Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2016 April 16

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April 16

Microsoft Surface Tablets Pro 4 and the Book question

Hi there. I feel I need a tablet computer although I have a vague idea if they can do what I need. I know you can take a pen and write on the screen or paint a picture. That is fine but it is not what I need. I need to draw complicated 3-D images but not usual architectural designs like industrial building. I need to draw 3-D geometric figures like a globe with parallels and meridians. I would prefer if the tablet had those preinstalled with various parameters subject to change with an option of changing the viewing angle, etc. I also want it to have programming capabilities (C/C++ for instance) that would allow me to make graphics of some special functions and store the result in a file. I want this file to be compatible with some Linux applications, e.g gnuplot. I also want it to correct my input, e.g. if I drew an imperfect cube the tablet would make all lines connected and straight.

I googled for user manuals but could not find any. There is a user guide but that is very small, 33 pages. It does not really describe what it can do. Any help in understanding the surface hardware will be appreciated. Or alternatively perhaps there are other advanced systems out there, please advise. Thanks --AboutFace 22 (talk) 17:56, 16 April 2016 (UTC)

Re: "I also want it to correct my input, e.g. if I drew an imperfect cube the tablet would make all lines connected and straight". In 2D this is called grid snapping, but I don't know how it could work in 3D, because there's no way to specify the depth of each point you hand draw. You'd need some other input device to control the depth of the points you draw. StuRat (talk) 18:11, 16 April 2016 (UTC)

Thank you StuRat. This feature not that important actually. I understand the problem. I want to find a comprehensive user manual and none is available.--AboutFace 22 (talk) 00:18, 17 April 2016 (UTC)

Is it a requirement that it run on a tablet? It sounds like you're describing something like Sketchup. CodeTalker (talk) 00:53, 17 April 2016 (UTC)

Are you confusing a Tablet computer with a Graphics tablet (and appropriate software running on any computer)? Dbfirs 08:12, 17 April 2016 (UTC)

Thank you for pointers. I may be somewhat confused, that's true. .--AboutFace 22 (talk) 00:18, 18 April 2016 (UTC)