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A Tablet PC is a laptop
Laptop

A laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile computing small enough to sit on one's lap. A laptop includes most of the Computer hardware of a typical desktop computer, including a Computer display, a computer keyboard, a pointing device as well as a battery, into a single small and light unit....
 or slate-shaped mobile computer
Mobile computing

Mobile computing is a generic term describing one's ability to use technology while moving, as opposed to portable computers, which are only practical for use while deployed in a stationary configuration....
, equipped with a touchscreen
Touchscreen

A touchscreen is a display which can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touch or contact to the display of the device by a finger or hand....
 or graphics tablet/screen hybrid to operate the computer
Computer

A computer is a machine that manipulates Data according to a list of Code .The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century , although the computer concept and various machines similar to computers existed earlier....
 with a stylus
Stylus

A stylus is a writing utensil. The word is also used for a computer accessory . It usually refers to a narrow elongated staff, similar to a modern ballpoint pen....
 or digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a keyboard or mouse
Mouse (computing)

In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting dimension motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons....
.

This form factor
Form factor

Form factor may refer to:* Form factor or emissivity, the proportion of energy transmitted by that object which can be transferred to another object...
 offers a more mobile way to interact with a computer.






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Encyclopedia


Tablet
A Tablet PC is a laptop
Laptop

A laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile computing small enough to sit on one's lap. A laptop includes most of the Computer hardware of a typical desktop computer, including a Computer display, a computer keyboard, a pointing device as well as a battery, into a single small and light unit....
 or slate-shaped mobile computer
Mobile computing

Mobile computing is a generic term describing one's ability to use technology while moving, as opposed to portable computers, which are only practical for use while deployed in a stationary configuration....
, equipped with a touchscreen
Touchscreen

A touchscreen is a display which can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touch or contact to the display of the device by a finger or hand....
 or graphics tablet/screen hybrid to operate the computer
Computer

A computer is a machine that manipulates Data according to a list of Code .The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century , although the computer concept and various machines similar to computers existed earlier....
 with a stylus
Stylus

A stylus is a writing utensil. The word is also used for a computer accessory . It usually refers to a narrow elongated staff, similar to a modern ballpoint pen....
 or digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a keyboard or mouse
Mouse (computing)

In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting dimension motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons....
.

This form factor
Form factor

Form factor may refer to:* Form factor or emissivity, the proportion of energy transmitted by that object which can be transferred to another object...
 offers a more mobile way to interact with a computer. Tablet PCs are often used where normal notebooks are impractical or unwieldy, or do not provide the needed functionality.

Forms


Slates

Slate computers, which resemble writing slates
Slate (writing)

A writing slate is a piece of flat material used as a Recording medium for writing.In the 1800s, writing slates were made of slate, which is more durable than paper and was cheap at the time when paper was expensive....
, are tablet PCs without a dedicated keyboard. Keyboards can usually be attached via a wireless
Wireless

Wireless communication is the transfer of information over a distance without the use of electrical conductors or "wires". The distances involved may be short or long ....
 or USB connection.

These tablet PCs typically incorporate small (8.4-14.1 inches/21–36 cm) LCD screens and have been popular for quite some time in vertical market
Vertical market

A vertical market is a group of similar businesses and customers which engage in trade based on specific and specialized needs. Often, participants in a vertical market are very limited to a subset of a larger industry ....
s such as health care, education, and field work.

Slate models are often designed with a focus on mobility and/or ruggedness, eliminating moving parts that could hinder these qualities.

Convertibles

Convertible notebooks have a base body with an attached keyboard. They more closely resemble modern laptops, and are usually heavier and larger than slates.

Typically, the base of a convertible attaches to the display at a single joint called a swivel hinge or rotating hinge. The joint allows the screen to rotate around 180° and fold down on top of the keyboard to provide a flat writing surface. This design, although the most common, creates a physical point of weakness on the notebook.

