Transcript: Tablet PC, September 1, 2004
Published: September 7, 2004
Chat Date: September 1, 2004
Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity
Introduction
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Hi everyone, and welcome to the Tablet PC chat!
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Today we are answering your questions about Tablet PC.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Please note that we cannot comment on unannounced products, and in some cases may not be able to discuss specific aspects of announced products. This chat is primarily to discuss questions or issues with our current products.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Now, I'll have our hosts for the chat today introduce themselves:
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
I'm Andrew Brown, and I'm the MVP Lead for Tablet PC, and the moderator for this chat.
Host: Chris_H (MVP)
Welcome to the Tablet PC Chat. I'm a Tablet PC enthusiast first and Tablet PC MVP. My web site is http://nicecreations.us.
Host: ArinG (Microsoft)
Hi I'm Arin Goldberg, ISV Architect for the Tablet PC Group
Host: SpencerG (MVP)
Hi, my name is Spencer Goad and I’m a Tablet PC MVP, as well as the Owner-Executive Editor of TabletPCBuzz.com.
Host: VictoriaKruse (Microsoft)
I'm a Program Manager on the Tablet PC team. Welcome to the chat!
Host: frankgo (Microsoft)
Welcome - My name is Frank I work at Microsoft with our ISVs helping to drive adoption of the Tablet Platform.
Host: Manoj (Microsoft)
Hi, I'm Manoj Biswas, Dev, Tablet Platform Group
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Robert Williams, Director of Business Development and Partner Engineering for Tablet PC
Host: Sears_Young (Microsoft)
Hi, I'm Sears Young. I work in the OEM Support Group, specializing in Tablet PC.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Go ahead and begin posting questions in the bottom window, and we'll get the chat underway.
Start of Chat
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: Is there a way/place to evaluate/try out Tablet PCs before purchase? I live in the SF Bay area and can find the Toshiba at retail but have no idea where to see the HP, Motion or other tablets.
A: unfortunately we don't have a great answer...motion and HP do not sell through retail so test driving these units is problematic unless you have a friend that has one.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Q: once winxp 64bit edition is completed, how hard will it be for the tabletpc team to migrate to the 64bit codebase? would it be a simple recompile with new libraries or would extensive work be required?
A: Please note that we cannot comment on unannounced products, and in some cases may not be able to discuss specific aspects of announced products. This chat is primarily to discuss questions or issues with our current products.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: Are OEMs like Toshiba, HP and Motion shipping tablets now with SP2 pre-installed? If not, when will that happen?
A: They have the bits. Each of them has their own roll-out schedule but we anticipate that all of them will be shipping SP2/Lonestar within 30-60 days.
Host: frankgo (Microsoft)
Q: Are there any plans to improve the "left-handed" interface of the software
A: Yes, left-handed support is an important scenario for us, TPC 2005 improves on this with better recognition but there is still a lot of work to do. Our Chief Architect (BillG) is left handed too and reminds us about this all the time.
Host: VictoriaKruse (Microsoft)
Q: Is there a way to move scroll bars from right side to left that I haven't found?
A: Some applications like OneNote support moving scrollbars. There isn't a system-wide way to move them though.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: I recently ordered an m200 from Toshiba, unfortunately they told me there is a component shortage that could last six weeks! I'm debating canceling and waiting for a next gen model. could I benefit from canceling my order and waiting?
A: I honestly don't know. My guess would be they are having difficulty getting displays but I have not heard that from Toshiba. As they are buying from their own display company this would be even more surprising.
Host: frankgo (Microsoft)
Q: Why the decision to combine Tablet PC 2005 and SP2 into one release?
A: There are several reasons for this including the request of IT Pro’s and our OEMs who prefer the single image because it’s easier to role out and maintain. In addition it’s less confusing for end users, now there is only one XP to install.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: I will be using the Tablet in my lap a lot, so heat is a consideration, both for my comfort and for the Tablet's! How do the Tablets such as M200, TC1100 and M1400 compare in terms of how hot they get?
A: We have not measured the heat from any of these units so we can't give a specific comparison. From my experience they all become warm but none of them is uncomfortably warm. Of course, this perception will vary from user to user.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: Any new generation Tablet PCs on the horizon? Looks like NEC is getting ready with something, any rumors about anything else new coming from other companies soon?
