NETWORK SECURITY - Web viewIt runs all of your familiar productivity applications such as Word, ... Speech Recognition ... Provides an in-depth exposition of the TabletPC Ink SDK,

MICROSOFT TABLET PC

ABSTRACT

The latest buzz in mobile computing are TABLET PCS. The concept conceived by software giant Microsoft, and these devices are a cross between palm tops and laptops. A TABLET PC allows you a palmtop-like input facility via a stylus and the touch sensitive LCD screens. Tablets are often used in hospitals, where the doctor can access prescription data of a particular patient while taking rounds, or in manufacturing and construction sites to glance quickly through any required information.

Such work places demand devices that are portable and can be handled

comfortably. Dimensions, weight and configuration are the factors that determine the cost of a tablet.There are currently two types of TABLET PCS available: the stand-alone models that are true tablets, and the convertibles this can also masquerade as a laptop. The weight of these devices is usually between 1.5kgs to 2.5kgs.

The true tablets have no moving parts and are robust, the apparent mechanical complex city of the convertibles makes them delicate gadgets. One more aspect that makes tablets different from laptops is the use of smaller LCD displays-12inch displays are the norm.

INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION

2. WHAT IS TABLET PC

3. FEATURES

4. HOW TO USE IT

5. WHY THE NAME TABLET PC

6. WHAT OS IT FOLLOWS

7. ADVANTAGES

8. APPLICATIONS

9. CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

The latest buzz in mobile computing are TABLET PCS.

- For all the hype that Bill Gates has been generating around the Tablet PC concept,

you could be excused for thinking the idea is a new one for Microsoft Corp. But in

fact, it's a second go-round for the company, years after its ill-fated "Windows for

Pen Computing" experiment a decade ago.The concept conceived by software giant

Microsoft, and these devices are a cross between palm tops and laptops. A TABLET PC

allows a palmtop-like input facility via a stylus and the touch sensitive LCD screens.

What is the Tablet PC?

The Tablet PC is a mobile computer a bit smaller than a notebook personal computer. It’s

distinguishing feature is a screen that you can write on with a stylus like a personal digital

assistant, or PDA.TABLET computing that combines the portability of a laptop, the

convenience of pen and paper, and of course Microsoft software.

First and foremost, the Microsoft vision for a Tablet PC is that it's a full Windows

computer. It runs all of your familiar productivity applications such as Word,

Excel and PowerPoint, and offers the same rich connectivity to the Internet that

you expect from your desktop or notebook PC. What the Tablet PC adds is the

simplicity of pen and paper. Because you can write on the screen, it's optimized

for tasks that are very common in business computing -- like taking notes at a

meeting or annotating a document, or for immersive reading.

Tablet PCs come in a variety of designs, all of which will include a keyboard.

Convertible Tablet PCs look much like today's notebooks with integrated keyboards and

clamshell designs. With a convertible Tablet PC, you simply rotate the screen and lay it

flat to convert to Tablet mode. In this way, the convertible model offers all the

advantages of pen-based computing with immediate access to the integrated keyboard.

Tablet PCs are also available in Slate tablet designs. These designs offer an ultra-slim and

lightweight form factor, with the ability to easily attach a keyboard, or dock the PC to

gain access to a keyboard, mouse or other peripherals.

The ink features are good for taking notes and especially useful for sketching. Drawing

with a pen is simply more natural to me than with a mouse. The vertical orientation of a

tablet and special buttons for moving up and down on a page make it better than a

conventional notebook display for reading electronic books and magazines, using

software like Microsoft Reader or the Zinio electronic-magazine format. (More than

100,000 subscribers now get PC Magazine in the Zinio format.) The handwriting

recognition has improved, though it still has a ways to go

portable PC With Handwriting, Speech Recognition Features

Launched today, Microsoft's Tablet PC is based on the vendor's Windows XP Tablet PC

