I`m animator who wants a Tablet PC, wich one?

[scroll_lock]

OK, I`ve searched a lot and I still can`t decide which one should I take. I`ll be using Maya and Photoshop on it and I`ll be happy to find one that have nice graphic card. So far I`ve decided that Toshiba Portege M400 is my best choice but the graphic card is integrated and I don`t know how good it is for what I`ll do with it. Any animators using tablet PC here? What you will recomend? Thanks in advance!

[schroder]

If you like the form factor of the M400 you might also want to check out the Lenovo X61T and Fujitsu 4220. They have the newer version of intel's integrated graphics chip while not as good as a dedicated video card, the are superior to the 950 chip in the M400. The only tablets with graphics cards are the Toshiba M7 (discontinued but can still be found on ebay and some 3rd party resellers) and the Gateway C140-x both of which are widescreen 14" tablets. Most modern tablets can be configured with enough RAM and power to handle toonboom, photoshop depends heavily on processor speed, RAM, and HDD speed, and Maya is like photoshop but also stresses the 3d components. Photoshop and maya are also more pleasant to work with in higher resolution. At XGA the menus and palettes occupy literally 1/3 to 1/2 the screen. 1/2 of a 12" screen is not a lot of working space and can feel cramped.

If maya is important to you I would recommend either the M7 or gateway c140. Do you do more 2d or 3d animation or are both equally important?

[t lewis]

I would suggest searching this forum and Tabletpcreview.com for posts by Shogmaster. He is, I believe, a digital art instructor in California who has used tablets extensively in the classroom. Very insightful.
t

[scroll_lock]

schroder , thank you for your informative answer! Actually after looking at the Fujitsu 4220 I very much liked it!!! But your advice about the XGA screen is bothering me... so maybe I`ll try to look at the SXGA option instead.

t lewis Thanks! I will do that right now ;)

[scroll_lock]

forgot to answer you... I mainly rig and animate.. I`ll be using it for animating in maya mainly. I much appreciate the M4220 but wonder how it will be compared to the M7 for 3d animation :\ I read that the Santa Rosa platform is actually quite good.

[schroder]

The 4220 is an excellent machine and the new santa rosa integrated graphics are probably good enough to get by with (make sure you max out the RAM). The M7 probably would end up being a wash due to slower processor speed and only a marginally better video card. The gateway would be faster but realistically not by that much I am guessing. If you like the form factor of the fujitsu I'd say you can't go wrong with that machine provided you are prepared for a) it getting warm when you make it work hard for extended periods, and b) it being expensive. If you can afford it, its definitely one of the best on the market at the moment.

schroder

[scroll_lock]

I was just about to order the 4220 but reconsidered my choice. Now I`m onto the C 140X , because of 3 things - first and foremost the dedicated graphics option, second - the 14`` screen, and third - the price! I saw the 3d Mark tests someone posted on the TabletPCReview where the 4220 has 900 points and the C 140X has 1900- wich is drastically more! For what I`ll be doing the graphics is the most important thing that I`ll need. So thanks again schroder for pointing me at this option too! :) I hope It won`t get too much delayed like everyone is saying.

[schroder]

I actually ordered a C140-X for much the same reasons. For artists ordering a tablet today, if mobility is not as important as power and usability in various art programs, it is one of the only good options. It has tremendous battery life as well for a tablet of its size and power, so the mobility is not all bad. I expect to be able to work without a power outlet for an entire workday with 2 batteries. According to the site mine should get to me sometime next week which would give me a 2.5 week order to ship time which is not too bad compared to what some of the early adopters waited.

[scroll_lock]

Cool! So.. I finished my search :) That`s what I want :) I`ll be ordering it in some days now! Thank you! I use a lot of exclamation marks too!!!