A stylus pen isn't just a stylus pen

Stylus pens have really evolved over the past few decades. I still remember the days of the plastic toothpick stylus pens that were in Palm Pilot PDAs. Then, we saw Windows Tablet PCs using Wacom technology and it was really cool to see the pointer moving on the screen as you hovered your pen above the display without physically touching the glass. For a while, Wacom dominated the tablet PC industry because their active digitizer stylus pens didn't require an internal battery. Plus, you had buttons on the pen that would activate the Right Click on a mouse. Or, you could flip the pen around and use the eraser like a real eraser. These Wacom pens were compatible across any device, so you could use Fujitsu pens on a Lenovo tablet and vice versa. I must have a drawer full of Wacom pens that are different sizes and colors.

Wacom continues to make a variety of stylus pens and tablets for artists and enterprise professionals. Their technology is still used in devices like the new Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2. The Samsung Galaxy Note series uses an S-Pen that is based on the Wacom technology.

Over the past few years, we also saw some activity from N-Trig, but these pens were not quite as smooth as the Wacom pens. Plus, the pens needed a really thin AAAA battery (yes, 4 As). I saw this pen used in the first Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet running Android. HP also used this pen on their HP Slate 500 and HP Slate 2. Fujitsu uses N-Trig pens on the Stylistic Q702.

Given the popularity of touch-only devices like the iPad, we're seeing a rise of capacitive stylus pens that are either dedicated stylus pens or you're finding a rubberized "eraser" on the end of a standard ink pen. These capacitive stylus pens are somewhat awkward and not very precise. Plus, if you rest your palm on the screen, you may encounter some strange "vectoring" on the display. So far, the Adonit Jot Pro pen has given me the highest level of precision on an iPad screen.

Medical students should "write" on their iPads

Medical students are constantly standing around in the hospitals, so it's difficult for them to sit down to type. It's hard to touch-type on the iPad with high efficiency, so "writing" with a stylus pen is a better option if you: 1) don't want to appear rude to your patient by tap-tap-tapping on the screen and losing eye contact with your patient; 2) want to jot down every key point quickly and efficiently; 3) want to draw shapes, diagrams and figures to help you learn; and 4) want to color-code your notes and drawings on the same "sheet" of digital paper.

Let's face it - writing is very efficient. Tap-tap-tapping on the screen to type isn't nearly as fast. Now, if your handwriting is illegible, then you'll get motivated quickly to improve it so that you can actually use your notes.

Also, you can learn more effectively if you use hand-written notes. You can circle and underline things. Make certain words bigger. Draw diagrams. You can really personalize your notes to maximize your learning.

Many note-taking apps (like Penultimate or GoodNotes) for the iPad have some type of "palm rejection" built into the app so that you can rest your palm on the screen and write fairly effectively with a capacitive stylus pen. No need to look for a sheet of paper to cover half the screen while you rest your palm.

Palm rejection (wrist protection) on iPad writing apps

If you like to write with paper and pen, then you might want to know that several iPad writing apps now feature "palm rejection" (also called wrist protection and other things). This means that you can rest your hand directly on the screen of the iPad while you write using a capacitive stylus.

The palm rejection feature isn't perfect, but it works quite well. I've been testing this on apps like Penultimate, Bamboo Paper, Studio Basic Plus, Notability, and others. This is great for medical students and residents who need to jot notes while they're standing around during hospital rounds or when they're interviewing patients. It's less intrusive to "write" on a screen compared to tapping away on a virtual keyboard.

Stay tuned as I also review a few different capacitive stylus pens for the iPad. I also plan to play around with some handwriting recognition apps as well.

Android tablets with pen-based input (N-Trig DuoSense)

There are currently only a few Android tablets that allow you to write on the screen using an active digitizer pen made by N-Trig (Dual-mode pen and capacitive multi-touch interface).  These tablets are also capable of capacitive multi-touch, so it's nice to have the ability to switch between handwriting recognition input with a pen vs. tapping with your finger.