Some manufacturers, however, have attempted to overcome these weak points. The Panasonic Toughbook 19, for example, is advertised as a more durable convertible notebook. One model by Acer
Acer (company)

Acer Incorporated is a Taiwanese multinational electronics manufacturer. It owns the largest franchised computer retail chain in Taipei, Taiwan....
 has a sliding design in which the screen slides up from the slate-like position and locks into place to provide the laptop mode.

Convertibles are by far the most popular form factor of tablet PCs, because for people who are unsure about the practicality of using the pen as the primary method of input, the convertibles still offer the keyboard and pointing device of older notebooks.

Na nemár

Hybrids

Hybrids, coined by users of the HP/Compaq TC1000 and TC1100
TC1100

The HP Compaq TC1100 is a tablet PC that was the follow up to the Compaq TC1000. The TC1100 had either an Intel Celeron or an Intel Pentium M chip set and could be upgraded to a maximum amount of 2 gigabytes of memory....
 series, share the features of the slate and convertible by using a detachable keyboard which operates in a similar fashion to a convertible when attached.

This is not to be confused with slate models that have a detachable keyboard—detachable keyboards for pure slate models do not rotate around to allow the tablet to rest on it like a convertible.

Despite a loyal following of users, the hybrid form factor has not received any recent updates after the TC1100 was discontinued.

History

  • Before 1950
    • 1888: U.S. Patent granted to Elisha Gray
      Elisha Gray

      Elisha Gray was an United States electrical engineer and is best known for his Invention of the telephone in 1876 in Highland Park, Illinois, U.S.A....
       on electrical stylus device for capturing handwriting
    • 1915: U.S. Patent on handwriting recognition user interface with a stylus
    • 1942: U.S. Patent on touchscreen for handwriting input
    • 1945: Vannevar Bush
      Vannevar Bush

      Vannevar Bush was an United States engineer and science administrator known for his work on analog computer, his political role in the development of the atomic bomb, and the idea of the memex, which was seen decades later as a pioneering concept for the World Wide Web....
       proposes the Memex
      Memex

      The memex is the name given by Vannevar Bush to the theoretical proto-hypertext computer system he proposed in his 1945 The Atlantic Monthly article As We May Think....
      , a data archiving device including handwriting input, in an essay As We May Think
  • 1950s
    • Tom Dimond demonstrates the Styalator electronic tablet with pen for computer input and handwriting recognition
  • Early 1960s
    • RAND Tablet invented


  • Late 1960s
    • Alan Kay
      Alan Kay

      Alan Curtis Kay is an United States computer scientist, known for his early pioneering work on object-oriented programming and Window graphical user interface design....
       of Xerox PARC proposed a notebook using pen input called Dynabook
      Dynabook

      The Dynabook concept was created by Alan Kay in 1968, two years before the founding of Xerox PARC. Kay wanted to make ?A Personal Computer For Children Of All Ages.? The ideas led to the development of the Xerox Alto prototype, which was originally called ?the interim Dynabook?....
      : however device is never constructed.
  • 1982
    • Pencept of Waltham, Massachusetts markets a general-purpose computer terminal using a tablet and handwriting recognition instead of a keyboard and mouse
    • Cadre System markets the Inforite point-of-sale terminal using handwriting recognition and a small electronic tablet and pen
  • 1985:
    • Pencept and CIC both offer PC computers for the consumer market using a tablet and handwriting recognition instead of a keyboard and mouse. Operating system is MS-DOS
      MS-DOS

      MS-DOS is an operating system commercialized by Microsoft. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s....


  • 1989
    • The first commercially available tablet-type portable computer was the GRiDPad from GRiD Systems, released in September. Its operating system was based on MS-DOS
      MS-DOS

      MS-DOS is an operating system commercialized by Microsoft. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s....
      .
    • Wang Laboratories introduces Freestyle. Freestyle was an application that would do a screen capture from an MS-DOS application, and let the user add voice and handwriting annotations. It was a sophisticated predecessor to later note-taking applications for systems like the Tablet PC. The operating system was MS-DOS
      MS-DOS

      MS-DOS is an operating system commercialized by Microsoft. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s....


