BIOS: Technology Means Business

Wacom's PenPartner is a compact pen tablet that allows you to navigate Windows and make handwritten notes using a pressure-sensitive pen. Targeted primarily at laptop users, the 147x160x12.0mm (168g) PenPartner offers an alternative way of inputting data compared to a regular trackpad and mouse. The device also comes with software that allows you to write handwritten notes in Microsoft's Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Although rather awkward to get used to, tablets allow you to personalise your e-mails by signing them, just as you would do on a standard letter, as well as insert notes and small drawings on-the-fly. You can, of course, also use them to create freehand drawings in graphics programs. The PenPartner has a coordinate resolution of 1000dpi, 512 pressure levels, and connects to your computer using USB 2.0. If you're looking for a more capable tablet for your desktop computer, take a look at Wacom's excellent Graphire 3 Studio XL, which has an active area of 209x151mm and supports a resolution of 2032dpi - double that of its predecessors.

Pros: Low cost; small footprint; cable- and battery-free pen
Cons: Relatively small active area and resolution

Release: Wacom Europe GmbH, has announced a new compact pen tablet aimed at the laptop market. Called PenPartner, the stylish, portable input device is ideal for quick navigation of applications and hand writing notes directly into electronic documents. With an active area of just 8.1x5.8cm it is an ergonomic and efficient way of working with a laptop.

Jens Krüger, product manager at Wacom Europe, says: 'The laptop market is growing rapidly. In particular, in the consumer and SMB sectors, market research companies such as Gartner and IDC are expecting further increases. From our research into this area, we recognised the need for an optimal input device that can be used comfortably with a laptop. We have aimed PenPartner at users who are looking for a product to complement integrated devices in laptop, such as a Touchpad and Trackpoint.'

With its silver and stylish flat casing, PenPartner matches many state-of-the-art laptops on the market today. The new tablet is an easy to use input device enabling comfortable and fast navigation through applications, offering an easier and more efficient way of working on a laptop. At the same time it is ideal, for adding handwritten notes, signatures and scribbles directly into office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

PenPartner comprises a compact tablet and a pressure-sensitive pen. The USB tablet also includes a transparent overlay and integrated pen rest. The ergonomically designed Wacom pen has a side switch that can be customised with often-used functions such as right mouse click. The pen works with the Wacom patented 'Penabled technology' and is cordless and battery-less. With low power usage, the PenPartner does not drain the laptop's battery, allowing for longer uptime than when using a traditional computer mouse.

More accurate than a computer mouse or an integrated laptop input device, the Wacom pen works with absolute positioning, where the active area of the tablet exactly mirrors the laptop screen. Navigating with a small touchpad can be awkward, particularly when moving the cursor from one corner of the display to the other. Instead, the pen can be lifted up and down because its new position is recognised by the tablet. This is more convenient and less tiring for the user and can help to reduce the risk of RSI through monotone movements of the hand, arm and shoulders.

PenPartner and JustWrite Office for handwritten notes on the laptop PenPartner is the perfect office partner. With bundled software, JustWrite Office 4.0, notes can be directly written with the pen in applications such as Microsoft's Word, Excel and PowerPoint. In PowerPoint, direct annotation can lead to more spontaneous, interactive presentations to grab the attention of an audience. Documents can be personalised, e-mails signed and quick sketches, such as maps or directions, can be made as if using a normal pen and paper. JustWrite Office installs automatically within Office applications and appears with its own toolbar. The handwritten notes are saved in the file. Even users who have not installed the software on their computer can read the notes. The PenPartner comes with a USB connection and is compatible with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. The warranty is two years.

Links:
PenPartner Web site