The DuoSense® battery-powered Digital Pencil is a wireless electronic stylus that enables direct on-screen digital input. Utilizing inherent pen capabilities, the Digital Pencil complements DuoSense true multi-touch functionality for a more interactive and creative approach to computing that cannot be achieved by touch alone.

If you're looking for a 10" tablet that uses a pen, here are your current options:

• Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet (running Android) - with Wi-Fi or with optional Gobi 3G
• HTC Jetstream from AT&T (The first 4G LTE tablet from AT&T)
• Motorola Xyboard (10" model only) from Verizon on the 4G LTE network

If you'd prefer a smaller 7" tablet that uses a pen, then you can get the same HTC tablet either with 4G on Sprint, or Wi-Fi only:

• HTC EVO View 4G on Sprint (4G LTE network)
• HTC Flyer (Wi-Fi only)

Surprisingly, Samsung, Asus, or Acer do not have an Android tablet that uses this type of active pen-based input. Also, Apple doesn't have an iPad that uses a digital pen that's coupled with true handwriting recognition software.

Over the next week or so, I'll be testing the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, so stay tuned as I take that device for a spin. I have a MiFi and I can tether using my smartphone, so I really don't need a 4G tablet. A Wi-Fi tablet is sufficient for me.

HTC Flyer: An Android tablet with a "Magic Pen"

The HTC Flyer is an Android slate tablet that includes a "magic pen" that will allow you to write, draw, and "ink" more accurately than most other slate tablets (with the exception of slate tablet PCs running Windows 7).

With these smaller tablets that include both a capacitive touch screen an some sort of active digitizer, we're seeing more devices using the DuoSense Digitizer Solution from N-trig. My HP Slate 500 uses an N-trig pen and the new Fujitsu Q550 also uses an N-trig pen. The Motion Computing CL900 also uses the same type of pen. Why the movement away from Wacom?

Before you go out and purchase an HTC Flyer, check to see if the device comes with a "magic pen." Otherwise, you may be spending $30 or more to purchase a separate pen.

The HTC Flyer is a portable 7-inch tablet with a magic pen that can do more for you than you can imagine. From creating masterpieces with a stroke of a paintbrush, to taking multimedia notes or even signing digital documents, HTC Flyer puts you in control of any situation. With streaming movies at a touch of your finger, HTC Flyer turns any moment into something special.

HTC Flyer (slate tablet running Android)

HTC has joined the slate tablet revolution with the HTC Flyer. This Android slate will feature: HTC Sense UI, HTC Watch video service, HTC Scribe Technology and OnLive cloud gaming. With a 7" screen, it will resemble the Samsung Galaxy Tab but it will feature a stylus pen. Right! This may be the first capacitive-only slate tablet that includes a stylus pen. HTC has been promoting its HTC Scribe technology for pen-based computing on a capacitive screen.

Fujitsu LIFEBOOK® T580 Tablet PC

Once upon a time, I used to have a small convertible tablet PC made by Fujitsu. I gave that computer away about 2 years ago. The  Fujitsu LIFEBOOK® T580 Tablet PC  looks like it's a great little device for people who need a device that blends the benefits of a netbook (small, portable, + keyboard) with a capacitive touch-screen tablet that runs Windows 7.  So, it's not as light as an iPad, but it gives you a functional keyboard when you need it.


You can also get an optional hand strap for this small convertible tablet PC.  This hand strap makes handling and carrying your LIFEBOOK Tablet PC easier. The hand strap comes with an attachment bracket that allows you to attach it to the threaded inserts on the back of your tablet to provide a secure attachment. The adjustable Velcro makes this hand strap easy to adjust for any size hand. 

Here are some highlights of its specs:

• Genuine Windows® 7 Professional
• Intel® Core™ i5 Processor
• Ultra versatile Tablet PC with 10.1" WXGA LED backlight display
• Multi-touch screen with pen input
• Optional webcam and solid state drive
• 4-finger capacitive multi-touch screen with pen input

What's the best iPad stylus pen?

