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Saturday, April 28, 2007

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I miss the "Wow"

- Rob Bushway

This coming December will be 5 years since I jumped in with both feet to the world of Tablet PC. Dennis spent a good month before then talking my ear off about this new fangled thing called "Tablet PC" and I finally gave in and bought one. And wouldn't you know it - I got my TC1000 before he did! You should have seen Dennis oogling and aahhing over it during a conference we both attended that December.

It has been great seeing all of the new technology come out during the years. From the HP TC1100 hybrid, to the trend setting Motion Computing LS800 slate, different sizes of convertibles, slates, etc. All the great ink-enabled software, and the accessories that have built up around the technology. Seeing the inking experience transform from XP Tablet Edition to SP2 to Vista has been exciting to watch. The tablet and touch experience is now an integrated part of the operating system - that spells progress and speaks well for the future. And now, we are seeing the experience pushed down to smaller devices: UMPCs.

As good as all this is, OEMs and ISVs are getting quite comfortable with the status quo, and as a consumer and tablet enthusiast, I'm tired of it. As I see new hardware coming out, I'm like "ok - another notebook with a flip screen. Next..." Where is the real innovation? The closest I've come to saying "wow" in terms of hardware has been the Toshiba R400: the new hinge, the side display that seamlessly syncs with Outlook, the attractive design, and the wireless docking station. But even that was a partial “wow”. Another example is Motion Computing's C5 with its handle, integrated camera, barcode reader, and spill proof casing. In the same vein, though, Motion's LE1700 certainly set the bar with other OEMs, but they didn't push the envelope. All of the new features, except for SXGA, were expected and many folks would have been disappointed had they not delivered them. Even worse, Fujitsu has basically remained innovative-less since the beginning. As nice as the ST5112 and T4215 Tablet PCs are, they are basically the same units they were 4 1/2 years ago. Can't Fujitsu do better than they did 4 1/2 years ago? Gateway's new e155C is a nice convertible notebook, but again, where is that "gotta have it" trendbreaking feature? Overall, OEMs have become quite comfortable with minor refreshes to their designs, and as consumers, we need to demand more.

What kind of things am I looking for that would "wow" me? What about a big price drop instead of a steady increase? 4 1/2 years into the market and we've got $3000+ convertibles and slates. Why? How about dramatic weight drops with sub 2 lb slates? Instant on? What about battery life that makes the term "companion device" a reality? Dedicated 256mb video cards anyone? How about an ultra-thin slide out keyboard that will also prop up a slate? How about designing a built-in dock for a Zune or iPod that seamlessly fits in the lines of the slate? Why do we still not have integrated cameras in slates?

How about some eye-popping designs that say "I'm cool" instead of "I'm a geek". Design wise, we've taken some big steps backwards since the TC1100, with the inevitable slide toward traditional notebook designs. OEMs have been content with black flip screens, and that just doesn’t cut it anymore. I want more than a black notebook. SideShow devices are beginning to make some headway to panels, but what about being able to jot a small handwritten note on them? Where is the removable SideShow device in slates? How about thin remote controls for slates like the MacBook has? Wouldn't that make for a great Media Center experience? UMPCs have built-in stands, why not slates? More than any of that, I want to see the stuff that I can't even think about yet that makes me do a double take and causes some real conversation in the marketplace.

On the software side of things, innovation seems to have slowed down, too. Is it the marketplace speaking? Probably so. I think the reality for ISVs is that the market demand isn't there to fully justify a ton of time for developing new products that revolve around a good pen / touch experience, and breaking the mold in UI areas. We've been talking about breaking the UI mold for years, but it still hasn't happened. Why?

In my opinion, Microsoft certainly set a bad example by not pushing the envelope with Vista, and by also doing a minimal ink feature upgrade for Office 2007. They didn't follow their own marketing advice: Think in Ink. Why can't I still not ink in Outlook Express / Windows Mail after 4 1/2 years? Hello???? And don't even get me started on battery life with Vista - certainly not a mobile friendly experience there at all. When a consumer has to buy an extended battery to get what they use to get out of a standard battery, something is really wrong.

