- Rob Bushway

I just installed build 5384 of Vista on my X41 Thinkpad.  All drivers and hardware buttons are working perfectly. I can rotate, scroll, etc. The Finger Printer reader isn’t working yet, though. Vista on the X41 runs really, really well. My memory config right now shows 572 mb with no open apps and 53 running processes.

The first thing you should do is to make a copy of your IBM Tools and I386 directory before doing the install, especially if you plan on reformatting harddrive before doing the install. I did a clean install, but did not reformat. After the initial install, I had a several devices that did not work - wireless, etc. The first thing you should do is double click on the Setup Devices and have it download all the updated device drivers from Windows Update. I still had a couple that it couldn’t find, so I directed it to find the other drivers in IBM Tools Drivers directory. The Fingerprint driver got installed, but I have not figured out how to get it to work at this point.

After all the drivers were installed, my hardware buttons still would not work. So, I went to the IBM Tools / Drivers directory and ran the setup utilities under TBBTN, TBUTIL, and UTILITY. I rebooted and then everything worked just perfect – scrolling, rotate, etc. Rotate even works when I flip the screen from convertible mode into tablet mode.

I then launched the Access Control and found that nothing much worked from there: volume controls, enable / disable wireless, etc. I think if I hunted that down enough, I could get those things working, but I’m not too worried about those apps at this point. My main goal was in getting the hardware buttons and rotate working and I’m quite happy with the upgrade.

I’m going to install Office 2007 next week and begin producing some InkShows around Vista with Office 2007. Should be a lot of fun.

 

- Warner Crocker

I’ve seen several reports of folks who have succeeded in getting Vista’s Aero Glass features running on various Tablet PCs with registry tweaks. One of the reports I’ve had my eye out for is how well Glass (and all of Vista for that matter) works on Toshiba’s Core Duo M400 Tablet PC. I stumbled across Alex Parker’s blog today and he’s published a step-by-step guide of how to enable Glass on a Toshiba M400.

So, now, Alex, tell us what sort of performance hit Glass makes on your M400.

- Warner Crocker

Mark Payton’s blog, The Vermont Slate, has always been a fascinating chronicle of how the Vermont Academy uses Tablet PCs as a part of its curriculum. The academy had been using the TC1000 hybrid Tablet PC, and, as most folks know, that model is now discontinued. So the Vermont Academy needed to select a new Tablet PC.

Mark has blogged a great entry on their selection process and the different Tablet PCs they examined on their way to a final decision.

Our selection pool consisted of two slate models, the Motion LE1600 and the Sahara i213, and three convertible models, the Lenovo X41, the Toshiba M400, and the HP TC4400.

You’ll need to head over to The Vermont Slate to see what Tablet PC they decided on. A great read.

- Warner Crocker

This certainly looks like an intriguing new solution to biometric security issues on PCs. The Palm Secure goes beyond finger-print readers and scans the pattern of veins running through a user’s palm, as well the blood flowing through the user’s veins. Manufactured by Fujitsu, the Palm Secure is due out next month and it is being demoed in NYC at the Corporate and Channel Computing Expo. Barry Doyle of TabletPCReviewSpot.com got a hands on look at the device which is where we picked up the news and the pics. Fujitsu is boasting accuracy rates of false rejections of  0.01% and false acceptance rate of 0.00008%. I’m betting as this takes off we’ll be doing hand-jives in a number of places.

More on the Fujitsu Palm Vein Technology.

- Rob Bushway

This is definitely the week for Tablet PC games! InkDoku, a Sudoku game written specifically for tablet pcs, has just been released. I have not had an opportunity to try this out yet, but it looks pretty cool. I’m not sure how it compares to the Origami sample that Microsoft developed, but if there are any Sudoku fans out there that would love to run a side by side comparison, I’d love to hear from you.

There is a free trial available. The full version costs $9.95. You can download it here.

Introducing InkDoku: Sudoku for the Tablet PC. This famous Japanese puzzle game comes directly to your Tablet PC. Use your stylus to handwrite your answers to an unlimited number of puzzles. If your Tablet supports the eraser mode of a stylus, simply use it like you were using a pencil!

