Microsoft has shipped an add-on pack for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 that's designed to make Tablet PCs more enjoyable for consumers. Dubbed the Experience Pack for Tablet PC, the add-on features six new utilities that enhance the Tablet PC in fun and exciting ways.
The Experience Pack for Tablet PC consists of these applications and add-ons: - Energy Blue Theme Pack. This theme, which now includes a new Windows Media Player (WMP) skin, first debuted with Windows XP Media Center Edition (XP MCE) 2005 and was previously available to Tablet PC owners as a separate download. The theme is cleaner and more professional looking than the default XP theme. - Ink Desktop. This innovative OS add-on lets you jot notes and drawings directly on the XP desktop. You can configure Ink Desktop to display different templates (e.g., note pad, to-do list, monthly calendar) or to be completely transparent. - Snipping Tool 2.0. A full-featured update to a classic Tablet PC PowerToy that lets you virtually clip information from Web pages and other documents, the new Snipping Tool includes a completely revamped UI, different clipping styles (including rectangular and complete window), and various paste targets. - Ink Art. This amazing natural paint program is so realistic you'll think you're painting or drawing directly on the Tablet PC's screen. One stunning feature, the tracing paper, lets you paint "over" digital photographs, which produces artistic interpretations of your favorite pictures, even if you aren't an artist. - Ink Crossword. A virtual crossword puzzle that comes with 12 puzzles and the ability to download more free and paid puzzles, Ink Crossword includes an optional timer and a letter-help feature and prompts you when you enter correct or incorrect letters. - Media Transfer. This software-based Windows Media Connect client lets Tablet PC owners easily download or stream digital photos, music, and videos from other XP-based PCs in their homes.
All these applications and add-ons require XP Tablet PC Edition 2005; they won't install on other versions of XP. You can download the Experience Pack from the Microsoft Web site.
The Experience Pack's release coincides with a recent marketing push by Microsoft and its hardware partners to expand the devices into more markets. "This is not a new direction for the Tablet PC," a Microsoft representative told me recently. "Instead, it's an expansion." First-generation Tablet PCs focused only on the enterprise and on select niche markets, such as medical and manufacturing, where pen-based computing makes sense. Today, there are Tablet PCs available for a variety of markets, including the volume consumer market, and at a variety of price points.
I've been playing with the Experience Pack since last week and have found that most of the tools are extremely fun and well designed; I recommend that all Tablet PC owners check out the package. My full review of Experience Pack for Tablet PC will be available on the SuperSite for Windows later today.
End of Article
I'm sure the half-dozen people that own Tablet PCs will really appreciate this.
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
"I'm sure the half-dozen people that own Tablet PCs will really appreciate this"
You mean the half a dozen people that use CRAPPLE computers right?
Don't you CRAPPLE vermin have anything better to do with your stupid lives, than to hang around a Windows site and display your abject ignorance and stpudity on a daily basis?
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Why doesn't MS release the Energy Blue theme for ALL XP users?! We're somehow less worthy because we don't have MCE or Tablet?
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Hey Mr. CRAPPLE, maybe you should cut back on the caffeine. Did you ever consider that someone may have something bad to say about Microsoft and NOT be an Apple user?
I think the initial statement is just stating a fact; that the Tablet PC is more or less a dud as far as the market is concerned. I've used a number of tablets and could only justify it for some vertical applications. For general use, I don't think it cuts it.
But if you want to keep on ranting and raving about anyone who has something bad to say about Microsoft, go for it. You'll be creating a wonderful profile of a Microsoft zealot.
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
"ignorance and stpudity"
Pot, meet kettle.
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Paul, you're going to have to clean your keyboard after drooling all over it! My God, look at the breathless adjectives you use:
"enjoyable... fun and exciting... cleaner and more professional looking...innovative...full-featured...amazing...stunning ... extremely fun and well-designed..."
And folks wonder why you're viewed as Bill's *****...
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
"Hey Mr. CRAPPLE, maybe you should cut back on the caffeine. Did you ever consider that someone may have something bad to say about Microsoft and NOT be an Apple user?"
Did you consider that you could be spending your life on a CRAPPLE site, where they post stuff relevant tothe OS that you use, instead of making a nusisance of yourself on the site of an OS that you don't even use?
BTW, this guy IS a CRAPPLE user. They are easy enough to recgnise...exhibiting as it were acertain arrogance and incredible stupidity.
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
"I think the initial statement is just stating a fact"
Its stating a fact to say that Tablet PC has shipped half a dozen units is it?
I think you and Micheal Moore are smoking the same stuff. Get off the drugs!
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )
" think the initial statement is just stating a fact; that the Tablet PC is more or less a dud as far as the market is concerned"
Ummm... this is the latest on Tablet PC sales..
"1 million Tablet PCs sold - Roughly $2 billion dollars and growing "
You can get the Energy Blue theme for any XP machine. It just takes a little manipulating. DL the theme from MS (don't have the url off hand), then open the exe with your favorite unzipping tool that handles exes. Or, find someone who has put it into a ZIP format.
You must be a registered user or online subscriber to comment on this article. Please log on before posting a comment. Are you a new visitor?
Register now
An often irreverent look at some of the week's other news, including some more Windows 7 sales momentum, some Sophos stupidity, Microsoft's cloud computing self-loathing, more whining from the browser makers, Zoho's "Fake Office," and much, much more ...
Let Your Users Reset Their Own Passwords: Free Download Try a 30 day free trial of Desktop Authority Password Self-Service – it provides an easy-to-use, robust system for allowing users to reset their own forgotten passwords or locked accounts.
Get Windows IT Pro & Mark Minasi’s Favorite Power Tools Guide Order Windows IT Pro now and get "More of Mark Minasi's Favorite Power Tools"--a in-depth guide to the most useful Windows commands --FREE with your paid order! Subscribe today, and save 58% off the cover price!
Deep Dive into VMware vSphere, eLearning Series Join John Savill to explore the major functionality capabilities of the vSphere virtualization platform, including identification of the changes from ESX 3.5.
)
)
)
)
Register
Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: