January 2004 News Archive

"Recently I have been considering what changes could be in store for the Tablet PC in the future. Below are my thoughts on where Microsoft should expand the Tablet PC operating system to grow its market share.

Topics covered include:
Displays – LCD Monitors w/Built In Touch Screen Support
Support External Wacom Tablets
Expand Touch Screens Support
Stroke Support - Easier Navigation and Editing
Include OneNote with the Tablet PC OS
Expand Ink in Applications
Ink in Video and Audio

All of these changes will help expand the use and acceptance of the Tablet PC as an operating system, not just a niche laptop technology. Each of these items add new uses of the Tablet PC operating system for users and this will expand the number of Tablet PC users overall." 10:30 am

Dell will lead with price and a solid reputation for reliability, HP with innovation showcased in products like Blade and Tablet PCs, which have the potential to change the market as we know it. In a down market where people are unwilling to take risks, Dell has the edge, but in a recovering market where companies are looking to gain a competitive edge, HP should have an advantage. 10:27 am

Toshiba has launched its second-generation tablet PC, which boasts a faster processor and tweaks aimed at addressing some of the shortcomings of its predecessor.

The Intel Centrino-based unit has a 1.6GHz Pentium M processor, up from 1.33GHz in the earlier Portege 3500 (see full review here ), and includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as standard. It includes 256MB of RAM, expandable to 2GB, a 60GB hard drive, two USB 2.0 ports, Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system, and a Nvidia GeForce FX Go5200 graphics controller. The system retails for £1,699 (ex. VAT) in the UK.

Toshiba has added some new twists to lure users, such as a dual-axis accelerometer designed to detect which way the user is holding the device and adjust the screen orientation accordingly (the 3500 required users to change the screen orientation manually). It uses a redesigned interface with a zoom function -- addressing a complaint by some users that screen objects such as buttons were too small to use.

A new dock allows users to adjust the height of the unit and write on the screen while sitting at the desk. The dock includes a slot for an additional hard disk or optical disk drive. 10:25 am

As Microsoft's long-planned strategy to transform the PC from a work device into an entertainment hub takes shape, the company intends to use this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to ratchet up its efforts to capture more of the billions of dollars spent on home entertainment.

Although not yet ready for market, prototypes of Microsoft's Portable Media Centers, which will be made by Samsung, Viewsonic and others, will be on display at the show. According to analysts, Microsoft believes it can repeat the relative success of its Tablet PC push, in which it lured big-name device makers to design products for Microsoft software. 10:18 am

At Sharp Memorial Hospital, a 330-bed hospital in the north end of San Diego, practicing pharmacist and resident "computer guy" S. John Johnson is leading Sharp's latest wireless pilot program, which tests tablet PCs with the hospital's pharmacy staff. Today's hospital pharmacists often make rounds in the wards to check prescriptions written by doctors, watching for allergies or drug interactions. In the past, Johnson would make his rounds, then either hunt for a free computer terminal at the nurse's station or return to his desk in the first-floor pharmacy to input information into the computer and approve the medicines. Only then could a nurse collect the drugs and administer them to the patient.

Now, Johnson does everything in real time on his wireless Toshiba Tablet PC. "We can approve in-house prescriptions from wherever we are," he says. As the pharmacist moves from ward to ward, his prescription approvals register on the hospital's computer network. Most of the hospital's drugs are stored in large automated dispensing machines in each of the 14 nursing stations at the hospital. The networked machines, which are manufactured by San Diego-based Pyxis Corp., resemble overgrown ATMs. Once prescription approvals are uploaded to the network by the pharmacist, attending nurses can log on to the nearest Pyxis machine with a user name and a fingerprint scan and receive the drugs. 10:17 am

Last August John Ruley wrote about how you can make your own electronic flight bag, using a Tablet PC and relatively inexpensive software. After testing it on a couple of actual cross-country flights, he has some different things to say about it

To review, an EFB is a portable computer running software that can augment or replace paper charts for in-flight use. As I wrote in Roll Your Own Electronic Flight Bag it's possible to build a pretty reasonable EFB by adding Jeppesen's FliteMap software (and an NMEA-compatible GPS) to a Tablet PC; this gives you a 10- or 12-inch, color, moving map that can be configured to look like a VFR sectional chart, IFR en route chart, WAC chart or just about anything else you might want. For IFR operation, you can add Jeppesen's FliteDeck, which provides IFR approach plates, or you can download NOS plates from AOPA's web site.

I had tried this out on several local test hops before writing the previous article, but I only tried it on a trip after the feature went to press. Here's how it worked out in practice. 10:12 am

Pittsburgh Area Pocket PC User Group -- 7 p.m., Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Inc., 2790 Mosside Blvd., Monroeville (off Route 48, south of the I-376 and Pennsylvania Turnpike intersection). Topic: "The Tablet PC," a presentation of various models and information about what is looming on the horizon. 412-519-4731 or visit www.PittsburghMobileTech.com . 10: 08 am

While many people kick off the new year counting calories, technology writers feel compelled to spend the first day of every year guessing what will unfold for information tech during the remaining 364 days. We pretend we are peering into the future, though we know the crystal ball typically reflects the past.