Order InkDoku, designed specifically for your Tablet PC today and receive:

• Unlimited number of puzzles!
• Free access to support forum!
• Special offers on future software!

- Warner Crocker

News of this intriguing device is starting to circulate around the Tabletscape. Described as not a UMPC, the C1 PMG MicroTablet does not include the Tablet OS or Touch Pack sofware, the screen is 8”, and C1 Solutions describes it as a MicroTablet for its Australian market. That said, it looks like an interesting little touchscreen device.

“The C1 MicroTablet is designed as a total lifestyle product serving mobile entertainment, communication as well as computing needs in one go. Unique in design, C1 MicroTablet is a hybrid version of other portable mobile devices but with integrated multimedia functions that complement digital lifestyle users. “

• Processor: VIA Eden- 1GHz
  Hard Disk: 40GB up to 100GB
• Memory: 128MB DDR/256MB DDR/512MB DDR/1GB DDR
• Video RAM: S3 UMA (AGP 8X LVDS Interface)
• System: Whizpro Bios, APM 1.2
• Communications: Wireless - Wi-Fi 802.11b/g & Bluetooth Integrated
• Modem: - NOT included in Australian Model due to approvals.
• LAN - Realtek 10/100 Base-T
• Sound: AC-97 Audio on board sound,16-bit stereo, full duplex built-in speaker and microphone
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows® XP Home Edition or Microsoft Windows® XP Professional
• Display: 8.4" TFT LCD Touch Panel SVGA 800×600
• Expansion I/O: 3 USB 2.0 port, 1 IrDA port, 1 Earphone jack, 1 Microphone jack, 1 PCMCIA Type II Slot, 1 Mini VGA output port, 10 HOT Key - Quick Access Button, 4 Directional Buttons
• Accessories: Smart Case, Stylus Pen, AC/DC adapter
• Battery: Removable Li-ion Standard Battery Pack (up to 3 hrs) (I hope that this was not calculated in the same way than a 2.5+ that I know about it)
• AC Adapter: Input : AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz, Output : DC 16V, 3.13A
• Dimensions: 231mm * 192mm * 42mm
• Weight: 1.19kg (with battery)

Via Ultra-Mobile PC Tips

- Warner Crocker

 

Christian Falch knows what it is like to be on the bleeding edge with Tablet PCs and mobile technology. Take a look at his Life With Ink in Norway.

 

-Christian Falch

 

My first encounter with mobile computing was back in 1998 when I got my first Palm Pilot. I was instantly hooked on using a pen to interface with the device, and quickly became an early believer and mobile computing evangelist, keeping track of my contacts, calendar events and even taking my meeting notes on my Palm.

 

After these first experiences with mobile technology, I got interested in finding ways to make use of these small computers in both my work-days and my private life, and that has lead me to spend the past 6 years with laptops, PDAs and Smartphones as my primary devices.

 

Working as a professional software developer, I’ve often felt that I’ve chosen a tough path to go by.  Being a heavy user of tools for software development like integrated development environments, web and database servers, running on small and underpowered laptops has often been a challenge. Since I’ve been running my own company for a long time (not any more), I’ve spent a lot of time working from remote places. I can’t count how many times I’ve been working from our cabin by the sea, connected using GSM, GPRS, EDGE or UMTS. I’ve had a ton of different cell phones, my last one is a Nokia 6680 which I’ve had for a long time even though I’m not especially satisfied with it, mainly because it’s a very slow device.

 

When I first read about Tablet PCs, I didn’t really catch the advantages of the concept. I thought it was for people with special work-related needs. After following the news and reading about other users’ experiences, I decided to take a closer look at the technology. I read all I could find about it, following Eric Mack’s blog in particular. When I finally decided to go for a Toshiba Tecra M4, I was confident that I’d made a great choice.

