Buying a tablet

[bsemaiktehr]

I just graduated from high school, and I'm off to VA Tech next year. I will be the class of 2010, and an engineer - mine will be the first class required to purchase Tablet PC's instead of standard laptops (major ouch in the wallet department).

That said, I am still willing to spend plenty to get what I need. ~$3000 if necessary...

I am shooting for a little above the University-specified minimum requirements.

Specs I'm looking for:

2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
2 GB Memory
80 GB HDD (preferably 7200rpm)
128 MB discrete Video (i.e. some sort of mobility Radeon or something - just not integrated)
802.11 Wireless and 10/100/1000 Ethernet
3 Year Warranty

I have not yet found any builds that met all the above specifications. The biggest issue I'm having is finding the 128 mb of video memory.

If anyone can help me find a vendor that can throw that together, I'd be most grateful for the heads-up!

Thanks, Tory

[glc]

If you are looking for discrete video for the purpose of turning it into a gamer, it ain't gonna happen with a tablet. Bring a desktop with you if you need a gamer.

[bsemaiktehr]

It's not for gaming purposes - I'm going to be using some very high-end CAD and drafting programs. I was just wondering if there is a tablet out there with 128 mb discrete graphics.

[Panama Red]

Take a look at the Toshiba Tecra M4. It has 128Mb discrete graphics and you can customize your choice of cpu, memory capacity, hdd, and CD/DVD drive. It also comes standard with the 14.1" screen. Here's a link to the Customize page. The graphics info is listed on a separate specs page.

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...08U015&seg=HHO

Click the Detailed Specs link on this page for the Tecra M4

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...tpcfam&seg=HHO

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by Panama Red Take a look at the Toshiba Tecra M4. It has 128Mb discrete graphics and you can customize your choice of cpu, memory capacity, hdd, and CD/DVD drive. It also comes standard with the 14.1" screen. Here's a link to the Customize page. The graphics info is listed on a separate specs page. http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...08U015&seg=HHO Click the Detailed Specs link on this page for the Tecra M4 http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...tpcfam&seg=HHO

I can vouch for Toshiba Tablets. I use the Pentium-M Dothan Protege M200, and it's a fairly decent laptop. One of the major shortcomings with any tablet is that it's naturally flimsy, though it's leaps and bounds better than what Toshiba used to sell. That said, while Tablets are great for general work, it's not very good for gaming. I suggest looking at normal all-purpose laptops instead of tablets if that is your aim.

kram

[bsemaiktehr]

Yeah - that one looks great - except its not a Dual Core... I want to get a dual core CPU (Intel Core Duo) unless you guys think its not worth it.

[Panama Red]

It looks to me like the Core Duo processors all use integrated graphics and the smaller 12.1" screen, regardless of manufacturer. I've looked at Dell, Gateway, HP and Toshiba and they all configure that way. The only one I see with discrete graphics, 7200 rpm sata hdd and the features I mentioned is the one I linked. That doesn't mean they aren't out there. It only means I can't find them. Possibly thefultonhow may be of more assistance. He is well versed in the mobile pc field.

[thefultonhow]

The problem is that most tablets are designed for portability, not power. So they're built in a similar fashion to ultraportable laptops -- relatively low processing power and small screens. It's fairly rare that you find a tablet with any form of dedicated graphics, let alone a high-end chip. There's the additional problem that tablets have been somewhat of a dud in the marketplace, so tablet-makers are concentrating on their core market of ultraportable type tablets.

That's not to say that they won't eventually come out with a Core Duo tablet with high-end graphics. But I don't think it's that likely -- and I'm almost certain one hasn't even been announced yet.

[glc]

Looks like right now, you have to settle for either a single core (Pentium-M) or integrated graphics. The Intel GMA 950 is actually fairly decent, it can handle Autocad pretty well.

Examples are both Toshiba - the Tecra M4 as already mentioned, or the Portege M400.

[bsemaiktehr]

Great advice guys - I really appreciate it. I think I'm leaning towards the Tecra M4.