Tablet Pc Review of Acer C110TCi

5/23/03

Coming soon MedicalTabletPC.com

The Tabletpc (TPC), is a PC that can be used as a Tablet. In other words, the user can write directly on the screen, like with a pen and paper. Some TPCs come with an integrated keyboard and are called convertibles. The Tabletpc is designed to be light and mobile. All Tabletpcs come with XP Tablet Edition Operating System that facilitates handwriting recognition, inking capabilities, voice and wireless capability. The Tablet PC puts the "personal" back in personal computing.

Introduction:

I am a Chiropractic Physician, in practice in Carson, California since 1981. I became interested in computers when researching the purchase of my first office computer, an HP Vectra 286. Like many others, my ignorance was anything but bliss, as I found myself at the total mercy of a salesperson. Now, I was the patient, and the doctor, (salesperson) was diagnosing and prescribing in a language far beyond my ability to comprehend. We installed our practice management accounts receivable software and began the training of my staff. Then it dawned on me, my staff knew the program but I didn't. My fledgling business was contingent on this computer and software. I decided then and there, I was not going to be at the mercy of others. I needed to become proactive and to learn this technical stuff in order to survive in an ever sophisticated world. My office has been wireless since 1999. Over the years, I have owned a half a dozen PC that allow pen input on a touch screen from IBM, Compaq, Fujitsu and others.

SUBJECTIVE:

I will be adding to this review as my incipient experience continues. I have only had this unit for a few days now. The unit has an understated elegance with grey and silver coloring. It comes with a glove like protective case that is perfect for protecting it against spills, scratches and possible drools of delight ;-) This 3.2 lb. unit is extremely compact, especially considering that it is a convertible unit with a keyboard. I can write directly on the screen with my stylus/pen or use the keyboard. The default screen resolution is True color at 1024x768 resolution. While I remain forever 39 years old, I do need reading glasses to visualize the icons on the taskbar at this resolution. The smaller keyboard is of course confined in comparison to a normal keyboard, but has great tactile feel. The screen twists and folds down onto the keyboard with ease and stability establishing the slate or true tablet mode. The screen quality is excellent in my office while viewing straight on.

OBJECTIVE: C110 pdf Data Sheet

Intel® Centrino^TM Mobile Technology
Ultra-Low-Voltage (ULV) Intel® Pentium® M processor 900 MHz, 1024KB L2 cache, 400Mhz System Bus
Intel® PRO/Wireless network connection 802.11b
BlueTooth ready motherboard and software (Launchmanager) but need BT PC card to utilize
IR at up to 4 Mbps. Must be enabled in BIOS, Advanced IO configuration
Intel® 855 chipset family
Price $2199.00
Processor ULV INTEL PENTIUM M PROCESSOR 900MHZ
Memory 512MB DDR SDRAM (EXPANDABLE TO 2 GB)
Hard Drive 40GB ATA/100 HDD WITH ACER DASP (DISK ANTI-SHOCK PROTECTION), formatted with Fat32 and not NTFS. Partioned 30 Gigs and 10 Gigs. Drive D contains the initial "Ghost Load," from Acer and can be deleted.
Graphics Intel® 855GM chipset with Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 technology, up to 64MB shared video memory
VGA INTEGRATED VGA WITH DVMT TECHNOLOGY
Optical EXTERNAL 1394 FIREWIRE DVD/CD-RW (COMBO DRIVE) Standard/optional external optical drives (see models): Combo drive (8X maximum read, 8X maximum rewrite, 24X maximum record variable-speed CD-RW; 8X maximum variable-speed DVD-ROM) connected via FireWire® port. 24X maximum variable-speed CD-ROM connected via USB port
Network:
a. 10/100 ETHERNET,
b. 802.11B WLAN
Modem V.92 56KBPS MODEM
OS MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP TABLET EDITION (superset of XP Professional).
Display 10.4" XGA TFT LCD WITH DIGITIZER Screen TFT Color Display Motion-sensitive 10.4", XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, up to 16.7 million colors: Electromagnetic digitizer behind display works with included EMR (electromagnetic resonance) stylus and pen
Auto-switch feature enables rotation of display to notebook, presentation and tablet modes. Button on LCD or menu option enables toggle between landscape and portrait orientation
Weight 3.2 LBS.
Warranty 1 YEAR LIMITED (INCLUDES 1ST YEAR TRAVELERS)

