I saw a Sony U750P today for the first time and was not impressed, despite
my feeling that the market needs some smaller Tablet PCs.

The screen was too small and it was too hard to click with precision using
Sony's huge input device. When I compare to using the top half of the
screen on my Motion Computing M1300 (in portrait mode using a 768 x 600 area
with about double the screen area of the U750P), the half-M1300 is vastly
better. I don't know how much is the different screen, the larger size, the
better digitizer or better screen display technology.

Another issue is the lack of a VGA connector, which would create problems
trying to use the U750P to connect to a projector.

Someone needs to put out a device similar to half the M1300. I'm concerned
that the deficiencies of the U750P will be seen as proving the unusability
of small tablets and it will take a while for companies to dare to try
smaller hardware.

The Sony U750P is not a Tablet PC. It is what is called a "handtop" with a
passive touch screen of 5". Not a comparable product at all.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"Mickey Segal" <ignored@example.com> wrote in message
news:OFsFJ3i7EHA.1396@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>I saw a Sony U750P today for the first time and was not impressed, despite
>my feeling that the market needs some smaller Tablet PCs.
>
> The screen was too small and it was too hard to click with precision using
> Sony's huge input device. When I compare to using the top half of the
> screen on my Motion Computing M1300 (in portrait mode using a 768 x 600
> area with about double the screen area of the U750P), the half-M1300 is
> vastly better. I don't know how much is the different screen, the larger
> size, the better digitizer or better screen display technology.
>
> Another issue is the lack of a VGA connector, which would create problems
> trying to use the U750P to connect to a projector.
>
> Someone needs to put out a device similar to half the M1300. I'm
> concerned that the deficiencies of the U750P will be seen as proving the
> unusability of small tablets and it will take a while for companies to
> dare to try smaller hardware.
>

The U750P is relevant to questions about desirable sizes for Tablet PCs.
People have even run XP Tablet PC 2005 on such computers:
http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonther...tapped_ta.html
though features such as handwriting recognition don't work as well due to
the inferior screen digitization.

Examination of such devices can help determine what needs to be better to
make smaller devices more workable. Is it screen digitization, pen/stylus
type, the OS or sheer size? Examining the U750P suggests all of these
factors are important, with a screen size half that of the M1300 being a
reasonable minimum for a workable device.

Since core markets for the Tablet PC are balking at the large size of
current Tablet PCs:
http://www.mobilehealthdata.com/arti...?articleid=889
the size issue is one of the most crucial issues to solve to get wider
acceptance of the Tablet PC platform. There are other issues such as
backward compatibility to existing applications that need to be addressed
better than Microsoft has done in XP Tablet PC 2005, but ignoring the size
issue may result in Tablet PCs having difficulty attaining critical mass in
the marketplace.

"Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote in message
news:%23yZq4Aj7EHA.4004@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> The Sony U750P is not a Tablet PC. It is what is called a "handtop" with
> a passive touch screen of 5". Not a comparable product at all.

Unfortunately, most people do not see the difference. It looks like a small
tablet, so it must be a Tablet PC. Those familiar with Tablet PCs, know the
difference, but the potential market for Tablet PCs are those not familiar
with it.

John... Visio MVP

Need stencils or ideas? http://www.mvps.org/visio/3rdparty.htm
Need VBA examples? http://www.mvps.org/visio/VBA.htm
Common Visio Questions http://www.mvps.org/visio/common_questions.htm
"Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote in message
news:%23yZq4Aj7EHA.4004@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> The Sony U750P is not a Tablet PC. It is what is called a "handtop" with
> a passive touch screen of 5". Not a comparable product at all.
> --
> Chris H.
> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
> Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
> Associate Expert
> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
>
> "Mickey Segal" <ignored@example.com> wrote in message
> news:OFsFJ3i7EHA.1396@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>I saw a Sony U750P today for the first time and was not impressed, despite
>>my feeling that the market needs some smaller Tablet PCs.
>>
>> The screen was too small and it was too hard to click with precision
>> using Sony's huge input device. When I compare to using the top half of
>> the screen on my Motion Computing M1300 (in portrait mode using a 768 x
>> 600 area with about double the screen area of the U750P), the half-M1300
>> is vastly better. I don't know how much is the different screen, the
>> larger size, the better digitizer or better screen display technology.
>>
>> Another issue is the lack of a VGA connector, which would create problems
>> trying to use the U750P to connect to a projector.
>>
>> Someone needs to put out a device similar to half the M1300. I'm
>> concerned that the deficiencies of the U750P will be seen as proving the
>> unusability of small tablets and it will take a while for companies to
>> dare to try smaller hardware.
>>
>
>

The U750 has a dongle that plugs into the bottom of the unit that
provides VGA output and an Ethernet connection. The docking station
also has a VGA connecter.

