Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
Congratulations and good for you! Give us the details. which model etc.
Please keep us updated on your use/thoughts/take on it!
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The model is in my signature (I thought I should put it in there early before you start hounding me, as you have with the Apple fans, hehe), an HP 2740p, 12.1 inch, 1280x768 resolution. Core i7, full Wacom pen functionality. My unit has no finger touch capabilities (they do have that option for the Core i5 model, but the screen is not quite as crisp).
The screen is a dream, matte with wonderful colors (reading National Geographic on it), easily visible from every angle. The main reason I decided on this unit. Text is very crisp, I read the paper on it every day, Kindle app works great. This being a unit with a keyboard and swivel type screen has a big advantage, for reading watching video I can also prop it up on my lap or a table with the screen right in front of me and the keyboard facing backwards.
Cons are weight (3.7 pounds) and battery life (for reading around 5 hours; video over WiFi 2 1/2 to 3 hours). The unit is quite thick, but for me that actually makes it more convenient to hold onto -- and I have small hands. There is an add-on battery available for this unit, a plate that just attaches to the bottom of the unit and will more than double the original battery life.
Weight is not a big issue for me since I always rest it on my chest in bed, my lap, or somewhere else for prolonged use. It gets slightly warm, but no problem to keep it on my lap for hours. It starts up very quickly.
It is a business unit, which means pricey but it also means the built quality is outstanding. Perfect finish, very high end materials. Many nice small touches like a scroll and an escape button for tablet use, browsing and e-mail without starting up Windows, 3 USB ports, an expansion slot. Spill proof keyboard. 3G is an option. Only thing I miss is an HDMI port (VGA only or DVI via the expansion base) and a gamer wouldn't be happy with the graphics.
There are cheaper options, of course, and slates without keyboard. I found them to be a little slow and can afford to buy the best, but they definitely are worthy of consideration. The Asus Slate is 2.5 pounds, only. In the end, I believe Windows is the way to go for a tablet that should do more than just the basics. Even simple things like running a newscast video in one window while browsing in another one are impossible on mobile OS's.