The screen rotates the opposite direction from the Toshiba's. There's no right answer on that decision. but it will take getting used to.

Wow! I can actually hear the stereo from the built-in speakers!

For reasons I can't begin to guess, my T-Mobile/Sony Ericsson GPRS card holds the GPRS connection better on the CX200X than it did on the M200. And the M200 held the connection better than the 3500s did. Something is improving in this technology over time, whether it's power or heat or whatever.

After the somewhat... "intermittent"... fans on the M200 and the 3500s, it's rather strange to have a machine where you can hear and feel the fan full time.

Man, that screen is wide! I have room for a lot more buttons on toolbars and such. I can view much wider lists, such as my playlist in Media Player, without scrolling.

That touch pad scroll zone is valuable when you're working in a full screen window. My scroll bar can be half a screen away or more, way out of the area where I'm working; but the scroll zone is always right at hand.

Gotta love those 12 cell batteries. Five hours of life, easy. Three pounds of weight. If terrorists ever take over my plane, I'm pulling out my battery and my spare battery and using them as bo sticks. These suckers will crack some skulls!

Even though my CX200X hs arrived, I've decided to try to keep up The Power-Mad Tablet PC Chart, a chart of high-end Tablet PCs, suitable for development work. It's not for the casual Tablet PC user, nor for someone who just wants a lightweight, mobile device. I've left off a lot of very nice machines this way; but I kept it to a chart I could create in an evening.
There are no changes in the chart at this time; I'm just editing the introduction and moving it to the top of the posts.

All data in the chart is based of specs and prices published on the manufacturers' sites, or on their resellers. Better pricing or better feature sets may be available elsewhere, but these should serve as baseline specs.

