TabletPCBuzz is all new just for you

TabletPCBuzz, one of the longest running forums focusing exclusively on Tablet PCs, has relaunched today. Utilizing new forum software, it is easier to search and use. Providing access to over 300,000 posts and covering hardware from Dell and HP to Motion Computing and TabletKiosk, TabletPCBuzz is the best user to user forum for tablet PC users.

Check it out here: www.tabletpcbuzz.com

Motion Computing LE1600 won't charge

Motion Computing LE1600 Tablet PCs occasionally develop a problem where the unit won't charge because the AC adapter port on the right side of the tablet breaks on the inside where it attaches to the motherboard. People that call us about this problem usually think their AC adapter is bad. That has only been the case one time and it was obvious because the cord was damaged. To test whether you have this problem, you can try and charge the tablet via the Convertible Keyboard or FlexDock. If it charges fine using those devices, your problem is the AC adapter port.

Now for the bad news...

Motion used to fix those at their repair facility by soldering the AC port where it separated from the motherboard. Now, they replace the entire motherboard at a cost of around $700 and an average wait time of 2-6 weeks. YIKES!

And some good news...

Allegiance Technology can do the repair for $125 plus the cost of return shipping. This repair may void any warranty you have and is not authorized by Motion in any way. But it sure is faster and cheaper than the alternative. Call 877-772-5587 x3 if you have more questions.

CBS Corporation To Acquire CNET Networks, Inc.

CBS to Become a Top Ten U.S. Internet Company with Unparalleled Content and Reach, Boasting Approximately 200 Million Monthly Unique Users Worldwide

CNET Networks' CNET, ZDNet, GameSpot.com, TV.com, CNET News, UrbanBaby, BNET, CHOW and Search.com, Among Others, To Be Combined with CBS Corporation's National and Local Interactive Businesses

So how is this tablet PC related? Well, whether you know it or not, a lot of content you see on computer reseller websites comes from CNET. Through various companies and internet properties, you see information provided by them. CNET owns ZDNet, TechRepublic, Search.com and MySimon has a very large footprint in technology and influences what products you see covered.

Another Motion F5 webinar - save $1,000 on a purchase

Our Motion F5 webinar went so well last week (34 attendees) that we are sponsoring another one next Tuesday, May 20th at 2pm EASTERN STANDARD TIME. Attendees will learn about the capabilities of the F5 during a 30 minutes webinar followed by a Q&A session.

Special Introductory Offer - Save $1000 !For a limited time, you can save $1000 off the purchase of one Motion F5 tablet by attending a product overview webinar.

F5 Product Webinars

Tuesday, May 20th, 1:00 pm CST - Register

The Motion F5 Mobile Field Tool is the first semi-rugged slate PC designed specifically for the mobile field worker that combines durability, mobility and integrated functionality with the benefits and convenience of tablet input. See our Motion F5 Brochure.

• Thin and light, about 3 lbs
• Semi-rugged, field-ready design with convenient, built-in handle
• Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth® wireless connectivity and optional wireless broadband
• Natural pen/speech input
• Integrated digital camera, RFID reader and optional barcode scanner
• View Anywhere® display for optimal outdoor viewing
• 3-year field-ready warranty protection

Clinical Ink automates clinical trials using tablet PCs

(Another in our ongoing series of software programs designed specifically for the tablet PC)

eSource Solutions for Clinical Trials

Clinical Ink offers customized electronic source documents running on tablet PCs—finally, a true eSource solution. Capturing source data on paper is costly and error-prone, but it remains prevalent because of familiarity and a lack of viable alternatives. Clinical Ink™ maintains the workflow and mobility of paper while allowing fast, secure transmission of source data.

Clinical Ink™ offers an eSource solution for clinical trials that provides cleaner data more quickly — saving money by reducing your time to market. Clinical Ink's solution runs on tablet PCs, allowing validated source data to be entered on customized eSource documents that retain the look and feel of paper forms. The data and forms can then be managed, viewed and stored via Clinical Ink's secure web portal.

Clinical Ink's interface is designed with the benefits of pen and paper in mind. Unlike traditional electronic data capture (EDC) systems, Clinical Ink allows you to record comments and explanations, as well as capture the data required by the protocol — all while moving freely from room to room, regardless of connectivity. Clinical Ink provides this ease of use while eliminating the problems with paper source and case report forms.

Source data is validated at the point of capture and seamlessly transmitted (using CDISC standards) to the chosen backend data system. Since there is only one data set, monitors don't need to perform source data verification. Remote viewing of source documents allows monitors to resolve queries from their home office, dramatically reducing monitoring costs. Getting cleaner data more quickly with Clinical Ink results in significant savings.

Learn more about Clinical Ink...

Get $1000 off a new rugged Motion F5 Tablet PC

Allegiance Technology and Motion Computing are sponsoring a webinar so that you can learn about the new Motion F5 Field Service Tablet PC. The webinar, which lasted about 45 minutes, will show you how this tablet is a great value as relates to both ruggedness and price. If you decided to purchase an F5 within 30 days, you'll be able to deduct $1,000 from the list price!

The Motion F5 Mobile Field Tool is the first semi-rugged slate PC designed specifically for the mobile field worker that combines durability, mobility and integrated functionality with the benefits and convenience of tablet input. See our Motion F5 Brochure.

• Thin and light, about 3 lbs


• Semi-rugged, field-ready design with convenient, built-in handle


• Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth® wireless connectivity and optional wireless broadband


• Natural pen/speech input


• Integrated digital camera, RFID reader and optional barcode scanner


• View Anywhere® display for optimal outdoor viewing


• 3-year field-ready warranty protection

Durability Matters

The semi-rugged Motion F5 is designed and tested to fit real-world, field-ready conditions such as bumps, drops or exposure to wind, heat and rain. Built with high quality materials and an internal framing system, the F5 has been optimized to handle challenging work scenarios in the field. The DataGuard™ accelerometer, shock-mounted hard drive and optional SSD drive minimize data loss so when the occasional drop or bump happens, it won’t be the end of your work day. Motion has included a 3-year field-ready warranty that protects against incidents that can occur in the field.

You can sign up for the webinar here.

Logical Ink Tablet PC based EMR software

Electronic Charting Solutions for Healthcare

"Whether you are moving away from paper or looking for a better way to input documents into your EMR, Logical Ink can help. Our unique interface combines an intuitive pen/paper interface of digital ink with the mobility and power of tablet PC. You can easily eliminate scanning and duplicate data entry and extend your EMR to the patient and mobile clinicians. We provide the flexibility, intuitiveness and speed of pen and paper without its limitations. From solutions as simple as electronic signature capture to full point of care documents, we’ve got you covered."

Learn more about Logical Ink

(This post is part of a new, ongoing series designed to highlight software companies that are focusing on tablet PC based solutions).

