TabletPCBuzz - The Best Place to Learn about Tablet PCs - Blogs - John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/blog.php?24175-John-Hill TabletPCBuzz: Tablet Computer News and Forums en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:32:45 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/images/misc/rss.jpg TabletPCBuzz - The Best Place to Learn about Tablet PCs - Blogs - John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/blog.php?24175-John-Hill Apple Tablet - Who Cares? http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?80-Apple-Tablet-Who-Cares Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:15:37 GMT That was the title of an article in my Allegiance Technology newsletter from August 2009. Thanks to reader Ken Woods who sent me an email this... That was the title of an article in my Allegiance Technology newsletter from August 2009. Thanks to reader Ken Woods who sent me an email this morning reminding me of this article and why pundits and wags are idiots.

Here is the article:

Apple tablet coming soon? Will anyone care?

Greetings!

One of the most ubiquitous rumors on the internet is the alleged Apple
Tablet PC. Bloggers and pundits are imagining everything from an
iPhone with a large (7-10") display to an internet and multimedia device that
will do everything including walk the dog and watch your kids.

My question: Who cares?

I own an iPhone, so I'm not an Apple-hater. I think their technology
is very intuitive and with the software applications available, the
iPhone is my favorite technology device (AFTER my tablet PC, of course!).

The mobile computing market is a good sized one but tablet PCs are a
small part of that. For Apple, who already has only a small piece of the
overall PC market, a tablet PC would likely be too small to be profitable.
That's why I think an Apple Tablet is vaporware. Time will tell if I am
wrong.

John
:doh: ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?80-Apple-Tablet-Who-Cares Tablet price creep http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?28-Tablet-price-creep Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:15:49 GMT I'm working on a presentation about new mobile technology for a local organization. As I was updating my Powerpoint to include new Tablets like the HP Slate 500, I came to the realization that the popular media analysis of low-cost tablets sounding the death of traditional Tablet PCs is just wrong. Of course technology is getting cheaper, smaller, faster and better - that has been the case for a long time. But the $500 tablet costs that little because it actually does less and has more limited capabilities than a traditional tablet. Let me give you an example of how I see it.

The traditional "new tablet" benchmark is, of course, the Apple iPad. The basic model is $499. You get a lot, but what you don't get is an operating system that runs all your existing applications, a large hard drive (the base unit is 16Gb), a USB port or a removable battery. Next on the Path of Increasing Price is the CTL 2go Pad. Now, we have a Windows Tablet but still just an Atom processor. It has a larger hard drive but no active digitizer and no rear facing camera. It costs $549 with Home Premium and $604 with Windows 7 Professional.

Next on the Yellow Brick Road of Tablets is the HP Slate 500, the most powerful yet, but also now priced at $799. It has a more powerful Atom processor (no Core 2 Duo or Core i5/7), comes with a pen and has a rear facing camera, comes with Windows Professional 32-bit and a standard 64Gb SSD. Very nice specs but as you can see, the price increases with that.

These prices are still below what manufacturers like Lenovo and Motion Computing charge for their full-featured Tablet PCs, but they also offer additional capabilities like larger, active digitizer displays, outdoor viewability, larger hard drive and SSDs, more memory and other features.

As always, look at your applications and let them dictate the correct device on which to run them. Just don't be lulled into believing that sub-$1,000 tablets are the answer to all your dreams because they will provide only satisfy some of them. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?28-Tablet-price-creep Inkable electronic forms could save the Windows based Tablet PC http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?27-Inkable-electronic-forms-could-save-the-Windows-based-Tablet-PC Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:45:57 GMT Software solutions from companies like Active Ink, Mi-Co, Field2Base and others take advantage of capabilities found in Windows tablets that just... Software solutions from companies like Active Ink, Mi-Co, Field2Base and others take advantage of capabilities found in Windows tablets that just don't exist in Apple and Android tablets yet. The ability to link to a database, incorporate handwriting recognition, bring in data from barcode and RFID readers, import pictures, do sketching and more is what can help businesses improve their processes.

These electronic forms solutions are the real "killer apps" for Windows tablets. The productivity that can be realized by employing this technology makes a significant contribution to the bottom line of a company that uses paper forms in the field or in the office. If Microsoft wants to regain dominance in the Tablet PC world, helping these companies increase their ability to market solutions to the business community is going to be a key item. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?27-Inkable-electronic-forms-could-save-the-Windows-based-Tablet-PC Firefighter Tablet: iPad vs. Motion F5v http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?26-Firefighter-Tablet-iPad-vs-Motion-F5v Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:46:34 GMT This week I'm in Seattle at the FIREHOUSE Software End User Training Symposium. Over 400 fire department personnel that use FIREHOUSE Software (FH)are to learn about how to take advantage of the capabilities of the software. FH has just released an inspection module that runs on the iPad. Their sales people in the field all carry Motion or Panasonic tablet PCs. Which will win the hearts and minds of the fire fighting community?

