Front Page

Content

Authors

Game Index

Forums

Site Tools

Submissions

About

KK
Kevin Klemme
March 09, 2020
35142 2
Hot
KK
Kevin Klemme
January 27, 2020
20818 0
Hot
KK
Kevin Klemme
August 12, 2019
7405 0
Hot
O
oliverkinne
December 19, 2023
3967 0
Hot
O
oliverkinne
December 14, 2023
3495 0
Hot

Mycelia Board Game Review

Board Game Reviews
O
oliverkinne
December 12, 2023
2074 0
O
oliverkinne
December 07, 2023
2582 0

River Wild Board Game Review

Board Game Reviews
O
oliverkinne
December 05, 2023
2250 0
O
oliverkinne
November 30, 2023
2494 0
J
Jackwraith
November 29, 2023
3014 0
Hot
O
oliverkinne
November 28, 2023
1971 0
S
Spitfireixa
October 24, 2023
3692 0
Hot
O
oliverkinne
October 17, 2023
2619 0
O
oliverkinne
October 10, 2023
2461 0
O
oliverkinne
October 09, 2023
2289 0
O
oliverkinne
October 06, 2023
2505 0

Outback Crossing Review

Board Game Reviews
×
Bugs: Recent Topics Paging, Uploading Images & Preview (11 Dec 2020)

Recent Topics paging, uploading images and preview bugs require a patch which has not yet been released.

× Painting Minis, Print & Play and Other Creative Type Stuff.

Sony Vaio Tap 20 = Vassal on Big-Ass Ipad

More
14 Oct 2012 03:56 - 14 Oct 2012 04:01 #135998 by Sagrilarus
I'm looking at this Vaio Tap 20 that's due out for Christmas, and it appears to be a full functioned PC that you can pull the 20 inch screen off of and use as a touch pad. Ten simultaneous inputs. Due to run Windows 8, Vassal and games like Memoir Online and Formula De and anything that runs in a browser are already available on the machine. MSRP looks to be adjusting down to about $900.

That's a big-ass screen. That's a screen where a map like Virgin Queen's can be presented without zooming and panning around.

I've been reluctant to go after an iPad because I haven't been happy with the cost-benefit ratio that it provides me personally. It's very slicky but it's very limited. I need a full blown machine with Office (and the keyboard to use it) plus the ability to host a full web site and heavy business software for the other parts of my life. Owning both makes no sense. If it's rugged enough this machine might end up being my "digital gaming platform" especially when you consider it has four times the real estate to work with. I could do presentations on it without a projector too.

S.
Last edit: 14 Oct 2012 04:01 by Sagrilarus.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dr. Mabuse

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
14 Oct 2012 21:33 #136008 by Dogmatix
The device looks interesting, but have you tried Win8 or Office 365 yet? It's a smartphone experience on a PC. It's going to be truly dreadful in the enterprise environment.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Gary Sax

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
14 Oct 2012 23:15 #136010 by Sagrilarus
I've seen it and it's not bad, but it doesn't make sense on a big screen. I'll be interested to see how they adjust for a bigger screen. On a 20 incher you're going to need to swipe twice to get the old app all the way off the screen.

S.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Oct 2012 06:54 #136023 by bomber
By far the worst thing about the iPad is that its still too heavy, I'm not sure how this would work, or why you'd want to use this instead of sitting at a PC, I can't imagine a lot of comfortable positions with this on your lap.

Truly we're all waiting for light emitting polymer technology and such like so that we can have large area displays that are "paper thin", weigh very little and can be rolled away, stuck on a wall or stand, or mounted to a lightweight frame for holding etc.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Oct 2012 11:02 #136028 by Sagrilarus
It would be lying flat on the table.

S.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Oct 2012 13:35 #136030 by JoelCFC25
The screen size is nice, but since nothing about VASSAL is designed for a touch/swipe interface, I'm curious if would be as cumbersome as it currently is on the iPad over Splashtop Remote Desktop.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Oct 2012 14:55 #136037 by Black Barney
Hey if I get a Microsoft Surface, will I be able to play games with any of you guys? Or is it not going to be compatible at all with iOS stuff? What about other PC stuff?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
16 Oct 2012 06:55 #136107 by bomber

Sagrilarus wrote: It would be lying flat on the table.

S.


I'm not seeing the advantage against the 27" monitor that most of us already have next to our comfortable desk chair, until it becomes a paper thin LEP device that can be like 4 or 5 feet wide, essentially a table top surface that's practical.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
16 Oct 2012 11:34 #136112 by luckyb0y
I don't really see it as a replacement yet. The most important thing is the interface and having big ass tablet doesn't change anything here. Unless you have a proper PC version of a board game with a slick UI, Vassal and similar roundabout ways of playing board games on a PC are always going to be much more of a hassle. As they aren't commercial projects I don't think they'll be optimized for touch interface anytime soon. Just look at open source games that have been ported to touchscreen devices. Both Freeciv and Battle for Wesnoth originally had mouse and keyboard interface now you can play them on tablets but the interface is far from slick and just gets in the way too much. It's probably quicker to just set up a proper board, cards and counters if you are having friends over or use your PC, mouse keyboard and all if you want to play VAssal.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: Gary Sax
Time to create page: 0.229 seconds