What is a Tablet PC

A Tablet PC is a cross between a notebook PC and a personal digital assistant (PDA). It's a flat-panel portable PC in the form of a slate. A user inputs data either by tapping the screen with astylus, or using the stylus to write directly on to the screen. The tablet PC can wirelessly connect to the Internet and other PCs and is intended to provide the power of a notebook in hand-held form.

The tablet PC comes loaded with a special edition of Windows XP Professional and can run nearly all XP-compatible applications, including applications designed for the tablet PC. The tablet PC can also utilize a docking station for use with a monitor, keyboard, mouse, LAN or WAN, and other peripheral devices.

The main feature of the tablet PC is portability. Weighing in between 2-3 pounds (.9-1.3kg) the tablet PC can be used as a kind of souped-up PDA or trimmed-down notebook, depending on your point of view. The tablet PC hopes to fill a niche market for executives on the go who spend their days running from meeting to meeting or client to client.

There are two main flavors of tablet PCs: the convertible tablet which has a detachable keyboard, and the pure tablet also known as the slate. The convertible sports a typical clamshell styling with a literal twist -- the screen can rotate 180 degrees, and when closed, folds flat with the screen-side up so the tablet can continue to be used without the keyboard. If you want to leave the keyboard behind simply detach it.

While some appreciate the flexibility of the convertible style and the ready availability of a keyboard, others believe the twisting view panel lends itself to a higher possibility of breakage than the slate style, which has no moving parts and smoother edges that do not have to accommodate keyboard hinges.

Tablet PCs measure about 8.5 inches by 12 inches (22cm x 30cm), with a 10-inch (25cm) color screen that features control buttons along the edge. The convertible models are slightly thicker than the slate models to accommodate the keyboard.

Using a tablet PC, you can write directly on the screen with the stylus, then save and print these notes in your own handwriting, or use resident software to convert the notes to text for integration into other applications. Tablet PCs also come with speech recognition software, allowing verbal dictation and vocal program control.

Manufacturers of tablet PCs include Acer, Compaq, Fujitsu, VIA Technologies, ViewSonic and others.