The iPad is inexpensive and that seems to be the #1 reason that people give, stating they can "buy five of them for every tablet PC". I can't dispute that. What is important is all the features that the iPad doesn't offer that are important for fire inspectors in the field. These include the ability to run other Windows applications, the ability to capture signatures with a pen, ruggedness, sketching with a pen and more. Using the handwriting recognition, inspectors can add notes about unusual situations without having to try and tap on an on-screen keyboard with their fingers.

For other FH software like incident command, a Motion F5v with hot-swappable batteries means you can run it 24 hours a day just by keeping another battery charged. With the optional barcode reader, firefighters can do personnel accountability and station/truck inventory.

The Apple iPad is a great device and for those that don't mind the limitations of how it can be used in the field can be a choice but for those that want to take full advantage of all the software that runs on their desktop or laptop, the Motion F5v can't be beat. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?26-Firefighter-Tablet-iPad-vs-Motion-F5v CTL 2go Slate tablet unboxing http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?25-CTL-2go-Slate-tablet-unboxing Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:56:45 GMT CTL has begun shipping one of the first Windows slate tablets priced around $500. TabletPCBuzz member violajack has one and is doing a full review. ... CTL has begun shipping one of the first Windows slate tablets priced around $500. TabletPCBuzz member violajack has one and is doing a full review. You can see the unboxing video here. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?25-CTL-2go-Slate-tablet-unboxing Gartner predictions about tablets in the enterprise market space http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?24-Gartner-predictions-about-tablets-in-the-enterprise-market-space Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:23:47 GMT I was reading some information on the Gartner website and I have to say that while I find the sales and revenue predictions from these research firms... I was reading some information on the Gartner website and I have to say that while I find the sales and revenue predictions from these research firms to be wildly inflated, this commentary on the use of tablets in the enterprise appears to be spot on. Here is an excerpt:

10-inch media tablets to play a role as companion devices in the enterprise market
In the enterprise space, for the immediate future, the main use of media tablets is as a notebook companion or as a secondary device to take on the road or use for fast access to e-mail, calendaring, interrogating Web applications and information sources, and showing PowerPoint presentations.

The majority of knowledge workers cannot use media tablets to replace their notebooks. Since these workers usually also have smartphones, media tablets become their third device. Most organizations will not buy that third device. Because of the convenience factor for travel and an "instant on" for quick look-up functions, many users are paying for the media tablets with their own money to use both for work and pleasure.

As media tablets move from early adopters to mainstream, media tablets will become a family purchase as well as a personal one. The touch user interface, the applications available on the different operating systems and the simpler set up compared to a full-fledged computer make media tablets ideal for a range of consumers: from power users to techno-phobics. As costs decrease, media tablets will be added to the list of the devices lying around the house that are shared by the family.

“Communication service providers (CSPs) who have so far subsidized mini-notebooks to drive mobile broadband uptake will shift their marketing spend to media tablets. Such subsidies will help drive adoption among those consumers who see the initial hardware cost as a hurdle,” Ms. Milanesi said. “For the rest, the freedom of paying for cellular only if and when needed, and not having to add another contract to the one a user might already have on his or her phone, is a great advantage and has so far proved successful for Apple.”

A detailed statistical outlook for media tablets is available in the Gartner report "Forecast: Connected Mobile Consumer Electronics, Worldwide, 2008-2014." The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=1451714.

Ms. Milanesi provides additional commentary in her blog post on the Gartner Blog Network at http://blogs.gartner.com/carolina-mi...-the-kool-aid/
]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?24-Gartner-predictions-about-tablets-in-the-enterprise-market-space Need a tablet for healthcare? Choices are limited. http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?23-Need-a-tablet-for-healthcare-Choices-are-limited Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT You can't go into a hospital or doctor's office without seeing the ubiquitous disinfecting gel dispensers. The reason is that caregiver to patient transmission of viruses and bacterium is a widely recognized problem. Stethoscopes, hospital beds, blood pressure cuffs and other equipment need to be disinfected between each patient use to prevent this transmission. The same thing needs to happen with mobile computing equipment and the only major manufacturers producing tablet PCs that can be disinfected are Motion Computing, Panasonic and Durabook.