Edition operating system, a superset of Windows XP Professional that adds both

handwriting and speech recognition capabilities. The units themselves include a writing

pen as the primary input device, and will be offered primarily in two different

configurations. The "slate" design is a simple flat panel, about the dimensions of a typical

legal pad and just shy of an inch thick; while the "convertible" design features a clamshell

configuration similar to traditional notebook computers with an additional catch: in the

convertible design, the display can be "spun" 180 degrees and folded back down onto the

keyboard in reverse; allowing the user to hold and use the PC in the same manner as they

would a pad of paper

Everything you write on the pad is stored as graphics—called digital ink—unless you

highlight an area and ask the machine to recognize what you wrote. Then it takes its best

shot at turning your scribbles into ASCII text. This actually works quite well, even on my

often illegible handwriting.

HOW TO USE

Hit the pen button on the toolbar, and just start writing. It supports pen erasing and you

can change thickness and change it to any color you want. If you don't want to see the

annotations you click the hide button, its as simple as that! I can see this feature as being

extremely useful in a business environment or even a school environment where teachers

or co-workers can write directly on your document without messing anything. It's easy

to change colors and to highlight items as well as handwriting. If you need space between

items you've already written, you can simply insert the space and drop the remaining text

farther down the page.

The additional handwriting and speech recognition capabilities of the O/S support the

notion of using it as a portable information collecting device. An onscreen "Input Panel"

allows the user to write information with the pen into a display area of the screen that is

then recognized and fed as text into applications. The pen can also recognize common

"gestures," allowing it to execute certain types of actions depending on the way it is used

(such as drag-n-drop, double click, or other common mouse operations). A microphone

(built into some Tablet PCs, others include an external jack supporting the addition of a

mic) allows for both the ability to dictate information to be translated by the Input Panel,

and provides basic application control capabilities via spoken commands.

Microsoft has specified that Tablet PCs shall use an electromagnetic digitizer for the

touch screen, which means you can rest your hand on the screen without affecting

anything or moving the cursor, and the stylus (which has a button on it) needn't actually

come into contact with the screen. Though not a wireless device per se, some OEMs will

be offering built in WLAN capabilities in their Tablet.All the Tablet PCs use a version of

Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system designed for "pen computing." This special

version of Windows has additional software that enables a user to enter written notes or

drawings into programs with a stylus on the screen.

Because it’s otherwise a standard version of XP, users also can run any regular Windows

program on a Tablet PC. Several hardware vendors – including Acer Inc., Toshiba Corp.,

Hewlett-Packard Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. – have announced variations of the Tablet PC,

costing from $1,699 to $2,499. Most models include a keyboard that either swivels or

detaches – though some, like the Fujitsu ST4000, are just an electronic slate.

What can a Tablet do than a notebook or desktop can't?

Its main appeal will be to home enthusiasts with wireless networks and students with deep pockets.

The biggest Tablet PC is the evolution of the notebook PC that lets you use your PC in

new and different ways. Designed to meet the challenges of today's information workers,

Tablet PCs run Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, which is a superset of Windows XP

Professional.

Is it just a companion device or a digital appliance?

It is clear that a Tablet PC need to be the primary PC. This means that you can have your

email and calendar, your project files, or even complete databases with you at all times.

And there are no compromises: you don't need to sync or port your Windows

applications, and you retain the full fidelity of data with no loss of formatting. At the

same time, we also see a great future for Pocket PCs, smart phones and Internet

appliances among users who need extreme portability. The Tablet PC is designed to work

well with all of those devices, but it's targeted at business computer users who spend

some part of their day away from their desks but could benefit from having their PC

move with them.

What operating system will the Tablet PC run? Is it an embedded system?

What Bill Gates demonstrated at Comdex was the next version of Windows, code-named

Whistler. It's not an embedded operating system (OS) running out of Read-Only Memory

(ROM)--Tablet PCs will have more than sufficient RAM to run a full desktop OS.

