In its early days, pen input held promise as an alternative for those who couldn't type.
Both support pen input, and will come with the same S Pen apps found on the Galaxy Note 10.1.
Along with excellent ergonomics, Fujitsu makes mobile data entry easier by combining a multiple touch interface with precise and pressure-sensitive pen input.
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As such, I'm eyeing up a Wacom tablet and using the pen input to mouse around -- but do you think it's a good idea?
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There's likewise a simpler interface with more realistic pen input.
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Their rep as entertainment devices is already changing, though: we've seen slates with pen input and bundled keyboard docks burst onto the market this year, and Windows 8 is only boosting that corporate-friendly image.
This versatile tablet lets users work the way they want to with multi-finger touch support, pen input or the ability to connect to the optional ThinkPad Tablet 2 keyboard and dock for a PC-like computing experience.
But no, then came the pro model, which comes out months after the regular edition, with an incompatible OS, vague words on pricing ("akin to an ARM tablet" "similar to an ultrabook"), features that don't span across the range like pen input and Office home.
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It's a much lighter product, at 1.3 pounds (down from 1.58), and although it uses a heavier-duty Atom processor, battery life is said to top out at about 10 hours. (The original lasted eight in our usual test.) Like the OG version, it allows for pen input on select models, but of course, Windows comes ready-made with a larger selection of apps where a pen might actually be useful.
It always supports a mix of pen and finger input.
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"For those working with our professional products, the pen is already their input tool of choice, " continued Tsunekawa.
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"Our innovative single-chip solution allows OEMs to offer industry-leading pen and multi-touch input while meeting market demand for lighter, thinner and smaller devices, " said Ronen Heldman, VP Marketing, N-trig.
The DuoSense single-chip solution is the first single-chip on the market to support both pen and multi-touch input for mobile computing, allowing for easier integration and flexibility in thinner and slimmer computing designs.
"The compelling combination of pen and true multi-touch offers users the freedom to select the input method of their choice, whether it be the pen or their fingertips, when interacting directly with their slate, tablet, notebook or other computing device, " said Amichai Ben-David, CEO, N-trig.
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In addition to supporting touch input, the Helix offers a bundled pen (complete with a slot for storing) for tapping away at the 1080p Gorilla Glass display.
This comes as no surprise considering that the pen is also effectively a HID device, doubling as a stylus for input and game control.
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As OEMs also look to implement more flexible input options for consumers, the Synaptics ClearPad 3400 allows simultaneous pen and finger touch recognition, passive pen tracking with pinpoint accuracy, and linearity and jitter control that functions with any number of fingers and styluses as small as 2mm.
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The FlexScan T1751 uses optical imaging touch screen technology which accepts input from a bare or gloved hand as well as a touch pen.
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The versatile tablet supports multiple input methods: multi-finger touch and an optional digitizer and pen, especially good for note taking, capturing signatures and completing forms.
In early 2005, even after the launch of the Nintendo DS, Switched On critiqued pen computing, noting that it was too cumbersome and unnatural to become a mainstream input method.
Handhelds have been the most successful pen-based computers, but as the market has matured, it looks as though their signature input method is on the verge of being erased.
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