A couple of days ago, I was grateful recipient of a new Toshiba Portégé M700-100 Tablet PC. In a previous job, I used a HP Compaq Tablet PC TC1100, so this isn’t my first experience with this particular technology.
Though I’ve not spent much time using the Portégé yet, I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen so far. The display is bright and clear, applications open in milliseconds and I’ve got it connected to a variety of wireless networks, VPNs and printers without any problems. Whilst getting to grips with Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition has proved to be a little challenging – mostly in the form of Windows updates! – on the whole, it has been a case of so far, so good.
I understand that Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 is the application that I should be using when it comes to using the pen, but I’ve not been particularly adventurous so far with it, preferring to stay to the time being with the keyboard. I’m also intending to install SMART Notebook software to see how the Tablet PC can be used in conjunction with an interactive whiteboard.
If anyone reading this has any experience of Tablet PCs in a learning and teaching context, and has any tips or advice to share, please do get in touch!
The TC1100 was (and probably) still is my favourite Tablet PC form factor.
Currently I have a HP 2170P Tablet which is nice and light. One problem I have had with other Tablets has been weight.
I am interested to hear how hot the Tosh gets.
Where a Tablet works well is in handing it out to the students especially in environments where it would not be feasible (or safe) for them to use a SmartBoard.
JISC have some nice case studies on the use of Tablets.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearning_innovation/eli_oucasestudies.aspx
Cheers
James
[...] Posted by Nitin Parmar on 16 June 2008 Tomorrow, the University of Bath is hosting the first Western e-Learning Meeting, featuring Heads of e-Learning and Learning Technologists from the Universities of Bristol, Exeter, Gloucestershire and UWE. The focus for the session will be the use of Tablet PCs in Higher Education… which is perfect since I often work with a Toshiba Portégé M700-100, as referred to in an earlier post. [...]