Tablet PC News Archive
November 2006
FranklinCovey Releases PlanPlus Online
Business Wire
The integrated contact management capabilities within PlanPlus Online allow customers to easily track leads, organizations, contacts, tasks and sales opportunities and integrate action items with their daily task list and schedule. A simple sales process is included with the application, along with the ability to track client or opportunity history, view the activity of other team members and create detailed reports. PlanPlus Online is collaborative and scaleable for individual and small, medium or large business use.
“We are excited to present an online application that features the same components our customers enjoy using on their desktop, laptops, and tablet PCs,” says Jeff Anderson, Vice President of Product Management for FranklinCovey. “This application will provide mobile professionals and work groups with access to all of their planning and contact management needs anytime, anywhere. We are confident that PlanPlus Online will enable increased productivity for these professionals as they implement FranklinCovey’s proven planning principles.”
FranklinCovey also offers PlanPlus for Microsoft Outlook and PlanPlus for Windows XP software for customers who wish to incorporate the planning system on their desktop, laptop or tablet PC.
A look at the Mobility Center
Gotta Be Mobile
Craig Pringle, a Tablet PC MVP, has posted a great overview article on Vista's Mobility Center. Trust me, if you own a Tablet PC, UMPC, or a laptop, you will be spending some time in the Mobility Center. So now, is a good time to familiarize yourself with it. The Vista team did a great job of bringing together the many apsects of mobile computing and providing a clean, central location to the most common issues faced by mobile professionals.
The Mobility Centre is one of those Vista features that once you find it and start using it you will wonder how you ever got along without it.
The first thing you need to know is how to get to it. You can of course find it in the control panel, or if you enter “Mobility” into the Start search box you will find it. However there is an easier way, the keyboard shortcut Windows key + X. That is fine if you are docked or in laptop mode on a convertible; but for tablet use I recommend assigning a hardware button to launch the Mobility Centre.
ATP has added New units to their 48 hour demo program
Allegiance Technology's 48 hour tablet PC demo program is the only one of its kind. It came about because so many of our prospective customers want to be able to see and touch a tablet PC before they spend serious money on one.
 
Many of you have sampled our 48 hour demo program. We continue to expand and update the units we have available for this program. Currently, we have the Motion LE1600 and LS800, IBM X41T, Toshiba Tecra M7 and Portege M400, as well as the TabletKiosk eo 7110 and 7210 UMPCs.
Take Note Of—And Notes On—These Tablet PCs
PC Magazine
Attention all note-takers and doodlers: Whether you're a board room exec with a schedule full of meetings or college student with a calendar overrun by class, a convertible tablet may be just what you need. With screens that flip into a notepad-like surface where you can write notes, scribble and draw, Tablet PCs combine the functionality of a good old pen and paper with the features of a traditional laptop—so you can write, literally, into any program.
All tablets come with a stylus pen that can be stored in the chassis when it's not in use. The
Toshiba Portégé M400-S4032
's pen actually ejects automatically from a slot near the screen when the screen is flipped into a tablet—very Bond like. The
Fujitsu Lifebook T4210
's stylus feels and works just like a ball point pen.
Toshiba Portégé M40-S4032
($2,200 street)
The Toshiba Portégé M40-S4032 is currently the only tablet available that features integrated Verizon EV-DO wireless and a dual-core processor.
Do I Need The Trusted Platform Module?
Tablet PC Reviews
This is a question many have probably asked as they pondered the purchase of a new Tablet PC. Most of the major Tablet PC manufacturers, Dell, HP, IBM, Toshiba, and Fujitsu, Gateway and Acer, already have models with the TPM inside or plan to release models with the TPM in the not-too-distant future. Industry analysts believe the chip may be in almost every computer by the end of the decade.
So what exactly is the TPM? Put simply, the TPM is a small chip that provides an encrypted environment to store passwords and other security and authentication information. The TPM in conjunction with software provides validation of authentication information such as biometrics and passwords ensuring that only authorized users have access to the data contained on the Tablet PC.
As an example, before the advent of the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) Windows based Tablet PCs had a gaping security hole -- the password used to access a password protected Tablet PC was stored in clear text on the machine which made it very easy for a hacker to gain access to the machine. With TPM the password can be stored in an encrypted format in the TPM making it virtually impossible for an unauthorized user to derive the password.
tech gift guide
theglobeandmail.com
eo UMPC i7210 from $1,399 (U.S.)
There's notebooks, ultralights and then there's the eo.