ASSESSMENT:

Initial Experience:

The device was well-packed and everything was easy to find. In addition to the usual hardware, some nice touches were a set of plug adapters if I ever want to take this unit abroad. There were two manuals one for Applications and the other a Users Guide. Both manuals had a front and back cover that was an exact picture of the Acer computer from the top and bottom (cute). My unit came with a DVD RW that comes with an external power supply (very compact), needed to power the DVD, and connects to my internal Firewire—very fast. No complaints with speed while watching a movie or installing Office 2003. I try and copy any DVD or CD to my hard drive if I intend to use them regularly. I synced my Ipaq 54xx, as a guest, since I maxed out on my two partnerships. I attached a USB 20 gig Pocketec hard drive just to make sure it works. I will attempt to boot from this portable hard drive later. I use it as a backup for all my computer.

I did have a little trouble finding where and how to activate my wireless radio, not that I was in a hurry ;-) There was no reference in the quick start and I had to actually resort to “Reading the Manual ;-)”

Once up, I connected to my office Orinoco Access Point and was up on DSL and connected to my office Lan. I went home for lunch the same day and connected to my Linksys Access Point and desktop. No problems.

I found the C110Ti to be solidly built and "tight." It certainly didn't feel as though anything would fall off. Changing from the notebook mode to the tablet mode was easy and everything seated and locked as expected. I found their system of detents easy to use and well thought out.

It came with two pens. I like the idea of always having one "in" the machine and one in my pocket. If you lose these pens, the touch screen aspect won't work.

Pros

* Centrino improvements such as new CPU,1MB On-die L2 cache,400 MHz System Bus
(prior cache was 512 and bus of 133!)
* Great structure and function form factor for mobility
* Trackpad excellent
* Speed of processor crisp and fast in memory hungry applications like Office.
* Screen pivot mechanism solid, stable and easy to operate. (read the directions).
* Office 2003 is very fast with a thousand contacts
* Screen is very nice straight on, and best used in a non glare room. Process intensive
fish 3d screen saver looks great- a reflection of the video card and screen.
* 2 Pens come with the unit
* nice protective case
* internal fire-wire screams, plenty of external ports ports
* Built in Wi-fi

Cons

* No external volume control in Slate mode that I can find.
* Battery life is unspectacular at around 3 hours. (this Centrino unit is essentially getting a faster processor more ram, greater cache and a new wifi, with the same ultra portable battery life). I have not tried to tweak it yet and I probably will get an extra battery. Haven't had a chance to really test this in few days of use, but more later.
* The screen has limited viewing ability from angles; good for HIPAA privacy, bad for DVD watching except by yourself. Straight on it is excellent, who want to share anyway;-) Glare can be an issue. I have used the Acer under my office fluorescent lights and regular bulbs with clarity. However, outside or other conditions will vary.
* 10.4 screen will take some getting used to (compared to my 19 and 21," desktops); that said, the form factor is right (portability and manipulability are essential to this type of device)
* no extra battery if shipped to the United States but apparently in Australia you get an extra battery! I wonder if the ACLU is aware of this;-)

There are several reasons I chose the Acer:

I skipped purchasing the first generation of Tabletpcs because I was unable to have hands on experience with each available models prior to purchasing. It took nearly six months, but I did use HP, Toshiba and Motion, all fine Tablets depending on your needs. However, I felt that I needed a powerful convertible with Wi-fi and as light as possible. The Acer Centrino is the undisputed winner for me.

1. First with Centrino:

By mid May 2003, I had hands on experience with most of the Tabletpcs and new what I wanted. Acer was first on the market with the Centrino.
The Centrino technology was made from the ground up for mobility. This chipset was not a dumbed down version of a more powerful chipset, designed to save power.