If you add other features desired by healthcare, including built-in barcode readers, Intel vPro for management and security, and easy ways to dock multiple units you are left with only the Motion Computing C5v or F5v. It seems strange that only one Tablet manufacturers has recognized that the hospital market has such huge potential. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?23-Need-a-tablet-for-healthcare-Choices-are-limited Microsoft MVP Summit http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?22-Microsoft-MVP-Summit Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:02:27 GMT I was planning on attending the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Summit in Redmond, WA last year. It was my first year as an MVP for Touch... I was planning on attending the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Summit in Redmond, WA last year. It was my first year as an MVP for Touch & Tablet PCs and although I wasn't sure exactly what I would get out of the event, I thought it would be fun to attend. At the last minute, however, Microsoft announced that the Touch and Tablet PC track was going to be cancelled. I guess there wasn't enough interest on the part of Microsoft to make this a separate section.

Hello iPad. Bye bye Microsoft Courier.

I just received my invitation to the 2011 MVP Global Summit being held February 28 - March 2. Let me see.....drat, getting my hair done. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?22-Microsoft-MVP-Summit 3 ways to make it easier to see your Tablet screen http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?20-3-ways-to-make-it-easier-to-see-your-Tablet-screen Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:34:58 GMT http://www.beatingrsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/accessibility.gifIn Windows 7, Microsoft has added new features that make it easier to see the...
In Windows 7, Microsoft has added new features that make it easier to see the display. This can be especially helpful as display sizes shrink, especially for users with poor eyesight. Here are some tips:

1. Change the size of text and icons. This option allows you to make text and other items on your screen appear larger, so they're easier to see. For more information, see Make the text on your screen larger or smaller.

2. Turn on Magnifier. This option sets Magnifier to run when you log on to your computer. Magnifier enlarges the part of the screen where the mouse is pointing and can be especially useful for viewing objects that are difficult to see. For more information about using Magnifier, see Make items on the screen appear bigger (Magnifier).

3. Turn on or off High Contrast when Left Alt+Left Shift+Print Screen is pressed. This option allows you to toggle a high-contrast theme on or off by pressing the Left Alt+Left Shift+Print Screen keys.

To learn about additional features, visit the Microsoft website and check out all the accessibility tips and tricks. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?20-3-ways-to-make-it-easier-to-see-your-Tablet-screen <![CDATA[Size Matters - Why a 7" display isn't enough]]> http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?19-Size-Matters-Why-a-7-quot-display-isn-t-enough Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:29:59 GMT Early in my Tablet PC selling career, I learned that the best prospective customer for a tablet was one who already owned a Palm Pilot or Pocket PC. ... Early in my Tablet PC selling career, I learned that the best prospective customer for a tablet was one who already owned a Palm Pilot or Pocket PC. Why? These folks were willing to spend money on mobile technology that would help them get their job done. They were looking for a tool to help their business.

So, why did I see $$$ when they pulled out their PDA? Inevitably, they would complain about the screen size. While the device was a very mobile way to carry their information and it made an incremental improvement in their workflow, the difficulty in reading the display or the inability to see all their information was a major frustration. I think we will see the same thing with all these 7" tablets.

No one wants to carry around three mobile devices. A cell phone or smart phone is a necessity. You can already get your contacts and email this way very efficiently. A second device, whether it is a tablet or laptop, needs to have greater capabilities to display spreadsheets, documents, drawings, web pages and other data that are needed. A device with a 7" display just doesn't work very well. Reading spreadsheets and documents requires scrolling. Looking at information on a drawing or webpage that was designed to be viewed on a larger screen is darn near impossible. It would be great if all field workers were 20 years old with 20/20 vision, but that isn't the case. People doing the best work are those with 10-20 years experience in their field, whether that is inspection, project management, healthcare provider or service technician.

When I go on a sales call, I always bring a device with a 7" display. I bring it because people always want to see the small, convenient, pocket-sized computer. Then I put a PDF or web page on the 7" device and a 10" or 12" tablet. Without fail, the first comment on the small device is "Oh, that's too small, I can't read that."

Size matters. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?19-Size-Matters-Why-a-7-quot-display-isn-t-enough 3 Reasons to buy a Tablet PC with Intel vPro http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?18-3-Reasons-to-buy-a-Tablet-PC-with-Intel-vPro Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:37:00 GMT 1. SECURITY - Have you read an article about an organization that had a computer stolen and now they have to deal with the embarrassment of... 1. SECURITY - Have you read an article about an organization that had a computer stolen and now they have to deal with the embarrassment of announcing that there was sensitive customer information on the hard drive? This scenario has occurred at companies both small and large. With Intel vPro, a tablet can be disabled remotely by the IT staff. Also, if the tablet doesn't "check in" with the company server in a certain period of time or has a number of failed logon attempts, the system can disable itself by removing the hard drive encryption key. This means that even if someone takes the drive out and puts it in another system, they can't access the data. The good news is, if the unit is recovered, IT can issue a new encryption key and unlock the system without having to reload all the software and data. You can see an Intel video that explains the feature here.

