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Neowin Review : Toshiba M200 Tablet PC

Mr magoo   on 03 April 2005 - 20:45 · 33 comments & 1627 views

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What is a Tablet PC? To be very simple, think a laptop with a screen that's able to flip around and can also be written on. But it's so much more than that. How much more?! So much more! Tablet PC technology brings so much potential and opportunity for a new wave of software and hardware; it doesn't bare thinking about all the things you can do with it.

The technology has been around for almost two years now, and although take off has been slow, ask any Tablet PC owner how good they are and they'll give you a resounding positive vote (see page seven!). We’ve got a Toshiba M200 Tablet to look at; we're going to decide whether the unit, and the Tablet genre in general, is really worth the money.

Read on for the review, exclusively at Neowin...

View: Neowin Review : Toshiba M200 Tablet PC
View: Toshiba M200 Homepage | Datasheet


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Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 33 additional comments
(4 replies) #1 McG on 03 Apr 2005 - 20:53
Somebody please correct this. A Tablet PC is NOT required to flip around. There are SEVERAL out there that don't do so. Thanks.
#1.1 vetMr magoo on 03 Apr 2005 - 20:57
True, but it is one of the defining features of the Tablet and is something that sticks with most people that see them.
#1.2 HawkMan on 03 Apr 2005 - 22:41
The defining feature of a table pc is that the screen is on the "top" of the laptop.
only the newer versions have screens that can be flipped and rotated and have a keyboard.

#1.3 threedaysdwn on 04 Apr 2005 - 02:48
That's not true at all. The M200 isn't *new* either. I've had mine for over a year.

There have been several flip-around tablets. They're called "convertibles" and the kind without a permenantly attached keyboard are called "slate" tablets.

The Tablet PC has two defining features:

1) Input via a digitizer pen (NOT a touch screen)
and
2) Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
#1.4 sphbecker on 04 Apr 2005 - 14:37
There are two different styles, slate and convertible. Slate is typically super small, lightweight and underpowered (with no built-in keyboard). Convertible is a full laptop (including keyboard) that just happens to be able to flip around to act like a tablet.
(1 reply) #2 Express on 03 Apr 2005 - 20:58
I have the Toshiba M205-S10. I love this laptop.
I have 3 other laptops, but M205 Tablet PC is best laptop purchase I have ever made.

Microsoft has done a great job with handwriting recognition in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005.
It even correctly recognizes my jerky handwriting while travelling by bus.
#2.1 threedaysdwn on 04 Apr 2005 - 02:51
I have the original M200 (1.5Ghz Pentium-M, 512MB, 802.11b), and I absolutely love it.


Also, you can remove the plastic cover over the screen and the brightness/color improve drastically. The only problem with doing so is some additional glare, but it's not bad - and in my opinion definitely worth it. Without the plastic layer, the screen looks just like any of the newer Sony/Compaq laptops with their super-glossy looking eye-catching displays
#3 bouncindave on 03 Apr 2005 - 21:09
im on a toshba tablet and its great. only downside is the £1500 price!
#4 vetlardiop on 03 Apr 2005 - 21:10
Sweet stuff Tom.

Now if MS Canada was only so generous
#5 NetRyder on 03 Apr 2005 - 21:46
Beautiful machine, awesome review!
(5 replies) #6 Colonel_Angus on 03 Apr 2005 - 22:05
Tablet PCs will forever be a niche market unless Apple makes one.
#6.1 NetRyder on 03 Apr 2005 - 22:13
...and the "Tablet Mac" will be a niche product in a niche market?
#6.2 rocks1985 on 03 Apr 2005 - 22:29
hopefully, apple would market the hell out of a tablet mac (as much as it does for iPod), so it would become an iconic gadget, the most popular in its class... (even if its not the best, technologically)
#6.3 PCyr on 04 Apr 2005 - 05:43
Wow, I don't think I've ever heard such a baseless comment. So now Apple has to do it for it to catch on?
#6.4 SlakeT on 04 Apr 2005 - 17:36
No, if apple makes a tablet PC they would then declare "we made it first" - Just like everything else! LOL!
#6.5 PCyr on 04 Apr 2005 - 20:44
@SkateT, also baseless comment.
(2 replies) #7 Zeo on 03 Apr 2005 - 22:50
I own a Toshiba M200 and first of all let me say it rocks! However, its dog slow. Main reason being that I only have 512 megs of ram in it 2x256 PC2100 SO-DIMMs) and it desperately needs to be upgraded to a minimum 1 Gb.