I love my iPad, but I miss inking on a traditional tablet PC. That's why I'm now on the hunt to find a nice stylus pen for the Apple iPad. There are a variety of them out there, but which one is the "best" one?  It can't be too easy to make a functional capacitive stylus.  Maybe that's why some of these pens have gotten poor ratings by users.

Right now, there are several options out there including:

• Griffin Technology Stylus for iPad
• BoxWave Capacitive iPad Stylus
• Targus Stylus for Apple iPad 
• Hard Candy Cases iPad Stylus
• Acase Apple iPad Capacitive Stylus
• Ten One Design Pogo Sketch stylus for iPad

What's been your experience with these stylus pens? This weekend, I plan to visit my local Apple store so that I can test some of them out.

5 tips and tricks for typing on an iPad

As I continue to use my Apple iPad, I seem to be picking up new typing tricks that are helping me type more efficiently and accurately. Here are 5 tips I'd like to highlight based on my personal experiences:

1. I can type more accurately if I use 4 fingers on each hand instead of all five. Depending on the size of your hands, you may notice the same thing. If you have smaller fingers, then you may type just fine using all five fingers (ok, the thumb isn't a finger). I mainly type using my index, middle, and ring fingers. I also use my thumb, but I do not regularly use my pinkie.

2. Do you know how to highlight sections of a paragraph? First, double tap at the beginning of the section. Then, hold that second tap and drag and select the section you would like to highlight. When you let go, you will have the option to copy or cut that section.

3. Get used to the auto capitalization of the first letter of sentence. If you do not like that feature, you can disable that in the Settings under General-> Keyboard. Speaking of capitalization: the screen is multi-touch, so you can hold the Shift key with one finger and press several other keys using your other finger if you need a series of CAPS. You can also double tap the Shift key to get CAPS LOCK.

4. Are you looking for the arrow keys? Up, Down, Left, Right? You won't find them on the keyboard. I hope that Apple adds the arrow keys in future versions of iOS. Until we get arrow keys, you need to get used to tapping and holding until a magnifying view appears. Keep your fingers on the screen until you have moved the cursor where you need it to go. If that ends up being a frustrating experience, then pinch to zoom and make the letters bigger so that you can place the cursor at the right position.

5. Finally, keep your fingernails short. The iPad uses a capacitive touch screen, so passive objects like fingernails will not register on the device. Plus, long fingernails will make typing more difficult on this type of gadget.

I'll be testing the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z

I'm receiving a test unit this week. Over the next few weeks, I'll be testing the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z.

The ThinkCentre M90z is Lenovo's first all-in-one desktop for large enterprises, featuring professional-grade performance in a space-saving package.

The M90z also takes web conferencing to a higher level with a number of optional features that give it both style and substance:

* Optical touchscreen that can be easily cleaned/Lenovo SimpleTap interface included
* Unique web camera on/off switch for physical control of the camera
* Autobrightness control to intelligently save energy
* Array microphone for clear audio with mute button
* Touch capacitive monitor buttons for elegant convenience

I'm looking forward to using this touch-screen PC over the next few weeks. Computing will evolve to incorporate more touch input and voice recognition. The keyboard and mouse will become relics. So, if you want to leverage the benefits associated with multi-touch computing, then the M90z could be a nice machine to have in your office. Stay tuned...