Some tablet PC resources

Here are some quick links to tablet PC resources from Microsoft:

Use Standby and Hibernate

Manage Your Tablet PC Battery Power

Use Power Schemes for the Tablet PC

Take Your Files Offline with Tablet PC

Using a Tablet PC to Read

Working with Pen and Ink

There are more if you search around but these are quite helpful.

One million year old Tablet PC found in Antarctic!

Okay, okay, so this tablet isn't really from the Cenozoic Era. It's the Roper Mobile Duros Tablet PC. We've been selling tablet PCs for a while and have never done much with truly rugged tablets because they were slower, bulkier and more expensive. Well, they are still more expensive but if you are working in an environment where dust and weather are a constant problem or vibration is causing frequent failures, a rugged tablet PC like this one could be just the thing.

Bye, bye, Miss Vista Pie

Well, a true rumor has been making the rounds - Microsoft is no longer going to allow PC makers (including tablet manufacturers) to ship units with Window XP after June 30th. In case you didn't know, June 30th is the end of Microsoft's fiscal year and it is normal for them to end-of-life and product or license program around this time in order to "encourage" customers to upgrade.



So what does this mean for tablet PC owners? Not much unless your software doesn't play well with Vista. Anyway, PC makers will be offering a downgrade path but you'll have to go through the process of converting to XP from Vista yourself using recovery disks.

Get ready!

Bravo Fujitsu!

Back in the day (about two years ago), PC makers always included backup and restore CDs for the operating system and any preloaded software. Now, almost all manufacturers, including Motion, Dell and Lenovo don't include anything. You must purchase CDs as an aftermarket product or create your own when you first get the computer. When you first get a shiny new tablet, creating backup CDs is the last thing you want to do.

Fujitsu, however, includes the CDs (or DVDs for Windows Vista) and even includes the XP disks if you want to downgrade.

I don't know of any other tablet companies that include the disks. Let me know if anyone else deserves kudos.

Motion releases new lower pricing for LE1700 Tablet PC

We just recieved notification that Motion Computing has released new, lower pricing across the board on their LE1700 series Tablet PCs. I think this will allow Motion to capture an even greater share of the slate tablet PC market by bringing prices more in line with convertible tablets. Also, it allows Motion Computing to sell slate tablets into a wider market because customers who were priced out of the tablet PC space can now afford one.

Just one example of the price drop is for their high Core 2 Duo, 2Gb RAM, 80Gb hard drive, View Anywhere screen tablet. Yesterday, the price was $2,605 (good price) and today it is $2,265 (great price).

To see all the new pricing (any maybe buy yourself one), visit our Motion LE1700 page.

Motion release software updates for LE1700 & C5

Motion Computing has released the following software updates to the Motion Support Driver Download web page.

Products: Motion LE1700 Tablet PC and Motion C5

Description:

1) Motion LE1700 BIOS A13 (LE1700 only)

• Improved WWAN card detection.
• Approved WWAN cards are now automatically enabled by default.
• Added PXE Boot (network-based boot) function supporting additional LAN chips.

> Get Motion LE1700 BIOS A13

2) Motion Dashboard Version 5.0.2.3 (LE1700 and C5)

•Dashboard Configuration application allows access to advanced features, which previously required Windows Registry modification.
•Critical Dashboard (Battery Low, etc.) alerts are now centered on the screen and are always on top of any open windows, which replaced the system tray balloons that could be obscured by third party applications.
•Added a manual start button for Battery Conditioning, when the dialog box appears.
•Dock Detection Override is now supported.
•Fixed compatibility issues with multilingual OS.
•Resolved compatibility issues with Cisco VPN clients and Wi-Fi button functions.
•Enhanced the Multi-Display behavior.

> Get Motion Dashboard 5.0.2.3

For all Motion product software drivers click here.

Voice Recognition: A True Hit or Total Bull&%$@

Well I have had a copy of Dragon naturally speaking preferred version 8 sitting in my office for some time. I decided to load it on my a tablet PC to see how well it would work. I'm having to do a lot of correction by I know that the more I trained the software the better and will recognize my voice. As you can see this dictation is far from perfect. I will continue to use the tool and see how much improvement there will be over one months time.

Many of my customers are using Dragon naturally speaking voice recognition with a lot of success. It's true that the more you use it the better it works for you so I'm going to stick with my commitment.

Do you use voice recognition? If so, let me know how the results have been for you.

Linux, Xournal and Jarnal - on a Tablet?

A customer is wanting to run their software application on an ultramobile or tablet PC. No problem, I say, these devices can run any software that a standard Windows desktop or laptop.

Says they: We want to run Linux!

Says I: Linux? On a Tablet PC?

Says they: And we need notetaking as well.

Hmmmmmmm...

Actually, I already had some experience with other customers wanting to run Linux on a Tablet PC and I knew that it could be done. TabletKiosk even makes openSUSE Linux an operating system choice for their tablet PCs. But I didn't know of any notetaking software that would provide functionality similar to Windows Journal.

Enter Xournal and Jarnal. These open source software applications have features similar to those provided in Windows Journal but are designed for the Linux operating system. I am exploring the Jarnal program because they say it is better than PDF Annotator - I'll let you know.

Virginia Western professor using tablets to teach mobile programming

Diane Wolff, a professor at Virginia Western, sent me this email:

I got on your list since my husband got a Motion Computing tablet from you for his airplane. Thought I would give you a link to some of the work that I am doing with tablets. I teach college and got a grant from HP for Mobile Programming. With the grant, I got 20 tablets for use in the classroom. I have spent a lot of time creating some tablet tips and tricks also.

Diane and her colleagues have created a list of tablet PC tips and tricks and their website has some other interesting links as well. Check out their site here. Look on the right side for a link to their tablet PC tips.

An improved Windows Vista experience is on the way

So read an email I received today from Microsoft regarding our reseller software updates. It continued:

'We are pleased to inform you that the March 2008 Windows Vista® with Service Pack 1 (SP1) Special Edition Action Pack will begin shipping next week.'

So what does this mean for you? With the release of SP1, Vista is finally ready for your consideration. I know some of you have already upgraded and many others have been using Vista on a new desktop or laptop. Personally, I've stuck with Windows XP Tablet Edition while waiting for this next release of the software. My attitude is to let all the more adventurous folks work out the bugs and I'll move after the first service pack (essentially all the fixes to the first version) comes out.

So, is it time to upgrade? I'll probably upgrade my tablet, but unless you want the fun of upgrading your operating system, wait until you buy your next tablet. Then order it with Vista and enjoy the added benefits.

So, what are the benefits of Vista for tablet pc users?