Its name is Latin for "go, advance or progress" says the company and this tablet PC is designed as a portable device for those on the move.
With its size — the screen is just seven inches - there aren't a lot of features above the barebones. There's a 60 GB hard drive and 4-in-1 memory card reader in addition to 1GHz processor. That doesn't seem like much but the usage is really designed for quick communication on the go, email, web browsing and rudimentary entertainment.
Its prime use has been for physicians to replace charts and other mobile field workers to process work order and capture signatures.
There is, however, a growing community dedicated to these Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) which are based on Windows XP Tablet edition. The screen is touch-sensitive and the unit comes with built in camera and microphone.
Fancypants UMPCs by Crispin Jones for PBJ
Popgadget
PBJ is a company that specializes in all types of tablet computers. Designer Crispin Jones was commisioned to reinvent the most boring part of all technology... the plastic box that holds the sexy electronic components. With a goal of bringing classic craft designs to the technology scene Mr. Jones has created a pleasing case modeled after the Japanese suzuribako boxes used to store writings implements. Beyond the stylistic reasons for the deep decorative lines; the texture carved into the surface provides a no slip hold for fingers.
Selling ‘grab and go’ appeal
VNUNet.com
Microsoft specifies that the UMPC is a flat, hand-held device halfway between a smartphone or PDA and a notebook PC in size. It also has a touch-sensitive screen, rather than a keyboard. Other features include an internal hard drive, wireless internet connectivity, Bluetooth and a version of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. With hard drives varying between 30GB and 60GB, battery life for the early models is estimated at two-and-a-half hours.
Glyn Evans, TabletKiosk UK Agent at PocketPC Solutions, says the company has received a number of enquiries for its TabletKiosk range from businesses in the hospitality industry, a couple of major car manufacturers, schools, software developers currently using tablet PCs and manufacturing firms. However, Evans believes that most seem to be evaluating these devices and as yet have not committed to the technology in the UK, although this will only be a matter of time. Meanwhile, in the US, major companies are already integrating these devices into their solutions.
“We have had a number of companies buy the UMPC to integrate into portable x-ray machines and engineering companies looking to replace aging tablet PCs with large numbers of UMPCs,” Evans says. “Most appear to be evaluating them to run bespoke software, or to replace large numbers of tablet PCs cost effectively.”
“Their size and price make them more attractive than the traditional tablet PC and as these devices run the full tablet operating system, the handwriting recognition and usability are the same, with only the reduced screen size causing a problem for some users and applications,” he says.
“Battery life is an issue for some at present, although there are extended batteries available for some models that give up to five hours of continuous usage.”
Chang says the battery life of a tablet PC or an average notebook that a sales person carries is about three to three-and-a-half hours if used continuously.
“R2H [the Asus UMPC offering] comes with two batteries, which if users charge them fully, will give them the same battery life for a whole day’s use,” he says.
“Normally people who look for mobility do not switch on the notebook or UMPC for a whole day; normally it is only at meetings with customers, or for other business purposes.”
Lenovo "sceptical" about Vista
PC Pro
Lenovo is still firmly behind the Tablet PC concept. Godin claimed that enterprise clients were actively asking for Tablet PCs as part of its ThinkPad range. 'They view this as a strong factor in their decision to buy Lenovo laptops,' he said.
When we asked if the Tablet PC market was even big enough to be concerned about, he added: 'It's a small market but it's very fast growing. Large customers want [Tablet PCs] so they can have a complete range of notebooks for their business.'
Using a Mini Slim Keyboard with a Tablet PC Review
Tablet PC Reviews
Type-O
While buying a Tablet PC, hand writing recognition wasn't my first priority, yet I was disappointed by Microsoft's hand writing recognition software, even when writing nice clean type letters. For some reason it insisted that a round circle is any letter but an 'O'.
What bothered me more was the lack of keyboard shortcuts, any simple action like CTRL+S save that was done in half a sec, took several clicks and ten times longer. Not to mention those actions in hidden sub menus and worst of all, how do you perform actions that require a combination of key and pen at the same time?
Thanks to its small form you'll be able to put it beside you or even on your lap along with the tablet, this allows me to keep my pen drawing hand on the board and quickly change tools and perform actions without lifting my pen hand. Because it's rigid you can use it even on soft surfaces like a sofa (or your belly if you haven't worked out lately). Its width will allow you to cover its entire key area with one hand alone, clicking key combinations across the layout like Left SHIFT+P without stretching your fingers.
