Entering data into IE
in [Tablet PC]
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From: Dan on 29 Feb 2008 01:59 Hi, I've asked several comp stores but they have all given me different answers. I wanted to know can you use the stylus pen as an input into any program that you want ? E.g. when I fill out the form to sign up for hotmail, instead of typing in the data can i just write into it or write into an excel worksheet or write into this msg box ?
From: Invalid on 29 Feb 2008 06:02 In message <BD0DCFF7-7549-4659-8B77-CAA97C126EDB(a)microsoft.com>, Dan <Dan(a)discussions.microsoft.com> writes >Hi, > I've asked several comp stores but they have all given me different >answers. I wanted to know can you use the stylus pen as an input into any >program that you want ? E.g. when I fill out the form to sign up for hotmail, >instead of typing in the data can i just write into it or write into an excel >worksheet or write into this msg box ? Yes - and No Yes in that for any program that uses text input, you write into a panel (TIP-Text Input Panel) that appears when you put the cursor into the input box. The panel translates your handwriting to text and then inserts the text into the waiting program. YES in that some programs understand and can deal with the inked handwriting directly (One Note is the best example I know) NO in that only programs that have been designed to deal with handwriting directly can deal with the ink, the others need the TIP to do the translation. For your three examples , the TIP will work fine to fill out the Hotmail form, or fill in the message box. It does work with Excel but using a spreadsheet with the TIP is probably the worst experience on a Tablet that I know. Regards -- Peter R Cook
From: Dan on 29 Feb 2008 06:34 Thanks for reply Peter. What is the best tablet out there for this usage. I work with IE and Excel alot, I need something that can do it fast, very fast. Time is of the essence in my work so I'm wandering if its worth the effort to get a tablet ? I'm thinking that with a tablet I can navigate IE faster as i don't need to move the cursor from one place to another, since I can just point and click. I like the Fujitsu ST5112 but its U processor does concern me. "Invalid" wrote: > In message <BD0DCFF7-7549-4659-8B77-CAA97C126EDB(a)microsoft.com>, Dan > <Dan(a)discussions.microsoft.com> writes > >Hi, > > I've asked several comp stores but they have all given me different > >answers. I wanted to know can you use the stylus pen as an input into any > >program that you want ? E.g. when I fill out the form to sign up for hotmail, > >instead of typing in the data can i just write into it or write into an excel > >worksheet or write into this msg box ? > Yes - and No > > Yes in that for any program that uses text input, you write into a panel > (TIP-Text Input Panel) that appears when you put the cursor into the > input box. The panel translates your handwriting to text and then > inserts the text into the waiting program. > > YES in that some programs understand and can deal with the inked > handwriting directly (One Note is the best example I know) > > NO in that only programs that have been designed to deal with > handwriting directly can deal with the ink, the others need the TIP to > do the translation. > > For your three examples , the TIP will work fine to fill out the Hotmail > form, or fill in the message box. It does work with Excel but using a > spreadsheet with the TIP is probably the worst experience on a Tablet > that I know. > > Regards > -- > Peter R Cook >
From: Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] on 29 Feb 2008 11:03 >> I need something that can do it fast, very fast. << Would help to know some specifics about your need... i.e. new worksheets or modifying existings ones... what type of work, insurance adjusting, accident reporting, etc, what type of entries... numbers, check boxes, words and the percentages of each, etc, etc, ...the more info the better. >> What is the best... << Two thoughts on that... first, the user experience level will have a major impact on speed. If you can take the time to practice, you should be able to approach or meet keyboard speed. The tablet may not be the best. In my mobile experience, a pocketpc has normally been a better input device for several reasons... it includes pocket excel and pocket internet explorer (PIE), five default stylus input options and most current models offer a thumb keyboard. The ppc compromises include lack of full pc power, the need to sync or transmit the data to a host and a small screen, but offsets that with small size, ease of handheld use and ruggedness compared to a tablet. A key question here is if the data needs to be processed in the field or not. >> excel << I'm not a power excel user, but a couple of thoughts. The "floating tip" should be avoided here... you can tap any cell, then immediately use the docked tip to input... for editing, you do need the stylus for the insert point. I have found that the "number pad" on the tip is essential for numeric input. Same for IE, learning to use the stylus just to set the insert point, then the docked tip to input. Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
From: Invalid on 29 Feb 2008 13:47
