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The First 5 Things You'll Want to Know About Tablet Computers

The First 5 Things You'll Want to Know About Tablet Computers

If you're new here, or to Tablet PC's, there's a few things you should know. A few bits of information we should get out of the way first...

1. The Tablet I use is a PC, Not a Mac
Everything but the iPad is Windows based. Mac's tablet the iPad is more like a giant iPod Touch, it wasn't designed to have a stylus/pen input, but there are several apps for that now, but you can either type (using the virtual keyboard) or use your finger to write. Also, the only way you can get anything on the computer is through email, there are no input ports, but i understand on the iPad 3 that might have changed. But don't dispare, this is only the third version of the Mac tablet, and only the first since Steve Jobs passed, so there's bound to be a bit of a shake down cruise since he's gone, and they'll probably come out with one that has a few more input choices. In the mean time, there is an after market/third party 'upgrade' you can get that will turn a MacBookPro into a tablet computer, but I'm not sure of the cost. (If you're interested in that, leave a message here, or better yet email me at tmoodyca@roadrunner.com and I'll hook you up with people in the know about such things), i will tell you that from what i have seen it partitions the harddrive so that you can run both Mac & Windows. So you'd still be running Windows programs just on a Mac machine.

2. What Kind of Tablet is Right for Me?
There's two different types of Tablet PC's. A slate tablet, and a convertible. The slate does NOT come with a keyboard but is usually lighter in weight, but a bit more expensive. The convertible allows the screen to swivel all the way around and lay flat on top of the keyboard. These are a bit heavier (although not by an enormous amount), but they cost less. Poke about in this blog to find some of the manufactures of both types of computer, or contact me via email at the above address.

3. Using Tablet PC's On-Set
Every Tablet PC comes with the program - Windows Journal, Journal Note Writer, or something like that, in it. The name varies, but it's exactly the same program & Script Supervisor's can use this program to take their notes AND line their pages. It does NOT turn your handwriting into text. You can enter text in this program, it just takes a few more menu scrolls and pen clicks, but it can be done. You'll have to decide if it's worth the effort. Other programs I know Script Supers to use are Excel, Filemaker Pro, Access, Adobe Acrobat, & Bluebeam Revu (more about those last two in section 4.)

4. PDF Readers & Printers
You may not know what it is, but you're going to need it. It's a program (or programs) that will allow you to read and print your pages and forms into PDF. PDF is a universal format that every computer, both PC and Mac, can view. There's a couple of different ways to achieve this, some more expensive than others, but all viable ways to go. The Acrobat Reader is free and easy to download, but that's just about all it does. And there are several programs out there that are just PDF printer drivers and those are either free or at a nominal cost. Or you can go with a couple of different PDF Editors. These allow you to read, print and manipulate PDF files. The two most well known are Adobe Acrobat, and Bluebeam Revu. I believe both have a 30 day free trial that can be downloaded from their websites. (There are other PDF Editors out there, just Google for a list.) These can be used to take your notes and to line your pages as well. However there is a little bit more of a learning curve involved with all of them.

5. eBay - A cheaper way to shop
Ok, you've decided to jump in and do the deed, but you're a little tight on cash. Or you're still a bit skittish about the whole thing because you're a Mac and it's a PC. Here's my recommendation: go eBay. First you're gonna want to do a bit of research. Find the make and model of computer you like (HP, Lenovo, Motion Computing, Dell, Tablet Kiosk, etc.), then I suggest going to Fry's or Best Buy, or Sears, and basically fondling the merchandise. Find something that you like the feel of, the weight of. You like the way the pen writes on the screen. See what software it comes with (Microsoft Word, or Excel, etc.), what hardware (external hard drive, or keyboard, etc.). Find the one that's right for you. Do NOT skip this step, I know the research is often the boring part, but in this case it's important. You are going to have to spend at least 12 1/2 hours a day with this machine, and a fairly large chunk of money, so it should be something you like. After you've researched it and found the machine of your dreams, then head to eBay. First just see what they have to offer in tablets, you might find something you didn't know about. Then get down to business, and look for that one computer that will make your life complete. Now you might have to settle for last years model (so make sure you get the name and numbers correct), but if it comes at a significant discount (on the order of one half the price or so) you'll have a decision to make.

So there you are, the first five things you need to know. Go forth and compute.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Another Digital Note-Taking Device

Again, not sure if this is a viable device for our use, but interesting...