Some might say it defies the purpose of a tablet and that you can't hold a tablet that way. I believe you can work about 5 times faster with the keyboard & pen together than pen alone so it only helps the tablet. Furthermore, many of today's tablets are too thick and heavy to hold with one hand anyway. But most important I really can see myself adding a padding to the underside and putting it on the tablet screen lower portion as I hold the tablet in my hand quickly alternating between a pen and one handed typing .
Conclusion
This keyboard is really good for shortcut keys and the occasional typing, I'd recommend it to any Tablet PC user who wants to speed things up.
November Product of the Month - Franklin Wireless USB EDVO MODEM
An excellent solution for anyone using Tablet PCs or Ultra Mobile Pcs that do not have a PC slot and want the ability to have an Internet Connection Anywhere, Anytime.
SpyBot And Tablet PC Incompatibility Issue
Gotta Be Mobile
I’m on the road enjoying time away from Tablet PCs and the connected life this weekend. But I ran across this bit of news that needs to be shared. Apparently the latest update to SpyBot Search and Destroy will do some damage to Tablet PCs, so if it is a part of your security arsenal (as it used to be mine before setting up the Beta of Vista) you need to be aware of this. What follows below is from an post on jkOnTheRun. The info was sent by Mickey Segal.
The latest updates for the anti-spyware program "Spybot Search and Destroy" (http://www.safer-networking.org/; most updates dated 3 November) seem to recognize some key Tablet PC functionality as a threat and delete it. The damage can be undone with Windows XP System Restore.
Apex Offers Lease Deal on Motion Tablets
Business Wire
Today, Apex Software announced that the company is now offering a special lease deal on Motion Computing Tablet PC bundles. The bundles are specifically designed to meet the needs of the Fee Appraiser in the field.
“We are finding that many of our Appraisal customers are relying much more heavily on mobile solutions,” said Jeff Henderson, Apex Software Marketing Manager. “We just want to make it as easy as possible for Appraisers to acquire the tools that are best suited for their needs.”
The lease program requires zero down and just $99.98 a month for 36 months. The bundle offers a choice of a Motion LE 1600 or LS 800 Tablet PC with Centrino, View Anywhere Display, 1GB Ram, 60GB Hard drive, Motion Pak Software, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Additionally, the bundle includes a one year warranty, bump case, car charger, rapid repair program, accidental drop insurance, and pre-loaded Nexus, the latest generation of Apex mobile sketching software. Specially tailored bundles can be created upon request.
HP doubles awards in education grants across EMEA
Maktoob Business
HP has named 12 universities across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) that will each receive an HP Mobile Technology for Teaching Grant for equipment and training. The number of grant recipients has doubled this year, marking an expansion of the grant program to Central & Eastern Europe and Africa
The HP Tablet PCs will allow students who are developing software applications for use in the healthcare environment to test their applications in real, clinical settings. Software developed specifically to support the handwriting and INK annotation capabilities of the HP Tablet PC will become part of the overall campus telemedicine pilot system.
MobileTechRoundup show #76
ZDNet
Sammy and Flash now have a new buddy named Qbacca that is part of MobileTechRoundup show #76, thanks to Ponce. I also had a chance to talk about my T-Mobile purchases, which went much better than James' attempt to get a T-Mobile SIM card. I am liking the Dash and am seeing if it can knock the Nokia E61 from my hands. We also each spent a couple of minutes talking about what devices we had around us during the recording and it is quite an impressive list. If you have any questions about any that we mentioned, feel free to post them on the MobileTechRoundup website. James and Kevin are also quite impressed with the new Fujitsu P1610D Tablet PC and after further checking out the specs, I have to say it does look compelling.
Listen here (MP3, 32.4MB, 35 minutes)
Fujitsu Boosts Performance on LifeBook Convertible Notebooks Maximizing Mobile Workforce Productivity
Market Wire
Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation today announced the LifeBook® P1610  convertible notebook, a 2.2-pound powerhouse packed with full PC functionality and enhanced with an 8.9-inch indoor/outdoor touch screen display for on-your-feet, on-the-go computing. Fujitsu also announced the LifeBook T4215 Tablet PC, a new edition of its highly popular ultra-light 4.3 pound full-size convertible notebook featuring the high-performance, power-efficient Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor.
