I am looking to buy a tablet pc for use in my home
inspections business. The software I use works on with
windows 2000 on my pc. What are the different types of
windows for tablet pc's and will they accept my software?

anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com wrote:
> I am looking to buy a tablet pc for use in my home
> inspections business. The software I use works on with
> windows 2000 on my pc. What are the different types of
> windows for tablet pc's and will they accept my software?

There is simply the Tablet PC edition, which is a superset of Windows XP Pro
SP1.

From a compatibility point of view, just think of the Tablet as "a laptop
with extra features" See
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/t...n/features.asp.


--
Mike
------------------------------------------------------------
Minsky's Second Law: Don't just do something. Stand there.
Kai's Example Dilemma: A good analogy is like a diagonal frog.
You can do all things at Zombo.com

In addition to what Mike offered, I might mention the base operating system
for Tablet PCs is Windows XP Pro, the OS which is a step up in many areas
from Windows 2000. On top of Windows XP Pro, the Tablet PC superset runs,
giving users the Tablet features such as Ink and so forth, on the digital
screen (which in the case of slates or convertibles, rotates). If any
program will run on Windows XP, it'll run on a Tablet PC - except high-end
games which are very demanding in the graphics department.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet PC Universe - www.tabletpcuniverse.net
Tablet PC Chat - http://thetabletpc.net/support.htm
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:117ac01c3f4fa$70787650$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> I am looking to buy a tablet pc for use in my home
> inspections business. The software I use works on with
> windows 2000 on my pc. What are the different types of
> windows for tablet pc's and will they accept my software?

"If any program will run on Windows XP, it'll run on a Tablet PC..."
I wish it were true, but it's not. I tried to get Goldmine (a contact manager, not a high end game) to run and it seems to be ok with some major potental problems. When you call the developer they say that they support XP Home and Pro, but there are issues with Tablet. What issues? They won't say. They do say they don't buy the superset idea and because they did not specifically say the product will run on XP Tablet, they don't support it. In other words, they don't have the time to debug the superset concept but it isn't working 100% for their product.

I wonder how many other software developers are hiding this from us? Microsoft says it's a superset and everything that runs on Pro will run on a Tablet, yet this developer says there are issues and they don't support XP Tablet, though their sales literature at the time I bought it didn't mention this incompatibility. I wonder what Microsoft's certification standards are on this? Either Microsoft should stop saying all Pro compatible software will run on Tablet's or they should demand it through the XP software compatibility certification.

Additionally, I found even the Microsoft 2003 suite of software crashes my Tablet when I'm running the applications in a dual monitor configuration with the external monitor to the left of my Tablet's display. It doesn't happen often, but Microsoft points to hardware and hardware point to software, i.e., nobody's taking responsibility and so ever couple of days I have to power down and reboot. My take is that this "superset" just hasn't got enough history to have been as stable as other versions of XP and I'm concerned that this will be the next 8 track, betamax... left behind technology, bugs and all. I guess, if you want a technical edge, it will sometime cut you.

----- Chris H. wrote: -----

In addition to what Mike offered, I might mention the base operating system
for Tablet PCs is Windows XP Pro, the OS which is a step up in many areas
from Windows 2000. On top of Windows XP Pro, the Tablet PC superset runs,
giving users the Tablet features such as Ink and so forth, on the digital
screen (which in the case of slates or convertibles, rotates). If any
program will run on Windows XP, it'll run on a Tablet PC - except high-end
games which are very demanding in the graphics department.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet PC Universe - www.tabletpcuniverse.net
Tablet PC Chat - http://thetabletpc.net/support.htm
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone

<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:117ac01c3f4fa$70787650$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> I am looking to buy a tablet pc for use in my home
> inspections business. The software I use works on with
> windows 2000 on my pc. What are the different types of
> windows for tablet pc's and will they accept my software?

Of course this begs the question if the developers will not tell you what
the issue is, is there really an issue or are you finding some bug that they
just to not want to fix. I would not say that Microsoft is lying just
because one company says they are.

--

Gary A. Bushey
SPS MVP
bushey@mindspring.com

"RobinA" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:37BEEFA1-256E-4543-B537-7701E9FCEA60@microsoft.com...
> "If any program will run on Windows XP, it'll run on a Tablet PC..."
> I wish it were true, but it's not. I tried to get Goldmine (a contact
manager, not a high end game) to run and it seems to be ok with some major
potental problems. When you call the developer they say that they support
XP Home and Pro, but there are issues with Tablet. What issues? They won't
say. They do say they don't buy the superset idea and because they did not
specifically say the product will run on XP Tablet, they don't support it.
In other words, they don't have the time to debug the superset concept but
it isn't working 100% for their product.
>
> I wonder how many other software developers are hiding this from us?
Microsoft says it's a superset and everything that runs on Pro will run on a
Tablet, yet this developer says there are issues and they don't support XP
Tablet, though their sales literature at the time I bought it didn't mention
this incompatibility. I wonder what Microsoft's certification standards are
on this? Either Microsoft should stop saying all Pro compatible software
will run on Tablet's or they should demand it through the XP software
compatibility certification.
>
> Additionally, I found even the Microsoft 2003 suite of software crashes my
Tablet when I'm running the applications in a dual monitor configuration
with the external monitor to the left of my Tablet's display. It doesn't
happen often, but Microsoft points to hardware and hardware point to
software, i.e., nobody's taking responsibility and so ever couple of days I
have to power down and reboot. My take is that this "superset" just hasn't
got enough history to have been as stable as other versions of XP and I'm
concerned that this will be the next 8 track, betamax... left behind
technology, bugs and all. I guess, if you want a technical edge, it will
sometime cut you.
>
> ----- Chris H. wrote: -----
>
> In addition to what Mike offered, I might mention the base operating
system
> for Tablet PCs is Windows XP Pro, the OS which is a step up in many
areas
> from Windows 2000. On top of Windows XP Pro, the Tablet PC superset
runs,
> giving users the Tablet features such as Ink and so forth, on the
digital
> screen (which in the case of slates or convertibles, rotates). If
any
> program will run on Windows XP, it'll run on a Tablet PC - except
high-end
> games which are very demanding in the graphics department.
> --
> Chris H.
> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
> Tablet PC Universe - www.tabletpcuniverse.net
> Tablet PC Chat - http://thetabletpc.net/support.htm
> Associate Expert
> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
> <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:117ac01c3f4fa$70787650$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> > I am looking to buy a tablet pc for use in my home
> > inspections business. The software I use works on with
> > windows 2000 on my pc. What are the different types of
> > windows for tablet pc's and will they accept my software?
>
>
>

