Tablets take on the corporate world

Nestled between the world of handheld devices and the notebook computer sits the tablet. Long maligned as a niche product for vertical industries, Microsoft and its manufacturing partners have breathed new life into the device, hoping to convince enterprise workers that it's time to rethink the usefulness of their notebook PCs.

The idea of bringing tablets to a horizontal audience isn't new - it's just never been successful. Earlier products suffered from high cost, slow processors and a serious weight problem. The new devices run Windows XP Tablet Edition, boast faster processors and enhancements designed to appeal to what Microsoft calls "corridor warriors," those who carry notebooks from meeting to meeting. Microsoft is betting corridor warriors will tote tablets instead, take notes on the machine, and then redock the system when they return to their desks.

We received two prerelease Tablet PCs, one from ViewSonic (the ViewPad 1100) and HP (a production model of the Compaq Tablet PC TC1000). We had a few weeks to see whether they would change our lives or work habits.

We showed the tablets to curious colleagues, and connected to various wired and wireless networks. Because both machines use the new Tablet PC Edition operating system, we focused on its features first.

The standout application is the Journal, which resembles a sheet of white loose-leaf notebook paper. When you write on the screen with the special pen, the tablet writes on the "paper" in your handwriting. The application then can store your notes in a searchable file. The Journal also converts your handwriting into digital text, but not as successfully. Whether you like the handwriting-recognition feature depends on the legibility of your handwriting and your patience in correcting the software's mistakes. If you lack both, stick to saving the file in your handwriting. The input technology is integrated into other applications, such as Word and Outlook (where you can send handwritten notes via e-mail). Other than that, the operating system looks and feels like XP.

On the hardware side, products vary considerably in screen size, processor, memory, expansion ports and price. Some include docking stations.

Some models use the slate style; others, the convertible style. Looking like a traditional table, slate-style devices like the ViewSonic model we tested are carried around like a clipboard. Keyboards are optional. The convertible style lets you convert the device from a tablet style to a more traditional notebook style by swiveling around the screen and adding a keyboard. Acer's TravelMate Tablet PC fits this description.

HP's TC1000 acts like a slate, but with a few hinge flips, converts into a small ultraportable notebook with a small keyboard. When you add a docking station, the tablet PC transforms into a larger notebook, or even a desktop system. The TC1000 can look like a regular notebook with a full-size keyboard and monitor attached. When you get a phone call, you can swivel the notebook down and it goes into its 'writing mode,' which launches the Journal application so you can take notes. When you're through, you can swivel back and resume using the device like a notebook.