Tablet PC (November 2, 2005)
Please note: Portions of this chat have been edited for clarity.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the Tablet PC chat! Today we are answering your questions about Tablet PC. Now, I'll have our hosts for the chat today introduce themselves:
Introductions:
Robert Williams (Expert):
Hi, I am the business development manager for the Mobile Platforms
frankgo_ms (Expert):
Welcome, my name is Frank Gocinski and I manage our ISV Business Development activities for the Mobile Platforms Group
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
I'm Andrew Brown, and I'm the MVP Lead for Tablet PC, and the moderator for this chat.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Welcome to the Tablet PC Chat for November. I'm a Tablet PC MVP with my web site at http://www.nicecreations.us where Inky will be glad to greet you.
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Welcome to the Tablet PC chat! I'm a Program Manager on the team that created the Experience Pack and Education Pack.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Hi, I am the business development manager for the Mobile Platforms
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Go ahead and begin sending us your questions, and we'll get the chat underway.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: Can you run MBS-Navision on a tablet PC? Is there any additional functionality.
A: If you can run it on an XP machine you can run it on a tablet
frankgo_ms (Expert):
Q: Hello, what are main different between tablet PC and notebook for you
A: Tablet PC is a fully functional personal computer, it is not a companion device (like a pda). It runs the Windows XP Operating System and therefore will run all your existing Windows applications you use today.
There are two basic models of Tablet PCs;
- Slates don’t have attached keyboards and the whole computer is contained in the box that makes up the screen. A digital pen is used to write directly on the screen to interact with the machine.
- Convertible Notebooks, these are simply notebook PCs with swivel tops that allow you to turn the sceen over when you close the lid so you can use them in Tablet (or Slate) mode. A great reference on Tablet PCs can be found here -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/evaluation/products.mspx
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: this might be very funny..but i`d like to know what would be the main difference between a laptop and a tablet PC, and whether tablet pc can be used for Media Center Edition
A: Nonu, I love the idea of Media Center and Tablets. In Vista, you'll have the opportunity to use parts of Media Center with Tablet PC, depending on the hardware you have available. I've been using it with the Vista beta and it's AWESOME!!!
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: Is there a device I can add to a desktop that would give me the equivalent of a dual monitor one normal monitor and one with INK feedback so I can have the input features of tablet PC on a desktop?
A: There is a power toy on the tabletpc site that allows you to get pen functionality onto your desktop monitor if you are using it with a tablet in dual monitor mode:
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: Is there a device I can add to a desktop that would give me the equivalent of a dual monitor one normal monitor and one with INK feedback so I can have the input features of tablet PC on a desktop?
A: it's located here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/tabletpc.mspx I know this is not exactly what you asked but it may help
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: What is a tablet PC?
A: A Tablet PC is a mobile computer (like a notebook or laptop), but with the addition of a "digitizer", which allows for input using a stylus. For example, you can write directly on the screen using the stylus as though it were a paper notebook, with the advantages of being able to store and organize your notes digitally. You can find out more at http://www.tabletpc.com.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: I have heard of battery issues with a tablet pc, how does battery life generally compare to that of a notebook.
A: Generally, tablet PCs are as good or better wrt battery life than similar NBs. Not for any specific reason but mostly because the HW manufacturers realize battery life is very important for tablet usage models so they pay more attention to the little things that make a difference. From a technology point of view there is no reason why a tablet should consume more power than a similar NB. The digitizer is not much of a factor; LCD panel, CPU, graphics chip set, HDD are the biggest power consumers and they are common to both products.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: There will be soon on the market a Fujitsu-Siemens Tablet PC with touch screen features (TPC 2005). Will I be able to use both pen and the touch screen features simultaneously on that machine?
A: The new Fujitsu Tablet PC will be a touch screen, with all the same features as Tablets which have the digitizer systems. It is not a dual system.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: What are the minimum requirements and recommendations of MS Vista??? When is it going to launch?
A: We haven't yet announced any information regarding the minimum requirements of Windows Vista, or the date when it will launch. This chat is primarily to discuss questions or issues with our current products.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: Are the new flicks in Vista going to be down-ported to XP Tablet 2005?
A: We cannot comment on flicks at this time other than to say that it's a really cool feature and probably will not be back ported.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: Is there a way to stop the Keyboard in the TIP from showing what characters you tap when entering passwords?
A: Where are you seeing this behavior?
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: When entering my password to access Hotmail in Internet Explorer using the TIP in keyboard mode, when you hover over the characters of my password, someone over my shoulder can see what I'm typing. This also occurs when accessing network resources.
A: This is an area which is being examined because the application to which you're entering the password, whether IE or Passport, etc., doesn't identify properly as a password area (like when you logon to your machine).
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Is there something (coming) like Tablet PC Edition with Vista instead of Windows XP Pro?
A: We are definitely committed to the Tablet PC concepts of inking and stylus-based user interface, and you'll see advances on those concepts in the Windows Vista timeframe.
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Q: What advantages does that FS Tablet PC have with that touch screen feature?
A: The main advantages over a regular notebook are the flexibility to use it in a variety of situations (hard to respond to an email on a regular laptop while standing up - but you can do it with a tablet pc with the screen rotated flat), and the ability to take handwritten notes and use the stylus or your finger as a mouse. For advantages over a Tablet PC with an active digitizer, the main one is that you can use your finger as a stylus, though the sensitivity isn't quite as good.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: wont vista be hard on tablets with out strong graph cards ?
A: Vista will run on just about any tablet that will run XP today. However, to take advantage of all the premium visual effects in Vista one would need a tablet with a better than avg graphics card. Example, many tablets shipping today have Intel 915 integrated graphics. Those tablets will not enable the Aero glass experience but they will run Vista. I can't quantify the graphics requirements at this time as we are still finalizing this part.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: I've heard lots of comments that Vista will do a lot for Tablet features. Does this mean that the primary desktop SKU will have tablet features built in or will the tablet features be limited to a specific Tablet Edition SKU?
A: We're not ready to discuss Vista SKU feature differentiation at this time.
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Q: How close is Tablet PC to being able record and translate speech into text 'on the fly'? Ie as soon as someone says something the tablet PC would be able to show us what’s being said similar to captions on a TV/film
A: Speech technologies have improved in leaps and bounds over the past five years, but it's still probably going to be a while before the computer will understand every word you say. I can't really guess how many more years that will take.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Q: As a follow-on to my question, I ask it because it would be useful to be able to use a Wacom tablet on my desktop system and have the functionality of Tablet edition without needing to purchase a new OS version.
A: Sorry, we don't have a solution for this one. Tablet capability is integrated into the OS so we don't have a separate app that installs tablet functionality over a WinXP Home or Pro installation.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: I didnt get an answer I assume that Tablet PC are retail only?
A: Yes, that is correct.
Robert Williams (Expert):
Goodbye, I have to run. Thanks for the good questions. See ya next time
frankgo_ms (Expert):
have to go, thanks for your time and input
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
This concludes our Tablet PC chat for today. Thanks for coming, everyone!
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Please feel free to stay and continue to chat about Tablet PC or other Windows topics.
