Thoughts About the Tablet PC s Future

Thoughts About the Tablet PC's Future

Although the Tablet PC is relatively new, I believe it will change the way people use computers. Some people don't understand how the Tablet PC can help them. Others do. Most people I talk to about Tablet PCs say they don't see the benefit. After ten minutes with them, they usually are placing an order with their purchasing department.

Sometimes the benefits are not obvious. Once you play with one for a day or two and really think through how it could improve your processes and work style, you will probably see areas that it can help. However, not everyone reaches that conclusion, as some simply won't benefit from a Tablet PC.

For many people who are planning to buy a laptop, I recommend going the Tablet PC route instead. Prices aren't much different, and the additional functionality is incredible once you get used to it. Although Tablet PCs are not as fast as high-end notebooks, the additional functionality can benefit many more so than sheer processor power.

Being able to sit in your easy chair, on the back porch, or in a crowded airplane or airport, and being able to get stuff done effectively without a mouse and wired network connection, makes the Tablet PC much more appealing to me than a laptop.

Sometimes I even sit on the couch in my company's lobby to work when I want to get out of my office. People looked at me funny at first; now they want a Tablet PC, too. (Especially when they see me outside on the deck working on a beautiful day when they're stuck inside.)

The Tablet PC enables a different way of work and life. Do you keep a paper planner? Good. You may want to until FranklinCovey releases version 4 of their TabletPlanner. Version 2 works great, but it still doesn't incorporate the Weekly Compass, a core part of the Franklin Planner. According to sources at FranklinCovey, the Weekly Compass will not be incorporated until version 4. Once the Weekly Compass is included, TabletPlanner will become even more of a killer app for the Tablet PC.

Do you have impromptu meetings in the hallway? Not the domain of laptops. But the Tablet PC can be effective to take notes, pull up information, and even record the conversation for reference later.

Wireless is here to stay. So is the Tablet PC whether the critics "get it" or not.

The Absolute Minimum

Here are the key points to take away from this chapter:

• Rest your hand on the display. It's not a touch screen, so you can touch anywhere you want with your fingers and nothing will happen.

• Use an external display to extend your screen real estate when in the office.

• Try your Tablet PC in different modes and circumstances to see how you like to use it best. It accommodates multiple modes of operation.

• Use the Tablet PC tutorials to get a quick overview of how to use your Tablet PC, and then jump back into this book to learn more.