All in all, I'm just looking for some excitement to pop back in to the Tablet PC / Mobile PC space, and it concerns me that release after release leaves me wanting. 4 1/2 years in, shouldn't it be the other way around? If I, a Tablet PC enthusiast, am left wanting, what does that say about the average consumer? We are definitely seeing some interesting things come in the form of UMPCs, but I have yet to see anything there that causes me to scream "I want that - I'll make up the need, but I really, really want it". The closest I'm seeing there in the UMPC market is the HTC Shift, but it is still a ways off from a "gotta have it" experience.

Stand with me Tablet PC community and demand more innovation. Talk about what you want and let the OEMs know about it. OEMs, give us a reason to fork over $2500 and make us proud for doing so. Better yet, deliver that same stuff in a $1500 unit! Bring back the excitement that leaves us hanging on to the next announcement, wondering what's going to happen next. ISVs, impress us with groundbreaking UI and pen / touch applications that cause us to want to go out and buy your software. And Microsoft, give us some reasons in Vista to truly say "WOW".

GBM readers: What would make you say "WOW"?

4/28/2007 10:57 AM MST

I miss the "Wow" Comments [30] | Digg This | del.icio.us | Citations

Saturday, April 28, 2007 11:27:08 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

A santa rosa tablet pc, I mean with directX 10 support would make me say WOW!

teauteau

Saturday, April 28, 2007 11:30:54 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I would love for Vista to be used as a "remote" Media Center Extender, where you could either "sync" your content or access it online live! That would make me go wau!

Then my Q1 could be "remote tv" without me having to go though things like Orb...

:-)

Kaz

Saturday, April 28, 2007 11:58:17 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

"remote" Media Center Extender

here u go: http://asciiexpress.com/webguide

jkk

Saturday, April 28, 2007 12:00:02 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Very thought provoking post, I will keep this short and sweet...
I work in the industry and what I crave is a convertible portable with 12inch 1280x800 widescreen which has that certain "wow factor" I thought it would be the R400 until I saw the low spec and high price. I currently use an Asus R1F as it was the only affordable tablet with enough portable power. I am pleased that Toshiba seem capable of making a desirable tablet but cannot understand why they are pricing it out of the reach of the millions of users who would pounce on it at a cheaper price and with a better spec.

Andy

Saturday, April 28, 2007 12:00:33 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

...Couldn't agree more with this. I've been waiting for a replacement for my TC1100 for a long time...

Steve S

Saturday, April 28, 2007 12:12:51 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Well said Rob. The battery life with Vista is a step backwards as far as I am concerned. I want instant on like I had on my pocket pc. Not a lot of visionary leadership coming from the OEMs.

Kevin

Saturday, April 28, 2007 3:20:00 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I speak for two parties on this. one I would like to see a 15.4 inch slate with detachable keyboard, I'd still say wow to a convertible.
two I would like to see a group of developers undertake the herculean task of integrating an inking experience with linux and having it work flawlessly with KDE or GNOME. Openoffice and opera should these features. if the technology for handwriting recognition gets created in full for linux, then we will also be able to use maybe a stripped down version of it on future palm devices. if you want innovation from Microsoft, give them the fear of being not only upstaged, but supplanted. china built the great wall not for beauty, but for protection. as far as hardware goes, it's holding the software back. the OEMs need to get their game up.

Elais

Saturday, April 28, 2007 5:06:53 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Thanks Rob for verbalizing what amounts to my feelings as well. It seems that none of the manufacturers really try to be creative and innovative. Look at all of the current best sellers and none are really much different than their predecessors. This is good for the manufacturers since they don't have to spend much money on R&D and they don't risk having a product flop for being too radical. What the tablet industry needs is a shot in the arm. I wish that Apple would introduce a tablet (imagine installing Vista on a Mac tablet). The company has driven the notebook market for years and continues to lead in innovation in the notebook market. Years after the intoduction of 15" and 17" PB now MB there still isn't a single PC notebook manufacturer that produces a lighter or thinner notebook. It's a shame.