One thing that can be said for Vista is that it really incorporates significant improvements for tablet PC owners and truly extends the pen and ink capabilities of the platform. Some, like seeing the screen “dimple” when you tap on it, are subtle but make the daily experience of using a tablet PC even better. Others, like the handwriting recognition tool, take not-so-subtle cues from voice recognition software and provide a way to dramatically improve the likelihood that the Tablet Input Panel (TIP) will recognize your handwriting – the more you use it the better it gets.


Handwriting recognition improvements
Being able to personalize the handwriting recognition in Windows Vista increases the ability of the TIP to successfully translate a person’s writing. Every individual holds the pen differently, prints differently, connect the letters in their script differently and it is amazing that the Windows XP TIP could be able to recognize writing without training. With the addition of personalization, Vista adapts the user’s own style and makes recognition more likely by direct reporting of errors when they occur. Also, custom recognizers can be created for other languages or shapes, giving hope to those who use symbols as part of their everyday work.

Automatic learning
This goes hand in hand with handwriting recognition, but is a “behind the scenes” learning of an individual’s writing style without requiring one’s interaction. Automatic learning simultaneously creates a dictionary that adds new words from your documents and email. There is great benefit for people whose writings are filled with industry jargon, abbreviation and acronyms because these are automatically.

TIP tab
Keeping the Tablet Input Panel out of your way without having to dock it or reposition it has long been a detractor from the tablet PC experience. The TIP tab gives users a new way to open and position the TIP on the screen. When the TIP is closed, the tab appears on the left edge of the screen (default setting – you can change this). When you tap it, the TIP slides out from the edge of the screen and you can use it. When you are done, tap it again and it slides out of the way once more. You can also reposition where the hidden TIP is position on the edge of the screen so that it slides out at the same place when you tap it. This is a seemingly simple feature but one that will make working with the Tablet Input Panel much more convenient.

Improved erasing
Once you’ve gotten used to having an eraser on your tablet pen, you expect to be able to use it anywhere. That wasn’t true in the TIP because the eraser just added ink. The scratch out gesture (moving the pain back and forth horizontally three times to erase) is fine but takes some practice and is a challenge for new users. With the Vista TIP, eraser equipped pens can remove ink directly. Also, the scratch out gesture itself has been improved, allowing people to scratch ink out without having to draw perfectly horizontal lines.

AutoComplete
While sometimes using the keyboard version of AutoComplete can be annoying when it unintentionally creates a word you weren’t intending, the majority of the instances it is a big time saver. Now that functionality is built into the Tablet Input Panel. Basically, as you start to write, AutoComplete lists a series of possible matches based on text you’ve entered previously and gives you the opportunity to pick that entry without having to complete writing the word or phrase or URL. Very nice.

Pen Flicks
It’s very possible that pen flicks could have been higher on our list of important improvements to the tablet PC experience. Simply stated, pen flicks are shortcuts for navigation and editing that allow you to move around the screen and documents as well as copy, paste, delete and undo without having to go through multiple steps and pen clicks. Pasting an item doesn’t require you to right lick, select paste, then left click – you can do all that with a simple ‘flick’ of the pen. Another feature is the ability to customize pen flicks for your own shortcuts.

Visual feedback
It can be frustrating for new users to know when they have successfully double clicked on a program they want to open or when they have properly hit the X to close an application. Using the pen on the tablet screen in Vista provides visual cues that lets users know when they have successfully single or double clicked or right clicked. While subtle, this feedback creates a much more comfortable feeling right out of the box.

Touch screen improvements
The relevance of the feature will increase as more tablet PCs come equipped with dual function displays – ones that have both the capabilities of an active digitizer and a touch screen. As go pen flicks, so goes touch flicks on a passive digitizer, enabling you to navigate applications and use shortcuts with a finger or stylus. With a lot of ultra mobile PCs, the small screen size creates challenges in successfully targeting small icons or when attempting to resize a window. The Windows Vista touch pointer floats on the screen just below your finger and has left and right mouse buttons, a drag area and a pointer for overcoming the challenges of tapping small buttons with big fingers.

Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool, long a great add-in for tablet PC users, allows one to draw around an area of the screen and ‘snip’ it. The object can then be pasted into an email or other document or saved as a file. It is now incorporated directly in the Vista operating system rather than being a separate application.

Voice Recognition
Microsoft is touting a greatly improved voice recognition engine in Vista. While tablet users could use voice recognition previously, it did not have the robust tools for error correction and training that can be found in Dragon Naturally Speaking. For those looking to give voice recognition a try, this may be a significant feature.

Yes, Virgina, we do rent tablet PCs

While you may know about our 48 hour demo program, you may not know that Allegiance Technology also rents Tablet PCs. More and more customers have been asking us for the opportunity to keep a tablet pc for longer periods so they can test software and demonstrate it to others in their company. So for about six months, we’ve been allowing people to extend the tablet pc demo to 2 or 4 weeks.

If you want to rent a tablet PC from us, the rules are the same as the 48 hour demo program. You are responsible for the shipping costs both ways and must sign our lease agreement. We will send you the tablet PC via FedEx 2-day along with a return shipping tag.

As of March 1st, 2008, the cost for a two week tablet pc rental is $160 and a four week tablet pc rental is $320. We have the following tablet PCs available:

Sahara i440D by TabletKiosk Pen/Touch Slate Tablet PC

Motion LE1700 Slate Tablet PC

Motion C5 Medical Tablet PC

Fujitsu U810 UltraMobile PC

Fujitsu ST5112 Slate Tablet PC

Fujitsu T2010 Convertible Tablet PC

Fujitsu Convertible Notebook Tablet PC P1610

Tablet Kiosk UltraMobile PC eo 7110

Amtek T770 UltraMobile PC

IBM/Lenovo X61 Tablet PC

All the tablet PCs we offer in our rental program have outdoor screens if it is available. For the Motion C5 we also include a docking station. If you need a USB DVD for loading software, please let us know and we can include that. You can load any software onto the tablet PC for testing purposes.

We can rent you a tablet PC anywhere in the U.S. To get more information about the program, call our office at 877-772-5587 x1. You can find information about our 48 hour demo program here.

How to choose the best Tablet PC (for you)

Because this is my blog you can correctly assume this is My Humble Opinion. But I do this all day, every day so that is how I based this post. John

The most frequently asked question on the tablet forums and in calls to our company is: Which Tablet PC should I buy? The answer changes frequently because the technology changes so often. I’ll attempt to answer the question the same way I do for prospective customers.

First question is always “what do you want to do with your tablet?”. I’m going to answer that based on a couple different scenarios.

Tablet PC use #1: Field Worker (inspector, appraiser, insurance adjuster, service technician)

What to buy: A slate tablet PC with outdoor viewable screen and bump case, extra battery, screen protector and car charger. Consider the Motion LE1700 with XGA View Anywhere Display or the Fujitsu ST 5112. If your software is “touch friendly”, the Sahara i440D with Sunlight Viewable Display should be on your short list as well.

