Windows XP Handwriting Recognition vs. Tablet Edition
The evaluation I am doing of the Viliv S5 UMPC with the touch screen has brought to light how unfamiliar most folks are with the advanced features of the Tablet PC. There are UMPCs and now netbooks with touchscreens that run Microsoft Windows XP and I’m hearing from folks who claim that the handwriting recognition of Windows XP is the same as that on Tablet PCs. This is very far from the truth, and you should be aware of the major differences between the handwriting recognition of the Tablet PC and the crude function of that of plain Windows XP.
First and foremost, the plain Windows XP handwriting recognition is built as a simple, alternate text input method. You ink your text on the screen and XP converts it into digital text in some programs. The Tablet PC recognition, on the other hand, is an ink handling system that makes it possible to ink into any program. You should be aware that the XP recognition engine is very crude when compared to that of the Tablet Edition. It is not the same beast at all.
Crude handwriting recognition can be enabled in plain Windows XP through the Regional settings in the Control Panel. While it’s not the sophisticated recognition engine of the Tablet Edition, it may be enough for some people to allow text input. Just be aware that the accuracy of the handwriting recognition is nowhere near as good as that of the Tablet Edition. You also do not have the ink input tools that make the process easier on Tablet PCs with just the Windows XP version of the recognition.
It is of particular importance to realize that using OneNote on the plain XP version is not as complete an experience as you might think. Right off the bat you should know that while you can ink in OneNote using plain XP, that ink cannot be converted to text and will never be searchable, a major loss of functionality as described in this KB article by Microsoft:
When you are not on a Tablet PC, OneNote no longer has access to the handwriting recognition engines of the Tablet PC. As a result, although you can still capture digital ink in the same ways as on the Tablet PC, the sample rate will be the lower 40 samples per second, and the ink cannot be converted to text. The ability to search handwriting is also dependent on the recognition engines. Therefore, that capability will not be available either.
This makes it clear that if inking in OneNote is important to your work then you simply must look at the Tablet PC. Plain Windows XP will never provide the ink-handling features that you need in this case. It is important to note that ritePen is an alternate solution that may get over this loss of functionality for some.
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Does the Viliv S5 UMPC have Tablet PC capabilities?
Im wondering if i can install Tablet XP windows onto a touch screen PC or does the hardware have to support the Tablet XP in some way?
Jim, no it doesn’t, aside from touch recognition through hardware. Windows 7 however has been loaded successfully onto it, which has excellent tablet features, i.e which will take advantage of the hardware.
Let’s hear it for the much loved, if under appreciated Tablet PC
I like tablet functionality too, once Win 7 is GA, would be quick to install on this device.
For me though, ** if ** I decide to pull the (gulp!) trigger on the S5, it is the perfect candidate for good old FITALY PC. For those who haven’t tried it, I swear the learning curve is remarkably shallow, inside of a day or two a user is very productive with it.
I’m afraid of vectoring on the S5′s screen, and wouldn’t install ritePen right off the bat (plus don’t forget it eats up precious CPU cycles).
Cheers one and all !
I hada Sony UX. Even with the ultra sensitive screen handwritting was Ok because the screen was so small yoou could write with your palm resting on the bezel of the device. Not ideal but workable.
I’d still rather have a Sony UX than this thing though.
Gordon
Hello all! Very well explained, James. But my point here is that you can use “handwriting” in Windows XP.
It is definitely crude compared to Windows Tablet PC,
but for netbooks, UMPC, where the screen is quite small, handwriting in XP is reduced to just scribbling
instant notes or reminders. Third party programs such as ritepen will also help a lot. People thought Windows XP has NO handwriting capabilities at all. This
is defintely not true. At least you have expounded greatly about Windows XP crude handwriting and Windows Tablet PC!
We’re evaluating Intel’s Classmate Convertibles for use by middle school students this fall. Before creating our image for our pilot program, I compared Windows XP Home and Tablet XP side by side. It’s going to cost us about $60 a machine more to go to Tablet XP, but it’s definitely worth it, even on a netbook. It’s crucial for OneNote functionality, and it’s also necessary for the cool tablet power tools/toys from Microsoft.
But I see “hand writing recognition” greyed in my language –> advanced—>add options under “regional settings”. I cant enable it by any chance.
what cd b the reason?
Is it there in office2007 or office 2003?
thanx