Toshiba Portege M205 (Pentium M 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD)
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"A remarkable TabletPC with a few sacrifices for portability" on by mindfull
Pros: Of course the Convertible Tablet Functions; Better screen brightness & clarity than most Tablets; A host of Toshiba "tweak" programs included; small size; very affordable if you shop around.
Cons: External optical drive (CD/DVD); Glad to see it come with 512 RAM, but I'd recommend 1GB; a slight sacrifice for speed compared to standard notebooks; learning curve (writing/recording)
Summary: I've now owned this Tablet for over a year, more than ample time to get to know it. I've been very impressed since day 1, and use my M205 on a daily basis in business situations (Real Estate Consulting) where the onscreen writing allows for quick note-taking (which becomes searchable handwriting courtesy of OneNote 2003 (included). I also can offer clients the convenience of signing contract-work onscreen in digital ink, then use the easy-to-configure WiFi to send them copies of their docs.
On the plus side, I can truly say this computer has revolutionized my business & personal life. I handle 80% less paperwork, and my files are kept in an easily accessible, compact format I carry with me nearly everywhere during business hours. OneNote helps me (especially with the MS Experience Pack, Education Pack & PowerToys that offer Screen Clipping, PrintToOneNote, ArtTools, and more...) to compile research of such diverse topics as International Real Estate investing, our kitchen remodel, emails from friends, clients, etc, and my kids artwork (either by photo or on-screen!). It's truly a great asset.
A couple caveats: "Going Tablet", which in a business setting has a lot to do with "going paperless" involves a few steps. The included hardware & software is highly customizable, and I encourage digging into the manual & the machine to "tweak" the system to suit your uses & preferences. I still discover "new' features within the suite of Toshiba apps that customize anything from internet Connection profiles to PowerManagement to AutoRotation of the screen based on how the Tablet is held.
Second caveat: You'll probably want to get familiar with "Paperless" Programs, and a critical ingredient there is PDF software, as this is the easiest way to create & share documents with or without ink annotations. There are a few "ink-aware" programs that offer some pretty broad features, including NitroPDF and others.
Finally, on the hardware strictly: (1) I'd like to see an internal CD/DVD drive, even though there's obviously a trade-off with size & weight. The included Toshiba external drive is my only real gripe with thsi computer, as it broke within 1 year of purchase (thankfully it's warranted). (2) Bluetooth should be integrated. (I purchased and installed the Bluetooth Antenna so mine's now internal & I use it often). (3) You may want to look into a portable printer and scanner. (I'm thrilled with the Epson i80 printerand the truly pen-sized Planon DocuPen R700, which scans full sheets in 4 seconds and can be used away from the computer storing up to 100 pages. (but I digress) Final hardware issue: (4) There's a protective overlay that causes a slight "haze" which for most users would be mo problem. It also adds some "tooth" when you're writing, so it's more like paper than glass... Some users at Tablet forums have found it can be removed & a 3rd-party protective cover installed, which yields a glass-clear and still protected screen. I've never deemed it necessary, but have thought about it when using low-power/low-brightness settings.
All in all, few if any Convertible Tablets could rival this one. It has a proven track record as a Model (since the M200, now ~4 years old I believe) that stands longer than many companies have even been making Tablets! Toshiba seems committed to TabletPC development, offering the Tecra & Satellite R15 models this spring (2005) as well. I've found their machines reliable, and own 2 non-Tablet Toshiba laptops as well. I hope this has been helpful & feel free to Email me if you'd like more info. Best Regards. -
"Toshbia, GAlmost Love" on by SamR80
Pros: portability, functionality.
Cons: If the screen mask is damaged Toshiba CAN NOT replace to new condition
Summary: Initially I loved this computer, it's ultra portable, and unlike some opinions I'm alright with Windows XP tablet edition. I agree that it could have more functions, but that's not where my complaint about this computer begins.
Several months after purchasing my tablet the screen mask (plastic layer convering LCD screen that you write on) was cracked in an office mishap. Toshiba replaced the part at an official repair center in Texas, during the repairs they trapped several particles of dust between the screen mask and LCD. Creating black spots on the screen that CAN NOT be removed. I have attempted to have the screen mask cleaned and even replaced and each time I take the computer to a Toshiba certified repair center, the managed to trap even more dust in the screen.
Toshiba offers no cleaning program, and to date I have not found any of their repair centers capable of repairing this minor but highly irritating defect.
Based on my experience the operating aspects of this computer are marvelous, but Toshiba can not yet adequately fix minor problems that come with regular use of a tablet.
Tablet producers need to introduce some form of cleaing program, or invent some way for owners to clean the space between the screen mask and LCD on their own. Until this happens please consider waiting a year or so before making your tablet pruchase, especially from toshiba. -
"Severely Fantastic" on by thick.as.a.brick
Pros: One Note; fast; writing surface; all included software; good wireless range; fun
Cons: glare on screen; speaker
Summary: I got this tablet yesterday and it's probably the most fun computer I've ever used. The handwriting recognition used in programs like OneNote and Journal works great but the recognition included in basic XP Tablet Edition is terrible. The wireless is great: I get at least a "very good" everywhere in my house. The scroll pad thingy on the touchpad works great. As a normal laptop, its super-mega. Battery life is nice too. just buy it right now.
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"Tablet technology isn't there yet." on by vincekboise
Pros: As good as any other tablet on the market; pretty good laptop, but not excellent
Cons: Screen is fuzzy, expecially so when not used at native resolution
Summary: I tried very hard for two months to use this machine and to learn to love it. It was a shotgun marriage.
My complaints probably relate more to the state-of-the-art (or lack thereof) of tablet technology in general:
* The user interface for handwriting recognition is not intuitive or natural. My handwriting seems to appear "under" the screen, rather than on it.
* The computer could not keep up with my handwriting when I wanted to scratch a few quick notes during phone calls
* My handwriting tends to be smaller than average -- this doesn't work at all on a tablet.
* The screen resolution is a tradeoff. While the native resolution is very high and does provide a lot of detail for tablet applications, it is too small to read comfortably for most laptop type applications. Reducing the resolution to a more comfortable level (something like 1024 x 768) results in a slightly fuzzy appearance.
* To protect the screen from scratches when using the stylus, the screen has a coating on it; again, this reduces visibility for laptop type apps.
Bottom line: not ready for prime time. -
"gotta love this one" on by viitony7
Pros: everything everyone has said and much much more
Cons: nothing really but i wish i didn't upgrade to MS xp 2 i liked the feel of the original OS
Summary: That person must have gotten a lemon because this computer is just great.
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