How to Use a Tablet PC

If you've ever taken notes in a meeting only to misplace them hours later, you've experienced one of the reasons that buyers turn to Tablet PCs. A Tablet PC offers the same portability as a laptop computer, but you can write on the screen, just as you would on a notepad. You can then save what you have written in a digital file for safekeeping or sharing with your colleagues.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Tablet PC
• Microsoft Office

Configure Your Tablet PC for Easy Use

1. Turn on your Tablet PC and log into your user account.

2. If you own a convertible Tablet PC or have an external keyboard connected to your slate Tablet PC, you can use it just as you would use a laptop or desktop computer. You must, however, calibrate your Tablet PC so that you can use your pen with it.

3. Launch the "Tablet and Pen Settings" menu from inside the Control Panel. You can indicate whether you are right-handed or left-handed. You will need to calibrate your Tablet PC for both landscape and portrait modes.

Input Text Naturally on Your Tablet PC

1. Launch the program in Microsoft Office that you want to use on your Tablet PC. You can use Microsoft Word to create and edit documents. You can keep your notes organized in Microsoft OneNote.

2. Bring your digital pen close to the text field in which you want to enter text. Click on the icon that appears for the Input Panel. Using the Input Panel, you can have your handwriting converted to electronic text.

3. Correct any mistakes that the handwriting recognition software makes. The Tablet PC's best guess at what you intended to write will appear below each written word. If there was a mistake, you can click on the mistake and replace the mistake with the correct word.

Enhance Your Tablet PC Experience

1. Download the Tablet PC Experience Pack from the Microsoft website (see Resources below). This free software includes tools that allow you to write or draw directly on your desktop, easily copy images on your screen and access your media files from your Tablet PC.

2. Browse third-party software applications that provide additional functionality on your Tablet PC (see Resources below).

3. You can find tools for work, such as calculators and dictionaries, as well as diversions.

Tips & Warnings

• Each time that you change your handedness preference, you should recalibrate your Tablet PC.

• If you are running Windows Vista, you can improve the handwriting recognition by enabling personalization and training options in the "Tablet and Pen Settings" menu.

Resources

• Download the Experience Pack from Microsoft
• Microsoft PowerToys for Tablet PCs