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Tablet PC News Archive
February 2006
February 1, 2006
Microsoft IT Showcase: Enhancing Productivity with Tablet PCs at Microsoft
Microsoft
Brief Description
Detailed discussion of the measured productivity gains for employees using a Tablet PC at Microsoft. The study compares results from recent and past surveys to draw specific productivity variance conclusions.
Do the twist
The Age, Australia
HANDWRITING on a computer - it's the quintessential blend of the analog world with digital technology. The desire to be free from the constraints of a keyboard and mouse for a more direct form of input has meant the persistence of the pen into the computing arena.
If you find writing more comfortable than typing or have an aversion to keyboards, a tablet notebook may be the way to go.
Microsoft dived into penstyle computers in 2002 when it released a Tablet PC Edition of Windows XP. While tablet computers existed before Microsoft came along, the introduction of the Tablet PC Edition helped more mainstream players such as HP, Acer and Toshiba get into the action by providing a "standardised" platform around which to design their notebooks.
As such, any notebook that is built to run this operating system is referred to as a tablet PC. They're often called convertibles as well, given that their displays can flip around so that the screen is facing up when the lid is closed. It's designed to be used like a regular paper pad, so you can just hold it in your arm or lap and scribble on it with a special pen.
Those who need to take notes that often include diagrams, charts and drawings on their computer will find tablet capabilities indispensable.
You can send handwritten email messages that can be viewed on any PC with Outlook 2003 as well as doodle in MSN Messenger.
American Airlines Forms Strategic Technology Alliance With Lenovo
PR Newswire
American Airlines today announced it has signed a strategic technology  agreement with Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) to provide Admirals Club(R) members with access to new Lenovo PCs to further enhance the overall travel experience with the world's largest airline. By providing leading-edge PC technology at its Admirals Club lounges worldwide, American aims to create the ultimate business experience for its customers who need to access the home or office while traveling. Today, technology devices and services are a critical component in the airport lounge environment for business travelers. Within their mobile workstyle/lifestyle, the airport lounge is a place where "refresh and recharge" refers to e-mail and portable devices as much it does to the travelers themselves.
Through the agreement, new Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop computers, along with ThinkVision flat panel displays, will be installed in all 43 Admirals Club lounges. In addition, Lenovo ThinkPad Z60 notebooks and Thinkpad X41 Tablet PCs will be available in Admirals Club lounges worldwide. IBM will provide deployment services, including the loading of software, testing, staging and installation of the PCs and IBM printers.
Acer in the pack
Melbourne Herald Sun
Dave Bullard slides open a great little machine that is no slouch as a performer
TABLET PCs are a strange breed. They look to be normal notebooks, but the screen flips so it lies on top of the keyboard and you can write on it like a tablet.
Until now, though, the screen configuration has generally been through an "open, twist and close" action dependent on a swivel subjected to great force.
Acer's new TravelMate C200 series use a slide action more likely to survive the rigours of the road -- tablet PCs are aimed at mobile sales teams, students and the like.
First-time tablet users will find the C200s a breeze to use, as long as they run through the excellent training application.
The stylus is a comfortable, full-sized pen and the handwriting recognition is excellent.
It even recognised the oft-maligned scrawl of my colleague Peter Familari . . . and that's saying something!
AT A GLANCE: ACER
Model: C204TMi
Price: from $3499
Acer: 1300 366 567
www.acer.com.au
One of the best tablet notebooks yet. Great quality, easy (and fun) to use, and highly specced for the price. And we love notebooks that come with two batteries.
News - IE 7 Public Beta, M400 Tablet PC Launch Date
Toshiba M400 Tablet PC Launch Date
The new Toshiba Port g M400 convertible Tablet PC featuring Intel's hot new "Core Duo" CPU is expected to be announced on February 7th. Ordering and shipping will start immediately after the announcement. Check back right here on TabletPCReviewSpot.com for updates and information on the M400 as they become available.
Mayville State's Rollout of Tablet PCs a Pen-Ultimate Success
Mayville State University
Call it the high-tech heartland. Call it PCs on the plains. Call it what you will, but Mayville State University in eastern North Dakota has joined a select group of pioneering colleges adopting tablet PCs as part of its computing mandate program campus-wide.
Halfway through Mayville State's first year of rolling out Gateway M275 convertible tablet PCs campus-wide, the experiment has been nothing short of a major success. Mayville State, which enrolls more than 900 students, selected Gateway, Inc. as its technology provider of choice after weighing several factors – including how user-friendly the technology was, the availability of on-campus training and the quality of customer support.
As one of the nation's first tablet PC universities, Mayville State elected to standardize its students, teachers and staff on Gateway's M275 convertible tablet PC, which offers all the features of a mainstream notebook, plus pen input functionality. More than 750 university-leased M275s were distributed to all full-time students and current faculty members. The university chose the Gateway M275 over a more traditional notebook because of the tablet's interactive features that allow students to take notes on-screen, professors to annotate live presentations and more.
“Mayville State is always looking toward the future. We were one of the first laptop universities in the nation and our partnership with Gateway enabled us take the next step toward tablet PC computing,” said Brian Larson, director of marketing and sports information at Mayville State University. “By integrating cutting-edge tablet PC technology into our day-to-day activities, we have improved all aspects of campus life from teaching, learning and research to administrative tasks.”
Armed with M275 tablets, Mayville State's students and professors have found unlimited ways to use their tablets both in and outside the classroom. Professors have traded in their chalk for in-class presentations that allow real-time notes to be added by the instructor or students. Paper has essentially been eliminated in the classroom; assignments are turned in electronically, enabling professors to interact with students by using in-tandem editing and grading. Voice recognition and wireless access are among the many tablet PC benefits that introduce students to a different way to learn, to study and collaborate with their instructors and peers.