Mighty Microsoft wins some, loses some: The software giant probably will see several consumer products flop this year, including its Tablet PC, which seems as useful as an oversized Etch A Sketch, and its soon-to-be-released SPOT network, which beams weather alerts and other info to wristwatches via radio. Yet the company's Xbox Live Internet gaming network appears to be a hit, already signing up more paying subscribers than analysts expected. 10:02 am

Tell us your story and you could win one of four Toshiba® Portégé 3500 Tablet PCs

If you take a moment to look back over your business success, it's more than likely you'll discover how Microsoft® Office® has played a vital role. Our dedication to transforming your personal productivity has always been at the heart of our continuing drive toward developing better ways for you to integrate, collaborate and utilize information. And that same dedication to better understanding our customers is what lies at the heart of this contest as well. 4:59 pm

Designed to Celebrate the Partnership Between Leading Companies; New PC is the Only Notebook to Sport Ferrari's Patented Red Color

Acer America Corporation, one of the leading worldwide suppliers of laptop PC solutions and an official supplier to the Scuderia Ferrari racing team, today introduced the Ferrari 3000, an exclusive notebook that embodies the history of innovation shared by both Acer and Ferrari. With an exterior of multiple coats of patented Ferrari Red paint and a metallic silver palm rest area accented with the yellow Prancing Horse racing shield familiar to car and racing fans worldwide, the Ferrari 3000 from Acer features a mobile AMD Athlon(TM) XP-M processor 2500+ and ATI(R) MOBILITY(TM) RADEON(TM) 9200 graphics with 128MB of dedicated DDR memory. An extraordinary combination of stylish design and mobile performance, complemented with a unique, color-coordinated USB mouse, this Acer notebook reflects the spirit of performance that has become a trademark of both companies. 10:22 am

Looking to insert its chips into smaller devices, Transmeta Monday introduced two new processors based on its Crusoe core.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based firm said its new TM5700 and TM5900 chips are available in a 21mm x 21mm package, making them good fits for devices like thin clients, blade servers, printers, copiers, point-of-sale terminals, smart displays, portable consumer devices and set-top boxes. Both chips already have begun sampling with Transmeta's customers and will be in production in January 2004.

Bajarin said Transmeta made Crusoe's mark by powering Compaq's Tablet PCs. "Now the chipmaker can fit into ultra-light laptops and compete with Sony and Sony and Sharp," he said. As for competing with Intel ( Quote , Chart ) Bajarin said there is no question that Transmeta has caught Intel's attention, although it hasn't necessarily sent a chill down the spine of the No. 1 chipmaker 10:18 am

Dropping the Smart Display is a good move, said Tim Bajarin, president of technology consulting company Creative Strategies. "A lot of us analysts questioned that as a concept for quite a while. It is in essence a dumb mobile terminal. Tablet PCs at consumer level prices can fit in to that same role as the smart display, but be a full terminal instead of a dumb one," 10:16 am

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp., which dominates the market for computer processors, on Monday said it had introduced a less expensive line of mobile chips to be used in budget-oriented notebook and tablet PCs.

The line of processors, dubbed Celeron M, are based on the same circuit design as Intel's flagship mobile chip, the Pentium M, the company said.

Celeron M chips, however, lack some of the Pentium M's features and will initially cost around 35 percent less than Pentium M, chips running at the same speed, Intel said.

Hewlett-Packard Co. and tablet PC maker Motion Computing are already selling products based on the Celeron M on their Web sites. 10:13 am

Add-On i-Command Devices
Additional i-Command products include a wireless (touch screen) Tablet—a fully featured Tablet PC pre-configured with a full-screen flash application optimized for home theater and distributed audio control. The i-Command Keypad—16-key control and eight-character fluorescent display with fully duplex real-time feedback; and the Powered AudioMatrix that delivers four amplified, independent 40-watts-per-channel stereo outputs, a bass and treble control—make system expansion to a fully integrated multiroom layout a snap. Additionally, each Powered AudioMatrix can accept an unlimited number of Keypads for zone control, and additional units can be daisy-chained to expand the amplified stereo-output zones to eight, 12, or more. 10:09 am

The hottest thing for mobile professionals is Toshiba's new M200 series Tablet PC. Next to your turbo-charged desktop, a notebook with 1.5GHz Centrino processor and 12.1-in. screen doesn't sound like much, but the Portégé M200 weighs only 4.5 lbs., runs over four hours on a single battery charge and — thanks to internal sensors — knows which way is up.

The coolest feature of the tablet is that you can hold it any way you want. Rather than giving you just two options — left-handed and right-handed, say, or portrait and landscape — the notebook senses which side is up and reorients everything once you push the screen rotation button. Those sensors can do even more, like launch a program or the Start menu when you jerk the screen forward or rock it side to side. It's a little hard to master, but worth it. 11:08 am

Yesterday's snowfall tossed a muffler over the steady thrum that signals a city at work. Normally clogged streets were almost deserted, the honking and rumbling and grinding of gears replaced by the crunch of occasional bootfalls on crisp new snow.

But inside, in homes and coffeeshops and anywhere else with Internet service — especially the fast, wireless version known as Wi-Fi — the work of the Puget Sound region went on.

Consider Emily Rima, who was so determined to get work done that she strapped on her cross-country skis, grabbed her Tablet PC — a machine about the size and weight of a thick pad of paper — and skied from her Madison Park home to Vérité Coffee in Madrona, where she took advantage of the free Wi-Fi access.

"There's so many options, it's like the post office," Rima said. "You make it happen."

Many big employers, including Weyerhaeuser, Washington Mutual and Starbucks, encouraged employees to work from home. 11:04 am

Microsoft has promised to make a new version of its Windows operating system for tablet PCs available to end-users and the channel from mid-year.

Danny Beck, senior Windows product manager at Microsoft Australia, said the company would release a new version of Windows XP for Tablet PCs by about June. Previously, the next scheduled update was not until Longhorn comes out in 2005.

"It will be free for all existing Tablet PC users and it will be a free download or it will be available to order through local fulfilment, on a CD," he said. "We have worked very hard to make sure it would be available free." 11:00 am

Tech Soft America (TSA), the leading provider of graphics components to the CAD/CAM/CAE software industry, delivers more advanced features in its HOOPS 3D Product Suite and adds to its extensive list of supported platforms. The HOOPS 3D Product Suite components are used in hundreds of engineering software applications from companies such as Autodesk, SolidWorks, PTC, Dassault Systemes, MSC.Software, Proficiency, Bentley, Fluent, COADE, CADKEY, and ITI. HOOPS toolkits dramatically reduce R&D costs, speed time-to-market, and enable companies to produce more powerful graphical applications.

