- Rob Bushway

Is that a funeral procession I hear coming down Bourbon Street, celebrating the death of Tablet PC? Absolutely not! Life in Tablet land is certainly not as vital as it should be, though, and this is a challenge the industry should take by the horns.

We've heard quite a lot from readers, GBM writers, ISVs, and hardware partners in the past week about their concerns regarding a technology we all know is superior and has so much unrealized potential. There is a lot of pent up frustration aimed toward Microsoft and OEMs, a lot of it rightly placed. For the first time, players within this space are starting to speak out, and it is eye-opening to hear from the likes of InPlay Technologies, N-Trig, and Active Ink Software confirming what many have been reluctant to talk about the past five and a half years: folks are not happy with the status quo and we want change.

We want Microsoft to publicly stand behind a technology they actively evangelized in the early years. There has been a large disconnect between Bill Gates personal passion for Tablet and what Microsoft actually does. It means putting their marketing dollars and expertise behind it. It means righting the things that are causing partners like InPlay to call Microsoft a "black hole" when it comes to innovation in the market place. It means leading by example with their own solutions and UI. It means addressing SDK issues that ISVs have. It means active change.

We want OEMs actively working with ISVs like Active Ink, Einstein Technologies, EverNote, and Bluebeam in marketing this superior technology. OEMs have their fair share of blame with the current state of affairs, and certainly have as much marketing clout as Microsoft to help right this ship. What they've done in the past certainly has not worked. I know OEMs like HP are reporting blazing sales of tablets like the TX2500, but I wonder how many folks actually know there is a pen in that thing and are aware of the software and experiences that await them. The Mobile PC space seems to be leaving Tablet behind, and it should be the other way around: tablet technology should be the leading driver in mobile computing.

I seriously believe that a mini-summit of sorts is needed, bringing the likes of Microsoft's Windows team, Microsoft's marketing team, Microsoft's Office team, Toshiba, Motion, Fujitsu, Dell, N-Trig, Wacom, InPlay, ISVs, GottaBeMobile.com, MVPs, a segment of users, and resellers to the table to openly address the state of the industry and where we take things from here. There doesn't seem to be a unified vision, a leader if you will, taking us all to the promised land. We lack vision and are sorely in need of a leader.

These are definite challenges, and every technology solution faces them, especially ones like tablet that threatens to change the way people think about interacting with a computer. They are paradigm shifts in thinking that often take years to come about. The struggle is keeping the momentum, excitement, and focus during the years that it takes for a technology to finally take hold. I'm still very excited about Tablet PC, but am frustrated at the state it finds itself in right now.

Don't break out the black suit, drums, and saxaphone just yet - Tablet isn't dead and it won't be dying any time soon. We just gotta get that jazz band playing a new tune.



Technorati Tags: Tablet PC, Microsoft, Dell, Fujitsu, InPlay, N-Trig, Wacom

- Rob Bushway

Much to chagrin of the mainstream press, Bill Gates has been nothing but persistent over the years with regards to the Tablet PC and his belief that natural input technologies, like ink, will one day be common place. Gates will enter his "retirement" by spending much of his 20% Microsoft time on pet projects like Research, Tablet PC, speech, vision, touch, and such. Gates doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that would waste some of his most valuable resources, like time, on technologies that don't have long term viabilities. We happen to agree with him about the long term potential that natural input technologies have.

In many of the speeches that I've heard Gates give, including last year's MVP Summit, he frequently mentions the Tablet PC form factor. Lately, as Gates has been traveling the world, he has been spending a lot of time talking about putting a Tablet PC in the hands of every student. Tablet PC and touch was also a major talking point at this year's D6 conference. It is quite ironic, though, that the community which gives life to his passion has never heard from him directly in the almost six years that Tablet PC has been around. I can't recall seeing any interviews with Mr. Gates from TabletPCBuzz.com, TabletPCReview.com, TabletPC2.com, and yours truly, GottaBeMobile.com.

Mr. Gates, the community that is in step with your passion needs to talk with you - we want to hear from you directly about the technology we both care about, are concerned about, discuss, and believe in. Comments like these are indicative that there are some real issues that need discussing.