 

After receiving my Tablet PC, I quickly understood that becoming a YABHTU would be hard for a Norwegian. The computer had no support for Norwegian handwriting at all, even though the Tablet PC operating system was in Norwegian! I got used to changing the input language whenever I wanted to use ink, and realized that I had to live with performing those extra clicks with the pen, Some of the software utilities I read about on the net and hoped could be usable for me didn’t even work because they didn’t find a suitable recognizer for the current language.

 

Probably because of the above mentioned disadvantages, Tablet PCs haven’t become very popular here in Norway. Frankly, I haven’t met anyone using a Tablet PC here. On the other hand, since I always bring my Tablet PC to meetings, people pay a lot of interest when they see what I can do with my Tablet PC like taking notes and saving small drawings directly in the meeting. They’re always very impressed when I let them write something in Ink and then ask the Tablet PC to translate it to text.

 

My biggest issue with mobile devices has been power consumption. Stronger processors demands more power, and as some of you already know, I’ve been quite busy finding ways to make my computer use less power, which in turn produces less heat, and gives me longer battery-life.

 

Since I’m a developer, I’ve always spent some of my spare time creating small programs and utilities that solve day-to-day problems. I’ve uninstalled all the extra software (crap-ware as some say) on my Tablet PC, which means that my task-manager doesn’t show more than one or two processes written by Toshiba. By turning of the services I don’t need and by removing unwanted programs, I’ve reduced the list of running programs on my computer to approx. 50 before launching programs like my email client, web browser and development tools.

 

I’ve also replaced the Toshiba Power Management software with a little program that I wrote in Microsoft .Net. The software uses undocumented APIs from Toshiba to control the cooling method and brightness of the screen. I’m running this together with a program called Notebook Hardware Control that changes the speed scheme for the CPU and can control the voltage used to power the CPU. Together with a new battery that now occupies my slim-bay, I now have a computer that almost never gets too hot to work with, and that never runs out of power when working without my AC adapter. This is how my life with mobile computing should be!

 

I enjoy using my computer at work. But at the same time I think that the computer should be a tool in my private life, with the goal of making everyday life more effective by spending less time on activities like searching for information I know I have somewhere on my system or retyping letters or documents that are lost.

 

To solve these (remember my demands for long battery-life and cool computing), I need tools that are small and effective at what they do. I use Mozilla Thunderbird for my email, since it’s a great program that does what it is  good at very well, and has little or no problems with viruses like other email clients I’ve previously used. I use Google Desktop to index the data on my computer, and can recall almost any email conversation or instant messenger chat I’ve had within a few seconds performing a local Google search. This is great, since my email is where I store my relational data; data that defines me and my relationship with the people I have around me, that is!

 

To sort my digital pictures (which is starting to become a large library of images), I’ve created a small utility that merges the pictures with my calendar (which is still Outlook, mainly because of its integration possibilities and ease of programmability). The tool exposes all my pictures as a calendar that is viewable from within Outlook. In combination with this tool, I’ve also created a program that uses appointments and data from Outlook to sort images in folders and subfolders with names from the appointments I had when the pictures were taken. A simple backup routine is also part of my image library, so that all the pictures and their corresponding folders are copied to my media server (which is a small Linksys NSLU 2 together with a D-Link DSM 320) for viewing on our TV set.

 

To end this article on how mobile computing (and Ink in particular) integrates with my life, I’d like to show you a picture of me, my Tablet PC, and my desk (or what used to be my desk). In my office everyone has glass desks, and I’m officially the first one that has managed to break one of them. My Tablet PC survived without a scratch, and I spent the rest of the day cleaning up! Thanks for taking the time to read about me and my life in ink! You’re always welcome to follow my journey on my blog: RND() Thoughts.

 

Here’s a link to Christian’s Fan/Brightness Control Utililty

- Rob Bushway

Remember when I linked to Pete Wright’s blog earlier this week where he declared that he was giving up his tablet pc? Well – it didn’t take long to find out just how much he would miss it. Pete Wright’s LE1600 is back in play:

I'm using the LifeDrive. It's great and I love it. I have my contacts, my appointments, my GTD lists, in fact everything I will ever need at very short notice, on it. But, I can't do without my tablet. Despite the flexibility that NewsGator online gives me for managing RSS feeds online, there is no substitute for kicking back, tablet in portrait mode, browsing through new posts in RSS Bandit. In addition, over the years that I've been using Tablets I've built up quite a selection of notes on my machine, and I can't do without them. There's no way I'm going to print them or convert them all to PDF.

