XP Tablet Ed on non-Tablet laptop

[Andy Cairns]

Hey there,

Is it possible to use XP Tablet Ed on my non-tablet laptop and use an
external digitizer (e.g. Wacom) for entering data to OneNote?

I'm finding it very frustrating having to convert my handwritten notes and
I've recently upgraded my laptop so no chance of getting a new one soon.

Thanks

Andy

 

[Chris H.]

No, Andy, the Tablet PC Edition (a superset running on top of Windows XP
Pro) is available pre-installed on new Tablet PCs from the manufacturers or
through an MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) subscription for programmers
and developers only.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Andy Cairns]

Shame.

From a brief search, it seems like this functionality is in demand.
Essentially, only Tablet PC users will get the full functionality of OneNote.
While I can see the potential of getting laptop users to change to TPCs
(slowly), this still rules out the entire population of desktop users, many
of whom (such as myself) would be willing to pay a bit extra for the Ink.

As much as I like Microsoft, I don't buy the "refresh rate" line we're
constantly fed with regards to this gap in functionality. Graphics
professionals are using external tablets for much more demanding applications
than just handwriting recognition.

I understand that the use of the tablet "as a mouse" may inhibit the refresh
rate but this is a software (driver) issue rather than the hardware.

Surely, if a hardware partner can develop a device which can both display
the output of Windows and accept input from a pointing device (as is the case
of all TPCs), then developing a device which only accepts input (with the
output being displayed on the desktop monitor) is a walk in the park?

I realise completely that this doesn't fall under the OneNote jurasdiction
but given that these developments would expand the potential market for
OneNote (and usability for current users), isn't it in your interest to apply
the pressure from inside while we do it externally?

A

 

[Chris H.]

One of the reasons the Tablet PC Edition has only been available through
limited sources has been to control the experience of the user for the best
possible quality with pen and the digital Ink. Most external writing pads
function at the same rate of the computer's mouse, while the digital
recognizers on Tablet PCs are much more involved, do about three times the
sampling of the analog mouse rate, and capture individual stroke
occurrences. That results on a Tablet PC in the user's handwriting being
detected stroke-by-stroke, and not an "image" as produced on the writing
pads.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Erik Sojka (MVP)]

I've not tried it but I imagine that it wouldn't work - the digitizing
rate of a normal external digitizer is much lower than the integrated
digitizer screen on a Tablet PC. The lower digitizing rate means less
metadata per stroke, which means much a lower accuracy rate in the text
conversion. IT also doesn't seem like the most portable solution.

The Tablet PC OS is only available from the OEM and it is not available
from a retail store or reseller.

 

[Andy Cairns]

Sorry guys, I don't mean to appear rude but given that Wacom actually make
slates for Tablet PCs which run fine under XP Tablet Ed and that the Intuos
range refreshes at 200 samples per second, this hardware line that is fed to
anyone who questions this functionality is no longer valid. Let's end it here.

Besides this, the fundamental problem is that XP doesn't support the ink
required to use these tablets with OneNote. As far as I understand, however,
Windows Vista will.

Is there any reason why I can't use an external digitizer with OneNote by
Thanksgiving?

 

[James Gockel]

To answer your question, and I dont want to sound rude either, you already
can use an external digitizer with onenote!!!

But you won't be able to get handwriting recognition. (Unless you have
Tablet edition installed)

XP tablet edition (or the MSDN Version), even vista tablet edition, as I
understand, only will give handwriting recog. Now with that in mind, sure if
you have a Windows Tablet Ed installed on your tablet, or laptop if you're
using the MSDN version, you can use an external tablet. Whether or not it
gives the 200 samples or if it gives 1 sample per sec.
In fact I can get hand writing recognition with my stupid mouse on tablet
edition, it sucks, but it will work.
Now the only ways you can buy xp tablet edition is via OEM with a tablet, or
the MSDN subscription. Now I highly doubt that MS will make Vista Tablet
Edition available to the general public, because they already aren't with
XP.
To the point of why certain computers (tablets) are able to use tablet
edition is because MS set guidelines to what is allowed to be a tablet, and
can be sold with that superset of windows. Do I think the current guidelines
are good guidelines, NO! The current guidlines allow touch screen
digitizers, which have a worse resolution than the touch pad on laptops, and
is just retarded!
Is there anything backing the fact that tablet pcs should be tablets because
of high resolution digitizers, no not anymore!
The guidelines were set in place to make a better experience for the mobile
tablet user, a desktop computer with a keyboard and wacom intuos isn't going
to make good use of the features of Tablet Edition. Nor would a laptop with
a wacom graphire 3... or anything.
Do the guidlines make sense to me for tablet edition, not anymore (because
of the touch screen), but they did. Should XP have handwriting recognition,
so that onenote users with external tablet can write and search hand writen
text, HELL YES! But is it my choice? no...
I think XP should have handwriting language features just like the voice
recog... but all the features of tablet edition shouldn't be available.
(IMO)

Thats my opinion, based on what i've read... some facts may be wrong, and my
opinion biased, but you can choose to agree, disagree, or ignore it too.
-James G.

 

[James Gockel]

MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) subscription for programmers and

developers only.

Or those who are willing to pay the price just for the experience (of tablet
edition on a nontablet)... but it'd be a waste of money.
-James G.

 

[Ben M. Schorr - MVP]

Possible? Maybe, but to get the Tablet OS you'd have to be an MSDN
subscriber. I haven't tried to use an external digitizer with OneNote in
that way but it might work.

Of course with the price of Tablets falling it would probably be easier and
more cost-effective to just get a Tablet PC to use with OneNote.


--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
Microsoft OneNote FAQ: http://www.factplace.com/onenotefaq.htm

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for assistance.
Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!