“Mayville State's campus-wide implementation demonstrates the endless versatility of Gateway's convertible tablet PC,” said Bridget Winders, vice president of education for Gateway. “Students can take notes in class, professors can give presentations without a screen barrier, and wireless capabilities enable everyone to be more productive and mobile. Gateway views technology as a critical element in providing quality education to students.”
Mayville State University joins Winona State University in Winona, Minn., Florida A&M Law School in Orlando, Fla., and Dakota State University in Madison, S.D., in pioneering the adoption of tablet PCs on campus.
The Gateway M275 offers traditional notebook features a full-size keyboard, Intel Centrino technology(1), optional 768MB RAM, 40GB hard drive(2), four hours battery life(3), CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, integrated wireless combined with Tablet PC pen input that allows users to write on screen. And unlike many other Tablet PCs on the market, Gateways M275 is priced starting at $1,799, only $150 more than a similarly configured notebook. The M275 also boasts the largest screen size in the industry (14.1 inches), so students and faculty don't have to strain to see the screen.
The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) Today Launched PACER
Yahoo! News
The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) today launched its proprietary electronic estimating and sales system called PACER.
PACER is a complete turnkey system that enables contractors to electronically detail job elements, print and review work statements, print estimates and contracts prior to leaving the initial customer visit. PACER saves valuable time and enhances a company's ability to close work "on the spot." PACER is built on Tablet PC technology so a contractor can document the job on a computer while performing a walk-through. The PACER software is specifically designed to optimize use of the Tablet PC for detailing job requirements. PACER enables contractors to produce closure paperwork on the initial customer site visit. Studies suggest that producing professional closure documentation on your initial site visit can increase your close rate by as much as 50%. PACER also enables contractors to document special customer requests and special accommodations discussed during the sales process. This approach helps assure complete customer satisfaction
February 2, 2006
MPD Partner Briefing
Whatisnew.com
MPD Partner Briefing
Today is Day 2 of the Mobile Platforms Division (MPD) Partner Briefing. Arnie Lund and Ken Hardy are discussing research on future lifestyle PCs. One of the discussions that is going on now is about using a PC as a home base machine versus as a companion PC. Arnie suggests that in the ecosystem of devices that they should all work together.
Targus Laptop Cooling Pad @ LaptopLifeStyle.net
Techzine
Pros:
• Easy to set up, light, space efficient
• Extra USB ports. Perfect for a tablet PC that has limited room on its own.
• Don't need to unplug everything when its time to go, simply leave the mouse and keyboard plugged into the ChillHub and only take what you need.
MS to enter rural areas with Saksham
Times of India
Microsoft India has decided to enter rural markets through a project called 'Saksham' (meaning self reliant) that will tap local entrepreneurs and help spread IT in areas that remain untouched by technology.
Saksham will help people set up information kiosks, tie-up finances for entrepreneurs through banks and involve local people for developing relevant applications for mass use.
It will also help artists to sell 'Madubani Works' developed digitally on Microsoft's Tablet PC. "Saksham is a public-private partnership that has been developed in consultation with industry partners to evolve a sustainable model," said Microsoft MD Neelam Dhawan.
February 3, 2006
Ultra Mobile PC's Becoming a Reality
Just when those of us in the Tablet PC community had settled in an come to terms with the idea that on the hardware side all would be quiet until Vista launches later this year, Bill Mitchell, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Platforms Division renewed our interest and excitement when he tossed out the impending arrival of the Lifestyle - Ultra Mobile PCs at this weeks Mobile Platforms Division Partner Briefing in Redmond.
During his session on "Windows for Mobile Growth" Bill Mitchell made it clear that Microsoft was still 110% behind the Tablet PC. He also gave attendees a glimpse into the near future with the introduction of the Lifestyle / Ultra Mobile PC's that just may be here sooner than you think..
I promised some time ago to write about the Tablet experience in OneNote 12 and how it has changed. This is a tricky topic to cover since there are still a lot of people out there who think OneNote is only or primarily meant to be used on Tablets. I still feel I have to make the point that OneNote was designed for all PCs and also to take advantage of tablets when used on a Tablet.
Wrap up
So what does all this mean? It means that in OneNote 12 you just write your ink and that's it. We don’t try to clump it into boxes or anything. You are free to move it around the screen in pieces. Everything will work as well as it can. Although OneNote is always trying to figure out what you have done it doesn’t make you deal with this - it just provides the results of the parse to the features that need it, such as ink search.
If you have Beta 1 of OneNote 12 then you know that all this isn't quite working as well as I describe. Beta 1 of OneNote is using the ink parser in the Vista beta, and bugs in that notwithstanding we hadn’t actually done any tuning for Beta 1 plus we have our own bugs. Next beta will be closer to the final behaviour, using the near final parser for Vista too.
WinInfo Short Takes: Week of February 6
WinInformant.com
PortalPlayer Builds Hardware for Windows Vista's Sideshow Feature
While Apple gets all the credit for the success of the iPod, the company never could have done it without a little-known company called PortalPlayer, which designed the original iPod hardware. Now, PortalPlayer is back with another cool new hardware product called Preface, which is essentially an auxiliary display for notebook computers and Tablet PCs. It sits on the outside facing lid of such a computer and lets the user interact with PC software, even when the PC is asleep. Preface has its own operating system, processor, and memory, so it's much smarter than standard auxiliary displays, but it's also completely compatible with the Sideshow feature in Microsoft's next Windows version, Windows Vista. PortalPlayer says that Preface will add only a few dollars to the cost of each notebook, but that's a small price to pay for what you get: Instant access to email, calendar items, IM messages, and other data. Sounds good to me.
