The new revolution in laptop technology is underway. With Business and social lifestyles becoming more demanding laptop designs have taken an altogether new twist. Not only do you have all the normal functions of a laptop, you also have the added ability and versatility of being able to physically write and manipulate applications with a specially designed pen. This revolutionary new idea is the Tablet PC.

Many industry sectors are adapting their work forces to embrace Tablet PC's, this is due to the increase in productivity among workers and lower administration costs when compared with pen and paper. When 7-Eleven maintenance crews replaced pen and paper with Tablet PCs during store asset surveys, the company estimated that it would reduce the cost of field inventory work by an estimated U.S. $3–5 million annually.

There are two different styles in the Tablet PC sector with features and benefits to complement both, making them suitable for a multitude of tasks, whether it be a P.A taking minutes in a meeting or a Surveyor entering dimensions into an architectural drawing on site.

The two styles of Tablet PC are:

The Slate.

The slate Tablet PC is how you imagine it, a lightweight active digitizer screen on which the user can interact and input data whilst on the move. This particular type of Tablet is extremely light as the usual hardware associated with a laptop, i.e the keyboard, is detached. The screen is not the only input device however, most have a wireless keyboard or docking station option which incorporates the keyboard and mouse connections.

The Convertible.

The Convertible Tablet PC at first glance looks like an ordinary Laptop however it has two main differences. A active digitizer screen display with a Pen like input device and a unique new pivoting hinge, enabling the display to be rotated and laid flat over the keyboard. These excellent features combined give the user the functionality of a Tablet and a Laptop all in one unit.

Major benefits of a Tablet PC

· Digital pen input - Each Tablet PC includes a tablet pen which you can use to control the computer and input text in your own handwriting.
Information you input in your own handwriting can be used immediately in a variety of applications, including Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2002, Word 2003 and Word 2002, Excel 2003 and Excel 2002, PowerPoint 2003 and PowerPoint 2002.

· Speech recognition - You can use your voice instead of a mouse, keyboard, or pen to control Microsoft Windows–based applications. You can also use your voice to dictate text for input into applications. (Currently, the speech feature is available in English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese.)

· Reading ease - Your Tablet PC uses Microsoft Clear Type® technology and a high-resolution display, Tablet PC is designed to give you a natural and comfortable reading experience.

· Screen rotation - You can quickly rotate your screen for landscape or portrait viewing.
Use portrait orientation for taking notes, just like you would on a pad of paper; use landscape orientation to view, for example, a PowerPoint presentation.

· Tablet pen gestures - You can use your tablet pen to make gestures movements with the pen that completes common tasks. Your pen gives you another way to do many of the things you would normally do with a mouse, only in more natural maner such as pointing, clicking, selecting, and dragging and is especially good for free hand drawing, highlighting items etc.

· Built-in wireless connectivity - Most Tablet PCs include built-in wireless connectivity. Keeping you connected to your local network and or the internet for email, surfing etc.

The other main advantages of a Tablet PC is its lightweight build and excellent battery life when based on the Centrino Processor. Battery life of well over five hours is to be expected, making them perfect for people on the move in all types of industries.