I ordered a tablet PC a little while back (Lenovo X61, with all the options maxed out, because, well, book advance). It shipped a couple of days ago, so I've been tracking it via UPS, where it has experience some odd delays. The strangest by far is this message from today:
LOUISVILLE, KY, US 10/31/2007 6:04 P.M. BROKERAGE RELEASED SHIPMENT. SHIPMENT IS SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY FOR FURTHER CLEARANCE
10/31/2007 6:04 P.M. A SPECIAL CUSTOMS DELAY IS REQUIRED FOR THIS LIVE ENTRY
"Live entry?" I realize it's coming from China, but what can they possibly be making these things out of? Can I feed it after midnight?
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The same thing happened to me when I ordered a T61 from Lenovo and it shipped through Kentucky. The computer seems pretty normal, though tonight of all nights would be the time for it to assume its living form (if it has one). I wonder if it's a Kentucky thing or a Lenovo thing...?
Obligatory xkcd comic link -- http://xkcd.com/281/
According to UPS:
Live Entry: A type of U.S. Customs and Border Protection entry that typically requires a visa license from the export country, when mandated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (such as textiles). These shipments usually require a formal entry and an additional day of customs clearance.
I guess computers count...
Which screen did you get on it? The touch one or the SXGA?
Mike:
The X61 Tablet is a touchscreen.
Personally, I hate Lenovo machines. They're extremely expensive for what they are, they're heavy for laptops, and they're comparatively slow.
Bah!
No, the X61 Tablet has an active digitizer screen that works with a special pen. One of the available screens, the XGA MultiTouch screen, also has a capacitive touch capability such that you can use it with fingers and other non-pen objects; another screen, the SXGA one, has a higher resolution but is only pen-touchable.
For the rest, the price of the X61T is highly competitive to the point of nearly being a bargain alternative to something like Fujitsu; and it's my sense that other Thinkpads in the Lenovo era aren't that bad, either (the key is that there's always a sale going on at lenovo.com, and the direct price is many hundreds of dollars lower than any price you can get from a reseller), and the heavy/slow stuff is just piffle.
"Live entry" and "special customs delay" immediately made me think of xkcd. I suggest you try shaking the box before you open it, just to be sure.
You should be thankful you don't have to face the problems us biologists have to face with shipping companies. Usually you have a couple of days worth of dry ice keeping it cold but thats not much help when they decide to route your shipment from Germany to Sweden via Texas - and then proceed to lose it in a warehouse there for a month (in August).
I love, love my X61s (non-touchscreen). It too was held for customs, but that seemed to only take about 24 hours. Enjoy!
Which screen did you get on it? The touch one or the SXGA?
I got the kind that needs a special pen. Which is my preference-- I inherited Kate's onld Palm, and I have big problems whenever I try to write on it, because I end up hitting the screen in multiple places at once (I have big hands), rendering everything gibberish.
I have the X61 and think it's really great so far. It's nice and light, and no slower than any other computers I have ever used. I use it for teaching mostly. I annotate powerpoints in class, and also develop screencasts that explain how to do the homework (for example) for the students to download.
I've used other tablets, and this one beats them.
Have fun with it!
It's funny to go back into the wayback machine and hear people speak about tablet pc's, especially with how Apple dominates this market.