Apple's patented the Tablet Mac (part II)
engadget, CA
Well, what do you know? Yet another Apple tablet PC patent's shown up on the USPTO site, this one also with none other than Jonny Ive's Handcock on it (last time around it was both Jobs and Ive on the patent, though). Today's filing mainly pertains to touch-input user interface methods with multiple fingers, gestures, and motions, as well as methods for visually displaying and manipulating aspects of the UI -- exciting stuff, we know. But the point is that ok, we get it already Apple, you're working on a tablet PC. Now how about releasing it so you guys can focus those man-hours on a proper DVR / media Mac for us, eh?
February 6, 2006
February 7, 2006
AuthenTec Featured Speaker - Showcasing Latest Biometric Fingerprint Sensors and Wireless Applications at 3GSM World Congress
Business Wire
With more than seven million fingerprint sensors in use worldwide, AuthenTec is the recognized number one supplier worldwide - shipping nearly two thirds of all sensors sold in the wireless, PC, and access control markets during the past five years. The company's sensors are used in more than 100 different cell phones, notebook and tablet computers, portable hard drives, mice, keyboards, memory keys, and other devices.
The Next Big Thing: What Will Displace iPod, Follow Blackberry?
TechNewsWorld
- The OQO +1 Tablet PC: One of the reasons we haven't seen much in terms of new, overall design from Apple lately with respect to the firm's PowerBook line is because the original core design team spun out on its own and formed OQO. The OQO +1 Tablet PC has recently gone through a significant update with greater memory and an extended battery, with a true digitizer to replace the touch screen.
-
A little larger than a PDA but vastly smaller than your average laptop , this product takes the idea of being ultra-mobile one big step further. As with any Bluetooth-enabled PC, a Bluetooth phone can be used to complete the solution. This gives users the option of leaving the PC at home and traveling with just the phone.
Pilsen native eager to help others achieve
Chicago Sun-Times
Tablets for De La Salle
Tablet PC's are becoming de rigueur for freshmen at De La Salle Institute, at 35th and Wabash, according to Brother Michael Quirk, president of the private Catholic college prep that boasts five of Chicago's mayors, including the current Mayor Daley, as alums. "We believe we're the first high school in the city going to tablets," says Quirk, who sees tablets as powerful and more flexible classroom tools than desktops or laptops. "Tablets are more adaptable to daily student life," Quirk says. "We want to assure our students continue to produce college caliber work, and are ready for the rigors of a top university." Quirk believes kids living in the city deserve the best technology.
"We are trying to make this affordable," says Quirk, who's spreading the payment for the computers over four years. "We have a need-based financial aid system that will help those who can't afford a tablet PC."
Mobile Platforms Division Partner Briefing notes on TabletPCTalk.
Whatisnew.com
Chris De Herrera updated TabletPCTalk.com with his notes and videos from last week’s Microsoft Mobile Platforms Division Partner Briefing. He includes notes about Lifestyle PCs, including the presentations that described Ultramobile PCs.
PCs flood autos despite safety issues
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Detroit is invading one of the last PC-free zones: your car.
In an era when people can check e-mail or browse the Web while doing everything from grocery shopping to lying on the beach, behind the wheel of a car has remained one of the few places where it just didn’t happen. Over the years, automakers have tried to introduce computers in cars, but they never really caught on with consumers.
Now, both auto makers and car-accessory companies are making a renewed push with products designed to allow drivers to do everything they can do on a desktop PC – word processing, Internet surfing, e-mail – while sitting in the driver’s seat. Screens can be mounted anywhere from near the dashboard to the back seat. While many models are meant to be installed in the dash and replace the radio entirely, carmakers are betting more on tablet computers that aren’t as integrated into the car or on features like larger consoles, trays and Internet connections for storing and operating laptops.
By spring, Ford Motor Co. will offer as a dealer-installed accessory for its F-series trucks a tablet computer that mounts into a docking station on the floor (the computer is about at cup-holder level), is powered by the vehicle’s battery and contains enough memory to store PowerPoint presentations, blueprints and thousands of MP3 songs. Ford developed the product with Stargate Mobile LLC and Microsoft Corp.
Apple's touchscreen patent claim hints to tablet computer
TG Daily
A patent filed by Apple suggests that the company is developing its own "smart" touchscreen technology for a whole range of devices, including a tablet computer. The company apparently plans a "multipoint"-capable screen that may enable the company to "digitize" the iPod and create a "human" interface for widely used software - such as Google Earth.
Not surprisingly, Apple's touchscreen also focuses on "virtual control interfaces" such as volume knobs and switches. For example, the abstract describes a tablet PC with a "virtual scroll wheel" displayed on the screen, on which the direction and "amount of rotation of the fingers" increases or decreases the volume accordingly.
During this rotation, the touchscreen can provide not just audible, but also tactile feedback in the form of vibration. "A haptics unit of the tablet PC may provide a certain amount of vibration or other tactile feedback for each click thereby simulating an actual knob," the filing says.
February 8, 2006
How technology will change dining experience
AZ Central.com
Before long, you'll probably be able to browse a restaurant's menu, order your dinner and pay the check through your cell phone. One day, diners may be able to assess a restaurant's wine selection through a tablet PC at each table.
For restaurant owners who have already adopted similar technology, they've found it a powerful way to boost profits, increase efficiency, refine menus - and hopefully please customers. Some are reporting 30 percent savings in wait staff payroll, 20 percent increases in service speed and notable decline in frustration.
