Tablet Notebook for Reaktor, Absynth?

I'd like to run Project5, along with Reaktor, Absynth, and the other NI synths on a tablet notebook. (I upgraded to Komplete2 from Reaktor, so could also use Intakt, Battery, Kompakt, etc.) I think it would be a lot of fun to use a tablet with a MIDI controller. Even though the screen size is limited, NI instruments seem to run best at lower resolutions. Also, you could hook the tablet to an external monitor at home and use the tablet as an interface, in a two monitor set up, etc. I would love to get some feedback on this idea, whether the current generation of tablet notebooks is reasonable for this purpose. Otherwise, I'll get some kind of Pentium M laptop.

I've been looking at the newest tablet notebooks, including the Toshiba M200 series, the Acer, and particularly the Gateway M275. In general, all the tablet notebooks I looked at seem to have:

. Pentium M processor 1.5 to 2.0 GHz, 400MHz FSB
. 12.2 (1400 x 1050 on the Toshiba) or 14.1 inch (1024 x 768)
. 512Mb RAM upgradable to 1 or 2 Gb
. Integrated wireless

All of this looks fine, I think.


However, they vary according to whether they have an integrated graphics controller vs. graphics card, or whether they have a built in optical drive. Also, most cannot be upgraded at purchase with a 7200rpm internal HD.

In thinking this through, it seems that:
. using a network mapped DVD-ROM from my desktop DAW would at least allow me to install the software, etc. A USB 2.0 or firewire DVD/CD-RW or whatever seems like kind of a waste, since I wouldn't want to carry one around and I could transfer files to the desktop DAW.
. if I wanted to get into more intensive work with audio files, I could use an external firewire HD.

Incidentally, I would want to upgrade to 1GB of RAM, and probably use an Echo Indigo I/O PCMCIA card as an audio interface.


I would like to hear what others think about the prospects for a tablet notebook as a secondary, mobile synth workstation, with some expandability to work with audio in the future. Is an integrated video controller or a 5400rpm HD the kiss of death?


Thanks for reading this long post. Later.



cobalt

 

I run a 4200 RPM HD, and its no big deal at all. The integrated graphics should be okay as well.

To be honest though, you're losing performance and usability while paying more money. I'd recommend a standard, fully featured laptop.

 

Potentially this could be a great set up. I say this because I use an A4 Wacom tablet and pen instead of a mouse on my desktop machine (an old G4 500). The tablet is a hugh improvement over a mouse. In terms of usability I'd put it halfway between a mouse and a real hardware interface. Having the tablet combined with the display would be even better.

However, I agree that tablet PCs are overpriced and hyped by microsoft.

On the subject of overpriced but cool:

http://www.wacom-europe.com/uk/products/cintiq/cintiq18.asp

 

I've eyed these as well, there definitely cool. Far too pricey for me, but I think that in the future we will see them taking a large share of the market. They're ideal for any sort of design activity, be it audio, video, science, etc.