Why was Windows XP Tablet PC edition a flop? - Microsoft Community

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Windows xp tablet pc edition. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 SP3

 

After booting, a setup wizard walks you through getting started in a process similar to that of XP Home and Pro. An interactive "Get going with Tablet PC" tour explains how to navigate menus with the pen and how to use the Input Panel to enter text. You can follow additional links to online tutorials that explain the included applications and how to improve character recognition, annotate files, and use the speech engine. All told, the company does a credible job of explaining how Tablet works and providing tips for making the most of the pen.

In about five minutes, we were jotting notes, marking up documents, and scribbling away with the stylus. The look and feel of the interface is pure XP, with the Start button in the lower-corner, a task tray along the bottom, and major icons spread across the screen.

Navigating menus with the stylus is about the same as with a good-quality mouse, though Tablet PC Edition sometimes misses attempted double-clicks. The big difference with this version of XP is the Input Panel, which lets you use the pen to enter text into any application.

You can choose among three input modes: the Writing Pad offers a notepadlike straight line to write on naturally; the segmented Character Pad lets you enter letters into individual spaces for more accuracy; and when all else fails, an onscreen keyboard allows hunt-and-peck typing with the stylus.

Enter the string of text, tap Insert, and your handwriting is converted to text at the cursor point in the current program. With buttons for backspace, delete, tab, enter, and space, the Input Panel is a good way to quickly enter URLs, filenames, and passwords, and you'll probably be able to dash off a quick e-mail or two.

Using the handwriting recognition software still isn't close to the accuracy and speed of typing, however, especially when composing long documents. Working with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition over the course of two weeks, we recorded an 85 percent recognition rate, or roughly between two and three mistakes in the typical sentence.

The good news is that you can correct mistakes quickly and even train the computer to better recognize your writing. But those who failed penmanship in elementary school will have to write slowly and carefully, or their words will be misinterpreted. While all Windows XP applications work with Tablet PC Edition , the number of programs designed specifically for tablets is relatively slim.

Most notable is Windows Journal, which comes with the OS and offers the digital equivalent of pencil and paper. Journal entries can be as simple as doodles or as complex as full reports. The program's search feature can find keywords even in handwritten text, making the Journal ideal for keeping a record of projects and meetings. Microsoft also offers free downloads of the Experience Pack for Tablet PC, a collection of six applets that includes a freehand paint program, a crossword puzzle game, and a program for streaming media files from a host PC to a tablet.

Students can download an Education Pack with flash cards, a math equation writer, a calendar tool, and games. Both operating systems were running on a Toshiba Satellite R15 with a 1. Boot times We time how long it takes to completely load the OS and start-up apps each system has the same start-up apps installed from Shutdown. During the script, the files are subjected to several filters, such as Unsharpen Mask and High Pass, as well as various color and lighting effects.

Sorenson Squeeze 4 Using our own custom project file, we time how long it takes Sorenson Squeeze 4. Support for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition lasts for as long as you own the product, but Microsoft requires you and the hardware vendor to troubleshoot problems before troubling the Microsoft help desk. The OS has only a rudimentary troubleshooting guide built in, but there's a wealth of resources online, including public newsgroups, chat rooms, FAQs, and downloads of updates.

Unfortunately, Tablet PC Edition isn't listed on the Web page for operating system support, and the site lacks a dedicated Product Solution Center for it. While you can always e-mail the company with a problem, phone support is available only 8 a. When we called the support line on a weekday, we waited nearly five minutes to talk to a technician. Brian Nadel. Handwriting recognition needs work; double-clicking sometimes requires several tries.

The updated tablet PC-based operating system helps users navigate through Windows, enter URLs, fill in digital forms, and draw images with a stylus--but it stops short of offering a radical new approach to using tablets with a streamlined interface; for example, you still have to double-tap to launch programs.

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition does include subtle improvements on previous versions of the tablet OS, though, such as integration with Office and enhanced handwriting recognition. Overall, the OS does a good job of integrating stylus input into the operating system, and if you want tablets around your office, Tablet PC Edition is the only game in town.

The Character Pad has individual spaces for each letter for more accurate handwriting recognition. Mistakes happen, and Tablet PC Edition lets you make corrections on the fly. Windows Journal turns a tablet PC into virtual paper and pencil, with an array of digital tools at your disposal.

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Windows XP Tablet Edition 4. Windows XP Professional 4. Sorenson Squeeze 4 In minutes Shorter bars indicate faster performance. Windows XP Tablet Edition 5. Windows XP Professional 5. See full specs. Get the best price on everything. Designed to make shopping easier.