The Microsoft Windows Vista-capable LifeBook P1610 and LifeBook T4215 convertible notebooks, which deliver renowned Fujitsu reliability, are designed to meet the needs of mobile and field professionals in healthcare, field and sales force automation, and supply chain management who require the flexibility of a tablet for note-taking or navigating through forms-based applications, along with the traditional keyboard input of a notebook computer.
Click for Spec's and Comparisons of new Fujitsu Tablet PC's
SA1F00A, a Japanese UMPC-like
akihabaranews
We don’t have much information at that time regarding the specs, except that this small Yokohama based Kohjinsha company will offer starting tomorrow a UMPC-like at an unbeatable price. Anyway, this little convertible seem quite promising.
Tablet PCs: 4 years and counting
whatisnew
The official launch of the Tablet PC was November 7, 2002. A week from now will be the four year anniversary. The Mobile Connections event should be quite a birthday party.
Today there are over 18 Tablet PC models and 4 UMPC models on the market. What changes in the technology and operating system platform do you predict for the next 4 years?
P1610 / LOOX Tablet PC First Looks InkShow
Gotta Be Mobile
When you go to a Mobile PC / Tablet PC conference, you never know what the folks from Microsoft will bring with them. Fortunately for you and me, they had the Japanese version of the Fujitsu P1610, the LOOX, on hand and let me borrow it for several hours.
Although not a complete video review, I take everyone through a quick "first looks" video review of the P1610 / LOOX Tablet PC running Vista and show you why this device is so much better than the P1510 - and why I'll end up buying one. Dennis Rice will be doing a more thorough InkShow on the P1610 in the next couple of weeks, but hopefully this video will provide you enough information to whet your appetite.
Watch the video ( 5:25 minutes, 28.8mb, Windows Media streaming or direct download).
Microsoft announced today that Windows Vista has been released to  manufacturing. Vista will mark the first big shift in Microsoft consumer operating systems in over 5 years.
With Vista, Microsoft promises increased security with an improved firewall and Windows Defender and User Account Control. Other fresh additions include integrated desktop search, Internet Explorer 7.0, Windows Sidebar, Windows Sideshow, built-in system diagnostics, improved gaming support, fully integrated Speech Recognition as well as support for Windows SuperFetch, Windows ReadyBoost and Windows ReadyDrive.
Windows Vista will be available in four distinct retail versions:
- Windows Vista Home Basic, $199/$99.95 (full/upgrade)
Provides a basic platform for home users who want to keep tabs on email and Internet activity. Comes standard with Vista's new Search Explorer, Sidebar and Parental Controls.
- Windows Vista Home Premium, $239/$159
Builds on Home Basic by adding the Windows Aero interface, Windows Media Center functionality, Windows Tablet PC technology and integrated DVD burning.
- Windows Vista Business, $299/$199
Supports the Aero user interface, offers improved document managing and Windows Tablet PC functionality.
- Windows Vista Ultimate, $399/$259
Vista Ultimate combines the functionality of Vista Home Premium and Vista Business.
Lots of talk about the Asus R2H Ultra-Mobile PC these days, and there has been  some, but not as much talk about the Asus R1F Tablet PC. This might change the conversation a bit. The Asus R1F Tablet PC is the first notebook (smile Sumocat) to receive the Vista’s x86 Premium logo. No, that’s not preimum ready or Vista capable. That’s the logo that says this Tablet PC will do the do with Vista. Check out more here at Laptop Review.
ASUS R1F tablet PC quick specs:
Processors: Intel® Core™2 Duo Processors T7600/T7400/ T7200/T5600/T5500: 2.33GHZ-1.66GHz, 667MHz, 4MB/2MB L2 cache
Chipset: Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset
Memory: DDRII 667MHz, up to 2 GB
Display: 13.3&Prime WXGA (1280×800) Color Shine LCD, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligence Technology
Graphics: Integrated Intel® 945GM
Hard Drive: SATA 80 / 100 /120 GB, 2nd HDD available, Swappable hard-disk supports
Optical Drive: DVD-Super Multi, Hot Swappable Optical Drive Module
Card Reader: MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS-Duo/MS-Pro-Duo
Connectivity: Integrated V.92 MDC Fax/ Modem, with Azalia-Link Compliant , 10/10/1000 Ethernet, Integrated 802.11a/b/g, Built-in Bluetooth™ V2.0+EDR (optional)
Dimension & Weight: 317x 232x 35mm, 1.9 kg (3-cell, with travel drawer)
Watch jkOnTheRun Audio Edition #25 here (WMV format, 640 x 480, 275 MB, 42:43 minutes)
The Samsung Q1 SSD is the Korean model of the Q1 that has no hard drive. It has a blazing fast 32 GB solid state disk instead and iis the device I use every day in my work. Well, you can see for yourself in this video shot in living color. I try to show the Q1, lovingly named Flash, going through the paces I normally use it for daily and I hope it gives a little insight into how I can use such a small device with a little screen to be really productive. Enjoy the show and let us know what you think.