  • 1991
    • The Momenta Pentop was released.
    • GO Corp
      GO Corp.

      GO Corporation was founded in 1987 to create software for mobile computers and personal digital assistants.It was famous not only for its pioneering work in pen-based computing but as well as being one of the most well-funded start-up company companies of its time....
       announced a dedicated operating system, called PenPoint OS
      PenPoint OS

      The PenPoint OS was a product of GO Corporation and was one of the earliest operating systems written specifically for graphical tablets and personal digital assistants....
      , featuring control of the operating system desktop via handwritten gesture shapes.
    • NCR released model 3125 pen computer running MS-DOS, Penpoint or Pen Windows.
    • The Apple Newton
      Apple Newton

      The MessagePad was the first series of personal digital assistant devices developed by Apple Inc. for the Newton . Some electronic engineering and the manufacture of Apple's MessagePad devices was done in Japan by the Sharp Corporation....
       entered development; although it ultimately became a PDA
      Personal digital assistant

      A personal digital assistant is a handheld computer, also known as a palmtop computer. Newer PDAs also have both color screens and audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones, , web browsers, or portable media players....
      , its original concept (which called for a larger screen and greater sketching capabilities) resembled that of a tablet PC.
  • 1992
    • GO Corp shipped PenPoint and IBM announced IBM 2125 pen computer (the first IBM model named "ThinkPad") in April..
    • Microsoft
      Microsoft

      Microsoft Corporation is a multinational corporation computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of computer software products for computing devices....
       releases Windows for Pen Computing
      Windows for Pen Computing

      Windows for Pen Computing is a series of Microsoft-produced add-ons for Microsoft Windows versions in the mid-1990s with additional tools for Tablet PCs....
       as a response to the PenPoint OS.
  • 1993
    • The IBM releases the ThinkPad
      ThinkPad

      ThinkPad is a brand of portable laptop and notebook personal computers originally designed, manufactured and sold by IBM. Since early 2005, the ThinkPad range has been manufactured and marketed by Lenovo, which purchased the International Business Machines Personal Computer division....
      , IBM's first commercialized portable tablet computer product available to the consumer market, as the IBM
      IBM

      International Business Machines Corporation, abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue" , is a multinational corporation computer technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, New York, United States....
       ThinkPad
      ThinkPad

      ThinkPad is a brand of portable laptop and notebook personal computers originally designed, manufactured and sold by IBM. Since early 2005, the ThinkPad range has been manufactured and marketed by Lenovo, which purchased the International Business Machines Personal Computer division....
       750P and 360P
    • AT&T
      AT&T

      AT&T Inc. is the largest US provider of both local and long distance telephone services, and Digital subscriber line Internet access. AT&T is the second largest provider of wireless service in the United States, with over 77 million wireless customers, and more than 150 million total customers....
       introduced the EO Personal Communicator
      EO Personal Communicator

      The EO was an early commercial tablet computer created by AT&T, released in April 1993. Officially named the AT&T EO Personal Communicator it was more similar to a large personal digital assistant with wireless communications, and competed against the Apple Newton....
       combining PenPoint with wireless communications.
  • 1999
    • The "QBE" pen computer created by Aqcess Technologies wins Comdex
      COMDEX

      COMDEX was a computer expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, each November from 1979 to 2003. It was one of the largest computer trade shows in the world, usually second only to the German CeBIT, and by many accounts one of the largest trade shows in any industry sector....
       Best of Show..
  • 2000
    • The "QBE Vivo" pen computer created by Aqcess Technologies ties for Comdex
      COMDEX

      COMDEX was a computer expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, each November from 1979 to 2003. It was one of the largest computer trade shows in the world, usually second only to the German CeBIT, and by many accounts one of the largest trade shows in any industry sector....
       Best of Show.
  • 2001
    • Bill Gates of Microsoft demonstrates first public prototype of a Tablet PC running the Tablet PC version of the Windows operating system at Comdex
      COMDEX

      COMDEX was a computer expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, each November from 1979 to 2003. It was one of the largest computer trade shows in the world, usually second only to the German CeBIT, and by many accounts one of the largest trade shows in any industry sector....
      .
  • 2006
    • Windows Vista released for general availability. Vista included the functionality of the special Tablet PC edition of Windows XP.