Highlights of the HOOPS 10.0 release include new platform/device support for Mac OS X, Tablet PC, Visual Studio.NET and Win64. A new Direct3D driver to leverage the Direct3D API on Windows has also been made available in Beta Form. In addition, HOOPS' Large Model Visualization features have been extended with algorithms for Occlusion Culling and new extensions to HOOPS' Level-of-Detail (LOD) capabilities. New enhancements in the areas of texture handling, selection, rich text support, hidden-line logic, compression and shadow handling round out a robust release packed with new, customer-inspired functionality.

While the 2004 Internation CES apeared to be smaller and less crowded than in past years, it was filled with inovation and excitement of what is, and what will be in the years to come. Visit our CES page for more photos and information from the show. 2:51 pm

The Microsofts Tablet PC kiosk at CES was a busy place, Making it hard to get photos but here is a shot of the New Tip from Loanstar, the new version of its Windows operating system that is ecpected to be released in June. Loanstar will be a Free upgrade for existing users.

Microsoft is looking for Developers intrested in being a part of the alpha/beta phases of Loanstar, for those of you who are intrested I will post an email address for you to write to for consideration in this process. Please remember requests to participate will be evaluated on an individual basis.

LAS VEGAS -- Some vendors familiar to PC users are appearing in a new role this week, touting tech entertainment products at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show here.

Big and flat TVs, technology you can wear, and new ways to wed your PC and home entertainment gear are among the highlights, along with assorted tiny storage devices and multimedia gadgets.

Fujitsu is releasing the 12-inch Stylistic ST5000 Tablet PC , a slate-style tablet that runs Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. The device uses a 1-GHz Intel Pentium M processor and has a Smart Card slot plus MemoryStick/SD media slot. It comes with Gigabit Ethernet LAN support and has several WLAN options. According to Fujitsu, the ST5000's larger-than-standard battery supports up to 5 hours of operation; an even bigger high-capacity battery that runs for up to 8 hours is available as an option. Pricing starts at $2049. 12:53 pm

The Microsoft Tablet PC works on handwritten recognition technology, but now can recognize handwritten musical notes and play back synthesized music. Mozart wannabes can change keys, staff notes and volume using a penlike stylus and instantly hear their work. Microsoft released the program for tablet PC users and for third-party developers who want to improve on the program at www.microsoft.com/tabletpc. 12:51 pm

Throughout the month of January, customers who visit their favorite participating Starbucks location with a Wi-Fi (802.11b)-enabled notebook computer or Tablet PC can experience the passion and inspiration of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival firsthand. By simply launching the Internet browser on their device, customers can watch exclusive filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes video clips and film trailers for free prior to logging on to the T-Mobile HotSpot wireless broadband Internet service.

For customers who log on to the T-Mobile HotSpot service, Starbucks and T-Mobile are offering a free day-pass to the Sundance Online Film Festival - the online extension of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. By using the free day-pass, Starbucks customers can access this year's Sundance Online Film Festival where they can cast a vote for their favorite animation and short subject films while in the comfort of any participating Starbucks location. Independent film aficionados and consumers alike do not have to be in Park City to experience this year's festival -- they only need to find the nearest T-Mobile HotSpot-enabled Starbucks to access the exclusive content. The multimedia content is powered by HP, which is the preferred technology provider for Starbucks. 12:49 am

By now, you have probably heard all of the hype regarding how Tablet PCs can be used in meetings. You also might have wondered if that is the only place a user can work with a Tablet PC. Not surprisingly a large development effort has been underway to make the Tablet PC more than just a fancy note taker. In fact, many Support professionals are already troubleshooting these devices as they get pushed out further into the mobile workforce. I'll take a look at some of the more unique and creative ways users are working with Tablet PCs in order to point out future opportunities you might have when it comes to supporting them. 12: 46 pm

EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) introduced today at the Emergency Response 2003 Exhibition & Conference, the EMS Field Response Kit. This kit was designed to provide "First Responders" and Emergency Management Personnel with portable, mobile and seamless "reach-back" communications. Through a matrix of local short and long-range communication technologies, key incident and management information will be transmitted via the Inmarsat Global Area Network to geographically separated units.

LXE Inc., an EMS Technologies company, provides an array of rugged, mobile computers and rugged handheld data collection devices to facilitate the dissemination and reporting of information necessary to enhance the "common operating picture." With the LXE Rugged Tablet PC and LXE-deployable Wi-Fi network, EMT's, fire fighters, and rescue personnel can have the same situational awareness as their counterparts in the mobile command centers and incident management centers. This wireless LAN, combined with the "reach back" capability of the EMS Field Response Kit, provides a much-needed capability for emergency response service providers. 12:44 am

In your thinking about how all of this was going to evolve in the last decade, were there any assumptions you made that were overly ambitious--or flat wrong?
Many of my assumptions--I'd say a high percentage--are overly ambitious. I have to wait longer to have them come true. I was working doing the Tablet PC for a decade before it came out. Now, it's gaining traction, but we have lots work to do. I believe that it will be mainstream on every portable PC, but we're a long way from that. 12:37 am

By 2006, only 45% of corporate users will count a traditional desktop as their primary information device, according to META Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: METG). Another 40% will primarily use a notebook or tablet PC, with the final 15% focusing on thin-client or other information appliances (e.g., custom device, handheld). A key factor is the increasing percentage of users who will be equipped with multiple devices over and above the current combination of a PC and a personal information/communication device (e.g., handheld, cell phone).

"By 2007, the average user will interact regularly with at least four distinct computing devices -- a personal home PC, smart digital entertainment system, corporate computer, and mobile information device," said Steve Kleynhans, vice president with META Group's Technology Research Services. "This multiplicity of devices will force software vendors to focus on information synchronization as well as 'thinning' or 'roaming' applications to enable users to access their information independent of the device they are using."