If I could build a tablet pc here's what I would do. Keep in mind this isn't some fantasy machine that requires voodoo science. This is totally realistic...now. I don't want a super computer. I don't want a Swiss arm knife in the form of a tablet. I just want functionality. I need something that is small, light, and portable.

Mission: To create a tablet PC that replaces a paper tablet.

1. ~10 inch XGA (1024 x 768) active digitizer screen that is mounted flush with the case (i.e. no gutters)

2. Metal case that is shaped like an iPod Nano (i.e. extruded aluminum). It would be light, strong, and disipate heat well. No more than 1/2" thick. The battery can mount in a similar manner as the Fujitsu ST models. This would provide a nice palm rest while inking.

3. No excessive ports! If I am on the run and just taking notes why do I need four USB ports, a VGA output, Firewire, media card, etc? All these add extra weight and complexity to the product. All it really needs is a power connection, docking connector, headphone, mic, and a USB port. If you want more then buy something else. My beef with manufacturers is design a product for the target audience and design it well. Don't manufacture a product that does a little of everything but nothing particularly well.

4. Integrated stand that will tilt the tablet say 10-20 degrees.

5. Core Solo ULV CPU. I'm just taking notes and simple office tasks. I don't a lot of horsepower.

6. 60 GB 1.8" Hard drive. Same priciple as number five.

7. 2 GB integrated RAM. RAM is cheap and RAM integrated onto the MB saves weight and space.

8. Intel Robson technology to save power and help with system performance.

9. Passive cooling to keep the system quiet, lighter, and save space.

10. Standard WiFi a/g/n and BT. WWAN isn't necessary.

Duffy

Saturday, April 28, 2007 5:49:24 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

As much as I hate to be the cliche fanboy, it'll probably be Apple that brings back the "wow" factor for tablets. Even though I'm a happy owner of the Lenovo x60 tablet, it still lacks the coolness and elegance of Apple devices. Granted, it's meant to be inconspicuous in the workplace, but come on, a little well-thought out flair never hurt anyone. To be fair, I'd be happy if any manufacturer came up with a better design than what we've seen on laptops for the last several years. Why stop innovative design at a hinged display?

Current tablet manufacturers aren't doing themselves any favors with current designs. It's like watching car manufacturers introduce new models every year, but the only innovation comes in redesigned cup holders or just more horsepower.

Michael Willits

Saturday, April 28, 2007 7:09:02 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I want to slashdot this...

Elais

Saturday, April 28, 2007 7:19:43 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I agree with everyone, mostily with Duffy. I have not used a great tablet pc since the Tc1100. That was the nearest perfect tablet for me. The Fujitsu slates, are way too long, and look extremely geeky. The motion LE series are too wide. The LS800 is nice, but still way too expensive. I have no idea why nobody has come out with a tablet like what Duffy described.

Michael Venini

Saturday, April 28, 2007 7:28:14 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

please feel free to, Elias. The more we spread the conversation, the better. Hopefully, OEMs will take notice.

Rob Bushway

Saturday, April 28, 2007 7:49:21 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Rob
Just sell everything, go back to notepads and a desktop and in a few years come back to the platform and you may be "Wowed". Nowadays we want it all, now, and need to have newer and better all the time just to be "happy".

Sam

Saturday, April 28, 2007 7:54:26 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

OEM's:

Please, please, please design tablets that have:

1. Improved Battery Life.
2. Lighter Weights.
2. Lower Costs.

I really like the Toshiba designs... functional specs, and attractive designs.

Unfortunately, I feel like I have to buy 12 batteries to get through the day, and I have to sit at a desk or table to work with it, because it's too heavy to carry it around like a notepad.

