[pandahead]

My current laptop is now 4 years old, and is rapidly deteriorating. It can barely run Office 2007 programs at the same time as Itunes, and the number of corrupted sectors on the hard-drive is increasing geometrically. Ergo, I need a new one.

I've been looking at an HP Tablet. Specifically, a member of the TX2500 series, link to follow. I've chosen this series for a number of reasons, not least of which is my current status as a Student. I'm studying engineering, so drawing and manipulation of diagrams and structures is important, and a Tablet will allow me to make notes with a keyboard, then sketch diagrams as needed.

What does Juice advise? Should I give up on my dreams of a tablet powerful enough to run programs (games) at roughly-desktop level and still be a useful tablet for engineering, and get a high-end laptop?

HP TX2500 series laptops - http://h41306.www4.hp.com/section?SI...23&secid=79974

Excuse link complexity, I thought tinyurl might be an issue, in case I was linking to unpleasant sites.

[4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie]

I'd say it would depend whats more important to you, if you're dedicated to your coursework etc. then you won't need to fork out millions of pounds for nVidias most expensive graphics card, however I presume you'll need a pretty decent one for running 3D models etc.

But really, its user-choice, if you want to watch HD movies and play the most powerhungry games, then yes, get a more expensive dedicated laptop, but if you veer more towards you're work, you'll get a butter studying experience, and save some cash.

Personally my top option would be two. I'd ideally have a laptop for working/studying with, and a desktop for anything else, but then the issues money.

[thingie2]

I can't rememebr seeing this post before, so sorry for the late reply. I would say the same as 4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie mainly, if it's newer games you wanting playing on the tablet, it's not going to happen, tablets are made for drawing etc. Yes you can get quite good ones, but they won't be anything like a PC. But then again, if you get a high end laptop, it still won't be the same as a desktop. Personally what I'm planning to do (hopefully starting Uni in a year's time) is get a good PC bought (around december ish when new CPU's come out) then get a cheap (ish) tablet for working on, as I'm also hoping to do an engineering course.

[tomthedrummer1992]

Are you still in the hunt for a tablet? If so what about here? http://tinyurl.com/3mq78n

[pandahead]

Originally Posted by tomthedrummer1992

Are you still in the hunt for a tablet? If so what about here? http://tinyurl.com/3mq78n

+1 humour, -10 helpful :P But just what I needed today, thanks.

Thanks those who've responded. Not playing new (post 2007) games, I do have a monstrous desktop for that, but simply running older games that I like to use to while away the long hours between finding something useful to do.

[EDIT] That's why I avoid tinyurls :P

[tomthedrummer1992]

On a more helpful note, and I expect I will get shot down for this, but have you considered a mac?

I got one in the states and I love mine! Very fast and great for doing lots of drawing/CAD work. And with the utility that comes with a mac called bootcamp, you can install XP on a completely seperate partition which you can boot into as and when you need to if you wish to play games.

To use bootcamp you do need your own version of XP though. I also find that my mac runs XP better than my windows laptop in some ways! (Although the laptop is very old whereas the macbook isn't).

[pandahead]

I have actually considered a mac, against all instinct and better judgement. Thing is, I know how to get XP and Vista running exactly as I want to, smooth as can be... most of the time, and I resort to Kubuntu when all else goes wahoonie shaped.
I don't have the time at the moment to learn how to get a completely new OS dancing to my tune, and I likely won't have said time for a good long while. As it stands, making the move to standalone vista will be scary enough, I'm used to swapping OSs on virtual machines to correct mistakes.

[tomthedrummer1992]

Fairy snuff but I would stil highly reommend a mac. The battery is far superior to any windows laptop I have seen before - I can get about 5 hours out of mine.

They also resume from standby A LOT quicker.

[thingie2]

But from what I have seen there aren't any Mac Tablets, I might be wrong but just from what I can remember. And as you aren't playing any games from after 07, a standard Laptop/reasonably good tablet should do fine. they won't play as well as a top end desktop, but nothing will, which is why people still use desktops.

[pandahead]

I Hibernate, no standby power wasting for me :) And I have a cool little app on this laptop which considerably increases battery life. Can 'port it to another laptop with ease and a little tinkering. This laptop is 4 years old, and I still get about 4 hours out of the battery when I'm just browsing the 'net.