Although light and convenient, current-state tablet PCs (without an integrated keyboard) are not functional enough for most office users as their only computing device. Improved form factors, coupled with declines in the cost of digitizers and a growing number of digital ink- and pen-enabled applications, will bring the tablet to the mainstream by 2006 -- one-third of all corporate notebooks will include tablet capabilities. Closely related to the tablet PC are smart display devices, which enable users to wirelessly access their PCs using WinXP's remote desktop facility. Although Microsoft has discontinued further development on the current consumer-focused smart displays, we expect that the technology could reappear in the corporate environment. 10:31 am

CHEAPER TABLETS : Microsoft's Tablet PC team was among the product groups at CES, underscoring the company's effort to expand the consumer market for the machines, building on the inroads Tablet PCs have made in specific business settings.

One trend that could help is a general decline in Tablet PC prices. Microsoft executives at the show cited examples including computer maker Acer, which has generally dropped prices for its Tablet PCs to less than $2,000. In addition, an upcoming Tablet PC from Averatec is expected to come closer to the $1,000 level than any previous Tablet PC has.

"We see the gap between the Tablet and the notebook closing," said Susan Cameron, group product manager for Microsoft's Tablet PC business unit. "It really opens up more opportunity." 10:25 am

HP maintains it can consolidate its second-quarter notebook sales lead -- gained last year for the first time in nine years despite Toshiba's win in the third quarter.

‘Tablet PCs have actually exceeded our ultra-portable notebooks sales and certainly picked up since [November 2002],' she said. Mills-Vasas said she couldn't quote actual figures but tablet PCs had not cannibalised the notebook market but grown it. 10:23 am

Wacom Technology displayed two versions of A.T. Cross executive pens for pen-enabled Tablet PCs . The pens look like traditional A.T. Cross pens, except that they can be used to take notes on Tablet PCs supported by Wacom. One model comes with a cap, and the other without. Both pens are cordless, require no batteries, have optical electronic erasers, and provide 256 levels of pressure for writing depth. The pens support most models of Tablet PCs. They will become available in February. At $50, these digital pens target corporate executives. 10:11 AM

Fujitsu PC Asia Pacific today launched the Stylistic ST5010, currently the only 12.1" slate tablet PC capable of 1000/100/10Mbps Ethernet data transmission speeds and supporting 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN standards.

The Stylistic ST5010 is powered by Intel® Centrino™ Mobile technology, using a Pentium® M processor 1GHz (ULV) to allow optimum performance and battery life. It offers more efficient access to memory intensive applications - drawing on up to 2GB memory support with DDR333 modules.

The Stylistic ST5010 also offers superior security features for data and hardware protection. With four locks and a dedicated Smart Card slot, the ST5010 has one of the most sophisticated security systems in the tablet PC market. 12:49 pm

While at CES in Las Vegas TabletPC2.com learned that the Tablet PC 2004 Beta is expected to begin in March.

Testing for Tablet PC 2004 is not open to the Public at this time, however you can send an email that includes why you are interested in participating in the Tablet PC 2004 Alpha/Beta along with your qualifications to tabalpha@microsoft.com for their consideration.

Please remember that applying is not a guarantee of being accepted as tester. 12:45 am

FUJITSU has just released a sleek new Tablet PC, aptly called the Stylistic ST5010.

It weighs in at 1.5kg and has a compact 12.1-inch screen - which is roughly the length of the entire device.

The machine features Intel's Centrino technology, and is powered by the ultra low-voltage Pentium M 1GHz processor and 855GME chipset - so wireless surfing is taken care of, and you should get more battery life as well.

The hard disk starts at 40GB, and the Stylistic features a dedicated slot for portable smart cards so you can move your data around easily. 12:39 pm

Davis, vice-president of sales and marketing at Whetstone Inc., a Toronto consulting firm specializing in "competitive intelligence and the sales process," is an evangelical convert to the tablet PC. He recently bought an Acer tablet model to replace a Toshiba laptop that had given up the ghost.

Davis was hooked instantly. After rattling on for several minutes about how much the new tablet PC is doing for him and how it's changing the way he operates, he lets slip that he's only had the thing for a week. Heat-seekers apparently imprint on their new gadgets quickly.

Davis invested in the tablet editions of two programs he was already using:

TabletPlanner, a personal information manager from Franklin Covey, originator of the Franklin Planner, and MindManager from Larkspur, Calif.-based Mindjet, billed as "the visual tool for brainstorming and planning."

Davis uses MindManager to create "mind maps" for the presentations and articles he writes to help win business for his start-up consulting firm. He hand writes ideas and point-form notes using MindManager's structural schema and then uses the resulting blueprint to quickly write the finished product later.

"It's where all the thinking gets done," he says of his sessions with MindManager. "And I find the creative juices flow better and faster when I'm writing naturally. Typing, even though I'm a fairly good typist, does interfere with the creative process." 12:23 PM

It's all about you: Tablet PC Summary at CES
whatisnew.com

Our group may have had a rushed trip to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but it was well worth the effort. This CES Tablet PC gathering brought together a diverse group of people who spent time discussing everything from who was snowed in at Seattle and Portland airports, new Tablet PC products, how companies could help each other, how to increase Tablet PC market share, how to ensure growth and jobs, to free exchange of ideas. Yes, the Tablet PC gathering was about people first. 12:20 pm

Two new executive pens will be available in February for use with Penabled Tablet PCs from 25 manufacturers according to an announcement today from the pen developers A. T. Cross Company (ASE-ATX), a leading manufacturer of fine writing instruments, and Wacom Technology, the leading maker of computer graphics tablets and electronic pens.

Both pens are cordless, need no batteries, and feature a sleek, modern metallic appearance.

