To configure Pen and Input Devices settings, first open the Pen and Input Devices dialog box. If you opened it in the last step of the previous section, you’re all set. Otherwise, take the following steps:

1. Choose Start Control Panel. Windows displays a Control Panel window.

2.In Control Panel Home view, click the Hardware and Sound link. Windows displays the Hardware and Sound window.

3. Click the Pen and Input Devices link. Windows displays the Pen and Input Devices dialog box.

Configuring Pen Options

The Pen Options page of the Pen and Input Devices dialog box lets you change how Windows interprets actions you take with the pen and what effect clicking the pen buttons has. Windows doesn’t let you customize the effect of a single tap, which it always reads as a single click. But you can change the definition of a double-tap which represents a double-click and a press-and-hold gesture which represents a right-click, and you can set up a gesture for starting the Tablet PC Input Panel.

Customizing a Double-Tap

To customize a double-tap, follow these steps:

1. Click the Double-Tap item in the list box, and then click the Settings button. Windows displays the Double-Tap Settings dialog box .

2. Drag the Speed slider left or right to decrease or increase the speed required to generate a double-tap.

3. Drag the Spatial Tolerance slider left or right to decrease or increase the distance Windows allows the pointer to move between taps in a double-tap. If the pointer moves too far, Windows doesn’t register the double-tap.

4. In the Test Settings area, double-tap the graphic to make sure that you’ve chosen suitable settings. Windows changes the graphic when it registers a double-tap.

5. Click the OK button. Windows closes the Double-Tap Settings dialog box.

Customizing a Press-and-Hold Gesture

To customize a press-and-hold gesture, follow these steps:

1. Click the Press and Hold item in the list box, and then click the Settings button. Windows displays the Press and Hold Settings dialog box .

2. Select the Enable Press and Hold for Right-Clicking check box if you want to be able to rightclick by pressing and holding down the stylus.

3. Drag the Speed slider left or right to decrease or increase the speed with which Windows registers a press-and-hold gesture when you press the pen tip down and hold it there.

4. Drag the Duration slider left or right to decrease or increase the length of time that Windows allows you to perform a right-click action.

5.In the Test Settings area, press and hold the graphic to make sure that you’ve chosen suitable settings. Windows changes the graphic when it registers the press-and-hold gesture.

6. Click the OK button. Windows closes the Press and Hold Settings dialog box.

Defining a Gesture for Starting the Input Panel

To define a gesture for starting the Tablet PC Input Panel, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start Tablet PC Input Panel item in the list box, and then click the Settings button. Windows displays the Start Input Panel Gesture Settings dialog box, as shown here.

2. Select the Enable Start Input Panel Gesture check box if you want to be able to use a gesture to start the Input Panel.

3. Drag the Gesture Setting slider left or right to decrease the size of gesture you need to perform to start the Input Panel.

4. Hold your pen a short distance from the screen, and then move it quickly from side to side. If Windows doesn’t recognize the gesture, adjust the Gesture Setting slider.

5. Click the OK button. Windows closes the Start Input Panel Gesture Settings dialog box.

Choosing Settings for the Pen Buttons

In the Pen Buttons group box, choose settings for the buttons on the pen you’re using with your Tablet PC:

Use the Pen Button as a Right-Click Equivalent Select this check box if you want to rightclick by clicking the pen’s button. Many people find clicking the pen’s button much easier than performing the press-and-hold gesture.

Use the Top of the Pen to Erase Ink Where Available Select this check box if you want to use the top of the pen if it has a suitable top to erase ink.

Configuring Pointer Options

The Pointer Options page of the Pen and Input Devices dialog box lets you choose whether to have Windows provide feedback for pen taps and clicks and whether to display pen cursors:

Dynamic Feedback In this group box, select the check box for each action on which you want Windows to give you visual feedback: Single-Tap, Double-Tap, Press the Pen Button, and Press the Pen Button and Tap. The circular symbols next to the check boxes show the feedback icons.

Pointer Options Select the Show Pen Cursors instead of Mouse Cursors When I Use My Pen check box if you want Windows to show pen cursors when you’re using your pen. This option is usually helpful.

Configuring Flicks Options

The Flicks page of the Pen and Input Devices dialog box lets you specify whether to use flicks, pen gestures for navigation and editing, and configure the sensitivity for recognizing flicks:

Use Flicks to Perform Common Actions Quickly and Easily Select this check box to use flicks. If you don’t want to use flicks, clear this check box to stop Windows from attempting to identify flicks in your pen movements.

