M4 - Power and Versatility above the Crowd!
Written: Nov 13 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Powerful, Versatile, Portable
Cons: Slightly heavy, Screen Dust, Price (higher than most Tablets)
The Bottom Line: Need a word processor with tablet capabilities? Consider a cheaper model. For a tablet expected serve as a real workhorse and/or gaming rig, this is the best choice.
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| zorrothepiking's Full Review: Toshiba Tecra® M4-S435 (PTM40U0F0021) Tablet ... |
My experience with my Tablet PC. Many people have asked me about it and I know that the search for the best one to meet my needs was not an easy one. Maybe this will help some other people.
Setup:
As stated, I am the proud owner of a Toshiba Tecra M4 Tablet PC. It weighs just over 6 pounds and has a 14.1" screen. The technical specs for my model are as follows:
Pentium M 2.0 GHz Processor
1024MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz SDRAM in dual-channel
NVidia GeForce GO 6200 TE (64 MB Dedicated Memory)
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG (802.11b/g)
60GB (5400 RPM) Serial-ATA (SATA) hard disk drive
Slim SelectBay CD-RW/DVD-ROM
Maximum Speed: CD-ROM (24x:read), CD-R (24x:write), CD-RW (10x:write), DVD-ROM (8x:read)
14.1" diagonal TFT active-matrix LCD display at 1400x1050 native resolution (SXGA+) with Contrast of 500:1
Choices:
So why did I choose this particular brand, model, and specs? First, the intended use must be understood. I am a senior Mechanical Engineering student. Because so much coursework is cumulative, I really wanted the ability to have all of my notes with me at all times. In some of my classes, a normal laptop would provide the needed utility. In many, though, I needed the ability to draw diagrams and write equations. For this reason, I decided a tablet PC would provide adequate functionality. Any less would still require me to use paper and pencil in many classes, and this would defeat much of the purpose. I chose a Tecra M4 because of its graphics power. Very few tablets offer a dedicated graphics card. The M4 allowed me to choose a GO 6200. I wanted a tablet that could also perform well with the games I like to play (Call of Duty 2, Battlefield 2, Oblivion, Age of Mythology, etc). This all led to my choosing this particular tablet.
Use:
Home Office - The laptop has been great for normal office applications. The screen is crisp, and the keyboard has a relatively natural feel. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are the only office applications have used multiple times, and I have had no problems.
Education - I have had a great time using the tablet for classes. Not being the most organized person, I never had to worry about remembering the right folder or even remembering ANY folder. I scanned in handouts, and the OneNote program that came with the laptop has been great. I can switch easily between typing, writing, drawing, and highlighting, and all of my notes from last semester are just a few clicks away. It was so nice, my wife used it for many of her classes as well. I found that the fan was sometimes a little loud for a classroom setting, but I could avoid this by turning down the power from FULL or HIGH to NORMAL or LONG LIFE. The screen automatically rotates when you switch from laptop to tablet modes, so I would often type until I needed to draw something, flip the screen around, pop out the stylus, draw whatever I need to, and then flip it back to continue typing. The stylus is designed such that you can rest your hand on the screen and write very naturally. The screen has a great feel to it, so you don't feel like you are slipping around. The tablet is also thin enough that you don't have the stretch your wrist unnaturally. All in all, the tablet functionality is very intuitive and feels very natural. I was very impressed with the precision and the feel of the entire system. For my academic uses, it exceeded my expectations. As I hoped, all my notes were together and organized, and the ease of use was beyond what I expected.
Gaming - I love this thing. I have taken it to one LAN party, and it performed very well. The load times were a little longer than most desktops, but the in-game performance was great. The graphics card provided very nice graphics for Dawn of War and Call of Duty 2, and I had a great night playing on it, not to mention the easy setup and tear-down. I have also spent a lot of time playing with it at home. The only game that I've played that the tablet has trouble with is Oblivion, which as many of you know, is a very demanding game. It's definitely playable, but the the video options have be turned down really low. I'm glad I was able to get the GO 6200. It provides the power I need for almost any game I want to play for now.
Functionality:
To add to what is listed above, there are a few other features of note that make the use of this tablet unique. There are a few button on the screen, which are still available when the screen is flipped around for use as a tablet. This makes working much more seamless, and includes user-customizable menus for quick access to common tasks, folders, and apps. The stylus fits neatly into a port on the side of the tablet, snapping into place. I have never had it fall out on me, and I never have to worry about keeping it with the tablet.
The onboard speakers are alright, but they leave a bit to be desired. I get a lot of crackling as I change the system volume with the dial, and it is hard to get high volume with decent sound quality. This, of course, can be fixed with external speakers, but most people don't buy laptops because they want to haul a bunch of extra gear around, right?
Battery life is not phenomenal, but the power requirements of such a powerful machine are higher than your average laptop. I take notes in 2-3 classes without plugging in, but I'll be running pretty low afterwards. I definitely recommend sitting near an outlet where possible.
Toshiba Tech Support:
I have needed to call a couple times, and the reps have been friendly and helpful. Although clearly not native English speakers, they have been understandable, and my problems and questions have been dealt with quickly and professionally.
Conclusions:
Pros - The power and utility of this PC has been a great asset both academically and recreationally. I am very pleased with it, and look forward to many years of good use. It provides the practical functionality I need to be a useful office computer, the mobility and flexibility I need to be an effective educational computer, and the power and performance I need to be an effective gaming machine. The design is strong and the controls are pretty intuitive. The screen wobble is minimal, the stylus is comfortable, the keyboard is responsive, and the speakers provide acceptable sound.
Cons - As with any device, my M4 has its quirks. Like screens on PDAs, dust can get trapped under the outer screen. Because it's under warrantee, I have to get it cleaned at a professional repair center. Also, it tends to get pretty hot. I am fine usually, but if I'm wearing shorts and playing a game, I sometimes need to put a pillow between me and the comp. The power brick also gets hot. 6 lbs is manageable, but it does start to make my shoulder tired after a long day of carrying it. Luckily, I have two shoulders.
Final - If you are looking for a tablet that can play games, I strongly recommend a Tecra M4. I have been very pleased with it. The tablet functionality has its own pricetag, though, and an equivalent notebook without it will probably be $400-$600 cheaper. There are also cheaper tablets, but don't expect stellar gaming performance. This tablet met my needs at a price I could afford. Yes, I'd buy it again.
For a good look at the design and style of the tablet, consider checking out the virtual tour on the Toshiba site. Currently, the M4 has been superseded by the M7, but much of the tablet has stayed the same (both stylistically and functionally).
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
zorrothepiking
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Member: Josh
Location: Cookeville, TN, USA
Reviews written: 59
Trusted by: 11 members
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