I'll be in Redmond in a few weeks meeting with your Surface team. I'd be happy to extend my trip by a day or two in order to spend some time talking with you about Tablet PC, touch, and mobile computing. Your Tablet PC team knows how to get in touch with me if you'd like to talk.

- Rob Bushway

Going in to a long Easter weekend, I thought it might be fun to have a discussion centered around mobility. So, here's the question for this weekend:

"What is your biggest struggle when it comes to being mobile?"

My biggest struggle is not the technology, per se. I'm actually pretty pumped about Tablet PCs, the iPhone, my MacBook, and general web services like EverNote, FolderShare, and .Mac which allow me access to most of my data wherever I am and on whatever device I find myself using at the time.

My struggle is mostly with creating some distance from the technology. Being mobile means that I'm more or less always attached to my devices. That makes it harder to put things away when I mostly need to relax and break free, because the tendency is to check feeds, check email, twitter some status update, check TechMeme, - because, you know, it is there, connected, and available. I try, believe me, but it is a constant discipline issue in my mind.

What is your biggest struggle? battery life, OS, syncing, staying connected, staying disconnected, choosing devices, cost, connectivity, etc?

- Rob Bushway
Here are some random things going through my head as I ponder the mobile pc space:

• 37Signals has a great write-up on Apple's iPhone SDK "What we saw today was the beginning of two-decades of mobile domination by Apple. What Microsoft and Windows was to the desktop, Apple and Touch will be to mobile. " I especially love this comment from Kevin: "I completely agree as well. This is Apple’s second chance. While Microsoft may have won in the desktop market, the next generation of computing is upon us. After watching today’s event, more than ever I feel that mobile computing is the next big thing… perhaps even bigger than desktop computing. As you said, there’s currently no clear leader and Apple has all the pieces needed to make it to the top. This is going to be exciting."
• I purchased an Objective-C programming book last night - still can't download the iPhone SDK from Apple's servers - still getting hammered on download requests. Amazing
• What kind of process is Apple going to apply to determine who gets listed on their Apple App Store and who gets left off? Obviously they won't let SIM breaking utilities? Where is the line and what kind of objective / subjective reasoning are they going to apply? That is concerning to me as a developer. By the way - Apple's 30% cut seems awfully high. I don't know that it is, but it seems high to me as a developer. Along those lines, why will iPod Touch users have to pay for the new June release that will allow SDK support and Exchange support ( iPhone 2.0 )? Didn't they just pay for an update a couple of months ago? Good way to show love....
  
• Absolutely loving EverNote's Web Notetaking / syncing beta - Warner will have much more to share on that later. My short impression - it is a game changer for mobile notetaking that addresses cross-platform notetaking. I'm looking forward to their Mac and iPhone version. I'm quite tempted to switch from OneNote to EverNote....What is OneNote going to do to get seamless syncing with the web?
  
• As a web developer, where do I need to be focusing my programming efforts?
• Rugged Tablet PCs and rugged notebooks  seem to be getting a lot more focus these days? Is Field Force the vertical to hone in on? What are the application needs?
  
• Is thin and light really that important?
• The tablet pc OEM space is awfully quiet...why?
• There is a clear move to focus on mobile computing - that's gotta be good for everything that we talk about here.
• What are our readers getting excited about? Where do they see the most potential for there business?
• I so totally love InkSeine and think it is one of the best things to happen to the Tablet PC software space in several years. What is Microsoft going to do with it?
  
• Why do great tablet pcs like Motion's F5 and Dell's Latitude XT need to cost so much? They are totally awesome Tablet PCs that would sell like hotcakes if the price was right. How many folks would buy an F5 or XT if they cost $1500? Why is an already out of day Shift priced at $1629? Why are we still talking about cost five years after the cost conversation started? What's up with that?
  
• 
  

- Rob Bushway

Next Saturday, my wife and I will be taking our daughter, Maggie, to St. Louis Children's Hospital for some medical tests.

I'm already in the midst of planning what I'm taking with me, how I'll get work done while away, and the best devices for the job. I've also got a ton of regular work to do between now and next Saturday. Man, it never ends!

