Comments on: Windows 7 – Tablet PC Handwriting recognition Updates

By: Tablet PC

Tablet PC — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:09:21 +0000

Still a major improvement. It was unfortunate that Microsoft chose to drop mulit-language from the pro version, but that does not change the fact that Handwriting Recognition is now a viable input method in Windows 7.

By: JoJo

JoJo — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:05:17 +0000

What a shame! I didn’t like Windows Vista but at least it can recognize multiple languages handwriting, but this upgrade version, Windows 7 cannot, unless you buy the Ultimate version just for this one feature. Can you still call this improvement?

By: Dan F

Dan F — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:26:11 +0000

Thanks. Soon after I posted originally I discovered somewhere that if I did a search for “windows features” I’d get to the “Turn Windows Features On and Off” dialogue box.

For some reason, I don’t consider that an intuitively obvious way to solve my problem. Perhaps if that box were located in the Control Panel life would be easier. But searching for “windows features”!?!?! Are you listening, Microsoft?

By: Tablet PC

Tablet PC — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:13:31 +0000

@Dan F: Check that OneNote is not treating your ink as a picture. Also, make sure that you have the Tablet PC components loaded (they are by default) in the Windows Features control panel.

By: Dan F

Dan F — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:33:02 +0000

Simple question, I’m sure, but I sure can’t find an answer online.

I just received a Bamboo pen & pad that USB attaches to my desktop PC. I’m running Windows 7 Home Premium and Office 2007 Ultimate. In OneNote I can write with the pen and have my text appear, but the “convert handwriting to text” option does nothing.

It feels like I didn’t install that Windows option when I loaded Win7 since I had no relevant device at that time.

Is there a way to make my pen/pad work like a tablet PC and have a program like OneNote actually do the handwriting recognition/conversion to text?

If so, what do I need to do?

Thanks.

By: Aidan Webb

Aidan Webb — Fri, 07 May 2010 06:22:16 +0000

I’m pretty much impressed with the stability of Windows 7. It is better than windows Vista which hogs my memory and cpu.;’,

By: Tablet PC

Tablet PC — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:32:39 +0000

Thanks Cynthia for your comment. We think that handwriting recognition is still the best kept secret in IT.

I agree in particular with your comments about writing with emotion. It just seems to flow better with the pen… Windows 7 is a great improvement too. You would never go back…

By: cynthia hartwig

cynthia hartwig — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:14:39 +0000

I’m a fiction writer and have been using Vista pen recognition for about a year. I used to handwrite and then retype my writing because I can’t seem to access my emotions as well when I type versus having the hand-heart connection that handwriting allows. I fell in love right away with my pen tablet and put up with it’s consistent errors (after all, my handwriting would stultify a rocket scientist). To say I’m thrilled with the new Windows 7 improvements is an understatement. This version actually learns — I felt that Vista’s version never really “got” my esses or b’s. The new split/join pen flicks are so much quicker. I’ve been following the flap in the NY Times re Microsoft’s lack of “innovation” and I have to say that the pen tablet handwriting recognition is wonderfully creative and unbelievably helpful in an artistic way. When I publish my novel, I’ll thank you guys in the credits. Much, much appreciated.

By: Tablet PC Blog

Tablet PC Blog — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:20:13 +0000

Ben, that is pretty disappointing! I tried it and can confirm the issue. We will bear that in mind for multi-lingual customers and hope that Microsoft change their policy on this.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:09:37 +0000

@ antoni, tablet pc, xau, widodo:
I think that with windows 7, you are restricted to handwritting recognizers for ONLY your local language. In the case of non-english versions, you might get english too (but i might be wrong there). In order to gain recognizers for other languages, you must install MUI (multilingual user interface) packs. Unfortunately, these are only available for Windows 7 Ultimate–home premium and business are screwed.

I noticed this too when I was using the RC version of win7. (Fortunately, the RC is Ultimate, so I could install the language pack.) I personally think this is retarded. It’s bad enough that MS makes something basic like your display language into an “ultimate” feature, but input too? It’s even more unfair because only pen input gets shafted; the IME can still be used without the extra language packs. To make it worse, MS didn’t really announce this change at all.

I found a possible solution on the following blog, but I haven’t tried it.
http://xaueious.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/changing-installed-language-of-windows-7-home-premium-pro-from-en-us/