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In general terms, tablet PC refers to a slate shaped mobile computer device, equipped with a touchscreen or stylus to operate the computer.

This form factor 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.

The term Tablet PC was made popular in a product announced in 2001 by Microsoft, and defined by Microsoft to be a pen-enabled computer conforming to hardware specifications devised by Microsoft and running "Windows XP Tablet PC Edition" operating system or a derivative thereof.^[2]

Forms

Booklets

Booklet PCs are dual screen tablet computers that fold open like a book. A typical Booklet PC is equipped with multitouch screens and pen writing recognition capabilities. They are designed to be used as a digital day planner, internet surfing device, project planner, to watch videos, live TV, play music, and for e-reading.

Slates

Slate computers, which resemble writing slates, are tablet PCs without a dedicated keyboard. For text input, users rely on handwriting recognition via active digitizer, touching the screen with a fingertip or stylus or by using an external keyboard which can usually be attached via a wireless or USB connection.

These tablet PCs typically incorporate small (8.4–14.1 inches (21–36 centimetres)^*) LCD screens and have been popular for quite some time in vertical markets such as health care, education, and field work. Applications for field work often require a tablet PC that has rugged specifications that ensure long life by resisting heat, humidity, and drop/vibration damage.

This added focus on mobility and/or ruggedness often leads to elimination of 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 through 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 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 the convertibles still offer the keyboard and pointing device of older notebooks, for people who are unsure about the practicality of using the pen as the primary method of input.

Hybrids

Hybrids, coined by users of the HP/Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 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 to allow the tablet to rest on it like a convertible.

With a loyal following, the hybrid form factor has recently received updates after the TC1100. HP has launched an array of tablet pc convertible notebooks over the last few years, the latest being the tx2 which brings multi-touch capabilities to a consumer-aimed notebook.^[3]

System software

Microsoft

Windows 7 touch capability is built with Microsoft Surface technologies. This is a gesture and touch-centric UI enhancement that works with most current touch computers. Windows has a history of tablet technology including Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.^[4]^[5] 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 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 succession 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,^[6] 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 version of Vista) and is now usable by the public with the release of MultiTouch tablets. Windows Vista also significantly improved handwriting recognition functionality with the introduction a handwriting recognition personalization tool as well as an automatic handwriting learning tool.

The steady improvements in tablet functionality continue with Windows 7, available in all editions of Windows 7 with the exception of the Starter edition. It introduces a new Math Input Panel that recognizes handwritten math expressions and formulas, and integrates with other programs. Windows 7 also significantly improved pen input and handwriting recognition by becoming faster, more accurate, and supportive of more languages, including East Asian writing systems. Personalized custom dictionaries help with the recognition of specialized vocabulary (like medical and technical terms), and text prediction speeds up the input process to make note-taking faster. MultiTouch technology is also available on some Tablet PCs, enabling more advanced interaction using touch gestures with your fingers the same way a mouse is used ^[7].

Windows applications

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

Ink Flash Cards: an application designed to assist memorization by using a flash card approach, enabling the user to handwrite their own flash cards and display them back in a slideshow.
Equation Writer: a recognition tool specializing in converting handwritten mathematical equations to a computer-generated image for pasting into other documents.
GoBinder Lite: an organization and note-taking application developed by Agilix Labs.
Hexic Deluxe: a game with a tablet PC specific gesture enabled for easier use with the tablet and better.

Linux

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 machines, they can run many different operating systems. However, the device is no longer for sale and FrontPath has ceased operations.

X.org now supports screen rotation and tablet input through Wacom drivers, and handwriting recognition software from both the Qt-based Qtopia and GTK+-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. There is at least one handwriting recognition program available, CellWriter, but it requires users to write letters separately in a grid.

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

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.
Touch Environment makes navigation much easier than conventional use of keyboard and mouse or touch pad.
No need for producing special keyboard versions for different countries/languages.

