Hardware
Alan Reiter Wants a Tablet PC
In the wake of yet another Apple Tablet rumor and the building anticipation for the Crunchpad, Alan Reiter has written a blog post that sums up a lot of very similar feelings. Entitled ReiterPad Beats Crunchpad and Apple Tablet, he makes his case. Here’s an excerpt:
Well, I don’t want the CrunchPad or an Apple Tablet, and I don’t like Steve Jobs’s attitude. When Apple’s chairman introduced the first iPhone, he said, “Who wants a stylus? …Yuck, nobody wants a stylus!”
I want a stylus! I want it for the ReiterPad — an 8.5-inch-by-11-inch slate computer without a physical keyboard, to replace my letter-ruled paper notepads. I’ll use a stylus on the slate just as I use my pen on paper.
The ReiterPad will include a note-taking program, an office suite (like Microsoft Office or the cheaper StarOffice), and a Web browser.
Gee, I can think of quite a few Tableteers who think likewise, but for Alan, and everyone else who dreams of doing what comes naturally-effortlessly scribbling notes on a screen-that seems to not be the focus these days when all eyes are on touch and consumption and not creation.
I also like his price recommendations. Read the entire article here.
Intriguing timing given the post that Sumocat just put up regarding Gartenberg’s thoughts on Tablet PCs.
Sumocat
07/13/2009 at 1:37 pm
I was also struck by the timing when I read your post, and judging from some preliminary responses, I’m pretty sure I’ll be going on a rant against the usual (and predictable) anti-tablet reactions some time soon.
Alan Reiter
07/13/2009 at 2:10 pm
Hi GottaBeMobile!
Thanks for picking up my blog.
I’m certainly not against “traditional” Tablet PCs. After all, I’ve had a Lenovo X41 Tablet PC for more than three years. (Yes, it ** certainly ** is time for a replacement!).
My ReiterPad wouldn’t replace the traditional Tablet PC. As my InternetEvolution.com article says, it would replace the traditional letter- or legal-ruled notepad or steno pad, which is why it needs to be really cheap and really lightweight.
Stacks of ReiterPads should be kept in office supply closets for employees — replacing stacks of paper notepads.
MarceloR
07/13/2009 at 2:45 pm
Sounds like Michael Mace’s InfoPad, see:
https://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2006/05/desperately-seeking-info-pad.html
GoodThings2Life
07/13/2009 at 3:31 pm
@Sumocat, even for as often as our own viewpoints conflict, I highly value your support for the tablet platform. I’ve not gone the way of ink-blogging (largely because I rarely have time to blog these days), but I consider my tablet at work to be mission critical. To go an hour without it would be like going without an accounting system for a bean counter.
@Alan,
I like your point of view on it too. What you want with your ReiterPad is exactly what I want as well. I love my HP 2730p, but it could still stand a few minor improvements… and no, I don’t mean touch.
I find a stylus to be a very natural way to do any number of tasks, and I’ve always liked the handwriting recognition– even on XP (although I can’t wait to throw Win7 on my HP).
I want to be able to walk around the office and perform my administrative tasks and take notes with ease, and without a lot of excess.
Sumocat
07/13/2009 at 4:00 pm
GT2L: And that’s why I don’t just value your rational input but welcome it. In areas of thought and theory, conflicting opinions, to me, are more valuable than symphony. I don’t generally care for harmony until it’s time for action and execution.
Ben
07/13/2009 at 6:02 pm
i’d also like an actual paper replacement device. since my tablet is my main (only) pc, i’m often working on it, but reach for a pen and paper to jot things down or do some figuring. it’s just a pain to have to *switch* to being a tablet for something that only takes a moment (especially if i have stuff plugged into it).
a second case is when i want to have a second screen or device to display another document while i create a document on my main computer (in this case, a tablet).
just my thoughts.
Techni
07/15/2009 at 7:50 pm
Im writing this on an ipod touch
yes steve jobs is an ass. I want a stylus and a kb. Id kill for a case with a slide out kb
and the ability to use it as a usb hard drive