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December 11, 2006
Is it a Desktop, A Notebook or A Tablet landing on a Dock!
The Toshiba Tecra M4
After considerable work with the smaller screens of today's tablet/notebooks I found I needed something with more screen real estate / resolution. I have the need to fit a 1280x1024 vmware or remtote desktop within a screen.
I figured a used 14" convertible notebook would do fine. After all, once you get used to folding up your notebook, flapping the screen over and leaning back to browse the web, you never want to give that up.
Frankly these convertible notebook/tablets have always fascinated me. So much in fact I have 4 (All for different usage). (T4010D, P1510D, CX210X)
The latest edition is a Toshiba Tecra M4. This is a nice 14.1" Pentium M convertible notebook. I choose this particular model specifically for it's large 14" screen with a 1440x1050 resolution.
The main goal was for living room browsing, email, some games and remote control of virtual desktops from other vmware based machines.
Although the newer Tecra M7's are nice, they are only in a widescreen format which does not fit my resolution needs and space where I planned to put it. The Portege M400 has the ability for high res, yet it's 12" screen would leave me squinting.
The Toshiba MultiDock IIWhat really grabbed me was, the M4's ability to use the Toshiba Multidock II. This docking station mounts it to look like a monitor and also allows rapid repositioning/removal.
After all is said and done it works out almost exactly as I need.
The only downside of the older machine is lack of dual core. Then again I do not really need it, plus I have 2 other dual cores. One for programming and another for the video/audio processing. (and let me tell you the CX210X with duo core 2's 4MB cache is a hell of a performer).
Those who know me, know I grabbed the highest configuration possible within reason. So with a hefty 2.13Ghz single core Pentium M, 2G of ram, 80G SATA and a 128MB nvidia video card, this sucker has great performance.
The only downside with getting a used unit is the in ability to configure a machine exactly as you like. I thought I found one, but it so happened to come without the bluetooth module. This drove me crazy for a day because I knew I had purchased a specific one with bluetooth and it was not working.
For those who have seen Heros in recent times, this will ring back.
Remember the episode where the grandfather gives the kid a laptop.. the kid runs with it into his room, then 20 minutes later the grandfather finds the kid has it opened up all over his desk.. Well that was me trying to figure out what was wrong. It so happened the module itself was never there.
I called the vendor up and when he said I have no idea where this module would even be, I was able to tell him how to open up another and where to grab it from LOL!!! Fedex a day later and it was here. (I took pics of the install too).
After the purchase of a Multdock, A bluetooth module and logictech DiNuvo Bluetooth keyboard and mouse I'm computing and rollin' in style.
I've taken some pics to show off this cool configuration for those interested.
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Some Review Links.
http://www.tabletpcreview.com/?newsID=282
http://www.laptopmag.com/Review/Toshiba-Tecra-M4-S435.htm
The Tecra M4 in note book mode
The Tecra M4 in note docked mode (looks like a desktop lcd eh?
The Tecra M4 in note docked in portrait mode.
The Tecra M4 in docked, but detached in landscape mode. Allows use of stylus without a complete disconnect from the dock.
Here is where I detached the tablet from the dock entirely. Good for sitting back and browsing with the stylus.
(Note the bluetooth keyboard and mouse still work)
Posted by Me on December 11, 2006 10:45 PM
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Comments
Ugly as hell as a laptop?
I think not actually.. I think it's very slick.
It's the classic business colors, yet sleek and streamlined. I actually like it.
My only pet peeves are the location of some keys and missing a dedicated button to change the screen position.
What it does have going for it is a joystick for navigating around pages.
What I never realized was how much I liked the white keys of the Fujitsu. The screen would actually light them up making it very useful in low light conditions.
Oh well, can't have everything.
Ugly as hell on it's own as a laptop, but I really dig the way you've set it up! I've been trying to come up with a nice way of doing something similar with the N410c so I can go back to using my gorgeous Shuttle TempAG screen, but I don't have a lot of desk space, the ethernet cable doesn't like to stay put in the MEU (it disconnects very easily, so I have to be careful not to move it or put it at a weird angle), and the USB ports and DVD drive are all at different angles, so it's not as useful hidden to the side somewhere. Ah well, it's still working well for everything else! :)
Still, definitely digging your setup here. Very cool! I'm envious as always!