Welcome Tablet PC/Mobile PC users and the world!

Mobile PC's, in the context of this forum, are mobile personal computers that are running the "full" Microsoft Windows operating system, be it Windows Vista or Windows XP. Examples include laptops, notebooks, and Tablet PC's.

In this forum, you will find experts who can help you use the features in Windows Vista and Windows XP that are designed to make your application work great on mobile PC's. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, here few of the things that make a great mobile application are:

Power management: Make sure your applications are "energy smart" to make batteries last longer by using the power management APIs.

Network awareness: Does your application know how to detect and respond to changing network conditions as your users roam from one location to another?

Data management: Be sure your application is smart about managing data when users are disconnected.

Windows SideShow display support: you can provide users with access to their data, even when the PC is not turned on with Windows SideShow.

Digital Ink, Handwriting recognition, and other Tablet features: Tablet PC's are the ultimate mobile PC's. Baking support for a great Tablet experience into your application ensures that users can use it in more places. We have API's for Windows Forms, COM, and Windows Presentation Framework applications.

Thanks for your interest!
David

DavidHale-MSFT at 2007-9-8 >

Matt -

The Windows Vista hardware guidance list is currently posted at the following URL:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/default.mspx

This should help give you an idea of what type of computer to purchase if you are looking at buying hardware today and upgrading to Windows Vista when it is released.

Regarding handwriting recognition - Microsoft is consistently working on and improving the quality of handwriting recognition on Tablet PCs. Additionally, as a part of theWindows Vista feature set for Tablet PCs, we will be releasing the Handwriting Recognition Personalization Tool. This allows you to tailor the recognition results to your own handwriting styles. For more information regarding the specific mobile features included in Windows Vista, see:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/mobile.mspx

Thanks,

Ross

MSFT Software Developer

RossLuengen-MSFT at 2007-9-8 >

EddieOJ -

Screen rotation is dependent on the video driver you have installed. If the adapter is not identified Windows Vista installs the Standard VGA Adapter. You will need to make sure the correct adapter is installed for your video card in order to get rotation to work.

To get the screen to rotate, you can use the Tablet Settings control panel component, then select the Display tab. If your video adapter supports rotation, you should be able to select different rotation settings.

To install additional drivers that are designed for Windows XP, you can try to run the driver install under Compatibility mode. If you right click on the driver install program, choose the compatibility tab, then check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" for Windows XP. Your driver install for Windows XP should now work under Longhorn.

In addition, Windows Vista will include Windows Mobility Center, which will allow you access to change display rotation. You can read more about Windows Mobility Center features here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/mobile.mspx

Thanks,

Ross

MSFT Developer

RossLuengen-MSFT at 2007-9-8 >

If you are running the 5308 version of Vista you can force the XP drivers that are available on the HP website. The drivers that you will need for screen rotation to work correctly is 1) WACOM drivers 2) Q Menu drivers. You can force the driver one of two ways. Either attempt install, let it fail, and wait for it to prompt to you install in compatability mode.... or, right click the installer, select the compatability tab, and choose XP SP2 compatability. They should install like a champ. I have mine running great, and the auto-screen orientation works as well. Sound on the other hand.... arg!

~Dan

DanVC at 2007-9-8 >