Centrino Technology is comprised of 3 products:
- Intel® Pentium® M processor
- Intel® 855 Chipset Family
- Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 network connection

2. Personal attention:

I logged onto Acer's site and contacted a local representative who was kind enough to go out of his way and actually come to my office to show me the Tabletpc!

3. Finally, decent CPU Power. The 900 MHz rated by Intel at the equivalent of 1.5 has gusto, especially with 1024KB L2 cache and wider 400 Mhz bus. The XP OS needs 512 Megs of Ram and that is standard on this unit and upgradeable to 2 Gigs. The first generation of Acers had a 256, ceiling, which was pass for me.

4. Form factor: I chose the convertible because I want to chart in my treatment rooms and don’t have time to run back to my office and hook up a keyboard. A keyboard is necessary, in my opinion, when charting patients at times. (even though we live in a point and click world ;-). As a "clamshell" device, the screen would also be protected when not in use. While the screen isn't the largest at 10.4", the combination of screen, weight and keyboard make my choice easy.

5. Handwriting: What really impressed me is when I scribbled in "osteopathlogy, necrosis and hemoglobin" and it got it all right. Ok, the real reason is when it got my long name name right ;-) It correctly converted my handwriting perfectly to text as “Christopher Mark Wilkerson.”

5. Keyboard: Personally, this is a must for me with patient histories. I don't have time to run back to a docking station. Why have to "compromise" when both "slate" and keyboard could be had as a convertible? And there's a perfectly good track pad, to boot.

7. Inclusion of a CD drive. While I can get away without it, by connecting to a LAN CD, it is a true convenience at times. Acer did the right thing offering a choice of with and without an optical drive. The C110TCi version comes with the drive. Optionally, you can purchase without it.

8. Screen: Excellent, even when compared to my 19" LCD desktop. The TPC screen is dimmed by default when on the battery, as in this picture.

9. Advent of robust Electronic Medical Applications (EMR) that can be utilized on TPC

Desktop machines lack portability. Palm and PocketPC platforms are just too small and underpowered. For me, a TabletPC is better than a Desktop PC, a PocketPc (PPC), or any Handheld PC, at least for EMR, simply because it is a mobile yet robust communicating tool, with the caveat that it does not fit in your pocket. As a long time PDA user, that is a genuine compromise for me. For better or worse, it is all about compromise.

The TabletPC demonstrates critical "visual real-estate," and is readily networkable with other LAN PCs. Real time voice dictation is built in to the OS as well as handwriting recognition in various forms from Journal to Write Anywhere to Tablet Input Panel. Whatever you can do with a pen and paper or a desktop PC, you can do with a Tabletpc! Forget navigating horizontally, vertically and diagonally with a mouse; move directly and intuitively to the target with a stylus/pen! Additionally, when networked, other staff can input data besides yourself, in "real time," enabling a Triage Approach to patient care. For example, a historian can prepare the history and ROS, the front desk the demographics, a nurse the vitals, all prior to the doctor examining the patient. Then, the doctor digitizes the exam findings and chart note. (IMO, this is best started with a protocol template that is easily customizable, rapidly inserted and easy to change with hyperlinks to exam findings/tests and appropriate drop down list boxes, etc.) All information is readily viewable, obviating the need to scroll, pan and or change screens as on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Of paramount importance, the entire chart note (SOAP) is visible for review, on a single screen, an important factor in a harried and hurried setting. For patient education, the larger viewing area is obviously better than a PDAs 3.5" screen, and when wirelessly connected to the internet with DSL, you have a very potent mobile educational tool, where screen shots and patient hand outs are easily printed from the point of care, to a network printer. Point of care communication with the entire networked staff is easily accomplished with "robust office applications," not feasible on a PDA.