Why a slate: Slate tablet PCs are the most comfortable, lightest weight tablets for walking around a job site, house, building or the outdoors. They are built with ULV (ultra low voltage) processors that require less power and generate less heat. Just because the tablet doesn’t have a keyboard attached doesn’t mean you can’t use it as a desktop – buy a docking station for use at the office.

How much will I spend: Expect to spend $2,500 - $3,200 depending on the power of the processor, amount of memory and type of accessories purchased. Spending $60 on a screen protector is expensive short term but a great investment over time.

Tablet PC use #2: Field Sales (executive, real estate agent, outside salesperson)

What to buy: A convertible tablet PC with high resolution display, docking station or port replicator, executive portfolio, Seize the Day with your Tablet PC book. If you don’t need a DVD all the time for your work, give consideration to the Fujitsu T2010 or Lenovo X61T. If you must have a DVD with you, the Fujitsu T4220 or Toshiba tablets are heavier and bulkier but have this feature.

Why a convertible: For people who are doing mostly laptop work like writing agreement, working with Microsoft Office documents, taking notes on occasion when in a meeting or with a client a convertible gives you the best of both worlds. This tablet is your laptop when at your desk or working at home but can be flipped around to a notepad when in the boardroom or making notes about a prospective customer.

How much will I spend: Expect to spend $1,900 - $2,600 for a unit with a powerful processor, 2Gb RAM memory, 100+Gb hard drive and accessories. Get a docking station or port replicator so you can plug in your second monitor, network connection and printer when in the office.

Tablet PC use #3: Super mobile (travelling executive, doctor, pilot)

What to buy: Ultra mobile PCs or UMPCs aren’t quite enough for most people yet. Smaller tablet PCs that offer more power and functionality are still the way to go. The Fujitsu P1620 is probably the best all around device combining the best aspects of size, weight, battery life, power and price.

Why this device: Something is missing in most smaller devices. Either power, screen readability, input choices or quality. The Fujitsu P1620 is the best combination of all these features in a very compact tablet PC.

How much will I spend: Expect to spend $2,100 - $2,700. Get it with 2Gb and a high capacity battery and you’ll have a very portable, powerful computer to use wherever you need it.

Tablet PC use #4: Single application use (electronic medical records, service application, manufacturing)

What to buy: If your use is mobile within a defined space like a medical practice, auto dealership or manufacturing facility and using just one or two applications on the tablet to help your business, a Motion C5 or F5 is your best choice.

Why a slate with no ports: Keeping the device simple enables it to be a tool rather than a computer. Also, in these kinds of environments where you might want to scan barcoded patient wristbands, medications, automobile vehicle identification numbers or parts, having a built in barcode scanner is better than having to connect a USB or Bluetooth device.

How much will I spend: Expect to spend $2,200 - $3,200 depending on the configuration. A basic medical tablet (the C5) is at the low end and is perfect if you are running an EMR application that is server based. Those in a dirtier environment where dust particles and splashing can be a problem, like doing inspections of an assembly line or check-in at an auto repair garage, should choose the Motion F5 which is rated for this kind of situation.


OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHER SCENARIOS and just because I put certain people into a particular category shouldn't stop you from considering another type of device. But when people ask me the question, they expect some guidance so they can make a good decision. I appreciate your comments and feedback and would be happy to include your well reasoned point of view as part of these recommendations.

One of our partners, Vela Systems, recently completed a Case Study that discussess how one of their clients, William A. Berry & Son, is using their Safety Module and Tablet PCs.

They are using the Motion Computing LE1700 Core 2 Duo Tablet PC. Here are selections from the writeup:

“We can see the screen clearly whether we’re outside in full sun or inside a building,” said Michael Willett, project director for the Brigham and Women’s Hospital new cardiovascular center in downtown Boston. “And because we can write directly on the screen with a special pen, it feels a lot like using pencil and paper, which makes it easy to learn.”

“The field staff loves Vela because it’s so easy to use. We go to the area, take care of the inspection, make notes right on the Tablet and, if we’re interrupted, as frequently happens, we can pull the information right back up."

If you are in the Commercial Construction industry and want to learn more about Vela Systems software, you can visit the Construction section of our website. You can download the entire Case Study here.

Here is a short video showing how another Vela customer is using the tablet while converting a jail to a hotel in Boston:

More from Josh Kanner at Vela Systems:

Great post, John. You may also want to link to the youtube movies about safety (new), here
http://www.velasystems.com/Testimonials.html

Also, folks can sign up to view the safety webinar. It was recorded and is available online.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/153978020

A better, faster M1400 pen...

OK, so it is not really faster. It is better, though.

We've had replacement M1400 pens for the Motion tablet on order for months and months - they never come in. So in the meantime, we've found out that the stylus pen for the Fujitsu T4220/4215 fits the pen bay from the M1400 perfectly. Also, since the Fujitsu stylus pen has a tab on it like the Motion pen, it won't get stuck in the bay like a standard Wacom pen.

The best part is that, unlike the original M1400 pen, the Fujitsu replacement has an eraser! If you find yourself in need of replacement pens for your M-series tablet (they come in 2-packs), you can order them here.

Keep in mind that ANY tablet PC pen for an active digitizer will work on any other tablet.

Tablet PCs and QuickBooks - Perfect Together

"I am not going to need to pay for 2 seats of Quickbooks any more. You just saved me 200 bucks. I'll be contacting you when I'm ready to get that tablet pc."

Talking to a prospective customer today made me think of all the people who are small business owners and use QuickBooks for their accounting software. That includes my company - we have a 5 user version of QB which we use internally.

So what does accounting software have to do with Tablet PCs?

Many small business people use QB for quotes and work orders in the field. While QB can run on a tablet PC the same way it does on any other computer, there are security issues with having it on a mobile computer as well as backup concerns. To run even a multi-user version on a tablet requires the transferring of a lot of data (the most recent QB file) and this can be very slow over a wireless or even a broadband connection. The solution is LogMeIn, a free software program that lets you log onto another computer remotely and control it as if you were sitting at the keyboard. The major advantage for QB users is that since the data file doesn't have to be sent over the internet and updated with every change, the person can make changes to QB very quickly. The gentleman who gave me the quote was using a 2 user version of QB and waiting for quite some time when using the program from the field. Now, he can access his accounting data, creates quotes and invoices, and know that his data is secured and backed up in the office rather than on a mobile device.

Speaking of rugged Motion tablets...

While searching for a different accessory, I found that the Motion Protective Case (same as the Fujitsu ST5112 Otterbox but with different rubber fittings so you can't use this one for the Fujitsu) was on sale for $49.99. Big news considering this case is normally $259.99.