- Script Witch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Digital Note-Taking Pad with Digital pen

Products

DLA401
Digital Notepad DLA401
$169.00
Click here for more details
Add To Cart 		DNA500
Digital Notepad DNA500
$149.00
Click here for more details
Add To Cart
[ 1 ]
The best tool for digital note-taking and handwriting recognition

The package includes

  • One Digital note-taking Pad.
  • One Portfolio carrying case
  • Two wireless digital ink pens (Black and Red color ink pens included, Blue color ink optional).
  • One paper pad
  • Batteries (Two 1.4 V button cell batteries for digital pens, four 1.5 V AAA batteries for tablet)
  • One USB cable
  • Three ink refills (Two black color ink and one red color ink )
  • User's Manuals

Also, you get one CD of software packages

  • Free bundled "Digital Organizer" software for processing digital notes in Windows*.
  • MyScript** Notes for U handwriting recognition (30 days trial version).

Note: Optional blue color wireless digital pen may be ordered here

*Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. MyScript is a tademarked product.

Whether you want to succeed in school or you want to be on top of your professional career, effective “taking notes” is a valuable skill for retaining, remembering, reciting and recalling information; it is also a necessary skill to move your projects, your career and your education forward.

“Studies show that people may forget 50% of a lecture within 24 hours, 80% in two weeks, and 95% within one month if they do not take notes.”

· What do you use when taking notes in meetings and lectures?

· How do you keep your jottings organized and useful after the fact?

· How do you organize large numbers of notes and documents in your research work?

“For a business to survive an economic recession, it's all about efficiency.”

You'll want to document what you do. Take notes and keep track of what you learn. Having a record of your findings and the results of your actions will help you fine tune the activities that will help get you through the hard times of an economic recession.

Additionally, once you have completed the process you'll be able to learn much more from what you've done and what worked and what did not work if you have kept good records of your actions and findings.

Finally, you may also come away with some great ideas and techniques that can make good times even better.

“This might be the best of times to look at changing your life.”

Each day you are confronted with enormous amounts of information. Organizing, memorizing, and utilizing this vast amount of information is often overwhelming. Writing everything down on scattered pieces of paper here and there is both ineffective and ultimately fruitless.

“Efficiency”

It is light and thin that you can easily carry anywhere at any time.

You can write notes, draw a graph or diagram on common-used paper with a digital ink pen used like normal pen.

It is not a PC, but a “digital note taking” pad that you can easily transfer all your written notes to your PC for editing in MS Word*, saving as PDF format or sharing by email. You’ll have original copies (pad papers) of your written notes but also have them be digitized and kept in your PC.

Filing and retrieving digital note and drawings created with DLA401 or DNA500 digital notepad in the appropriate client folder in PC is much more efficient than only working with papers.

Handwriting Recognition

Convert your handwritten notes and documents into editable digital format

The handwriting recognition software efficiently and accurately converts a wide variety of handwriting styles into typed text.

Train your computer to recognize some of your handwritings that are difficult to recognize.

Intelligent handwriting recognition software will allow computer to recognize your handwriting or particular letters that are difficult to recognize so you train the handwriting engine to more accurately recognize your writing style, whatever it may look like.

Features

When you write notes or draw diagrams on common-used paper on this note-taking writing pad, it instantly stores them as digital pages in its built-in 32 MB flash memory.

Via an USB cable, you may transfer them to your PC. The included "Digital Organizer" software allows you to organize digital notes on PC, and view, edit and annotate them.

You can copy and paste them into Word*, send them by email or save them in PDF, BMP or JPG file.

Furthermore, with handwriting recognition software, you will be able to convert them to text file.

  • Stand alone digital note-taking pad and pen.
  • Light-weight, thin and easy-to-carry, take it with you by anywhere and anytime.
  • Edit downloaded notes in PC, mark up documents and share copy by email.
  • Capture your ink notes on commonly available paper pad, no special paper required; The digital ink pens are used like normal pens.
  • Convert handwriting to digital text.
  • Multiple color recognition, up to three color digital pens (black, red and blue ink). the color ink you use, the same color will be shown on your PC display
  • Long battery life; four AAA batteries last for about 100 hours' continuous use.

Portrait and landscape paper orientation both supported.

DLA401 is used with letter or A4 size paper DNA500 is used with A5 size paper

Add To Cart Add To Cart
letter Size: 8.5" x 11" (215.9mm x 279.4mm) A5 Size: 5.8" x 8.3" (148mm x 210mm)
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