The "superset" is Tablet PC functions, Robin, which include added input
modes (Ink via digital screens), voice and the flexibility of using those in
addition to traditional keyboard and mouse. Also, it is the hardware
requirements of the superset on the Tablets which is improved in areas
high-resolution, lower-power consumption LCD screens, more efficient
batteries and advances like the Centrino chips.

As for Goldmine's issues, have you looked into Compatibility Mode? Since
the program was originally destined for Windows 98, you might take a look in
Help and Support to see if that wouldn't help your situation. Some programs
just plain aren't destined to use the Tablet superset functions, and their
producers don't care to spend the money to update them for new technology.

One of the most radical responses you'll ever see is the game Dungeon Siege,
written specifically for Windows XP, but which twirls in every which
direction when you attempt to use the pen instead of a mouse. Almost funny,
but it does the same as on a desktop if the user drops back to a USB mouse.

If you're having issues with Office 2003, I would suggest you've got
something else going on with your system that should be investigated. Have
you looked in Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer to see what's
causing the problems? You'll usually find either a yellow triangle with an
exclamation point or a red circle with a white X in it, denoting warnings
and errors. Those can be right-clicked for a short explanation of what has
caused a problem. Generally, they're drivers which need to be updated.

As far as being "left behind" the Tablet PC 2004 Edition is currently in an
alpha version, and is expected to come out around the same time as SP2 for
Windows XP. Revisions of the superset are being undertaken at the present
time, and expected to be released about mid-year.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet PC Universe - www.tabletpcuniverse.net
Tablet PC Chat - http://thetabletpc.net/support.htm
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone



"RobinA" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:37BEEFA1-256E-4543-B537-7701E9FCEA60@microsoft.com...
> "If any program will run on Windows XP, it'll run on a Tablet PC..."
> I wish it were true, but it's not. I tried to get Goldmine (a contact
manager, not a high end game) to run and it seems to be ok with some major
potental problems. When you call the developer they say that they support
XP Home and Pro, but there are issues with Tablet. What issues? They won't
say. They do say they don't buy the superset idea and because they did not
specifically say the product will run on XP Tablet, they don't support it.
In other words, they don't have the time to debug the superset concept but
it isn't working 100% for their product.
>
> I wonder how many other software developers are hiding this from us?
Microsoft says it's a superset and everything that runs on Pro will run on a
Tablet, yet this developer says there are issues and they don't support XP
Tablet, though their sales literature at the time I bought it didn't mention
this incompatibility. I wonder what Microsoft's certification standards are
on this? Either Microsoft should stop saying all Pro compatible software
will run on Tablet's or they should demand it through the XP software
compatibility certification.
>
> Additionally, I found even the Microsoft 2003 suite of software crashes my
Tablet when I'm running the applications in a dual monitor configuration
with the external monitor to the left of my Tablet's display. It doesn't
happen often, but Microsoft points to hardware and hardware point to
software, i.e., nobody's taking responsibility and so ever couple of days I
have to power down and reboot. My take is that this "superset" just hasn't
got enough history to have been as stable as other versions of XP and I'm
concerned that this will be the next 8 track, betamax... left behind
technology, bugs and all. I guess, if you want a technical edge, it will
sometime cut you.
>
> ----- Chris H. wrote: -----
>
> In addition to what Mike offered, I might mention the base operating
system
> for Tablet PCs is Windows XP Pro, the OS which is a step up in many
areas
> from Windows 2000. On top of Windows XP Pro, the Tablet PC superset
runs,
> giving users the Tablet features such as Ink and so forth, on the
digital
> screen (which in the case of slates or convertibles, rotates). If
any
> program will run on Windows XP, it'll run on a Tablet PC - except
high-end
> games which are very demanding in the graphics department.
> --
> Chris H.
> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
> Tablet PC Universe - www.tabletpcuniverse.net
> Tablet PC Chat - http://thetabletpc.net/support.htm
> Associate Expert
> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
> <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:117ac01c3f4fa$70787650$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> > I am looking to buy a tablet pc for use in my home
> > inspections business. The software I use works on with
> > windows 2000 on my pc. What are the different types of
> > windows for tablet pc's and will they accept my software?
>
>
>

I have a Gateway M275XL Laptop/Tablet running XP TabletPC Edition, and have found only 1 application that will not install (Nortel Networks Contivity Client).