HP Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 (TM5800 1 GHz - 10.4" TFT)

Summary: Purchased the TC1000 in April 03; returned it in May Overall, I loved the design, look and feel of TC1000. The machine felt solid (except the hinge: explained further down in this review), sharp and stylish, and the full-sized stylus was a key feature. The key problem was performance. I had read the reviews and complaints regarding performance, but still figured it was worth trying it out. Even with an additional 256MB of ram, I found that running the Media player with another application (MS Word, EXCEL or IE) put the machine in conniptions and left me very frustrated and thinking back to the days of Pentium I. Despite the great battery time, I was dissapointed in the Transmeta chip and found the experience to be unworkable in a multi-tasking environment. Another issue I had with the machine was the weak hinge between the tablet and the keyboard. Unless you are on a very stable surface, the tablet/display portion would bounce a little bit when you type, quickly inducing eye-strain after a few minutes use. This make it very difficult to use the TC1000 in laptop mode on your lap, on a plane, train or car. It also made me worry that in a year or two, the hinge would not be able to support the tablet portion. For those thinking of this machine, I would recommend waiting a while to see if Compaq comes up with a Centrino or Pentium Mobile solution. The tempered glass surface, great form factor, solid overall feel, nice side-buttons all makes this hands-down the best designed machine, but the inept performance makes the machine a frustrating experience for users who are used to machines that can handle the demands of a multi-tasking work environment.