XP Tablet PC Edition Reviewer's Comments

This operating system comes preinstalled only and is for tablet PCs. This program provides users with the ability to use a pen or voice for mouse functions and data input. The new Vista business versions are coming with some interesting technologies. Instead of releasing a tablet specific version the business versions will include tablet abilities along with new laptop functions.

This OS can recognize handwriting and convert it to a specific font or you can work with it in handwritten form. You can also “write over” other applications such as PowerPoint or Word, with this ability you can quickly add notes or comments to a document and share with those who may or may not have a tablet PC.

The Windows XP Tablet Edition includes many of the same features as other XP programs including security and wireless functions. It comes preinstalled only, but the updates are free.

XP Tablet PC Edition Screenshots. Click for more
       


Home Use:  

This OS may work for home use but it is not intended for home use. It is designed for portability.

Office Use:  

XP Tablet Edition was designed with mobile business needs in mind. The focus is of course on mobility. Since a keyboard is not needed, users can enter data easily with a stylus or pen so only one hand is required to interact with the tablet. Additionally, it can recognize speech and input it as text and accept voice commands.

Otherwise, the OS includes most standard XP Pro features such as the ability to work with Microsoft Office Word 2003, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003, Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 and Microsoft Office OneNote 2003. It also has networking and administration tools.

If you need a non–English interface, you can choose from 20 different languages and download the interface free. It is also Unicode compatible and can display a huge variety of character types.

Multimedia/Entertainment Use:  

This OS is not intended for entertainment. It can run many entertainment type programs but it is designed primarily for mobile business use. If the tablet PC has a good graphics card and the correct software it could play video, but if this is your main interest, then you may want to consider a mobile media pc.

Security:  

This OS has many of the same security features as XP Professional. It has administration and networking tools as well as wireless security features.

Networking:  

This OS is similar to XP Pro and is intended for business use. It offers some networking abilities such as simple networking, remote access, roaming user profiles and it can support multiple users. It can also accept group policy settings as well as per user profiles.

Practical Use:  

This OS is perfect for what it is intended, which is tablet PC use. Since it comes preinstalled, the price of the program is included with the purchase of the PC and the updates are free. It also offers most of the same functions as XP Pro, making it extremely functional, secure and compatible.

Laptop Use:  

This program is for tablet PCs, not laptops. Many tablet PCs do not even have a keyboard and lots of them have rotating screens. However, this OS offers many of the same functions to tablet PCs as the other OSs do for laptops, such as power saving features. It also has the ability to re–orientate the display image when the screen is turned.

Ease of Use:  

This program is as easy to use as XP Pro, but does have some additional features that take a bit of time to set up, such as the handwriting and speech recognition tools. Furthermore, the user has to learn how to use the stylus for mouse functions.

Technical Help/Support:  

This OS comes with general support, but since it is so specialized, they do not offer as many tutorials, seminars or webcast/podcast topics as they do for some of their more popular operating systems.

Summary:  

This version is being phased out and instead of being replaced with a new version Microsoft is adding tablet functions to its business versions.