The pens are for use with Penabled Tablet PCs made by Acer, Cabin Five, Electrovaya, FIC, Fujitsu, Fujitsu-Siemens, FutureCom, Gateway, HP Compaq TC1100, Intermec, Itronix, Kontron, Motion Computing, NEC, Paceblade, Panasonic, Research Machines, Sharp, Symbol, Tatung, Toshiba, Viewsonic, Viglen, Walkabout, and Xplore. Tablet PCs provide the functionality of notebook computers while offering natural pen-based computing capabilities. 10:31 am

Xplore Technologies(R) Corp. (TSX: XPL), a leading international developer, producer and distributor of rugged wireless Tablet PC computer systems, today announced the release of its iX104R(TM) Renegade(TM), a rugged Tablet PC computer that offers a new class of durability. With a manufacturer's suggested list price of US $2,995 the Renegade(TM) Tablet PC provides an optimal blend of ruggedness, reliability and performance demanded by a growing population of enterprise and industrial customers currently unavailable in the value segment of the rugged mobile computing market. 10:14 am

Toshiba's Digital Solutions Division (DSD) today announced new solutions designed to help channel partners turn more sales cycles, reduce installation times and deliver more value to their SMB customers. Toshiba's Mobile Productivity Solutions, which are based on Toshiba's Magnia(R) server line, Portege(R) Tablet PC series and Pocket PC devices, include specific hardware and software bundles to address many of the key IT challenges SMBs experience -- from security and document management programs to education and healthcare solutions.

"Toshiba has demonstrated its commitment to provide solutions ideally suited for the SMB marketplace while offering continued support to the reseller community," said Steve Meyer of Lantech, a technology integrator and Toshiba solutions partner. "The Toshiba-Unitrends data-protection server bundle provides a quick install/setup process and fast turnaround time on the sales cycle, helping my team deliver the right tools to profitably and efficiently solve our customers' problems, while enabling mobility within smaller organizations that didn't think they could afford it. 10:10 am

opaz Systems, Inc. formally introduces SigPlus Pro TabletPC electronic signature software for use with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. This powerful ActiveX electronic signature software brings the signature capture, storage, document binding, and encryption capabilities of Topaz SigPlus to Tablet PCs with no additional signature capture hardware necessary. SigPlus Pro TabletPC is available free to developers for testing and evaluation or with an attractive support-only fee for unlimited commercial Tablet PC rollouts.

SigPlus Pro Tablet PC enables users to add legally-binding electronic signatures to any electronic document type supported by Topaz SigPlus software. Electronic signatures can be added and viewed in common documents such as MS Word and Excel and Adobe PDF (using free bundled plug-ins), web-based forms using ASP, HTML, and .NET, or custom documents created with the SigPlus ActiveX control. 10:07 am

Corel has released version 12 of its CorelDraw Graphics Suite, incorporating CorelDraw, Photo-Paint and RAVE. Now available for Windows platforms only, the product includes a new Smart Drawing tool and closer integration with Microsoft Office products. The suite is now available for Windows 2000, XP and Tablet PC. 10:47 am

Toshiba's Portégé M205 may bear a faint resemblance to the retro toy Etch a Sketch, but in all other ways this laptop is decidedly modern. It's the first tablet PC that features the highest-resolution display (known as SXGA+) and a dedicated button for OneNote, a digital notetaking application that includes a built-in voice recorder. An internal gyroscope lets you surf the Internet just by tilting the machine; a slight shake pulls up the start menu or opens apps. Powered by a 1.5-GHz Pentium M processor and NVIDIA graphics, the 4.4-pound Bluetooth-enabled M205 with 512MB memory is a mighty portable. But for the price, one would expect a built-in CD/DVD drive (available with the optional docking station) and a FireWire port. $2,299; www.toshiba.com -Mark Spoonauer 10:42 am

Fujitsu Computer Systems is gearing up its VARs with its next generation slate Tablet PC, one that is expected to grow the adoption of tablets in existing verticals, but yet at a continued slow rate this year.

The company is now offering its Stylistic ST5000 Tablet PC, which replaces the ST4000, a 10.4-inch screen tablet running a Pentium III processor that was launched when Microsoft ignited the market with its Tablet PC OS in November of 2002.

Leading the improvements found in the ST5000 include a bright 12.1-inch XGA display, while keeping a similar less than one inch thick form factor and remaining lightweight at four pounds.

Processing power has also been beefed up with an Ultra Low Voltage Intel Pentium M 1.0 GHz processor ideal for mobile applications and extended battery life. A standard battery will give users up to five hours of mobile of computing power or with a high-capacity battery it can be powered for eight hours

Wireless options include integrated 802.11b or with the ST5010D model 802.11a+b/g 10:37

Fujitsu has introduced a new tablet PC. The Stylistic ST5000 features a 12.1-inch screen, built-in Gigabit ethernet connections, a built-in smart card slot, and optional Wi-Fi connections.

It's equipped with an Intel Pentium M processor, and its standard battery provides up to five hours of use, according to Fujitsu. The ST5000 comes in a slate format and has an optional docking system. Its base price is $2,049 12:16 am

This innovative new product adds true ink support to Microsoft Outlook XP and 2003. While it is true that Outlook 2003 natively supports ink to some degree, this support is limited to bodies of emails generated using Microsoft Word. "TEO" adds true ink entry support to Outlook by adding three menu items to your New menu in Outlook. 11:15 am

Xplore Technologies Corp. (TSX: XPL), a leading international developer, producer and distributor of rugged wireless Tablet PC computer systems, today announced the introduction of the industry's first rugged Dual Mode Tablet PC, the iX104RD(TM) Renegade(TM) Dual Mode, a durable mobile computer that offers users both active stylus and finger touch input in a single product offering. The combination of both digitizers provides customers both the accuracy and digital inking capabilities of an active digitizer AND the convenience of a true finger touch resistive input panel. Additionally, complementing Xplore's recently introduced iX104R(TM) Renegade(TM) Tablet PC, the iX104RD(TM) Renegade(TM) Dual Mode offers a new level of value based durability that matches the growing mobile computing needs of enterprise and industrial customers worldwide. With a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of US $3,145, the iX104RD(TM) offers enhanced dual mode functionality along with the optimal blend of durability, reliability, performance and value for Tablet PC customers. More challenging requirements for fully rugged Tablet PCs are met by Xplore's iX104TD(TM) All Terrain(TM) Dual Mode model which has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of US $4,145 11:13 am

Memphis Business Interiors, Steelcase and Grand Rapids, Mich.-based BlueSpace have partnered to bring the office of the future to Memphis. The prototype for the office is currently on display at FedEx Institute of Technology.

