The Slate really exists!

[island911]

Cool.

Originally Posted by red-beard

... Again, an Ipad is needed for comparison.

meh, why not just use an iphone for comparison?

I mean, the ipad and droid tabs are just punny phone OS's. ...The Slate is a stand-alone computer, whereas the Droid/ipads rely on a mainframe, so to speak. ...in fact, speaking (speech to text) is one of those things the Slate can handle on-board, where the pads/tabs have to send it off to a mainframe for processing. Same for navigation.

So how do you like the size and weight?

[enzo1]

I'm happy for you ,RED have fun with ur new gadget...

[rhogg]

I have used tablets for 6 years. The HWR in win 7 is the best so far. Good enough that I do not use the TIP but write directly into OneNote.

I am interested in the Slate, curious if the atom processor is enough to power a windows machine. I went on-line to buy one but in Canada it is nonexistent. So I bought a windows phone instead. I do expect to retire my Lenovo soon and replace it with a Win 7 tablet. For me pen input is essential.

Good luck with the Slate. My first tablet was an HP4200 and it was an excellent machine (and still working).

[9dreizig]

I ordered mine yesterday

[jyl]

Can you HWR directly in the applications? E.g. If in a Word doc can you cross out text and write in new text, ditto if in Outlook writing an email?

Apples hatred of HWR means they don't offer it nor can third parties integrate HWR into the native iPhone apps.

[island911]

Originally Posted by rhogg

I have used tablets for 6 years. The HWR in win 7 is the best so far. Good enough that I do not use the TIP but write directly into OneNote.
.

"Journal" is another app, but I don't believe that Mail or Word have the direct writing. ...which, oddly, does work in Windows mobile ... but not with "Phone 7"

input with voice to text works well in Word or email.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by island911

the ipad and droid tabs are just punny phone OS's.

Phones with better spell checkers than Windoze, apparently.

The Slate is a stand-alone computer, whereas the Droid/ipads rely on a mainframe, so to speak.

Mainframe?! What millenium are you in?

Posted from my rooted Nook Color using Dolphin HD.

[jyl]

Why doesn't HWR work directly in the applications? Or, why doesn't MSFT provide that feature?

It seems a pain to use a separate input app.

I don't recall my Newton well anymore, but seems I could write directly on a document.

Basically, it should be as close as possible to using a paper pad. Cross out a word to delete, insert mark and write a word to insert.

[red-beard]

Over the next couple of days, I'm going to load my full work programs on it: Quickbooks, Adobe Acrobat, MS Office 2003, etc. That will give me a full test.

As far as size, it is a bit smaller than my net book screen, and about 1/2 the weight. It is over a pound, which was heavier than I thought it would be. But it is actually fine. It feels substantial in my hands, not flimsy.

It easily slips into my portfolio, much better than my netbook. The touch screen is a better interface than the touch pad. For portability, the touchscreen is better than a mouse. I like the stylus.

I need to install a few print drivers as well, as one thing I do offsite is tag materials for shipments. Sometimes I need to fix the tags. This should be pretty easy. I connected a mini bluetooth keyboard to the unit. Worked well. I just hooked up an old bluetooth mouse. Both work at the same time. I will probably look for a slightly better Bluetooth KB.

So it can be a mini-netbook or a pure slate. Nice.

And to the question on the processor capability.

On the "Windows Experience" tabs, it shows the following score:

Processor: 2.7
Memory: 4.4
Graphics: 4.4
Gaming graphics: 2.5
Hard Drive: 5.3

My high power desktop is:
Processor: 7.4
Memory: 7.4
Graphics: 7.4
Gaming graphics: 7.4
Hard Drive: 5.9

For the Slate, here are the specs:

Processor Atom Z540 1.86 (Dual Core!)
RAM 2.0 GB
OS - Win 7 Pro 32bit

I'd prefer more RAM, but I expect it will work fine. Seems OK so far.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

Why doesn't HWR work directly in the applications? Or, why doesn't MSFT provide that feature?

It seems a pain to use a separate input app.

I don't recall my Newton well anymore, but seems I could write directly on a document.

Basically, it should be as close as possible to using a paper pad. Cross out a word to delete, insert mark and write a word to insert.

I miss my Newtons.

[red-beard]

OK, just to see what would happen, I took an old 100MB/s USB ethernet connector and added it to the base station on one of the ports. Internet is very fast (16MB/s). This thing rocks as a small mini PC!

It will connect and disconnect from the stuff as you pull it out of the base, without having to do anything. So work as a mini-PC, pick it up and use as a tablet. I really like this.

Network drives are now connected. Now I can start loading serious software. I also need to find a 32GB SDHC card for more disk space. It has 45GB free, but I expect to lose a bit with loading the software.

[island911]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

...Mainframe?! What millenium are you in?

Posted from my rooted Nook Color using Dolphin HD.

My point exactly. So many new devices are like going back in time. --they rely on a big computer somewhere else to do the heavy lifting. Certainly, the masses are okay with having complete dependence on a monthly subscription for their devices to fully work. ...But some of us are not.

Posted from my old (circa 2006) windoz mini tablet. ...yeah, 1.5_lbs, LED backlit 7" screen, SSD, bt, USB/LAN/RGB/SD connectivity, never a problem running flash. . . bla bla bla...

[jyl]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I miss my Newtons.

take iPhone

wrap in Newton case

Apple Newton iPhone Case | Geeky Gadgets

Load Newton emulator

The Circle is Complete: A Newton Emulator for the iPhone | Cult of Mac

Voila!

[island911]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

And for $250 I have a rooted B&N Nook Color...surfs the web just fine (and I can play Angry Birds, too!).

That does look like a very nice piece of hardware. --great physical form and screen performance. But, it's at the bottom end, for performance/features. Great price/performance, but still, not that much memory or processor speed. ..and no 3G, or GPS or Bluetooth.

Come to think of it, the Slate doesn't have GPS either. :-/

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by island911

That does look like a very nice piece of hardware. --great physical form and screen performance. But, it's at the bottom end, for performance/features. Great price/performance, but still, not that much memory or processor speed. ..and no 3G, or GPS or Bluetooth.

Come to think of it, the Slate doesn't have GPS either. :-/

The Bluetooth is the only thing I'll really miss. It's too big for use as either a location-aware device (GPS) or a cellphone (3G). I'd like to be able to connect a BT keyboard and mouse but I can make do without.

Posted from my work laptop, an HP 8510w that typically runs slower than a Speak 'n' Spell.

[jyl]

I played with a Samsung Galaxy Tab today. Pretty nice device. Ran Google Earth fast, fluidly, can flick and twirl the world around with multiple fingers with no choppiness or delay. I need to check out that device some more - it is a nice size for carrying around in a coat pocket.

[red-beard]

I'm using MINE in the car Right now. It is Great for reviewing email and surfing.. I'm using my 3g phone to connect. H W recognition is pretty good if gave have decent cursive HW.

the on screen keyboard is faster

i've loaded office 2003 and MS Live. I need to load Quickbooks and Adobe Acrobat. power point looks really good.

my bluetooth keyboard arrived today. I'll know in a bit how it works.

[RWebb]

did you ever find a local Ipadder to compare notes with?

[red-beard]

Not yet. But the fault is my complete lack of time...Notice my low post count recently...

[red-beard]

Oh yeah, the bluetooth keyboard is here. I can't use it, since the wife doesn't know I have this yet...

She will forget all when Christmas comes around...