Customer Reviews

Seize the Work Day: Using the Tablet PC to Take Total Control of Your Work and Meeting Day

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If Microsoft really wants the Tablet PC O/S to take off, they should package a copy of Michael Linenberger's book with every Tablet PC. Tablet PCs are unlike any other PC, and learning how to use their unique qualities is a time-consuming process. Taking the time to read Linenberger's work can eliminate most of the difficulty and ensure that users get better use from their PC.

I have owned my Tablet PC for over a year, but it wasn't until I picked up this book that I really began using it effectively. Rather than taking advantage of the strengths of the Tablet, I used it almost as two different systems: as a simple notebook I could take notes in, and as a regular laptop computer. While it did mean I had my notes all in one place and ensured that I had my laptop when I needed it, I wasn't really seeing a significant improvement in my productivity. Until I read this book.

Linenberger starts by reviewing the Tablet PC operating system and the types of Tablet PCs. If you don't already own one, this is a great section for helping you decide which type would work best for you. It's arguably the best buying guide I've seen on Tablet PCs, in fact.

Linenberger does an excellent job laying out a simple set of techniques to take advantage of the Tablet PC. While he clearly has his favorite types of software, he examines all available software for each task and explains how to use it to best advantage. While some of the software information is already dated, most of the principles remain the same, and he has updated at least one chapter already on his web site. Linenberger covers task management, handling e-mail, note taking, power documents (important documents you refer to often), brainstorming, editing, presentations, and goal setting, each time demonstrating how to use the Tablet PC's features to your advantage.

The book is cleanly written and easy to read. You can read it from cover to cover, but it's also easy to use as a reference work, allowing you to flip back to areas you find of particular use.

All in all, the book has too many valuable tips regarding the use of the Tablet PC for anyone who owns a Tablet not to pick it up today.

No need to look any further, this is the book you've been waiting for. If you have a Tablet PC or are thinking about buying one, the book you need is Seize the Work Day: Using the Tablet PC to Take Total Control of Your Work and Meeting Day by Michael Linenberger. This is by far the best book written on the subject. I had already read several of the available how-to books and idiot's and dummies' type guides on the subject before discovering Linenberger's masterpiece. I read the book during a weekend trip and have been using it as a reference since. The author's enthusiasm is infectious, and you'll find yourself getting caught up in it, configuring your tablet to work like a PDA, buying a portfolio case to carry it, taking and storing your notes as digital ink. Although it would undoubtedly be best if one could follow his advice to the letter, some of us will not be able to put all of his recommendations into practice. Even if you can't follow all of his suggestions- perhaps your organization's IT department won't agree to allow your Tablet PC on their network, or for whatever other reasons you decide not to use your Tablet PC as your primary desktop computer, or you decide you can't live without your PDA- there is still a tremendous amount of useful information in this book. There are plenty of good books out there about Tablet PCs, Windows Journal, FranklinCovey PlanPlus, FranklinCovey TabletPlanner, Microsoft OneNote and the other software the author discusses; but this is the one book that puts it all together for you, comparing them, discussing the advantages and limitations of each, and offering valuable tips and workarounds to overcome program shortcomings. Obviously the optimum software program has not yet arrived, but Linenberger helps you get the most out of what's available now and makes you feel confident about the future of the Tablet PC. Some of the information is already dated, but he provides updates on his website. This book is definitely worthy of updating and reprinting. Hopefully, an updated version is already on the horizon, or better yet- and please listen to this, Amazon.com- I really love your books, but a valuable book like this that is bound to be referred to again and again would be really terrific to have as a downloadable version. After all, why carry a Tablet PC and a book about getting the most out of your Tablet PC- when you could have the book right there on your Tablet PC?

I really enjoyed the book, and it was very helpful to me in getting up to speed on how to take advantage of the features of my new Tablet Convertible.

I think workers and executives who spend a large portion of their time in and out of meetings will get the most out of this book. As an independent contractor who spends 80 to 90% of of my time working at my desk in my home office, I felt a lot didn't really apply to me.

Also, the book really is outdated, now. He reviews the pros and cons of his recommended software tools -- but ALL of them have had significant upgrades since publication.

The author points to his website, where he promises updates as technology changes, but I only found a single updated chapter (really an article) that describes the major enhancement of SP 2 of Windows XP. It was a great article, but I was disappointed there was nothing about GoBinder (not mentioned in his book) nor the updates to OneNote, PlanPlus, and MindManager.

This book should be studied for ideas and concepts to consider and adapt, rather than followed as the ideal system.

Bottom line is that I got a lot out of this book, and I will now be more effective with my Tablet PC.

This is exactly the resource I wish that my company had available when we were adapting Tablet PC's...