What kinds of things can users do on the Tablet PC that they can't do on a current

notebook?

We, can balance it in one hand -- it will be about the size of a writing tablet. It will weigh

less than the current laptop, and it will be incredibly useful when we are away from your

desk and in a meeting. Our note-taking application literally comes up as a sheet of paper,

and we can just start writing. But what digital ink offers in addition is the ability to move,

highlight, save, sort and search those handwritten notes. How many times have all of us

had to go back to paper-based notes from a meeting and scribble in the margin, or draw

arrows to show where we really wanted to insert something? The Tablet PC allows us to

actually manipulate that text -- we don't need to rewrite all the notes around it -- and it

gives us some very powerful new ways to share information and collaborate via email or

the Internet. The integration with the key productivity applications extends the benefits of

the paper metaphor in many, many ways.Microsoft and other companies have made

forays into tablets or pen-based computers before.

How is the Tablet PC different from earlier approaches?

Three major things have changed. First, key technologies -- such as battery life,  display

resolution, handwriting recognition, and memory -- have all advanced

substantially. Second, we have the benefit of the experience gained from the past.

Relative to our own Pen Windows initiative in the mid-1990s, for example, we've learned

to look at the complete user experience rather than simply building support for the pen

into the operating system. We are evaluating the Tablet PC from the customers'

perspective rather than from the OS developer's perspective. It's not a computer science

problem we're trying to solve -- it's a customer problem. Third, the added component of

wireless communications makes mobility a key element in all future computing

scenarios, so the Tablet PC provides greater mobile functionality to corporate computing

What wireless standards will the Tablet PC support?

We'll support 802.11 and eventually Blue tooth or any broadly supported wireless

standard. We're excited about what wireless connectivity can mean for real-time updates

and collaboration -- not only for the meeting you're in at that moment, but for broader,

inter-group or inter-office scenariosly to tell..

How will application developers be able to take advantage of the Tablet PC?

As we get closer to finalizing the elements of the Tablet PC, we will work with software

developers to make sure they have the information and support they need to make their

applications "pen-aware." This will allow them to take full advantage of digital ink and

pen capabilities and optimize their software for the Tablet PC. OEM determines its

pricing strategy. But since they are full-function PCs, they're more likely to be priced in

that range than as lower-cost appliances.Form factor, which is portrait-based and focused

on a very low-clutter user interface. We'll have development kits and the usual range of

tools and technical help for the software community.

How does the Tablet PC fit into Microsoft's .NET strategy?

We think the Tablet PC will be a great platform for .NET because it gives users the best

of both worlds. Since it's a fully functional PC, it can run a wider range of software and

services than other mobile devices -- for example, a smart phone won't be able to host a

SQL database, but the Tablet PC can. Yet, as a mobile device, the Tablet PC still supports

the .NET vision of making information available to users any time, any place and on any

device.

The Tablet PC is the right product at the right time. Its form-factor and wireless network

capabilities are exactly what is needed for connecting knowledge workers - with

information, and with each other," said Robert Weideman, chief marketing officer for

ScanSoft. "Our products and the Tablet PC are perfectly aligned to deliver the maximum

productivity benefits to organizations and knowledge workers worldwide. We are pleased

to expand our relationship with Microsoft to enhance the value and level of productivity

delivered by the Tablet PC."

Tablet PCs run Windows XP Compatible software applications without modifications. In

addition, powerful new software applications written specifically for the Tablet PC will

enable you to get your work done even more rapidly and efficiently. The Windows

Journal note-taking utility is part of the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system

and has been created just for the Tablet PC. You have the simplicity of a pen and paper,

combined with the power of the PC. Tablet PC's digital ink offers a rich, natural

experience allowing you to use easily manipulate your handwritten information

electronically, Cut, copy and paste text between handwritten notes. Search for specific

text in handwritten notes. Easily erase information and insert an extra space exactly

wherever it's needed. You can also personalize your notes, by changing pen style, ink

color and using various paper styles. You can even create stationery templates using

custom backgrounds, such as a company letterhead or photo. And with a Tablet PC, you

can share handwritten information with others, whether or not they have a Tablet PC.