I apologize for the buzzing noise in the background. It was not there until the WMV file was spit out and too late for me to fix it.
HP Compaq TC4400 Tablet PC Convertible - Review
Tablet PC Reviews
The HP TC4400 convertible Tablet PC is a refresh of the popular TC4200. The  TC4400 exterior casing remains essentially the same as the TC4200. The new TC4400 is a solid business-class machine. The design exemplifies durability and endurance, yet hints at practical simplicity. The TC4400 boasts utility, professionalism and style to suit the most conservative of business travelers
The Bottom Line
The HP TC4400 is a solid, business-class, full-featured Tablet PC convertible. I would recommend this model to consumers and business users looking for a portable, no-nonsense, secure Tablet PC Convertible. The TC4400, with its Core Duo CPU and solid build is powerful and built for the road.
HP Awards Real Estate Pros Who Personalize Their Businesses With Technology
Business Wire
HP today announced the winners of the third annual HP Real Estate Technology contest, which recognizes real estate professionals using technology to provide clients with a better and more personalized experience.
Winners of the contest used HP technology in creative ways to increase sales, save time, be competitive and aid in the overall success of their businesses. A panel of five industry and technology experts judged a record number of more than 600 entries. Eight winners were announced at the 2006 National Association of REALTORS® Conference and Expo.
This year’s grand prize winner, Leslie Sullivan, a broker/owner with RE/MAX Hometown in Magnolia, Texas, will receive a full suite of HP mobile products(1) that will enable her to further personalize and improve her business solutions.
Sullivan embraces technology to help maintain efficiency while on the go. Using an HP Tablet PC, she impresses clients with how easy it is to personalize contracts and pull up marketing materials in an instant. The device, enabled with Bluetooth™ wireless technology, allows Sullivan to be at the park with her kids while still being at her job as a real estate professional.
“With the HP Compaq Tablet PC, I’m able to respond quickly to my clients needs and even personalize the materials I send them,” said Sullivan. “I can quickly create a contract on the spot on the tablet, have the client sign it and, via Bluetooth technology, I can then send it wirelessly using my phone. This saves me and my clients valuable time since I don’t have to run back to my office to print and then fax the contract. I’m no longer a slave to the office. I have my office with me.”
Journal: the undervalued notes program
studenttabletpc
In light of my recent OneNote fun, I had switched to Journal out of need since all I had installed was a broken OneNote beta and Journal. When the beta wouldn’t install again so I could get to my notes, I panicked and installed the OneNote 2007 Beta 2 on another computer in the house, printed all my OneNote notes to Journal, and then copied all the Journal files to my tablet. It was Journal that I finished up my busy week with since I didn’t have time to try to figure out what was going on with my beta of OneNote.
What did I gain from this? Well, I’m still only using Journal. That’s right. This whole Journal thing is working for me. I really thought I’d miss little things about OneNote after using it all semester, especially after using the new OneNote all semester with all the new features. Did I slip and hit my head at some point this week? No, I’m not going crazy, I just realized a few things that are important to a student:
1. Stability
2. Flexibility
3. Familiarity
4. Simplicity
Digital-signature innovation to bolster retail security
Engineering News
When was the last time a sales assistant flicked your credit card over to check whether your scribbling on the sales invoice corresponds with your reference signature on the back? Unable to remember? That’s because it rarely happens anymore.
However, a newly-established local arm of an Austrian IT company hopes to change this rather lax security by turning the signature process into a fully digital operation.
This would mean a retail client would be asked to sign on a tablet PC, which can then be verified instantly and cross-referenced electronically with a reference signature in any bank’s database.
TabletGoo.com: The Tablet PC Search Engine
Gotta Be Mobile
Want to search for more information on Tablet PCs and UMPCs? Check out  TabletGoo.com, Ed Holloway’s latest creation. He has worked with Google’s Search Engine co-op plan and created a “personal search engine” that allows you to search through sites and blogs devoted to Tablet PC, UMPC, and mobile computing goodness. Ed has cobbled together a list of these resources from his feeds so if you know any he’s left out, let him know as he continues to work on TabletGoo.
