I gather Office 2003 has handwriting features. If you've got Office 2003
enabled for handwriting, what extra features does the Tablet OS bring along?
ie can you run it without the tablet OS and its the same?

Are there some features in Office 2003 that only become possible if Tablet
OS is installed? or does Office run the same on normal XP and it does with a
tablet OS?

I am considering running Office 2003 and /or tablet OS on a u750p I would
like to make an informed choice about whether tablet OS is worth the
investment (the U comes without tablet OS, but it can be installed)

If the device you're looking at comes without Windows XP Pro (the operating
system) and the Tablet PC Edition 2005 installed, it is not a real Tablet PC
as we support in this newsgroup. It sounds more like a "pen tablet" which
would probably a touch screen instead of the digital requirements on Tablet
PCs.

On such a machine, you would not get the full benefit and experience of the
digital Ink as you would on a Tablet PC. The difference between Ink and
"handwriting" in Office 2003? The latter is more for mouse or writing pad
input, which is 1/3 or 1/4 the speed of digital recognition on a Tablet PC.

The Tablet PC, with the Tablet Input Panel, give you handwriting
recognition, too. The Tablet PC Edition software is only available on OEM
Tablet PCs or via a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscription for
development purposes only.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"me" <me@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:31374D0B-BC6C-479E-B3C1-38C48B7C930B@microsoft.com...
>I gather Office 2003 has handwriting features. If you've got Office 2003
> enabled for handwriting, what extra features does the Tablet OS bring
> along?
> ie can you run it without the tablet OS and its the same?
>
> Are there some features in Office 2003 that only become possible if Tablet
> OS is installed? or does Office run the same on normal XP and it does with
> a
> tablet OS?
>
> I am considering running Office 2003 and /or tablet OS on a u750p I would
> like to make an informed choice about whether tablet OS is worth the
> investment (the U comes without tablet OS, but it can be installed)

"Chris H." wrote:

> If the device you're looking at comes without Windows XP Pro (the operating
> system) and the Tablet PC Edition 2005 installed, it is not a real Tablet PC
> as we support in this newsgroup. It sounds more like a "pen tablet" which
> would probably a touch screen instead of the digital requirements on Tablet
> PCs.

> On such a machine, you would not get the full benefit and experience of the
> digital Ink as you would on a Tablet PC. The difference between Ink and
> "handwriting" in Office 2003? The latter is more for mouse or writing pad
> input, which is 1/3 or 1/4 the speed of digital recognition on a Tablet PC.

Hi
thanks for the quick reply

The Sony U750p (sorry I didn't give its full name before) comes with XP but
several folks are upgrading to tablet OS. eg

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonther...70_review.html
and here
http://www.i4u.com/section-viewarticle-53.html

The screen isn't a full spec tablet but the input method is the same to any
other tablet pc - ie stylus. User groups report that tablet OS works fully on
that PC:
to quote:"There are no issues with the Tablet OS and it works just like any
Tablet PC. The passive digitizer of the U means there is no hover mode like
real Tablets but there is no loss because of it as far as I can tell"

So, switching from handing writing recognition in Office with plain XP to
tablet OS with Office , would this give extra me functionality in Office?

I've seen this quote (at the link above) eg.
"The Tablet extensions make OneNote come alive by adding handwriting
recognition to that program, thus allowing you to take full advantage of
OneNote's inking capabilities. "

The above suggests you have to have tablet OS to use Onenote inking.

I've looked at the Office site, but it doesn't seem to say how "Handwriting
recognition in Office in XP" is different to "Office with Tablet OS."
Is it the same, similar or very different experience from the user point of
view?

thanks

Are you a developer? Otherwise, you don't have access to the software, or
the legal right to use it.

In answer to your Office questions, yes, the Tablet PCs add further
dimensions to Office 2003 with the built-in digital handwriting recognition
and other functions. Office XP (the 2002 version products) does not
natively have support for use with a Tablet PC, and requires an add-on pack
for Ink.