You can share handwritten information as a Journal note file, a web page, or as a black

and Journal also allows you to import documents for annotation, so that you can add

comments to the document just as you would with a paper copy. The document and your

annotations can be saved electronically, while the original document remains unaltered.

The Office XP Pack for Tablet PC, a freely available download for Office XP, extends

the capabilities of Office XP to take advantage of the Tablet PC. With the Office Pack,

handwritten notes that you take in Windows Journal can be easily converted into Outlook

contacts, tasks, appointments or email. Meeting information can also be automatically

taken from your Outlook calendar and added directly into an electronic note in Windows

Journal. This integration allows you to start a meeting note with the date, time, attendees

and subject information and streamlines your ability to create, maintain, and process

information.

All of these advanced features contribute to making the Tablet PC one of the most mobile

PCs ever- giving you access to your valuable information - any time and any place.

Offering power, mobility, and versatility, the Tablet PC is the evolution of the notebook

PC that lets you use your PC in new and different ways.

Why

Microsoft did a great job...of naming it as TABLET PC. Much as the press wants to call

it a "pen" computer, it is a Tablet computer. We must understand that. The basis of the

machine is that it is (or can be turned into) a tablet. The pen is secondary, and not always

important Being a tablet means that it is much more mobile than laptops or desktops. We

can do the things we do with a PC (read, web surf, email, etc.) in more situations (sitting

without a desk, standing, etc.).

Big change is that the main thing connected to a PC is not a printer, but rather all of

computerdom, through LANs and the Internet. With 802.11, that connection can now be

ubiquitous in more locations -- we are no longer tied to a particular wall connector. These

factors increase the value of a tablet, and define its use more. When you read, you mainly

select things on the screen (which email message to read, which links to follow, or which

"favorites" to revisit), or scroll. When you compose, you are much more concerned with

text.

The pen is an obvious choice for an input device on a tablet. Since a tablet is often used

in a horizontal position, and you can't be sure of a firm place to rest something like a

mouse, a pen is appropriate for a pointing device. In a vertical orientation, like on a

laptop, the pen is A pen, though, is better than a mouse for text input, using either a touch

keyboard on-screen or handwriting recognition. Handwriting recognition, though, is not

the point of a pen, just like it isn't for a mouse. The pen is also much better than the

mouse (or keyboard, touch pad, or stalk) for inputting graphical information, and has

been well received in the graphic arts world for years. n't as appropriate for a pointing

device as a mouse.

So, they are "pen" computers only in that being a tablet to some extent implies a pen.

Like the touch pad and stalk in a traditional laptop, they are a reasonable compromise for

doing the type of input you want to do with a PC. If you really wanted a "pen" computer,

you'd probably want a desktop with a large dedicated writing surface like you find with

the excellent pen tablets used by graphic artists.

Buttons help reading and probably other things

An important part of a tablet is being able to read, and an important part of reading on a

computer screen is scrolling. The Tablet PCs have buttons you can push. The Compaq

has a rocker switch, too. The Toshiba has basically 3 buttons, by default set to Up- there's

even a button that does a Control-Alt-Delete so you can log back in after your tablet has

gone to sleep.Arrow, Down-Arrow, and Enter. This means when you're reading, you

barely even need the pen. Very nice. I think buttons are real important, just like on PDAs.

Remember, it's a Tablet PC, not a Pen PC...

Whether a Tablet PC will serve as the user's primary computing device -- as a

desktop or notebook replacement?

It could appeal to the mobile crowd that already regards notebooks as desktop

replacements and wants tablet functionality, such as the ability to scribble notes instead

of typing them.