Wish List, applicable to all Tabletpcs:

1. Lighter
2. Longer Battery life
3. Clearly viewable screen outside
4. Slightly larger screen (assuming the presently impossible equation of bigger=lighter)
5. Better wifi configuring software. Apparently the configuring software is in the XP OS, not developed by the Vendor or Intel.

PROGRAM:

I have owned multiple TabletPC in the past, including Grid Convertible, Fujitus Stylistic, IBM 360-P, Dauphin Orasis. Pound for pound, this Acer is the unequivocal best! This 3 lb., true color, pen convertible unit, enables me to execute a patient encounter with all the added benefits of a Windows XP OS, handwriting recognition, Voice, Office Professional Software, and robust applications.

The idea of a truly portable device which would help me manage my patients by documenting patient encounters has been a goal since the first time I used my office computer in the front room of my office.

USE SO FAR

So what have I done so far? Primarily, a lot of familiarization-play. I've created some templates for patient management (initial histories, progress notes, exercise diagrams, patient instructions and the like) in the Journal and my Word processor. I've starting taking images of X-Rays for inclusion in patient "files." I've even "scanned in" x-rays, CT scans and MRI. I have scanned in Workmans Compensation authorization forms that I can write directly on my TabletPC and print to the front desk, on the spot. The fun part is that I can do some image processing and annotation right on the Acer. A doctor could make his own subscription pad in Journal, write directly on it and print it to a network printer! I've found that Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2 works well on this little Acer, a pleasant surprise, since my normal desktop with Photo Shop, is a 3.06 Hyperthreaded box with a gig or Rambus Ram and dual Raid hard drive with a 256 meg ATI 9800 Radeon video card.

With my built in Wi-Fi high-speed IEEE 802.11b (11 Mbit/s) connection (not BlueTooth), to my server that allows me to roam my entire office 2500 sq.feet. Simultaneously, other staff members, can complete (share) the insurance information and patient matriculation, while I am in the patient file, entering exam and soap findings.

I can send and receive email (Outlook) and print to the front desk before the patient leaves the treatment room. I am in constant contact with my entire staff with Outlook's intra office mail.

Handwriting: I installed Pen Office (www.phatware.com) and can write directly on the screen and the program will convert handwriting or printing into text! Pen Commander lets me make macros that I can use for memorized text insertion. This feature alone is a reason to have Pen Office. I installed the medical dictionary as well. From my experience, the native handwriting recognition of the tabletpc in Write Anywhere or the Tablet Input Panel (TIP), is superior to Pen Office, which may or may not be related to the increased depth of the Pen Office dictionary. I have noticed that written medical terms are recognized more accurately with Pen Office; no doubt because of the specific installed medical dictionary. For example, "radiculitis," is readily recognized with Pen Office and not with the native TIP or Write Anywhere.

With Voice Dictation built into the OS, I can verbalize into Office Applications. I use other dictation software to verbalize information and commands directly into my other application of choice. (con:generally the noisier the computer the more artifact noise resulting in less quality. This is a factor with cpu cooling fans). An external microphone is optimal.

I have a "shared," DSL modem that I wirelessly link with, that allows me to roam my office and surf the web at DSL broadband speeds! Medscape, Merck, Epocrates, National Library of Medicine and other resources are a click away. I use my own website as a reference tool, showing my patients pictures and other educational material while on line. At their request, a printout of what I have just shown them awaits their arrival at the front desk. Optionally, they can go home, get on the internet, pull up my URL and print what they want. Optionally, matriculation and history forms are available on line for technically advanced patients.

Faxing: When reports are ready to be sent, I need only to print to my integrated phone and faxing software.

Final Word: So far I couldn't be happier. For me, this unit is, structure/form/mobility and view-ability, at its best.

This is a great Tabletpc and the best way to go for robust mobile computing!

C.M.Wilkerson, D.C.
Carson Doctors Group
Web: www.digital-doc.com

This review will be updated in the future on:
www.digital-doc.com/C2/AcerReview.htm

Topics will include:

1. Battery
2. Wifi
3. Handwriting
4. Speech
5. EMR

Read more on the Microsoft Site about the Tabletpc.