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Add fun and functionality to your Tablet PC with Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

Published: September 28, 2006

Do more with the Microsoft Experience Pack for Tablet PC

The Microsoft Experience Pack for Tablet PC includes several tools that make your Tablet PC more productive. You can also add some applications for those times when you're relaxing.

Ink Art

Ink Art is a light version of the popular art program, Art Rage by Ambient Design—one of the best art programs available for Tablet PCs. Select your favorite medium, from pencil to charcoal to oils.

Pressure-sensitivity on your Tablet PC gives you some of the most realistic results you'll get with any program. Select your favorite tool and get drawing! When you've finished your masterpiece, you can save it, print it, or send it as an e-mail attachment. If you're not an artist, use the very cool “tracing paper” feature which allows you to open any picture or photo and paint overtop of it while the tool automatically selects the proper paint colors.

Choose your medium and paint.

Ink Crossword

Select one of the existing puzzles, or set Ink Crossword to download a new puzzle daily right to your Tablet PC. You can also purchase additional puzzles. Ink Crossword is a fun way to see how the Tablet PC recognizes your handwriting.

Use your pen to input the letters in the puzzle. You can set the program so that you'll know immediately whether you have the right letters or you've made a mistake. Select from Regular or Master Level for each puzzle. For an even greater challenge, use the timer and see how quickly you can complete the puzzle.

Ink Desktop

For any Tablet PC user who misses the Write Anywhere feature in the original Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Ink Desktop gives you back the option to write wherever you'd like—such as directly on your desktop. It's a great way to jot down a phone number, memo, or other reminder quickly. You'll see your note right on your desktop, so you don't need to remember where you saved the information. Best of all, it is designed to run all the time, so you'll never have to load an application just to jot down a note.

Jot down notes right on your desktop.

You can choose from any of several templates, including the default memo; daily, weekly, or monthly calendar; a grid; lines; or a notepad. You can decide whether you prefer the text faded or transparent. I like the transparent look, as it doesn't hide any part of the desktop. I can still write on the desktop, even when I have additional application windows open.

Even if you choose a smaller windowed mode, as in the default, you can still write elsewhere on your desktop. This lets you keep the template the way you want it, and you can add any other information elsewhere on the desktop.

Energy Blue

This desktop theme was introduced with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004. Many users love its light and airy look, and it's my favorite theme for Tablet PCs running Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005.

But this theme isn't just pretty, it's functional, too. It comes with a new Windows Media Player skin that is designed specifically for the Tablet PC to make it easier to control your media experience while using your pen.

Enjoy the Energy Blue theme on your Tablet PC.

Microsoft Media Transfer

Using Microsoft Media Transfer, you can find, stream and even transfer your media files on your home network from another computer to your Tablet PC. Now, you can take your favorite pictures, music and even MCE recorded TV shows with you when you're away from home. Another great feature of this PowerToy lets you stream photos and music across your network directly to your Tablet PC.

Snipping Tool

I don't know many Tablet PC users who are unfamiliar with the Snipping Tool.

This screen capture tool is invaluable for selecting areas from your documents, a Web page, an e-mail message, or anything else you want to grab. If you'd like, you can annotate your selection, and then paste into another document or an e-mail message. If you snip a webpage to send in e-mail it will even automatically append the URL to the e-mail.

If you haven't tried the Snipping Tool yet, make sure you add it to the list of applications you want to try with your Tablet PC.

Lasso a section from a Web page and move wherever you want.

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Do more with the Microsoft Education Pack for Tablet PC

The Education Pack includes four programs designed to help students with their classes as well as one game that's so addictive it's probably one of the most popular pastimes for Tablet PCs.

Equation Writer

Any student or teacher that has had to include complex mathematical equations in a document or report has faced the difficulty of entering such expressions using a keyboard. Now, use your pen to write out an equation and then have it converted to a text image for you. (Note that this tool is an equation writer only and doesn't solve the equation for you.)