Microsoft:

Please revamp Outlook 2007 to be completely Ink-friendly. I use Windows XP TPC Edition, and I like it just fine. I've used Vista and was impressed with the new version of TIP, but I wasn't impressed enough to convince me to cope with all of Vista's annoyances. If you can take Vista's TIP and release an XP TPC Update Rollup, then coupled with Outlook improvements I would be the happiest TPC user in the world.

GoodThings2Life

Saturday, April 28, 2007 7:56:53 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Woohoo for not being able to count, lol... 1, 2, *3*! :)

GoodThings2Life

Saturday, April 28, 2007 8:05:50 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I've written my POV of the "Wow" factor on jkontherun.

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2007/04/state_of_the_ta.html

James Kendrick

Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:17:20 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I honestly can't expect that much more than whats out there.

-We are on the verge of SSD HHD's which will extend battery life extremely well.
-If you leave your tablet in hibernate that is basically instant on.

Guess I am only excited for WiMax so I can access my internet from anywhere in my town at a competitive rate.

Steven M

Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:31:58 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Theory:

I wonder if the Tablet PC, like the PocketPC before it and the UMPC after it, is a platform of lackluster growth because the killer app (in each case, the development of handwriting recognition OS components) leads the hardware development... Microsoft has essentially a piece of code and an idea they want to sell, so they give OEMs a recipie (form factor, battery, digitizer, etc.) and make a grand offering. The public response to these things is never a collective "FINALLY!" but instead a smaller, more focused "neat-o!" from geeks like us. Little enthusiast/evangelist communities form, which give Microsoft and the OEMs a false sense of publicity ("look, our upcoming tablet was reviewed by every tablet site this week!") and perverse market incentives.

By this I mean something very basic: where you have potential customers, you change and adapt to their demands. Where you have fans, you keep on doing what made them like you in the first place.

I'm not saying it is our fault. I'm trying to paint a picture that reveals the underlying problem. What if the best platforms result from a common social need combined with raw hardware technology by innovative software that shows up last at the party and "glues" things together, as it were? There's not an identifiable "laptop" community or "desktop" community, just as there is not an identifiable "car" community. Instead you've got Chevy fans, Sony fans, etc. Fans and enthusiast communities are great at nurturing a brand, because the brand works to maintain their loyalty... but how can fans provide the same incentive to a group of brands that form an entire platform?

I think it is time to face the facts: is the digital replacement of paper a pressing social need that demands a technological solution... or is it merely a solution looking for a problem? People don't care enough about the environment or the 10% productivity bump to adopt a new kind of computer. As long as we expect the tablet to revolutionize computing the way the laptop did when it began to replace the desktop, we will be disappointed. I'm happy with my tablet, but the more I think of it as a Microsoft-specific brand, I don't worry too much about its growth or improvement... because I'm holding the product I paid for.

Benjamin Ries

Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:42:39 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

The Wow will come from mobility mixed with power and price:
1. Broadband wireless and GPS
2. Small form factor
3. Batteries lasting all day
4. Dockable
5. Low cost

#1, #2 and #4 we sort of have already.

#3 and #5 are just a matter of time.

You can sort of achieve #1, #2, #3 and #4 with a Motion LS800 if you can carry around a spare extended battery. But this will not go mainstream until the cost is brought down, broadband wireless and GPS are internal, and dockability is fixed up a bit.

Mickey Segal

Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:52:24 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I made a pretty long post at jkontherun, and I won't double post it to here. But in short, I think the problem remains software not hardware.

However, do I still think there could be more innovation in the hardware arena? Of course, who doesn't? I want hybrid passive/active digitizers everywhere, I want all day battery life (defined as 7-8 in real use), I want instant on, I want seemless connectivity, I want lighter weight. I want, I want, I want.

But what do I need? Core OS applications that are ink aware. Rob hits it right on the head. That mean the browsers, that mean e-mail apps (nope, not there yet), that means collaboration tools. TIP is not enough. Ink aware from the word GO.