Continued Revenue Growth, New Off-Shore Development Center and Next Generation of EMR Leads Mednet System into 2006
PR Web
Mednet System also announced the launch of next generation of its Electronic Medical Record product - emr4MD version 3.5. Key features of emr4MD v 3.5 are:
• 100% standards based – XML, SNOMED, CCR, HL7, DOQ-IT
• Click-thru documentation – Document entire patient encounter without typing a single word. Just point-n-click or tapping on tablet PC screen can create entire visit documentation
• Disease Manager – AMA guidelines based disease manager to improve quality of care and increase P4P compliance
• Referral Management – Single click management of outbound and inbound referrals
• Scanning and Document Management – Scan and manage paper charts with flexible workflow
• E-Prescribing – SureScripts certified, single-click refills, drug-drug, duplicate therapy, drug-allergy checks
• Patient Portal – Patient self service for appointment requests, refill and referral requests, and viewing lab results
Mobile Technology Briefing Webcast Conference Call
Whatisnew.com
Shmuel (Mooly) Eden, vice president and general manager of the Mobile Platforms Group will discuss the recently announced Intel® Core™ Duo processor, the company's first dual-core microprocessor for laptop platforms. Due to innovations in the new processor, chipset and Wi-Fi solution, platforms based on Intel® Centrino® Duo mobile technology offer higher performance and longer battery life. Intel plans to ramp the new technology at a record pace and introduce a successor later in 2006. Watch the Webcast and download the presentation
Toshiba embraces new Intel chips in tablet PC
CNET News.com
Toshiba plans to use Intel's Core Duo processor in a tablet PC, hoping to provide a boost to a product category that has fallen far short of early expectations.
The company on Tuesday unveiled the Portege M400, along with three other notebooks that feature Intel's newest dual-core mobile processor. The 12.1-inch M400 weighs 4.5 pounds and features a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive as a standard option.
ADDING MULTIMEDIA Toshiba Adds Optical Drive to Portege M400
TMCnet
Portege(R) M400 Intelligently Fuses Breakthrough Mobile Technologies into a Highly Portable Tablet PC to Deliver Performance, Productivity 
Continuing the award-winning legacy of its Tablet PCs, Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the Portege(R) M400 Tablet PC.
Designed to build upon Toshiba's highly successful Portege M200, this new convertible Tablet PC is rich in performance and productivity innovations -- including the company's EasyGuard(TM) technology(1) -- to create an ultra-portable Tablet PC capable of running today's robust business applications. The Portege M400 gives Toshiba the industry's widest range of Tablet PCs options from a form factor, performance and price point prospective.
The Portege M400 embodies the true vision of what Tablet PC computing was first envisioned to be when the concept was originally presented to the public four years ago," said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems. "We are confident the multi-purpose functionality of the Portege M400 delivers a Tablet PC which businesses will find as a valuable tool for their workforces." Toshiba's new Tablet PC is the ideal tool for mobile professionals, students and healthcare professionals.
To deliver a high level of performance and mobility, the Portege M400 is powered by the Intel(R) Centrino(R) Mobile Technology. This new mobile technology is designed to lower power consumption and component size while boosting overall performance from graphics to wireless capabilities while enhancing security. All three of the major Intel(R) Centrino(R) Mobile Technology components have been updated in the new platform to feature the Intel(R) Core(TM) Solo processor, the Intel(R) Mobile 945 Express chipset and the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945 ABG network connection. User's can customize the Portege M400 to feature Intel(R) Centrino(R) Duo Mobile Technology.
The cornerstone of a Tablet PC is its screen technology. The Portege M400 incorporates a 12.1-inch diagonal XGA or SXGA+ display featuring wide-view angle technology. For increased ease-of-use, the framing around the display has six display buttons with the following functions, Cross-Functional, ESC/Display Rotation, Windows Security, Toshiba Assist, Toshiba Presentation and On/Off. Toshiba has added a fingerprint reader to the frame of the Tablet PC for increased data security and convenience.
February 9, 2006
Academics using Tablet PCs
Whatisnew.com
Can now participate in online conversations about how Tablet PCs are being used in academics and the research going on around them at TabletPCResearch.com. The site is just getting started, and the foundation is still being built. Blog and forums are up. It’s already off to a great start though!
Dealer seminar for LG IT products held
Peninsula On-line
Suhail Aga, sales manager for Notebooks has given presentation of latest series of P1 Express and M1 Express series based on NAPA from Intel. LG Electronics is the first company to introduce Notebooks with NAPA Intel Duo Core Processors. LG Electronics was awarded the "Manufacturer of the Year" for Tablet PC and Notebooks in 2005.
Microsoft Healthcare Users Group and Microsoft Announce Winners of of 2006 MS-HUG Annual Awards
PR Newswire
Microsoft Hospital of the Year -- St. Luke's Health System, Boise, Idaho. St. Luke's Health System is Idaho's largest healthcare provider, with three full-service hospitals in Boise, Meridian and Sun Valley; 25 outpatient facilities; 600 physicians; and 4,200 total employees. St. Luke's treats more than 325,000 patients per year from Idaho and six adjoining states. A leader in the Idaho and Southwest Idaho Community Network, St. Luke's has a partner relationship with nine rural hospitals and a management agreement with four.
As of December 2005, St. Luke's has rolled out the Web-based physician portal to more than 1,300 users, including over 350 physicians representing over 100 practices and 604 hospital users. Using Microsoft Windows(R) XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows Mobile(R) 2003 for Pocket PCs, St. Luke's is extending portal access through mobile devices. Physicians are no longer tied to paper charts as their single source of information, which increases the availability of results and gives them anywhere, anytime access to patient data.