I recommend that you read the help files thoroughly before using the Equation Writer. A great list of instructions, tips, troubleshooting steps, and Frequently Asked Questions is included.

Convert handwritten equations to text.

GoBinder Lite

Keep your classes, assignments, deadlines, and activities organized using GoBinder Lite. A wizard helps you add new courses (or anything else you'd like to use for your tabs). You can also customize colors and themes. Create tabs and folders so that your GoBinder is more useful than any physical binder. GoBinder Lite provides links to other free programs that are useful to students, such as e-books.

Use GoBinder Lite as an electronic binder.

GoBinder Lite has so many features that I could write an entire column about it. If you download only one PowerToy, this is the one I'd recommend.

Tip: I'm a big fan of Agilix Lab's full version of GoBinder. Although made primarily for students, I've found my organizational needs are well met with it. You don't have to be a student to benefit from GoBinder.

Hexic Deluxe

Ask anyone who's played Hexic on Tablet PC, and you'll probably hear that it's not very productive, keeps the user from doing what should be done, and is absolutely addictive. Hexic Deluxe is the full-version game from MSN Games created especially for Tablet PCs.

Use your pen to turn tiles to create clusters in any one of three versions. Each mode has three levels—easy, medium, and hard. Marathon mode is the classic Hexic. As you move up levels, you'll see bonus tiles. In timed mode, you try to create clusters to add time, while wasting moves decreases the time. Star pieces give extra points.

Survival mode requires that you remove all pieces from the board to win. Tiles that aren't cleared are locked; to clear these locked tiles, you must move unlocked tiles to include those that are locked in a cluster.

Get ready to become addicted.

Ink Flash Cards

Most of us grew up using flash cards to memorize things like the multiplication tables. Now, you can create flash cards for any subject right on your Tablet PC. Simply write a question on the front of the card and the answers on the back using either the pen or the keyboard. If you prefer, you can copy and insert graphics. You can also add links from other sites for more information.

Ink Flash Cards is a great tool for study groups, as each member can create different sets to share. In addition, several templates are included so that you can create the exact type of card that works best for you. After you have created a set of flash cards, you can view them in order or mix them up.

Tip: Parents, this is a great way to help your children with routine homework, such as spelling words, repetitive math problems, and vocabulary words.

Use figures to enhance information.

Send to Microsoft Office OneNote 2003

If you have recently installed Office OneNote 2003 on your Tablet PC, you'll find this PowerToy very useful. With its simple wizard interface you can send any document you have, including Web pages and other notes, directly to Office OneNote 2003. Then, you can use your pen to mark up your documents.

Other PowerToys

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that there are PowerToys other than those included in the Experience Pack and the Education Pack. There are PowerToys that can help children with schoolwork, and other PowerToys that can help with productivity. Among my favorites is one of the originals: Tablet Pool.

Microsoft Tablet Pool

Play one of users' favorite games for Tablet PCs, Microsoft Tablet Pool. This game is one of the first PowerToys that I ever used. Although the game is fun, it also teaches angles and reactions when you hit a ball in different ways.

The game is so realistic that you can angle your pool cue and apply "English" to the cue ball. The Help files are complete and offer a lot of information about how to improve your game. In addition, this game is one of the few PowerToys that can be played on two Tablet PCs across a network.

Aim and shoot using your pen.

To see other PowerToys such as the Dictionary Tool, Extended Desktop for Tablet PC, and the Music Composition Tool, be sure to check out the Microsoft PowerToys page.

Tip: Once you've installed additional PowerToys, find them by tapping Start, and open All Programs. Point to PowerToys for Tablet PC, and then select the PowerToy that you want to use.

Terri Stratton, Expert Zone Columnist and Windows XP Tablet PC MVP, is the owner and editor of The Tablet PC and The Media Center PC, each known for their wealth of information and comprehensive comparison charts. Tablet PCs became Terri's specialized area of expertise when they were first launched in November 2002.