2. PERFORMANCE - With a Core i5 or i7 processor, your tablet can use as little or as much power as your application requires. When your tablet is in a state of minimal use, like when you are typing an email or reading a document, the processor will use just one of the cores. This greatly extends battery life. When you need maximum performance, like running multiple software programs, doing 3D modeling, searching a database or another processor intensive application, the processor overclocks itself in a feature called Turbo Boost. You get the best of both worlds - awesome speed when you need it and longer battery life when you don't.

3. REMOTE SUPPORT - If you have tablet users on the road and they need assistance, Intel vPro gives your helpdesk staff new tools that lets them fix the problem more quickly. KVM stands for Keyboard, Video, Monitor and with vPro's KVM access, support staff can take full control of a users PC remotely to fix the problem. Even if the tablet has the BSOD (blue screen of death) or IT needs to reboot the system to install an update, it can all be done remotely.

This is a brief overview of three main areas I am telling customers about. If you want to learn more, you can visit Intel's Expert Center site at http://communities.intel.com/communi...tit/vproexpert. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?18-3-Reasons-to-buy-a-Tablet-PC-with-Intel-vPro iPad cleared of murder in death of Tablet PC, browser based software indicted http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?17-iPad-cleared-of-murder-in-death-of-Tablet-PC-browser-based-software-indicted Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:58:00 GMT Apple's iPad is often the target when people talk about the demise of the Tablet PC era. I beg to differ.

I think the browser did it.

More and more software publishers have been adapting their software to be web based. Why? Because software companies hate hardware. It drives up implementation costs for their customers which means they have less money to spend on software. If it were up to ISVs (independent software vendors), hardware would be free. The next best thing is to make their application available on any device that can connect to the internet and so that is what they have done.

This means customers don't have to spend $2,000 or more on a Tablet PC with a powerful process, big hard drive and plenty of memory. As a matter of fact, they can spend as little as they want as long as the device can connect to the internet. Yes, there are some companies who will spend more on a Tablet PC. If you want a rugged device, or one that is rated for dust and water, or has a built-in barcode scanner or another critical feature. But many don't need this or will consider the lower price an acceptable trade off.

For Tablet PC resellers like my company, it is a great time to get into the software business. And quickly. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?17-iPad-cleared-of-murder-in-death-of-Tablet-PC-browser-based-software-indicted How to use pen flicks on your Windows 7 Tablet PC http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?16-How-to-use-pen-flicks-on-your-Windows-7-Tablet-PC Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:00:00 GMT I created this short video to show you an overview of pen flicks. Hope you enjoy it!

[youtube]ozCEid2j2m0[/youtube] ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?16-How-to-use-pen-flicks-on-your-Windows-7-Tablet-PC Electronic Health Records - Reality vs. Fantasy http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?15-Electronic-Health-Records-Reality-vs-Fantasy Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT Meadowbrook Neurology Group seeks to provide the highest quality of neurological care for its patients. By combining clinical experience with the... Meadowbrook Neurology Group seeks to provide the highest quality of neurological care for its patients. By combining clinical experience with the latest in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions, Meadowbrook Neurology Group seeks to not only treat a diagnosis but also the individual, as well as the family, who may also be affected by the diagnosis. Each patient has their own problems and concerns as well as their own unique paper chart. The paper charts began to pile up at an alarming rate. To provide the quality of care that Meadowbrook expects from itself, it needed to find a solution which eliminated the paper process and created a more efficient way of dealing with patients charts. It was important to choose a solution that would qualify for the $44,000 per physician provided by the government if they met the terms for “meaningful use”. As the Practice Manager, Sherry DeDiminico knew that the best solution was to move to an electronic medical record system.

Meadowbrook Neurology Group had been dealing with an all paper system. To gain the efficiencies in their practice that would help them reduce costs as well as meet the guidelines for meaningful use, Sherry had to implement a system that would provide for a patient/physician portal, e-prescribing and other components. Since they have three offices, their paper system required paper charts for every patient. Since all of the information was in writing on the charts, the charts had to be carried between all three of the offices. Practice manager Sherry DeDiMinico said, “The paper charts are only available to one person at a time and this was a real problem because they had to be shared between three offices. The charts also had to be filed for lab reports, phone messages, and for the billing process which occasionally caused the charts to get buried beneath tons of paperwork.”