Disadvantages

Higher cost — convertible tablet PCs can cost significantly more than their non-tablet counterparts although this premium has been predicted to fall.^[8]
Input speed — handwriting can be significantly slower than typing speeds, the latter of which can be as high as 50-150 WPM; however, Swype and other technologies are able to provide alternate, speedier methods of input.
Screen and hinge damage risk - Tablet PCs are handled more than conventional laptops, yet are built on similar frames; in addition, since their screens also serve as input devices, they run a higher risk of screen damage due to impacts and misuse. A convertible tablet PC's screen hinge is required to rotate around two axes, unlike a normal laptop screen, thereby increasing the number of possible mechanical and electrical (digitizer and video cables, embedded WiFi antennas, etc.) failure points.
Ergonomics - a tablet PC does not provide room for a wrist rest while the screen is in the handwriting/touch configuration, as opposed to the normal keyboard mode (akin to regular laptops). In addition, the user needs to move his or her arm constantly while writing, compared to leaving the arms relatively stationary while typing.^{[citation needed]}
Lack of power - tablet PCs do not usually have powerful processors, and are especially lacking in terms of graphics power. As of January 2010, the only tablet PC with a discrete graphics card was the HP TouchSmart tm2, which has the ATI Mobility Radeon HD4550 as an optional extra. Traditional laptops, on the other hand, can be very powerful in some cases.

Features

In addition to the host of features found on regular laptops, tablet PCs may also possess:

Capacitive contact technology, which can sense finger(s) on the screen without requiring significant pressure for system to recognize an input.^[9]
Palm recognition, which prevent inadvertent palms or other contacts from disrupting the pen's input.^[9]
Multi-touch capabilities, which can recognize multiple simultaneous finger touches, allowing for enhanced manipulation of on-screen objects.^[10]

Popular models

Major tablet PC Manufacturers include AIS, Acer, Asus, Bosanova, Fujitsu, Gateway, Inc.,G-NET, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lenovo Group, LG Electronics, NEC, TabletKiosk, Quaduro-Systems, Motion Computing, Panasonic, and Toshiba.

Popular models include:

Slate

AIS Rugged Tablet PC
Apple iPad
Axiotron Modbook
COWON Q5W
Electrovaya Scribbler SC4000 series (older: SC2000, SC3000, SC3100)
Fujitsu Stylistic ST5010
Fujitsu Stylistic ST5111
Fujitsu Stylistic ST5112
Fujitsu Stylistic ST6012
Fujitsu Stylistic ST1010
G-NET Rugged Tablet PC
JLT8404 Field Tablet PC
MobileDemand xTablet T8600 Rugged Tablet PC
Motion M1200, M1300, M1400, LE-Series, C5, F5, LS800, LE 1700 and J3400
PaceBlade SlimBook 200
Panasonic Toughbook 08
Quadpad Slate Style Tablet PC
Samsung Q1 (Q1 Ultra)
TabletKiosk Sahara Slate PC i400 series, Sahara NetSlate, eo Ultra-Mobile PC
Xplore Technologies

Convertible

Acer TravelMate C100/C200/C210/C300/C310
Asus R1F
Asus R1E
ASUS Eee PC T91
Averatec C3500 Series
Dialogue Flybook V5
Dell Latitude XT/XT2
Fujitsu LifeBook P1610, P1620, P1630 (8.9" Ultraportable)
Fujitsu LifeBook T4020, T4210, T4220 (12.1" Thin and Light, Business)
Fujitsu LifeBook T1010 (13.3" Thin and Light, Consumer)
Fujitsu LifeBook T2010, T2020 (12.1" Ultraportable, Business)
Fujitsu LifeBook T4310 (12.1" Thin and Light, Consumer)
Fujitsu LifeBook T4410 (12.1" Thin and Light, Business)
Fujitsu LifeBook T5010 (12.1" Thin and Light, Business)
Fujitsu LifeBook U810, U820 (5.6" Ultra-portable)
Gateway C-140X (aka S-7235/E-295C)
Gateway C-120X (aka S-7125C/E-155C)
HP TC4200/TC4400
HP Compaq 2710p
HP 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 XNote P100(C1 Upgrade Model)
LG LT-20-47CE
MDG Flip Touchscreen Netbook (8.9" Tablet Netbook)MDG Flip
Panasonic Toughbook 19
Toshiba Portégé 3500/3505
Toshiba Portégé M200
Toshiba Portégé M400/405/700/750
Toshiba Portégé R400/405
Toshiba Satellite R10/R15/R20/R25
Toshiba Tecra M4/M7

