TABLET PC

A tablet PC is a wireless, portable personal computer with a touch screen interface. The tablet is typically smaller than a notebook computer but larger than a smartphone. The most common kind of tablet is the slate style, like Apple's iPad or Microsoft's Surface computer. Tablets have electronics integrated into the touch screen unit and lack a hardware keyboard. However, external keyboards are available for slate style tablets. Some keyboards also function as docks for the devices.

The technology behind the Tablet PC is no doubt a result of the best and latest things which has made the use of the PC similar to that of a notebook. The user can easily open the PC, start it and begin his respective works of writing, recording, capturing photographs, sending and receiving mails etc. Mouse is not used in this computer as there are alternatives to the mouse that replaces the previous with far better effect. Instead of the mouse there is a touch pad in the Tablet PC which can be controlled with the help of the fingertips.

The advantages of these Tablet PCs are many in which we can name firstly the portability and easy surfing. Anywhere, whether it is a garden, a beach, a room or while transporting, the use of the Tablet PCs cannot be prevented by any external factor. For this reason day by day these PCs are gaining a huge popularity and admiration among people.

The Tablet PCs are very small in size and can be termed as the smallest invention in the field of the computers. The use of the fingertips or a digital pen is the main attraction in this computer. The manual of this computer is designed in a way to be used by any type of user. Whether a child or an adult, everyone can take good advantage of the Tablet PCs.

Other facilities that can be called very often regarding the Tablet PCs are that these have a high memory capacity to keep all data intact. The storage capacity in the hard disk is huge, very technically designed for a trouble free mobile computing and a digitizer screen that is compatible to the Tablet PC. There are facilities of attaching an extra keyboard and mouse too if required. Thus these can be used extensively at home if the situation arises that the computer has to be used for hours. Usually the Tablet PC are capable of using for a long time, still it is better to be cautious and avoid using them for long periods.

Other styles of tablets:

Convertible Tablet

A convertible tablet normally has a display that rotates 180 degrees and can be folded to close, screen up, over the integrated keyboard.

Convertible models PC is much like a laptop. In fact, at first glance you would be hard pressed to see any different at all. The main difference, however, is the convertible's capability to turn the screen 180 degrees and close on top of the keyboard with the screen facing up. In this position, the convertible functions just like a Tablet PC by responding to the touch of a finger or stylus. The convertible comes packed with all the conveniences and functionality of a laptop computer, with the sharing and presentation power of a Tablet PC. The one downside of the convertible, compared to other types of Tablet PCs, is that with a full-size keyboard, the convertible has a little more weight and bulk.

Slate:The slate Tablet PC was designed to be lightweight, sleek and extremely portable. The slate looks very similar to an enlarged version of a PDA. Slates are fairly powerful PC computers with a high level of functionality. To interact with a slate, simply drag, tap and loop a finger or a stylus across the screen. Without the burden of an attached keyboard, the slate is perfect for frequent transportation. However, the slate does have several ports, including several USB ports to connect a keyboard, mouse, external hard drives, etc. In addition, the slate has the capacity to connect to a monitor or data projector, making it convenient for presentation and sharing purposes.

A hybrid tablet, sometimes referred to as a convertible or hybrid notebook, is like a regular notebook but with a removable display that functions independently as a slate.

A rugged tablet is a slate like model that is considered to withstand rough handling and extreme conditions. Rugged tablets are usually encased in a protective shell and have shock-protected hard drives. They are very functional computers for a person who needs to conduct research or work out in the field, where accidents are more likely to happen.

The idea of tablet computing is mostly recognized to Alan Kay of Xerox, who sketched out the idea in 1971. The first broadly sold tablet computer was Apple Computer's Newton, which was not a commercial achievement. Technological developments in battery life, display resolution, handwriting recognition software, larger memory, and wireless Internet access have since made tablets a feasible computing option.

Typical functions of tablet computers:

• Wireless mobile browser functions using 2G,3G,4G or WiFi
• E-mail and social media devices (typically with integration apps to bring all feeds into the same view)
• Prospective cell phone functions (Messaging, video calling, speakerphone or headset cellphone uses)
• GPS navigation
• Camera functions, photo and video viewing and editing
• E-book reading (including electronic versions of periodicals)
• Downloadable apps (games, education, utilities)
• Handy media player function
• Weigh around one or two pounds (0.5 - 1 kilogram)
• Battery life of three to twelve hours depending on usage.
• Ambient light and proximity sensors

History of tablets

Tablet pc computers are derivate of many different technologies and ideas from the past. A digitizer or graphic tablet with handwriting text recognition was presented back in 1956 as a replacement for keyboard. The concept of tablet pc is also related to pen computing, where pen or stylus is used as a user interface instead of mouse or keyboard.

One of tablet predecessors was PDA device, a handheld personal computer used for taking notes and storing data like phone numbers. These devices date into 1980 when Psion launched its first PDA model. The idea was taken by Apple with its Newton and by US Robotics with Palm Pilot. Revolutionary idea and products were way ahead its time and they sank into history almost unperceived.

Next major step was introduction of special Microsoft XP windows OS named Windows XP Tablet PC edition in 2001. This edition incorporated support for pen-sensitive screen and handwriting. Microsoft's contribution is also the name "Tablet PC" as this was the first time it was used. Various attempts from different companies were made since then.

