Owning a tablet makes us a bit more unique than other students (or people in general). Tablets still aren’t mainstream, and until they are we tableteers inevitably face all sorts of questions, comments, and criticism about our amazing devices. From the “hey that’s a giant palm pilot!” to the “Where’s the keyboard?” to the “OMG, you just broke your laptop!!”

These questions are unavoidable, and there’s not much we can do about it except educate our laptop-lugging brethren. In this article, I’ll delve into some of the more common tablet questions and some of the ways I have dealt with them in the past…

How much does one of those cost?

My typical answer here is that they range from anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 and up depending on the model. They are like laptops in this regard. The more features and stuff you want the more you have to pay for it. You will probably have to pay $100-200 more than a comparable laptop, but in my opinion (and yours too, I imagine) the extra cost is totally worth it.

My problem when answering this question is that my personal tablet (LE1600) retails for over $2,500 as configured. (of course, no one pays retail price anymore) I always get that question, “Well, how much did YOURS cost?”

Just know that there are great models available for under $2,000. If you want something even better, you will need to pay for it.

Can it/Does it convert your handwriting to text?

Sure it can! However, most of the time I really don’t care. There’s something inherently more trustworthy about my handwriting than some random type. The recognition is really good, but not perfect. Also with the way I write my notes, with symbols and shorthands and stuff, it’s hard to get really good recognition. Also remember that probably over 90% of the data you enter into your computer is for your personal use alone and is not being shared.

This might be, if I have my tablet with me, where I show them a lecture note with ink in it. I would also point out here that the ink is still searchable even as handwriting.

Here are some times I use handwriting conversion:

• Sharing notes with others who are not tablet-friendly (orthographiphobes)
• Sharing documents in professional settings (time is short, don’t want people to have to decipher my handwriting)
• Instant messaging in AIM (because AIM doesn’t have ink)
• On the web (because the web doesn’t have ink save a few very cool examples)
• Most emails (because ink emails come in HTML format, which not everyone uses– especially blackberry users)

When I leave ink as ink:

• Using MSN Messenger, Office Communicator, or Windows Live Communicator
• Using MindManager or another note taking program like OneNote or Journal (Taking notes and making notes account for almost all of ink-based text entry)
• Doing sketches in Alias Sketchbook Pro or other application
• Using Tablet Enhancement for Outlook, www.tabletoutlook.com
• Sending ink emails

So, sure I can convert ink into text, but most of the time I’d really prefer to leave it as ink, more on this later.

Common Tablet Myths and Responses

When dealing with non-tableteers you will invariable face some opposition. Sure, some people will be onboard and just say, “OMFG that is the coolest thing EVAR!!!11!!” However there are doubters in our midst, and they must be dealt with accordingly. If I miss any of the myths you’ve run into, drop me a comment.

I type faster than I write so what’s the point?

This is one I get most often from experienced computer users like CS majors and engineers.

What’s the point? I’ll tell you what the point is, buddy! (maybe coming on a bit strong there )

Really the reasons for handwriting are twofold: using a pen, for some reason, stimulates the creative process; using a pen allows for more varied input that would otherwise be impossible or very difficult using a keyboard and mouse.

The Pen is Mightier than the ‘board

You can add more linguistic info in a pen stroke. While this sounds fuzzy, those of you who are tablet-inclined know what I am talking about. There is just something about a pen stroke that conveys more meaning than the typed word. Additionally, it’s been shown that handwriting produces more mnemonic information than typing. This means that all those lectures notes you are jotting down are being encoded into your memory more effectively than your laptop-lugging friend.

Moreover, using the pen you can include all sorts of symbols and shorthands to customize your notes and make them even more meaningful. Take a look at Tom Bishop’s article on how a lawyer uses shorthand to keep his legal notes:

Obviously you also have the ability to draw. This enables you to copy down diagrams from various sources, but, moreover, you now have the opportunity to make your own concept diagrams during lecture. If you are a visual learner, you’ll find this extremely helpful. Here’s an example from some of my own notes:

Concept diagrams and explanation diagram

and one more for good measure:

Finally you can still type. Most tablets are convertibles and have keyboards attached. Those without attached keyboards usually have some kind of detachable keyboard and all of them can use USB (most have bluetooth or some wireless functionality as well). Using a tablet does not require you to give up your keyboard, it solely gives you the option of using a more natural input device, the pen.

Tablets are too expensive

Yes, tablets are more expensive than comparable laptops, but they are not too expensive. You can find new tablets for as low as $1,000, which is a very sweet price point for a student. Given all the added functionality of the tablet, it’ll certainly make up the extra cost. Furthermore, many of the cheapest laptops are the big hunkering 8 pound monsters. These laptops are so heavy that students just leave them in the dorms rather than lugging them to class. With a tablet, you tend to have a lighter device along with additional functionality– which means, you’ll actually make good use of it, rather than letting it collect dust.

