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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.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Meet:Mobility Round-Table Podcast - The Apple Tablet | Meet:Mobility

check out this round-table of 'experts' as the talk about the rumored Mac Tablet. they discuss what they think it'll look like (10" screen), what it'll do (touchscreen, no keyboard) and how much it'll cost.

the podcast lasts for about 50 minutes, but the group they put together is very knowledgeable and quite amusing


Meet:Mobility Round-Table Podcast - The Apple Tablet | Meet:Mobility

Laplink Software - Online Store

i recommend this software. it's incredibly useful if you get yourself a new computer and don't want to have to buy all new software for it. it does take a bit of time, if you have alot to transfer, but it beats all hell out of trying to find all the CD's and the key numbers and passwords for your old stuff.

and one of the nicest things is that it transfers over everything just exactly the way you like it. all the settings will be exactly duplicated so you can be up and running with Word or Excel without having to relearn how to set the program to your preferences.

check it out, see what ya think

Laplink Software - Online Store


- Script Witch

Thursday, July 9, 2009

GreenPrint Software - Millions of Trees Can't be Wrong.

GreenPrint Software - Millions of Trees Can't be Wrong.

here's a nifty little freebie PDF creator, PC Only, that also let's you preview all your pages before you print to paper (or PDF). you can remove pages, or text or images per page. or remove all text or images from all the pages. the one downside is you can't, for instance, select one image or maybe three lines of text on a page and remove just that image or just those lines, it's an all or nothing kinda thing. but i still like it.

and it keeps a running tally of all the money and paper you've safed by not printing things you don't want in your paper document or PDF.

take a look and see what you think.


- Script Witch

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

P8tch: welcome

P8tch: welcome


this is really fascinating to me. it's a patch you can Velcro to your clothes, gear, computer, whatever, that has a URL embedded in it. what does that mean to the average person? well you can basically carry around a link to your resume or imdb.com page, your blog, or your favorite YouTube video, or to the Discovery Channel/Dirty Jobs page. it's totally up to you, and it can be changed as your needs change. the person seeing the patch just has to have a bit of scanning software in their iPhone, or smartphone to grab the URL off your patch, but that's easily downloadable and fairly cheap.

the other interesting thing is that you can copy this symbol onto vinyl stickers, or whatever and as long as the scanning is possible, you have the same deal. so you can label your expensive gear with your info in a small little sticker. the patch or P8tch cost about $20.00 but it seems like a pretty cool thing. well to me at least :)


- Script Witch