The BlueSpace prototype features a fully mobile cubicle featuring a desk that can be stationary or on wheels and a dual monitor arm that holds a typical flat screen and a tablet PC. A software package designed through a partnership between Steelcase and IBM allows a user to control an LED display featuring a do-not-disturb lighting feature so meetings remain private, or even a personal climate control, all at the touch of a button. 11:09 am

Fellow Tablet MVP and Publisher of TabletPCBuzz.com Spencer Goad has launched a new site dedicated to Spot Technology .

SPOT, which stands for Smart Personal Object Technology allows you to receive news, weather, stock quotes, and even text messages on your watch. To learn more about this exciting new technology be sure to check out SPOTBuzz 11:05 am

Tablet PC maker to offer Mindjet's visual note-taking tool to speed the capture, organization and sharing of meeting notes

"With a simple rotation of its LCD screen, the V1250 transforms from an ultraportable notebook computer to a Tablet PC with strong digital ink capabilities," said Dan Coffman, senior product manager, ViewSonic Corp. "Mindjet has provided a terrific pen-driven interface that significantly improves the way people capture, organize and share information."

MindManager for Tablet PC's visual-organization capabilities and tight integration with Microsoft Office enable information workers to quickly capture, organize and share unstructured information typical of meetings and brainstorming sessions. Moments after the end of a meeting or planning session, notes can be shared with stakeholders as PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, Project charts or Web sites. Productivity of both individual note takers and their business teams improves as a result of the rapid dissemination of clear, concise information. 10:47 am

THE desktop PC will no longer be the main information tool of corporates by 2006 as users move to a variety of devices, according to Meta Group research.

The analyst predicts the Tablet PC will be mainstream by 2006 and one-third of corporate notebooks will include tablet capabilities.

But by then Tablet PCs will have evolved, as today's models are not functional enough for most office users as their only computing device.

Their shape will change, the cost of digitisers will come down and the number of digital ink and pen-enabled applications will increase, the report says 10:43 am

Accela, Inc., the leading provider of government enterprise software solutions, announced today that the Washington D.C. Department of Health has selected Accela Wireless(tm) as the Department's new mobile government application. HP Tablet PCs will be used to run the application, providing the Department's inspectors with complete mobile capabilities. The project, which involves adding new enhancements to the Department's existing permit and licensing system, is being managed by kedsTechnologies, Inc. The Department of Health conducts health and safety inspections annually or biannually to approximately 30,000 facilities including restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals, and others.

Accela Wireless powers the Department's health inspection teams with mobile technology that shifts many of their daily tasks from the office to the field. Using the Tablet PCs, inspectors will be able to remotely access their daily inspection schedules and the corresponding permit information. While in the field, inspectors can input their inspection results and update the agency database in real-time, thereby speeding up the overall process. 1:11 pm

One school district says the devices have almost replaced paper in the classroom.

For years educators and computer vendors have explored ways in which technology could aid with learning. Back in the 1980s when PCs first became affordable, technology was considered something to be taught, but now is considered an essential medium by which students learn.

Starting in January, one Ontario elementary school took this quest a step further by commencing a six-month pilot project with its grade eight students to see if Tablet PCs--a technology new on the market for about a year and a half--could improve the way these students learn.

Northern Lights Public School in Aurora, Ontario, part of the York Region District School Board, partnered with several technology companies to bring Acer TravelMate C110 series Tablet PCs to the classroom. 1:07 pm

The abletFactory is pleased to announce the release of it's abletWordMgr 3.0 (Early Experience Version)

We have taken the feedback provided from users and added to the Feature Set the most frequently requested items and included a number of other enhancements. A completely new User Interface that now enables easy navigation between tasks.

As users are now moving to next generation machines a lot of attention has gone into protecting the investment in word management with added capabilities to move and restore speech and handwriting files from machine to machine.

Now you can easily capture the Names and Email addresses of your Outlook Contacts and add those to the User Dictionary. This can be used in conjunction with TEO or Outlook 2003 and experience much greater recognition accuracy.

A new Ink Tutor has been added for testing "character" recognition and answer the often asked question "How do I make my letters". An animated tutor for each letter, number, and symbol can be selected from a virtual keyboard and you can test the recognition results of your own letters, numbers and symbols. 2:34 pm

First spotted at GITEX last year, a Centrino-based tablet PC from LG Electronics, co-branded with IBM, appears to be in retail beta in Korea.

If true, it would mean IBM is joining the very few companies already on the tablet train and would signal good news for the design at market since IBM targets enterprise users rather than the high end consumer niche that has been leading the demand for tablets. 10:19 am

"The demand for mobile computing information exceeds many other technology segments due to its complexity and its novelty. The thought of being able to work in a periodically connected world, move about while viewing and gathering information, reduce or eliminate the paper trail, all while improving efficiency, is a very revolutionary concept. Therefore, the demand to look and see is very present. As a result, FREE educational events are provided to IT and non-IT professionals who seek mobile solutions. Please visit the following Webpage and register to attend: http://www.tabletpctraining.com/evtMobileQ1.htm or contact Bernie Day at Leszynski Group – 425 644-7826, x219." . 9:29 am

Fujitsu Siemens Computers has partnered with Vodafone UK to offer an innovative scheme designed to ease the IT cost burden for small businesses.

At the end of the agreed leasing period, which is set at two years, there are three options: return the notebook to Fujitsu Siemens and end the contract, make a final payment and buy the notebook being used outright, or trade up to a new machine and begin the monthly payment cycle again.