  • 2008
    • In April 2008, as part of a larger federal court case, the gesture features of the Windows/Tablet PC operating system and hardware were found to infringe on a patent by GO Corp.
      GO Corp.

      GO Corporation was founded in 1987 to create software for mobile computers and personal digital assistants.It was famous not only for its pioneering work in pen-based computing but as well as being one of the most well-funded start-up company companies of its time....
       concerning user interfaces for pen computer operating systems.
    • HP releases the second MultiTouch capable tablet: the HP TouchSmart
      HP TouchSmart

      HP TouchSmart is a series of touch screen laptop and desktop computers designed by HP that is similar to Asus EEE Top or iMac. It features various Intel or AMD processors and is powered by Windows Vista....
       tx2z.


System software


Microsoft

The operating system
Operating system

An operating system is an interface between hardware and applications; it is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the limited resources of the computer....
 on which most tablet PCs used to run was Windows XP Tablet PC Edition . Tablet PC Edition is a superset of Windows XP Professional, the difference being tablet functionality, including alternate text input (Tablet PC Input Panel) and basic drivers for support of tablet PC specific hardware. Requirements to install Tablet PC Edition include a tablet digitizer or touchscreen device, and hardware control buttons including a Ctrl-Alt-Delete
Control-Alt-Delete

Control-Alt-Delete is a computer keyboard command on PC compatible systems that can be used to reboot the computer, and summon the Windows Task Manager or Windows Security in more recent versions of the Microsoft Microsoft Windows operating system....
 shortcut button, scrolling buttons, and at least one user-configurable application button.

Service Pack 2 for Windows XP includes Tablet PC Edition 2005 and is a free upgrade. This version brought improved handwriting recognition and improved the Input Panel, allowing it to be used in almost every application. The Input Panel was also revised to extend speech recognition services (input and correction) to other applications.

With the sucession of Windows Vista, the Tablet PC functionality no longer required a separate edition. Tablet PC support is built into all editions of Windows Vista with the exception of Home Basic and Starter editions. This extends the handwriting recognition, ink collection , and additional input methods to any computer running Vista even if the input device is an external digitizer, a touch screen, or even a regular mouse. Vista also supports MultiTouch functions and gestures (originally developed for the Microsoft Surface
Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface , is a multi-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as a software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of natural motions, hand gestures, or physical objects....
 version of Vista) and is now usable by the public with the release of MultiTouch tablets.

Windows applications


There are many operating systems in use on devices marketed as tablets. Note that most tablet PC software is targeted particularly for the Microsoft Tablet PC API, and will not run on devices without Windows Vista or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Care should be taken when researching a tablet system or any device or software that claims to be designed for tablet PCs, as the phrase does not guarantee compatibility.

Applications developed for the tablet PC cater to the form factor and functionality available on the platform. Many forms of applications incorporate a pen-friendly user interface and/or the ability to handwrite directly in the document or interface.

A brief description of the applications included follows:

Experience Pack
  • Ink Desktop: an Active Desktop control designed to run in the background and allow the user to write directly on the desktop.
  • Snipping Tool: a screen capture application which allows the tablet pen to be used to select a portion of the screen and then annotate it and save as a file or send in an email.
  • Ink Art: a painting application developed by Ambient Design originally as ArtRage, licensed to Microsoft for release to Tablet PC users.
  • Ink Crossword: a crossword application developed to mirror the experience of a paper crossword puzzle on a tablet PC.
  • Media Transfer: a synchronization utility designed to download music, pictures, and videos off of computers in the same network.


