Buy HP Tablet PC tc4200 ( PV984AW#ABA )HP Tablet PC tc4200 ( PV984AW#ABA ) Product Description:
- Intel Pentium M Proc.
- 1.86GHz, 512MB, 60GB
- 12.1 XGA, XP Tablet
Product Description
The Basics:
Tablet-style notebooks are distinct from standard notebooks in two critical areas. First, they're built for portability, featuring super-slim profiles and lightweight design and construction. More importantly, they offer users an alternative method for inputting data. Those who prefer traditional data entry can take advantage of the integrated keyboard, while users who'd rather "handwrite" via digital ink can simply use the enclosed stylus to freehand sketch their ideas on the double-duty display screen. The HP Compaq tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) Tablet PC is an extremely sophisticated model, offering more power and more storage space than most competing units and adequate 3D performance to boot. It isn't inexpensive, it isn't quite as compact as some tablets, and, like its competitors, it eschews a CD/DVD drive for the sake of size and portability. But the tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) is just about as proficient a tablet that currently exists in the consumer marketplace.
Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. Unlike many tablets, the tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) does not opt for a super-low voltage, low power CPU. It instead brandishes an Intel Pentium M 750 running at 1.86 GHz. While not exactly as powerful as a high-speed Pentium 4, the Pentium M line of processors is nevertheless a step up on typical tablet fare. What's more, this CPU is one of the revamped Pentium M models with two full MB of Level 2 cache for even faster access to your most critical information. Though the system is not recommended for those ultra-demanding applications you usually reserve for your desktop, it will easily handle typical (and not so typical) mobile tasks. That's not something that can be said for many tablets.
Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they also keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) is equipped with a surprisingly beefy 512 MB of fast 400 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. This is the same amount of RAM you'll find in many of today's much larger notebooks, and it's more than enough for effective multitasking or running complex applications without experiencing periods of sluggishness. Furthermore, users can upgrade to the system's 2048 MB maximum.
Video:
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller), the best of which include "dedicated" built-in video memory rather than relying on "shared" portions of the system's valuable main memory. This system boasts an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900. Though not a controller with dedicated memory, it allocates more system memory than do most "shared memory" controllers and therefore better handles complex 3D images. 3D graphics performance this strong is a rarity in the world of tablet PCs, nevertheless the system cannot be considered a true gaming or 3D animation machine.
Display:
One thing you just won't find in the miniature world of tablets is a large display screen. The tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) sports a 12.1-inch XGA display with sparkle-free glass, an ambient light sensor to optimize panel brightness, a wide viewing angle to allow you to better see your work when you're not poised perfectly in front of the unit, and a highly detailed 1024 by 768 maximum resolution.
Hard Disk:
A tablet with a 60 GB hard drive is not something you see every day. But that's precisely what you'll get with the tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA). This level of data storage is quite adequate for a full complement of typical mobile applications and files and even a library of space-hogging multimedia files.
Optical Drive:
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Most drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. In order to maintain its portability and diminutive size, this system does not include an optical drive. However, it easily accepts external drives via one of its spare ports.
Audio:
The unit is equipped with an integrated mono speaker and a 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio card for superior sound than many tablets offer. External volume controls and mute buttons add further convenience.
Keyboard and Controls:
You can either use the enclosed stylus to enter data the "old-fashioned" way by writing upon the unit's foldable display, or tap in your input via the full-size keyboard.
Connectivity and Expansion:
The tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) sports a solid array of connections. Communication facilities include a super-high-speed 10/100/1000 gigabit Ethernet interface for fast Internet surfing and email gathering, a standard 56K modem for low-speed dial-up connectivity, and Intel 802.11b/g wireless technology for cord-free online access in either Wireless-B or the much faster Wireless-G standards. Other key amenities include a trio of fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an S-Video out for high quality digital video feeds, and fast infrared for wireless communication with infrared-equipped peripherals. An IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data streaming from digital camcorders) is not part of the package.
Operating System and Software:
The bundled software package is headed by Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 operating system. Other applications include Microsoft Reader for Tablet PC, Sonic RecordNow! (for optional optical drives), and a variety of security and operational utilities.