Michael Linenberger has done an excellent job of summarizing the most important software available for your work day productivity and provides "real-life" examples to integrate different solutions into your office or home.

This is also one of the few volumes I have seen that does an exhaustive exploration of Franklin Covey's Tablet Planner software, as well as Microsoft OneNote.

Highly recommended.

Michael Linenberger has written the best tablet PC guide by far. If you have a tablet PC, you should read this book to learn how to best leverage the advantages of the pen based OS. If you don't have a tablet PC but are thinking of getting one, then you should DEFINTELY read this book to help you determine if a tablet PC is for you and which features are important. This book is not really a technical "how to" guide for the tablet PC or any particular software. Instead Linenberger lays out a plan for organizing your busy life using the tools available on a tablet PC. Yes, there is a lot of information about using Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Outlook, Franklin Covey software, OneNote, MindMapper and other software. There is also space devoted to the different kinds of tablet PCs and the pros and cons. However the mantra of the book is how to take control of your limited time using a tablet PC it prioritize tasks, delegate projects, be more effective in meetings etc.. Linenberger himself is an executive and this book is a culmination of his years of corporate trial and error using a tablet PC and planning systems by Franklin Covey and David Allen. It comes as no surprise then that the lessons in the book are geared towards business meetings, brainstorming sessions, notetaking, tasking and delegation. So while these skills are generally applicable, somebody looking for a more specialized use e.g. filling out forms, or medical patient charting, should be aware that this tome is not a treatise on the tablet PC's myriad of uses. Also, if you are looking for a detailed manual or guide to Outlook or OneNote or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, this is not it, but I've found that after reading this book, I don't really need to buy a manual. Most of the complicated stuff isn't that useful to me. My only criticism is that I wished that Linenberger had gone into more detail with certain software titles. Outlook, Franklin Covey, and Onenote are covered fairly well. Mindmapper was OK, but graphics programs such as Corel Grafigo got barely any ink.

I became interested in the Tablet PC after a recent trip to Las Vegas. The restaurant Aureole has their entire wine list on Tablet PCs. After that dinner, I decided to make the switch from my 17" Apple Powerbook G4, to a Toshiba Portege M200 (custom built with 1.7 Pentium, faster drive and built-in Bluetooth). That's right; I switched from a Mac to Tablet PC! I am very computer literate, so working with the Tablet PC came easy. I bought How to do everything with your Tablet PC and Tablet PC Quick Reference. They were fine, but not what I was looking for. Then I found your book, it was exactly what I was looking for. Not a beginner's how to, but an accurate look at how to use the Tablet PC as a true business tool. I thought I was organized before, but after reading your book, I am now more organized than I have ever been!

Thank you for writing a fantastic book. This book is a MUST HAVE, not just for a Tablet PC owner, but for any professional looking to increase productivity and improve their organizational skills.

This book sits right on the fence between a computer book and a personal productivity book, and excels at both. By far the most interesting computer book I've read in the last 5 years.

It doesn't just take a "point there, click here" approach to showing you how to perform specific acts, nor does it try to be a reference volume. Instead, Linenberger takes a more philosophical and theoretical approach to time management (drawing from sources that include Franklin Covey and David Allen) and shows you how to apply these best practices using the Tablet PC.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is how it demonstrates the tablet's ability to increase your productivity in meetings not just by taking excellent (and more useable) notes, but by allowing you to multitask and organize the data captured while it's being captured.

What a great book.

The Tablet PC is a paradigm shift in computing. It truly does change the way people work. The trick is learning to get the most out of it.

This book truly helps unlock the value of the Tablet PC for use at the workplace. It teaches you how to use the tablet pc and software to help get the most out of your workday. From using Office 2003, TabletPlanner, MindManager, PlanPlus, Journal, and OneNote, I consider it the most exhaustive book on the market today. I help users everyday with their Tablet PC issues. I'll be referring them to Michael's book on a consistent basis.

It is very practical, the instructions are clear and understandable. Very readable.

As I read the book it reminded me of all the things I should be doing to keep my work organized. The tablet PC is a great tool which I encorporated into my daily routine prior to reading. This book gave me helpful hints on how to do things effectively and efficently on my tablet. The book is written using the beta and initial version of the tablet PC tools. If you purchase you must download the updates of Chapters 3 & 4. This update gives a better understanding of the current tools of the tablet PC. It is worth the money in time saved.

If you really want to get more out of your Tablet, or are contemplating buying one and want to know how it can help you -- buy this book!

This is not just a click here, do that book, it is all about applying the Tablet PC to your daily work and changing your processes to be more efficient with this great new tool. Mr. Linenberger has lots of executive level experience, and it shows in his explanations of common challenges everyone faces in a day to day work setting.

Get this one -- you'll be glad you did.