Education Pack
  • : an application designed to assist memorization by using a flash card
    Flash card

    Flash card can refer to:* Flashcards used for education and training* A form of Flash memory...
     approach, enabling the user to handwrite their own flash cards and display them back in a slideshow.
  • : a recognition tool specializing in converting handwritten mathematical equations to a computer-generated image for pasting into other documents.
  • : an organization and note-taking application developed by Agilix Labs.
  • : a game with a tablet PC specific gesture enabled for easier use with the tablet and better


Linux

Running Linux
Linux

Linux is a generic term referring to Unix-like computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed by anyone under the terms of the GNU GPL license...
 on tablet PCs is as practical as on conventional notebooks. More recently, tablet PCs may also be configured with Linux pre-installed.

One early implementation of a Linux tablet was the ProGear by FrontPath. The ProGear used a Transmeta chip and a resistive digitizer. The ProGear initially came with a version of Slackware Linux, but could later be bought with Windows 98. Because these computers are general purpose IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible

IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM Personal Computer, IBM Personal Computer XT, and IBM Personal Computer/AT....
 machines, they can run many different operating systems.

Xorg now supports screen rotation and tablet input through Wacom drivers, and handwriting recognition software from both the Qt
QT

Qt or QT may refer to:...
-based Qtopia
Qtopia

Qt Extended, formerly known as Qtopia until September 30, 2008, is an application platform for Embedded Linux-based mobile computing devices such as personal digital assistants and mobile phones....
 and GTK+
GTK+

GTK+, or The GIMP Toolkit, is a cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the X Window System, along with Qt ....
-based Internet Tablet OS provide promising free and open source systems for future development.

However, little mature desktop-oriented software of the sort has arisen, leading many users to rely on on-screen keyboards and alternative text input methods like Dasher
Dasher

Dasher is a computer accessibility tool which enables users to write without using a Computer keyboard, by entering text on a screen using a pointing device such as a mouse, a touchpad, a touch screen, a roller ball, a joystick, a Wii Remote, or even mouses operated by the foot or head....
.

TabletKiosk currently offers a hybrid digitizer / touch device running SUSE Linux. It is the first device with this feature to support Linux.

Apple

The aftermarketer Axiotron has introduced aftermarket, heavily modified Apple MacBook
MacBook

The MacBook is a brand of Macintosh Laptops by Apple Inc. Introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook G4 and 12 inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple Intel transition....
s called Modbooks, a Mac OS X
Mac OS X

Mac OS X is a line of computer operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc., and since 2002 has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems....
-based tablet computer. It uses Apple's Inkwell
Inkwell (Macintosh)

Inkwell, or simply Ink, is the name of the handwriting recognition technology developed by Apple Inc. and built into the Mac OS X operating system....
 for handwriting and gesture recognition and bundles additional digitization software from Wacom
Wacom

is a world-wide company that produces graphics tablets and related products, headquartered in Otone, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The US headquarters is located in Vancouver, Washington....
.

While Apple Inc. legally forbids and doesn't sanction running their operating system Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware, there are a large number of computer enthusiasts who are running slightly modified copies of Mac OS X on various x86 architecture
X86 architecture

The generic term x86 refers to the most commercially successful instruction set architecture in the history of personal computing. It derived from the model numbers, ending in "86", of the first few processor generations Backward compatibility with the original Intel 8086....
 PC models, among them Tablet PC computers. To get Mac OS X to talk to the digitizer on Tablet PC systems they use a free open source
Open-source software

Open source software is defined as computer software for which the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a computer software license that meets the Open Source Definition or that is in the public domain....
 driver originally written to support serial tablets for which Wacom no longer supplies Mac drivers.

Tablets vs. traditional notebooks

The advantages and disadvantages of tablet PCs are highly subjective measures. What appeals to one user may be exactly what disappoints another. The following are commonly cited opinions of the tablet PC platform:

Advantages
  • The ability to use in environments not conducive to a keyboard and mouse such as lying in bed, low lighting when a lighted screen is the input source, standing or with one hand.
  • Recording non-character based information such as diagrams and mathematical notation and symbols.
  • Lighter weight, lower power models can function similarly to dedicated reading devices like the Amazon Kindle.