Fujitsu Siemens is making several of its notebook models available under the scheme. A typical offering, with an opening payment of £99 and subsequent payments of £89 a month, would provide a Fujitsu Siemens LifeBook laptop or Tablet PC (with a usual list price between £1,139 and £1,478 ex. VAT), plus 10MB of data (excluding international roaming and texts), Wi-Fi access via The Cloud, 24/7 telephone support, insurance, and Microsoft Office applications preinstalled. The data packages can be upgraded to higher volumes for increased monthly payments. 9:49 am

Tablet PC OS gets free update
Longhorn may be a couple of years away, but Tablet PC users won't have to wait that long for an update. Microsoft plans to release a free upgrade, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2004, by mid-2004.

Codenamed Lonestar, the upgrade focuses primarily on improving handwritten input. For example, when you place the pointer in a location that can take text (a document, browser address window and so forth), the Text Input Panel — the window in which handwriting recognition takes place — will automatically appear as a small bubble that, when activated, will grow to its full size and appear close to the chosen text field instead of at the bottom of the display, as it does now. Microsoft has also given the TIP context-recognition capabilities — for example, if you're filling in a browser address window, the TIP will be more likely to recognise a URL as such. You'll also be able to catch and fix mistakes in the TIP before sending text to an application.

New development tools will allow creators of third-party applications to incorporate some of the operating system's new functionality into their software. Meanwhile, the beta of the upgrade is due early this year, with final code to follow sometime next autumn. 9:44 am

Portable computer sales have been growing faster than those of desktop machines for a number of years. According to one recent report by market researcher IDC, laptops, notebooks and Tablet PCs will make up more than half of all US PC unit sales and 40 per cent of worldwide PC sales by 2007. In other words, by the time your current hardware is obsolete, there's a 50:50 chance you'll replace it with something that can be carried around. 9:38 am

The Electrovaya Scribbler 2010 earns the full 5 Geekheads for Quality because it is well designed, very solid, durable, lightweight, and has an amazing battery life with a large display for a slate Tablet PC.

It also earns 5 Geekheads for Geekness because of all the cool useful buttons, the connectivity and text input options, and the sweet color along with the biometric security feature.

I highly recommend the Electrovaya Scribbler and see no reason not to select this model if you are in the market for a Tablet PC that gets you through the whole day. 9:47 am

Intermec Technologies Corp. today announced it will demonstrate RFID (radio frequency identification) hardware and capabilities with Oracle(R) Warehouse Management Jan. 27-28 at Oracle AppsWorld San Diego, a conference and exhibition completely dedicated to Oracle E-Business Suite strategies, business processes, and technical directions. In addition, Oracle Mobile Field Service will be demonstrated on Intermec's 700 Series Color mobile computer and CT60 Tablet PC. Question and answer sessions with Intermec product experts will be available for all attendees at Oracle AppsWorld San Diego 2004. 10:40 am

CREDANT Technologies®, a premiere provider of mobile security and management software, today announced that its encryption technology has successfully completed conformance testing by Cryptographic Equipment Assessment Laboratory (CEAL), a CygnaCom Solutions Laboratory, and has been accepted for FIPS-140-2 validation testing under the National Institute for Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Cryptographic Module Validation Program.

Considered the benchmark for security within government departments and agencies, FIPS 140-2 validation assures organizations that certified products provide the highest level of protection for their sensitive information. Products must undergo rigorous testing by an accredited independent lab to satisfy NIST standards. Validation of the CREDANT Cryptographic Kernel for all CREDANT Mobile Guardian end-points will enable federal, state and local government agencies and commercial organizations, who are embracing FIPS 140-2 as their standard, to mobilize critical data and applications to any mobile device while being assured that the technology meets the government's most stringent security requirements.

"The CREDANT Cryptographic Kernel is the core cryptographic module for all CREDANT Mobile Guardian end-points operating on Microsoft Windows laptop and tablet PCs, as well as Microsoft Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC and Palm-based PDAs, converged PDAs and smartphones. These products are particularly important to government agencies that need to securely extend their networks to wireless handhelds but are required to use only FIPS 140-2 validated applications," stated Dwayne Mann, chief technology officer, CREDANT Technologies. "Now companies can leverage our solution to mobilize their workforce securely without compromising the convenience, speed and flexibility of wireless devices." 10:38 am

With over 12 years experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of tablet PCs and solutions, Fujitsu Siemens Computers has introduced its latest tablet PC, the STYLISTIC ST5010 series. The new model has a 12.1-inch display and weighs only 1.54kg. For network and internet connectivity, the STYLISTIC ST5010 is equipped with Intel Centrino mobile technology with integrated wireless LAN, supporting 54Mbps, an integrated modem and wired LAN data exchange via the new Gigabit LAN. Especially attractive for mobile use is a larger battery, which allows users to be under way using the tablet up to eight hours: an entire workday. 10:35 am

One vertical-focused rugged Tablet PC manufacturer is looking to Xplore a new market segment, which will also lead to finding new channel partners.

In November 2002, Xplore released its third generation product: the iX104 Tablet PC Family, its first products designed around Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Operating System. The line was tailored to target the verticals such as public safety, manufacturing, utility, transportation, field service and the military, which the company has developed pen computing devices for, before Microsoft changed the market.

Now Xplore is trying to change the way they attack the Tablet PC market by unleashing the iX104R Renegade towards a new market for the company.

The Renegade blends ruggedness, reliability and performance at a value price point of US $2,995 for enterprise and industrial customers that have found the need for tablets that are somewhat rugged, as opposed to non-rugged devices built specifically for them from other manufacturers.

"What our customers are really telling us is that they need a product that is really 'rugged enough', and it has to be able to withstand certain things a rugged tablet would give them," said Brian Groh, president and CEO of Xplore.

The company offers a fully rugged tablet, the iX104T All Terrain model that sells for US $3,995 and can be submerged in 30 inches of water for 30 minutes. The Renegade can withstand liquid spills, rain, vibrations from constantly moving the tablet indoors and out and the extreme temperatures found in those locations. Renegade users will get one key high-end feature found in the iX104T, which is a durable device that can withstand and survive a four-foot drop to concrete. 10:32 am

DateLens, a unique calendar interface for PCs and Pocket PCs developed at the University of Maryland is now available for free download. The DateLens application is designed for easy use and to work seamlessly with Outlook and ActiveSync utilizing an animated fisheye representation of dates coupled with compact overviews and integrated search. This innovative application allows users to view several months at once and to easily navigate through their calendar without getting lost. DateLens is the latest of many original, innovative products developed by Ben Bederson and his colleagues in the university's Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCIL).

