I finally had time to look at the media that HP included with the tc1100 and found a DVD disk that claims to be a Windows Tablet Edition OS disk.  It also states that it contains the HP drivers and software on the DVD so I had assumed this was a typical recovery image disk.  I was wrong, the DVD is a real Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 install disk that apparently has the HP drivers and software slipstreamed.  This is sweet and it is great to see HP rise to the front and include not only this OS disk but one disk with just the drivers and applications on it and a multi-disk set with the MUI install sets.  I have also heard from a couple of tc4100 owners who received the same disks with their Tablet PCs.  Kudos to HP!  Now if we can just get the other OEMs to follow suit.

Announcing the first Workshop on the Impact of Pen-based Technology on Education (WIPTE)!  Organized by representatives from DyKnow, Microsoft, HP, and several major universities, the workshop will be held April 6-7, 2006, at Purdue University.  WIPTE will bring together educators and technologists using Tablet PCs and other pen-based technologies in the teaching and learning environment.

To date, there has been no venue for sharing and disseminating the value of pen-based computer technology as it cuts across a variety of educational disciplines, grade levels, and settings.  In an effort to address this need, WIPTE seeks submissions from individuals with experience deploying pen-based pedagogy in varied educational environments.  Paper submissions are due November 1, 2005.  Read the call for proposals and get more information at http://www.purdue.edu/wipte.

I first mentioned Network Magic a while back and it generated a lot of interest since it makes it very simple to interact with your entire network using a graphical interface.  I just got word from Pure Networks that a version 2.0 beta is available for download and it looks like they have taken a nice network utility and added some cool new features:

• Net2Go – Access your home network from anywhere using just a standard web browser.
• Enhanced Router Support – Network Magic 2.0 is compatible with all routers. The new Net2Go feature does require a supported router.
• Automatic Printer Sharing – Hassle-free printing to any printer on the network from any computer on the network.

Check it out and let us know what you think.  Remember, this is a beta so there will likely be bugs.

After a very brief beta period Microsoft has released the official version 1.0 of the nice utility, SyncToy.  I have been using SyncToy since the beta was released early this month and it works very well.  The SyncToy download page provides details on new features in 1.0 that were not available on the beta:

• The ability to type in a UNC path;
• Support for longer folder pair names and ability to widen the left pane to see those longer names;
• The ability to support the maximum length for folder paths, and documentation was added to the help file about how to set up a share to be able to sync deep folder pairs;
• Better handling of the difference in precision between NTFS and FAT timestamps;
• More discoverable link to the help file for information on how to schedule SyncToy using the Windows XP Task Scheduler;
• Support for 800×600 screen resolution;
• Added a warning for users if the selected action will take some time to complete;
• Added brief explanations of the actions in the user interface;
• Improved behavior when choosing folders to include or exclude when there are large numbers of folders involved;
• Improved support for accessibility modes.

(via The Office Weblog)

I am extremely pleased to see city officials opening the Houston Astrodome to house 25,000 evacuees from New Orleans.  The Astrodome, once named the 8th wonder of the world, has been vacant since a new football stadium was opened in Houston and is the perfect venue to provide shelter to a great number of people.  The human spirit is always evident after a tragedy like Hurricane Katrina and it is great to see everyone rising up to aid the newly homeless.

Hurricane Katrina has completely destroyed New Orleans.  With the failure of two of the three levees that kept water at bay virtually all of New Orleans is under as much as 15 feet of water.  I just watched a news report that had a helicopter flying all over the city and it is just gone.  Nothing but water as far as the eye can see.  It’s just horrible.  While it’s fortunate that most residents of New Orleans were evacuated in time authorities are telling everyone it will be weeks before anyone will be allowed in to see what is left of their property.  From the video footage I just watched in horror there will be nothing left.  I feel for these people and am just horrified.  Please keep them in your thoughts.

Lora Heiny points to David Coursey’s article “Tablet PC is Stronger than Predictions Suggest” and loves his statement “My expectation has been, and continues to be, that Tablet PC will only sell in large numbers when it becomes a no-brainer to buy”.

This brings on the natural question– how do you make a Tablet PC a “no-brainer” purchase decision?  I’ve been giving this some thought and while my needs may very well be different than other users I know what would do it for me.  A killer app.  You see that mentioned a lot, that there is no killer app for the Tablet PC that would push prospective consumers over the edge.

The killer app that I envision is one that I think would appeal to many people from diverse backgrounds.  The program I would find very appealing is a collaboration tool that totally supports ink, audio and video.  Imagine having an online meeting with a small team and using a tool that provides a whiteboard that accepts text and ink, audio capability so the entire session can be augmented by a real conversation among the collaborators, and that can be recorded for posterity.  Throw in video and everyone could even webcam in the session.

The ink would really come into its own if you could bring in any Office document and create or edit it right in the tool.  Ink markups and annotations could be done by anyone in the session, automatically appearing in a different color that the convenient legend in the corner helps identify who wrote what.  Imagine working on Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents in such an environment!  To be really ambitious throw PDF handling into the mix and you would have a real “meeting in a box”.  The app should not be restricted to the same domain, you should be able to bring participants in from anywhere and painlessly network everyone into the session.

On the surface this sounds like a business tool but I believe it would be even more widely used in a personal setting.  Keeping in touch with family and friends would be great with voice and the ability to bring photos in to exchange and talk about.  I think this “killer app” would have an appeal for just about everyone if it was well done and was pitched just right.  What would your killer app be for the Tablet PC?

What’s better than Gnomedex?  How about two Gnomedex conventions next year?  Chris Pirillo has stated that next year, possibly in April and September, they are planning on two separate Gnomedexes in locations as yet undecided.  The popularity of the uber-geek convention has grown phenomenally due to the class act of Chris and Ponzi and the extra show will make it possible for those who can’t make one to have another shot at attendance.  Chris also states that contrary to the belief of some Gnomedex is a completely open convention and anyone is invited to attend.  Maybe I’ll actually be able to attend one of them next year.  Way to go, Chris and Ponzi!

Opera is a cool browser that normally costs $39 for the ad-free version but today only Opera software is giving the full version away for free!  All you gave to do is download Opera and then send an email to registerme@opera.com to obtain a registration code.  This offer expires August 31, 12 a. m. PDT.

I have been toying with the idea of adding another writer on jkOnTheRun to help bring more mobile tech news to site visitors.  I feel it will benefit readers to have more articles covering gadgets and mobile tech news and help build the site’s popularity even further.  What I would like to do is bring someone on for a month-long trial to make a few posts per day that fit in with the current style of the site.  If you are interested in writing for a highly visible site (and have sufficient time) please email me at jk AT jkontherun DOT com.  This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has always wanted to write about mobile tech for a large audience.  Please, only serious inquiries.  Thanks.