Tablet PC, February 1, 2006
Published: February 3, 2006
Please note: Portions of this transcript 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 PCs. I'll have our hosts for the chat today introduce themselves…
Introductions:
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):
Hi and welcome. I'm Chris H, a Tablet PC enthusiast and active in the microsoft.public.windows.tabletpc newsgroup, various forums and have the www.nicecreations.us web site.
Sears Young [MS] (Expert):
Hi all, I'm Sears Young, a Program Manager on the Tablet PC team. My team has been responsible for the Pack releases (Experience, Education, and Enhancement).
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Go ahead and begin sending us your Tablet PC questions, and we'll get the chat underway.
Start of chat:
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: So how comes the tablet PC's still haven't taken off?
A: Sales have increased every quarter, as far as I know.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: What benefits do a tablet Pc have over a usual laptop?
A: Mobility, ease of use, and you can take quick notes (among other things). Check out http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/default.mspx
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: I work for an airline and it was considered that we buy tablet pc's for the aircrew paperwork but they never chased it would you agree it would make a cost effect?
A: You might want to check out some of the case studies here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/evaluation/casestudies/default.mspx A whole lot of industries are switching to Tablet PCs now.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: You have to be excited, from a harware perspective, with the new Core Duo machines coming to market. Do you see ways this new technology might impact Tablet PC more than traditional notebooks?
A: Great stides are being made each day in hardware, which can do nothing but boost Tablet PC performances. The future looks really great.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Why are tablets more expensive than laptops?
A: The difference in price has diminished significantly over time. The additional functionality of the Tablet PC, such as being able to write in digital ink directly on the screen, requires a digitizer, which is a hardware component that adds a small additional cost over a conventional laptop.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: Hi...I'm a tech coordinator for a private school. We're rolling out a 1 to 1 tablet pc program in our school. We are really excited. What about the new vrsion of Windows? Will there be a tablet version?
A: Vista will roll in Tablet PC functionalities when it launches. If you're got the proper hardware (obviously available on a Tablet PC), then you'll get the functions.
Jeremy [MS] (Expert):
Q: I have a MUI version of a Tablet PC 2005 using a Skandinavian Keyboard. In addition I have installed Japanese services with MS IME Keyboard. I would like to use TIP with Writing Pad and Character Pad. Is this possible?
A: Hi, from what you describe you should be able to do what you want. You need to install the Tablet 2005 Recognizer Pack (assuming you are using SP2). Here is the link to the Recognizer Pack download:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=080184dd-5e92-4464-b907-10762e9f918b&DisplayLang=en
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Q: I let the Recogniyer Pack repair the installation; still no handwriting in Japanese. Handwriting works perfect in English and German. Any ideas?
A: You'll also need to install the files for East Asian languages (from the Languages tab in the Regional and Language Options control panel) and make sure to add the Japanese keyboard and IME from Text Services and Input Languages in the same tab. If the Japanese recognizer isn't listed as available in the text services dialog, then there could be something wrong with the installation.
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Q: Japanese Services were installed: 'Advanced Text Services' and 'MS IME Keyboard'. Still no Japanese handwriting, only Standard TIP Keyboard. Are there some special settings required for IME Keyboard to get it work?
A: I don't have enough information at this point to guess as to what the problem is. You may wish to post this question to the Tablet PC newsgroup. A list of all Microsoft-hosted support newsgroups is here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/default.asp
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: The TIP doesn't always show up in MS Office 2003. any ideas for me to try?
A: Could you give more details? What is your situation? Have you installed the Office 2003 Update: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=31634d79-34ad-494d-8108-80085ace23be&displaylang=en
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: Yes, update installed. It is sporadic. Sometimes it shows and other times it doesn't. Before you ask, I am holding the pen in the same position when it works and when it doesn't.
A: Check to make sure you've got the latest drivers installed for your pen, and also the Office 2003 update I mentioned previously.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: I hear that Vista will need 1GB ram min, If so how will the Tablet PC run this?
A: We haven't announced any hardware requirements for Vista yet, so it's too early to speculate on which models of Tablet PCs in the market today will be able to run Vista. There are certainly Tablets than can use 1GB of RAM or more, however.
Sears Young [MS] (Expert):
Q: How does one go about updating the PID key for an evaluation copy ? The formal installation disk does not appear to ask for a new product key.
A: There's some information about how to upgrade an evaluation version of Windows XP in this KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q307993/
Jeremy [MS] (Expert):
Q: Problem is: The probmem I am having is that the ability to use the pen doesnt always engage when I boot up....very fustrating. I did re install the provided windows disk and it improve...but now back to the problem.