Comparing the HP EliteBook 2730p vs. the 2740p convertible tablet PC

If you're thinking about buying the HP EliteBook 2740p convertible tablet PC, go for it! This is a great little tablet that takes all the features from the 2730p and makes it better. What's changed from the 2730p to the 2740p?  HP has made some significant improvements to both the inside and outside of this convertible tablet PC. Here are a few things that I've noticed so far:

• Multi-touch screen (capacitive) to support Windows 7 gestures.
• 3 USB ports on the 2740p instead of only 2 that's found on the 2730p.
• Louder speakers that face the front on the 2740p, not the single speaker facing the bottom on the 2730p.
• Nicer raised mouse buttons for the trackpad on the 2740p. The flat buttons on the 2730p are difficult to use.
• The keyboard buttons are shaped slightly differently. They're approximately the same size on both the 2730p and the 2740p.
• The camera and pop-out LED light on the display bezel are square on the 2740p instead of round on the 2730p.
• The 2740p is slightly thicker than the 2730p, but you'll barely notice the difference.
• The 2740p comes with faster processor options (Intel Core i7 or i5).

Like the 2730p, the 2740p uses a 1.8" SATA hard drive, so this makes the device very thin and light. That's one of the main reasons why I like the HP EliteBook over the ThinkPad tablet. The EliteBook is much smaller compared to my Lenovo ThinkPad X200 tablet PC.  Plus, the HP includes the LED light to illuminate the keyboard so that I can see what I'm typing when I'm composing my blog posts.

The ThinkPad still has a nicer keyboard because it includes full-size buttons and a standard layout, but typing on the ThinkPad is louder than typing on the keyboard found on the EliteBook.

You can expect several additional posts about this tablet as I spend more time with the HP EliteBook 2740p convertible tablet PC. My first impressions are very positive and the only major drawback that I'm finding at this point is the fact that the keyboard is not as nice as the keyboard found on the ThinkPad.

Touch but no multi-touch

I'm currently using an older Lenovo ThinkPad X200 tablet PC that has a touch screen, but it's not a capacitive multi-touch screen. Instead, it's a passive or resistive touch screen that only allows input from a single touch point. The tablet also has a Wacom Penabled digitizer, so I'm not limited to the passive touch screen.

What are the advantages of a resistive touch screen panel? For one, you can use any pointed object on this screen. Don't use something that will scratch it, but even if you're wearing gloves, you can easily touch the screen and navigate your apps. We're going to see fewer tablet PCs that come with resistive touch screens because most tablets will now include capacitive touch screens. I wonder if we'll look back someday and desire having resistive touch screens on our tablet computers.

HP Slate specs and prices

With all the buzz and excitement surrounding the iPad, when's HP releasing the Slate?

It looks like HP has finally released the specs for the Slate. It will have an 8.9" capacitive multi-touch display, it will run Windows 7, it will have an SD card slot, it will have a USB 2.0 port, and it will have cameras on the front and back of the device. With a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor and 1 GB of RAM, it won't be a

Reminds me of my Samsung Q1 Ultra Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC).   At $549 for 32 GB of storage, it's going to be very tempting. $599 for 64 GB of storage isn't bad either.

Guided tours of the Apple iPad

Even though you haven't had a chance to hold an iPad, you can view these "guided tour" videos on the Apple website. This way, when you go to the Apple store, you'll be fully equipped to test the iPad so that you can determine if you should buy this device.

You're probably already familiar with the "pinch-to-zoom" feature that's found on the iPod touch and iPhone. Additional multi-touch gestures make navigation very easy on the iPad.   Well, I doubt I'll buy one this year, but maybe I'll get an iPad through a drawing or on Christmas.

To view the iPad Guided Tours, visit: http://www.apple.com/ipad/guided-tours/

HP Slate, when will you arrive?

I admit that I’m eager to see the HP Slate. I want to see how this device compares to some of the earlier Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPCs) such as the Samsung Q1, the Samsung Q1 Ultra, and other slate-style mobile computers.

The other day, I played around with the Archos 9 PCTablet running Windows 7. It's very thin and it looks like a great device, but it uses a passive touch screen instead of a capacitive touch screen that is capable of multi-touch gestures.

So, here are my questions relating to the HP Slate:

•    What type of screen input options will be available? We can expect to see capacitive touch, but what about Wacom-based Penabled input? Will that be an option in future Slate models?
•    Will the HP Slate get very warm?
•    Battery life?
•    Real-world usability in health IT?