OneNote EMR WorkBench & OneNote SOAP Toolkit Released
abletfactory.com
The abletFactory has released a new product. The OneNote EMR WorkBench is a combination of OneNote EMR Toolkit ($295) and OneNote eScript Toolkit ($295) Users have requested that we combine both programs into one. Centralized Patient and Provider databases are now easily accessed and shared. Template preview, support for multiple prescriptions, historical tracking have all been updated or added. More Details for OneNote EMR WorkBench Here
OneNote SOAP Toolkit Released
Now you can have an EMR system based upon the power, versatility and features of OneNote. This creative solution, optimized for Tablet PCs lets the practitioner have complete and thorough control of all patient record keeping for a successful private practice. The philosophy behind this solution is to take advantage of the features and capabilities of Microsoft’s OneNote program and provide a user friendly interface to directly import information from external systems, such as PMS (Practice Management Systems) or your current paper charts and records into the OneNote system. More Details for SOAP Toolkit Here
MSDN Webcast: Overview of Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) Development for Windows Vista – 11/14 10am PT
An Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) is a fully functional computer that is small, mobile, and runs a complete version of a Windows operating system (currently Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 and soon Windows Vista). UMPCs present many new and exciting opportunities for application development. Join us to find out what is involved in developing for the UMPC, and learn how to create outstanding applications for these new devices.
Marc Orchant and James Kendrick sit down for show #32 and have a look at the  official Office 2007 release, talk about the Blue Man Group, discuss the affect Vista will have on the UMPC and give shouts out to the creators of some cool videos. Are UMPCs fully functional Tablet PCs? You bet and we tell you why on this show. Plus, according to the Tablet PC duo, get ready for some great Vista devices early next year (think CES 2007). There is a lively discussion about the convergence of communications with computing devices and smartphones and the impact that will have on mobile technology. Enjoy the show!
Toshiba Tablet PC To Have Newgen Healthcare Solution
EFYTimes
Newgen Software Inc., a provider of solutions to healthcare, banking, financial and insurance sectors, is going to bundle its healthcare solutions onto Toshiba's family of tablet PCs for resale. This collaborative solution is meant for doctors, medical professionals and practitioners requiring anytime, anywhere access to various documents stored at a central server, from their Toshiba tablet PCs.
Added Vista features coming to PDF Annotator
Gotta Be Mobile
I just received a newsletter from Grahl Software, the makers of PDF Annotator, an applicatin that lets Tablet PC users annotate PDF documents using pen and ink. It looks like they are adding some new features that will be available only within Vista. When we get word of a new release of PDF Annotator for Vista and find out what those features are, we will be sure to post an article.
First Look Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet PC
GottabeMobile Exclusive Video Review of the Lenovo X60 Thinkpad Tablet PC
gottabemobile
So, let’s take a look at the Thinkpad X60 Tablet PC. In this GBM Hardware InkShow I take a walk around tour of the unit I received which comes with the SXGA + (high res) screen option and is an engineering sample provided by Lenovo. I also discuss the battery options, examine the Nav Dial, take a look at the many utilities that come pre-loaded on the Thinkpad, and even show you a neat trick or two exclusive to the Thinkpad X60 Tablet PC. In my opinion, Lenovo has a winning entry in the Thinkpad X60 and it will certainly have as large an impact on the Tablet PC market as their original X41 entry, which was enormous.
Watch the video ( 40 minutes, 280mb, Windows Media streaming or direct download)
Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet PC Review
tabletpcreview.com
The ThinkPad X60 Tablet PC is the second generation X-series Tablet PC / notebook convertible machine from Lenovo. The X60 Tablet PC is a Core Duo based machine that offers both significant performance and feature enhancements over its X41 Tablet PC predecessor. The X60 Tablet (X60t hereafter) is based upon the 12.1" screen X60s ultraportable released earlier this year. While many have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Tablet PC incarnation of the X60, we're happy to say the best comes to those who wait.
Lenovo x60 ThinkPad Tablet PC InkShow Exclusive Interview on GottaBeMobile!
gottabemobile
Well, we are pretty excited at GottaBeMobile, and we have got some great exclusive video for you! If you have been following our site for the last week or so, you may have seen several references to a secret mission we have been mentioning, and we can now bring you information on what the big mission is all about. Well, the mission is officially over, and it was a raging success! Here’s the scoop on what all the fuss is about.
without further ague Tegatech Australia would like everyone to know that the Fujitsu LifeBook P1610, and the Fujitsu LifeBook T4215 are now on sale in Australia, and will be deliverable by the end of this month!