Railinc Announces Reduction in Cost of Wireless Reporting by Train Crews Through Its Mobile Command Service
Business Wire
Railinc today announced that it is reducing the price of its RailSync Mobile Command (TM) software for short line and regional railroads. Mobile Command is a software application that enables train crews to report railcar movement and status events real-time while in the field using a "ruggedized" tablet PC. The wireless solution enables increased shipment visibility while increasing railroad productivity through automation.
"Short lines have enthusiastically embraced the concept of wireless computing by train crews, but cost remains the primary hurdle for most operators," says Allen West, Railinc's Vice President of Business Services. "Our new pricing is designed to remove this barrier to enhanced productivity for both regional and short line railroads that can reduce their overall costs with Mobile Command."
February 10, 2006
jkOnTheRun Audio Edition #11- Tablet PC demo video
jkontherun.blogs.com
In keeping with the Tablet PC demo meme I decided to show a bunch of things I do  regularly on my Tablet PC in this special video edition of jkOTR AE. The video was recorded totally onscreen using Camtasia Studio and I hope you enjoy it. Here's a list of programs shown in the order of appearance in the video:
Also in the room was SWMUG Executive Committee member, and Illustrator, Jon Harsem. If you’re ever graced with his presence you’ll find him amusing, entertaining and forever wanting your tablet to cartoon on. I was lucky enough to keep one of his toons on my Slate.
We banter about for a few minutes until our umpire, Roger Lawrence, yells "time". I’m called up first to do my thing. Once again I take the podium to talk Tablet PC in Australia. On this particular evening I share news of the Sahara Slate PC, and exhibit the Xploretech ruggedized Tablet too.
New Classroom Presenter Makes Classes Not So Boring
Whatisnew.com
the Classroom Presenter was developed to specifically to address the interaction problem, and to provide flexibility while using slides. The idea behind Classroom Presenter is simple: support writing on top of slides by using the Tablet PC as the instructor device.
Electrovaya Scribbler SC3100 Tablet PC - Our Full Review
Tablet PC Reviews
Getting down to business (and the Scribbler is great for just that), there are some very unique features that make the Electrovaya SC3100 exude the very essence of coolness. In some respects this device comes straight out of a James Bond film. The Scribbler SC3100 is a significantly practical Tablet PC, yet it's innovative design lends hints of ingenious engineering in the mobile space. This model is the first slate tablet I have worked with that incorporates all the necessary input devices I could want, but packs up into a nice sturdy and compact 4.5 lb. bundle.
February 13, 2006
Health Systems and Clinics Accelerate Slate Tablet PC Adoption ...
Business Wire
Healthcare industry executives expect continued proliferation of slate tablet PCs throughout 2006 and 2007. These experts, including Motion Computing(R) clients and members of its Health and Life Sciences Advisory Board, expect 2006 to bring:
-- acceleration of clinical system deployments to improve patient safety, clinician workflow and productivity;
-- even more health organizations to pervasively implement slate tablet PCs as their standard device for point of care computing initiatives;
-- further inclusion of unique tablet PC features by clinical information system software vendors; and
-- continued implementation and maturation of secure wireless infrastructure
According to the Medical Records Institute's (MRI) 7th Annual Survey of Electronic Health Record Trends and Usage Study, between 2003 and 2005, tablet PCs were the fastest growing mobile/wireless technology in the health industry. In its 2005 survey of 280 healthcare providers, MRI found that tablet PCs were adopted substantially faster than all other mobile technologies combined and, along with cell phones, were the only mobile devices to have grown in market share each year. Tablet PC use grew at a two-year rate of 80.4 percent, compared to 53.9 percent for cell phones, 2.8 percent for laptops and 0.8 percent for PDAs.
"The very promise of point-of-care documentation and decision support depends upon clinician adoption. Generally, physicians and nurses will only use technologies that advance their productivity and care processes. For this reason, slate tablet PCs have been a key driver of successful clinical systems usage because they enable various workflows and are designed to parallel the pen-and-chart model so familiar to clinicians," said Joel French, vice president, healthcare & life sciences for Motion Computing.
Below, Motion clients and health industry experts explain why tablet PCs remain the fastest growing mobile/wireless technology, have been adopted by thousands of health organizations and are supported by nearly every major clinical information system software vendor:
MPD Partner Briefing: Using the ultra-mobile Tablet PC as a remote control
Whatisnew.com
I'm still sorting through blog posts that described last week's Microsoft Mobile Platforms Division Partner Briefing. Here's a really good post: Nick Landry was interested in a demo during the keynote, where Arin Goldberg, ISV Architect, used a Fujtisu LifeBook P1510D Tablet PC as a remote control device for a Media Center Edition PC.
He [Bill Mitchell] introduced a new form factor now known as "Lifestyle PCs", or "Ultra-Mobiles". The idea is to bridge the gap between the most powerful Windows CE/Mobile devices, and the weakest Tablet PC device... Yes, there is a gap. Is there also an overlap? Of course, but it does not matter since it simply provides companies like mine with an extra weapon in our arsenal to make sure we can always recommend the best solution for our clients. At the end of the session, there was actually a very cool demo by Arin Goldberg on how an ultra-mobile Tablet PC (which has a price point around $500) could be used to drive a Windows Media Center PC. He was flipping channels left and right, accessing the program guide and doing it all over wireless from a Tablet PC in the palm of his hand. He then proceeded to asking us what channel we wanted to see, probably to dismiss any "pre-scripted" doubts. Poor Arin actually listened to me and switched to channel 5 where he lost everybody's attention for a solid 5 minutes as he kept rambling on while we were enjoying the scenery in "The Tyra Banks Show".