OneNote requires a Tablet PC for specific functions not available for users
when the application is installed on desktops or laptops.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"me" <me@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E379CCAA-777E-4543-802A-6AADD0BB0034@microsoft.com...
> "Chris H." wrote:
>
>> If the device you're looking at comes without Windows XP Pro (the
>> operating
>> system) and the Tablet PC Edition 2005 installed, it is not a real Tablet
>> PC
>> as we support in this newsgroup. It sounds more like a "pen tablet"
>> which
>> would probably a touch screen instead of the digital requirements on
>> Tablet
>> PCs.
>
>> On such a machine, you would not get the full benefit and experience of
>> the
>> digital Ink as you would on a Tablet PC. The difference between Ink and
>> "handwriting" in Office 2003? The latter is more for mouse or writing
>> pad
>> input, which is 1/3 or 1/4 the speed of digital recognition on a Tablet
>> PC.
>
> Hi
> thanks for the quick reply
>
> The Sony U750p (sorry I didn't give its full name before) comes with XP
> but
> several folks are upgrading to tablet OS. eg
>
> http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonther...70_review.html
> and here
> http://www.i4u.com/section-viewarticle-53.html
>
> The screen isn't a full spec tablet but the input method is the same to
> any
> other tablet pc - ie stylus. User groups report that tablet OS works fully
> on
> that PC:
> to quote:"There are no issues with the Tablet OS and it works just like
> any
> Tablet PC. The passive digitizer of the U means there is no hover mode
> like
> real Tablets but there is no loss because of it as far as I can tell"
>
> So, switching from handing writing recognition in Office with plain XP to
> tablet OS with Office , would this give extra me functionality in Office?
>
> I've seen this quote (at the link above) eg.
> "The Tablet extensions make OneNote come alive by adding handwriting
> recognition to that program, thus allowing you to take full advantage of
> OneNote's inking capabilities. "
>
> The above suggests you have to have tablet OS to use Onenote inking.
>
> I've looked at the Office site, but it doesn't seem to say how
> "Handwriting
> recognition in Office in XP" is different to "Office with Tablet OS."
> Is it the same, similar or very different experience from the user point
> of
> view?
>
> thanks

"Chris H." wrote:

> Are you a developer? Otherwise, you don't have access to the software, or
> the legal right to use it.

I thought anyone can be a developer as long as they pay the money and are
developing kit?
>
> In answer to your Office questions, yes, the Tablet PCs add further
> dimensions to Office 2003 with the built-in digital handwriting recognition
> and other functions.

I'm being slow here I guess but I still don't understand what the
differences are (its difficult because I've not seen it working close up).
Could you give an example of how the handwriting already in XP Office 2003,
is improved by tablet OS?

> OneNote requires a Tablet PC for specific functions not available for users
> when the application is installed on desktops or laptops.

Again, could you give an example perhaps? thanks

Reason for coming back to this is it is a huge outlay to get a developer
license to buy tablet OS, so I want to make sure it will add more than the
interface currently on the u750p - which is Ritepen

thanks for your help

me <me@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> "Chris H." wrote:
>
> > Are you a developer? Otherwise, you don't have access to the software, or
> > the legal right to use it.
>
> I thought anyone can be a developer as long as they pay the money and are
> developing kit?

They can indeed. Although it is quite a bit of money.

> >
> > In answer to your Office questions, yes, the Tablet PCs add further
> > dimensions to Office 2003 with the built-in digital handwriting recognition
> > and other functions.
>
> I'm being slow here I guess but I still don't understand what the
> differences are (its difficult because I've not seen it working close up).
> Could you give an example of how the handwriting already in XP Office 2003,
> is improved by tablet OS?

I think there was a problem with designation with what you were calling
office. You reffered to it as Office XP and later Office 2003 (or XP
office 2003).

Office 2003 (office v11) has handwriting recognition, Office XP (office
10) and Office 2000 (office v9) need an addon to have any handwriting
features.

> Reason for coming back to this is it is a huge outlay to get a developer
> license to buy tablet OS, so I want to make sure it will add more than the
> interface currently on the u750p - which is Ritepen

It is a huge outlay to get a developer license and I wouldn't think that
it would really give you much more on a U750p than you would have with
Ritepen as the hardware isn't designed for it anyway.

I think the main attraction in sticking Tablet edition on a passive
touchscreen device is to see if it can be done, rather than any real
functionality improvements.