- Warner Crocker

Uh oh. Looks like Microsoft will be delaying 2007 Microsoft Office system (I still can’t believe that name change, is e.e. cummings working for Microsoft now?) until “early 2007.” In March the announcement of the delays of Vista and Office met with howls of derision and urgings of calm, especially given the confusing language of that announcement. Now it looks like we’ve got more of the same.

"Based on internal testing and the beta 2 feedback around product performance, we are revising our development schedule to deliver the 2007 system release by the end of year 2006, with broad general availability in early 2007," a Microsoft representative said in an e-mail. "Feedback on quality and performance will ultimately determine the exact dates."

While this announced delay is a shorter time frame, I wonder how it will impact dual release plans with Vista, or are we looking at another Vista delay announcement coming down the pike. Or maybe, just maybe, Microsoft is convening a new focus group to test out some more new names.

Via CNet

- Rob Bushway

I just got an email from my MVP contacts at Microsoft that Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 has been released. They have apparently made a lot of improvements over beta 2:

• Improved RSS support: marking feeds as “read” and updating feeds automatically
• Ability to reorder tabs
• Enable horizontal scrolling while zooming
• Other bugs and security fixes

I’ll be downloading it tonight and playing with it. You can download it here. Also: If you download the beta, please be sure to leave your feedback by using Microsoft’s Connect center. Follow these instructions from the IE support page to do so:

You will need to have a Microsoft Passport account in order to use this site. Go to the Passport site to create an account.

In order to submit feedback, go to Microsoft Connect, then select "Available Connections," which will take you through a license agreement. You will see "Internet Explorer Feedback" as one of the list of programs available. Select "Apply" to enroll in the program.

- Dennis Rice

We received this email from a GottaBeMobile reader named Doug today:

“I've been using the NEC ultra  slate tablet, now about two years old, and love it for its 2 lb weight. I have long been surprised at the lack of press it got, and that NEC finally killed it. Any thoughts on why it had such a bad fate, and why we can't get to that form factor now?”

Good question Doug, you hit an old nerve with me there my friend! 

I had the chance to play with one of these units (NEC Versalite, right?) in Redmond while at some meetings at Microsoft with other Tablet PC MVP's.  One of the Microsoft guys brought it into the room and totally derailed a meeting.  Every one of the Tablet PC MVP's (a group who really know Tablets!) absolutely drooled over it.  8.8 x 11.7, .59 inch thick, 2.2 lbs? Excellent!  I would have bought one on the spot, but it had a Japanese OS, and we were told that NEC was not going to release it in the U.S.    

 

Huh?  Why not?  It was awesome.  They basically said that NEC had determined that the maintenance of a sales process in the U.S. was too high for the return they would get. I have since been made aware that it could be bought internationally, but I was just not ready to take that chance for service, etc. on an item that expensive.  I am sure you can get in in the U.S. now though.

 

I loved it.  Basically notepad size, and very light, I mean the thing would fit into your paper portfolio!  I have heard though that there were issues with battery life as well.  What has been your experience?  I would not have minded purchasing a couple extra batteries.  There were other limitations, such as 512mb RAM max, 933mhz Pentium III processor, 20gb hard drive as well, but I could have seen past each of those personally, to get such a great notebook size Tablet PC.  I honestly have to say that I still have not had my hands on a unit that felt any better than that.  If I remember correctly, it also came with a pretty cool slimline keyboard too.

 

Anyone at NEC listening?  Bring it back!  Update it to at least current processor levels, and I’m here with money in hand!

 

I too am disappointed that they went that route.  It is possible that Robert Scoble may have some insight into that, since he worked for NEC just prior to going to Microsoft.  I'll ping him and see what he says though.

