The Fujitsu P1620 is coming, what does that mean for the HP 2710p?
Since going public with my decision to order a Fujitsu P1620 Tablet PC I have been receiving one question more than others- what does this mean for the HP 2710p that I currently use? The answer is a bit complicated because I realize that I am not a typical user of mobile technology. I'll give it a stab to answer it the best I can.
I never have only one mobile PC going at one time and this will be no different. I envision using the P1620 and the 2710p interchangeably like I have done with multiple devices in the past. If I figure I will do mostly ink note-taking on a given day I'll pick up the P1620 from its dock and throw it in my bag due to it's smaller, lighter form for holding in the hands for extended periods. If I think I'll do some ink note-taking and writing on the keyboard I'll grab the HP and throw it in the bag. I can touch-type on the keyboard of the P1620 but it's pretty small and it's easier to type volumes on the HP. When I am using multiple devices this is the process I go through pretty much every day, it becomes such an ingrained part of my day that I don't have to spend any time doing it, I just grab and go.
What makes this work so well is a few things that I do up front. When I get the P1620 I will use the Belkin Easy Transfer cable and software to clone my setup on the HP to the Fujitsu. That will not only bring over my Documents but also my three email accounts into Outlook and my Favorites for Internet Explorer so the Fuji will come up the first time after this almost just like the HP. Since I use Firefox the next thing I'll install is the add-on Google Browser Sync and in just a few minutes my entire Firefox environment will be just like it is on both the HP and the Mac. Finally I will install FolderShare on both the Fuji and the HP which will keep my Documents automatically synchronized without my having to do anything else. This is how I can just pick up either device as I am heading out the door because they are the same.
What I will probably end up doing with the two different devices is using whatever one suits my need at the time. I'll use the P1620 around the house as it's smaller and easier to use in the hands and the HP just about everywhere else. I'll take the Fujitsu to long meetings where I need to take ink notes and the HP just about anywhere I want. Both of these devices will work well for me, I will end up very spoiled by having both of them.
James, how about a video tutorial that shows us how you do this once the P1620 arrives?
Woadan
Posted by: Woadan | February 07, 2008 at 06:59 AM
The P1620 looks like a nice machine, but you are giving up a button/nipple mouse, which is a big sacrifice in my books.
Posted by: Bernard Seeff | February 07, 2008 at 07:08 AM
Woadan, a video is something I'll consider when I get the Fuji. I have used this method for quite some time and it turns a virgin PC into an old familiar setup in just an hour. It rocks, quite frankly.
Bernard, I'm not sure what you mean, the HP has a trackstick and two mouse buttons and the Fuji has a trackstick and 3 mouse buttons. I'm gaining a button which can be used to scroll the screen around.
Posted by: James Kendrick | February 07, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Aww, just when I posted on your last post to say I would be happy to give the HP 2710p a good home.
Posted by: Philip Ferris | February 07, 2008 at 08:11 AM
you are a lucky man, James -use Jr. in good health.
Posted by: joeCURIOUS | February 07, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Wellllll, you'll have to pry the HP out of my hands in order to use it!
Love you
Posted by: The Wife | February 07, 2008 at 02:06 PM
James: I vote for the tutorial too. I think this will be extremely useful to a cadre of people out there. Thanks in advance...
Posted by: Fernando | February 07, 2008 at 04:43 PM
JK, congratulations for your birthday and for the 1620. But after Flash and all the good things you said about it, I can't believe you didn't get the SSD. Are you planning to slip a 64 into it on your own?
By the way, Flash is still running strong. It's lightning fast since I put 2GB of RAM in, but now it's my 2nd favorite son after the OQO.
I had a P1510D and I still have two Q1s. But the OQO device can't be beat for anytime, anywhere computing.
Posted by: mcdoken | February 07, 2008 at 11:54 PM
mcdoken, good to hear that Flash is still serving you well. I want SSDs in everything I use but 32 GB is not nearly enough. 64GB is better but even that is pushing it given the amount of data I have on my devices.
Posted by: James Kendrick | February 08, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Congratulations on this great choice. (And belated Happy B-Day).
How does your MacBook fit into the usage mix. Do you keep files synced there too? If so, how? Running Parallels?
Posted by: TonyP | February 09, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Didn't realize that the Fuji had a trackstick - I couldn't spot it in the picture, so I take back my comments.
What are your views on tracksticks and do you think that they are going to dissappear in the future. Toshiba seems to have dumped them which is such a pity.
Posted by: Bernard Seeff | February 09, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Also eager to hear about your inking experience with the passive digitizer. If you say "it's great", I'm buying!
Posted by: TonyP | February 11, 2008 at 03:02 PM
TonyP, you should check out the video review I did of the P1610, the hardware for inking is the same:
http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkotr_audio_edition/2006/11/jkontherun_audi_2.html
Posted by: James Kendrick | February 11, 2008 at 03:31 PM