Samsung Ultra-mobile PC?
Whatisnew.com
http://digiens.blogspot.com/2006/02/samsung-collaborate-with-intel-for.html has a photo of what it is calling Samsung's Ultra-mobile PC.
Samsung Electronics announced on 8th that they will commercialize the Intel's "Ultra-mobile PC" concept for the first time. The prototype will be open to public at the "CeBIT" exhibition, which will be held at Germany next month. (Digiens)
Handwriting On The Wall For Tablet PCs - Must Lighten Up
Investor's Business Daily
Makers of tablet PCs — machines that run on the tablet-PC flavor of Microsoft's Windows operating system software — aim to broaden the  category with "ultramobile" tablets that are smaller than current tablet PCs but larger than today's handheld computers or personal digital assistants. Microsoft (MSFT) and its partners expect to unveil such products this spring.The debut of the new type of tablet PCs would come about a year after Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates showed off a prototype ultramobile PC at the company's annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference. The next WinHEC is scheduled for May 23-25 in Seattle.
With tablet PCs, users can write notes and make drawings with digital ink. Applications can be managed with a pen and touch screen instead of a keyboard and mouse.
Already some computer makers are incorporating tablet functionality in mainstream notebook designs, says Mika Krammer, Microsoft's director of Windows mobility marketing. Examples include Gateway's (GTW) M280 and Lenovo's ThinkPad X41 tablet PCs, she says.Shortcomings of tablet PCs have been their extra cost vs. other notebooks. Also, they're still too heavy to be carried around comfortably and battery life isn't great, analysts say.Tablets cost more because of the added expense of a special pen, touch screen, premium operating system and the display hinge for convertibles. But the cost difference could fall below $100 soon.
Microsoft is working to get tablet technology into traditional notebook PCs as part of its "notebook-plus strategy," says Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies. With this approach, companies sell full-featured notebook PCs, with tablet functions as an extra.About 75% of the tablet PCs sold today are convertibles. The rest are slate-type tablets that don't come with attached keyboards.
A problem with tablet PCs today is their weight. The lightest weigh 3 to 4 pounds. They can be hard to use like a clipboard, Kay says.
At last year's WinHEC, Gates showed off a concept PC called the Ultra Mobile 2007. Developers are targeting a cost of less than $1,000, "hopefully even in the $800 range," Gates said at the time. It would weigh less than 2 pounds and still have all-day battery life.
The device would feature a constant wireless connection to the Internet and could include a built-in camera, phone, music and video player. The device would use Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, scheduled for release this fall.
Microsoft could position it as more of an entertainment device, analysts say. Consumers would use it to play games, watch TV and access their music. The mock-up shown by Gates last year had a 6-inch screen.Microsoft likely will save its next big tablet PC push for the release of Windows Vista, Kay says.
It will try to rejuvenate the tablet with cool new shapes, services and applications, he says.With Vista, tablet functionality is being integrated into the core operating system, Krammer says. Vista will deliver many improvements for pen navigation, she says. For example, users will be able to assign key commands or actions to simple pen gestures, called "flicks."
Also, users will be able to tailor the handwriting recognition software to fit their own personal style.
Sales of tablet PCs should pick up as more applications support digital ink and pen functions, says Craig Marking, senior product marketing manager for Toshiba's U.S. computer unit. The software needs to be honed to take advantage of the latest processors, such as dual-core chips.
Intel Centrino Core Duo/Solo Overview
Geekzone
For those of you who aren’t sure about the new naming, Intel have switched away from the Pentium brand and are now calling their processors Core Duo or Core Solo depending on how many cores (CPU core logic) the processors contain. The Centrino Core Duo/Solo is an evolution of the Centrino Pentium M range and offers improved FSB speed, power consumption, instructions and of course, the ability to have two CPU cores in on fab (Fabrication container, the plastic thing that provides an interface between the mainboard and the processor(s)).
First off the current release of Centrino Core Duo contains no 64bit extensions. However, in the 2nd half of 2006, there are plans to release a 64bit edition. Speculating, this will most likely coincide with the release of Windows Vista.
Looking into the future, the low power consumption, increased performance and flexible reference design of the 945 chipset combined with the Core Duo/Solo are ideal to breath life back into the Tablet PC market. Graham confirmed that Intel’s roadmap includes their “Next Generation Micro Architecture” which enables very small form factor.
Combine this with the technology of a Polymer display, a Core Solo “L” (Low voltage) and the abundance of cheap solid state memory and you’ve got the perfect combination for a durable, long battery life, always on, useful tablet PC.
February 14, 2006
Microsoft Tablet PC Partners Having Increasing Impact on Patient Care, Efficiency for Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations
Yahoo! News
The steadily growing number of Tablet PC solutions created by Microsoft partners and powered by Microsoft® technologies is having a positive impact on patient lives, medical worker efficiency and the balance sheets of healthcare organizations, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) today announced during the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2006 Annual Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.
Since the launch of Microsoft's mobile software for Tablet PCs in 2004, the number of Microsoft partners creating mobile computing solutions for the healthcare industry -- including industry partners such as Eclipsys Corp., Fujitsu Computer Systems Corp., Motion Computing Inc., Toshiba Corp. and many others -- has rapidly grown to more than 60, extending Microsoft's vision of a more connected and empowered healthcare ecosystem. Relying on the strengths and scalability of Microsoft Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition, SQL Server(TM), .NET Web Services, Office XP Professional and other Microsoft technologies, these businesses have implemented Tablet PC and mobile solutions on a consistent platform across a broad cross-section of healthcare organizations, including thousands of hospitals, clinics, home health groups, visiting nurse services and others.