But I'm wondering if anyone knows if the M200 can be upgraded to 2 Gigabytes of PC3200 RAM. Two 1 gig sticks.

Anyone know if the M200 supports PC3200?

I've found some on pricewatch.com for laptops and that wouild be awesome to slap in my tablet.
#7.1 Express on 04 Apr 2005 - 00:26
You know I had same problem when I first got the machine.
As shipped the Tablet contains several unnessary Toshiba applications which gobble RAM like crazy

Then I did a clean install of Windows and installed those application which the Tablet really needs.
Now the Tablet zooms with only 512 MB

To answer your question, The tablet has 2 slots for 200-pin SODIMM modules & it only supports DDR PC2700.
#7.2 marduk420 on 04 Apr 2005 - 18:34
i have an m200 with 2 1-gig sticks inside. memory is not a problem now.
(2 replies) #8 Starchild on 04 Apr 2005 - 00:33
Is it possible to purchase a "bare bones" laptop (i.e. Toshiba M200) and purchase your own processor, hard disk, etc?
#8.1 nic on 04 Apr 2005 - 02:40
Most manufacturers will allow you to customize the laptop you are buying, at least they do in the desktop market. After you have a laptop you can upgrade the hard disk and processor. I know of no laptops out there that are "bare bone" systems, however.
#8.2 Starchild on 05 Apr 2005 - 00:36
Thanks for the info
#9 shafi on 04 Apr 2005 - 04:17
I own m200.

Last edited by 1956 on 04 Apr 2005 - 04:23
(1 reply) #10 eminem213486 on 04 Apr 2005 - 04:51
i would so have gotten a convertible tablet pc, only if it wasnt for hte price, ill stick to my $548 bucks Dell thank you very much. LOWER THE PRICES FOR OEMS MS. come on you, know thats why they arent selling. even help out with some of the tablet pc prices, sell it as a loss leader, make it become the future, they are great.
#10.1 threedaysdwn on 04 Apr 2005 - 07:36
Microsoft lowered the price of the Tablet PC OS a long time ago... From what I remember, it's now about the same as XP Pro.

The major price difference comes from the fact that Tablets tend to be fairly high-end sub-notebooks.

If you compare your cheapo Dell to the M200, for instance, I bet you'll find the M200 is faster and WAY smaller, lighter, and better on battery life.

#11 LPC on 04 Apr 2005 - 07:00
Ummm better late than never I suppose ... but this is real real real late . I've hand mine for about 5 months now ! But it is yes a great machine, still amazed at how many people haven't even heard of a Tablet PC.
(4 replies) #12 Deviate_X on 04 Apr 2005 - 14:19
QUOTE
...and the "Tablet Mac" will be a niche product in a niche market?


Yes. The market size of Apple computers+notebooks is roughly the same as size as the current tablet PC.

* Approximately 600k tablets PC were sold in 2004, and 900k will be sold this year.

* Apple sold approximately 800k macs (all form factors combined) last year.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/oct/1.../13results.html

http://www.itfacts.biz/index.php?id=P1459




#12.1 SlakeT on 04 Apr 2005 - 17:38
..and apple invented the notebook didn't they? Just like water and the automobile.

LOL!
#12.2 sphbecker on 04 Apr 2005 - 18:06
I don't know about the automobile, but Apple did invent water. And they still make "the most advanced" water in the world!
#12.3 Deviate_X on 04 Apr 2005 - 18:34
QUOTE
I don't know about the automobile, but Apple did invent water. And they still make "the most advanced" water in the world!


Actually the water apple makes comes with less features and variety than normal water, but it is characterized by great looking industrially designed bottle ... cap's.
#12.4 threedaysdwn on 04 Apr 2005 - 20:09
About a month ago the Tablet PC team celebrated the one millionth Tablet PC sale. I do not know the specifics of that number, what time period it covers (or overall), or anything like that. However your comparison brought that to mind.
#13 ynohtna on 04 Apr 2005 - 18:19
Ok Neowin, let's get onto the Toshiba R10/15 tablets! Those just came out recently and would serve as a good comparison to the M200 for those on a tight budget!
#14 Angel Blue01 on 05 Apr 2005 - 00:42
Great but my laptop budget is $1200

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