All of the medical charts had to be carried by hand between the offices because the doctors’ notes could not be transferred electronically. Meadowbrook saw this as an extremely inefficient way to do business. They needed a way to integrate their paper charts into a new EMR system and find a solution that could make their entire process more efficient.
Meadowbrook Neurology Group needed a solution that would help them stop relying heavily on paper products. Meadowbrook’s first solution was using desktop computers in every physician’s office. “A lot of market forces were pushing us towards an all electronic system. We tried PCs but the doctors all found them very intrusive to the doctor-patient relationship. They were forced to turn away from patients in order to enter data,” Sherry explained.
The doctors at Meadowbrook would rather take handwritten notes than type into a computer. For Meadowbrook, this meant PCs were not the answer. They needed something that could not only store and transfer data easily, but a solution that could be mobile enough for their doctors to keep all their attention on patients. Then, John Hill introduced Meadowbrook Neurology Group to the Tablet PC.

“We were a little worried at first because some of our physicians were a little less tech savvy then others, but the tablets gave our doctors the ability to handwrite their notes directly onto the tablet which was really the biggest draw for us,” Sherry said. “Ultimately, the new legislation is a good thing. Physicians have a lot of inertia when it comes to technology and they need to be pushed. The way that the government is phasing in the program is realistic and it is pushing doctors into areas they aren’t familiar with.”

Tablet computers can now be seen throughout the Meadowbrook Neurology group. Medical assistants now take the tablets into every exam room and use eClinicalWorks to record responses and vital signs. This allows important information to be available to the physician immediately which has improved overall efficiency.

“It took a little time, but all of our doctors transitioned to the tablets and I don’t think any of them would go back to the old way of doing things. They can take their tablets home with them and it allows them to have any medical record they would ever need while they are on call,” Sherry went on to explain, “It has improved our documentation and gives us a big advantage while using the EMR to record every encounter with a patient, and our neurologists draw pictures as part of an exam which they can do it directly onto their tablet!”
Because they doctors are also using Dragon Naturally Speaking Medical, Sherry was able to reduce staff by one transcriptionist and eliminate $800/month in outsourced transcription costs.

The tablets have not only proven to be very efficient, but they are also very durable and easy to sanitize. “We have had tablets for more than a year and a half and we’ve had no issues with durability,” Sherry said.
Meadowbrook Neurology Group can now easily transfer data between their three offices without having to run between them. Doctors now have the ability to take handwritten notes and draw pictures directly on the tablet. Doctors can also sign off on documents directly on their tablets. Sherry said, “The tablets have begun to save us a lot of money on paper products because we don’t need to use them anymore! I believe overall, the tablets have greatly improved the efficiency in our offices.”

While they have made great strides over the past couple months, Sherry still has a lot of work to do. “To qualify for meaningful use reimbursement, we have to implement e-prescribing. The doctors love this and it is easy to do with the tablets but Schedule 3-5 drugs like the ones they doctors prescribe for pain management aren’t allowed to be sent electronically. This puts us in a difficult position and the legislators need to fix this.”

Sherry also related that they are waiting in line to have their patient/physician portal installed. While they look forward to this from the perspective of being able to share e-health records, they have been approached by some patients who say they do not want their information online.

While technology can solve a lot of problems and can improve processes, especially those that involve paper records, there are still a lot of forces slowing the adoption of EMR solutions. Practices like Meadowbrook Neurology faces a lot of hurdles before they get to the desired end result of a secure, electronic health record that reduces costs and improves patient care. ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?15-Electronic-Health-Records-Reality-vs-Fantasy 2go PC Slate pre-ordered in a moment of weakness http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?14-2go-PC-Slate-pre-ordered-in-a-moment-of-weakness Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:12:40 GMT I can't help it, I'm a sucker for anything shiny! Oh look, a quarter!

Anyway, back to my story. I called CTL today to see if TabletPCBuzz could get a demo unit of the new 2go PC slate tablet. They were very nice, but I could hear them laughing on the inside. They have three demo units to go out and,
sorry, but there are a couple technology websites with a bit more traffic. So they offered to put me on "the list". Well, I'm not much for lists and besides, I thought it might make a good birthday present for the wife. No, I'm not going to do a Homer Simpson and have my initials etched onto it before I give it to her.

Anyway, it is supposed to ship with the first batch in two weeks or so and I can't wait! ]]> John Hill http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/entry.php?14-2go-PC-Slate-pre-ordered-in-a-moment-of-weakness