Hybrid

Compaq TC1000
HP Compaq TC1100
Tatung Tangy
Compaq Concerto

Application software

Comfort On-Screen Keyboard - advanced on-screen keyboard for Tablet PC
Microsoft Windows Journal
Microsoft Office OneNote
Einstein Technologies Tablet Enhancements for Outlook
FutureWave Smartsketch drawing program published by FutureWave Software
GO Corporation
Agilix GoBinder
Mobilis - Protectis Range
EverNote
InkSeine: Prototype Tablet GUI/Interface - Microsoft Research
IHMC CmapTools - a free concept mapping application
Xournal - a linux notetaking application
OnSite Companion Construction Software for Tablet PC
MusicPad Pro: MusicReader - Electronic Music Stand - sheet music display on Tablet PC
Documentor: A Documentation Engine for Health Care Professionals
StarDraw Contol - Room automation / Home cinema control system

Screen size trends

Many Tablet PCs makers have standardized on a 12" widescreen format that runs at a 1200x800 resolution for their Tablet PCs. As of October 2009 the only Tablet PC with a resolution greater than 1280x800 was the Motion Computing LE1700 with a 1400 x 1050 12" screen^[11]. The Fujitsu T5010 also has a larger 13.3" but still runs at the 1280x800 pixel resolution^[12]. The Acer TravelMate C300 has a 13.3" screen at 1024x768.

The 12" form factor is optimal for the power, size and weight considerations required for portability. Although there is some demand for larger Tablet PC screen sizes from consumers, larger screens add significant weight and bulk to Tablet PCs. They also require more power, therefore larger, heavier batteries or shorter battery life.

History

The Tablet PC and the associated special operating software is an example of Pen computing technology, and thus the development of tablet-based PCs has deep historical roots.

The depth of these roots can be quite surprising to people who are only familiar with current commercial products. For example, the first patent for an electronic tablet used for handwriting was granted in 1888.^[13] The first patent for a system that recognized handwritten characters by analyzing the handwriting motion was granted in 1915.^[14] The first publicly-demonstrated system using a tablet and handwriting text recognition instead of a keyboard for working with a modern digital computer dates to 1956.^[15]

In addition to many academic and research systems, there were several companies with commercial products in the 1980s: Pencept, Communications Intelligence Corporation, and Linus were among the best known of a crowded field. Later, GO Corp. brought out the PenPoint OS operating system for a tablet PC product: one of the patents from GO corporation was the subject of recent infringement lawsuit concerning the Tablet PC operating system.^[16]

The following timeline list gives some of the highlights of this history:

Before 1950
- 1888: U.S. Patent granted to Elisha Gray on electrical stylus device for capturing handwriting.^[13]^[17]
- 1915: U.S. Patent on handwriting recognition user interface with a stylus.^[14]^[18]
- 1942: U.S. Patent on touchscreen for handwriting input.^[19]^[20]
- 1945: Vannevar Bush proposes the Memex, a data archiving device including handwriting input, in an essay As We May Think.^[21]
1950s
- Tom Dimond demonstrates the Styalator electronic tablet with pen for computer input and software for recognition of handwritten text in real-time.^[15]
Early 1960s
- RAND Tablet invented.^[22]^[23] The RAND Tablet is better known than the Styalator, but was invented later.

Late 1960s
- Alan Kay of Xerox PARC proposed a notebook computer, optionally using pen input, called the Dynabook: however the device is never constructed or implemented with pen input.
1966
- In the science fiction television series Star Trek, crew members carry large, wedge-shaped electronic clipboards, operated through the use of a stylus.
1968
- Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick imagines a flatscreen tablet device wirelessly playing a streaming video broadcast in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.^[24]