Will the HP Slate only be for consumers, or will it also have enterprise applicability?

Ubuntu on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet

I'm a big fan of Ubuntu because it's a free Linux operating system and it's always getting better with each release. The latest version is 9.10 and they even have a "netbook remix" version for netbooks.

I have an older ThinkPad X200 tablet PC (this model does not include a capacitive multi-touch screen). Although my tablet supports passive touch, it won't support multi-touch gestures. Ubuntu works just fine on my ThinkPad and it's a nice alternative for users who wish to avoid using Microsoft Windows.

More rumors about the Apple Tablet emerge

Rumors about the upcoming Apple Tablet seem to never end.

Here are some of the latest rumors circulating on the Internet:

• 10.1" multi-touch screen
• Release around March/April 2010
• Roughly $1,000 (yikes!)
• It will compete against other e-readers like the Nook and Kindle with a 30/70 revenue split (30% to Apple and 70% to publishers)
  

If this thing is really going to sell for $1k, then I'd have to think that this tablet will run OS X. If it's just an oversized iPod touch, then $1k seems way too ridiculous to me. $1k also is way too high for an e-reader that has a color screen, Internet, and some multi-media functionality.

So what's it going to be Apple? When will we see the real deal instead of all these fake images?

LifeBook T4410 Multitouch Tablet PC Video

Multitouch isn't just for smartphones anymore. Now, Windows 7 incorporates some nice multitouch features into tablet PCs that have capacitive touch screens. Watch this little video of the Fujitsu LifeBook T4410 tablet PC featuring multitouch gestures.

Nice new Fujitsu Tablet PCs with multi-touch screens

There are some nice new Fujitsu Tablet PCs that feature "on-screen gesture manipulation." That's probably one of the most descriptive ways to say "multi-touch." After all, there's still some confusion regarding the phrase "multi-touch," but I think it's becoming less ambiguous now.

I like how Fujitsu clarifies this further by describing the feature as:

• Dual digitizer (pen input and capacitive multi-touch screen)

The LifeBook T4310 looks like a great value, but the T4410 is a bit lighter. They both feature modular bays for optical drives and extra batteries. That results in a more versatile machine, but it also adds to the bulk of the machine. I like how they both use the same types of batteries.

I'm a big fan of Fujitsu. I used to have a LifeBook P1610 (now they sell the P1630 for a ridiculously high price). Speaking of Fujitsu, how many people bought the tiny little LifeBook U810 or U820? My prediction is that the next version (U830) will feature a capacitive multi-touch screen. I wonder when that will get released.

Multi-touch gestures for tablet computers are built into Windows 7. Have you played with these gestures? I have an older Thinkpad X200 tablet PC that lacks the capacitive multi-touch screen, so I'm unable to use those gestures. However, I still have a dual digitizer with a Wacom-based penabled screen along with a passive touch screen (not capacitive).

Fujitsu's "Dual Digitizer" tablet PC display

The phrase "multi-touch" can be confusing when you're talking about tablet PCs. Windows 7 has some new features that will only work on tablets that allow you to control certain functions by placing two (or more) fingers directly on the screen. This is being called "multi-touch" or "multitouch" by many companies, but Fujitsu is calling this feature a "dual digitizer" function.
The tablet PC world is getting very complex and I hope we soon settle on all this terminology.

Here's how Fujitsu describes the screen option on the new LifeBook T5010 Tablet PC:

• 13.3" WXGA display with Dual Digitizer (pen input plus touch screen)

Now, this is going to get really confusing fairly soon. Touch screen is starting to mean many things.

• Passive touch? (can use any inanimate object, like a plastic pen)
  
• Capacitive touch? (fingertips, no plastic pens) - allows for multi-touch gestures
  
• Active digitizer? (Wacom or Penabled pens only)

You've probably seen some of these multi-touch features on the Apple iPhone or iPod touch. You can zoom  out by spreading two fingers on the screen. You can zoom in by pinching your fingers together. etc.