Hi. I am still pondering options and one that ha

gsport george · 06-22-2004, 10:01 PM

Hi. I am still pondering options and one that has caught my eye is the RM which is a rebranded Tatung B12D like the electorvaya scribbler 2000 (I think).
Has anyone got any experience of this brand? They sell quite a few to schools and universities in the UK but I cant get their website to load which is kind of worrying http://www.rm.com for an IT company and doesnt speak well of their capabilities...

Can other people try the link for me to see if I have some wierd cookie issue or something...

Thanks
G.

gsport george · 06-23-2004, 02:54 AM

Wierd... I still cant get the site to load in internet explorer but it is fine in Netscape ?!?!?!?

They have a pretty gopod range of options, you can upgrade memory, disk etc when you order, and the prices are pretty good for UK... My only worry is the basic processor speed, I would be a lot happier if I could get a 1.2 or above...

Does anyone know if you can change Centrino processors over as new ones become available? ie. am I likely to be able to upgrade the processor to a 1.2 at a later date? (I know this machine will work with a 1.2 because other Tatungs use one...)

Mr H · 06-23-2004, 03:10 AM

Hi gsport george!

Firstly, I am not sure why you cannot get the RM site to load, I visit frequently and don't have any problems with IE.

I have had an RM tablet for around 18 months now. It is the 10.4" version which is also a rebranded Tatung although I am not sure which model. I am currently in New Orleans attending a conference but am hoping to return on Friday to find a new RM 12.1" tablet waiting (as you know it is basically the same as the Electrovaya Scribbler 2000).

I too had concerns about the processor and would have preferred much more oomph. I did bump up the RAM to 768Mb though. My current RM tablet is a mobile P3 1GHz 256Mb RAM. For most uses this is just about adequate as I don't use it to do anything too fancy, however, I find that the RAM lacks more than the processor speed.

The RM version of the Scribbler 2000 doesn't come with the same battery as the 2000 as I understand it so you have to buy the extended life battery to achieve 6+ hours.

I will be able to give you more information once I have played with it for a while so watch this space or e-mail me directly.

gsport george · 06-23-2004, 07:40 AM

^^ thanks that would be great.
I have found that Pc world business do the 12.1" with a 1.2 centrino but only with the slower 30gb drive and 256Mb but at Â£1080 its pretty reasonable...
I am also wondering how feasible it would be to switch the processor for a dothan when they become available, heat should eb about the same with the smaller process etc... I know there are already threads on this but nothing I found seemed very relevant to this...

At the moment I seem to be between the 12.1 tatung variants or the Toshiba M200. The Toshiba seems to be great value for money just a little big...

G.

Jehtris · 06-23-2004, 09:25 AM

I was under the impression that most chips are sodered to the board. You couldn't change them.....

But, I've been wrong before.

Jigsaw · 06-23-2004, 10:20 AM

I'm a mature student looking for a tablet, and discovered the only way I could see their pricing was to log on to their site, I requested a log on using the link, and they replied (several days later) that log ons were for customers only. If I wanted to become a customer I could place an order via the website, they would credit check me and see if they wanted to sell the tablet to me, if they did they would set up a log on for me!!

So to find out the price I have to buy it, but having bought it I know the price so I don't need to log on to find the price (IYSWIM)

My conclusion is that RM want to sell multiple devices to schools and don't want to bother with individuals.

I replied to RM that in the 3 days I had waited for their reply Motion had put me in touch with a reseller, who arranged to meet and offered me a loan machine for a week!

Not sure if this helps but I feel better having vented my frustration :D

Good Luck,

Gordon

alexb · 06-24-2004, 12:06 AM

I am not sure if you were aware that the Motion range of Tablet PC's can be purchased via Ergo Computing UK Ltd for the UK Education market.
Ergo has been supplying a range of models into UK LEA's, Schools, Colleges and Universities and therefore you may wish to take a look at our website www.ergo.co.uk
Anyone wishing to see our specific Education pricing for the current range can contact me at alexb@ergo.co.uk or call 0115 9144 158 and I will be only too happy to help (whether you are after 1 or 100 !).
Look forward to hearing from you all further.

Regards

Alex Ball
HE/FE Business Development Manager
Ergo Computing UK Ltd

gsport george · 06-24-2004, 12:13 AM

I finally coaxed IE into opening the site but it was much slower than under Netscape... I guess I need to reinstall IE again... funny that it is only their site where I have had this problem.

I did ring and e.mail RM though and got swift responses so far.

I also e.mailed Motion and am looking at them as well but havent got any prices yet... Is the Motion also a Tatung based machine?

:-)

Jehtris · 06-24-2004, 02:23 AM

no, it's a Motion machine.

www.motioncomputing.com

Jigsaw · 06-24-2004, 06:13 AM

Alexb: Thanks Ergo are the reseller I refered to :-)

I'm been exchanging e-mails with Julie, and now have a loan machine booked for next month, and I've arranged with Ian to give me a call when he knows when he's going to be in the area next.

From where I'm at right now the biggest decision is if I wait to see how long it will take for the 1400 VA to reach our shores!

Having cleared up an initial misunderstanding the response from Motion UK and Ergo has been great (and far better than the response from RM, I now know why they are loosing a lot of ground on their key area of education.)

Cheers,

Gordon