And if you think the consumer market is where Tablet PCs will be made, think again. We're just a bunch of geeks. Smart geeks, geeks with good ideas, but still geeks. Business is still where the volume is, not the consumer. Tablet PCs needs to be something you *don't* think about. Digitizers need to be like a mouse, its got to be something you take for granted. It's got a long way to go to hit that mark.

Stephen Feger

Sunday, April 29, 2007 12:00:05 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Great article, it's always nice to read something that you can tell the author is really passionate about.

Though, I'm not sure if I agree with a lot of the points.

I think a lot of the benefits for a better tablet are benefits that wouldn't be isolated to tablets alone. SSDs, LED backlit LCDs, better battery conservation, low cost, light weight, etc. These are all aspects that normal laptops or any mobile device should aspire towards. I don't think it's fair to put the blame on tablets. Don't get me wrong... I dream of SSDs and instant-on like the next geek. But if it hasn't happened on main-stream products, it won't happen on tablets and it isn't a tablet-exclusive technology.

Personally, I have been working at a computer store on my college campus for the last year. I'm absolutely amazed that more students don't use tablets. The advantages are so obvious to me. I even go around libraries and I find normal laptops so outdated. Yet, my school doesn't sell tablets and the students have no idea what they are. I go to an Ivy League college, so the student body is more affluent than average and you'd think more informed about technology... but there's this big problem even here. It's an information and advertising problem. No one realizes what tablets can still do. OneNote, searching your ink hand writing, even art with a digitizer are all things that are perfect for students. But, there just isn't enough information out there and people are resistant to big change. I wanted to make my girlfriend get a tablet but she absolutely refused (I have no idea why still). If Apple started to get into the Tablet business... then you'll see the difference and a real push for more "Wow." They have the advertising and the brand name to make a difference. If they can all the PC users I've seen this year to switch to a Mac... they can make laptop users switch to a Tablet.

I don't think adding all these "Wow" things will make tablets better. The biggest problem is the one I've just outlined (in my opinion and from my experience). Adding really specific "Wow" will just make tablets further into a niche product. Sure, having a remote control would be great, but how many people want or really need it?

It's nice to be "Wow-ed" a lot and to always look forward for better things, but the big problem is still people need time and information to change. What would really "Wow" me would be to see students in my library using tablets or in classrooms taking digital notes or having someone send me a note that was taken in OneNote. That would be the first step to get more "Wow" and make developers take notice (not to mention drive companies for more "Wow"). I'd also really like to see my mom learn to use a laptop too... but I guess that's another topic. :)

Timothy Wong

Sunday, April 29, 2007 10:32:47 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Intel's Santa Rosa chipset with the Core2Duo will give us an x64 Tablet PC, with 4gigs of RAM and a new Mobile GPU you will be going WOWOWOW....

paul

Sunday, April 29, 2007 1:27:59 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

"Intel's Santa Rosa chipset with the Core2Duo will give us an x64 Tablet PC, with 4gigs of RAM and a new Mobile GPU you will be going WOWOWOW...."

Wow! How did I ever takes notes or type up a word doc without all that?

Duffy

Sunday, April 29, 2007 1:47:34 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

sorry, Paul. But that won't make me go "wow". All that means to me is that chips are continuing to progress, which is great and all, but that to me is not trendsetting innovation.

Rob Bushway

Sunday, April 29, 2007 5:15:57 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

What is all the fuss about? Methinks the tablet officionados are getting a bit too narrowly focused.

Don't get me wrong, I read Rob, Warner, JK and the others every day. I love the insight into the new technology, hardware, software and everything else they bring to those, like myself, who don't have their fingers on the pulse of the industry. But I am not an officionado, and don't share their concerns.

I am a tablet user, have been ever since I bought that new-fangled Compaq TC1000 that changed forever how I used computers. As a user, particularly as one who must finance his own habit, I'm not as concerned with the latest wham-bang unless it improves my productivity.