A: Hi, what make and model of Tablet PC do you have?
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Many users experience flighty behavior in switching screen orientation with XP Tablet PC Edition. Will ithis issue be addressed in Vista?
A: Can you describe further what you mean by "flighty" behavior? Which Tablet PCs are affected according to the reports you have seen?
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Will there be a student scheme to purchase a tablet, much like an apple ibook?
A: Individual schools and manufacturers have done this in the past, so it's something to check into if you're a student.
Sears Young [MS] (Expert):
Q: my problem is that when I try to schedule a task I keep getting the 0x80070005 access is denied and even the hotfix I received didn't help at all
A: I'm assuming you're referring to the hotfix mentioned in this article? http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884573 If so, have you also tried the workaround steps provided in the article? Have you tried creating a new user account to see if the problem still happens?
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: What is the battery life on a Tablet PC?
A: There is very little additional battery drain when comparing a Tablet PC to a comparably-equipped conventional laptop.
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Q: Any new powertoys or apps out that any of the experts want to talk about?
A: The main packs we've released so far are the Experience Pack and the Education Pack for English and the Enhancement Pack for other Tablet languages. We haven't released any new powertoys for English recently.
Chris H Tablet PC (Expert):
Q: Any chance with the big move to "live" branding you would see use of a tablet PC with the Xbox360?
A: You might check http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/xbox360/massmedia.htm .
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Q: Is there a good utility or powertoy that describes in more detail what processes are running than Task Manager? I know most of the processes on a standard laptop, but on a tablet I am hesitant to start closing stuff.
A: I know of at least one 3rd party solution - Process Explorer from SysInternals (http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html) but I'm sure there's others also. I haven't used it myself though, so I can't really give a recommendation or not.
Sears Young [MS] (Expert):
Q: Where do I find more information about using Gestures?
A: We have some information explaining how to use the different gestures at this site: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/tabletpc/learnmore/gestures.mspx
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Q: My understanding is that the hand writing recognition learns over time. Is this true? Would letting someone else use my tablet under my profile therefore introduce noise and reduce the accuracy?
A: The hand-writing recognition on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 does not learn over time, so there is no harm in letting someone else use your Tablet PC. The speech recognition does learn, so if you had someone use the speech recognition, that might make that less efficient.
Hilton Locke [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Has anyone found a Finepoint compatible graphics program similar to Alias Sketchbook?
A: What do you mean by "Finepoint compatible"? Finepoint is just another digitizer vendor, it should have no effect on app compatibility.
Hilton Locke [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Hilton- the finepoint driver is not compatible for pressure sensitive compared to the WACOM tablets. Gateway went with another vendor and didn't mark the change on the box.
A: That's (passing along pressure and other specialty data) a vendor issue - if the vendor either doesn't support the feature or doesn't implement it in their driver, that's something you'll have to take up with the vendor. Sorry.
Hilton Locke [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Hilton: http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31654&SearchTerms=finepoint discusses it
A: thanks, I'll take a look after the chat
Jeremy [MS] (Expert):
Q: I am hearing here that the pen tip can 'wear out' When I asked this question on the forum I was told that it never wears out = just gets scratchy. What is the answer? I thought that might be my problem with the TIP.
A: You have to work it pretty hard to require a replacment tip but if you have problems like pressure sensitivity being erratic the first thing to try is one of the spare tips. The Wacom pens usually come with some spare plastic tips in the box and a little metal clip to pull out the exisiting tip.
Hilton Locke [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Does MS have any sor of requirements or restrictions on Vendors in regards to the Tablet PC? I ask this because the way gateway pulled the switch reminds me of this: http://www.siliconvalleysleuth.com/2005/08/scam_the_powerb.html
A: Microsoft publishes guidelines as part of WHQL logo testing, but no restrictions e.g. OEMs can use vendor A but not vendor B.
Hilton Locke [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: even if it means reduced or nonfunctionality?
A: asked and answered.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Any chance of seeing more how to and idea videos on the tablet. I am adicted to channel 9 (I think that's what it is)
A: Glad you enjoy Channel 9! We'll certainly keep your feedback in mind.
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.
Hilton Locke [MSFT] (Expert):
Thanks all for another very active chat! See you next month!
Sears Young [MS] (Expert):
Thanks everyone for the great questions!
Jeremy [MS] (Expert):
Bye all. Thanks for the good questions.
VictoriaKruse_MS (Expert):
Thanks everyone!