By the way, I'm extremely happy with mine!
Michael Connick
Sent from a Sony U750

How universal is support for that type of VGA output on typical projectors?
Do you need to carry an adaptor or is the existing output well supported?

It is good to hear that some people are pleased with this size screen; I
guess I will keep the image of it on my PowerPoint slides about using our
software. Are there configurations that you went through that make the
computer easier to use than is obvious from the in store configuration? For
example, is there a utility to align your pen location with your intended
location on the screen? Do you use the ritePen system for handwriting
recognition?

<mconnick@sprintpcs.com> wrote in message
news:1104429480.071935.148100@c13g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> The U750 has a dongle that plugs into the bottom of the unit that
> provides VGA output and an Ethernet connection. The docking station
> also has a VGA connecter.

I haven't tried my U750 with a projector yet.

The only thing I changed from the default setup was to set the font
size to 125% of normal. That makes the screen a whole lot easier for me
to read!

I mainly use the Office handwriting recognition, which is excellent. I
use ritePen outside of Office, and it works quite well, too.
------
Michael Connick
Sent from a Sony Vaio U750P

What is your sense of the optimal size of such devices? I imagine you would
prefer if the screen took up a greater fraction of the surface area of the
U750P, but would you prefer the whole device to be bigger or smaller in
terms of portability versus usability?

<mconnick@sprintpcs.com> wrote in message
news:1104477268.969119.212920@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> The only thing I changed from the default setup was to set the font
> size to 125% of normal. That makes the screen a whole lot easier for me
> to read!

Wow , that's an interesting question. I would like the unit to be
smaller sometimes, and larger other times. I really don't think there
is any one optimal size for a tablet PC. The only thing I can say is
that all-in-all, I'm very pleased with then U750.
Michael Connick
Sent from a Sony Vaio U750P

The answer will probably evolve over time, centering around size of pockets.
For doctors, who have large white coat pockets and a need to enter
information while talking to patients, a bigger size pen computer will be
useful immediately if it fits into a white coat pocket. For others, the
answer will be determined by the size of pockets in sport jackets. The
clothing manufacturers seem concerned more about excessive weight than
excessive size now. As the thickness of pen computers comes down they will
be more willing to support appropriate pockets for larger screen sizes. My
sense is that the market will only reward smaller size if the computer can
fit in a pocket.

Having a lighter battery with a spare in the other pocket will make sense
from the sport jacket balancing point of view.

<mconnick@sprintpcs.com> wrote in message
news:1104533520.071667.47590@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> Wow , that's an interesting question. I would like the unit to be
> smaller sometimes, and larger other times. I really don't think there
> is any one optimal size for a tablet PC.

I am running the Tablet OS on my Sony U and I love it. As for optimum form factor- that is up to the individual. For me, I spec'ed out a Mini-Tablet PC which would be perfect for me. It's slightly larger than the U:

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonther...tapped_ta.html

BTW, with the Tablet OS installed the statement about the accuracy being worse than a "real" tablet is not accurate. My accuracy matches that of any Tablet PC. :)

__________________
James Kendrick MVP - Tablet PC
jkOnTheRun || jkOnTheRun Forums || LockerGnome - Mobile

...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs.

I have an ex-japanese U70p and I find the display size adequate for viewing
information in our custom Patient Management System. Inputting data is more
difficult due to the size and because I don't currently have handwriting
recognition software.

At times I would prefer a larger screen within the same size unit but I
wouldn't sacrifice the front panel buttons for anything.

I can't comment on the digitizer as I haven't used many active ones.

The dongle allows output up to 1600x1200 on an external monitor or
projector. With my VAIO, dongle and a bluetooth presentation mouse there's
nothing more needed for powerpoint demonstrations.

If the device could be made thinner and lighter (and I don't believe that's
possible yet) it would be a contender for the jacket pocket, at the moment I
carry it seperately.

:)

"Mickey Segal" wrote:

> The answer will probably evolve over time, centering around size of pockets.
> For doctors, who have large white coat pockets and a need to enter
> information while talking to patients, a bigger size pen computer will be
> useful immediately if it fits into a white coat pocket. For others, the
> answer will be determined by the size of pockets in sport jackets. The
> clothing manufacturers seem concerned more about excessive weight than
> excessive size now. As the thickness of pen computers comes down they will
> be more willing to support appropriate pockets for larger screen sizes. My
> sense is that the market will only reward smaller size if the computer can
> fit in a pocket.
>
> Having a lighter battery with a spare in the other pocket will make sense
> from the sport jacket balancing point of view.
>
> <mconnick@sprintpcs.com> wrote in message
> news:1104533520.071667.47590@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> > Wow , that's an interesting question. I would like the unit to be
> > smaller sometimes, and larger other times. I really don't think there
> > is any one optimal size for a tablet PC.
>
>
>