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Examining a Tablet PC
Mister Buttons writes "There really haven't been any real technical reviews of the new Tablet PC operating
system from Microsoft yet. Those marketing stories published on CNET and the like
do little more than whet the appetite. Luckily it looks like someone finally took
a close look at the Tablet PC. The folks over at AnandTech have a good tablet PC review up which includes information on both the hardware
and software that the tablet PCs use. Maybe it's time to break open that piggy
bank..."
Sorry, but I think that the business sector spends *way* more money on "blow lots of money on new toy" than individuals ever will.
Plus, it would appear to me (via all of the marketing that I've seen so far), that the Tablet PC is definately a business PC--not a home PC.
Well, you're on /., so you must use your PC for something else other than games. Early adopters aren't always game-playing kids with cash to blow. Many of the (including myself) actually see things like Tablet PCs have a productivity advantage over a laptop. Carrying my laptop around all day is a hassle. If I had a tablet PC in my office, I could go from meeting to meeting, and not have to worry about missing an important email, have a presentation available to show to anyone I happen to bump into in the hall way, etc. Laptops are a pain to carry around, they are exactly the most ergonomic things around, and taking notes on them sucks. So there you.
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However heated seats don't change a car on a fundemental level, tablet PC's on the other hand are fundementally different from laptops
I don't. It's just Windows XP with a few pen hacks added and a reasonable, but not overwhelmingly good connected handwriting recognition engine.
Can Linux compete? Sure. It's had pen input for many years. You'll probably see good connected handwriting recognition for Linux before long as well.
The only tangible benefit I can really see is totally comfort motivated. The laptop has never been that comfortable to work on sitting on the couch.
As usual, Microsoft is taking a nitch and trying to cram it down Joe Sixpack's throat.
I see thousands of uses for a tablet PC - virtual clipboards for loading dock workers, easy access to databases for doctors, ordering tablets for fast food workers, survey workers at the mall, the list goes on...
But I don't think that this is some sort of thing that your average Circuit City consumer will immediately go out and buy, unless of course, they are geeky and want as many computerish toys as possible. Like you said, its not convienent, but most importantly, it doesn't scratch an itch, so to speak. The biggest question Microsoft (and anyone else who wants to sell one of these tings) is: What can a tablet PC for me do that a regular PC cannot?
In short, I don't think the Tablet PC is over hyped, its just being sold to the wrong people.
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I think you're right. Microsoft is doing its damndest to convince us that we need this, without really explaining why. (The reason why is simple. Microsoft needs a new source of cash, but don't tell them I told you!) The best-written review of a Microsoft TabletPC can be found here. It's based on real-life impressions with one of these things.
Then again, if Apple came out with one I'm sure reviewers would be falling all over themselves to praise it, because (a) it would be more polished, (b) Apple doesn't telegraph its punches, so you don't get disappointed when it DOES arrive, and (c) Apple still enjoys an image of coolness and scrappy underdogness*.
*is that a word? Well, it is now...
Long story short. The Tablet PC completely replaced his sketchbook and pencil, but he still preferred to do the finish work on his normal PC (with a bigger monitor). Gabe liked the Tablet PC better than a laptop and a Wacom tablet. Here's a quote:
Something tells me that most artists aren't going to be interested in a $2000 replacement for a sketchpad, pencils, and a scanner. Perhaps when these things become somewhat reasonably priced things will be different.
Maybe then again it IS a new form factor for the PC - A stylus is NOT that good of an input device for most applications*, so it's basically a computer for applications that are mostly about output - accessing existing information. Surfing the web, watching DVD's, listening to music, using as an oversized PDA. But more and more PC's are being used as a way to simply access data rather than to input or manipulate data so perhaps such a machine will find a market.
* One exception, tablets are great for artists, actually drawing on the screen would be cool. Wacom has a pressure sensitive tablet w/LCD screen (as well as a TabletPC). The problem I noticed playing around with it was that there was a delay between what you did and what happened on the screen. So the "paint" was following along a bit behind what you are doing - you don't notice this when the tablet and the screen are seperate but it is very noticable and distracting when you are drawing right on the screen. I played around with one a while ago so maybe advances in technology have advanced to where this is no longer such a big problem.
There will be a nice median where these are successful. The tablet that has the keyboard that folds around to the back just like a notebook will be king. You have the best of both worlds at that point. A standard laptop, and the form factor of a tablet pc when you need it.
The most revolutionary item is the fact that you can write on the screen. Too bad tablets weren't the originator of that idea. So the whole thing is really an evolution of the laptop from way back when it was just a 50 pound PC with a handle.
1;
Doesn't Apple have something like this in OS X called Inkwell? Maybe Apple will join the fray in January with a tablet PC.
It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
I moderate therefore I rule!
--
I suppose these days the majority of the posters are of university age or just the fact they might soley sit and code all day, do network support, or something desktop centric and thinks makes you somewhat of a computer purist.
