Didgtal Sketchbook

**ethanhurd** · 08-10-2011, 01:16 PM

I'm thinking about getting the Lenovo ThinkPad Slate. It's not out yet, so it's been tough finding reviews. But it looks like my best option so far. I'm looking for a tablet mainly for drawing on. I'm looking at it as a digital sketchbook. I see it's a Windows 7 Android, does that mean I can load any windows software I want onto it (such as photoshop)?

I bought a Toshiba M4 about six years ago. I was hoping that it could be a digital sketchbook. But the M4 is too hot and heavy, I've been through 6 motherboards,the graphics card keeps melting. At this point it's basically a desktop PC. So I'm looking to upgrade. I'd really like to upgrade to something that was more iPad like in the ability to carry it around.

For my job I need to be able to run flash, have a webcam and connect to the internet directly (though a wire). I figured out that I can use a USB adapter to plug into a router. The lack of flash and a pen has kept me away from the iPad.

The only other computer I've been considering is the Asus EEE Slate, but the price and the battery life has kept me away.

Any thoughts or advice anyone has would be helpful

**Michelle Mastin** · 08-10-2011, 05:44 PM

Lenovo is coming out with three slate tablets - the Android IdeaPad is already out. There is another one known as the ThinkPad Tablet that will run Android Honeybomb and have n-trig's digital pen as an option. This one is coming out near the end of August. I'm not sure how well it would work with drawing apps, but I'm pretty sure there are some decent apps for Android. But this one will not run Windows programs.

There is a third slate coming later that will run Windows 7. There's really not much information available about this one yet.

If you'd like a windows slate - have you looked at the Fujitsu Q550? The size, weight, and batter life are in line with what you're looking for. Potential drawbacks to that one would be that the Oaktrail processor is weak and the n-trig digitizer may not work as well with photoshop.

The EEE slate would definitely be a great portable photoshop machine, but like you mentioned, the battery life is not so good.

**ethanhurd** · 08-11-2011, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the info Michelle, that helps a lot. I've been looking at the IdeaPad, I like the way it looks, but I assume it doesn't work with a pen. The pen is a deal breaker for me so that's why I've switched my focus to the ThinkPad. I really want a slate due to it's portability, my Toshiba M4 taught me to stay away from tablets with attached keyboards (just not right for me). I have not looked at the Fujitsu Q550, but it looks like it's on the pricy side. I was hoping to stay in the 300-600 range.

**Michelle Mastin** · 08-11-2011, 03:00 PM

There are plenty of art apps available for android: https://market.android.com/developer?pub=Autodesk+Inc.

It's just a question of whether or not they'll work with the n-trig pen. From what I've heard, the pen should be available across all apps on the Thinkpad tablet, unlike the HTC Flyer where it only works in certain apps. But that's something you might want to wait for a review to find out for sure.