Sign your emails in your own handwriting to show that special person you care.

All it takes is a quick tap to activate the inking features of Outlook 2007 in Vista. (XP users who have Outlook 2003 or 2007 can add this cool feature by installing JustWrite Office bundled with Bamboo. Inking is also available on the Mac using Inkwell).

Or better yet, don’t just send email, impress people with handwritten e-letters and photo letters!

A picture is worth a thousand words. MSN Messenger 7.0 and above has a built in whiteboard that allows you to show instead of just tell.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. For those of you into video chat, IMDisguise Pro bundled with Bamboo will allow you to draw directly on your face with not just pen lines, but fire, smoke, bubbles and more!

Bamboo unlocks the handwriting features of Microsoft Vista (except Home Basic) and some language versions of Mac OSX. Vista’s powerful handwriting recognition feature can even turn your handwriting into text. The pen becomes a natural extension of your thinking, your personal signature. Put your name to it.

1. Digital Inking – Do NOT stay between the lines!!!

With digital ink, you will no longer be held prisoner to the horizontal lines of typed text or margins of word processors. Take notes wherever you want – in the margins, directly on text, on charts, diagrams and photos, in presentation slides, in spreadsheets, in PDFs…the list goes on and on!

Digital inking in Windows Vista (except home basic):

Microsoft Windows Journal included standard for note taking. Bamboo’s bottom left button’s default function is to open Journal. Handwritten notes can be searched as regular typed text. Microsoft OneNote 2007 (also for XP service pack2, download free trial here) is a digital notebook solution that will help you organize all your notes and information including your handwritten notes but also photos, text and audio/video

When using Windows Vista, Office 2007’s Ink functions are made available when you plug your Bamboo. Just click on the “Start Inking” button in the review tab of applications like Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Proofreading and editing documents has never been easier. Don’t print and fax. Edit and email!

Vista also recognizes handwritten text allowing you search through your handwritten notes

Sending your Microsoft Windows Journal file to a friend using Windows XP or 2000? They can view it using Microsoft’s Journal Viewer 1.5.

Microsoft Office2007 also offers Digital ink based annotation on the review button.

Digital inking in Windows XP with JustWrite Office (bundled with Bamboo)
Although searching is a specific feature of Windows Vista, Microsoft Office (2003 or 2007) users on Windows XP, won’t miss a beat with JustWrite Office. The software embeds a toolbar in Office applications Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook to help you not only sign documents but create annotation and help you sketch your ideas.

Digital inking in Mac OS X with Inkwell
Apple’s Inkwell features an InkPad, a handy utility that opens a floating window where you sketch and paste your drawing or diagram into other applications. The InkPad app offers additional features for writing and editing, such as alternate word lists and targeted gestures.

2. Powerful, Intelligent Handwriting Recognition

Ever feel like writing something down on paper instead of typing it? Nothing replaces the feel of holding a pen to record our thoughts. Both Windows Vista and Inkwell for Mac OS X offer powerful, multilingual handwriting recognition ability.

Stop switching back and forth between your keyboard! For short, quick text entry in spreadsheets or when entering forms on the web, simply handwrite it.

Learn more about Vista’s handwriting recognition features on our Vista page including how to teach Vista to recognize your individual handwriting style!

Bamboo allows you to move around your PC more quickly, easily and conveniently. Nothing is as natural as a pen and you can use it to navigate through documents, spreadsheets and other applications with just a flick of the wrist. Find your way.

Flicking as a form of navigation in Windows Vista allows you to do more by doing less. Flick up or down to scroll windows, flick right or left to go back or forward. Vista offers eight different flick commands. Browsing the internet was never so easy.

Bamboo’s pen now offers you the ability to grab any window and slide it around in all directions. Scrolling up and down has always been easy, but with the Panning feature offered by Bamboo, you won’t have to bother with the horizontal scroll bar in large websites or spreadsheets. Just grab the window and slide!