Disadvantages
  • Higher cost — convertible tablet PCs can cost significantly more than their non-tablet counterparts although this premium has been predicted to fall.
  • Input speed — handwriting can be significantly slower than peak typing speeds which can be as high as 50-150 WPM, though and other technologies provide alternate, speedier methods of input.
  • Screen damage risk - Tablet PCs are handled more than conventional laptops yet built on the same frames and since their screens also serve as input devices (like PDAs) they run a higher risk of screen damage.


Designing around disadvantages
Manufacturers can design additional durability into the displays of tablets to effectively reduce screen damage risk, hinge failure, and screen size limitations. The use of scissor shock absorbers mounted to the screen, flexible connectors for data cables, molded magnesium alloy screen casing, durable and replaceable screen overlayments, and purpose built convertible hinges impact reliability.

Features

New Tablet PCs may have:

  • Capacitive technology, which senses touch of finger with no pressure required for system to recognize input.
  • Digital palm recognition technology prevents inadvertent contact from disrupting pen input .
  • Multi-touch
    Multi-touch

    Multi-touch denotes a set of interaction techniques which allow computer users to control graphical applications with several fingers.Multi-touch consists of a touch screen or touchpad, as well as software that recognizes multiple simultaneous touch points, as opposed to the standard touchscreen , which recognizes only one touch point....
      recognizes multiple simultaneous touches, allowing for enhanced manipulation of on-screen objects. .
  • Sunlight
    Sunlight

    Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total spectroscopy of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is Filter ed through the Earth's atmosphere, and the solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon....
     readable displays (800 nit
    Nit (unit)

    The candela per square metre is the SI unit of measurement of luminance; nit is a non-SI name also used for this unit. It is often used to quote the brightness of computer displays, which typically have luminances of 50 to 300 nits ....
     display) are clearly readable even in bright and direct sunlight .


Popular models

Major tablet PC Manufacturers include Acer
Acer (company)

Acer Incorporated is a Taiwanese multinational electronics manufacturer. It owns the largest franchised computer retail chain in Taipei, Taiwan....
, Asus
ASUS

ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated , a Taiwanese multinational company, produces motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, PDAs, computer monitors, notebook computers, Server , computer networking devices, mobile phones, computer cases, Electronic component, and computer cooling systems....
, Bosanova, Fujitsu
Fujitsu

is a Japanese company specializing in semiconductors, air conditioners, computers , telecommunications, and Service , and is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Tokyo....
, Gateway, Inc.
Gateway, Inc.

Gateway, Incorporated. is a computer hardware company based in Irvine, California, California, which develops, manufactures, supports, and markets a wide range of personal computers, computer monitors, server , and computer accessories....
,, Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard

The Hewlett-Packard Company , commonly referred to as HP, is a technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States....
, IBM
IBM

International Business Machines Corporation, abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue" , is a multinational corporation computer technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, New York, United States....
, Lenovo Group
Lenovo Group

Lenovo Group Limited is China's largest and the world'sfourth largest personal computer manufacturer , after Hewlett-Packard and Dell of the U.S....
, LG Electronics
LG Electronics

LG Electronics , is the world's second-biggest maker of televisions and third-biggest maker of mobile phones.With its headquarters in the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea, LG Electronics is the flagship company of LG Group, one of the world's largest conglomerates....
, NEC
NEC

is a Japan multinational corporation IT company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
, TabletKiosk
TabletKiosk

TabletKiosk is a manufacturer of Tablet PCs and UMPCs located in Torrance, California, California, United States. All mobile computers produced by TabletKiosk fall into the slate category, featuring touchscreen or pen input, in lieu of integrated or convertible keyboards....
, Motion Computing
Motion Computing

Motion Computing is a developer of Tablet PCs, located in Austin, Texas.All computers produced by Motion are in the slate tablet form factor; current products include LE1700, C5 and F5....
, Panasonic
Panasonic

Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation Under this brand the company sells Plasma display and LCD display panels, DVD recorders and players, Blu-ray Disc players, camcorders, telephones, vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, shavers, projectors, digital cameras, batteries, lapto...
 , and Toshiba
Toshiba

is a multinational corporation list of conglomerates manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company's main business is in Infrastructure, Consumer Products, and Electronic devices and components....
.