Navigational Flicks/Navigational Flicks and Editing Flicks Select the option button for the type of flicks you want to perform. If you select the Navigational Flicks option button, you can use flicks only for Back flick left, Forward flick right, Drag Up flick up, and Drag Down flick down actions. If you select the Navigational Flicks and Editing Flicks option button, you can click the Customize button and use the Customize Flicks dialog box to customize the action for each flick.

Sensitivity Drag the slider along the Relaxed–Precise spectrum to adjust how easily Windows recognizes your flicks. A setting toward the Precise end is usually best, as it prevents Windows from recognizing flicks that are in fact unintentional movements.

Display Flicks Icon in the Notification Area Select this check box if you want Windows to display a Flicks icon in the notification area that you can use to access the Flicks options.

Closing the Pen and Input Devices Dialog Box

Click the OK button. Windows closes the Pen and Input Devices dialog box and applies your choices.

Choosing Presentation Settings

If you use your computer to give presentations, you can benefit by configuring Windows Vista’s presentation settings. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click the Power icon in the notification area, and then click the Windows Mobility Center link in the pop-up window. Windows displays the Windows Mobility Center window.

2. Click the icon in the Presentation Settings box. Windows displays the Presentation Settings dialog box .

3.Clear the I Am Currently Giving a Presentation check box unless you’re just about to give a presentation.

4. Select the Turn Off the Screen Saver check box if you want Windows to prevent the screen saver from starting during a presentation. Suppressing the screen saver is usually a good idea.

5. If you want Windows to automatically use a predetermined volume, select the Set the Volume To check box, and then drag the slider to a suitable position along the Low–High axis. This feature is designed to help you avoid starting a presentation with unsuitable volume settings left applied from your previous task.

6. If you want to use a particular background image, select the Show This Background check box, and then select the image. You can either choose one of Windows’ images from the list box or click the Browse button and use the Browse dialog box to locate an image anywhere on your computer. Once you’ve chosen the image, look at the preview, and choose a different setting in the Position drop-down list if necessary. The options are Center, Tile, and Fit to Screen, just as for a desktop background image.

7. If you use the same external monitor for presentations, connect it to your computer, and then click the Connected Displays button. Windows displays the Current Displays dialog box, as shown here. Select the I Always Give a Presentation When I Use This Display Configuration check box, and then click the OK button. Windows closes the Current Displays dialog box, returning you to the Presentation Settings dialog box.

8.Click the OK button. Windows closes the Presentation Settings dialog box, returning you to the Windows Mobility Center window.When you’re ready to start presenting, click the Turn On button in the Presentation Settings area. Windows puts your presentation settings into effect and displays the Presentation Settings Are On icon in the notification area.

To turn off Presentation mode, click the Presentation Settings Are On icon, and then choose Stop Presentation from the menu, as shown here. Alternatively, click the Turn Off button in the Presentation Settings area in Windows Mobility Center.

Connecting an External Monitor

To give yourself more space for your work than your laptop’s screen can provide, you can connect an external monitor. Windows lets you display information on an external monitor in three ways:

Extend your desktop Extending lets you use both your laptop’s screen and the external monitor, displaying a different part of your desktop on each.

Mirror your desktop Mirroring lets you display the same information on the external monitor as on your laptop’s screen. Mirroring is mostly useful for presentations.

Use only the external monitor Using only the external monitor lets you treat your laptop like a desktop. When you do this, you’ll probably want to attach an external keyboard and mouse to your laptop. To connect an external monitor to your laptop, follow these steps:

1. Connect the monitor to a power source and to your laptop’s graphics port, and then switch the monitor on.

2. Windows normally detects the external monitor and displays the New Display Detected dialog box . If Windows doesn’t detect the monitor, open Windows Mobility Center and click the Connect Display button to make Windows scan for the monitor.

3. In the Extend Your Desktop area, select the Right option button or the Left option button to tell Windows whether you’ve placed the external monitor to the right of your laptop’s screen or to the left. This setting applies only if you’re extending the desktop.

4. Below the two screens, select the Duplicate My Desktop on All Displays option button if you want to mirror your desktop on the displays. Select the Show Different Parts of My Desktop on Each Display if you want to extend your desktop as is most likely. Select the Show My Desktop on the External Display Only option button if you want to use only the external display.

5. If you’re extending your desktop and have placed the external monitor above or below your laptop’s screen, or if you need to change the resolution or refresh rate, click the Display Settings link. Windows opens the Display Settings dialog box, in which you can adjust the displays as discussed in the section “Setting Up and Using Multiple Monitors” in Article 13.

6. Click the OK button. Windows closes the New Display Detected dialog box, and you can start using the external display.