[Nobody]

Microsoft released their tabled PC today. Frankly, I will always prefer a keyboard. I can type much faster (not to mention ledigble) than I can write by hand.
Do we really care about the new tablet PC? Will it take some share away from laptops? Should Apple bring one of their own out (again. The Newton could almost do everything this PC now can)
I'd be interested to hear what others think

[Nobody]

I thought the tablet pcs were supposed to come out on the 7th? But anyway, yeah, I actually thought Apple was going to use the 6th release date to release a not-even-rumored-about tablet pc... But, Apple probably will release something new for their hardware lineup, eventually, like a pda, tablet pc, a microwave... Something unexpected and impressive. Well, that's what I want them to do anyway so they "get back up", although, the PowerBook and iBook updates will hopefully "hold Apple up" until they release new hardware. But um, yay for the PowerBook G4!

[Nobody]

quote:

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Do we really care about the new tablet PC?

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Not really. I could see maybe an artist finding it useful, but a keyboard really is a more efficient interface for just about any other form of text input other than drawing.

The only real advantage to it I could see is the possible elimination of the need for a mouse in a laptop.

[Nobody]

It seems that the first bunch of tablet PCs are lacking charm in several points.

1. price is too high ( around 2k)

2. Confusing designs. About half of them are still putting keyboard and providing with complex hinge, like the one with clie. It gives me an impression the manufacturers themselves are lacking confidence in their own products.

3. Lack of native software.

When someone out there figures out what the 'sweet spot' for this thing is, it has a potential of changing computing lifestyle, once again. ( SONY may be the one, I suspect. ) Whether that would really happen or not, is rather unclear. PCs are plagued by their client's conservatism in general. It is only recent that they could 'finally' start selling 'non-beige boxes'. In that regard, I kind of wish if this was in Apple arnea, but the small market does not really justify the cost for Apple, I reckon.

lk

[Nobody]

Next semester I'm going to take most of my notes on a computer... it will be my Ti, not a Tablet PC. I plan on using a Wacom tablet in AppleWorks. Typing is faster than writing for me and I'll use the tablet for drawing things. In Appleworks you can draw a digram just by using the Tools and selecting the area to draw in. I think this setup will be much better than using one of the TabletPCs with a built in keyboard. It's difficult drawing and typing at the same time on one of those.

Also, these machines tend to be just as heavy as laptops. I think the lightest one is around 3 pounds. If Apple was to produce a TabletPC I'd rather see one that is 1 pound or less... maybe more like a part of the hub instead of the center of the hub. I see no use for a TabletPC for myself if I'm going to use it while sitting down anyways.

I have a Newton 2100 but the problem with using it for my notes is that it is not easy on the eyes. Maybe it's just me, but my eyes were blurry after using it for an hour.

I'm sure some people will find it more useful than laptops, such as waiters or stockbrokers.

P.S.
Wacom has a nice "Quartz" tablet. I think I may get that. It would be great if a tablet like that would include Bluetooth!
www.wacom.com

[ 11-06-2002: Message edited by: Prius ]

[mrgaskell]

I really only these being used in the medical fields and maybe shipping and recieving/USPS/UPS type industry, where the ability to carry lots of info and lots of processing power is key. But who knows...

[Nobody]

Between Mira PCs, Tablet PCs, and the Media Center PC, XBox and to some extent the Pocket PCs released last year, Microsoft seems to be throwing out a number of different products in an attempt to identify and capitalize on the "next big thing."

Undoubtedly some of these products are better than others, some will succeed, others won't. Tablet PC seems like a longshot to me. OTOH, I do have a Pocket PC device, and find it to be light years ahead of Palm devices, and with Toshiba and Dell in the market, even cheaper than Palms as well.