DateLens provides an interface that uses the same source code to execute on multiple devices -- such as Pocket PC, Tablet PC and the desktop. They have different processor types, different display resolutions and radically different interaction models," said Bederson. 8:50 am

Mindjet today announced the March release of its newest MindManager software product for visual brainstorming and planning. MindManager X5 Pro Release 5.1 provides users with a single interface within which to manage a useful combination of enterprise data, real-time information, and ideas. Business professionals can now access and interact with XML-based enterprise and Web services data directly from their desktops, tablet PCs, and pocket PCs. They can then use this information to prepare for and manage meetings, plan projects, understand complex information, and make more informed decisions more quickly.

The 5.1 product line will include updates and improvements to the current MindManager X5 and X5 Pro applications, both of which can now be used on desktops, laptops or tablet PCs. Improvements include: Microsoft Office 2003 look and feel, improved presentation mode, backwards compatibility to MindManager 2002, manual control of map layout, auto recovery, task information filtering, new Web templates, and improved support for large-scale deployment. The release will also include the new MindManager X5 Mobile for Pocket PC, used as a companion product to Mindjet's desktop and tablet PC applications.

Mindjet's 5.1 release will be available in March 2004. Pricing information will be available at that time. A no-cost, downloadable upgrade will be available for currently licensed users of MindManager X5 and MindManager X5 Pro. 9:43 am

Silicon Alley Computers is a new computer company with a real and continuing focus on the home PC user. They offer a refreshing new way to purchase computer products online. Without hype, misleading advertising, and confusing offers, Silicon Alley Computers is not just another online computer store.

The company offers a straightforward and clear computer shopping experience. They have an easy to navigate website and offer only quality new computer products at competitive prices. They offer PCs, monitors, software, peripherals, digital imaging products, upgrades, power protection devices, PDAs, Tablet PCs, networking products, audio and video devices, parts, input devices, data storage products, hardware and software installations, and comprehensive service and support. 9:39 am

For years, Dakota State University in Madison has led the charge to put computers in the classroom. Dakota State was one of the first "wired" colleges in the country but now DSU is taking the next step... going totally wireless

"Does anyone know how big a container is?" Econ" 201 will never be the same. No more textbooks and chalkboards. Now the professor uses a tablet p-c and a big screen to teach the class. Dan Iverson is a DSU senior. "You can actually pull out the pen on the tablet and jot a note down."

Dan Iverson is a computer major. He says the new technology can replace all of the paper used in classrooms, including the textbook. "It's great because I can take it to class, I don't have to worry about bringing books or anything. I can access them online. It's about one inch thick is all. It weighs about two pounds." Students love it, simply because it does it all. You can even send and receive e-mails. And thanks to wireless technology, tablet p-c's can be utilized anywhere on campus at D-S-U. 9:37 am

While Tablet PCs account for a small portion of mobile device sales, companies are finding that they are ideal for many kinds of vertical applications. With prices coming down over the next several months, some companies are looking to deploy them for more mainstream usage. According to Meta Group's Steve Kleynhans, improved form factors, coupled with declines in the cost of digitizers and a growing number of digital ink- and pen-enabled applications, will bring the tablet to the mainstream by 2006.

Making the case: Tablet PCs
Webcast: Tablet PCs are extending rich information access into new environments. In this Webcast, we define the unique features of the Tablet PC, examine how it is improving patient care and administration at a medical facility, and identify the shortcomings and future roadmap of tablet technology. We also provide some guidelines analyzing Tablet PC cost and benefits. 10:28 am

United Services GroupSM (USG) announced today that they will be introducing ADELINE™ Staking Sheet Program at the TechAdvantage 2004 Expo in New Orleans, February 13-16.

By leveraging against a market leader in the AM/FM/GIS realm, USG has partnered with ESRI® to utilize the technology available in their ArcPadTM 6.x and ArcGIS® 8.3 to provide a modern, cost effective staking solution for the design of electric distribution systems. A benefit ADELINE™ is that you are not required to purchase another machine or device to accomplish your field design. If your existing system can run ESRI® software it can run ADELINE™. ADELINE™ allows you the flexibility to choose a mobile device if you want or install it in the office, a laptop, Tablet PC or whatever the future holds. By adding only the tools you need to your ADELINE™, you eliminate the cost of excessive or unnecessary hardware/software that are often prepackaged with other staking sheet programs. 10:21 am

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2004 will be launched "sometime in the spring or summer,"

"We're taking the idea of combining the simplicity and creativity of pen and paper with the power of the PC to the next level," he says of the upgrade. It will be sold only with hardware. Existing users will be able to download a free upgrade.

It will include enhanced handwriting recognition, easier text insertion, the ability for software developers and users to create rules for recognizing handwriting in text fields, improved integration with Office 2003 and OneNote 2003 (a note saving and organization application) to allow users to write within an Office document, and capabilities for software developers to integrate pen and text in business applications. 10:15 am

The latest effort, CorelDraw Graphics Suite 12, is again aimed at desktop publishers and graphic artists working across print, digital media and the web, but is also a useful and reasonably priced package for home users generating their own newsletters, engaging in some amateur doodling or dabbling in web graphic design.

The software suite has three main parts - CorelDraw itself, Photo-Paint and RAVE 3. CorelDraw is the backbone of the package, offering a sophisticated drawing program.

A feature of version 12, remotely similar to the shape recognition aspect of Microsoft's tablet PC software, lets you scribble down a draft page layout or drawing quickly with the software correcting your shapes as you go. An "eye-dropper" tool lets you easily copy the properties you've set for one object you are working on to another. 10:12 am