Windows 8 on the HP ElitePad 900

Here's a short little video demonstrating some basic Windows 8 features on the new HP ElitePad 900:

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.

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.

HP Slate 500 vs. HP PalmPad

We know that the HP Slate 500 is running Windows 7. It's a full slate tablet PC.

The rumored HP PalmPad will run HP webOS, so it should have much longer battery life as it competes against the Apple iPad and Android slates like the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Will the PalmPad include an active digitizer for pen-based computing? Will webOS be the only operating system option? (wouldn't it be nice if we could load Android on the device? I'm sure someone will find a way to do that).

I'm so accustomed to using an active digitizer pen for inking and writing notes. Given that the current iPad only accommodates capacitive touch, it's very difficult to accurately use a stylus pen to draw/write/ink on the screen. That's where the HP Slate 500 has a significant advantage. I'm eager to know if the upcoming PalmPad will also include an active digitizer.

The HP Slate 500 runs $799. How much will the HP PalmPad run? $499, $599, or $699? (surely it won't be $799). 

Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 tablet PC gets updated

Here's the press release:

Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 Offers Tablet Computing For Gloved Workers And Removes The Cost Of Accidental Damage

Class Leading Convertible, Business Rugged Notebook Now Offers Multi-Touch Resistive Screen, Web Camera And 2 Year Accidental Damage Warranty Making It The Business-Ready Tablet

UK. 30TH SEPTEMBER 2010: Panasonic today enhanced its Toughbook CF-C1 range with a Multi-touch Resistive screen, web camera option and a two-year accidental damage warranty making the lightweight, business rugged convertible notebook the tablet for business use.

Able to be used in clamshell or tablet form, the CF-C1 is ideal for mobile workers. The new Multi-touch Resistive screen option is designed to deal with semi-outside conditions less affected by dust particles and water drops and allows the users to operate the device whilst using gloves. The Multi-touch screen also delivers all the benefits of a tablet device allowing pinching and stretching gestures on the screen to control zooming. It is also pressure and gesture sensitive, allowing actions such as the rotation of objects on the screen. This latest screen option complements the existing CF-C1 Multi-touch Digitizer screen model and is available immediately priced at £1,709 + vat. (Standard version)

Installing the wall mount on the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z

I've been thinking about mounting the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z on the wall. This all-in-one PC comes with the option of a multi-touch screen that works so well that you don't need a mouse or a keyboard to use this computer. Imagine having a huge iPad mounted on your wall. That's what I want. That's why I've been looking into the wall mounting option.

I'll need this part: Ergotron 60-239-007 FX30 Wall Mount (part # 78Y2316).

Once I get that part, I'll need to remove the back cover and follow the instructions outlined here.

Multitouch coming to Ubuntu 10.10

If you're a Linux fan, you're probably familiar with Ubuntu. This free operating system will run on almost any system. The next release of Ubuntu is 10.10 and it will be supporting multitouch gestures. That's great if you have a multitouch screen or a touch/track pad like Apple's Magic Trackpad.

Do you have an older PC that's just sitting around? Try installing Ubuntu and experience the world of Linux. You might actually like it.

A growing interest in all-in-one PCs

I've noticed a recent trend in the growing availability of all-in-one PCs. I'm currently testing the Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z and I can see why more people would want an all-in-one. Consumers (and many medical professionals) are jumping on the all-in-one PC bandwagon by purchasing the popular Apple iMac. Here are several examples of Windows PCs that are all-in-one:

• HP TouchSmart
• HP Compaq 6000 Pro
• Lenovo IdeaCentre or ThinkCentre
• Apple iMac
• Sony VAIO VGC-LV180J
• Dell Studio One

So, why all this interest in all-in-ones? For one thing, they take up less space compared to a conventional desktop.  Plus, it's great to have the flexibility to mount the entire PC on your wall. Some of the all-in-one PCs give you that flexibility and also include a touch screen (generally a multi-touch screen) so that you can compute at the point of care without pulling out a mouse or keyboard. What's also nice is that these touch screens often allow you to compute when you have gloved hands. So, you're no longer limited to small monitors in the operating room or emergency room if you want to touch the computer screen. With these all-in-one PCs, you can keep your gloves on and tap on large screens.

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.

viliv S10 Blade

The viliv S10 Blade is a convertible touch-screen tablet running Windows 7. Equipped with an Intel Atom processor, this Korean convertible tablet PC could be a nice option for those who want a small, thin tablet PC/netbook that has a physical keyboard.

Of course, you could also get the ASUS Eee PC T101MT. This little convertible tablet PC/netbook is another nice option.

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/

Lenovo ThinkPad X201 vs. X200 Tablet PC

I currently use a Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet PC. It's not old, but it's also not the new ThinkPad X201 Tablet. What are the differences between the X200 and the newer X201 Tablet PCs?

First, the new X201 uses the  Intel® Core™ i7 processor while the older X200 uses the Add up to Intel® Core™2 Duo processor. The i7 is currently the "best" Intel processor on the market.

The new X201 tablet also features a multitouch touchpad (in addition to the TrackPoint pointing device).

I'm waiting for Lenovo to install a keyboard light on their tablet PCs. The include an LED light for their laptops, so why don't they add the LED light feature for their convertible tablets? That's on the top of my wish list right now.

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?

Microsoft Surface at #HIMSS10

Soon, physicians will be showing patients their recent cardiac test results using Microsoft Surface. This amazing touch-screen table technology has a wide range of applications in the world of health care, patient communication, and health education. It's been great to see the Surface here at HIMSS10.

Microsoft Surface is a revolutionary multi-touch computer that responds to natural hand gestures and real-world objects, helping people interact with digital content in a simple and intuitive way. With a large, horizontal user interface, Surface offers a unique gathering place where multiple users can collaboratively and simultaneously interact with data and each other.

You can see the Microsoft Surface in the HIMSS10 exhibit hall. Make sure you don't miss it!

Special thanks to HP for sponsoring me to attend and blog here at HIMSS10.

Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 Mini-Notebook

For those of you looking for a mini-notebook because you need a keyboard and you don't want to type on the screen of a tablet computer, consider the Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 Mini-Notebook. This tiny little computer is similar to the Sony Vaio P series, but it includes a 5.6" multi-touch screen. The built-in GPS makes this a handy GPS navigator, but I'm not sure I'd spend $850 just for a fancy GPS that happens to run Windows 7.

This small computer includes a 62 GB, solid state drive (SSD) and an Intel® Atom™ Processor Z530.  I wish the screen would fold all the way back so that this device could become a convertible tablet. Well, you can't always have everything.

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.

Will all future tablet PCs include multi-touch screens?

I think that all future touch-screen smartphones will include capacitive multi-touch screens. Will the same be true for tablet PCs? After all, I primarily use my Wacom digitizer when I'm using my tablet PC. Although it's capable of touch-based input, I don't use that very often since I'm a pen-based computing guy.

Will all future tablet PCs include a dual-input (some call this a dual digitizer) screen that will allow users to navigate using a pen as well as fingers? Are multi-touch features here to stay for tablet PCs? I'm still not entirely sure. Why? You see, capacitive multi-touch makes a lot of sense for smartphones that have small screens. I'm still not entirely convinced that they make sense for professional tablet PCs (I can definitely see their appeal for consumer-based tablet PCs).

Maybe the consumer market will drive tablet PC manufacturers to include multi-touch screens on all future tablets. Maybe the health care sector will only use tablets that include Wacom-based active digitizers that also include passive touch screens. After all, do you think you can use a capacitive touch screen if you're wearing hospital gloves? You can if you have a passive touch screen.