The Pocket PC's "soft keyboard" is OK for entering a limited amount of text, but its hunt-and-peck method of entering characters is time consuming and tiresome, especially if you use it frequently. The built-in Character Recognizer is a better solution, but it's still too slow for me. Fortunately, Pocket PC users have a third option in the form of Transcriber, a natural handwriting recognition program that comes with every Pocket PC. (Note: Transcriber ships on CD with the original Pocket PC 2000s, and must be installed by the user. Transcriber 1.5 is built into ROM on the new Pocket PC 2002 devices, and does not require installation. See sidebar for new features. Transcriber is for Pocket PCs only. However, this sidebar describes Calligrapher, a commercial, upgraded version of Transcriber. Both Handheld and Pocket PCs can run Calligrapher.)

Transcriber recognizes cursive, printed, or mixed-style handwriting and translates it into electronic text. It is quick; it is accurate; and best of all, it is available free to all Pocket PC users. If you have not yet discovered Transcriber, check it out right now. It's included on the ActiveSync CD that came with your Pocket PC (in the Extras/TScribe folder), or you can download it from the Microsoft Mobile Devices Web site (see "More information on Transcriber" sidebar, page 60). Transcriber was an epiphany for me. After installing and using it for a while, I wondered how I got along without it.

Installing Transcriber on the original Pocket PC

As mentioned, users of the original Pocket PC 2000 must install Transcriber. The installation file is found on the ActiveSync CD that came with the original Pocket PC. Connect your Pocket PC to your desktop PC and click on the Transcriber installation file. You are walked through the installation procedure. Transcriber requires about one megabyte of internal RAM memory. I tested Transcriber on my Casio E-125. It works with all of the built-in data entry applications, but I tested it primarily with Pocket Word.

After you install Transcriber, you must select it as your Input method. Tap on the arrow in the extreme lower-right corner of your screen and select Transcriber (the other selections are Options, Character Recognizer, and Keyboard). The Transcriber Intro screen pops up, briefly describing the program and giving you a few tips about it (see Screen 1).

Screen 1: When you select Transcriber as your Input method, an introduction screen pops up, providing you with some tips and information about Transcriber.

Customize options to get the most out of Transcriber

Now that you've installed and activated Transcriber as your input method, you can set the Options to optimize the settings for your own preferences. (Note: If Transcriber is not selected as your input method, you will not be able to modify the options.)  Tap on Start > Settings > Input > Options and you will be presented with the "General" options tab for Transcriber (see Screen 2). This tab presents you with the following options:

• Sound on — Causes a "plunk" sound to be made when text is recognized and translated.
• Show intro screen — Causes the Intro screen to be displayed when Transcriber is activated (see Screen 1).
• Show iconbar — Causes the Transcriber iconbar to be displayed when the input panel is activated (more on this later).
• Inking — Changes the color and width of characters you write.