The up side of this case? Nearly waterproof and dustproof plus very hard to break when in the case. Also comes with a nice, comfortable, heavy duty strap. I just wish this one came in bright yellow like the Otterbox - construction guys love yellow!

Anyway, I've been told by a little birdie that they are clearing out inventory so I'm not sure how long this will last. If you want one, click here.

Pimp your ride with an F5

RAM Mounts now offers a vehicle mounting solution for the Motion Computing F5 Tablet PC. It will work with the Motion C5 as well, but who wants to lookup electronic medical records in their car? Although maybe you could use this to mount it on a golf cart!

OK, hopefully when your on the links you don't have to do so much work. If you want to see the more information about how your business can use this to mount tablets in a work truck, van or car, visit Ram Mounts. They have mounts for a bunch of tablets. You can find more information at their website.

OneNote Tip: Favorites Powertoy

If you have certain pages that you reference frequently, you might like to have a Favorites list. This powertoy is designed to give you the Favorites capability you find in Internet Explorer so it is very easy to use.

Even better, the folks at GottaBeMobile have done a short video on how to use it.

For more information, visit the OneNote Testing site.

Motion ready to get their (clients) hands dirty

Today, Motion announced the latest edition to their lineup of tablet PCs, the F5. This semi-rugged tablet is designed to meet the needs of workers who are in the field doing true mobile computing. My company has been increasingly focused on designing solutions for folks in the construction, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and related businesses so Ii think that it is a good time for this kind of device. While a tablet PC and related software is still a significant investment, the F5 provides a much better value than a Panasonic Toughbook or Itronix DuoTouch. Those are great tablets, but are bulkier, heavier, more expensive and use older technology.

So can a business owner justify the cost of a semi-rugged tablet PC, forms software, maintenance and training? Let's see:

Cost of a F5: $3,400 (includes Sprint broadband, car charger and bump case)

Sprint service: $40/month

Active Ink software client: $129

Forms design/implementation/training: $4,000

If a business with 5 technicians were to buy 5 tablet bundles ($3,400 x 5 = $17,000) and pay for Sprint broadband ($40/month for 36 months x 5 techs = $7,200) and Active Ink software licenses (5 x $129 = $645) along with the forms, implementation of the solution and on-site training the total investment over three years would be $28,445. Under a lease, the monthly cost per techncian is only $180.

The question is whether a business can recoup an investment of $180/month. With a solution like this, an owner would get many advantages:

1. True paperless environment - Using an electronic forms system to complete paperwork saves time and increases accuracy. With the manager or dispatcher filling out the top of a work order and emailing it to the tech, the office could make sure the customer info is accurate and reduce the amount of form filling the tech needs to do.

2. Mapping - When the tech receives the email with the work order, it is automatically linked to Google maps to guide him to the client's address with no lost time.

3. Signature capture - By having the client sign the work order, the business has verification that the tech completed the work and that the customer has agreed to pay.

4. By completing the balance of the paperwork at the customer's site using a form with checkboxes, dropdowns and a space for the client to sign, techs will easily complete the work order and immediately email it back to the office for review.

5. With the completed form back at the office just minutes after the service is complete, the manager can review the work order for completeness and then automatically create an invoice in their accounting software. There is no manually entry and the invoice can be sent to the client the same day.

This appears to be quite a fair investment per month considering the savings in time, the increase in accuracy, and the ability to bill the customer immediately after the work is completed. Let me know what you think.

US News & World Report article about Tablet PC demand

Tablet Tales
Demand for tablet PCs is going up. What are the latest features?

Posted February 28, 2008

John Hill got so jazzed about using a tablet computer that he started a business to sell them five years ago. "Tablet PCs always get called a niche market," says Hill, 40, founder and president of Allegiance Technology in Horsham, Pennsylvania. "But we sell them to all kinds of people: teachers, construction managers, pilots, someone who inspects yachts, even a cowboy who uses a tablet to write down numbers while sitting on the back of his horse."

Allegiance specializes in both slate tablets, which require a pen for taking notes or choosing menu items, and their convertible cousins, which accept both pen and keyboard input. Hill believes tablets are best for entrepreneurs who spend a lot of time in the field or who take lots of notes during meetings that need to be shared. Convertibles offer the best of both worlds for those who divide their time between the field and a desk.
Allegiance customer Dom DiJulia, 39, who owns a New Hope, Pennsylvania-based golf instruction business, uses his tablet out on the links to take notes about students and create videos of their swings, which he captures with a Canon video recorder and saves directly to the tablet's hard drive. "I plan to add another one so my other instructors can do this," he says.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Solution for handwriting recognition if you use RDP

Only a small percentage of tablets users access their network over Citrix or RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol), but if you do then you cannot use the Microsoft TIP (Tablet Input Panel) for handwriting. Usually, you can bring the TIP up and tap on the keyboard, but handwriting doesn't get entered into the RDP window.





A solution has been around for some time, but a client reminded me about it today so I'm sharing it with you. ritePen from EverNote is an alternative to the Microsoft tablet input panel. In addition, ritePen gives you the ability to "write anywhere", a feature found in the first version of the MS TIP but subsequently removed. Using the Write Anywhere feature, you can ink directly into a document and have it converted to text without first entering it into a special area like the tablet input panel.

ritePen costs only $29.95 and more information is available at their website.

Do you really need a rugged tablet?

Because I work with a lot of people in the construction, inspection, field service and other "dirt under the fingernails" industries, many prospective customers are concerned that they need a rugged tablet like the Panasonic ToughBook to survive their environment.

I've found that spending the extra money is not worthwhile except in the most extreme environments. Most of our clients are using slate Tablet PCs from Motion Computing, Fujitsu or TabletKiosk that are not billed as rugged but still have features that make them durable. With shock mounted hard drives, screen protectors and bump cases that have shoulder straps and handles, use in the field isn't what causes breakage. My experience is that most times it takes a significant force to cause damage. Recent causes include leaving the tablet on top of a car and driving off, dropping a paint can off a ladder onto the screen and leaving it in the trunk where it got hit by a loose item (one of my own employees!).

Even if something happens to the screen, the tablet invariably continues to work just fine (except for the one where it was left on the car because after it fell off it was run over by another car). Screen repair on a Fujitsu or Motion is around $700 while the Sahra is only $300. I'm not sure why Sahara is less but it was good news for a recent client.

If you truly need a ruggedized device, the OtterBox case can be used with the Fujitsu and Motion tablets. It adds bulk and weight but can be used in dusty, wet environments where a standard bump case just won't do.

