How to Configure a Tablet PC

Tablet PCs have many configuration settings that are not available on regular PCs. You can calibrate the pen with your screen. You can change if or when the computer should display the text input panel. Some styli come with an extra button that can be configured to perform any task you assign to it. The tablet PC pen can even be configured for left hand or right hand use. All of these configurations and more are located within the Windows Control Panel.

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" menu.

2. Click "Control Panel."

3. Click "Tablet PC Settings." You can configure all of the settings that are unique to a tablet PC from this menu. If you do not see this menu, try switching to "Classic view" or select "Show all control panel items."

4. Click "Calibrate" toward the middle of the screen. This menu calibrates the screen with the pen. You will be asked to use the pen to touch several cross hairs as they appear in different places on the screen.

5. Click the "Buttons" tab at the top of the window. This menu allows you to change the functions of your tablet PC's buttons. Any button can be changed by selecting it from the menu, clicking "Change" and delegating a new task to the button.

6. Click "Other." The first part of this menu allows you to choose if you want to use the tablet PC with your left or right hand. Menus will display in the opposite direction of the hand chosen, making them easier to see on a tablet.

7. Click the "Go to Pen and Touch" link. This first menu allows you to change what the computer should do based on your actions with the pen. Click any of the actions in the selection box and then "settings" to change these actions.

8. Click the "Flicks" tab at the top of the screen. This menu allows you to change whether or not you wish to use navigational flicks with your tablet PC. Navigational flicks allow you to navigate the web or other Internet Explorer windows by flicking the pen or your finger in a certain direction. You can also select how sensitive the computer should be to your flicks. If it takes two or three flicks for the computer to react, you can change the sensitivity to "relaxed" to improve performance.

9. Click the "Handwriting" tab at the top of the screen. If you want the computer to learn your handwriting as you use it, leave "Use automatic learning" checked. If you do not want it to store data about your handwriting, choose the "Don't use automatic learning" option.

10. Click the "Touch" tab at the top of the screen. This menu lets you add and change how the computer reacts to touch. Select an action you want to change and click "settings." Click "OK" to close this menu.

11. Click the "Go to Input Panel Settings" link. This menu allows you to change how the text input panel reacts to virtually everything you do with it. You can select where it should appear on the screen, when it should open, if it should or should not guess what word you are writing, and even where the insert button appears on the screen.

12. Click "OK" twice to save your settings. Your tablet PC is now completely configured.

References

• "Microsoft: Getting More out of Your Tablet PC"