--
Woody

www.alienrat.com

You'd actually be better off checking the pricing on real Tablet PC
machines, get something like the new Averatec (near $1,000 at certain
locations), and have the proper hardware working for you. And it would save
you the cost of an MSDN subscription, too. Tablet PC MVP Terri Stratton has
a complete comparison chart, including all slates, convertibles and hybrids
(including OEM pricing) here: http://thetabletpc.net .

Office XP is not Ink aware. The 2002 versions of the Office family came out
before Tablet PCs were launched, and Office wasn't even written with Tablets
or the digital Ink capabilities in mind. So that version of Office (XP or
2002 individual program versions) needs what is called the Office XP Pack
for Tablet PC (Tablet Pack):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...e-74b64626a494

As the URL above notes, there is additionally functionality added to certain
Office XP products which can only be done on a Tablet PC - with the Tablet
Pack.

Office 2003's versions of the programs, are written with digital Ink in
mind, and have the functionality the Tablet Pack adds plus some other items
natively. However, even Office 2003 is not complete, hence the recent
release of the Improved Ink Recognition in the Office 2003 Tablet PC Update:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
This enabled additional context-based handwriting recognition for the Office
applications, meaning even more input areas are "tagged" which gives the
Tablet PC users "context" buttons on the Tablet Input Panel.

You know what I would do in all honesty: Take a piece of paper and mark out
the dimensions of the screen for the product you're thinking of buying. Try
writing sentences within that area with a pencil. Now flip that paper over
and mark out an area roughly 9.75 inches by 9.25 inches (the approximate
area of a 12.1" Tablet PC screen. Do the writing of sentences again. 8-)
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"me" <me@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:23CB9E9F-0628-4AF6-A639-E03E8D9257EA@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Chris H." wrote:
>
>> Are you a developer? Otherwise, you don't have access to the software,
>> or
>> the legal right to use it.
>
> I thought anyone can be a developer as long as they pay the money and are
> developing kit?
>>
>> In answer to your Office questions, yes, the Tablet PCs add further
>> dimensions to Office 2003 with the built-in digital handwriting
>> recognition
>> and other functions.
>
> I'm being slow here I guess but I still don't understand what the
> differences are (its difficult because I've not seen it working close up).
> Could you give an example of how the handwriting already in XP Office
> 2003,
> is improved by tablet OS?
>
>> OneNote requires a Tablet PC for specific functions not available for
>> users
>> when the application is installed on desktops or laptops.
>
> Again, could you give an example perhaps? thanks
>
> Reason for coming back to this is it is a huge outlay to get a developer
> license to buy tablet OS, so I want to make sure it will add more than the
> interface currently on the u750p - which is Ritepen
>
> thanks for your help

The question is not whether you _are_ a developer, but for what purpose you
are installing the developer licensed Windows XP Tablet PC 2005 Edition --
the only legal use of it is for development and testing purposes. Otherwise,
you need to be an OEM installing it on your own hardware.

Beyond that, I doubt that the passive digitizer in the Sony samples at a
sufficiently high rate to work effectively at handwriting _recognition_ (as
opposed to display). And, finally, Office 2003, without the Tablet PC OS,
will certainly display graphical elements such as handwriting. But the
underlying conversion to words requires the Tablet PC OS.


--
Charlie.

me wrote:
> "Chris H." wrote:
>
>> Are you a developer? Otherwise, you don't have access to the
>> software, or the legal right to use it.
>
> I thought anyone can be a developer as long as they pay the money and
> are developing kit?
>>
>> In answer to your Office questions, yes, the Tablet PCs add further
>> dimensions to Office 2003 with the built-in digital handwriting
>> recognition and other functions.
>
> I'm being slow here I guess but I still don't understand what the
> differences are (its difficult because I've not seen it working close
> up). Could you give an example of how the handwriting already in XP
> Office 2003, is improved by tablet OS?
>
>> OneNote requires a Tablet PC for specific functions not available
>> for users when the application is installed on desktops or laptops.
>
> Again, could you give an example perhaps? thanks
>
> Reason for coming back to this is it is a huge outlay to get a
> developer license to buy tablet OS, so I want to make sure it will
> add more than the interface currently on the u750p - which is Ritepen
>
> thanks for your help