Manufacturer:	HP	HP	Fujitsu	Fujitsu	Gateway	IBM/Lenovo	Acer	Toshiba
Make:	tc4100	tc1100	Lifebook T4020	Stylistic ST5032D	CX200	ThinkPad X41	TravelMate C10	Tecra M4
Model:			FPCM10664	FPCM35222	X	18695CU	C314XMi
Style:	Convertible	Slate	Convertible	Slate	Convertible	Convertible	Convertible	Convertible
CPU:	Pentium M	Pentium M	Pentium M	Pentium M	Pentium M	Centrino	Pentium M	Pentium M
Max CPU Speed (GHz):	2	1.2	2	1.2	2.13	1.5	2	2.13
Cache Size (MB):	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Cache Type:	L2		L2	L2	L2	L2	L2	L2
Bus Speed (MHz):	533	400	533	400	533	400	533	533
Base RAM (GB):	0.5	0.25	0.5	0.25	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.25
Max RAM (GB):	2	2	2	2	2	1.5	2	1.5
Display Size:	12.1	10.4	12.1	12.1	14	12.1	14.1	14.1
Display Resolution:	1024x768	1024x768	1024x768	1024x768	1280x768	2048x1536	1024x768	1400x1050
Display Colors:	16700000	16700000	16700000	16700000	16700000	16700000	16700000	16700000
Display Type:	TFT XGA	TFT XGA	TFT XGA	TFT XGA	TFT XGA	TFT XGA	TFT XGA	TFT XGA
Video Card:	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900	NVIDIA GeForce 4 Go 420 with 32MB (4X APG)	Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900	Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900	ATI Radion	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900	NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 6200 graphics	nVIDIA?GeForce Go 6600 TE
Video Memory (MB):	128	32	128	128	64	128		128
Hard Drive (GB):	40	40	60	40	60	40		40
Max Hard Drive (GB):	80	60	80	80	80	100	100	80
Hard Drive Speed (RPM):	5400	5400	5400	5400	5400	5400		5400
Optical Drive:	Multibay Option	None	Integrated DVD/CD-RW	None	Modular 8x Multi-Format Double Layer DVD Writer (DVD±R/±RW/CD-RW)	Multiburner	Modular variable-speed CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive	8X DVD Super Multi-drive (Double Layer)
Wireless:	Intel Pro 2200	Intel Pro 2200	Intel Pro 2915ABG	Optional Atheros Super AG® Wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g)	Integrated 802.11 b/g	Intel Pro 2200BG	Intel Pro 2200BG	Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Bluetooth:	Optional	Optional	Integrated	None	None	None	Integrated	Optional
USB Ports:	3 (2.0)	2 (2.0)	2 (2.0)	2 (2.0)	3 (2.0)	2 (2.0)	3 (2.0)	3 (2.0)
Video Ports:	VGA, S-Video	VGA	VGA	VGA	VGA	VGA	VGA, S-Video	VGA, S-Video
Audio Ports:	In/Out	In/Out	In/Out	In/Out	In/Out	In/Out	In/Out	In/Out
Network Ports:	RJ-45	RJ-45	RJ-45	RJ-45	RJ-45	RJ-45	RJ-45	RJ-45
Network Speed:	10/100/1000	10/100	10/100/1000	10/100/1000	10/100/1000	10/100/1000	Gigabit	10/100/1000
Telephone Ports:	RJ-11	RJ-11	RJ-11	RJ-11	RJ-11	RJ-11	RJ-11	RJ-11
Modem Speed:	56K	56K	56K	56K	56K	56K	56K	56K
IR:	Fast IR	IR	IR	IR	None	IR	Fast IR	Fast IR
Microphone:	None	Yes	Dual, noise cancellation	Dual, noise cancellation	None	None	Integrated	Integrated
Battery:	6 cell (5.5 hour); optional 8 cell travel battery	4.5 hours	6 cell	9 cell (up to 10 hours)	12 cell	4 cell	8 cell	6 cell
Docking Port:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Memory Card Slots:	1 SD	1 SD	1 SD	1 SD	7-in-1	1 SD	4-in-1	1 SD
Expansion Card Slots:	1 Type I/II	1 Type II	1 Type II	1 Type II	1 Type II	1 Type I/II	1 Type II	1 Type II
Dimensions:	(34.3 (at front) x 285 x 235 mm)	(27.4 x 21.6 x 2.0 cm)	29.2x23.6x3.6	34.3x22x2.2	34.5x26.7x3.5	26.7x26.7x3.5	32.5x27.2x3.6	28.9x32.8x3.8
Weight (base, kg):	2.08	1.4	1.9	1.8	3.2	1.6	2.8	2.8
Warranty:	3 years parts and labor, 0 on-site	3 year limited	1 year limited	1 year limited	1 year parts and labor	3 years parts and labor, 0 on-site	1 year parts and labor	3 year limited
Extended Warranty:	3 year 9x5 pick-up with accidental damage	3 year 9x5 pick-up with accidental damage	3 year on-site, screen damage repair	3 year on-site, screen damage repair	4 year Total Protection (on site, accidental)	4 year on-site, 24x7	3 year, including screen damage	3 year, on site, System Guard
Price (Maxed out, $):	3034	2566	3676	3950	2759	3112	2306	3353
Notes:	Can't price max memory.	Can't price max memory.	Embedded TPM, dedicated Smart Card slot, Fujitsu Security Application Panel, Fingerprint Security, Extra 3 cell battery	Embedded TPM, dedicated Smart Card slot, Fujitsu Security Application Panel, Fingerprint Security	Firewire	Fingerprint reader	Can't price max memory. Firewire.

As I mentioned, this is not a machine for light-weights. And the extended battery only makes that worse: it sits outside the back end of the machine and nearly a a half inch below the bottom. I mentioned once that I learned to type with an old manual typewriter in my lap. Well, putting the CX200X plus the battery in the lap reminds me a lot of that. If weight bothers you, this is not the machine for you.

But if weight doesn't bother you, then that expansion battery actually is a nice touch. No, not in keyboard mode, but in slate mode: the way the expansion battery protrudes out the bottom forms a sort of grip, making it very easy to hold the machine in your left hand while writing with your right. It's much more stable than the M200 in that regard. The battery lock feels very solid: I don't have any concern about carrying the unit by the battery.

OK, Gateway wins the "why didn't somebody think of that" award. Have you ever rebooted a computer and scrambled to try to remember which arcane keystroke combination would take you into BIOS mode or system set-up or safe mode? The right key combinations vary from one manufacturer to another and sometimes even between machines from a single manufacturer; and if you guess wrong, the system will go on to boot up, and you have to try again. How many times did you have to keep rebooting until you found the right combination? Well, Gateway solved that problem: right there, right on the start up screen, it tells you what the keys are for various start up options. (And yes, I know that Gateway's not the first to do this; but why doesn't everybody?)

Where is that pen? OK, there it is, but how does it come out? The release switch for the pen is a bit tricky to find. (And no, I didn't bother to read the directions.) But it seems pretty secure.