 

 Thanks for writing Doug.

 

 

 

(Editors note: if you have a question for us at GottaBeMobile.com, email us as Doug did to get an answer.  We have developed a great list of contacts, and would love the chance to take a stab at getting you some answers!)

- Warner Crocker

I had the good fortune last night to have dinner with a couple of members of the Mobile and Tailored PC team, Lora Heiny, (also known as the First Lady of the First Family of Tablet PCs, and Ken Vassallo, the Lead Product Specialist, both of whom just happened to be in the Washington DC area on Microsoft business. It was about a 65 mile hike, but since I haven’t had the opportunity as a Tablet PC MVP to attend many of the events when face time with Microsoft folk is available, I was more than willing to take the drive. And it was great talking Tablet’s and UMPC/Origami with Lora and Ken.

Not only did we chat about our favorite devices but I got to put my hands on both a Samsung Q1 and a TabletKiosk eo for the first time, after reading and blogging about these UMPC/Origami units from a distance. I have to say, in a side-by-side quick dinner table comparison of the two units, the Q1 wins in my opinion. It just feels more solid and more mature as a unit, compared to the eo. Again, in a a very quick opportunity to look at each unit, I experienced some digitizer issues when using the stylus on each unit, though I imagine with practice that could be overcome. Intriguingly the Samsung also felt smaller and more compact than I imagined in my mind, while the eo felt about like I expected both units to feel in terms of size and weight. The Samsung, even though it feels more solid actually felt noticeably lighter in my hands.

Again, I didn’t spend tons of time with either Origami, preferring instead to not be rude and enjoy the good company of my dinner companions and some good discussion about Tablet PCs, Origamis, Microsoft’s weird naming nuances, (more on that in another post.) I will say the brief time I spent hands on confirmed my thoughts about the Origami concept and how it could fit into my workflow. Now if only that price point can come down a bit.

 

- Rob Bushway

David Ciccone just posted on his blog that he has resigned from DualCor Technologies. Dave joined DualCor in January as their Director of Strategic Alliances. Dave will be joining a new company outside the Ultra Portable arena.

DualCor is working on a dual PDA Phone and full XP Origami device. They have had several management change overs in the past couple of months, so it will be interesting to see what is in the works and if anything changes with the DualCor device.

- Warner Crocker

Well if UMPCs, or the Sony UX, or your SmartPhone is still too big, perhaps you should check out this credit card sized computer from CompuLab in Israel. Yes, it is the size of a credit card, but it will run Linux or Windows CE, comes with Intel’s XScale processor, two USB ports, a 512mb Flash Disk, WiFi interface, extended graphics solution, PCMCIA controller and more. (Check out the full specs here) These tiny wonders are intended to serve as building blocks in imbedded applications, so I don’t think you’ll be rushing out to grab one at your local big-box, even though the price starts below $50.

Via Gizmodo

- Warner Crocker

When I saw news that Verizon was making some moves to ease up on their early termination fees, I was indeed glad to see some movement. Make sure you look at the fine print closely though. While Verizon will pro-rate the termination fee so that you are only paying proportionally to the time you have left on your contract, the deal is for new users, or current subscribers who sign a new contract.

I’d love to see one of these companys really go for the jugular and agree to buy out contracts for customers who switch. Then you’d see some real movement and choice in the market place.

- Rob Bushway

According to Ultranauts.com, TabletKiosk is going to be releasing a new Origami device in about 6 – 8 weeks. Apparently, Ultranauts has 100% confirmation via an email that he has seen from TabletKiosk talking about this new device.

I sent an email to Martin Smekal and Gail Levy asking them to clarify this “100% confirmed rumor”. Gail Levy had this to say: 

Right now, the only thing that I can confirm is that we will be making a major announcement in the next 6-8 weeks.  Unfortunately, I can not provide any additional information at this time.

I’m looking forward to seeing what TabletKiosk will be announcing.

