Pen Tablets vs. Laptop Computers

Why Compromise?

The portable computer market includes thousands of products from a wide range of vendors. For discussion purposes, portable computers can be grouped into three primary categories: pen tablets, laptop/notebook computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Each category is designed to fill a specific need.

For example, PDAs serve as digital replacements for paper calendars, planners, notepads, and address books. Their low performance prevents them from being a successful equivalent of a desktop computer. In fact, these products use non-standard operating systems, software, and processors to provide highly specialized capabilities in a pocket form factor.

On the other hand, laptops or notebook computers are designed to enable portability of desktop computing resources from one site to another. They always require placement on a stable, level surface in order to type: a desktop, lap, or airline tray table. Laptop computers are merely portable desktop computers — they aren't truly mobile.

Pen Tablets Have It All

Pen tablets are designed to deliver the same computing capability as a laptop or notebook, but in a form-factor for true working mobility on the job. Designed to be held in one hand and used with the other, pen tablets are mobile extensions of desktop computing resources.

Pen Tablets fill a specific set of customer needs for large organizations looking to streamline business processes with “working mobility.” They are best suited for situations which demand “on-the-spot,” instantaneous decision-support in a form-factor compatible with standing and walking. Such customers demand a standards-based computer with a high-performance processor, robust graphics, sophisticated integration and communication with enterprise systems, long battery life, and high data throughput. These computers must also be easy to use, light and small – all without the need for a keyboard.

Comparison: Pen Tablets vs. Laptop Computers

• Pen computing allows mobile workers to use a computer as natural as pen and paper.
• Pen computers do not require keyboards.
• There is no need to set tablets down, unlike a laptop computer.
• Laptops were never designed to be used as handheld devices.
• Handwriting recognition recognizes printed characters, numbers, and symbols. Input is translated into text in the same manner as typed data. Learning capabilities allow users to use their unique writing style.
• Point-and-click data entry is extremely easy and fast.
• Pen computers capture digital signatures. Signature recognition is used for security verification and authorization.
• Pen computers integrate with bar-code readers for identification in places laptops would be awkward.
• Pen computers with wireless communication connect mobile users to centralized data sources.
• Pen computers are designed for longer battery life than laptops.
• Liquids spilled into keyboards damage processors and components
• False perception that pen computers are only for the enterprise results in lower theft.
• High theft rate on laptop computers.
• Tablet computers are gasket sealed. They clean easily, necessary in vertical markets like healthcare.
• Pen computer failure rate much lower than laptops (5% versus 28%).
• ...the list goes on! Call our sales department for additional questions.