"Flexible data input options, mobility and real-time access to information are just a few of the factors driving adoption of Tablet PCs in healthcare, because they allow clinicians to easily use point-of-care technologies within their desired practice patterns versus having to change their practice to fit within technology constraints," said Joel French, vice president of healthcare and life sciences at Microsoft partner Motion Computing. "Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition combined with Motion's family of award-winning slate Tablet PCs have together enabled tens of thousands of nurses, physicians and other clinicians to streamline clinical workflows, eliminate or reduce information latency, and improve patient care experiences."
"Fujitsu has embraced Tablet PC on more form factors than any other manufacturer because we see the value it adds to the healthcare industry," said Paul Moore, director of mobile product marketing at Fujitsu. "From touch screens to active digitizers, the diverse product line from Fujitsu delivers on the vision of Tablet PC. Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition provides a stable and reliable environment for deploying products, which is significantly contributing to its growing popularity in healthcare."
Hospitals and healthcare organizations using Tablet PC solutions offer concrete proof of the primary benefits of greater efficiency, better patient care, and lower costs produced through mobile integration, collaboration and information-sharing in the clinical setting.
Greater Efficiency
Lightweight, highly portable, and featuring familiar and easy-to-use Windows applications, Tablet PCs can increase healthcare worker efficiency. Whether reviewing a patient chart, annotating X-rays, collecting patient data, checking lab results, writing prescriptions or performing any number of other common activities, doctors and healthcare workers can do all these things on a Tablet PC in real time while with a patient or colleague. This translates into more patients seen, reduced paperwork and transcription time, and decreased redundancy.
For example, Austin, Texas-based pediatric group 'Specially for Children, an affiliate of Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and largest nonprofit health system with 63 acute-care hospitals, worked with Motion Computing to reduce paper consumption and increase efficiency. The group armed clinicians with Motion's Tablet PCs running on Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and electronic medical record (EMR) software. As a result, not only did the organization realize substantial annual cost savings, the clinic estimates its staff collectively saves 65 hours a week -- meaning they can see an estimated 2,500 new patients a year.
Better Patient Care
Tablet PCs improve patient care by reducing mistakes, increasing doctor and nurse efficiency, enhancing communication, and shortening the duration of a patient's visit -- helping create a better overall experience for the patient. The mobility of a Tablet PC helps clinicians quickly and easily collect and review critical patient information and charts, conduct research, share notes, and update information directly at the patient's bedside and in real time. Because Tablet PCs employ digital forms and digital ink software with the use of a pen device on the screen, operation is familiar and similar to the traditional paper, pen and clipboard. This same feature automatically authenticates and records input, reducing errors.
In a concrete example of Tablet PCs delivering efficiencies and improving the patient care, a paperless strategy employing Toshiba's Tablet PCs, an EMR and a patient Web portal saved Bellevue Family Medical Associates nearly $100,000 in just nine months by cutting chart pulls and filing by 66 percent, reducing patient lab result notification by 80 percent, and eliminating dictation time entirely for this 10,000-patient medical center.
Lower Costs
By drastically reducing the use of paper, decreasing the need for multiple PCs for each healthcare team member, and decreasing costly errors and redundancies, adoption of a Tablet PC solution can have a significantly positive impact on a healthcare institution's bottom line.
For example, to improve access to patient information, Wisconsin-based Marshfield Clinic worked with Fujitsu to initiate a program to replace paper-based methods. Central to this was a pilot group of 60 physicians using highly mobile Fujitsu Tablet PCs running Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to manage medical records. In the pilot, physicians saved more than 450 hours per year as a result of improved patient documentation procedures. To date, more than 1,500 Tablet PCs have been deployed, with more than 550 physicians currently using their Tablet PC as their only computer. Now boasting support for several all-digital campuses with no paper charts, in 2006 Marshfield plans to roll out another 1,000 Tablet PCs for practitioners.
"We are distributing a Tablet PC to each clinician instead of installing a desktop in every exam room and office," said Reed E. Hall, executive director of Marshfield Clinic. "Because of that we can reduce the total number of computers required and estimate savings of nearly $2 million annually, and we will also be able to potentially lower the cost of managing patient charts by up to $6 million annually."
In addition, as a result of its Tablet PC approach, Marshfield estimates that it will be able to lower the cost of managing patient charts by up to $6 million annually.
Lean, green machines: Toshiba unveils ‘06 notebook range
Computerworld Australia
Hallmarks include environmental protection, performance, security and durability
Sydney, 14 February 2006: Toshiba (Australia) Pty. Limited Information Systems Division (ISD) today unveiled its primary range of notebook computers for 2006, for both business and consumer use.
The range includes two new business notebooks: the Portégé M400 tablet PC, and Tecra M5; and three new retail models: Satellite M100, Satellite A100, Satellite P100. This is in addition to three business models that were launched in January to coincide with the introduction of Intel’s dual core platform in Australia: the Satellite Pro P100, Tecra A7 and Tecra A6; plus two other consumer models that have been refreshed: the Satellite M50, Satellite M70; and the Satellite R10 consumer tablet PC and miniature PC, the Libretto U100, which remains current.
Business models
The new models in Toshiba’s general business range are as follows:
Portégé M400: Ultra portable tablet PC (RRP $4,070 or $4,290 Inc GST)
The new flagship model in Toshiba’s family of tablet PCs, the Portégé M400 replaces the Portégé M200 as the high-powered, fully equipped tablet in an ultra-portable 12.1 inch form-factor (two kilograms).
