is an edition of
Windows XP intended for specially-designed notebook/laptop computers called
Tablet PC s. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is compatible with a pen-sensitive screen, supporting handwritten notes and portrait-oriented screens. A retail version cannot be purchased separately from a tablet PC, but is available to Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN) subscribers.
There are two versions of ''Windows XP Tablet PC Edition''.
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition - The original release.
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 - The Tablet PC equivalent to Windows XP Service Pack 2.
The 2005 edition is available as a service pack upgrade, or as a new
OEM version.
It is unlikely that there will be new versions, as tablet PC functionality is included in the Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate editions of
Windows Vista .
1
There are no clear specific system requirements for Windows XP Tablet PC and Tablet PC 2005 editions, as they are provided pre-installed on Tablet PCs. However Windows XP Tablet PC Editions are both based on Windows XP Professional and so the requirements are similar to, if not slightly higher than the requirements for Windows XP Professional. The following is adapted from the Windows XP Professional requirements
2 and could be used as guideline requirements.
Due to the Nature of Tablet PC Edition it usually comes pre-installed on Tablet PCs. A brief list of a selection of Tablet PCs is available on the Microsoft website and Tablet PCs are also highlighted on the websites of most leading producers of laptops and notebooks.
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is based on Windows XP Professional and includes all the software provided in it. In addition it includes some of the following software:
- Windows Journal
- Sticky Notes
- Ink Ball
- Experience Pack: Ink Art
- Experience Pack: Ink Crossword
- Experience Pack: Ink Desktop
- Experience Pack: Media Transfer
- Experience Pack: Snipping Tool 2.0
- Experience Pack: Tablet PC 2005 Edition also includes the Royale/Media Center Theme, renamed Tablet PC Style: Energy Blue .
- Education Pack: Equation Writer
- Education Pack: GoBinder Lite
- Education Pack: Hexic Delux
It is often also bundled with OneNote 2003
Despite the inclusion of Tablet PC support in Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate editions of
Windows Vista , it is only possible to upgrade to Business and Ultimate editions. This is because Tablet PC edition is based on
Windows XP Professional, and so moving to Home Premium would cause a downgrade and loss of features. However, an upgrade version can be legally used to perform a clean install of Windows Vista as a replacement for Tablet PC Edition.
Many of the 'new' features boasted in
Windows Vista have already been launched as part of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. Some of these features include:
- Windows Journal
- Ink Ball
- Sticky Notes
Ink:
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition may utilize the Ink object as a means of data input and storage. This is a data type created as part of the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition API that allows one to manipulate and process handwritten data, including recognition results and, in some cases, the pressure information for each part of the stroke. Properties of Ink can be changed in much the same way as properties of other objects, and the data can be saved to allow future reference. Many applications referencing the Ink object also allow handwritten notes to be filtered and searched through, based on the recognition results stored when Ink is saved.
Handwriting Recognition:
Integrated with the operating system is a Tablet PC Input Panel which allows handwriting to be converted into text for use in most non-full-screen applications. The integrated handwriting recognition in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 can recognize print, cursive, or mixed writing. Accuracy can be increased by configuring the recognizer to expect left-handed writing or right-handed writing. Recognition in a variety of languages is available with the install of a
recognizer pack . Unfortunately the handwriting engine cannot be trained to recocnise a particular handwriting style so the user must modify their handwriting to be better recognized by the system in order to use this feature effectively.