As Australia’s Tablet Guy I couldn’t help but get involved – so if you’re going to purchase directly from Tegatech Australia just type “Uber Tablet sent me” in the comments section of the order and you’ll receive a free* extended battery for either model!!! Exclusive only to readers of this blog. Bloggers Buy P1610 here, Buy T4215 here.
*only applies to direct retail purchases coming via the UberTablet blog. Those customers near Tegatech Australia authorized resellers will be sent to purchase from there.
24 hours with a P1610 Tablet PC
Gotta Be Mobile
Well, it has been 24 hours since I received the Fujitsu P1610 Tablet PC, and I have to say I'm very, very pleased with it.
I'm working on an InkShow that should be up sometime this weekend, so I'm hoping this article will answer a few questions folks have until I can get that video shot. For a quick "First Looks" at the P1610, take a look at this InkShow I shot last week while at Mobile Connections. That InkShow and this article should keep you satisified for just a little while.
When I was emailed a photo of the Elektek Fabric Keyboard by a friend in England I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Shortly after posting a picture the manufacturer sent me an email and said, “hey, I’ve got one with me and I’m in Sydney.” I just love being Australia's Tablet Guy!!!
So a few coffees later and here we are; I must admit I am a fan. Not only does it function but it also looks funky. Be warned though…don’t tear or pierce the fabric as the circuitry will die! Stay tuned to hear more about these sort of devices; and ask me anything you may want to know as I too am interested.
In regards to Bluetooth regrettably this in an interface that we will not see in this device.
See it on MyYouTube.com
Gateway Puts a Twist on Educational Technology With $1.6 Million ...
PR Newswire
Gateway, Inc. the nation's third-largest PC company, today announced it was awarded a $1.6 million contract with United Independent School District (UISD) in Texas for M280 Convertible Notebook PCs and associated training, technical  support and services.
As part of the three-year contract, Gateway will provide middle school students in the district with more than 1,000 convertible notebooks for use with day-to-day instruction and online testing.
The unique design of the Gateway(R) M280 Convertible Notebook enables it to be easily "converted" from notebook into tablet-mode by swiveling and folding down the display. This mode is ideal for the classroom environment, allowing students to use the PC for solving mathematical equations and taking notes with a digital pen. Students can also draw diagrams and edit documents directly on the widescreen display, which provides valuable extra work space over standard format displays.
"We're delighted that United Independent School District is investing in our tablet solution, which offers many advantages to the educational process and can help increase student engagement and learning,"
Richard Powers Uses Tablet PC Voice Recognition To Write Novel
Gotta Be Mobile
Wired Magazine talks with author Richard Powers about his latest book, The Echo Maker. What’s intriguing about this is that Powers uses voice recognition on a Tablet PC to do some of his writing.
I’ve always wanted the freedom to be completely disembodied when I’m writing, to feel as if I’m in a pure compositional state. Typing is a highly unnatural activity, and your writing style ends up reflecting the cognitive shackles. When I started to use the tablet, things that are extremely difficult to do on a word processor opened up to me
What I love about his approach is the combination of voice recognition and using the Tablet PC to make sketches along the way. Tablet PCs and the creative process. A natural in my opinion.
DigitalGraphicsResources.com Named Tablet PC Reseller
PR Web
DigitalGraphicsResources.com recently became an authorized reseller of "on-the-go" tablet PCs. The clipboard-style personal computer can be used in the field--anywhere outside a traditional office setting. With wireless connectivity, you are no longer limited to doing business in an office with these lightweight, portable PCs. The company sells the entire line of these Motion Computing brand tablets.
Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet PC MultiTouch and Ultrabase
Gotta Be Mobile
Well, the Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet PC InkShows just keep on coming!
In this installment, Dennis Rice takes a look at the MultiTouch XGA / Outdoor screen option, and also the Ultrabase mobile docking solution. The X60 Tablet PC is very much a unique device, and these two options are a couple of very strong points to consider.
Watch the MultiTouch / Ultrabase InkShow here
TechNet Summit: Gates on Google, iPod, Zune, bubbles and the and the future
ZDNet
Gates is still beating the drum on speech, ink and the Tablet PC, as digital approaches that will change the way people work, and mentioned projecting documents on a table via software and cheap cameras, which has been a long-term Microsoft research project.