Automatic backup made easy

I have been looking for a truly simple, straightforward backup solution for several years. All of the ones I had seen required some intervention to make the backup work. I had to choose which files to backup, or load some software onto my computer, or trust my data to an online storage company. While my email, accounting and customer data are backed up daily via our company server, all the other files on my tablet like attachments and photos and PowerPoints required a manual process.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, I checked out an automatic backup system called GoClickFree and was so impressed I bought one to try out. Here is how it works:

1. Make sure your computer is on
2. Plug the device into a USB port
3. After the device installs itself, it backs up all your data files
4. Unplug it and put it in a safe place

I did the above when it arrived the other day and it automatically backed up the 16Gb of data files (it doesn't do program files but you could set it for that - those are better reloaded from the original CDs if your tablet is lost, stolen or crashed). The inital backup is the longest because after that, GoClickFree just backs up files that have changed. My initial backup took just over one hour and I was able to work easily (albeit a little slow) while the backup worked in the background.

A VERY COOL FEATURE IS that after the majority of the backup was complete, a message came up on the screen advising me that several open applications were about to be backed up and would be unavailable for a short time (just 1-2 minutes for me). This is great because if you have a just completed PowerPoint or new spreadsheet or never close your Outlook (like me), the device still backs those items up for you.

Not trusting the backup, I wanted to see exactly what was and wasn't there. First, I looked at the summary of files that the device backed up.

Next, I used Google Desktop to search for spreadsheets on my computer and on the GoClickFree device (which containes a 120Gb hard drive). Google Desktop found the same files, whether they were on my desktop, in My Documents or elsewhere on the hard drive. So did the GoClickFree device. Yeah!

Restoring files is nearly as easy. If you need to restore everything due to a hardware crash, that is a single click on Restore All. If you need to restore a single file, you must navigate to the folder and file you want to restore. You can then put it in the folder where you want it or restore it to another location.

For just $169, I think this is a great value because it is so simple. The device fits in a short pocket or small purse. THE BEST PART is that the software is all on the device - you load NOTHING on your tablet. And if your tablet (or laptop) gets lost/stolen/damaged, there is no software to load before you restore - just plug the device in and let 'er rip.

If you want one of these, we now have them on our website.

$232.79 free software with your Motion LE1700

One of the unsung advantages of buying a Motion LE1700 is the Motion Pack software. It used to cost $34.99 but now is included FREE with every tablet. Here is what it includes:

Microsoft OneNote 2007 $99.95
Microsoft Streets & Trips $39.99
ArtRage 2 $39.95
PDF Annotator $49.95
nFinity QuickVoice $24.95

That is $232.79 worth of software for free. Sweet!

One Step Estimating software for painters

This software is designed for painters to do estimates while walking around the house and utilizes a tablet PC to tap through choices. Of course, the prospective customer can easily sign off on the estimate and get the project started.

It looks like a pretty basic program and utilizes Excel and Word rather than software specifically designed for inkable electronic forms. You can view their online demo and get a feel for it yourself.

I am seeing an ever increasing number of ISVs (independent software vendors) who are writing software specifically designed to take advantage of the capabilities of a tablet PC.

Do you use custom software for your mobile work? Let me know about it and we'll feature it (and you) on this blog.

Motion brings back the LE1600 (sort of)

When Motion released the LE1600 Tablet PC with the BOE/Hydis indoor/outdoor screen, it was widely recognized as the best viewable slate tablet on the market (even though Fujitsu used the same screen, they just didn't get the same press). With the release of the LE1700, Motion went to an SXGA+ screen with a 1400x1050 resolution. Although they still offer a View Anywhere version, it just isn't as bright as the old LE1600 screen.

Well, Motion has brought the XGA View Anwhere screen to the LE1700. This is really the best of both worlds as you get a tablet that has Core 2 Duo processor and a great outdoor screen. I haven't had the opportunity to test it yet, but the XGA screen may suck down less battery as well which would be great. As a bonus, Motion has recently switched to 40 and 80Gb hard drives as options. After getting a bit distracted with some other products, I think Motion has a great product for the field, especially with the new/old VA screen.

Voice Recognition - Is it ready for you?

Typing on a keyboard is OK, writing with a Tablet PC is better, wouldn’t voice recognition be best? Well…

First some background. All Windows PCs come with voice recognition software built in – it is part of the Microsoft operating system. If you want to use it on a desktop or laptop computer, you will need an external microphone to get your voice into the computer. Most Tablet PCs have built-in array microphones that allow you to use the computer without having to plug in an external mic although you can do this. While the voice recognition that is built into the Windows operating system has the same level of recognition as Dragon Naturally Speaking, you will find that the Windows version does not have very robust tools for correcting errors, navigating around documents or for teaching and improving the ability of the software to recognize your voice. This is the biggest disadvantage of the Microsoft voice recognition and why I don’t recommend it unless you just want to dabble for free.

A better solution is to get Dragon Naturally Speaking. They are the 800-pound gorilla and just dominate the market. The training tools are very good in Dragon, but please recognize that you still have to spend several hours doing the initial training to have success. After that, the more you use the software, the better it recognizes your voice. I can’t stress enough that you can have excellent results if you use it at least several times a week. Think about it – it is like any other skill. The more you use it, the more proficient you will become. Another advantage of Dragon over Windows is the ability to navigate around documents. Especially for spreadsheets or forms, it is necessary to “tab around” documents in order to fill out all the fields. Dragon has good tools to do this while Windows requires you to tap on the field with your tablet pen or mouse before you can speak data into it. For voice recognition to be successful, you will need to have a peaceful environment. In a car, you can have the engine running and the radio turned on low and have good results but eliminating as much extraneous noise as possible is the best of all possible worlds. My bottom line opinion is that for the narrative sections of a report or for dictating letters, voice recognition can work well. It takes more practice to use it for filling out individual fields and pulling down menus.

To get array microphone support, you’ll need to purchase the Professional Edition. If you intend to use a wired or wireless microphone, that is supported by the other versions. Here is a link to the Dragon Feature Comparison Matrix. The Professional version lists at $899 while the Preferred ($199) is much less. Refer to the comparison matrix to make sure you are getting the features you need.

Guess what one of my resolutions is...

That's right, to blog more often. Anyway, here goes...

Let me know if your kids are using tablets, notebooks or other mobile technology in their school. I've been reading some very interesting articles about how this technology is being implemented, but it always seems to go hand-in-hand with someone like HP or Microsoft providing a grant for the technology, not the school deciding it is a good idea and implementing it.

While I can see how tablets are perfect for the classroom setting and we have lots of professors and students using them, it seems to be people who are sourcing the technology on their own, not those implementing it school-wide.

Seems like there needs to be more software like BlackBoard and DyKnow out there before this technology gets more widely implemented.

Why doesn't free office software catch on?

With IBM's release of Symphony as a free software package for documents, spreadsheets and presentations, I began to wonder why more people don't choose one of the free options.

