Dell Latitude XT

I am currently evaluating the Dell Latitude XT Tablet PC for my university. I have been using it for about one week, and I am really pleased with its performance. It came from Dell with the Microsoft’s Windows Vista Business operating system installed, which includes Microsoft’s new Tablet PC Support features. Click here to read about all of the tablet features in Vista–Tablet PC Support is included in the following versions of MS Vista – Home Premium, Business, Ultimate.

I spent about three hours with the “Personalize handwriting recognition” function when I first received the machine.  This function has you write out 50 sentences, the English alphabet, numbers, and frequently used symbols. You can go back to this function at any time and select to either “Teach the recognizer your handwriting style” or “Target specific recognition errors.” You can also select whether to opt in to automatic learning for personalization. This allows the recognizer to gather information about the words that you use and how you write them and store that information on your local computer.

I am very impressed with the handwriting recognition technology. I purposefully write at the same speed as I normally would when I provide handwriting samples to the computer.  This way I do not write the samples neater than I would in a normal situation.

Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 is great for taking handwritten notes on the tablet during meetings. You can choose to leave the notes in your own handwriting, or you can have OneNote convert your handwriting to text. OneNote doesn’t convert every word correctly for me yet, but the simple editing and formatting that I must complete is a lot easier than typing up a whole meeting’s worth of handwritten notes. (Most of the time, I never go back and type up my handwritten meeting notes.)

Finally, I have found that reading web articles is really comfortable in “portrait” mode on the tablet.  You can use either the pen or your finger to scroll down the page, or select the next article that you would like to read. The XT is very thin and it weighs around 3.5 lbs.

Filed under: Educational Technology , Dell, Latitude XT, Microsoft, onenote 2007, PC, tablet, Vista

Trip to Austin

I took my second trip down to Austin, Texas last week, and I still have not seen the downtown.  I should restate that–I took my second trip down to Round Rock, Texas, or Dell-land.  I still really want to get to 6th Street someday.  I have been told that Austin is the city that will change all of my preconceived ideas about Texas.

Our Dell Account Executive took us to Eddie V’s Edgewater Grille at the Arboretum location.  It was my second time at this restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed myself once again.  The fillet mignon is excellent, and the raisin bread pudding was — WOW!  The company has restaurants in Austin, TX, Scottsdale, AZ, and Newport Beach, CA.

Filed under: Travel , 6th Street, Austin, Dell, Eddie V's

Don’t Forget to Recycle Your Old Electronics

According to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, less than 13% of electronics gear gets recycled. Consider turning in your old iPod to Apple for a 10% discount on a new iPod, or take Dell up on their option to ship back your old Dell equipment for free.

read more | digg story

Filed under: Sustainability , Apple, computers, Dell, discount, electronics, iPod, recycle, recycling, Technology

Dell Earth

Green marketing is very popular right now, and I am always happy to see a company that is making strides to live up to their green claims. I was recently introduced to this YouTube video by my company’s Dell Account Executive.

It is called The Regeneration.

Now of course, this video means nothing if Dell does not take action on its message.

Check out the Dell Earth microsite where you can read about ways that Dell is currently taking action to protect the Earth. In addition to creating new energy smart products, Dell asks its customers at Oracle OpenWord 2007, “What Does Green Mean to You?”

In September 2007, CEO Michael Dell announced that Dell will become carbon neutral by the end of 2008. Dell has also announced that they will push their major part suppliers to report their carbon emissions. It is unclear what will happen if a supplier fails to report, or chooses not to report their data.

One of Dell’s current slogans is “Striving to be the Greenest Technology Company on the Planet.” The World needs more corporate giants to move in this noble direction.

Filed under: Sustainability , carbon emissions, carbon neutral, computers, Dell, Energy Smart, Green Manufacturing, green marketing, recycle, regeneration, reinvent, reuse, Technology