I have limited my tablet choices to the above 2

[JohnE]

I have limited my tablet choices to the above 2 computers. In reading through the posts it seems like there are some major concerns people have with the Gateway with respect to quality, tech support and the lack of a Wacom digitizer. However, the Gateway is less expensive than the Toshiba. I would be interested in hearing about the final conclusion IF YOU HAD TO DO IT OVER AGAIN WOULD YOU BUY THE GATEWAY CX200X OR DO YOU WISH YOU HAD BOUGHT SOMETHING ELSE?

Thanks in advance for your help in chosing a computer

John E

[stepto]

I narrowed it down to the same two. Very happy with the Gateway so far. Better processor, more memory, better graphics chip (note that the geforce 6200 in the m4 is a 6200TE and is underclocked by 30% because Toshiba couldn't figure out how to cool the chip, same with the optional 6600TE) There's NO crapware on the Gateway, and it seems to require far far far fewer utilities at run time than the Toshiba. (omg so tired of 38 toshiba utilities just to make the basic buttons work on the unit)

Downsides are that it's larger, heavier, doesn't have a wacom digitizer, is a brand new design so some people have run into buggy issues.

But also consider what you are buying it for. For mine, I wanted it for 50% office/tablet work, 25% movie watching on planes, 25% video game playing on the road. For that set of usage, the Gatweway is the far better deal. If you don't care about games then the crippled geforce on the Toshiba wont bother you at all, and you might prefer the options that the wacom digitizer has and the square screen on the Toshiba.

For what it's worth I have a friend who has an m4 and he is very happy with the purchase. I think you will do well with either one if you just consider what it is you plan to use it for as the primary guide in evaluating the capabilities.

It's not a bad place to be, you have a choice between two really good tablets. Good luck to you!

S.

[Big Wes]

I think they are both fine machines. I have the CX200S (the Celeron-based version) and I've been pretty happy with it so far. I really like the widescreen in tablet mode. It's kind of like using a slighty narrow piece of legal-sized paper. The machine has great battery life (even my Celeron gets 4 plus hours), and because of the 5400 rpm SATA hard drive and 533mhz DDR2 memory, is quite snappy too. I also really like the feel of the keyboard.

The negatives are that the inital set of styli released by Gateway have a few bugs, but GW is replacing them for free. Also, the machine runs a little warm, but not unbearably so. Finally, the primary battery has a rubberized "hump" that elevates the rear of the unit by about an inch. This is pretty nice in primary landscape orientation or using the keyboard. However, in portrait tablet mode, it causes the screen to slant to one side, which while its not that big of a problem, it can be annoying. I would recommend this machine to others if they weren't serious artists but instead looking for a solid tablet for notetaking, etc.

Toshiba makes fine computers, and I'd say that their Tablets are quality as well. I used a Satellite notebook HEAVILY for my first 3 1/2 years of college and it's still kicking and the battery holds a good charge. Perhaps you could go to Best Buy and look at the CX2610 (brick and mortar version of the CX200)to see if it would meet your needs.

Good luck and let us know what you choose!

[DrJerry]

I have both machines: a Gateway cx2610 with 2GB RAM and a Tecra M4 (2.13, 2GB RAM, 80GB HDD, bluetooth, 128MB RAM). I actually use the Gateway more ofen since I purchased it.
The Gateway is no match in the power area...the M4 can blow it into the weeds. Resolution is great...screen is nice and the wacom screen is also nice.
The Gateway has a great keyboard and I really like the widescreen.
I don't think you can go wrong with either system...depends on what you prefer and your primary purpose in it's use.

[Mindfull1]

So why is it that you find yourself using the Gateway more, Jerry? Just curious, as I considered the Tecra as well...
Thx.

quote:Originally posted by DrJerry

I have both machines: a Gateway cx2610 with 2GB RAM and a Tecra M4 (2.13, 2GB RAM, 80GB HDD, bluetooth, 128MB RAM). I actually use the Gateway more ofen since I purchased it.
The Gateway is no match in the power area...the M4 can blow it into the weeds. Resolution is great...screen is nice and the wacom screen is also nice.
The Gateway has a great keyboard and I really like the widescreen.
I don't think you can go wrong with either system...depends on what you prefer and your primary purpose in it's use.

[DrJerry]

Hi Mindfull...
I like the widescreen of the Gateway.I also think the keyboard has better feel to it. The Gateway is also more visually appealing...and I like the rubber coating on the battery grip. It is a snappy performer with 2GB of RAM and works for 80% of all that I do with a tablet.
For the hard core computing (Flash, Dreamweaver, Coldfusion, SPSS, etc) where I need the additional power and screen resolution...I switch to the M4.
Weight wise...they are about the same. The Gateway has better battery life..mainly due to the slower processor.
Since I don't play Picasso with my tablet...I am not concerned about the Wacom - Finepoint comparison issues...either oen works fine for what I use the systems for.
Overall...you can't go wrong with either system...the Gateway is great for most computing needs...the M4 with increased resolution and Wacom pressure sensitivity in Photoshop for the Picassos among us...and the new 100 GB SATA drive option is also very nice.

[Mindfull1]

Many thanks for the reply. Great insights & make me happy I picked the CX200X. I'll likely add another 1GB of RAM, for after my installation of all programs...
Thx again!
M99