Mobile Tech Minutes — Windows 7 on a 2004 Tablet PC?
My very first Tablet PC love might have found new purpose in life. It was late in 2004 when I purchased a Toshiba M205 with the then very usable 1.5GHz Pentium M processor. Ah… but that was back in the days of XP Tablet Edition. What about 2009 and Windows 7 on this bit of hardware?
I installed Windows 7 Ultimate on the device and find it to be quite useful! My battery won’t really hold a charge, but what was once relegated to a dusty corner in my closet is now a journal-type device with all of the inking features of Microsoft’s newest operating system. Would I use this on a daily basis as a production machine for all of my needs? Nope. But I don’t have another large Tablet PC with an active digitizer, so this is fine for note taking and web surfing around the house. Yes, I could have easily stayed on Windows XP Tablet Edition, but I thought this was a good learning experience.
The initial Windows 7 install didn’t provide me with Wi-Fi, sound or some other updated drivers, but some nosing around on the web got me what I needed without too much hassle. In fact, Windows Update was a big help here, although I had to use an Ethernet cable for the initial connection. I’m impressed at how Windows 7 is moving along on hardware that’s five years old. The 32MB of video memory is a bit of challenge, but otherwise, I think my M205 has found new life with a new OS!
Cool! Windows 7 does really surprise sometimes
I love the video. I wonder how the Pentium m’s compare to the atom processors.
I’ve got Win 7 on my much worse spec tc1100 and it’s running great as well (following the notes at http://mobilepcwiki.com/mpc/index.php?title=HP/TC1100/Windows_7_Installation_Notes ).
Even on the 1.0GHz, 1.5GB RAM one I have, it works perfectly for the main tablet uses I have (namely OneNote, PDF annotation, and I use it as an ebook reader as well).
Ahhh…How I miis my M200! I followed the instructions on GBM and upgraded mine to the 2.0GHz Dothan CPU and bumped the RAM up to 2 gigs. Then upgraded to a 7200RPM HDD.
Installed Windows 7 beta on it at the time and was loving it. All, for the most part was going quite well with nary a hiccup.
Sadly, gadget envy took over and I sold mine along with its docking station and external CD/DVD ROM drive on ebay in order to get my HP TX2500z. It is somewhat lacking in comparison to all the cool features that my M200 had.
David
I upgraded my M205 as well — it was no big deal to do. One issue I found was the fan seemed to run constantly. I also had one small issue with keyboard becoming unresponsive, but it is possible the old gal is just getting a bit arthritic and having hot flashes!!
LOL @ Apple logo on the back of the LCD. Ink away at a Starbucks and start some more MacTablet rumors…
I would definitely put one on my TC1100 if I were in the USA! Sadly here in Italy a few people really know of tablet computing, let alone a mac tablet.
I’ve managed to run Win7 at a fairly good clip on my even-more-CPU-deficited HP TC1100 with just a 1.1 GHz Pentium M Dothan ULV, but I had 2 GB of RAM installed when I tried it, which helps quite a bit. I did have to do a bit of driver finagling, though, and like that M205, there’s no Aero no matter what.
In fact, there’s only one reason why I’m NOT going to run Win7 on my TC1100 for a while, old as it is:
Wacom drivers + Tablet PC + SketchBook Pro 2010 = pressure sensitivity issues.
As soon as I get a proper fix somehow, it’s moving over. Windows 7’s Tablet Input Panel and other UI enhancements (especially where Wi-Fi handling is concerned) are just too good to pass up, even on older hardware.
I did the same as you, Kevin. The video driver I have is a bit wonky, though – I have to turn on the charger briefly to get the screen to work. I managed to find a new battery from Hong Kong for half the price they wanted here in Norway and the postage was a fraction of the cost, too! Only took 6 days to arrive. I’m now a happy, mobile tablet PC user again. My touch screen PC, although a lot smaller and lighter, is relegated to the drawer.
A few years ago there was quite a bit of online discussion about upgrading the Tosh M200 to Vista. Officially this upgrade was not viable, but people found that using a few M400 drivers solved the probem. I followed suit and have been running Vista on my M200 for a couple of years. I find handwriting recognition can be a bit slow, but it’s mostly OK.I expect to put Windows 7 onto it soon.
I’m running Windows 7 RTM on my 2004 Acer Travelmate C302 tablet PC. (with a faster hard drive, and minor CPU upgrade, 2gb ram) It runs noticeably faster than Vista did on the same configuration.
I’m running Win7 on my Tosh M200 and it’s a dream. Only real problem is that it seems to run *very* hot – the battery pack really gets unbearable. Don’t know if that’s to do with Win7 or if the battery is just about to die.
I still prefer the M200 over my current work M700, the screen is a mile better. IMHO hybrid touch/pen screens just don’t hack it.
Joe,
For more information, see the Windows 7 Pre-Order offer page here: http://tinyurl.com/nldc8p
Also, if you are currently a student you may qualify for the $30 upgrade to Windows 7. For more information, please go here: http://tinyurl.com/m7nyxa
Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team
Has anyone tried using Windows 7 on a Lenovo X41 Tablet PC?
Wow Windows 7 really scales down. I am running it on an Acer Aspire One with Aero enabled with no problems. And the new Archos 9 runs it too
http://farview.wordpress.com/