We can take notes much more quickly with a keyboard than ever we could with a

pen.Our notes are more complete, too, which means any column we write based on those

notes is much closer to completion than scratching notes into composition notebook.

Once the Tablet PC ships, it is sure that the collapsible keyboards won't be far behind.

One thing we could never do with a notebook computer is copy a chart from a whiteboard

into a Word document. With the stylus-based input of a tablet, however, we can. We can

also just doodle away, the same way we would with a regular notepad. It rates very high

on the cool factor. The Tablet PC will even take a stab at recognising what we’ve drawn

and attempt to clean it up for you.

With the dedicated slate-based form factor, users might go to a meeting, scribble on their

tablets, and then, when they get back to their desks, dock the device to return it to its

normal PC mode, with, at the very least, an externally connected keyboard and mouse.

With the convertible form factor, users could skip the docking process. Instead, after a

meeting ended, they might just go back to the office, swivel the display back into

notebook mode, and switch it back to horizontal orientation.

One of the properties of a tablet is being able to run in portrait as well as landscape mode.

For reading on screen this can be very helpful. Much of what you read fits better on a

machine the size of a pad of paper when it's in portrait mode, especially when you only

have 1024x768 resolution (or is it 768x1024?). I have learned, though, that the pen is

quite nice to use instead of other non-mouse pointing devices on a laptop in normal

laptop orientation.

Tablets won't be able to skirt the problems endemic to notebooks -- breakdowns, timely

repair, theft, and loss. Worse, for road warriors who require a tablet, the dedicated slate-

based form factor will make it difficult to use the device as a standard PC when

travelling. For them, the convertible form factor will probably have more appeal because

of its versatility.

NEW VERSION

The new type of computer, powered by an 800MHz to 1.3GHz Intel or Transmeta

processor, runs the Tablet PC version of Windows XP (which is considered a superset of

XP Professional). It will be available from Toshiba, Compaq, Acer, Viewsonic, Fujitsu

and Electrovaya at a pricey $2,000 to $2,500.

A built-in program called Microsoft Journal recognizes your handwriting and allows you

to export jottings as images or converts them to text. You can also push them to your

clipboard or to any of the Microsoft Office XP apps. (which require a free add-on

program).

It has a monitor port for an external screen, plus two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port, a PC

Card slot and a SmartCard reader. Forget serial or parallel ports.

Tablet PC will primarily be packaged in two form factors: dedicated tablets (most of

which can be connected to external keyboards, monitors, etc. for use as a normal PC),

and notebook/tablet convertibles that open clamshell-style like other notebooks. With

their LCD displays mounted on swivels, these convertibles can be used like a normal

notebook when the clamshell is open, or like a tablet when the clamshell is closed. In the

latter mode, one of Tablet PC's cool features is the ability to change the orientation of the

display from horizontal to vertical. This way, when using its built-in journal application,

the device looks and feels like a letter-sized white pad.

APIs, components, developer tools, and applications that run on Windows XP.

Advantages

CoolType support - software supports CoolType, an important advance in font-rendering

technology. CoolType dramatically improves on-screen text resolution for better

readability on LCD screens. Full-text search capability, text highlights and annotation, and

bookmarks make reading an eBook easier than ever. A page navigator bar shows where

you are in the book; simply use the mouse to go to any page. Now eBooks of any size can

be easily read in Acrobat eBook Reader. If the page becomes too long to fit in the display

area, a vertical scroll bar appears. Choose from single-page view, two-page view, or the

new Fit Width option, which is perfect for reading eBooks with large-format pages.

Instant eBooks install instantly and are ready to use with no additional software or e-

Readers needed. Instant eBooks are in hypertext format with chapter-indexed links. You

can personalize your Instant eBook by selecting your favorite text styles, size, and colors.