That first tablet was a mixed blessing. While it introduced me to ink and gave me a glimpse into how adding pen input to a standard notebook could make me more productive, it was so weak as a Windows notebook that it didn't really make me that much more productive in the workplace. It's those boring, incremental, upgrades that have led to the T4215 I'm using now, a tablet that is in every way as powerful as the other notebooks in the workplace but gives me the ability to use stylus and ink in those circumstances where they are the better choice.

Let's not forget that workplace. Unlike those who earn their living playing with and commenting on the latest in tech, who might understandably be bored when the next tablet they review isn't that much different than the last three, I earn mine from the products I develop using the tablet. I am constrained to use the software adopted by my employer, if for no other reason so those who share the files can open, read and manipulate them. The income I derive from the tablet comes from far back of the cutting edge.

What improvements do I want to see?

Better battery life.
Improved connectivity.
Better battery life
Less weight.
Did I mention better battery life?

All of these are incremental improvements. While I love reading about where the industry will be someday I have to spend my money on the technology that will help me earn more today. My suspicion is that the manufacturers are pumping out all these boring 'clones' because that is what they believe will sell in the greatest quantity, not because they lack creativity.

Steve

Monday, April 30, 2007 2:02:53 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

My two cents on UMPCs.

Samsung (or anyone else) should never have been allowed to release a UMPC that wasn't a killer note taking device. Not something you couldn't lay your hand on the screen while taking notes without vectoring. Period.

Keyboards should be off limits as a built in device on UMPCs. If you aren't comfortable with a UMPC being seen as a small form slate then please go back to making traditional laptops. If a user complains about no keyboard, point them in the direction of the nearest Best Buy, they always have laptops on sale.

And yes, decrease the number of ports. But we do need a true VGA out and some type of card reader. Business users still need to move that sales presentation from a desktop to their "companion" device and then share that data at the annual conference. But no, we don't need a gazillion USB ports.

A camera on a UMPC is fine, facing away from the user.

As for tablets, spend 20 minutes brainstorming and come up with a better name than your SKU designation.

Ther is absoulutely no reason tablets need to be so fugly. Last time I checked there were other colors besides black and metallic grey.

And who needs built in optical drives? Make it an option because I honestly don't need one.

Price. You don't have to give away the store but make them cheaper. There should be an entry level price for tablets. Then you can charge premiums for all the whizz bang, techie stuff. But at least let people get in the door with a Hynduai so they can move up to a Rolls Royce. Don't make them come in at the Rolls Royce price.

Abd finally, this is really all Microsoft's fault.

How do you invent a platform and then do such a horrid job supporting it?

Every piece of software Microsoft created since the introduction of the Tablet PC idea should have been completely ink enabled from that day forward. Everything. If you invented the platform, you should be leading the way by example, after all, this is your baby.

Same with UMPCs.

How in God's name do you release Office without it being completely ink enabled 4 years after creating the Tablet form factor and a year later of UMPCs? How is that you continue to upgrade Messenger (now Live) without ink? E-mail? And you act surprised that people aren't running to the stores to buy these things?

How can others get behind your baby (Tablets and UMPCs) if even the parents treat it like a redheaded step child in just about all of its applications?

When the day comes that Apple decides to make a tablet pc, MILLIONS of people will discover the joys of inking as if Steve Jobs came down from the Holy Mountain of Sinai with a personal gift from God. They will wonder how they ever got along without it.

Why? Because Apple won't leave it in the hands of others (OEMs) to tell people how it will make their lives better. It will have one name (Mac Tablet for instance) and the only choices will be a limited selection of how big or small and the internal components. No funny string of letters and numbers behind its name. And I will bet dollars to donuts, it will sync wirelessly with any iPod and any other Mac.

They will control every step of the way to the end user experience.

And then their success will be complete when they beat you at your own game in your own backyard.

Aaron Walker (aka mmzerofan)

Monday, April 30, 2007 3:09:14 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

What we need is cheap peripheral LCD digitizing tablets!

