Right now I run a Sony D10 ProII. I know about the 671 and P2 and am intrigued, however, I was thinking I could set up a laptop/tablet based rig with something very close to the same footprint (maybe smaller, see the link and check out the dimensions of that OQO 01+), and possibly cheaper than a new un-modded 671 (definitely cheaper than a ACM). I plan on waiting for the 671's, P2's etc. to show up on the used market, and I know that will take a couple of years, but in the meantime I want to go 24bit.
Size:
Like I said I am looking at size first and foremost.
671 - 10.5"w x 2"h x 7.5"d
sony vaio CR1 - 9.7"w x 1"h x 6"d, this is just for example I'm not planning on getting this exact VAIO, just illustrating my point about size. BTW that OQO dealie is 4.9"w x .9"h x 3.4"d
Price:
I'm talking used ebay prices
671 + 4GB CF ~ 1200-1300
tablet/laptop + firebox ~ 800-1000 (since I will not pay more than 700 for the laptop)
Power:
Some of these laptops/tablets I'm looking at have the ULV processors, I'm wondering how much more run time you would get on the high capicity internals with these new processors if you were just running a bare bones XP and Wavelab. Even so I would make sure to get the cigarette lighter power adapter for it and run it off the 12V's I already have, if needed. Yes, it's still carrying around 12V's but hey I'm still young enough
Specifically what I was asking in my original post is about whether or not to look for strictly traditional laptops, or one of these new tablet/laptop hybrids, or a plain tablet style. I was thinking the latter of these would have problems say if the gear bag moved, and something in your gear bag accidentally bumped into the screen, and stopped the recording. Are the tablets stylus sensitive only, or can you input with your fingers, elbows, mics. etc. All this may be moot, as I will probably just end up picking up a regular laptop, but there are some great deals to be had in the tablet market, and I wanted to explore this option first.