After a long day, I noticed that the customized and buy link was available for the Lenovo Thinkpad X60 tablet.  I got really excited, visited the site, customized my tablet, and added it to my cart.  Before I checked out, I looked over my options one more time.  I did not see the availability of built in EVDO card and pre-n wireless, which were 2 features I really want.  Does anyone know where these promised features are?  I am going to check with Lenovo tomorrow.

You can get to the customize link here:  http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=329576204C9E42289967E79E0E7C9A2D

P.S.  The option for the touch screen is also not available.  I was not interested in this feature but I did notice the unavailability of it.

Based on the Video Ink Show from GottabeMobile.com with Lenovo, custom orders for the Thinkpad X60 should be available tomorrow.  You should be able to customize X60 with other options and configurations other than the three models available for preorder today.  I am hoping that they will actually be available for shipping tomorrow as well and not just preorder.  I will be refreshing the page a lot and ordering one as soon as I can configure it.  I will update it often. 

You can go here currently for preorders: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/thinkpad/x-series/tablet/sitelet.html?re=home_C_us&trac=HPC.

Maybe I shouldn't of reminded people about this since I am planning on ordering one.  Nevermind people, nothing to see here.

I have been struggling with Media Center lately.  It just does not have all the features I want it to have.  I want the ability to stream other video formats other than wmv to other Media Center Extenders.  I envisioned all my movies ripped on the media center and allow them to be viewed anywhere without even putting the movie in.  I have tried Transcode 360 but the audio and video were never syncronized.  I know I could spend 12 hours ripping them from DVD format to wmv but it would take too long.

I also want HD content other than over the air available on my media center.  Vista is supposed to have cable card support and so I was excited for this.  The problem is that I need to buy a PC from a manufacturer in order to get a cable card.  I can not just add one to my already existing home built PC.  That is stupid but I was just going to get a cheap one to use as a media center server.

So this news was the last straw.  Not being able to stream recorded content from the cable card to other extenders is just rediculious.  Media Center is a really cool concept but the delivery by Microsoft is horrible.  Nothing will change because they will just hide behind the numbers of the number of Home Premium or Ultimate copies of Vista that are sold.  They won't acknowledge the fact that most customers don't even know that Media Center is even on their copy of Vista.  Hell, they probably don't know what Media Center is.

Its go time.

That's right boys and girls, my friends and I bought some tickets to THE college football game this weekend.  The Ohio State Buckeyes vs U. of M Wolvereenies.  I paid a pretty penny for them but I already know it was worth it.  I can't wait.  I'll take some pictures during the game and upload to the blog (if I remember).  Go Bucks!

OK, I've got a problem.  It's a gadget addiction.  I like getting new gadgets and opening them up.  Once that gone, I usually have buyer's remorse.  That being said, I went to Best Buy yesterday to check out the Zunes that were released yesterday.  I have never really seen them in person.  I have to say that they are really impressive although I still don't think that Microsoft gets it or I am not the person that this device is for.

The things that I did like.  The screen is really nice.  It is big and bright.  I also liked the colors especially the brown.  I liked the personal settings features such as changing the background.  That was a nice touch.  The dpad was easy to get used to, although I like the iPod click wheel a lot better.  It seems that if you have a lot of media on the device, it would be hard to navigate with the dpad.  The interface was easy to navigate with the media that was preloaded.  The large letters that shown when your scrolling which allow you to jump to media that start with the letter was nice.  They got that idea from the contacts scrolling on a Windows Mobile device.  I liked how they had the shuffle options at the top.  That is usually what I do when I listen to music on my iPod.

The things that I did not like.  The size was too big for me.  It is about the size of my 4th generation iPod but lighter.  Still the 5th generation iPod is a lot smaller width wise.  I did not like the integrated radio.  It's 2006 people, who listens to the radio.  Plus the radio interface it was too plain.  It also took a long time to bring up the pictures.  Too much time waiting for pictures to show up will make you not use the feature.

So, I know I bagged on the Zune before but I did almost buy one.  I still do not think that the sharing thing is going to be the big selling point of this device.  Remember Microsoft, it's not social if only a few people buy the thing.  I think the big seller on this device is the screen.  It is really nice.  The reason I almost bought it?  Subscription service.  I really want a subscription service and iTunes does not provide that.  I think it's because no one misses it and they probably make more money by selling individual songs and albums.  I didn't know if it was my addiction talking or if I really wanted the device.  I know that I would be disappointed once the new iPod cam out.  I am holding out for that.  Hopefully, I won't be disappointed.  If so, I will buy a Zune.

On a side note, while I was at Best Buy playing with the Zune, which was about a half hour, they sold 3 iPod nanos and 0 Zunes.  Where is the marketing Microsoft?  I have not seen any of those commercials but I can't throw a dead cat without seeing one of those stupid iPod commercials.  My wife heard about the Zune on the local news last night for the first time.  Black Friday is right around the corner.  Just a heads up.

Mike Amundsen will be presenting on MSMQ Triggers tnight at the NWNUG meeting.  Mike is an INETA speaker, a published author, and has spoken internationally.  This should be a very informative and interesting meeting.  It will be held at HCR Manorcare like usual.

More information can be found here at the NWNUG website.  See you there.

I said that my next tablet will probably be a Fujitsu T4215.  I just watched the new super secret video from Gottabemobile and may have changed my mind.  They talk with Lenovo about the new X61 Tablet that is coming out. I really like this tablet.  They have many cool new features like touch screen, better battery power and diagnostics, up to 4 gigs of RAM, and Core Duo processors.  Thats some sweet radically awesome options.  I have not really liked IBM laptops (which Lenovo bought out) in the past but I may have to give them a new chance.  Exciting times for gadget geeks in the tabletscape.

Well, Fujitsu released the T4215 today which is the Core 2 Duo version of my T4020 tablet.  As soon as heard that news, I went to the web site and customized my tablet and I was about to hot 'Confirm Order' until I was thinking about Vista.

I wanted to know what Fujitsu's plans are with their newly released tablets and the release of Vista.  I called Fujitsu and he said that the tablets will come with a free upgrade coupon although he didn't know what version.  I asked him if they are going to ship their new tablets with Vista once it was released to manufacturing at the end of this month.  He said that he believes their plans are to but it will take a couple of weeks after the RTM.

I am going to see if anyone else knows the answer to these questions by posting them on the GottaBeMobile forums.  Maybe someone else out there knows some more information.