 

- Warner Crocker

I have always been fascinated with the ruggedized Tablet PC concept but never been lucky enough to have seen one in person. Barry Doyle of TabletPCReviewSpot.com got a chance at the Corporate and Channel Computing Expo to check out NOVA Mobility Systems’ entries into the ruggedized field and has filed a report with pictures. From what I can gather from NOVA’s website, the Tablet options at this point are all touchscreen only, but they sure look like impressive devices and almost indestructible. The specs on the site are pretty impressive.

Here’s a thought, and I think Dennis and Rob would agree. The makers of all ruggedized Tablet PCs should send GottaBeMobile.com evaluation units. We’ll test them out fully, produce InkShows of their products, and then also produce InkShows of the GBM team trying to destroy the units by subjecting them to all sorts of extreme circumstances. What’d ya think, guys?

- Warner Crocker

Bradley Music of the Mobile PC Team  posts about Vista’s Handwriting Personalization feature which allows for improved handwriting recogniton. He talks about the fact that it does take some investment by the user but that investment does pay off. Apparently, you need to submit 50 sentences or so for best results.

One bright side of submitting a large set of samples (besides the world's best handwriting reco experience!) is that you never have to resubmit the samples, even when you upgrade your build.  The samples migrate using the Windows Easy Transfer wizard (found in Accessories->SystemTools), along with the rest of your personal files and settings.

It is good to know that personalization training is portable.I beleive it is going to be realy interesting to see how users repsond to the personalilzation features.

- Rob Bushway

David Rasmussens’s blog is going to be really, really good. Today, David shares some tips on storing your OneNote notebooks on an SD card and sycing your computers with it. This is a really good tip and will be very useful when moving from work and home computers.

I’m currently using OneNote Mobile on my Treo for taking notes when mobile and syncing with OneNote.

- Rob Bushway

“Very pleased”, says CTitanic of his recalled eo. Like others, he is telling us that the recalled eo’s are running much better than before: about two hours with WiFi on, 2+ hours with WiFi off. CTitanic is also reporting that it is running much cooler as well. There are still some issues to resolve, like it not entering C3 state, but to hear CTitanic finally declare that he would recommend the eo to anyone is a major step forward.

Kudo’s to TabletKiosk for getting this recall right and doing good by your customers.

- Rob Bushway

I just received the July edition of PC Magazine. Normally, this isn’t something to write home about. I’ve gotten so fed up with PC Magazine, I normally just throw it away after checking the mail box. I don’t know why, but today I decided to flip through it. Here is what hit me as I flipped the pages:

A couple pages past the table of contents, I run into a full page ad for the LS800. A couple pages over is an ad for the M400. On in to the First Looks section, and they are talking about Q1. Further in is an ad for an Acer Tablet PC and then another ad for the Fujitsu Tablet PCs. Intermingled among those ads is the real meat – their articles. They have made some subtle, but important changes.

First, all of their writers have penciled caricatures next to their by-lines. They are very well done and they send a more personable message than those old passport photos. They look hand drawn – just like what someone would do with a Tablet PC.

Next, they are doing some great stuff with the call-outs in their pictures. They are using a natual handwriting font for all of their call-outs and then drawing arrows and circles around pictures, similar to what you and I do with the Snipping Tool. It all looks and feels very natural and free flowing – almost like they are writing on the magazine and marking it up in front of us – just like what you would do with your Tablet PC

Now, I know they are not using a Tablet PC to do the call-outs and mark-ups. But the overall impression they are leaving with the reader is a good one. They are approaching their content with a much more natural, personable look, and at the same time sending a subtle message (whether on purpose or not) about Tablet PCs. Well done.

 

 

- Rob Bushway

I’ve been corresponding with Mark de Jeu for a little while about tablet pcs, umpcs, which ones I like, etc. Well, Mark finally pulled the trigger and purchased a Fujitsu P1510D.

Mark sent me a really good letter going over why he purchased the P1510D vs other tablet pcs, why he didn’t want to wait, etc. His letter is really good and I thought it might help some of you who are going back and forth with the decision process. He’s given me permission to post it here for your enjoyment.