What’s the right mobile technology for your business?
Living IT
Q What about tablet PCs?
A Tablets are great for specialist applications, especially if you need to input data into forms by hand. You can make notes on the screen and the tablet will even recognise handwriting – but the technology still leaves something to be desired at the moment. A new version of the tablet is due early in 2007 and promises to be much more practical. Meanwhile, unless you have a very specific need, tablets offer little more than a standard laptop.
Questions persist over the future shape of the Tablet PC platform, but as we examine, there is thriving demand and applications for these devices in key business sectors
Tablet PCs, defined as portable PCs featuring electronic pen input instead of or sometimes as well as a standard keyboard, are back in the news again.
Rumours are currently circulating that PC maker Dell is about to launch a tablet model early next year. Dell is one of the few major laptop vendors never to have ventured into the tablet market, regarding it as too much of a niche in the overall mobile computing scene.
With Microsoft readying the Vista operating system for shipment, with the handwriting recognition capabilities of its Windows XP Tablet PC software now enhanced and built-in, Dell has apparently decided to rethink.
Thanks to Vista, says Microsoft, a Tablet PC will now be able to better recognise a user's writing thanks to new features integrated right into the heart of the OS.
It seems timely therefore to take a look at where the Tablet PC fits into today's enterprise, and examine where it adds value over and above more mainstream portable hardware. We look at some of the uses tablets are typically put to, the types of tablet available, the technologies they use to connect to corporate networks and the ways in which they can be integrated into an over all mobile armoury.
There are, it should be noted, two types of Tablet PC - slate and convertible. Slates are lightweight, slim and do not have a permanent keyboard attached. Convertible tablets have an attached keyboard and look like a conventional laptop, with a screen that can be rotated to lay flat over the keyboard.
Ink Fight: Differences Between Active Digitizer and Passive Touch
Gotta Be Mobile
Twisted Logic. Actually that’s the name of the blog where Mike started a discussion about the differences between inking on an active digitizer and a passive touch screen. Yes, there are differences and he covers them in a comparison between the Lenovo Thinkpad X41 and the Samsung Q1. Kevin Tofel of jkOnTheRun picked up the conversation and reminds us about the Samsung Q1’s touch utility called “Constant Touch” which really hasn’t been publicized all that much. (I’ve not had any hands on experience with this but it looks like a very interesting solution to some of the touch issues.)
Fujitsu P1610 Tablet PC Video Review Hardware InkShow
Gotta Be Mobile
In this Hardware InkShow video review, I take a closer look at the Fujitsu P1610 Tablet PC, examine ink notetaking and touch, review the keyboard and compare it to the ThinkOutside Stowaway keyboard, and address some usability issues. In addition, I take a look at some of what you can expect out of the box.
The more I use the P1610, the more impressed I am with it. I've never used a touch device that supplied such a good inking experience. My only negatives are the cramped keyboard and the limit of 1gb, but those are to be expected with an ultra mobile computer and are not deal killers for me. The next thing Fujitsu could do to improve this tablet would be to incorporate true multi-touch to offer the benefits of an active digitizer and touch. This will be an ultra portable tablet pc that I plan on holding on to for a while. It is a complete solution for the way I work when going mobile. Watch the InkShow
Tablet PC big hit at Berwick
Portsmouth Herald News
In a seventh-grade humanities class at Berwick Academy, students focused intently on their geography research projects. Rather than textbooks and lined paper, students had tablet computers on their desks, enabling them to access online reports and data. Some students read text and looked at maps or made notes on the screens that later became part of their reports.
A tablet PC (personal computer) is like a normal laptop computer, but it has ink-enabled applications that allow the user to write on the tablet screen using a stylus pen. The academy is the first school in Maine to adopt the technology, according to the school's Web site.
According to Wendy Harrington, Berwick Academy's director of technology, students take notes in longhand, draw, make musical notations on the tablet screen, create charts and graphs, all of which can be saved and transmitted.
"The school's board of directors recommended the introduction of tablet PCs after careful study of the use of computers in classrooms," Harrington said.
She said the board wanted to ensure the introduction of the tablet PCs would support the school's educational goals, not just technology for its own sake.
"At Berwick Academy, we have a heavy emphasis on writing and the use of tablet PCs fosters this goal," she said.
"Some parents expressed concerns that using tablet PCs would isolate students," Harrington said. "To the contrary, we have found that students work more with teachers and other students." | 