We can search and copy and paste selected text to other programs. Includes interactive

features like the ability to send book reviews directly from within the eBook. Microsoft's

revolutionary new ClearType technology makes words on the screen appear just like words

in a printed book. Microsoft Reader's smart navigation system remembers where you left

off reading, and includes multiple methods of page navigation, multicolored bookmarks,

and whole book search features. Personalize your eBook with multicolored highlighting,

drawing, font sizing, and personal notes. No special reader software required. Can be read

on any type of computer using any operating system. Notepad or WordPad or Microsoft

Word or anything similar that's capable of reading .txt files.

With the stylus, the Tablet PC will make use of the sophisticated handwriting recognition

capabilities Microsoft has been developing. Note-taking software is the flagship

application that will be included with the Tablet PC. Similar to the company's Word

application in Office, the note-taking software will allow users to format handwritten

text, add new lines of text between existing notes, and search a document. The company

is also working on new Office applications specifically for the device. With a

microphone built in to the Tablet PC, future versions will also incorporate voice

recognition allowing users to access and input data.

It provides documentation, sample programs, project templates, and other technology

pieces for building Tablet PC applications. Other testers can get the software through

Microsoft's Tablet PC Early Adopter Program.Highlighting the Tablet PC's use among

developers, the device will include the .Net Framework, the architectural blueprint of

Microsoft's Web-based computing platform. The device will weigh 2.5 pounds, have six

to eight hours of battery power, and support docking and wireless technology, Microsoft

said.

Applications

Infinity Softworks Inc., a leading provider of calculator and analysis software

applications, announced today that its popular powerOne™ Personal+ general-purpose

calculator is bundled with ViewSonic Corporation's new convertible Tablet PC V1250.

PowerOne Personal+ takes the complexity out of every day calculations through the use

of an innovative template format that makes significant use of the tablet PC touch screen

technology. powerOne Personal+ supports add-on calculation templates that have only

been available in Infinity Softworks' high end products. These modules enable users to

customize the calculator to match their individual needs.

The features and functionality of the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system

make it the best choice for the millions of people who have jobs requiring them to be on

the move—whether attending meetings in the office or conducting business on the road.

• Distills decades of usability research into pen-based software to present an authoritative

discussion of the optimal design of pen-based user interfaces

• Provides an in-depth exposition of the TabletPC Ink SDK, complete with tips and tricks

on how developers can produce the most powerful and natural pen-based, “ink-aware”

applications

• Co-written by the lead software developer on the Microsoft TabletPC team

Tablet PCs run Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, the most powerful version of

Windows ever and a superset of Windows XP Professional. With the .NET framework

installed by default, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition allows you to take full advantage of

custom managed code applications in VB.NET, C#.NET, and other languages—without

having to worry about redistributing the .NET Framework. Your mobile applications can

take full advantage of the exciting new capabilities of the Tablet PC platform, including

digital ink objects, pen support, handwriting and speech recognition APIs, and more.

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition lets you access the full power of Windows and all the

existing Windows APIs, components, developer tools, and applications that run on

Windows XP.With Tablet PC, mobile workers can access a powerful, versatile

computing solution that enhances the role of the traditional notebook PC. Tablet PC is a

fully functional computer running the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system.

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, which is built on top of Windows XP Professional,

offers new, advanced handwriting and speech recognition capabilities that let you create,

store, and transmit handwritten noteThe biggest change coming is that smaller

organizations will be able to use tablet PCs because tablet solutions are getting less

expensive and easier to deploy.

CONCLUSION

The Tablet PC's versatility can make it a big hit in the marketplace, but the trade-offs in

the physiWhether you’re in a meeting, hallway, coffee shop, or conference—achieve

ultimate mobility with the TABLET PC QUICK REFERENCE. Combining the

simplicity of pen and paper with all the muscle of Microsoft® Windows® XP

Professional, the Tablet PC is more than just cool—it can maximize your productivity, no

matter how or where you work. Using this expert guide to get up and running faster, and

take the power of a desktop PC—and more—anywhere we can take a notepad and pen!