Popular models include:

Slate
  • PaceBlade SlimBook 200
  • Fujitsu Stylistic ST5010
  • Fujitsu Stylistic ST6012
  • Electrovaya Scribbler SC4000 series (older: SC2000, SC3000, SC3100)
  • MobileDemand xTablet T8600 Rugged Tablet PC
  • Motion M1200, M1300, M1400, LE-Series, C5, LS800, LE 1700 and C5 which is targeted towards the healthcare industry
  • JLT8404 Field Tablet PC
  • Panasonic Toughbook 08
  • TabletKiosk Sahara i400 series
  • Samsung Q1 (Q1 Ultra)
  • Xplore Technologies
  • COWON Q5W
  • Axiotron Modbook
    Axiotron Modbook

    The Modbook is an after-market modification that converts an Apple Inc. MacBook into a slate-style tablet computer. Developed by El Segundo, California-based Axiotron, Inc., the Modbook was introduced in the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo and drew one of the biggest crowds, second only to iPhone....


Convertible
  • Acer TravelMate C100/C300/C310
  • Asus R1F
  • Asus R1E
  • Averatec C3500 Series
  • Dialogue Flybook V5
  • Dell Latitude
    Dell Latitude

    Dell's Latitude laptop Brand name is specifically targeted at the business market which means that standardized parts are used throughout the line and are available for several years for support purposes, as opposed to the Dell Inspiron which is aimed at the consumer market and whose specifications change regularly....
     XT/XT2
  • Fujitsu LifeBook P1610/P1620/P1630(Slim, Ultra-portable, Small) /T4020, /T4210, /T4220 /T2010, /T5010 /T1010 (Latest)
  • Gateway C-140X (aka S-7235/E-295C)
  • Gateway C-120X (aka S-7125C/E-155C)
  • HP TC4200/TC4400
  • HP Compaq 2710p
  • HP Compaq EliteBook 2730p
  • HP Pavilion tx1000z
  • HP Pavilion tx2000z
  • HP Pavilion tx2500z
  • HP TouchSmart tx2z
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet (known popularly as "X60t")
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet (12.1" MultiView/MultiTouch XGA (1024x768) TFT)
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet (12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800)) Released September 2008
  • LG XNote C1
  • LG LT-20-47CE
  • Panasonic Toughbook 19
  • Toshiba Portégé
    Toshiba Portégé

    The Toshiba Port?g? is a range of ultra-light laptops manufactured by Toshiba.The latest model being the R500-S5007V, claimed by Toshiba to be the world's lightest at just over 1kg....
     3500/3505
  • Toshiba Portégé M200
  • Toshiba Portégé M400/405/700/750
  • Toshiba Portégé R400/405
  • Toshiba Satellite
    Toshiba Satellite

    The Toshiba Satellite is Toshiba's flagship line of consumer-grade notebook computers. They are known as Equium in Europe. Models in the Satellite family vary greatly, from entry-level models to full-fledged Media center class notebooks....
     R10/R15/R20/R25
  • Toshiba Tecra
    Toshiba Tecra

    The Toshiba Tecra is a notebook computer intended for business use....
     M4/M7


Hybrid
  • Compaq TC1000
    Compaq TC1000

    The TC1000 is a hybrid Tablet PC designed by Compaq, before it was purchased by Hewlett-Packard. It used the Transmeta Crusoe processor. The display is detachable from the keyboard for ultra-portability....
  • HP Compaq TC1100
  • Tatung Tangy


Programs

  • - advanced on-screen keyboard for Tablet PC
  • Microsoft Office OneNote
    Microsoft Office OneNote

