Upgrading TC1100... is it worth it?

[tc1100fan]

I've got the base model TC1100 with the 1000ghz Centrino and the 256m ram.

I could swear it used to be faster. I mean, I don't think I'm using any different programs, but I used to be able to easily resume from standby, and also take notes in class without struggling with my tablet. I used to love using it, now it's nearing unpleasant.

Now it seems like it's just fighting to keep up.

Now maybe a RAM upgrade from the paltry 256 would help things. But how much would it help things?

And furthermore, on a recent trip the tablet fell out of my bag at the airport when I was trying to take it out for security. Now the digitizer is just a little off, like it's deeper or shallower than it should be, so the pen works, but sometimes accidentally recognizes a press when it's being held above the glass, or sometimes doesn't recognize a press when I'm pressing like mad. I've thought about opening it up and trying to fix it, but then I could be completely up a creek and end up with no tablet at all.

Before I do that, I was wondering just how much a full RAM upgrade, to 2 gb, enhances performance? If it really does a number, then I'd give some thought to breaking it open. It's not like I have any warranty left, I got it long enough ago.

Otherwise I guess I'll just be looking to move on.

Thanks in advance for any advice! It means a lot!

[edit:] I edited this thing and it took a solid 30 seconds for IE to respond to the click of the edit button :(

[WNewquay]

I've got the base model TC1100 with the 1000ghz Centrino and the 256m ram.


Normally I would suggest adding a gigabyte of ram. You can do this by removing a couple of screws and inserting the memory. Maybe all of a minute or three. Since there is only one memory slot free, I generally go for as big as the machine will support. To get to the other memory slot you have to pretty much take the machine all apart.

BUT

In your case, if you have been getting along (sort of) with 256, you would probably see a big improvement with adding 512 megs of ram. The difference besides 512 megs more if you go with 1 gig... at least around here - about $75-90. That is, people are dumping 512 meg memory parts for $15-25 and (local craigslist) and buying 1 gig memory for $90+ new because it doesn't come up used very often. So if you wanted to see what a little extra memory would do for you, should be able to pick up 512 megs cheep and find out.

It really depends on what you are doing with the machine - but unless you are thinking of some serious multitasking - I don't know. I expect you'd see an appreciable difference adding 512 to go from 256 to 768, and something less dramatic going from 768 to 1.2 gigs.

I don't know what to tell you about the screen, but this is partly why I'm going 'conservative' on the memory.

[tc1100fan]

Thanks for the advice, yea $15-25 for a used 512 stick is certainly a great way to test the waters! And hey if I decide against it, I can always re-sell it!

I'll need the ink eventually, though. My most-used program is GoBinder from Agilix. Sure I can use the keyboard, but the pointing stick gets a little annoying for navigating those tiny tabs!

But yea, I'll pick up 512 and see if it's worth me trying to fix the digitizer, or even get it fixed (although from reading some other posts in here, getting TC1100 fixed for anything seems to be a painful experience!

I do love it, though. Here's hoping HP eventually puts out a new one, or someone else comes up with something as good!

[bmhome1]

If you haven't defragmented the drive in a long time, that also can have huge performance benefit. How much free space is left on drive? Once below 20% speed drag looms.

[tc1100fan]

I did defragment a reasonably short time ago, but I never realized about the 20% thing. I'm definitely sub-20%. That's probably good news then.

[bmhome1]

10% free disk space is widely considered gambling against irreprerable data corruption. 20% free space ensures that all new files are written scattered across the segments open. The larger the file, the worse the impact handling data in many small pieces both opening and writing.

Be careful attempting defragging a drive nearly filled. Free space is needed to ensure good out come. Clear out as much large files onto another media first.

[BigI]

For less than a $100 you can put in a 5400rpm 80Gig drive increasing some of the performance and more space to work with. Use Acronis Image to copy the disk super easy. I have seen the 1gig ram as cheap as $20 so look arround. That's all the upgrades you can do to the TC.

[bmhome1]

Top quality and great prices:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145068

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=100528-1


1GB RAM and 7200rpm drive both add SIGNIFICANT overall speed benefits.

[tc1100fan]

Aw man, I just read in the software forum about how GoBinder is no longer being developed :( That's absolutely tragic, and OneNote is such an awful bear on this thing I'm thinking moving on to a newer system would be more prudent.

This is what I get for not keeping track of the world of technology for a few years :(

[ruirib]

OneNote needs a lot of memory. If you buy at least a 1GB RAM OneNote will work much better.