Linux laptop/tablet PC for running Inkscape
Hello! I'm interested in using Inkscape with a stylus on a touch screen and I'm heavily influenced and inspired by articles I've read about Máirín Duffy's use of a Thinkpad x61 to create illustrations for Red Hat:
http://blog.linuxgrrl.com/2009/11/08/fedora-12-rocks-on-tablets/ http://mairin.duffy.usesthis.com/
I'm not sure what I would do with Inkscape exactly, maybe make a webcomic as I hinted about here: http://www.webcomicalliance.com/helpful-hints/mac-vs-pc-the-webcomics-editio... . For now, I just want to doodle a bit.
Anyway, following Máirín's lead, I guess I'm thinking about buying a Thinkpad X Series Convertible Tablet. As of this writing the model that's available is the X220, but I'm not sure how well it works with Linux and Inkscape. Lenovo doesn't ship the device with Linux pre-installed: http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/xtablet-series/index.html
I'm open to other hardware suggestions. On the market right now there's an HP EliteBook 2760p Tablet PC and a Dell Latitude XT3 Tablet PC as well.
Basicially, I'm looking for something that will run Linux and Inkscape and let me draw on the screen itself rather than using a Cintiq. Is this a common hardware setup for Inkscape users? Can anyone recommend what device I should buy? I've been using Linux on the desktop for five years (usually something Red Hat-based) but never on a laptop.
Thanks!
Phil
Hi Philip!
On Sun, 2011-10-02 at 17:46 -0400, Philip Durbin wrote:
Anyway, following Máirín's lead, I guess I'm thinking about buying a Thinkpad X Series Convertible Tablet. As of this writing the model that's available is the X220, but I'm not sure how well it works with Linux and Inkscape. Lenovo doesn't ship the device with Linux pre-installed: http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/xtablet-series/index.html
Just last week actually I upgraded my x61T to a Lenovo x220T with multi-touch, and I can tell you at least for Fedora 15, the tablet works perfectly out-of-the-box. Even the finger touch on the screen works. My co-worker Emily also has an X220T (she's had hers for a couple of months) on Fedora 15 and it works well for her too. We are both heavy Inkscape users.
I'm open to other hardware suggestions. On the market right now there's an HP EliteBook 2760p Tablet PC and a Dell Latitude XT3 Tablet PC as well.
I talked to a Dell employee some months back about their tablets when looking to upgrade from my x61, and at least at that time I was told that Dell tablets are unfortunately not Wacom-based and will not work well (if at all) in Linux. I have a coworker in the office who tried to get Linux working on his HP tablet with a lot of struggles and I'm not sure if he ever got it to work; I think it turned out it wasn't Wacom-based either.
Basicially, I'm looking for something that will run Linux and Inkscape and let me draw on the screen itself rather than using a Cintiq. Is this a common hardware setup for Inkscape users? Can anyone recommend what device I should buy? I've been using Linux on the desktop for five years (usually something Red Hat-based) but never on a laptop.
You're going to *love* the x220T.
~m
Hi Máirín,
On 10/2/11 6:28 PM, Máirín Duffy wrote:
Just last week actually I upgraded my x61T to a Lenovo x220T with multi-touch, and I can tell you at least for Fedora 15, the tablet works perfectly out-of-the-box. Even the finger touch on the screen works. My co-worker Emily also has an X220T (she's had hers for a couple of months) on Fedora 15 and it works well for her too. We are both heavy Inkscape users.
As you can imagine, this was incredibly timely and helpful. I went ahead and placed my order; it should be here in two weeks. Thanks!
I talked to a Dell employee some months back about their tablets when looking to upgrade from my x61, and at least at that time I was told that Dell tablets are unfortunately not Wacom-based and will not work well (if at all) in Linux. I have a coworker in the office who tried to get Linux working on his HP tablet with a lot of struggles and I'm not sure if he ever got it to work; I think it turned out it wasn't Wacom-based either.
I was feeling somewhat ok about HP's Linux support after a recent tweet[1] by one of the CentOS guys, but I hadn't really dug into their tablet PC offerings. The Dell tablet PC had a weird "this item may not be available" note and was more expensive anyway. I hadn't even considered the Wacom issue, which is obviously important.
You're going to *love* the x220T.
I expect I will. Now I'm going to feel obligated to actually draw something, which is good. :)
Phil
participants (2)
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Máirín Duffy -
Philip Durbin