This thing will probably go gangbusters in the business world. Do I need to point out again they can use these things in hospitals, docs can carry them around and have instant access to patient data? You can't teach an old doc to type but you can teach him to point and click. Imagine all of the patients records for him to review right there, and also to digitally sign off on medications, release forms, paperwork? I worked in the medical IT in the mid to late 90's and we would have killed for this for our clients. AND our clients were always asking for this portability. You leave your office to do rounds of your hospital patients, you can have all of their records at your fingertips. Your staff can dump the records necessary and hand it to you. Plus keep your drug interaction software, E an M coding stuff. Scheduling, xrays. The screen is bigger than a pda, Doctors are gonna eat this alive.
What inventory sytems. You are doing inventory and rely on a stock numner, you can carry one of this around with wand and it will show you the item as well as give you all the details.
Companies can give these to employees so they can have access, to employee manuals, data, you name it. Much more portable than a lap top.
Sales Departments can configure payments, interest options, the whole shebang, and then slide this sucker across the desk.
Games? This aint for games. This aint for coding. This is for strict ease of use in certain apps. And I am sure if you sit down and put some thought into it you would come up withmany uses.
I tested one and it recognized my chicken scrach, which my wife says could be confuse with Sanskrit.
It is a good product and sad to say MS made it. IT is here now and has pretty damn good functionality for many things. Sure someone will hack up linux to run on it, more power to you. But in the business world you need what works NOW, not what will work, or what you can say can be made to work.
We need to take over the Desktop, then move on. But to downplay something as usefuls as this with FUD from the OSS camp is just ridiculous.
Anyone in IT who has been in it for more than 5 years, done heave support, and has had to be a solution provider will recognize this a a good item.
Puto
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
I really prefer a keyboard over a pen & screen combo.
So do I, unless I'm doing something like taking notes in class, where I'd like to be able to easily draw diagrams and make other marks that a keyboard isn't good for. This is where I'd really like to have one.
Donate background CPU time to fight cancer.
Then again, if Apple came out with one I'm sure reviewers would be falling all over themselves to praise it
But even if they have a good product with good reviews, when market adoption is slow, the doomsayers will all point to it and say "look, they just spent x $100 million on this thing, and it's not doing well, I predict they go out of business in 18 months.. yadda yadda"
Personally, I'd love an apple tablet, since slouching in the couch with my tibook is just a bit awkward. But another computer, just for *slouching*?
This is where I get my recommended daily allowance of "Foot in Mouth."
Ummm, what? Tablet PCs have USB support (and some even come with keyboards). You just plug in a mouse and keyboard and you're good to go.
Judging from the specs on one I've examined, the Tablet PC DOES suffer graphics performance wise, but give it time, since we're talking a whole new version of an old concept. How long did it take for mainstream high end 3D to make it to the laptop? If you look around, you'll note it took almost 15 years.
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
Who will buy these?
Warehouses. Many processes in the warehouse are interrupted by leaving the "work area" (which might be a forklift, ladder etc...) to go use the computer. A tablet PC could be with the user instead of stationary. Interruptions of 2 or more minutes multiplied by pay rate and hundreds of employess = thousands of dollars in lost efficiency.
"Sorry to say But, it looks really cool to me" Thats really unfourtunate that the /. community is turning into a type of religion... making you feel guilty for enjoying a Microsoft product.
Some of you say: "linux can compete with the tablet" ofcourse they can... but at this time.. Tablet PC is currently the only major product of its type.
Find me a better laptop that swivels and is equipped with a digitizer. You won't be able to.
- what is the definition of simultanagnosia?! I've been meaning to look it up!
While there are some niche applications that could prove useful, I think this is a case of Microsoft trying desperately to find the Next Big Thing. The desktop/laptop industry is maturing, and with that comes a potential threat to the continued insane levels of profit coming from the Windows & Office products.
Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
A LOT Of tech is completely useless to most people. It's that silent minority for whom it IS useful that they design for.
By your rationale microwave communications dishes are tech for the sake of tech too.
Tablet PC. I think I would like to get one and hang it on a wall. Then I could put pictures on it (in a screen saver like mode) and it will be plugged in so that battery life isn't important.
Then when I need to control my MP3 Jukebox I can simply walk up to the "picture" and access my MP3 Jukebox (which I can control remotely) and request a new song.
It would be like using a terminal in Star Trek!
42 - So long and thanks for all the fish.
I see thousands of uses for a tablet PC - virtual clipboards for loading dock workers, easy access to databases for doctors, ordering tablets for fast food workers, survey workers at the mall, the list goes on...
All of these uses would be better served with a cheaper more specialized device. It is insane to buy a full blown PC for doing a single task.
Q.
What can a tablet PC for me do that a regular PC cannot?
A better question - what can a notebook do that a tablet PC cannot? The writable screen only adds $200 to the price of a laptop. Why not replace all but the low end laptops with tablet PCs? So what if Joe 6 pack doesn't see the need yet? They'll understand it when they start using it. No one wanted the minivan either!