The bios limits the Hdd to (I think) 120 GB. If you can get your hand on a USB CD/DVD drive you could use it boot a tool like GpartD and assign the space to another partition and reclaim the space. The setup that is imposed by doing this suggests a data partition and an OS partiton.

I am at loss as to why this far into the netbook game no one has come up with a Wacom enabled one. Given current netbook’s battery life we would finally get a tablet fit for day long note taking. Only reason I can think of is Wacom somehow being opposed to it and forbidding it.

Only problem is that the TC1100 has some stupid limitation in the BIOS with hard drive addressing that you can’t change, so you’ll usually hit a wall at 128 GB with Windows. I managed to get around it on XP Tablet with a registry edit for 48-bit LBA; not sure if it also works on Windows 7. (Ubuntu, however, doesn’t have that issue at all.)

Before that, though, I upgraded mine to 2 GB, which really gave it a kick in the pants and made running Windows 7 a viable option (if not for the SketchBook Pro pressure sensitivity issues, anyway). However, neither of my DIMM slots had any wires soldered to them.

(Which slots do you mean by “primary” and “secondary”, anyway? All I know is that one’s easily user-accessible and the other requires significant disassembly, practically separating the tablet in half.)

Finally, since you have three units, I’d guess that you have significant TC1100 experience. In that case, do you know how much battery life I could get out of a new battery? (My current one lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes based on my estimates, which isn’t bad for my type of usage given the abundance of AC power, but it doesn’t exactly provide peace of mind if I need to go for long periods without any AC outlets nearby.)

There is also much out there about the two different kinds of ssd and the quality of the more commonly available being little to no better than a typical hdd. Leaning toward a regular spinning hdd unless someone else has a different perspective. Thanks.

Components behind the monitor. This design necessity in the tc1100 allows someone to keep the laptop on their lap for a longer time without being burnt.

I have to vouch for the awesomeness that is the tc1100, though.

This small tablet has a unique form factor, very portable, and has the features of a good tablet with the features of a netbook… and for an older computer, you can’t go wrong in picking one of these up.

I can also vouch for the durability of the machine itself, as I’ve taken it to Reserves annual training, where it survived lots of dust, being thrown around, and being very scratch-resistant. It’s pretty light and very functional, and I would recommend it to anyone who required decent computing power and portability. It dual-boots Windows XP and Ubuntu 9.04 very well, and even runs games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and Command and Conquer: Generals Zero Hour.

I had to sell it, however, because I needed cash. Hopefully the next guy enjoys it as much as I have.

I use it as a travel computer, as it’s lighter and gets better battery life than my laptop.

One problem I have is that the internal battery that allows hot swapping is dead. Anyone know where I can get instructions on changing that battery??

Being able to warm swap would give me up to 6-8 hours of battery life on the run.

1.1 GHz Dothan, 1×512 MB original RAM (since upgraded to the full 2 GB to give Web browsers and eventually Windows 7 more breathing room), 40 GB 4,200 RPM Hitachi TravelStar drive, Intel 2200BG wireless (I can do without 802.11a), and the BOE Hydis screen (which, aside from a small bright spot, a stuck red pixel, and an aged CCFL backlight that shows white with a yellow tint, is easily the best LCD I’ve seen on a portable computer of this size yet). It came with clear signs of use with black marks on the front bezel edge and some irritating screen scratches, but it does what I want it to do. (Web browsing, basic Office tasks, sketching, reading .PDFs and e-books, and classic gaming that won’t stress the GeForce 4 Go 420 too much, basically.)

It’s also delightfully light, even with the keyboard attached (4 pounds total, 3.1 pounds in pure slate mode). I could keep this thing cradled in my arm all day. (Just try to use a laptop or netbook like that!)

Those that I show it to end up being impressed that something like this actually exists. (Some of them happen to be long-time Mac users who have actually considered buying a Windows PC for just once.) What it tells me is that tablets would probably catch on more if they were more affordable and had detachable keyboards so that nobody gets the notion that you have to do without one. I’d certainly like to see a modern TC1100 sold new in the netbook space for under 500 US$.

Also, having the TC1100 allows me to take a great burden off my existing HP iPAQ hx4700, which I always regarded as a pocket Tablet PC of sorts. I can whip out the hx4700 for PIM, multimedia, light Web browsing, minor Office editing, and e-book reading, but when I want .PDFs, Flash, classic Windows games, SketchBook Pro 2010, serious Office work, or just a bigger screen, among other things, the TC1100 comes out.

I’m looking forward to further leverage what I affectionately call the “James Kendrick Netbook Alternative”. These three weeks have only been the beginning of what I am sure is going to be a long-standing obsession with tablet computing. (Especially if it gets to the point where I never have to futz around with huge paper books or paper sheets!)

Cheers,
Felix

P.S. CPD does launch and the music plays, but screen freezes to black and I can only get out using a complete shut-down…

I sincerely can say these are the best computing devices I have ever owned. I have searched for many years to find something that could come close to replacing the TC1100 but I have always gone back to it. It is by far the most productive computer I have ever owned. I wish someone would develop something similar.

Over the years I have upgraded the RAM to 1.5GB and the hard drive to 160GB and the machine is very fast – faster than a dual core Thinkpad X41 tablet I purchased to replace it (I ended up giving it to my brother and going back to the TC1100).

I’m VERY happy, it came with 1.5GB ram and a 40Gb HD 1.2Mhz, and the battery lasts close to 4 hours (no radio, dimmed screen).

The only problem I had was the hard drive started failing after about a week, but I replaced that 4200rpm drive with a 5400 60gb, and am even happier, it performs extremely well.

Note taking during meetings and conferences has become fun again, it’s great!

Thanks JK for this awesome recommendation.