Tablet Computers Offer Different Sizes and Styles for Different Types of Customers

Plenty of computer users have made a successful transition from laptop, notebook, or desktop computers to lighter and more versatile tablet computers. In fact, a boom from the Software Development Times indicates that nearly a third of all American adults own a tablet computer or e-reader. The statistic is not really that surprising considering the number of uses a tablet computer brings to the table.

Though, finding the right tablet PC for a given user is not a one-size-fits-all shopping capability. Some tablets are not really tablets all; they are just tricked out electronic readers running modified versions of operating systems (think Kindle Fire and Nook Color). Still, not all tablet computers are created the same either, which is another reason why users should pay close attention before forking over some hard earned cash for something that could turn out to be a coaster in a few months.

One of the first things shoppers need to consider is content. A tablet is only as good as the content it can display. Obviously, users who have a ton of iTunes content are going to want to consider the Apple iPad, because that content is pretty much trapped on Apple devices. In a similar move, anyone with an extensive Barnes & Noble electronic book collection will probably want to avoid the Kindle Fire, because there is not yet a Nook app for the Fire (though that could always change). In short, users should take a few minutes or hours to make sure their Netflix accounts, Hulu accounts, Amazon Video on Demand content, eBooks, movies, and music presently in their library will be of use on the new tablet.

Another cool story of some tablet computers is the ability to video conference or video chat (Apple users call it "Face Time") with friends and family in different locations. Obviously, tablet computers without a front facing camera offer no ability to use any of the video chatting services. Therefore, shoppers who think the technology would be fun to try should shop accordingly.

Expandability and capacity are also issues for some tablet computer owners. The size of the storage usually has an impact on price (which is why the iPads come in different sizes), but many tablets offer the chance to expand capacity with an SD card (the electronic readers usually favor this type of expansion). Of course, any tablet computer with a USB port is fair game for USB memory device as well.

In short, the world of tablet computers can offer something for everyone, but it can also offer different things to different people. Even going so far as to make a list of what activities are demanded out of the device can help shoppers not overspend and get the unit that fits them perfectly atleast for now.

Making Multimedia in a World of Tablet Computers

Tablet computers are the major up comers in the customer and enterprise technology industry. In the past, tablet computers were commonly altered laptops with swivel screens and a large keyboard. There was no touch interface, lightweight options, or wifi. That has changed as today's tablets have no keyboard attached (except a virtual one) and are operated using a purely touch-screen interface. Multimedia designers and developers must aware of the special abilities of these devices, especially when considering the user interface, as they will not be able to rely on the old tried-and-true mouse and keyboard.

While the quest for a popular tablet had overwhelmed computer companies for years, the technology had never quite been there. Now, with smaller processors, LCD screens, and solid-state drives, tablets are finally a reality. Unfortunately, while the technology for tablet computers is widely available, they still aren't as capable as their big brother laptop machines. The tablet's limitations will have a decisive impact on multimedia and what one can accomplish on the platform.

The most popular tablet computer on the market today is the Apple iPad. With upwards of 25 million+ units sold in its first 2 years, the iPad is the trend-setter in the explosive wave of tablets that has has ht the consumer computing markets. One of the most talked about problem with the iPad, however, is its inability to run Adobe Flash and the Java runtime environment, a major set-back to many multimedia designers. Adobe is solving the problem for multimedia developers by announcing that they have decided to kill Flash for portable devices, and have stopped development on future Flash players on phones and tablets. Flash creators will have to think twice before creating Flash applications for the web, or even creating standalone Flash programs, if they expect their creations to be viewed on a tablet device. The only way to create apps or to make rich internet media for the iPad, as of today, is through a complex programming language such as Objective C, or by learning web design with HTML5 and Javascript. Many designers who are unfamiliar with programming and HTML will find this a major obstacle for developing multimedia on the iPad.

The multimedia designers of tomorrow are going to have to adapt to whatever technologies are just around the bend. App developers for cell phones are already feeling the pinch of developing for multiple platforms that require different multimedia and technology skills. Designers will be able to continue to use the skills already in popular use, such as Photoshop, Flash, 3D animation, and video, but they will also increasingly need to have some knowledge, maybe even a great deal of knowledge, of programming to make themselves useful and flexible in a variety of environments. Designers may need to consider obtaining at least a basic knowledge of programming in a popular object-oriented language such as C++ or Java. Perhaps the best strategy is to begin learning HTML5, which is ubiquitous on almost all tablet computers. That way, whichever tablet winds up with the the greatest market share, multimedia creators will be ready to adapt to the platforms that become popular in the coming years.

Tablet computing is quickly changing the way the world obtains and interacts with multimedia. If the iPad is any indicator, there is a definite demand for tablet computing. With their ease of use, their portability, and their ability to handle complex user interfaces, tablets could become a multimedia creator's dream. Unfortunately it is a technology still in its infancy and there are a lot of questions for multimedia creators about the future of tablet computing.

Instructions:-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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Browse third-party software applications that provide additional functionality on your Tablet PC (see Resources below).
9. You can find tools for work, such as calculators and dictionaries, as well as diversions.

Advantages

Advantages of tablets pc compared to notebooks are their size and weight. Due to their portability, they are very practical and can be used while sitting in sofa, lying in bed or walking around. With a size of a book and special ereader application they can replace this traditional reading source.

Disadvantages

Hardware especially screen is prone to damage as they are carried around and used in various situations and environments. Compared to other personal computers as notebooks and PC's they have weaker capabilities. Especially video with its low resolution is a drawback comparing it to its big brothers. Minimalist ergonomic can be a tradeoff regarding typing experience. Traditional keyboard with wrist rest is much more comfortable.