In message <7C6FE7CA-7CE2-4E39-A801-6AC14036B0CD(a)microsoft.com>, Dan <Dan(a)discussions.microsoft.com> writes >Thanks for reply Peter. What is the best tablet out there for this usage. I >work with IE and Excel alot, I need something that can do it fast, very fast. >Time is of the essence in my work so I'm wandering if its worth the effort to >get a tablet ? I'm thinking that with a tablet I can navigate IE faster as i >don't need to move the cursor from one place to another, since I can just >point and click. I like the Fujitsu ST5112 but its U processor does concern >me. > >"Invalid" wrote: > >> In message <BD0DCFF7-7549-4659-8B77-CAA97C126EDB(a)microsoft.com>, Dan >> <Dan(a)discussions.microsoft.com> writes >> >Hi, >> > I've asked several comp stores but they have all given me different >> >answers. I wanted to know can you use the stylus pen as an input into any >> >program that you want ? E.g. when I fill out the form to sign up for >> >hotmail, >> >instead of typing in the data can i just write into it or write into >> >excel >> >worksheet or write into this msg box ? >> Yes - and No >> >> Yes in that for any program that uses text input, you write into a panel >> (TIP-Text Input Panel) that appears when you put the cursor into the >> input box. The panel translates your handwriting to text and then >> inserts the text into the waiting program. >> >> YES in that some programs understand and can deal with the inked >> handwriting directly (One Note is the best example I know) >> >> NO in that only programs that have been designed to deal with >> handwriting directly can deal with the ink, the others need the TIP to >> do the translation. >> >> For your three examples , the TIP will work fine to fill out the Hotmail >> form, or fill in the message box. It does work with Excel but using a >> spreadsheet with the TIP is probably the worst experience on a Tablet >> that I know. >> >> Regards >> -- >> Peter R Cook >> If speed (either your input or the processor) is the key, stick to a conventional PC with a keyboard - ESPECIALLY with Excel. The Tablet TIP attempts to turn what you write into text, it is/can be context sensitive so that it will, for example, avoid trying to parse an URL into English. Excel does not seem to set the context - so it tries to interpret formulae written in the TIP as written English and mangles them. It's not a lot better with numbers! You end up entering formulae and data one letter/number at a time. (there is a cheap shareware TIP extension (TipX) for Excel that can help with the data entry, it makes it feel a bit like writing numbers into cells - but its far from ideal). A tablet with its stylus excels (pun intended!) at several things but if you are sitting at a desk using Excel, or inputting significant text (i.e. writing) I would always use a keyboard and a mouse. The Tablet does excel at 1) Mobility, a tablet is easier to hold and easier to use with one hand than a laptop when standing, walking about. Hold the tablet in the crook of one arm and write with the other. 2) Reading (especially portrait format) documents. The ability to rotate the display into portrait mode, and sit back in an easy chair reading one page at a time like a regular magazine without the keyboard sticking in your chest or balancing it all on your knee is brilliant. You can also annotate the documents with the stylus just as you would with a pen/highlighter. 3) Taking notes in meetings. The ability to lay the tablet flat on the desk and write on it with a pen means you can interact with your customer/patient/colleague without looking at them over the top of a 12 inch high (usually black!) blank wall formed by the laptop's display. 4) As a presentation tool. The ability to show a customer or colleague a presentation on the tablet while sitting opposite them, and without sticking the keyboard in their face to do so is a great advantage. 5) Browsing the web when sitting anywhere other than at a desk. The stylus's ability to point and click using the display area instead of needing a separate space for the mouse is a real advantage. 6) Sketching and drawing. The ink and paint appear where your fingers put the pen, hand eye co-ordination is much easier than using a mouse to sketch. 7) As a "smart board" when teaching. Connect the tablet to an e-projector, and the students can see what you write, see your annotations on the slides etc. As long as your input to output ratio is low (a few characters or words/minute input and lots of reading) then a tablet is brilliant. If you are doing ANY volume of input - use a keyboard. If you want to do both, then a convertible tablet is good - just a bit heavier when you use it as a tablet. I personally use a slate tablet when sitting reading/browsing or when out and about. I carry a separate folding USB keyboard that can be pressed into service in emergencies in my briefcase. When writing at home, I use a real desktop machine (big display, real keyboard) although a separate keyboard and desk stand work reasonably well. For anything the tablet is really useful for, the U processor should be fine, and plenty fast enough. I have two slates with 1Ghz and 1.5Ghz Pentium M processors. They are fine. The real problem is the slow 5400rpm disks. Lost of memory is good. However if what you want is a powerful desktop replacement - number crunching, modelling etc., then my advice would probably be to go a different route - tablets are expensive as computing machines. Hope this helps. -- Peter R Cook |