Dimensions and Weight:
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and definitely too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that are typically less powerful than their larger brethren but weigh as little as two lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. Larger than some tablets, the tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) is nevertheless more compact than most notebooks at just 11.22 by 9.25 by 1.35 inches and a wispy 4.6 lbs.
Power:
Powering the tc4200 (PV984AW#ABA) is a high capacity 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Excellend Tablet PC
By Jorge L. Plasencia
I got this tablet pc from HP last month and let tell you, this is a great tablet, it is fast, very light, the tablet function are useful and fun. You can navigate windows with the stylus.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful.HP Tablet PC tc4200 bought refurbished for art, in 2010
By Some Guy
I bought this unit refurbished in 2010 about 4 years after the last review. It cost me only $366 as it is a few generations behind the curve. It arrived in pristine condition with a new battery AND an external cd/dvd drive, but with windows XP pro for refurbished computers service pack 3 (SP3 has all the tablet stuff built into it) instead of it's original XP for tablet PC's.The Amazon distributer was Complete Distribution Solutions LLC. They were flawless in getting this to me quickly and well packaged.At first everything worked great but it was slow. After deleting some unnecessary OS things, the on-screen keyboard and the pen operated keys on the bezel no longer worked, (Ok, something there was more necessary than I thought) but it was fast, and pen pressure still worked great. The on-screen keyboard software had been useless anyway, it worked perfectly right up until you tried to get it's output to go to the software running by pressing 'insert' which did... absolutely nothing (unless you cut with ctrl-c and pasted with ctrl-v, but since those keys were covered by the folded over screen... bam, head-desk) so I didn't miss that at all. But the bezel keys were actually useful, so I'm sort of still working the kinks out. Deleting those things was however my own fault.The wireless networking worked great and I was connected to my router and online in moments. The Ethernet connection to my big linux box was almost as painless.Everything that should install in XP that I've tried, (the GIMP, manga studio, Easy Painter Sai, Sketch-book Pro, Abiword, PC tools free anti-virus, Zone-Alarm), all of it has installed without a hitch. Possibly this is due to my having XP pro instead of XP tablet PC (tablet PC version is no longer distributed, SP3 contains all it's functions supposedly).This is my first laptop and it seems to fill that generic role pretty well. It managed connecting to the internet wirelessly at McDonalds ok. And I now have 60 GB of extra storage for my camera should I want to take a 'lot' of video somewhere.I bought this thing for drawing and painting as a 12.1 inch 'cintique' and it's working great for that. I have it connected to a USB km switch so my regular mouse and keyboard can control it (no need for any tablet PC special key non-sense). Only one art program I've ever tried works efficiently without keyboard access and that's autodesk's sketch-up pro. A lot of folks swear by it but I don't really like that one that much otherwise. Note I think a real key board is MANDATORY if you're going to do a lot of art and care about an efficient work flow. The on-screen keyboard and pen operated bezel keys worked fine the first several days, but neither could substitute for hotkeys on a real keyboard, they would be slower than using the menu's, even working perfectly. That's just not what they're for.I'm shocked that no one is pushing these things as art tools. None of the wacom equipped tablet PC's are advertised that way. Some with other digitizers are. I wonder if it's part of Wacom's license agreement with the tablet PC manufacturers. They don't want a tablet PC license fee replacing what I am sure is a much heftier profit from sales of the $1000 and $2000 cintique's. I can't even see any dedicated art software on any of the new ones. How very odd.Well, since It's my fault the extra buttons and on screen keyboard don't work and I'm sure I can fix that when I have time to do a custom re-install I'm giving this thing a 5 out of 5. Most XP laptops are slow out of the box due to stuff put on by the sales folks. I was just sloppy in taking it back off.
19 of 26 people found the following review helpful.Excellend Tablet PC
By Sean A. Gilpin
This is an excellent quality tablet pc. It seems to be very sturdy but at the same time fairly light. Overall I haven't had any problems with it. Keep in mind that an optical drive is not included. Everyone who sees it thinks it is really cool looking as most of the people I have worked with haven't seen a tablet pc before.
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