One of the challenges with this trip is Internet connectivity.  Because of the type of tests being done, we're not allowed to have cell phones or wwan Internet connectivity in the hospital room. However, I have been known to break that rule on occasion, and ask for forgiveness later . Any cell conversations or wwan Internet access has to be conducted elsewhere in the hospital. In addition, EV-DO coverage in our hotel has typically been very spotty. So, it is a constant connectivity battle communicating with friends and loved ones, staying on top of work, and being available to take care of the occasional emergency from work.

Here is what I'm taking with me and why:

• TC1100 Tablet PC - I want a no-hassle way of taking general notes while the doctors are talking with us, journaling, etc. I've installed Vista on the TC1100 and will be using InkSeine for my note-taking and journaling
• Moleskine - In the event a situation doesn't allow for a slate Tablet PC or I've run out of battery, I always carry a regular paper-based notebook with me. Oftentimes, I'll use the Moleskine when I want to escape from technology. Sometimes, paper is best.
• MacBook - I've got a black MacBook with Vista running through VMWare's Fusion. This is my current powerhouse for getting work done. I could take the X61 with me, but on this trip I'm leaning to the MacBook due to its flexibility in running multiple OS's and the wide range of program selection. In addition, the MacBook has a built-in webcam so I can record some video of Maggie and upload it for her brother and sisters to watch from back home.
• Canon SD600 camera - when Maggie was in the hospital several years ago, I took my Nikon D70. It was too big to be hauling around the hospital, waiting rooms, etc. For this trip, I'm aiming for light-weight and good quality. I'll also be using my iPhone for picture taking.
• Novatel USB727 air card - Since I'll be bringing two computers with me, the flexibility of a USB based EV-DO is important, assuming I can get good coverage in our hotel room. I want to avoid paying our hotel for internet access at $10 - $20 per day.
• HP 310 Travel Companion - Because we're driving to and around St. Louis, I'll be relying a great deal on a GPS solution. I don't have a good sense of direction, so GPS and standard maps are a mainstay for me. HP will be sending me a replacement eval 310 since the one I received prior to CES had problems from the beginning. After working with HP, who have been totally awesome in helping me work through this, we've determined that I likely had a bad unit. The 310 will be put to good use during this trip for sure.
• iPhone - I've gone back and forth between the iPhone and the HTC Tilt. Both are good phones. However, since I'm primarily using a MacBook right now ( coupled with a TC1100 ), the most seamless and trouble-free syncing solution is with an iPhone. In addition, taking pictures and casual web browsing is much better on the iPhone than on a Windows Mobile phone. I'm expecting AT&T coverage to quite spotty between here and St. Louis, with Kansas providing the biggest challenge. Still, with the iPhone coupled with IMAP enabled Gmail, I should be able to stay on top of email while on the road, refilling at gas stations, and stocking up on fast-food.
• Amazon Kindle - there is a lot of down time while these tests are going on, especially during all of the video monitoring. To keep from bringing so many regular books, Kathi and I will be doing most of our reading on the Kindle. That said, I'm sure Kathi will be bringing her fair share of regular books, too.
• Maggie is bringing her Zune to listen to music and watch movies on. The driving time is about 13 hours, so we'll be keeping the Zune charged through an auto power adapter.
• In the car, Kathi and I will be listening to our music on our Zune, which will be plugged in to the stereo through a standard male to male cable. It is mounted in our van using a ProClip mount.
• And of course, all the darn adapters and power cables to keep the above charged and working. Fortunately, most of the smaller gadgets charge through USB, so I can either charge them using my computer or by using a standard USB power adapter.
• Box.net and Zoho? - this trip is showing me the value in keeping documents locally accessible, especially when I need to be able instantly search my notes. With the unpredictable availability of internet access, I need a dependable way to get to my stuff, especially my notebook. So, I won't be relying on Box.net or Zoho during this trip. Using the cloud for storage and document generation is a good solution if you can depend on your connectivity. Once that confidence begins to shed, though, the good-ole standby begins to shine: local storage and client-based apps. Web-based services Office Live look like a good in between solution - access and viewing of documents online, editing offline, and automatic syncing. Look for some coverage on Office Live from Sierra and I over the next 3 - 4 weeks.
• If you are pretty sharp, you'll notice one item missing from my standard kit: The OQO Model 02. Several weeks ago, I let Sierra borrow my Model 02. Big mistake. She has since fallen in love with it. I knew my chances of getting it back where slim to none; so when she offered to buy it from me, I jumped at the opportunity - better to get a little money out of the deal than never get the unit back at all! I'll likely pick up another one on when OQO releases the next version.

