Tablet PC For College

[Holu]

Hello!

I will be entering Engineering School (computer engineering) this fall, and they have "reccomended" that we get Tablet PC's for a few of our classes. It will be required next year, but basically for this year they will let you use theirs only in class.

They have, however, reccomended a laptop to purchase, and we can get them at lowered prices (supposedly).

Could anyone comment on the decent-ness of this laptop in the respects both to its power and to its tablet abilities, as well as its price? (AKA Can I get better for that price, or should I just use theirs<Hey, parents will be paying for it, so I dont mind having one of my own ^_^>.)

Thanks!
Heres the copy-paste of the stats. (Or, for more organized viewing, go to https://www.accentsystems.com/UofL/ and click on the blue link where the name of the laptop is ^_^.)
Price is $1,399.00, shipping is free.

HP Compaq Tablet PC tc4400

Product Description


HP Compaq Tablet PC tc4400 - Core Duo T2500 2 GHz - 12.1" TFT

Dimensions (WxDxH)


11.2 in x 9.3 in x 1.3 in

Weight


4.6 lbs

Localization


English / United States

Platform Technology


Intel Centrino Duo

System Type


Tablet PC - convertible

Built-in Devices


Speaker, wireless LAN antenna, Bluetooth antenna

Embedded Security


Fingerprint reader

Processor


Intel Core Duo T2500 2 GHz ( Dual-Core )

Cache Memory


2 MB - L2 cache

RAM


512 MB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz

Card Reader


Yes

Hard Drive


60 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm

Display


12.1" TFT active matrix 1024 x 768 ( XGA ) - up to 16.2 million colors

Graphics Controller


Intel GMA 950

Audio Output


Sound card

Telecom


Fax / modem - MDC - 56 Kbps

Networking


Network adapter - PCI Express x1 - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR

Wireless NIC


Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

Input Device


Keyboard, digitizer, touchpad, pointing stick, digital pen

Power


AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

Battery


Lithium ion

Operating System


Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

Manufacturer Warranty


3 years warranty
General

Platform Technology


Intel Centrino Duo

System Type


Tablet PC - convertible

Built-in Devices


Speaker, wireless LAN antenna, Bluetooth antenna

Embedded Security


Fingerprint reader

Width


11.2 in

Depth


9.3 in

Height


1.3 in

Weight


4.6 lbs

Localization


English / United States
Processor

Processor


Intel Core Duo T2500 2 GHz ( Dual-Core )

Data Bus Speed


667 MHz

Features


Enhanced SpeedStep technology, power-optimized processor system bus, Execute Disable Bit capability, Intel Virtualization Technology

Chipset Type


Mobile Intel 945GM Express
Cache Memory

Type


L2 cache

Installed Size


2 MB
RAM

Installed Size


512 MB / 4 GB (max)

Technology


DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz
Storage Controller

Type


Serial ATA
Storage

Hard Drive


60 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Card Reader

Type


Card reader

Supported Flash Memory Cards


SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
Display

Display Type


12.1" TFT active matrix

Max Resolution


1024 x 768 ( XGA )

Widescreen Display


No

Color Support


Up to 16.2 million colors

Features


Ambient light sensor
Video

Graphics Processor / Vendor


Intel GMA 950

Video Memory


Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0

Max Allocated RAM Size


128 MB

Max Resolution (external)


2048 x 1536 / 32-bit color
Audio

Audio Output


Sound card

Audio Codec


AD1981HD

Compliant Standards


Sound Blaster Pro

Features


High Definition Audio

Audio Input


Microphone
Input Device(s)

Type


Keyboard, digitizer, touchpad, pointing stick, digital pen
Telecom

Modem


Fax / modem - MDC

Max Transfer Rate


56 Kbps

Protocols & Specifications


ITU V.21, Bell 212A, ITU V.22, ITU V.22bis, ITU V.29, ITU V.32, ITU V.32bis, ITU V.34, ITU V.17, ITU V.23, ITU V.27ter, Bell 103J, ITU V.8, ITU V.92, ITU T.30, ITU T.4, ITU V.250, ITU V.251, ITU V.80

Fax Compatibility


G3
Networking

Networking


Network adapter - PCI Express x1

Wireless NIC


Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

Data Link Protocol


Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR

Bluetooth Class


Class 2

Remote Management Protocol


SNMP

Compliant Standards


IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3U, IEEE 802.3i, IEEE 802.3z, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.11g, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, Bluetooth 2.0
Expansion / Connectivity

Expansion Slots Total (Free)


2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card

Interfaces


2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A
1 x PoweredUSB 2.0 - 4 pin USB Type A
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x display / video - S-video output
1 x microphone - input - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
1 x infrared - IrDA
1 x docking / port replicator
1 x battery
Miscellaneous

Features


Locking device keyhole, system password, power-on password, DriveLock, ownership tag, memory change alert, HP ProtectTools Embedded Security, Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

Compliant Standards


CE, CSA, UL, BSMI, GOST, EPA Energy Star, GS, SABS, SASO, CCC, MIC
Power

Power Device


External

Voltage Required


AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery

Technology


6-cell lithium ion

Installed Qty


1

Capacity


5100 mAh
Operating System / Software

OS Provided


Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

Software


Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD 5, HP ProtectTools Security Manager, HP Help and Support, HP One-Touch Button, HP Mobile Print Driver, HP Wireless Assistant, HP Qmenu, HP Tablet PC Tour, Norton Internet Security (60 days subscription), HP OpenView Radia Management Solutions
Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support


3 years warranty

Service & Support Details


Limited warranty - parts and labor - 3 years
Limited warranty - battery - 1 year
Limited warranty - stylus - 1 year
Environmental Parameters

Min Operating Temperature


32 °F

Max Operating Temperature


95 °F

Humidity Range Operating


10 - 90%

Shock Tolerance


125 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse (operating) / 200 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse (non-operating)

Vibration Tolerance


0.75 g @ RMS (random) (operating) / 1.5 g @ RMS (random) (non-operating)

 

[Dangman]

It's $100 cheaper from your school then from HPshopping.com.

I say it's a good deal. But if you are willing to take a drop in CPU power, then this laptop is a good deal:

http://gateway.com/products/GConfig/proddetails.asp?system_id=cx210x&seg=hm&clv=Img

Remove the Gateway suggested items and the CX210X would be the same price as that HP your school is offering. However, the CX210X has a 1GB of Ram and an 80GB hard drive.

 

[zandor]

I don't really like the screen on that machine and it really needs some more ram. 12.1" and 1024x768 just seems too runty. If you're ok with that, might as well take the deal & just add some memory. Edu discounts are great. Makes me miss working for a University.
There are a couple other Core Duo tablets out there with larger screens and (sometimes) discrete graphics. One is the Gateway CX210X. 14", 1280x768. It can also be equipped with Radeon X1400 graphics or Intel 950 integrated.
Toshiba also has some 14" widescreen tablets. Thier screens are better- 1440x900. They've got basically 2 models- the Tecra M7 and Satellite R20/R25. The Tecra's a bit more expensive & offers an optional Quadro NVS 110M graphics card. The Satellites just use the Intel 950 integrated.
All three of these are going to cost a few hundred bucks more than that HP once you add a 3 year warranty. I should also mention they weigh more... 5.9+ lbs for the Toshibas and more for the Gateway.

 

[devilraydave]

the price of the gateway at office depot was just reduced to $1099.99. It has the x1400 video card. This price was in Tampa, Fl.

 

[minc3d]

Dont know about you, but a lot of people at my university like this notebook:

Thinkpad X41 Tablet by Lenovo

Most universities sell them as they are quite "hot" units from what they say.