Why a Soccer Mom Needs a Tablet PC
Published: December 8, 2003
By Armelle O'Neal, Microsoft Technical Writer
When I joined the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition group about 3 months ago, I wondered what the value of a tablet computer was to anyone outside a business environment. Now I know. My Tablet PC has become an integral part of my life. I take it everywhere and I continuously discover ways it helps me get things done, save time, and amaze my friends and family.
In this column, I'll take you through a typical week where I juggle a busy work schedule and a sometimes busier home schedule. I'm very involved with my oldest son's school and extra-curricular activities. So I find it useful to annotate documents and provide feedback using Windows Journal on my Tablet PC. I'll also cover surfing the Internet through the magic of wireless networking at a branch library, and taking and sharing meeting notes using Windows Journal and Microsoft Outlook.
For an overview of how to perform other basic tasks with your Tablet PC, see Charlie Russel's Getting Started with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. See Focus on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to share experiences with other enthusiasts who are interested in how Windows XP Tablet PC Edition can extend the way you work with a PC.
Mark Documents at the Soccer Field
Twice a week, I take my eight year old son to a two-hour soccer practice. While waiting in the stands, I use my Tablet PC to take advantage of the kid-free time to review and provide feedback on documents. I've reviewed and given handwritten feedback to such varied documents as PTA board meeting minutes and Microsoft product specifications.
Before you can mark up a document, you need to create a document image, by following these steps:
1. | Open the document for which you want to provide feedback in the program in which it was created, for example, Microsoft Word. |
2. | Tap the File menu, and then tap Print. |
3. | In the Print dialog box, make sure that Journal Note Writer appears in the Name box as shown in Figure 1, and then tap OK.  Figure 1: Print dialog box |
Now you're ready to mark up your document image.
1. | Open Windows Journal. |
2. | Open the image of the document you printed. The document image will have a .jnt extension. |
3. | Annotate the document using your pen. You can also add flags to track items to follow up on, and highlight important parts of the document. |
For more information on taking and organizing handwritten notes with your Tablet PC, see Getting to Know Windows Journal.
Shop the Internet while on the Go
At soccer practice a couple of weeks ago, I was handed an invitation to a birthday party for one my son's teammates. After talking to the birthday boy's mom and getting a gift idea, I decided to not waste any time and order the present immediately.
I crossed the street to a nearby library and used my Tablet PC and wireless card to connect to the Internet, shop for the birthday present, and order it. Here's how that works with a Tablet PC. First, ask a library staff person for their network name. Then configure the settings on your Tablet PC to enable and verify a connection to the library's wireless network, by following these steps:
1. | Tap Start, and then tap Control Panel. |
2. | In Control Panel, tap Network and Internet Connections, and then tap Network Connections. |
3. | Right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then tap Properties. |
4. | On the General tab, under This connection uses the following items, tap Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then tap Properties. |
5. | Select the Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically check boxes, and then click OK. |
6. | Right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then tap View Available Wireless Networks. |
7. | Tap the name of the wireless network available at the library, and then tap Connect. |
When you've established your connection, you can surf the Internet just as you would from home or from the office.
1. | Open Internet Explorer. |
2. | Using an Internet search engine such as MSN Search, enter the search terms related to the item you're looking to buy. |
3. | Browse through the search results and select the most relevant link or links. |
4. | When you've located the item you want to buy, place the order. Check for the little padlock icon, as shown in the figure below, to make sure that the site is secure before entering your credit card information.  Figure 2: Secure Web Site |
Take and Share Meeting Notes
As the homeroom parent for my oldest son's class, I regularly meet with his teacher to discuss classroom issues such as class parties and the need for parent volunteers. Using my Tablet PC, I take notes during the meeting and then share the contents by e-mail with the rest of the parents in the class. So everyone can read the notes, I convert them to typed text before e-mailing. (For tips on getting handwriting recognition to work for you, see Handwriting Recognition 101.)
To convert handwritten notes into typed text
1. | Open Windows Journal. |
2. | Take notes during the meeting and save the Journal file with a meaningful name For example, including the date of the meeting in the note title makes it useful for later searches. |
3. | To convert ink to typed text, tap the Selection Tool button on the Pen toolbar, and then select the handwritten text you want to convert, as shown in Figure 3.  Figure 3: Selected Ink |
4. | On the Actions menu, tap Convert handwriting to text. |
5. | In the Text Correction dialog box, as shown in the figure below, make any necessary corrections to the converted text, and then click OK.  Figure 4: Text Correction dialog box |
6. | When prompted to choose whether to copy the converted text to the Clipboard or insert it in the current note, click the appropriate option, and then click Finish. |
To convert handwritten notes into e-mail
1. | To convert ink to an e-mail message, tap the Selection Tool button on the Pen toolbar, and then select the handwritten text you want to convert. |
2. | O the Actions menu, tap Convert selection to, and then tap E-mail. |
3. | In the Convert to E-Mail dialog box, make any necessary corrections to the converted text, and then click Convert. |
4. | Fill the appropriate fields (To, Cc, and Subject), as shown in Figure 5, add any text you wish to the message, and then send it.  Figure 5: Ink Converted to E-mail Message |
If you want, you can even create templates for your Windows Journal notes. Check the how-to article Creating and Using Journal Templates.
Why Does a Soccer Mom Need a Tablet?
Like many mothers, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by what seems like a very tough balancing act. I thoroughly enjoy my work as a User Assistance professional and thrive on challenges and opportunities that come with working in such a dynamic environment as Microsoft. Yet I also love being a Mom to my kids and being an involved parent. I appreciate my Tablet PC because it gives me added flexibility and lets me juggle work and family commitments more efficiently.
Try a Tablet PC—it provides all of the advantages of a laptop plus the flexibility and familiarity of a notepad and a pen. And if you're still hesitant to fully embrace computers, a Tablet PC is a great way to ease in the transition and immediately experience the advantage of computers.
Armelle O'Neal is a Microsoft Technical Writer on the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition User Assistance team. She balances her interest in the educating Tablet PC users with a deep commitment to her family and ongoing involvement with her community.