For those of you who are interested, you can following our trip from my personal blog, RobBushway.com. I'll mostly be posting stuff there that we are doing on a day to day basis, how Maggie is doing, test results, pictures, video captured in the hospital room, etc. I'll also be twittering, which you can follow here.  Warner, Sierra, Matt, and Terry are going to keep things running on the GBM front while I'm prepping for my trip and also away.

 

- Rob Bushway

We are on a continuing process of improving what we do on GottaBeMobile in order to bring you the very best in mobile pc coverage. From daily news coverage to InkShows, Podcasts, and forums, we offer a wide range of mediums to bring you the information you are most interested in.

Now, although we love getting kudos and pats on the back , what we really need to know from you guys is how we can improve. Be brutally honest - we've got thick skin. I mean it. If we are doing something that sucks, tell us. If the site loads slow, you hate the layout / design, you wish we would stop writing about certain things and concentrate more in another area, tell us.  I can't promise we will fix all the issues, but I certainly want to know what they are, how we can improve, thus making your experience on GottaBeMobile more enjoyable and productive.

The mic is yours.

 

- Rob Bushway

Here goes – my best shot at what 2008 holds for us mobile pc enthusiasts:

• Dell won’t sell many XT Latitude Tablet PCs to the small business sector, and will reevaluate by spring / early summer; just in time for their competitors to one up them on price and features. Dell will finally understand what the community has been saying: multi-touch will be great, but I’m not going to pay $1000 more for it.
• Like James, I don’t believe multi-touch for Tablet PCs will come into its own for several years, but I do see a market, and Dell is smart to be the first on the scene with a solution.
• We’ll see something from Apple in the touch / tablet MacBook line
• The ModBook will finally ship, but considering Apple’s less than spectacular Ink Well support, I don’t expect it to be a huge success.
• The Ultra-Mobile / Ultra-Portable platform will explode. The “touch” differentiator will be moot. Asus Eee PC has changed the game in regards to value vs price. Devices spec’d and priced like the Asus Eee PC will become the Ultra-Mobile PCs of the Year in 2008.
• We’ll be asking in 2008 if 2009 will be the year of the Tablet PC
• The Amazon Kindle will become the gadget to own, and I expect we’ll see an upgrade to those funky buttons. The key to the Kindle’s success is access to content and connectivity.
• Tablet PCs will continue to find success in the vertical space, and consumers will still have trouble finding them in stores. Allegiance Technology Partners to the rescue!
• Connectivity and mobile computing will be the story of 2008, and the MID devices will get a boatload of press and interest – assuming connectivity is seamless with either USB or SIM card. See Amazon Kindle above…
• Devices like the HTC X7501 will steal thunder from Nokia’s Internet Tablet series. I’d expect more from HTC along those lines as they look at the MID platform, too. Seamless connectivty, built-in applications, and syncing are key. Price will need to get more attractive, though.
• No brainer – We’ll see refreshes from all the OEMs, with just a few “finally / wow” releases. Beyond that, though, I’m expecting evolution / refresh only announcements. I know, I’m pessimestic. Prove me wrong, OEMs!
• Convertible Tablet PCs will continue to outsell Slate Tablet PCs
• We’ll still see more folks using MacBooks vs Tablet PCs when we visit the coffee shop
• Developers will continue to churn out great OneNote add-ins, and InkSeine will get released to the public.
• N-Trig will make some major announcements as OEMs look to them as a feasible alternative to Wacom. However, Wacom will continue to dominate the digitizer market.
• Businesses will begin to implement Vista in full force as new PCs get ordered and they try to stay away from mixed environments. SP 1 will play a major role in spurring implementation on.
• Microsoft will fly Warner out and ask for his help in marketing Tablet PCs, Ultra-Mobile PCs, and OneNote
• Matt will figure out a way to use Vista speech recognition to keep from calling an InkShow a podcast
• Sierra won’t return my Kindle
• Terry Bradley’s home network will get hacked due to all the auto-installing intenet bot’s he’s unknowingly installed
• The GottaBeMobile readers and community will continue to be the best around
• GottaBeMobile.com will continue to dominate the Mobile PC news space, bringing everyone the best in Tablet PCs, Ultra-Mobile PCs, Ultra-Portables, mobile software, and mobile connectivity solutions!