You can’t write naturally on one of those

Other than a slightly smoother surface (some tablet screens are made of glass) tablets offer just as natural a writing experience as with pen and paper. The pen responds naturally and the ink follows it as you write. Most tablets are even pressure sensitive, which allows for more natural-looking ink.

Show the skeptic some handwriting and also let them give it a try. Make sure you have them rest their hand on the screen, this ain’t no touch screen!

Bonus question: I had a palm pilot once and graffiti sucks so tablets suck too.

While not a question, this is the mentality some people have towards pen-based computing. One look at the fantastic abilities of recognizing ordinary handwriting (a regular sentence in TIP for example) should be enough to convert them, or at the very least shut them up.

Well, I need to run X application, so a tablet won’t work for me

Oh, I see. Does that application run on Windows XP Pro? Yes? Oh, good it’ll run on a tablet then. The only difference between the Tablet OS and XP Pro is Windows XP Tablet PC Edition has a few extra components to make the tablet stuff work. Nothing has been taken out, which means all your programs will run.

What? Tablets not powerful enough? The first generation of tablets were slow. I’ll admit it. My G1 M1200 with an 866mhz Pentium III-M was slower than a slug crawling on molasses, but since the advent of Pentium M processors and the Centrino chipset, tablets are plenty fast.

You have more powerful computing needs? Say no more! Take a look at the Toshiba Tecra M4 or the Gateway M280, or the Acer C300 series. These are monsters of machines capable of handling just about anything you throw at them. I play Half-Life 2 on my Gateway M280 in widescreen with all the details on! It also manages to handle all the pretty effects of Windows Vista. If you need power you need a desktop replacement tablet. Even the mobile tablets are including fast Pentium M processors with tons of RAM. Finding a speedy tablet is no longer a problem.

What you use a Mac? Can’t help you there, but there are a number of people who have switched from Apples to Tablets, maybe they’re on to something. Plus there could be an Apple tablet sometime in the future, or not.

Microsoft is going to discontinue them

Hogwash!

Microsoft is fully behind the Tablet! What you may see if that the distinction between regular laptops and tablets will begin to disappear, but that’s only because Microsoft is working to give every notebook tablet functionality.

Furthermore, Bill Gates is fully behind the tablet. His passion for the tablet will continue to further its development within Microsoft. Having spoken directly to Mr. Gates on this matter, I can firmly say he’s as passionate about the tablet as anyone.

The Demo

Ah, the demonstration. Time to put your money where your mouth is . Even after meticulously answering everyone’s questions, the best way to show off a tablet is by showing it off– a demonstration.

Everyone’s demonstration will differ based on your own use of the tablet. Being of the marketing persuasion I usually try to think of how they might use a tablet rather than how I use a tablet. If they are an electrical engineer I might show them how easy it would be to do circuit diagrams on their computer, and tell them about software that might help them. Or I might show them something like 3D Journal.

Since, most people are completely hung up on handwriting recognition I’ll give them a short demo of it. I always recommend using whatever input program you are most comfortable for you to demo with. For me this is usually MindManager, but sometimes I’ll demo OneNote or Journal. I’ll write a sentence, convert it, maybe even convert a whole map at once.

Before

After

You can see here, that only one mistake occurred in converting this whole map, and the mistake was because I used a shorthand for decreasing (an arrow pointing down). This can elicit a jaw drop from spectators.

To emphasize the ink as ink aspect, I might unconvert the ink (just hit undo), and then show some of the searching capabilities. Let me search for the word “passionate.”

Well look what I found! Bloody brilliant if you ask me. I might also show some of the gesture-based interface either built-in to the app, like MindManager and Maxthon, or using StrokeIt.

Finally, if you have been using your tablet for a long time, like me, you probably have a ton of notes saved from previous terms. Showing someone a lecture note from your second semester of freshman year can really showcase how your tablet is the one place for all your information.

Your demonstrations will obviously differ based on your experiences and what you are trying to show your audience. Unfortunately, we are still at a point where the best way to really express the value of a tablet is with up close and personal showcases like this.

Closing

You should now be armed to handle even the most foolish tablet skeptics. Go now my army! Kidding… maybe.

I’d be interested to hear about your own experiences in demonstrating your tablet and your “routine” if you got one.

I’m off to Vegas for CES– I’ll try to report from the front lines. Expect some juicy tablet news!

And just for the record, Pink Floyd - The Wall is one hell of an album (listening to it as I write this)

Other posts that may interest you:

1. Tablets becoming a common sight locally
2. Tablet PC’s in the Highschool Classroom
3. Virginia Tech and their Tablet PCs
4. The Tablet Demo to Show Your Parents!
5. Urgent!!! Taking ideas for Tablet Awareness Day/Week!!!