http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2006/04/04/568255.aspxWhen Tablet PCs first came on the market, there was a hefty premium for using digital ink. Today, a Tablet can be had for little more than $100 above the price of a quality notebook. For this, you'll get a 3rd or 4th generation slate or convertible modelen-USCommunityServer 2.1 SP1 (Build: 61025.2)http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2006/04/04/568255.aspx#568312Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:03:49 GMT91d46819-8472-40ad-a661-2c78acb4018c:568312JasonTablets? Or UMPCs? The clinicians that I have spoked with about tablets (and who use them) love the tablets, but hate the bulkiness of them. When at a bedside, there wasn't a good place to put them down. <br> <br>One alternative might be the UMPCs soon to be released. They natively run Windows XP, are supposed to support Vista, and could fit in a Lab Coat pocket. Not to mention, they're cheaper than a laptop or a tablet. <br> <br>As a side note, our company already provides for Inked Anatomical annotations in our CPOE / documentation system. http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2006/04/04/568255.aspx#568348Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:42:18 GMT91d46819-8472-40ad-a661-2c78acb4018c:568348Dr Chris PatonTablet PCs seem very popular for clinic based physicians who are 'semi-mobile' - i.e. they will hop between a couple of rooms but will be able to put down the tablet when they are not using it. <br> <br>For junior staff who are running all over the hospital a Tablet is less viable. Just too heavy to carrry around all day and too risky to leave lying about. For these chaps, a Windows Mobile device is probably much more handy. <br> <br>As for UMPCs - I see these as a bit of a half-way house. Will tablet users switch - probably not. If they are happy using a tablet in a clinic then they won't want to 'downgrade' in terms of power or features. <br> <br>Those who've previously considered a tablet but thought them too heavy might well be interested in the UMPC though. <br> <br>Will PDA users switch to UMPC - more likely. PDAs have a very limited screen size which means viewing X-rays and EMR entry is difficult. They are mainly used for reference and personal organisation - and increasingly as mobile phones. If UMPCs are light enough to carry all day long then PDAs users could well start switching. This is also going to depend on what the Windows Mobile people come up with. Screen res is now up to 640x480 on some devices - they haven't got far to go to reach the UMPC screen res of 800x600! <br> <br>If anyone reading this is interested in using PDAs in medicine - we have an educational workshop at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on April 6th. Details of the event are at www.doctorsgadgets.comhttp://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2006/04/04/568255.aspx#568377Tue, 04 Apr 2006 22:16:19 GMT91d46819-8472-40ad-a661-2c78acb4018c:568377Bill Crounse, MDThanks Jason and Chris. &nbsp;Chris, I believe you hit the nail on the head. &nbsp;The UMPC is more likely to appeal to PDA users who want a little more real estate on the screen along with perhaps a more robust user experience. &nbsp;I don't see these as a substitute for the Tablet, at least not yet. <br> <br>As always, your comments are appreciated. <br> <br>Bill Crounse, MD &nbsp;http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2006/04/04/568255.aspx#569613Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:59:17 GMT91d46819-8472-40ad-a661-2c78acb4018c:569613Garam ChaiAlthough I am not a physician, I can imagine how Tablet PC or UMPC could be used by clinicians. While PDAs are graphically-challenged compared to TPCs and UMPCs, PDAs' form-factor is ideal for use in a clinical setting. More so wi-fi/bluetooth equipped PDAs running Windows Mobile 5.0.