Rob:

I have joined the ranks of Tablet PC owners.  I wanted to thank you for helping me in the decision process.

My first PC goes back to a TI-99/4a, and my first IBM PC was back before they sold models with hard disks (around 1982) to run Lotus 1-2-3.

I program Web and Windows-based applications for a living, and I think this whole UMPC form factor will find its day.  So I need to get ready for this from a development end (not too late to start, I believe).  My user design approach is to noodle with it until I get it.  But for this next wave, I have nothing to noodle with.

Until now.  After months of daily reviews of GBM, JKOTR, WickedStage, Uber, and Buzz forums, I have landed on the Fujitsu P1510D.  I heard your comments on trying out the ink, and I did try it out.  No issues, and it may be that there will be a behaviour modification requirement for those that want non-Herculean touch screens (just as there is a behaviour mofification requirement to become proficient in inking legible characters).

My ideal Tablet will be out after Vista, and will include the combo screen you had mentioned to me once.  But I did not want to wait another year, and I think this P1510 will be enough to get me started. 

Benefits I see over the UMPC and LS800: 1024x600 screen resolution and keyboard when needed (my bet is future UMPCs will need this resoltion; some app dialogs fail to work with even 600 vertical pixels).  The 2.2 pounds is nice, and your zeal for the 'take it anywhere' LS800 made me lean towards this form factor.  I also want to play with the fingertip navigation and understand the UI implications on the apps I build. 

I have to add that I have never understood the lack-of-cd argument.  I virtually NEVER use a CD/DVD drive in a laptop (OK, never is an exageration, but an external drive is plenty to load software or make backups, the only value I see to having a CD/DVD drive).  Watching a movie was only attempted twice, with the need to tether to a power source and try to ignore the Cesna-in-mid-air noise volume from my Vaio laptop CD drives.

One more reason for the P1510D - it sounds like Fujitsu service stands out, although I hope to add nothing to that conversation.

What a field we work in; always changing, always more to learn.  I don't deserve it this good!

Excited and grateful, wishing you, your enterprise, and your family all the best,

Mark de Jeu

- Rob Bushway

David Rasmussen is a developer on Microsoft’s OneNote team, and just launched his own OneNote blog. He hits the blogosphere with two really good articles on utilizing OneNote.

The first one is about using keyboard shortcuts to get quick access to your OneNote pages. There are some really good tips in there for those of us who live in OneNote. The second one shows how David utlizes Outlook 2007 and OneNote 2007 for task management.  

Keep the good stuff coming, David.

Via Missionary Geek

- Warner Crocker

Wacom has posted their vision of Wacom Pens and Vista whether using a pen tablet, pen display, or Tablet PC.

Vista is designed to allow users to get better results in less time and to help make that a reality they are introducing extensive support for pen and touch input. As the global leader in pen input technology Wacom is dedicated to this initiative and actively collaborating with hardware manufactures and software developers to support this vision of universal pen use. When you work on a Vista machine with a Wacom pen (pen tablet, pen display, or Tablet PC) your experience includes powerful note taking, handwriting recognition, and fast navigation options that allow you to quickly and intuitively get the results you want.

Intriguing that if you follow the link to Vista Drivers and select Tablet PC the only driver available at present with XP. Other tablet types have Vista drivers available.

Via Sumocat’s Scribbles

- Warner Crocker

It seems like the night for Tablet PC games. Team Legacy.Net has just released Missile Defender v1.2 for the Tablet PC. This is a rewrite of the classic game for the Tablet PC. It can be dowloaded on Tablet PC Post, along with the source code.

 

- Warner Crocker

Perry brings a guest host to The Tablet PC Show podcast #39. Perry and guest host Neema Saeedi discuss their respective decisons to purchase Toshiba M200 Tablet PCs and other Tablet PC and UMPC/Origami news of the day. Neema’s perspective as a long-time Mac user who has gone Tablet PC is certainly worth a listen as is the whole show.

The Tablet PC Show #39

- Rob Bushway

CTitanic has just released a new game written specifically for UMPC / Origami's and Tablet PCs called iHangman. The trial version has a list of 4 words. For a limited time, you can buy iHangman for $7.49. It is regularly priced at $9.99.

