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A tablet PC is a notebook- or slate-shaped mobile computer. Its touchscreen or digitizing tablet technology allows the user to operate the computer with a stylus or digital pen instead of a keyboard or mouse.

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 and Shark.

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. (However, due to interference from other electronics within a tablet PC, many models suffer from "jitter", which makes some tasks difficult, e.g. slowly drawing straight lines, or writing small characters.) UC Logic and Finepoint make similar digitizers.

Forms

Slates are tablet PCs that comprise of a screen and a pen; the keyboard that they lack can be added through means of wireless or USB connection.

Convertibles are tablet PCs that has a base body with a keyboard. Typically, the base attaches to the display at a single joint that rotates 180° right to left and folds 180° back and forth.

Hybrid shares the features of the slate and convertible, as it has a detachable keyboard and can be used either way.

History

Alan Kay of Xerox PARC proposed a notebook using pen input called Dynabook in the late-1960s. However, the PARC management didn´t support its development. The first commercially available tablet-type computer was the GRiDPad from GRiD Systems, released in September 1989. Its operating system based on MS-DOS. In 1991 another tablet computer, the Momenta Pentop from Go Corporation, became available. In 1992 Go released a dedicated operating system, called PenPoint OS and Microsoft released Windows for Pen Computing. The original models of the IBM ThinkPad series were also tablets, as the name implies. These early examples were commercial failures, suffering from its available handwriting recognition not being sufficient for user requirements, and from the product's high cost and weight. The Momenta, for example, weighed seven pounds and had a purchase price of about $5,000.

The first commercialized tablet PCs available to the consumer market were the IBM ThinkPad 750P and 360P introduced in 1993http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/thinkpad/anniversary/history.html. Tablet PCs were made further available with the introduction of Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Editionhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/default.mspx in the fall of 2002. Microsoft's operating system for the tablet PCs had the advantage of the standardization in the PC market with Microsoft's operating systems. Finally, recent advances in computer technology and lowering of manufacturing costs allowed for tablet PCs to become more affordable and widespread. It must be noted that there are tablet PC operating systems other than Microsoft's. While all are pen input devices, some software is targeted particularly for the Tablet PC API, and will not run on other devices. Purchasers should make sure that their software and hardware are compatible, since the phrase "tablet PC" does not guarantee compatibility.

System Software

Most tablet PCs run on the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition - the latest version is 2005 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 is another option. For some Linux distributions and certain tablets this can be still somewhat tricky compared to buying a tablet with Linux pre-installed, as on the early Lycoris Desktop/LX Tablet Edition. Linux initially lacked some basic tablet PC applications, but with the advent of the EmperorLinux Raven X41 Tablet * with handwriting recognition, Linux Tablets have improved significantly.

Tablets such as the Hitachi VisionPlate are optionally shipped with Linux and can readily be used as wireless X terminals, freeing them from the requirements of actually running applications and, instead, allowing all of the resources of the VisionPlate to be used to display the graphic display portion of an application that is running somewhere on the local or wide area network. This has allowed the tablet to be used as a wireless graphics X terminal in vertical markets such as restaurant point of sale.

Tablets vs. Traditional Laptops

The advantages and disadvantages of tablet PCs are highly subjective measures. What appeals to one user may be exactly what disappoints another. What follows are commonly cited reasons why people like or dislike tablet PCs, but they are by no means objective measures.

Advantages
  • More natural form of input -- sketching and handwriting seem to be a much more intuitive form of input than a keyboard and mouse, especially for people who are new to computers. Also the pen is an absolute pointing device rather than a relative pointing device like the mouse. Something on screen can be clicked on by taking the pen straight to it.
  • Gesture recognition -- gestures (moving the stylus in special patterns over the screen) are powerful, offering increased efficiency. For example, a Firefox extension can open all circled links in new tabs.
  • Paperless world -- lack of paper makes it much easier to share notes, reduce clutter from paper binders, reorganize notes (by moving text around the page, as opposed to using a physical eraser). You do not have to send links to interesting pages you find on the net to colleagues, you can take the Tablet under your arm and show it. Now if what you "found" was a filled in "approval form" - the other user can "sign on" and approve of the form - speeding workflow interaction.
  • Student note-taking - tablet PCs make it possible for students/conferencees to take graphical notes of figures during class/presentations. The pen does not squeek nor is there any clicking from keyboards being pressed that annoys other students.
  • People with disabilities -- those who are physically unable to type but can hold a stylus will be able to input characters at a reasonable rate.
  • Digital art - an active tablet with a screen behind it is often necessary for some professional digital artists, who need fine control over their creations (the mouse is too jerky to be used as a pen).
  • Lightweight and portability. Pure tablets and hybrids with the keyboard detached are very slim and light compared to a laptop and can easily be tucked under the arm like a book.
  • They can be used while standing (and even when walking about - although perhaps not advisable).
  • Lying flat - most tablet PCs do not interrupt line of sight (e.g.: in business meetings) since they lie flat on the table or in one's arms. This also makes it easy for digital artists who wish to draw on a horizontal medium.
  • Humane - tablet PCs are more flexible, for example, you could visit websites from anywhere with wireless internet access.

