ThinkPad Leather Ultraportable is. The one I'm using with the X40 right now is the Thinkpad Leather Attache for its looks (had also bought the ThinkPad Office Executive and other ThinkPad cases like the Alpha Rolling Carry Case, etc).

beq · #8 Post by **beq** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:28 pm

Hey Andrew,

The X41T digitizer pen is part 73P5188 (I'm just reading it off the TABook). A Cross pen sounds great, perhaps I should look into that as well.

If you want a portable USB DVD burner but don't need it to be the smallest possible, as a suggestion I do like my Addonics MFR (same product is also sold under other brands). Uses a laptop-sized 12.5mm drive, battery-powered, multiple built-in flash card slots, can run stand-alone to offload content from flash cards to CD/DVD, can hook up to TV as stand-alone DVD movie player (or as CD/MP3 player), etc. Comes with a customized camera bag with complete cables and accessories.

The ThinkPad Leather Ultraportable (more info on the Targus site) supports laptop up to 12.2" x 10" x 1". They seem to advertise it mostly as customized for the X series, but it does support the 14" T series with the 6-cell battery, supposedly. Other than the ThinkPad Office Executive and the ThinkPad X41 Tablet Sleeve, this seems to be their smallest general-purpose (non-female) case, which can also house accessories and documents/papers.

In my case, I want a case large enough to house my other stuff, but where the computer compartment is just big enough for the X series so as not to waste space. I know the other strategy is to use a sleeve to house the notebook, which you then insert into a separate bigger case which houses your other stuff, but I'm thinking that's rather unwieldy to have to deal with two cases?

I think I need to look more at other 3rd-party brand cases though (starting by revisiting the myriad threads discussing cases)...

#9 Post by **aamsel** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:06 am

I spoke to Waterfield Designs today:
http://www.sfbags.com
and asked when they were going to have a SleeveCase for the X41-T.
They were not even aware of its existence.

I sent them the specs from TABOOK.PDF, and they promised to work on getting a SleeveCase for it done. When they emailed back, they had already spoken to their designer about it.

The Waterfield SleeveCases are, in my opinion, the finest quality sleeves that I have ever seen. Many, many people here love them. If you do read the "myriad" of threads concerning sleeves/cases here, Waterfield consistently comes up as a consensus favorite among thinkpads.com members.

My preference is a case that only holds the notebook or tablet. With the Waterfield SleeveCase, you can also get a piggyback bag that holds an extra battery, mouse and/or a few odds and ends. Minimalist design. I like it a lot.

Andrew
Austin, TX

jokerunm · #10 Post by **jokerunm** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:27 am

Those look pretty cool. I just recieved my Booq sleeve...but unfortunately the tablet doesn't fit like I was planning. Booq seems to revovle more around the power books..so I don't think they'll be designing one for the X41T any time soon.

Did you send the the specs with the 8 cell attached? It would be cool if they had a sleeve that can hold the tablet with the 8 cell.

#11 Post by **aamsel** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:58 am

Yes, I told them they should size it to fit the 8 cell.

Andrew
Austin, TX

jokerunm wrote:...Did you send the the specs with the 8 cell attached? It would be cool if they had a sleeve that can hold the tablet with the 8 cell.

beq · #12 Post by **beq** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:49 am

Thanks, I'd briefly looked at the Waterfield and Booq stuff as well, they do look good and I want to investigate more of these and others like RoadWired -- which I like for their versatility (check out their monster MegaMedia Bag, $300 in Nappa Leather!).

P.S. I just like my current ThinkPad Leather Attache for its look/styling:
Targus page
IBM/Lenovo page

The photos from the brochures that I had made it look even better. Classy look IMHO (distinguished from the typical "laptop bag" styles), black leather with blue suede interior, discrete ThinkPad branding, leather handle, pretty light 3.2 lbs, etc. I like it draped across my shoulder (with the strap on one shoulder and the case itself across the other side of my hip)

#13 Post by **aamsel** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:59 am

Nice, but I only have interest in minimalist bags.

AMAZING how this thread is "morphing" into yet one more case/sleeve thread!!!

To get Back on topic:
Still looking forward to my X41-T

Andrew
Austin, TX

bollar · #14 Post by **bollar** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:00 pm

aamsel wrote:I spoke to Waterfield Designs today:
http://www.sfbags.com
and asked when they were going to have a SleeveCase for the X41-T.
They were not even aware of its existence.

I sent them the specs from TABOOK.PDF, and they promised to work on getting a SleeveCase for it done. When they emailed back, they had already spoken to their designer about it.

FWIW, I wrote them as well.

artuero · #15 Post by **artuero** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:09 pm

One very useful item from the tabletpcbuzz topic is that the order status link sent in the email confirming the order is incorrect, the proper link is:http://www.lenovo.com/shop/orderstatus/. You can still put in the customer and order number from the email.

I ordered W7TABLP bundle on July 5. Website had said within two weeks, order confirmation said July 26. Currently ship date is listed as "call" and the "status" is within two weeks. I called and the rep told me that Lenovo mis-estimated demand considerably and that they expect to ship now during the last week of July or the first week of August.

mweiss · #16 Post by **mweiss** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:03 pm

I would be thrilled if they actually shipped in the last week of July - first week of August. I would hazard a guess that it will be later than that.

Just ordered X41 Tablet !!

Just ordered X41 Tablet !!

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