- Rob Bushway

We posted about the launch of Dell's Latitude XT Tablet PC last night. I've been reading comments here and elsewhere about the launch and I'm not surprised at all with what everyone is saying: heaping praise on the weight and capacitive touch, but unanimously slamming it for a starting price being $800 - $1000 over its competitors. Capacitive touch is a nice feature, but it is not worth that kind of premium.

I have to be honest here and say I was quite surprised when Dell told me the starting price was $2499. I thought I misheard, hoping they had said $1499. After confirming the price, I told myself "this is not going to go over well at all, and it will be the focal point for an otherwise impressive Tablet PC."

I believe Dell is banking on volume orders from their vertically targeted market for the Latitude XT, which will definitely see the price drop significantly. For the rest of us, though, I doubt we'll see a price drop for several months - but the price will drop. It has to.

Meanwhile, Lenovo and Toshiba must be feeling good right now. Suddenly, their offerings look like real bargains, and Toshiba couldn't have come out looking better with their launch yesterday. HP's 2710p, minus the capacitive touch, is on par with a lot of the features of Latitude XT, and it is looking like a real steal. If Dell really wants to compete in this market, they need to listen more closely to what consumers are saying: $2499 just ain't gonna cut it. We are tired of paying premium pricing, and we had all hoped that Dell would set themselves apart differently here. To say we are disappointed is an understatement.

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a review unit, and will definitely be bringing a fair and balanced in-depth video review, as well a comparison to its competitors.

- Rob Bushway

We are one tight-knit group of folks gathered around the Tablet PC / UMPC space. It is one reason why Marc Orchant's current situation has stunned us all. We've been following Marc's writings and listening to his podcasts for years, growing to know him more and more each day. He truly is one of the most likeable and knowledgeable people I've ever met. Now, one of our very own is in a critical situation, and his family is in an immeasurable amount of pain. I know first-hand the impact and encouragement that a community can give as it rally's behind you in times of severe trial. When my daughter, Maggie, was undergoing chemo and multiple brain surgeries, the community gathered around us in some unbelievable ways, flooding the hospital with more cards than they had ever seen, and praying for us on a daily basis.

I'd like to ask all of you to join me, and many others around the world, at 1:00 pm MST today to pray for Marc and his family.  Knowing that we are gathered together at the same time, lifting up Marc and his family, you will find yourself encouraged as well. Please repost this and pass the word around to as many sites as you can.

With this latest update from Sue Orchant, we have some definite things to pray for, and to be thankful for on behalf of Marc’s family:

In this past day we have seen some baby steps of improvement. He has some response to stimuli and his oxygen levels and heart rate have improved. I am guardedly optimistic. He still has not regained consciousness but we will take things minute by minute.

With you at 1:00 pm MST,

 

- Rob Bushway

When Microsoft and their partners launched Tablet PC five years ago, there was a lot of hope that new user interfaces and applications would be spilling out like ink from a fountain pen. Initial excitement was high among independent software vendors ( ISV ) to be among the first of a potentially explosive new growth area. Microsoft launched a contest to spur innovation and development ( called Think In Ink ), and strongly encouraged developers to begin making their existing applications ink-aware and ink-enabled. Microsoft wanted developers to be thinking outside the box about how ink could be used. The proverbial writing was on the wall. For Tablet PC technology to really take it off, there needed to be a library of software ready to take advantage of it. For ISVs to sink labor into new and existing applications, it needed customers who were going to be buying Tablet PCs in droves. The pump was primed and ready. Five years later, though, Tablet PC software appears to have stagnated.  

- Rob Bushway

Warner wrote an excellent post this weekend about the lack of good note-taking on small mobile devices. He's absolutely correct. For the most part, I don't use a UMPC because of the vectoring issues. It is why I use an OQO Model 02 instead.