There are several free and low cost options available, so why do people pay big bucks for Microsoft Office? Simply, it's simple. There are so many other things to worry about in the workplace, why create potential training issues by implementing something new?

The other reason is the concern that customers won't be able to read documents created in these free software programs. If your business can't communicate with your customers and vendors, getting the software for free isn't going to make you feel better.

And besides, nobody every got fired for buying IBM (or Microsoft). :-)

Peace of mind - CHEAP

You don't have a last will and testament, you're not exercising regularly, at least BACKUP YOUR TABLET REGULARLY!

In the past, there hasn't been a very easy way to do so and have quick access to your data. Today, I got a catalog from one of the PC product catalogs. Prominently featured were several USB flash drives. You can get up to 8Gb storage for $170 or less. You can get a 16Gb device for less than a $100 more. What could be easier? Once a week at lunchtime, set your My Documents folder to copy its contents to your keychain flash drive and 'ba da bing', you're done.

Of course, this doesn't contain all your program files, but WHO CARES?, the majority of what you need is backed up and probably more current than what you are doing now - which for most people is nothing. It is cheap, easy, and the peace of mind is - PRICELESS.

I LOVE TOUCH

Without talking about specific manufacturers, I'd like to encourage you to check out some of the combination active/touch screens available.

I've been using a tablet with that capability for about a week and a half. It has been a really enjoyable way to interact with the screen and I've found myself trying to scroll with my finger and tap on icons while using my everyday tablet.

While it's not for all applications, I've found that having to hold the pen is not nearly as convenient as simply dragging my finger on scrollbars, tapping to switch between screens and even more complicated tasks like updating our webstore. I've used a couple of the onscreen keyboards with reasonable success. These programs allow one to tap on the screen using a semi-transparent QWERTY keyboard and it is a workable alternative if you just need to tap out a few words or enter a URL.

I haven't used the touch feature with the Vista OS. I'm very interested in doing that because Vista has tools built in that makes tapping on the screen more accurate and, while the accuracy is very good now, if it were better that would encourage me to use it even more often.

With both Lenovo and Sahara offering a touch and pen screen that also has outdoor viewing capabilities, I think this could be a real boon to anyone who uses their tablet outside the office.

Is the iPhone a UMPC?

UMPCs are supposed to be small, lightweight "companion" devices that let their owners have many of the features of a PC with a smaller form factor and smaller price tag.

Having seen and used several UMPCs, they are neither small enough to fit into a pocket or robust enough to do the majority of features on a tablet PC. They can be used for getting contacts, surfing the internet, checking and sending email and listening to music or watching videos. The screens are too small for reading most documents and any regular work.

I don't own one (yet), but having played with the iPhone, it does all the above pretty well at a lower cost and smaller size. As a bonus, you can make phone calls!

While the premise for the origami or UMPC is interesting, I think the Microsoft and Intel folks missed the mark. Apple's iPhone is nearly everything I'd expect and ultra mobile PC to be and I think they've set the bar for the convergence of the phone, computer, and multimedia electronics.

OneNote containers - get the gray out!

The idea of "containers" in OneNote was a noble one, however they can be more annoying that useful. If you are not using the containers (those areas of gray that form a box around text that you are hovering your mouse over) to rearrange items on your page then you probably just find them annoying.

To make them go away, go to Tools and then Options. While in the Display tab, change the settings for the containers as you see fit.

Passwords and hating bots

Over the last several days I've had to enter passwords for several websites and online services. Because of the jerks that create bots that do automatic signups on these sites, I am forced to decipher a scrambled password. My success rate on these is very low because they throw in false letters and numbers that are partially cut off and it is hard to tell which is capitalize and which is not.

Of course, most of them have an audio portion that reads you the passcode if you can't read it. I've used that but then today, while signing up for an account where I'd already got the "secret code" wrong twice, I pressed the audio button. AAAAAAGGGHHHHH! The audio sounds like a ticket taker making an announcment at a busy airport because automated voice decoders have figured out a way to break the system. Of course I couldn't decipher that either and didn't end up signing in for the service.

Makes me want to go to Kazahkstan and pound some hackers!

How to: Wireless in your car or truck

I've been asked several times for a solution that allows one to have wireless access in a vehicle. On a beautiful sunny day in Philly the need for this capability is immediately apparent to me :-)

One of my customers, a private detective, uses a Linksys wireless broadband router ( p/n WRT54G3G-ST). You can power it with the included car adapter or use an inverter in your vehicle. Just take your Verizon or Sprint EVDO card and follow the directions. It's reported that it only takes 10 minutes to set up.

EVDO Forums is a great resource for more information about this and other products.

Now you can sit on the grass in the park (within 100' of your car/truck) and surf the 'net at broadband speeds.

My first computer - what was yours?

Although we owned many kinds of computers in my family, our first true personal computer was the CompuColor II. http://www.computercloset.org/CompuColorII.htm

My dad purchased it at a computer products show in 1981. At the time it was superior to both the IBM PC and the Apple computer. At only $5,000 it wasn't cheap (remember - this was 1981) but it sure was fun.

It came with 4K of RAM and a 8" floppy drive for storage. Eventually we upgraded it to the maximum of 48K and installed an external floppy drive for more storage. There were some great games, including one where you had to fire mortars at another gun that was placed on a hill. You needed to compensate for angle and windspeed to successfully destroy the other side.

What was your first computer?

Installing Vista on your LE1600 or LS800? Read this.

Paul from our tech support department sent me this note:

LE1600 and LS800 both have a BIOS update that requires you to install it prior to the Vista installation. If you could note it on the website and blogs with this link to Motion's website driver downloads that would help. Only the BIOS is required before the installation. All other drivers can be done after the installation of Vista.

LS800 Vista Drivers: http://www.motioncomputing.com/support/driver_download_800_vista.asp

LE1600 Vista Drivers: http://www.motioncomputing.com/support/driver_download_1600_vista.asp

What's in the new Motion Pack...

With the release of the LE1700 series tablets, Motion Computing has updated the Motion Pak. It now includes: Microsoft OneNote 2007, Ambient Design ArtRage2, Grahl PDF Annotator, nFinity QuickVoice, Microsoft Streets & Trips Essentials 2006, and Microsoft Office Ready 2007.

ArtRage is a great painting package. You can get more information here.

Grahl PDF Annotator lets you markup PDF documents using your pen.

nFinity QuickVoice lets you send voice emails, record notes and more.

Streets & Trips is a mapping and directions program. Office Ready is a 60 day trial of the Microsoft Office Suite. OneNote 2007 is the latest version of their great notetaking software.

Get backup disks for Office 2007

If you want to have backup disks for Office 2007 software that came preloaded on your tablet PC you'll need to visit this website to order it. The cost is $9 and you'll need the Product Key from the Office license that came with your machine.

