Tablet PC
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A Tablet PC is a computer shaped in the form of a notebook or a slate with the capabilities of being written on through the use of digitizing tablet technology or a touch screen. A user can use a stylus and operate the computer without having to have a keyboard or mouse.
Tablet PCs that include a keyboard area called convertibles or hybrids. Ones that are only a monitor with pen are called slate; they can use external wireless or USB keyboards.
The most popular convertible Tablet PCs are the Acer and Toshiba. The most popular slates are the Motion Computing/Gateway Computers, Fujitsu, and HP/Compaq.
Most Tablet PCs run on the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system. Service Pack 2 includes Tablet PC Edition 2005 and is a free upgrade. Version 2005 brought improved handwriting recognition, and improved the Input Panel, allowing it to be used in almost every application. During CES 2005, Microsoft showed off features planned for a future upgrade. These included allowing users to ink directly on the desktop, enabling handwritten notes with increased visibility.
Running Linux on Tablet PCs (http://tuxmobil.org/tablet_unix.html) is another possibility, currently this can be a tedious task to set up on most Tablet PCs unless buying a Tablet PC with Lycoris Desktop/LX Tablet Edition. Linux still lacks many basic Tablet PC applications, but this is likely to improve in the future.
A user can input text using the built-in handwriting recognition, on-screen (virtual) keyboard, speech recognition, or a physical keyboard (if available). Shorthand-like entry methods, which enable pen-driven input at touch-typing speeds, are also available, including AlphaTap (http://networkimprov.net/alphatap/) and Shark (http://www.almaden.ibm.com/u/zhai/topics/virtualkeyboard.htm).
Many Tablet PCs use a WACOM digitizer, which delivers pen-position input to the computer at a fast rate. Tablets with these digitizers project a small magnetic field above the screen that interacts with electronics in the tablet's stylus. The user therefore is able to rest their hand on the screen without affecting the image or mouse pointer; only movement of the stylus affects the mouse pointer. UC Logic and Finepoint make similar digitizers.
Tablet PCs became available to the general public with the introduction of Microsoft's Tablet PC Edition in the fall of 2002. Before then they were used in small markets in industry, medicine, and government. Now they are used by students and many professionals.
See also
External links
- News on Tablet PC (http://www.whatisnew.com)
- News and Forums on Tablet PCs (http://www.tabletpctalk.com)
- Another Forum on Tablet PCs (http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com)
- Get Answers on the Tablet PC (http://www.tabletquestions.com)
- Tablet PC Software (http://www.tabletpcpost.com)
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