Tablet PC Conference
Whatisnew.com
February 15, 2006
St. Luke's Health System Recognized for Innovative Use of Siemens Soarian Portal and Soarian Community Access Technology; Named Hospital of the Year by Microsoft Healthcare Users Group
Genetic Engineering News
As of December 2005, St. Luke's had rolled out Soarian Portal and Soarian Community Access to more than 1,300 users, including more than 350 physicians representing 100 practices, and 604 hospital users. Using Microsoft's Windows XP, Tablet PC edition and Pocket PC 2003, Pocket PC Mobile edition operating systems, St. Luke's is also extending portal access through mobile devices. Physicians are no longer tied to paper charts as their single source of information, which increases the availability of results and gives them anywhere, anytime access to patient data.
Visionary Medical Systems, Inc. to be featured on Alexander Haig's Health Journal Television series
PR.com
Visionary Medical Systems, Inc. will be featured on Health Journal Television, hosted by General Alexander Haig.
The medical community is continually advancing with the advent of new technology. With so much information regarding treatment and constant patient updates, how can anyone keep up? In this segment of Health Journal Television, Visionary Medical Systems will discuss how its information technology solutions maximize healthcare productivity and improve patient care while reducing provider’s costs.
About Visionary Medical Systems
Since 1995, Visionary Medical Systems, Inc. has been providing affordable information technology solutions to maximize healthcare productivity and improve patient care while reducing provider costs. In 2001, Visionary Medical Systems released their electronic medical record Visionary Dream EMR to assist the clinical side of medical practices and eliminate paper medical records. Dream puts the patient’s record in front of the physician at the point of care electronically and wirelessly with a Tablet PC.
Railinc reduces price of Mobile Command software for short line regional railroads
Canadian Transportation & Logistics
Railinc says it is reducing the price of its RailSync Mobile Command (TM) software for short line and regional railroads.
Mobile Command is a software application that enables train crews to report railcar movement and status events real-time while in the field using a "ruggedized" tablet PC. The wireless solution enables increased shipment visibility while increasing railroad productivity through automation.
February 16, 2006
Panasonic Aim Toughbook At eHealth Applications
Wireless Healthcare
Increased adoption of wireless technologies by healthcare organizations requires a wide variety of device types, depending on the clinical or business application. Yet, according to Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney in a May, 2005 report ("Healthcare Device Category Selection Guide"), there "is a product void in the 1-kilogram weight range." This void, between traditional PDAs, which offer limited functionality, and standard clamshell or tablet PCs, which can be too heavy or cumbersome for regular bedside use, is addressed by the Toughbook Wireless Display, designed to offer an optimal combination of size, weight and functionality for point of care applications.
With New Office 2007, Lineup Gets New Forms Server, SKUs
CRN, NY
Office 12, now dubbed Office 2007, will feature a converged SharePoint and Content Management Server, a new Forms Server, and some new desktop SKUs.
Microsoft detailed the packaging options of the next Office wave, still due in late 2006, on Wednesday.
Plans call for seven different suite versions. Microsoft will continue to offer a Professional version through volume licensing but will layer e-forms and content management to the overall package plus add the new Office Communicator client, said Parri Munsell, group program manager for Information Worker licensing and pricing at Microsoft. An Office Enterprise 2007 edition will add Groove collaboration and the OneNote note-taking application for tablet PC users, Munsell said. Both of these high-end editions will be offered only via volume license deals.
British curriculum school plans to introduce Islamic history
Khaleej Times
Seminar for IT products held in Doha
JUMBO Hitech Center (Video Home Group), the authorised distributor for LG IT Products in Qatar organised a seminar at Doha’s Ramada hotel to bring together IT Dealers and to familiarise them with the latest products from LG Electronics, including the new series of seventeen and nineteen-inch monitors. ‘LG- Philips’ is the largest producer of LCD Panels in the world, according to Scott Kim, IT Product manager, LGEGF. LG Electronics was awarded the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ for Tablet PC and Notebooks in 2005
February 17, 2006
Tablet Guy visits San Francisco
Whatisnew.com
You never know when you’ll have a Tablet Guy photo opp. Tablet Guy went to San Francisco this week and took pictures over by Fisherman’s Wharf. He even changed a flat tire — definitely a good Guy to have around.
GeoSpatial Innovations, Itron Team Up
DirectionsMag
Under the agreement, Itron Distribution Staker will now come bundled with GSI’s Pocket Designer field software. Utilities that purchase Distribution Staker will have access to a seamless field-to-office solution for creating overhead or underground electric line designs in the field. With this partnership, utilities now have the flexibility to complete their field design on a tablet, laptop or a handheld Pocket PC device.
GSI’s Pocket Designer software runs on a Pocket PC and allows engineers and designers to quickly capture locations of structures and cables. Electrical workers can complete a paperless electric line design by adding construction units and notes while working in the field. Pocket Designer produces an average labor savings of 20 percent per job by eliminating manual methods for measuring, sketching and re-keying data obtained in the field.
Itron’s Distribution Staker software runs on a desktop, laptop or tablet computer and combines computer-aided design rendering and editing capabilities with robust data sharing, reporting and estimating tools for utility companies. While a designer uses the embedded design tools to create layouts and construction drawings, Distribution Staker automatically generates a complete and consistent construction packet including material lists, customer estimates, utility cost estimates, staking sheets and more.
Kalam exhorts IT czars to aim at $200bn exports by 2010
Business Standard
"The World Knowledge Platform would connect countries like India, Singapore, Philippines and Korea on the fibre optic broadband, which could also be used to foster education and culture. The platform, which would be the grid for computer education, should also look at jointly developing a tablet PC priced at around $100-150," the President said.
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