Motion Computing's LS800 Tablet PC was the UMPC before there was a UMPC: 8" screen, slate, active digitizer, 1.1 ghz Pentium M, support for 1gb of ram, SSD option, docking station, extended battery support, etc. When the Origami / UMPC was launched in 2006, I believe the LS800 struggled due to price competition. With prices starting at $1899, a $900 premium was a steep one for a good note-taking experience. However, as an ultra-portable slate computer sporting an active digitizer, the experience could not have been better for the tablet pc note-taker. For more background on the LS800, watch our InkShow here.

When we broke the news several weeks ago about Motion Computing discontinuing the LS800, it concerned us, and many of our readers, that Motion has yet to announce a successor to the LS800. Usually, a successor is announced before a SKU is discontinued. Where is the LS900? Is one even coming?

Besides OQO's Model 02, there really isn't any other choice for those who desire an active digitizer in a small form factor device. It is true that Fujitsu's P1610 has come the closest in touch-based small mobile devices to providing a decent inking experience, but it still doesn't compare to using an active digitizer.

So, Motion, on behalf of tablet pc note-takers everywhere, I ask of you :

• Continue to set the bar for other UMPC OEMs about how to deliver good note-taking in a small mobile device. We need more slate choices, not less. 
• Come to market in early 2008 with a new 8" slate multi-mode ( active / touch ) tablet pc. Don't disappoint the market place.
• Bring prices down to offer something competitive to the UMPC. Once people start taking notes on touch based UMPCs, they want something better. You and OQO can deliver on that.
• Give us better native resolution than 800 x 600, maybe 1024 x 600
• Look at a portable keyboarding solution similar to what HTC delivered with the Advantage Windows Mobile device.

- Rob Bushway

I've been watching Amazon's Kindle Demo video while impatiently waiting for UPS to deliver my Kindle. I've also purchased three books, while waiting, to see how Kindle handles the automatic download. Gadget arrival day will certainly try your patience.

It struck me while watching the video, how similar it is to the early Tablet PC videos, and last year's Origami videos - a guy walking around carrying a small tablet, using it in personal places - an extension of himself.

Another thing I picked up on is how much the scrolling wheel is used to select, navigate, etc. I can already tell that the lack of a touch screen and an active digitizer is going to bother me. Isn't a logical extension of reading a book being able to annotate it and mark it up using your own handwriting? Taking in to account the known battery life and outdoor screen readability issues, Tablet PCs certainly have the leg-up in the annotation department. Amazon would have really scored a coup had they implemented personalized notetaking and annotation. Maybe version 2 of Kindle will bring us that. Microsoft needs to get Amazon on the horn and begin talking up ink.

- Rob Bushway

Bjorn, of UltraMobileLife.com, points out that contrary to what James Kendrick thinks, that slate UMPCs are not dead. As examples, he points to the Amtek T770, a second generation UMPC, as well as the Samsung Q1 Ultra. Why are we seeing more keyboards integrated in to UMPCs then?

- Rob Bushway

I've been without a Tablet PC for the past several weeks as they have either been out on loan to friends or getting upgraded. So, I've been using my MacBook instead.

I've gotten along swimmingly, except for the nagging need to want to take notes, sign PDF's, etc. Since Vista supports tablet features natively, and I can run Vista either in boot camp mode or in Parallels on the MacBook, I came pretty close to picking up a cheap Wacom tablet to get me by until I had a Tablet PC again. However, that would mean having to lug around an accessory and that would get kind of cumbersome, too. So, I was pretty excited when my friend called me yesterday to tell me that his new X61 Tablet PC had arrived and that I could come by and pick up the evaluation unit. It felt so good to hold a tablet again. Taking the pen to screen felt like coming home.

I was reminded again how great it is to have an integrated notetaking solution built right in to the computer. Too often, I think, we forget how far tablet technology has come in five years, and what a great thing Microsoft, the ISV community, and the OEMs have done.

If Apple ever comes out with a tablet, I believe it will be an affirmation of what began five years ago. The effects of the technology we enjoy today can be seen in many follow-on products: Surface, MIDs, UMPCs, internet tablets, and touch / multi-touch, just to name a few. Kudos to Bill Gates, the former Tablet PC team at Microsoft, and the ISV / OEM community to holding firm with a technology that we all believed in and knew would succeed. The challenge ahead is in telling the great story, getting Tablet PCs  / UMPCs into the hands of regular folks, building great software solutions, and breaking the mold in the design area. If those things are done, Microsoft and their partner community will continue to own and define the space. If not, well, let's not go there....

