How to Use a Digital Pen on a Tablet PC

While laptop computers are portable and can be taken on the road or into meetings, they do not offer the same degree of flexibility as an old-fashioned notepad and pen. If you take notes with a notepad and pen, however, you may need to digitize the notes so that you can store them and share them with others. With a Tablet PC, you can use the included digital pen to take notes in your own handwriting and save them as digital files. This allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Tablet PC
• Digital pen

Navigate With the Digital Pen of Your Tablet PC

1. Remove the digital pen from its holder on your Tablet PC. Pointing toward the screen with the tip of your digital pen, select "Tablet" and "Pen Settings" from within the Control Panel.

2. Calibrate the digital pen so that you can use it with your Tablet PC. On the "Settings" tab of "Tablet and Pen Settings," select "Calibrate." Follow the instructions on the screen of your Tablet PC to set up the digital pen so that you can use it as accurately as you would use a mouse.

3. Point toward icons and buttons that you want to select with the digital pen, just as you would with the cursor when using a mouse. Some digital pens have a side button on them that you can configure for different functions, as you would the right button on a mouse.

Use Your Digital Pen to Write Text on Your Tablet PC

1. Bring the digital pen close to a text field on the screen of your Tablet PC. Tap on the "Input Panel" icon that will appear near the text field. This will launch the Input Panel that you can use to enter text on your Tablet PC.

2. Write your text in the Input Panel. Additional lines will appear in the Input Panel as necessary.

3. Check the accuracy of the handwriting recognition. Under each word that you write in the Input Panel, your Tablet PC will display what it believes you are writing. If there are any mistakes, tap on the word that has been incorrectly recognized by the Tablet PC, and alternative words will appear.

Tips & Warnings

• If the Tablet PC model that you own has a digital pen that does not have a side button or eraser, you may be able to purchase a third-party digital pen with these features. The third-party pen, however, may not fit in the slot of your Tablet PC.

• If you are using an edition of Windows Vista, you can improve the handwriting recognition through the personalization options.