The pen doesn't appear to have an eraser end. I didn't think I would mind, since the Tablet team gave me a nice Cross-brand Tablet pen with eraser end; but the CX200X doesn't appear to recognize that pen. Gateway must use a different digitizer technology than Toshiba does. So no eraser end for now. I'll miss it, but I can live without it.

The pen has more "drag" on the screen than the Toshiba did. I've heard some people argue that this provides more of a "paper" feel. Perhaps it does, but it takes getting used to.

The unit doesn't appear to automatically switch to portrait mode when you rotate the screen. On the other hand, the front panel has a very convenient rotation button that lets you toggle between different orientations instantly. While the automatic rotation would be nice, the rotation button is much more useful. I can think of a large number of times where quickly changing rotations would've made a demo or a presentation go more smoothly. Also, I'm seeing a lot of people using their slate Tablets in landscape, and it seems to work for them. So it's not safe to assume that everyone wants auto-rotation. (I still hope there's a setting for it, and I just haven't found it yet.)

Another useful front button is the Journal button, which pops up Windows Journal. This is really handy for making quick notes on the fly; but I wonder if it can be reprogrammed for OneNote side notes. I'm actually a big Journal user, but I'm using OneNote more and more often.

To round out the front panel, there's a four-direction toggle with a button in the middle, a Task Manager/CTRL-ALT-DEL button, a power button, and a power button lock.

It is so nice to have a DVD drive internal to my Tablet PC. For the past year plus, I've had to take a big, clunky external drive on every trip. Again, the DVD adds weight, so it's not for everyone; but it's worth it to me.

Nice speakers!

The touch pad has two things that I hate: tap-to-click, and a side-edge scrolling zone. I turned off the tap-to-click already; but surprisingly, I like the side-edge scrolling zone on this model. What's different from the side-edge scrolling zone on the Toshiba (which drove me nuts)? Well, they put just a very slight ridge separating the touch-pad area from the side-edge scrolling zone. That's just enough tactile cue to let me tell which area I'm in, which was always the problem with the Toshiba's scrolling zone.

The touch pad's left button is twice as large as the right button. That's a nice idea, but I'm still getting used to it.

The control and editing keys couldn't be placed more differently from those on the Toshiba if Gateway had tried to make them so. It's goimg to take a while to adjust to the new layout; and in this machine transition stage, it's really confusing me.

Popped in a wide-screen DVD. Ah, this is how DVDs should look on the computer. The wide-screen is perfect. Nice display quality.

The wide-screen keeps surprising me. The screen resolution isn't extraordinary; but with the wide-screen, there's so much space! I'm not sure, but I think this will change the way I work. I'll be able to work comfortably in two windows side by side: app and debugger, Word doc and notes, etc. That could be useful once I get into the habit.

Well, that's day one with my new machine. All in all, I'm very happy with it.

...and we know where the CX200X is:







Right in my house! Around 12:30, the dogs started their "we really mean it this time, somebody's here" barking. I went to the door and thought, "Hey, I wonder what FedEx is delivering? After all, Gateway sent me a UPS tracking number." Then I saw the cow box, and I new the CX200X was here.

The confusion appears to be because Gateway sent the order in two boxes: the spare battery is coming via UPS, while the system came via FedEx. Go figure. And for whatever reason, they didn't give me the FedEx link. So while I've been carefully watching the battery's approach (due tomorrow), the system box snuck in through a flanking maneuver.

Of course, it's easy to be fooled by the battery: that one package weighs three pounds by itself. There's a lot of good things about the CX200X, but it's not for people who want a light-weight machine!

So after two weeks in the "Order Processing" state, my Gateway CX200X order skipped the whole "In Production" state, and jumped straight to "Shipping", according to the Gateway site. Yet the ETA is still listed as 11/9.

A call to Gateway's automated status line says that the system was produced on 10/29 and will arrive in 3 to 5 business days.

The UPS Web site reports that the order left Gateway yesterday at 4:06 p.m. and reached Nashville at 1:08 a.m. this morning. That's roughly a 9 hour drive from Nashville to my house, straight through. Of course, it won't go straight through, but will stop at various UPS transit stops along the way. At a minimum, I expect two more stops before it gets here. There's an outside chance it could get here today. There's a very good chance it could get here tomorrow, 11/2.

And if it doesn't get here until Thursday, I'll be on the road to Boston and Huntsville, and won't get home until... 11/9.

UPDATE: Left Nashville at 3:23 a.m.