I'm downloading it right now and I'll see if I can finally win at Hangman!

Update: .Net 2.0 is required

The game comes with 3 lists of words, the main list of around 1000 words, the list of Capitals of Countries and the List of Countries names. You can create your own list of words in a TXT file adding one word for row, this feature makes the games virtually new every time that you add a new list of words to be used by the program.

This game is a perfect tool to practice your handwriting with the Tablet PC recognizer. You can also use it as a learning tool to teach your kids new words making the learning process a big fun. 

 

- Rob Bushway

Phil Crosby is working on a new add-in for Word that improves on how Word interacts with ink. Phil has created a video here and has a blog about the upcoming add-in here. I’m looking forward to testing this one out.

So why is Phil creating an Ink add-in for Word if it already supports ink? I’ll let Phil explain it:

Microsoft Word has considerable support for writing on documents, but it's not perfect. Most noticable is the inability to reflow marks that are written in the body of a document. When the document is changed, the marks don't move with the text, and quickly become irrelelvant.

Additionally, the ability to write comments in the margin of a page is limited to the right margin, and requires pushing buttons and writing in boxes. Ink for Word let's you write all over the document whenever you want - there's no buttons to push or boxes to write in. It groups your comments together and makes sure they move with the document as it changes.

Finally, Word does not interpret and apply Tablet PC gestures or proof-reading marks. This time consuming and tedious task is left up to the person editing the document.

- Rob Bushway

More and more notebooks are coming out with ExpressCard slots instead of PC card slots, which has put EV-DO users in a pickle. Well, Dell is coming out with their own EV-DO card by the end of the week. The card is a rebranded Merlin XV620, will sell for $179, and work on the Verizon network.

For the MacBook users out there, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for drivers.

Via Gearlog and Engadget

- Rob Bushway

ToshibaDirect.com has the Tecra M7 available for ordering. Prices start at $1399.

The customize option features two types of video cards, both featuring wide screen resolutions at1440 x 900:

• Intel 950 – 128mb shared memeory
• Nvidia Quadro with 128mb dedicated memory – $100 more

Under the operating system, they list Tablet Edition and Windows Vista. I wonder  if they are including free upgrades to Windows Vista or if it means that it is Vista capable? We’ll try to check on that one.

• Pricing and info
• Specs
• Tour

 

- Warner Crocker

Ed Bott is wondering about this and so am I. It looks like Microsoft might go a step further with their Windows Genuine Advantage program and bascially shut down Windows if it isn’t recognized as the genuine article.

Guess what? WGA might be on the verge of getting even messier. In fact, one report claims WGA is about to become a Windows “kill switch” – and when I asked Microsoft for an on-the-record response, they refused to deny it

I’m not concerned about Microsoft’s motives to thwart piracy here. Buy the software and be done with it. But like Ed Bott, I think this causes problems when this is forced on users who would prefer to update their systems manually instead of on Microsoft’s schedule. Ed chronicles a list of problems some users have already experienced with WGA. In our small shop, where I’m the chief cook, bottle washer, and IT guy, I don’t let any of our comptuers update automatically, instead going the manual route. If nothing else to hang on to my own sanity when patches roll around during a hectic time here. We suffered a setback a few Patch Tuesdays ago when we lost some functionality on our Box Office computer until Microsoft later pushed out a patch to the patch.

Ed thinks it could get messy. If this comes to pass, I know it will.

- Warner Crocker

Jezlyn at Late to the Party has been pondering a UMPC/Origami purchase, and as a part of her pondering she decided to take her Toshiba M200 Tablet PC along for a grocery shopping trip. Using MindManager to map out her grocery list, she headed into the aisles.

“I sort of had the idea to do this to see if I could just force myself to carry the tablet to places where a UMPC/micro-PC would be more suitable, partially just to see how it’d be, and partially to try and stave off my desire to pick up a UMPC-type device longer…  Can’t justify buying a UMPC if I can just as