I agree with Rob:

Software & hardware innovation has stagnated and Microsoft has been derelict in not delivering native ink versions of Outlook, Visio, etc. Then again, if I were a MS product manager, responsible for delivering quarterly profit growth to shareholders, I too would be hesitant to expend the considerable development dollars necessary on a platform which has stagnant growth, especially when compared to spending development dollars to address the new threat posed by Google Docs & Spreadsheet, and the various "in vogue" Web 2.0 competitors. Not even a close call.

What is needed is a logarithmic boost in the Tablet PC user base: the best way to accomplish that, now that Tablet PC/Ink is part of the OS in Vista, is for hardware manufacturers to make Tablet PC's which are much much cheaper! Much cheaper! How to do this? Answer: change the game.

I believe there is an excellent case to be made for a peripheral LCD digitizing tablet, which a customer can add to any PC for ~ $99-$499, depending on size/features, etc.. (via USB/VGA connection) In fact, "dumb" digitizers now work with Vista Tablet PC/Ink, so, let's have a small evolution in that product sector.

Given the current price of LCD panels, I would think this should be doable! I know one digitizer OEM makes such a device for their developers and Wacom sells the Cintiq line of LCD digitizers, so there are two market players that have the products, just not aimed at a broad audience. The Wacom Cintiq is a vastly overpriced, even for the "art" market, but hey, it's the only game in town! Perhaps Wacom has some sort of patent, or side deal with MS, which stops the rest of the industry from competing with the Cintiq product line directly?? Any insight appreciated.

The use case for a LCD digitizer tablet Tablet PC (forgive the over accurate repetition) are basically the same ones we have for Tablet PC knowledge workers today: notes, forms, asymmetrical screen capture, markup in word/acrobat/ppt, drawing, online collaboration with white-boarding, screen sharing markup/highlighting, etc. I know the favored "mobility" aspect wouldn't necessarily be there, however, a small, thin, lightweight LCD digitizing tablet should be easy to slip inside your laptop carrying case, along with your non-Tablet PC laptop... right? In fact, I like the idea of having an "extra screen" around, now if I could just mount it next to the laptop LCD when I'm not using it in "Ink" mode...

A huge increase in the Tablet PC user base/community is what is needed for ISV's and Microsoft to invest $$ to create new innovations!

Thoughts?

OttoWT

Friday, May 04, 2007 10:34:43 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

I got the WOW when I saw the Flybook VM at: http://www.dynamism.com/flybook-vm/main.shtml

Actual innovation!

Mike

Friday, May 04, 2007 10:55:21 PM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Why is art so heavily ignored? Tablets strike me as an obvious tool for artists, and yet the marketing always seems to point more towards overworked business professionals always on the go. Since I happen to be both, I've been an enthusiast for almost four years and an active tablet owner and user for about a year and a half.

The tablet PC concept hits me as an obvious choice for graphic designers, but there is one caveat; they're all Mac people; they live, die, and swear by OS X and the MacIntosh. If Apple would consider a tablet form factor Mac, preferrably a slate with a larger screen, then this superb art medium would get seen as such, rather than getting only the business professional treatment it's getting right now.

We keep plugging tablets as small and portable, but what about large sized drawing? I have envisioned the "easel PC" as one possible future form factor. Imagine a 17 inch slate model weighing about as much as a mainstream laptop, with hardware that compares with gamers' notebooks. With a high resolution, maybe even 1920x1080, such a system would be very appealing to a digital artist. That size could even leave room for pop-out keyboards and DVD writers. Granted, mobility from this end would be less, but for certain purposes, it's a livable trade-off.

On a related note, right now there's only one tablet plug-in for a desktop system, the Wacom Cintiq, a 20 inch monitor with built-in digitizer technologies. But, at $2500, it costs as much as a whole frigging computer. I am pleased to see Hewlett Packard's TouchSmart, which comes close with a touch screen, though from the art angle I don't see finger-painting in Photoshop.

Jonathan Coolidge

Friday, May 11, 2007 7:45:07 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Battery Life: Not having to find a power outlet in a crowded airport...that would make me say WOW!

Mike Smith

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