What do you think? I'm able to take the c3500 back, and was thinking of buying the Gateway 275, seems pretty similar, and I have seen it and like it.


Good idea?

Let me know what you all think.

hmm, are you not happy with your C3500? The only issue I'm having with it is the horrible keyboard! Other than that, I'm loving my little convertable haha.

Sorry but I've avoided this thread because I don't want to steer anyone away from any Tablet PC :whistling

However ...

Is there a feature that is causing you problems?

Yes, the Gateway unit is nice.

__________________
Layne P. Heiny / Administrator for Tux Reports Network

Please do not send private messages requesting technical support. Place your request in the proper forum and hopefully someone can help you.

Computer Sites
Tablet PC Blogs | Technology Questions | Tablet PC Post | Windows Vista | What Is New

Prelaunch
Insane Politics

I don't think it's wrong to recommend a specific tablet, or discourage the purchase of one, if there are specific issues that bring you to that conclusion. The manufacturers need feedback on what flies and what flops.

As far as the Averatec, I can't see anything that would make me want to return it. If I had more cash, yeah maybe I would have gotten a cool one like a Motion 1400 or Toughbook CF-18. But for my purposes the Averatec does the job. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who needs extreme portability and long battery life, but it's not all bad.

Yep, I didn't mean it as a big negative. I meant that many of the Tablet PCs are good units when kept within their respective niches. They have their ups and downs and sometimes it's important to keep it all in perspective. For example, the Averatec is definitely the best priced, low cost Tablet PC. If cost is the primary factor for purchasing, Averatec is the unit.

__________________
Layne P. Heiny / Administrator for Tux Reports Network

Please do not send private messages requesting technical support. Place your request in the proper forum and hopefully someone can help you.

Computer Sites
Tablet PC Blogs | Technology Questions | Tablet PC Post | Windows Vista | What Is New

Prelaunch
Insane Politics

Well, my Averatec doesn't have any serious problems...but I just think that maybe the Gateway Tablet would be a bit stable.

With probs like the whole TIP issue, and the weird layout of the power button, it just seems like the Gateway may be something worth looking at.

Now, the Gateway is on it's way from HSN.....Once I get it, I'll tinker around with it, and see what I like. But if I had to list exactly what it is I'm not so pleased about with the Averatec:1. The support does not seem to be the best...2. I don't like power button being under the screen when in tablet mode 3. Stylus seems to be pretty junky, I mean even after changing batteries, installing the new driver, etc. it doesn't always work, and can be jumpy at times. 4. The quick launch buttons on the screen don't always work 5. The wireless card seems to just shut off at times, sometimes requiring a full restart to get it back up again.

NOW, don't get me wrong, for the price this TPC is just fine....but all I'm saying is that I want to explore the option of the Gateway which is only about $550 more...something I'm able to do right now.

PS...LPH I notice you've got the Acer....better than the Gateway? Should I look into it?

I haven't noticed any problems with my pen. It's not *that* junky, compared to many tablet pens I've used. Since I got the new driver, the TIP works fine.

The wireless card also doesn't give me problems. I did play with the advanced settings, switching between powersave modes; in CAM (constantly awake mode) the wireless card never turns off; in Fast Power Save and Max Power Save the card will turn off after a period of inactivity. To get the card started again you have to either use the WLAN switch to turn it off and on, or disable and then re-enable it in Network Connections.

The button locations and behavior, I agree, isn't the best. I find that I can stick something, like a piece of popsicle stick, inside the laptop to turn it on when in tablet mode. But really there's no excuse for it to be inaccessible. Another laptop I have uses a power switch on the slide, with a little locking mechanism that keeps the switch from accidentally getting bumped unless you stick your finger in it. The screen buttons are interesting, but the software isn't great. I find that the jog switch is a real keyboard uparrow/downarrow/enter key, which means that if you boot in tablet mode (by sticking a popsicle stick in it...) you can even select which OS you want in GRUB (I dual-boot Linux). Unfortunately the LCD brightness hotkeys are not hardwired to the BIOS, meaning that only their little software application knows how to change screen brightness. This is a problem for Linux and I haven't figured out how to get around it. Averatec support claimed that they didn't have access to information on what I/O port addresses or ACPI commands are used to access the LCD backlight PWM. Nothing but the power button will wake the computer up from standby, too...THAT'S a major problem, and one I hope they fix in the upcoming BIOS update. Averatec support mentioned that suggestion had already been made. Standby is essential to conserving power, and having the power button hidden inside and not allowing anything else to wake the computer means that tablet mode is not quite there.

It really is just a laptop with some cool tablet functionality. And it's their first one, so you have to cut them a little slack. Maybe a little disbelief that the power button issue never came up in product testing, but what's injection-molded is injection-molded, I guess.

GATEWAY Not even close to the same machine, it has a POS of a processor, intel is crap.

AMD :bb:

Okay, finally rec'd the Gateway...and honestly, I don't think there's much comparison.

One overall thing I didn't like about the AV (Averatec) was the general junky feel of the thing...stylus, support, software issues, etc. The GW (Gateway) is clearly more solid, the keyboard is sturdy, secure and the whole thing feels like it will last much longer than the AV.

Now, in all fairness I've only had the GW for a few hours, and have not been able to really evaluate completely, but so far so good.

Couple of things
1. the GW is lacking the scroll feature on the AV which allows you to go BACK on a website while in I.E. Not a huge deal, but you really notice it's not there.
2. My AV has now developed this prob. where it won't come out of hibernation, you have to do a system restore.
3. Hard to explain, but the GW has a better feel. The screen and the base are about the same thickness which balances the weight a bit better than the AV.
4. Don't like the huge screen. Would like to find something that had the cd, good video, etc. Without the huge 14" screen. For a tablet it's just too big in my opinion. So it's a toss up. AV=12" screen, somewhat junky GW=14" screen, pricy screen too big


Okay, well if you're not lost congrats.

But i'll continue to look at the GW and post any new ideas here.

But do me a favor, if any of you know of a great TPC with 12" screen, DVD, etc. Let me know, cause I'm hooked on these tablets :yes: :yes:

I actually came here looking for comments on the Fujitsu LifeBook T4010, but from the specs, it may be the 12" convertible you're looking for...