"If you have any kind of Windows-based pen computer, you need PenOffice. It's inexpensive and even if you don't use it all the time it makes no sense to have a pen-based computer system without it."
PenOffice review by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, Pen Computing magazine.

PenOffice brings the power of award winning CalliGrapher® software to your Desktop, Portable or Tablet PC and adds useful pen-based applications: Microsoft® Word 97/2000/XP/2003 document markup, on-screen drawing and ScratchPads, and PenCommander.

PenOffice Features

PenOffice is a combination of a powerful handwriting recognition engine and applications, which allow you to extend the core PenOffice functions. This combination includes:

• Natural handwriting recognition: CalliGrapher component of PenOffice recognizes print, cursive, and mixed script as well as arbitrary symbols and control gestures.
• Immediate usability: Unlike many handwriting recognition programs, the CalliGrapher component of PenOffice is ready to run right out of the box with no training required. You can, however, customize CalliGrapher to your personal handwriting style, thereby increasing CalliGrapher’s already superb accuracy and speed.
• Built-in dictionary: The CalliGrapher component of PenOffice recognizes words from its integrated dictionaries. This includes a main dictionary containing approximately 100,000 words and a custom user dictionary. CalliGrapher also recognizes non-vocabulary words like personal names, geographical names, and arbitrary handwritten symbol strings.
• On Screen drawing: This feature allows you to use your screen as a virtual ScratchPad. You may save and e-mail drawings. You can also write while in drawing mode and have PenOffice convert your handwriting into typed text at a later time (deferred recognition).
• Microsoft Word markup: Using PenOffice, you can mark up Microsoft Word documents and forward your edits to others. PenOffice supports Microsoft Word 97/2000/XP/2003
• PenCommander: PenCommander is a new feature in PenOffice, which allows you to launch pre-recorded, user-defined commands (PenCommands). To execute a PenCommand simply write word command and draw a circle around it. PenCommander features are available only while PenOffice is in Recognition mode.
• Spell checker: This feature works with practically any application for Microsoft Windows.
• ScratchPad: ScratchPad provides you with the electronic equivalent of ?sticky notes’.
• RiteCalc handwriting calculator: Simply write an equation, and let RiteCalc do the math.
• Extensive correction interface: By pointing out PenOffice’s mistakes, you can improve its performance.
• Expandable Architecture: Look for future applications that will take advantage of PenOffice’s powerful capabilities to further enhance your computing experience.
• Multilingual Support: PenOffice Multilingual Edition supports handwriting recognition in the Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Spanish languages

System Requirements

PenOffice requires the following minimum configuration:

• Personal or Multimedia computer with Pentium Pro 200MHz processor or higher (Pentium III/350MHz or faster is recommended).
• Windows NT 4.0 Workstation or Server with Service Pack 6 or later, Windows 98 or later including Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Professional and Home editions.
• 16MB of free disk space for full installation, an additional 10MB required for temporary files during installation.
• 64 MB of memory to use on Windows 98/ME.
• 128of memory to use on Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP.
• VGA with 16-bit minimum color resolution.
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
• Graphics tablet system* such as WACOM Intuos? is strongly recommended.
• CD-ROM (required to install application if purchased on CD-ROM).
• Internet Browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later is recommended to retrieve the latest product information from PhatWare's web site.

* PenOffice currently supports Wintab interface only. PenOffice may not be compatible with all tabled devices that support other interfaces.

This version of PenOffice works under PenWindows, but it is not optimized for it. It uses mouse moves rather than precise screen coordinates for the ink trajectory.
Please note that the above represents minimum requirements only. PenOffice performs better on systems exceeding the listed requirements.