3 Month Anniversary
Three months ago I received my Tablet PC. One of the most frequently asked questions at work is, "So, do you still like your Tablet PC?" (I do, of course). In response, here are some of my thoughts on the Tablet PC after having one for three months:
- They need to get lighter and thinner. From what I've heard of the NEC machine coming out in March, it looks like this is happening. I really want it to weigh 1 lb. and be 1/4 inch thick. (Hey, I can dream, can't I?...)
- Battery life hasn't been an issue. My normal mode of working with my tablet is to plug it into the AC adapter, set it up on its rack, and use the wireless keyboard when I'm in my office and use it unplugged as a tablet when I'm out and about. So far, I've had no problems with the battery dying on me (I usually don't go beyond 3 one hour back to back meetings in the course of the day, though).
- I'm really hungry for more pen-enabled apps (How about a pen-enabled blogging tool that posts digital ink??). The two apps I live in the most are Journal and the Franklin Covey Day Planner. Having to bring up the pen input applet to work with apps that don't support pen input is cumbersome.
- I appreciate shortcut technology a whole lot more when using the tablet than I did before. With typing not available, setting up things like shortcuts on the desktop, favorites in IE, etc. become a lot more important.
- Some cool, not-necessarily-Tablet-PC-specific-features that I like:
- Multi-monitor video driver. You can set things up such that an external monitor the tablet is connected to is in a dual monitor configuration with the tablet's own screen. This is very cool if you're giving a presentation. You can have talking notes on the screen no one but you sees and the presentation itself on the external monitor. You can also bring up Journal to take notes while your speaking without disturbing what the audience is seeing on the external monitor.
- Being able to print into an application. Both Journal and the Franklin Covey Day Planner app come with a printer driver that allow you to print from any application that supports printing into their native document.
- Built-in wireless. Once I got my tablet I got a wireless DSL router and now, wherever I am in my house (yes, even in the bathroom... :-)), I can be on the internet with my tablet.
Most of the shortcomings mentioned above will eventually be remedied and even in its current state I like my tablet a lot more than I've liked any of the laptops I've had. After three months, my enthusiasm for the Tablet PC is undiminished.
9:40:08 PM 
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