Disadvantages
  • Higher pricetag -- convertible Tablet PCs cost roughly $300 more than their non-tablet counterparts as of 2005. This premium was expected to fall to as low as $75 by 2007.*.
  • Screen size* -- the size of Tablet PC screens currently peaks at about 14 inches. *However, some models make up for this with very high resolution (a higher pixel density per unit area, which is a necessity for digital artists who use the stylus), making this a tradeoff rather than a disadvantage.
  • Few manufacturers -- there is currently a relative paucity of manufacturers offering Tablet PCs.needed.
  • Hinge -- the weakest physical part of a laptop is often the hinge. Convertible tablet PCs have one hinge, rather than two hinges on traditional laptops, and thus experience higher stress and wear on the single hinge. This can manifest in some models (e.g. Toshiba M200/400) where users have reported the screen is more prone to shaking than traditional laptops.
  • Typing crutch -- the handwriting recognition encourages some users to rely solely on it, preventing them from developing good (and necessary) typing skills, which are often a part of elementary school curricula.
  • Varying battery life -- disparities in battery life may extinguish some of the advantages listed above; for example, note-taking is only productive if the computer's battery lasts for more than a full school day.
  • Digitizer issues -- some tablet digitizers cannot keep up if the user writes or draws quickly which reduces the accuracy of the lines the computer captures. Also the signal from the pen can get distorted near the edges of the screen.
  • Because of the space needed for the screen shifting physical mechanism, tablet PC's are less powerful per size and weight than their notepad computers counterparts of the same specs.
  • Coding -- programming languages are not conducive to handwriting recognition,
  • Typing (doing schoolwork, typing email) -- handwriting recognition is much slower compared to typing speed, which can be as high as 50-150 WPM.

As such, a tablet PC without a keyboard is not a replacement computer, and will make it harder for users (novice or expert) to fully exploit computer technology, although tablets have USB ports or BlueTooth wireless connection so a keyboard can easily be added. Often, slate tablets are purchased as a secondary computer, note-taking accessory, or teaching tool. However, a convertible tablet -- one with a keyboard and some mass storage -- can be a very powerful replacement computer, especially for students who wish to take notes.

Applications of Tablet PCs in Business

Combined with wireless technology and networking capabilities, Tablet PCs can be a key feature to the success of growing businesses. Applications already available for tablet PC users as well as possible software solutions can allow many businesses to grow with state of the art technology.

Firms that commonly require filling out survey forms and signing off working papers can easily use the tablet functions to quickly and efficiently complete the task. In addition, through use of wireless technologies, working papers, or worksite orders could be instantly sent to the appropriate recipient. Companies who have embraced this use for Tablet PCs include Vancouver’s Bartec Fire *, who claim the use of Tablet PCs have increased productivity since surveys can be conducted onsite and instantly be sent to their database.

Other uses for Tablet PCs include the fast and easy use of the stylus to create diagrams and sketches. This is an excellent tool for jobsite workers to plan and implement construction. Designers could also benefit from this technology as they can promptly design and organize their ideas on their PC. GRAM Traffic Counting Inc.*, uses tablet PCs on the field to draw out traffic intersections and sends it instantly to main database, eliminating the long process of converting paper drawings to computer CAD plans.

Scientists have also found uses for Tablets. For instance while conducting research, note-taking can be easily organized and saved to an electronic database if the notes are taken on one of the many software applications available to tablets. In addition information can be presented in a professional manner through use of the stylus to draw attention to information of slides and other documents.* Businesses as well as academics could see benefits from utilizing Tablets.

The main reason for businesses to embrace tablet PCs and associated technologies is that the overall result could benefit the way firms serve their customers. For instance signatures stored on a tablet for security, filling out forms, signing working papers, designing, presenting information, among other functions. The adoption of Tablets still presents itself as a costly option, but the relative benefits realized from time saved and increased productivity is sure to facilitate success.

Popular Models

Slate
  • Fujitsu Stylistic ST5000
  • Electrovaya Scribbler SC3100
  • Motion M1200, M1300, M1400, LE1600, LS800
  • NEC Versa LitePad

Convertible
  • Acer TravelMate C200/C300/C310
  • Toshiba Portegé M200/M400
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X41
  • Toshiba Satellite R10/R15
  • Toshiba Tecra M4/M7
  • Fujitsu LifeBook P1500/T4000/T4200
  • HP Compaq TC4200/TC4400
  • Gateway CX210/M285 (The CX200, replaced by the CX210, was the first wide screen tablet)

Hybrid

See also

External links

Blogs

  • PaperBackPC The unofficial Ultra-Mobile PC / TabletPC blog and community
  • * The Place for Tablet PC Comparisons, News, Reviews and Information
  • Tablet PC Talk – news and forums on tablet PCs
  • What Is New – news about tablet PCs
  • Tablet PC Blogs – Join other Tableteers by creating your own Tablet PC Blog.
  • Tabletology.com – Useful and playful information about the everyday use of Tablet PCs by 2 women from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Discussions and Forums

Companies Successfully Implementing Tablet PC's

Mobile_computer

References

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Tablet PC".

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