It's a good idea to order it as soon as you get your tablet because if you have to reload your system due to a problem you don't want to wait.

Tablet PC Demo Day/Open House/Forms Seminar

Our next Tablet PC Demo Day is on March 27th and will combined with an Open House at our office in Horsham, PA. Come visit us and get the opportunity to touch, feel and play with all the latest and greatest tablet PCs from Motion, TabletKiosk, Lenovo and Fujitsu.

The event will be from 9am - 4pm and no registration is necessary although we are encouraging people to let us know they are coming by filling out our contact form. This will be a really fun day with plenty of opportunities to get hands on time with tablets running Vista, Office 2007 and OneNote 2007. Come by and say hello!

On March 29th we are hosting an electronic forms webinar and breakfast at Otto's Restaurant in Horsham for people who are considering implementing inkable electronic forms in their company. This is a breakfast meeting from 7am - 8am and is limited to 20 people. The seminar is free, but is limited to one person per organization and registration is required. Contact Rich Kinzler at 215-441-5580 x103 or fill out our contact form and we'll call you.

Yes, Virginia, we have X60 with SXGA+ screens

While I was away on vacation there was an uproar on the GottaBeMobile forum about Lenovo saying they were not shipping any more SXGA+ or MultiTouch/MultiView screens because of problems obtaining the 1.83Ghz, Core Duo processors. I was able to find some at distributors and bought them so we now have eleven of Lenovo's Top Seller model 6366AJU. This unit has an SXGA+ screen, 2Gb RAM, 120Gb 5400rpm hard drive, Bluetooth and comes with an Ultrabase and DVD/CDRW combo. It is a pretty sweet deal at $2,499. When these run out, there aren't any to be had until Lenovo makes some more.

After getting many customer requests for the X60 with a 7200rpm hard drive (all but one have to be custom built by Lenovo), we are rolling out a program to do this upgrade for you. Here is how it works:

ALLTP will upgrade your hard drive to the Hitachi 100Gb, 7200rpm hard drive, load the operating system and put your 120Gb hard drive in a hard drive bay adapter that slips right inside your Ultrabase. Now you have the fastest hard drive and a backup. If you ever need to get warranty repair for your unit (and we hope you don’t) you still have the original hard drive and don’t have to send back the one with all your data.

It's listed as a $279 option under the 6366AJU. We will likely roll this out to other units but this is the first.

Click here to purchase a 6366AJU

Download our Vista Upgrade whitepaper

With so many questions about Vista and what it means to Tablet PC users, I decided to gather the best information, have it reviewed by our tech staff and some tablet gurus (many thanks to Rob Bushway of www.gottabemobile.com and Frank Garcia of http://ultramobilepc-tips.blogspot.com/index.html, among others).

The result is a relatively brief and readable document that explains the highlights of Vista as they pertain to tablet users as well as some of the requirements and potential pitfalls of upgrading. The content is not meant to be the alpha and omega of Vista, rather a jump start for those considering an upgrade.

Here is the link to download the whitepaper: http://alltp.com/new-tablet-pc-software/

Comments and suggestions on improving it are very much appreciated.

Updates and new stuff on ALLTP.com

If you've missed any of our past newsletters you can find them on our website here.

We have started a brand new video series called "True Tablet Heroes". Each month or so we'll feature one of our customers and how they are using the Tablet PC to improved their business. This month's hero is Rich "Moose" Scaffidi, Deputy Fire Marshal for Abington Township in Montgomery County, PA.

Click here to watch the video.

Rich has been using a Motion Computing M1400 tablet for about 3 years now. Utilizing a Verizon EVDO card he can dial into a national database and enter high risk building information. If a fire or other incident occurs later at that occupancy, Rich can dial in and retrieve that information right away. This lets him know about any hazardous materials stored on the premises, how many employees or residents occupy the building during the day and at night, and how to contact the facility manager.

If you are within a 2 hour drive of Philadelphia and would like to be featured as a True Tablet Hero, let us know.

Who uses tablet PCs?

One of my pet peeves is the comment that tablets are a "niche" product. Luckily we have a wide array of fantastic customers who give me the opportunity to see how many different niches are out there. Here are some recent examples:

Dr. Don Nuzzio will be taking his tablet 2.5 miles down into the ocean to study how sea life is rejuvenating after many large underwater volcalnic eruptions. He had to get his tablet "sniffed" first to make sure it wouldn't emit any gases - a dangerous situation in a six foot wide submersible at the depth.

The folks at CORE (Center for Organ Recovery & Education) who will use their unit to monitor available organs for transplant.

A Canadian cattle broker who is using his tablet along with a form we designed (using Active Ink software) to track 6,000 cattle being shipped from Philadelphia to Saudi Arabia. He writes down the ear tag number, date of birth and date of pregnancy for each one so they can easily keep track of all the animals.

A French writer who evaluates and reports on thoroughbred racing horses.

A home builder and remodeler from Michigan who never owned a tablet PC bought two because he realized that his field supervisor would be able to better share information with him if he had one too.

Lower Providence township will implement one tablet this year and three more in January for the Fire Marshal and code enforcement officers. Accessories like a digital camera that attaches to the unit let them immediately take pictures of violations.

*** Leave us a comment that tells us how YOU use your tablet PC

Tablet PC + True Love = Smooches

I received this follow up email from a customer who purchased a Fujitsu P1610 for his wife:

I'm weak. It arrived today, and I couldn't wait. She has it now and
she loves it. How can you tell your gadget loving mate that her
cutting edge piece of equipment got here a month and a half ago? When
she can use it now? I couldn't. Dec 25th be damned, she is rocking
with it right now, voice training and everything.

Thanks for your help. We'll definitely be keeping tabs on your tablet
site. Thanks for the note back about the site, and thanks for getting
the tablet here in a very timely way!

-Dave

ps- I did manage a surprise by putting it in an old handbag/purse. It
is so small that I got it in there and she wondered why I was 'hassling' her
to clean out her old purse! Purse sized computing? The look on her face
was priceless (although it quickly devolved to smooches)! Thanks again!

Awwwwwwww!

May your own holidays be filled with suprises and smooches ;-)

Tablet PC smells like The Onion

While perusing the latest edition of The Onion, I couldn't help but notice this picture. We've been selling a lot of tablet PCs to commodities traders at the NYMEX as the exchange has implemented electronic trading. One of the interesting reasons for choosing a tablet with an active digitizer rather than a passive or touch screen is this: several traders related stories of resting their hands on the touch screen tablets and accidentally executing trades - not a good thing. Most of the tablets we've sold to traders are Motion LE1600s with Extended Batteries and bump cases. All traders will be required to use electronic trading and the days of orders written on paper are nearly gone.

I wonder if this is one of our customers? :-)