    Microsoft OneNote, officially Microsoft Office OneNote, is a software package for free-form information gathering, and multi-user collaboration....
  • Einstein Technologies Tablet Enhancements for Outlook
  • GO Corporation
  • Agilix GoBinder
  • Mobilis - Protectis Range
  • EverNote
    EverNote

    Evernote is a software application that allows users to capture information of various types, including text notes, mobile phone snapshots, printed and handwritten text within images, web clips, and digital ink....
  • InkSeine
  • IHMC CmapTools - a free concept mapping application
  • Xournal
    Xournal

    Xournal is a notetaking application similar to Windows Journal, Jarnal and gournal, written for Linux.Xournal was designed to be a better-performing program than Jarnal....
     - a linux notetaking application
  • Ergo from Invu - a search, clustering, visualization and annotation application from YourErgo
  • OnSite Companion Construction Software for Tablet PC
  • : MusicReader - Electronic Music Stand - sheet music display on Tablet PC
  • : A Documentation Engine for Health Care Professionals


See also


  • Pen computing
    Pen computing

    Pen computing refers to a computer user-interface computer using a pen and tablet, rather than devices such as a keyboard and a mouse.Pen computing is also used to refer to the usage of mobile devices such as wireless tablet PCs, Personal digital assistants and GPS receivers....
  • Graphics tablet
    Graphics tablet

    A graphics tablet is a computer input device that allows one to hand-draw images and graphics, similar to the way one draws images with a pencil and paper....
  • 802.11b/g
  • Bluetooth
    Bluetooth

    Bluetooth is a wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks . It was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS232 data cables....
  • HSPA
    High Speed Packet Access

    High Speed Packet Access is a collection of mobile telephony Communications protocol that extend and improve the performance of existing UMTS protocols....
  • MIL-STD-810F standard.
  • Mobile Internet Device (MID)
  • Numeric keypad
    Numeric keypad

    A numeric keypad, or numpad for short, is the small, palm-sized, seventeen key section of a computer keyboard, usually on the very far right....
  • RJ45
  • Solid-state drive
    Solid-state drive

    A solid-state drive is a data storage device that uses Solid-state Computer storage to store persistent data. An SSD emulates a hard disk drive interface, thus easily replacing it in most applications....
     (SSD).
  • USB
  • WiFi
    WIFI

    WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a Variety radio format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA. The station is currently owned by Forsythe Broadcasting....
  • CrunchPad
    CrunchPad

    CrunchPad is a do it yourself initiative created by Michael Arrington that aims to build a low-cost web tablet. The project was started in July 2008 and showed a first prototype a month later....


External links

  • *
  • -- through 1992


Tablet PCs in healthcare
  • : Moving Queensland Health
    Queensland Health

    Queensland Health is the department of the Government of Queensland responsible for operating and administering the public health system of the Australian State of Queensland....
     towards a paperless future (Microsoft
    Microsoft

    Microsoft Corporation is a multinational corporation computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of computer software products for computing devices....
    ).
  • (HP, Based on a Microsoft
    Microsoft

    Microsoft Corporation is a multinational corporation computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of computer software products for computing devices....
     White Paper
    White paper

    A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that often addresses problems and how to solve them. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions....
    ).
  • .
  • : A Documentation Engine for Health Care Professionals


Tablet PCs in education
  • — News article from Virginia Tech
  • — Software designed at the University of Washington to provide a unique presentation environment utilizing the technology of Tablet PCs.
  • — Outgrowth of University of Washington's Classroom Presenter (CP), a program that uses Tablet PC ink to allow instructors to annotate pre-prepared slides and students to create submissions for in-class activities.
  • — Hardware, software, and course content built using open-source principles.
  • - Student group at the University of Louisville promoting the Tablet PC Program instituted there.
  • Wesley College, Melbourne
    Wesley College, Melbourne

    Wesley College, Melbourne is an Independent school, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria , Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia....
     - First educational institution in Australia to use tablet styled PC's (Fujitsu T4220)


Tablet PCs in construction