A: NEC has announced in Japan. See this link.: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/ja/0408/3001.html More tablets are coming in the fall and in the spring but I cannot comment until the manufacturers go public. Sorry.
Host: VictoriaKruse (Microsoft)
Q: Can anyone get SP2 on their Tablet now from Windows Update?
A: I'm not sure if they've posted all the languages yet, but I believe English is now available from Windows Update.
Host: frankgo (Microsoft)
Q: in theory ;) will future tabletpc edition updates be tied to service packs, or could there still be stand alone releases. i.e. will we have to wait for sp3 before we get tabletpc edition 2006?
A: We can’t comment on future plans right now with respect to tablet editions, our goal is to ensure overall customer satisfaction so I’d love to hear what you think.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: has there been any work with the large notebook ODM's (clevo, quanta, seger, etc) to promote the tabletpc platform or does Microsoft primarily work with the OEM's? (hp, Toshiba, etc)
A: We work with all the major ODMs in Asia. Many of the tablets you see on the market today are built and/or co-designed by ODMs. They are very involved with tablet pc innovation and have been great partners.
Host: VictoriaKruse (Microsoft)
Q: "More tablets are coming in the fall" - might that be fall as in September, or Fall as in November?
A: Since specific dates haven't been announced by the OEMs, we can't really comment. The Tablet PC community newsgroups and Web sites are usually the best way to hear about new hardware announcements.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: The calibration tool says it's important to calibrate your screen for portrait and landscape. How come?
A: Good question. There is a lot of misunderstanding about the calibration tool. I will try to address some of it here. The calibration tool is not a linearity calibration. That work is done by the manufacturer in cooperation with the digitizer supplier. It's fixed in the design. The calibration tool on the tablet is a pen tilt calibration. It corrects for pen angle because the tip of the pen and the end of the sensor in the pen barrel are about 1mm apart. As the angle at which one is holding the pen varies by location on the screen and orientation we suggest calibration in both orientations.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: Robert -- So does the tablet retain separate calibration settings for all 4 orientations? Or must it be reset every time?
A: I think it is just two orientations. It does save the settings
Host: Sears_Young (Microsoft)
Q: Earlier this year, there were Tablet PC-related events posted on the MS Tablet website. Now I can't find any. Are there not any scheduled anywhere? Not even back-to-school/campus bookstore events?
A: We're currently planning several future events, and expect to have more information available in the coming months. Sorry I don't have any more specific information for you.
Host: VictoriaKruse (Microsoft)
Q: I don't know if you're still mulling over my question, but what I envision is being able to read a document in journal, mark it up with ink comments, and then hold down a button on your pen to make it a highlighter until you release the button
A: That's a great suggestion. I'm not aware of any applications or pen hardware that currently support that though.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Okay, we'll be ending the Tablet PC chat in 5 minutes. Last chance!
Host: ArinG (Microsoft)
Q: Do all styluses have the exact same hardware, or are some different/better than others?
A: Styli are digitizer OEM dependant. I can't comment on any that are different/better.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: Are there any plans to improve the merchandising? As a potential customer, and a shareholder, it's frustrating!
A: Yes
Host: VictoriaKruse (Microsoft)
Q: Does the pen work in a remote desktop window if both client and host are Tablets?
A: The pen will act as a mouse. I understand that it would be nice for the pen to act as a pen (for example, to bring up the TIP), but as far as I know, it doesn't do that currently.
Host: ArinG (Microsoft)
Q: Are there any plans to fully integrate tablet/ink support into the windows .net framework rather than have a separate tablet SDK?
A: I can't comment on future plans, but we will continue to strive for better integration.
Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: robert_ms your blog needs updating
A: Is that a question or a statement :)
Host: robert (Microsoft)
You are correct. My bad. I'll try to get a new post up this week. Thanks for reading the blog
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
This concludes our Tablet PC chat for today. Thanks for coming, everyone!
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Please feel free to stay and continue to chat about Tablet PC or other Windows topics.
Host: VictoriaKruse (Microsoft)
Thanks everyone!
Host: robert (Microsoft)
thanks all
Host: ArinG (Microsoft)
Thanks!
Host: SpencerG (MVP)
Thanks for coming everyone!
Host: Sears_Young (Microsoft)
Thanks! Great questions everyone!
For further information on this topic please visit the following:
Newsgroups: Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Transcripts: Read the archive of past Tablet PC chats.
Website: Visit the home page for Tablet PC
