I hate my Tablet PC, save this budding man-machine relationship
April 6, 2006 5:18 PM Subscribe
What programs have you found that helped you improve productivity working with a Tablet PC? Primarily, what programs are best for entering text when in tablet mode?
I’ve recently acquired a tablet pc but haven’t been able to utilize it as much as I would like too. I’m used to my palm pilot, and have gotten quite proficient writing on it with the help of a program called Teal Script, which allows you to create a “custom alphabet”. I’ve not found anything like it for the tablet pc platform though. Is there? What other good options are there except the lousy on-screen keyboard.
Browsing the internet in tablet mode is also problematic, is there a way to scroll smoothly with a pen (the buttons on the screen are awkwardly placed and only allows you to scroll by pushing repeatedly). The curser placement is not stable at the edges using the pen, so using the slider is not easy either.
Any other tips to improve productivity with a Tablet are also welcome. Thx.
I’ve recently acquired a tablet pc but haven’t been able to utilize it as much as I would like too. I’m used to my palm pilot, and have gotten quite proficient writing on it with the help of a program called Teal Script, which allows you to create a “custom alphabet”. I’ve not found anything like it for the tablet pc platform though. Is there? What other good options are there except the lousy on-screen keyboard.
Browsing the internet in tablet mode is also problematic, is there a way to scroll smoothly with a pen (the buttons on the screen are awkwardly placed and only allows you to scroll by pushing repeatedly). The curser placement is not stable at the edges using the pen, so using the slider is not easy either.
Any other tips to improve productivity with a Tablet are also welcome. Thx.
Seconding OneNote, I take all my class notes in it, and the ability to search through them is amazing.
Another personal favorite StrokeIt, a gesture program. It allows me to bind drawn gestures to various applications and commands.
I've been pretty happy with the standard XP Tablet handwriting interface, although I've found that it can occasionally hog the processor and bring things to a crawl. I only find myself using the onboard keyboard for the rare key combination or password entry.
posted by PaperDragon at 6:29 PM on April 6, 2006
Another personal favorite StrokeIt, a gesture program. It allows me to bind drawn gestures to various applications and commands.
I've been pretty happy with the standard XP Tablet handwriting interface, although I've found that it can occasionally hog the processor and bring things to a crawl. I only find myself using the onboard keyboard for the rare key combination or password entry.
posted by PaperDragon at 6:29 PM on April 6, 2006
The GeckoTip Extension is essential if you use Firefox. I also swear by SuperDragAndGo which makes it easy to open links into background or foreground tabs by dragging and dropping with your pen.
I also saw an extension somewhere - sorry, forgot the name - that lets you scroll by dragging anywhere on the page, but it conflicted with super drag and go so I dropped it.
If your cursor placement 'is not stable at the edges' perhaps your pen is faulty or the screen needs calibration? I don't have that trouble at all with my t610.
posted by bruceyeah at 6:30 PM on April 6, 2006
I also saw an extension somewhere - sorry, forgot the name - that lets you scroll by dragging anywhere on the page, but it conflicted with super drag and go so I dropped it.
If your cursor placement 'is not stable at the edges' perhaps your pen is faulty or the screen needs calibration? I don't have that trouble at all with my t610.
posted by bruceyeah at 6:30 PM on April 6, 2006
While your hardware is obviously different, I have no instability near the edge of the screen, and so if you haven't already, you should re-calibrate the pen to the screen. Many people report that it take them about ten tries to get it perfect.
Mine is calibrated nicely and I use the sliders all the time, with no problems (Such as right now :)
posted by -harlequin- at 10:24 PM on April 6, 2006
Mine is calibrated nicely and I use the sliders all the time, with no problems (Such as right now :)
posted by -harlequin- at 10:24 PM on April 6, 2006
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posted by stupidcomputernickname at 5:42 PM on April 6, 2006