- Rob Bushway

I can't believe what I just read. CrunchGear.com, a supposedly reputable tech reporting site, is telling folks how they can get Leopard for $40: The writer, Vincent Veneziani, recounts how he did just that: lie by getting a student to buy it for him, then split the license with a friend ( ie piracy ). An article endorsing fraud and piracy. It is unbelievable and unthinkable that a news reporting site would suggest to their readers that they commit fraud and piracy.

If this is the kind of writing CrunchGear and TechCrunch endorses, I'm unsubscribing from them.

- Rob Bushway

Several months ago I decided to upgrade my HP Media Center to Vista. It worked ok, but the fan kicked on a lot and was very loud, had trouble turning off / going to standby, etc. No problem, I thought, I'll just take it back to XP using the official "HP Recovery Media".

After putting it off for a while, I decided to jump on it today. I popped my recovery DVD in and rebooted, but was quickly met with an error saying that the System Recovery CDs did not support my particular model. Well, HP must have shipped me the wrong set of recovery DVDs. I called HP and explained my problem.

I should have never mentioned that I had upgraded to Vista.

- Rob Bushway

Man, one look at all of my equipment, and it is becoming quite clear to me that a few things have got to go. I might have to reclaim my title of "man of many tablet pc's"

What all do I have and what am I going to get rid of? Hit the Read More link to find out - and let me know what you think of my decisions.

 

- Rob Bushway

- Rob Bushway

The Tablet PC community is picking up on Dell's Tablet PC video that I posted this morning, and the words are not kind for Dell: James Kendrick says the trash talk is leaving a bad taste in his mouth, and some of his readers are seeing it as a foolish move. StudentTabletPC.com says that Dell shouldn't have wasted a tablet pc like that.

Personally, I think a little trash talk among OEMs is a good thing and I'm happy to see it. A little verbal competition and in-your-face talk is good. You gotta know that the tablet team at Toshiba are feeling a bit miffed right now as they see their baby trashed, and other OEM tablet teams are beginning to put their gloves on, too. I say "Bring it on...." Competition breeds better products and lower prices.

All of that said, Dell better have the goods to back that kind of video up - if they don't, it will certainly back-fire on them and you can be certain the community will let them know about it.

- Rob Bushway

For the past ten days, I've been at Aspen Ridge Boy Scout Camp in Preston, Idaho with my son's Boy Scout Troop. We then took a whirlwind tour of Yellowstone, returning to Colorado Springs on Monday. Just prior to leaving for that trip, I received a Jury Summons with orders to report to the court house the day after returning. You can imagine my excitement. Ten days of missed work, followed by an unknown amount of missed days due to Jury Duty.

On Tuesday, I reported to the court house, surprised to find a nicely equipped holding room with wireless Internet access, plenty of outlets, and a room packed with about 300 or so other jurors.

I had about 400 emails to check up on from my trip, so while waiting for jurors to get assigned to various cases, I hopped online and began flagging emails for follow-up. Imagine my surprise when someone sat right next to me sporting an Acer C302 Tablet PC. Not one to let an opportunity like that slip by, I began asking him about his tablet pc, how he uses it, etc.

It turns out the guy is a law student interning at the court house, and has been using a tablet pc for several years. And yes, he actually uses it to take handwritten notes during class. He seemed quite pleased with his choice, pointing out that he had everything he needed: built-in cd rom, large screen, and handwriting.

My name then got called, so I said my good-bye to my new tablet pc buddy. Along with 29 other jurors, I reported to my assigned court room. I then heard the dreaded words jurors hate to hear: "This case will last 6 -7 days". That said,  I was determined to put aside the inconvenience this was going to cause and do my duty. I sat through about 5 hours of juror questioning, and was then released. 

All in all, it was a good day. I learned a great deal about our system of law, followed-up on a lot of emails, and got to converse with another tablet pc user. The next time you get a jury summons, don't be so quick to frown upon it. You never know what is in store for you.