Posted on 09/03/2007 8:54:03 AM PDT by SoftballMominVA
I want to purchase a notebook tablet for my daughter for high school graduation. Does anyone know which OS is better for handwriting recognition in a tablet format? When I ask someone selling a laptop with XP, they say XP is best. When I ask someone selling Vista, they say Vista is better.
She definitely wants a tablet format, not a regular laptop. She will be doing a goodish amount of science classes and the notes for those classes don't translate well in a typing format. Plus, she feels that if her head is down typing, she will miss out and not be as interactive.
Also, any suggestions as to brands or system configurations is also appreciated. Price is not a huge deal, as long as it's not in the ridiculous zone.
My apologies if I posted it incorrectly.
If I was in your shoes, I’d try and get a tablet running Win XP.
When it comes to handwriting recognition...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
You get the idea.
There’s a reason why tablet PCs haven’t taken off: people find that they don’t really like fake writing on a slippery smooth tablet all that much, and they are much better & faster touch-typing.
They have their applications, like where the form factor is important, or where people need to have direct manipulation of on-screen objects without a mouse or trackpad getting in the way. But those situations tend to be few.
Try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy...
...try before you buy!
That’s what I thought, but some techie my husband knows swears that the handwriting recognition is better in a Vista and crap in an XP. Just trying to figure out where to put my money
The best way to pick a laptop or tablet is to touch them in a store. Most major brands have good quality so how well you like the touch of the keyboard or how the touch screens feels when is it or key issues. Big box stores have the best prices but their are smaller stores that will give a real chance to try it out in most cities. OS dosen’t make much difference here for handwriting. Vista can do things XP can’t but they tend to more along the lines of fun stuff.
Has built in everything including both pen and touch screen (most tablets aren’t touch screen but pen activated), bluetooth etc....
There are some great features for note taking and recording lectures and or meetings. Lot’s of free software also at the Microsoft website.
Most of the time I use the keyboard such as now. The tablet really excels out of the office,
If you get one you will definitely have to get a separate wireless keyboard/mouse and desktop monitor since the size of the screens are comparatively small for at desk use.
BTW, went with XP on the recommendation of our IT department and (off record) the Gateway tech’s....
I made sure that I had 2G’s memory so at a later date I could easily (haha) transition to Vista.
Hope this helps!
I purchased a Gateway E-295 c / C-140 X convertible notebook.
Right now, this model is the one with the most powerful processor, the only one currently with dedicated graphics, more battery options, than all other brands. It also gives the most number of customisable options. Plus, the touchscreen is Wacom. That’s the best right now, in the market.
I must also mention, this is by far, the most cost-effective convertible there is. Try searching equivalents in all other brands, you won't find one at all.
There is an extensive review/discussion of it here:
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=8399&page=1
C-120 is great if weight is a primary concern. As for the touchscreen with the pen, that’s over-rated, somewhat.
The pen-only C-140 has a rigid glass screen that’s a lot more durable than the C-120’s touch-screen, because finger-sensitive touch-screens require it to have the surface flexible, for it to be able to sense pressure from a finger. Thus these screens are plastic, and will pick up a lot of scratches with even short-term use.
For the price, the C-120 also has a ULV processor, and that’s barely enough for Vista.
He now recommends any small system with Bluetooth and a folding keyboard. Found that he could type better and faster than he could use the pen script.
I have sold and used several pen systems. Still not there without retraining your brain.
For now, I would look at Win XP and lots of memory. Get the fastest processor you can afford. An external keyboard, Bluetooth or USB, is helpful.
And don’t forget to load up Folding@home.
You may wish to consider a regular laptop, then adding one of those copmuterized clipboards that store your normal written notes in electronic format.
- Search the Internet for info about handwriting recognition software. There are many manufacturers.
- If possible, visit a retail store and try out the tablet there. This is a very personal issue. Not one that can easily be handled via mail order.
Just a suggestion...
One thing I didn't know, that I learned from this discussion is that the feel of writing on a screen may be so different that she will not like it either.
My biggest problem is that I hate salesmen! They will tell you whatever they think you want to know in order to make the sale and get you out the door! I find I do better to have an idea of what I want and then walk in and point to it and say "Sell it to me!"
I will mention your idea though of having her buff up on her TOUCH typing skills so that in say English or history class she can take notes without needing to look down a lot.
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