Examining a Tablet PC 289
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..."
Not for me (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Not for me (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Re:Not for me (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Not for me (Score:3, Interesting)
I know a LOT of people out in the art world just *aching* to try Photoshop on one of these.
Re:Not for me (Score:2)
Re:Not for me (Score:2)
The one idea I did think of was mounting one on the front of a segway to act as auto-pilot and so you could use the internet while being driven to work.
Re:Not for me (Score:3, Interesting)
And it's probably awesome for those long hours of turn-based strategy gaming. A game of CIV3 anyone?
Re:Not for me (Score:4, Informative)
Well, I am one person (IT guy) at a small-mid size company. I have a small budget to see if it is useful. If it is, then I will be purchasing 45 of them. We have 4 gamers in the company, if all four of them buy one they will come close to my sample budget. I think the math escapes you or you use cheat codes with your statistics.
Re:Not for me (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Not for me (Score:4, Insightful)
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.
Re:Not for me (Score:2, Funny)
Now I'm sold
Re:Not for me (Score:2)
You call yourself a Star Trek fan? LCARS is the Star Trek UI, not OS... sheesh...
What next? Are you going to compare anti-neutrinos to anti-tachyons? Refute the warp 10 speed barrier with some whacked out trans-warp space folding argument?
I thought not.
and on a totally offtopic (as if this post wasn't off topic enough), What marketing genius would say 'as good as star wars' in a commercial for Star Trek:Nemesis? Piss off as many die hard fans as you can Paramount!
Overhyped? (Score:5, Interesting)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:4, Interesting)
Why on earth would you have to choose pen and screen if you're doing something where a keyboard is better? Sounds like a convertible Tablet is right up your alley: completely normal laptop keyboard, high-end laptop specs, and you can rotate the screen into Tablet mode if you like.
The fun of my Tablet is that I can take notes (I'm a CS student, being able to make diagrams in my notes is key), but that if I want to type an email, I rotate the keyboard into view and *type it*.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Powdered tablet (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
MilSpec Ruggedized Windows Tablet (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Insightful)
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!
Re:Overhyped? (Score:5, Insightful)
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...
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Insightful)
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*?
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2)
Perhaps, but that doesn't mean people would scramble to buy one. To tell you the truth, I think it'd be a big flop for Apple. People tend to buy stuff like PCs based on their potential, not based on what they can do today. Lots of PC users see Apple as cool, but they'd be missing a lot. Imagine trading in your camera for a B&W camera with twice the pixels. You'd sit there wondering if the loss in color would bite you later even though the extra pixels do exactly what you need it to.
Something like this *must* run Windows.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2, Redundant)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:4, Insightful)
* One exception, tablets are great for artists, actually drawing on the screen would be cool. Wacom has a pressure sensitive tablet w/LCD screen [wacom.com] (as well as a TabletPC [wacom.com]). 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.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2)
I have yet to see what the Tablet PC does that hasn't already been addressed by another product, in many cases better. (ie. the Newton's handwriting recognition. Beos' BeIA wireless Webpad prototype.
I think that tech for the sake of tech is by definition - overrated. Some things are cool indeed, others are just depending on Madison Avenue to get you to want them.
I have yet to see much tech that would be useful beyond 'status' to most people.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2, Insightful)
By your rationale microwave communications dishes are tech for the sake of tech too.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2)
Look to see one mounted on an upright forklift, they are perfect.
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2)
Wrong Product (Score:2)
Re:Overhyped? (Score:3, Funny)
Hey now, Geordi LaForge maintained the starship Enterprise with these things. Overhyped indeed!
Re:Overhyped? (Score:2, Informative)
Absolutely Not OverHyped (Score:3, Informative)
Tablet PCs are a major stepping stone in regards to mobile computing and collaborative computing. I don't mean to tell you what you do or do not like, but I suspect that you "really prefer your keyboard over a pen and screen combo" because you are doing a lot of typing, and not necessarily much else. If you were doing photo archiving, collaborative computing, pharmaceutical design, diagnostic imaging (MRI), or forensics work, a PC Tablet would be orders of magnitudes more efficient, ergonomic, and usefull than a keyboard.
In environments where you have to be walking around a lot, such as in a hospital, a clinic, a research laboratory, or a research center, Tablet PCs are becoming the rage for good reason. The Hype is because they can be really, really usefull. One has to view tablets as 'compute and run' devices for them to be conceptually usefull.
Server /.ed (Score:2, Funny)
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One user's views on usability... (Score:5, Informative)
Scroll down to: Drawing on a Tablet PC [penny-arcade.com]
Scroll down to Alias Sketchbook comment [penny-arcade.com]
Re:One user's views on usability... (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Sorry to say. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Sorry to say. (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Re:Sorry to say. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sorry to say. (Score:3, Insightful)
Tablet PC's (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Tablet PC's (Score:2)
Re:Tablet PC's (Score:2, Interesting)
I think a lot of /.ers aren't getting it... (Score:5, Informative)
Personally, as a student I'd love to get my hands on one of these. It's a PITA trying to copy down mathematical formulae onto a computer... I could use LaTeX, but frankly when I'm scribbling things down to keep up with my professors I don't have time, so I just stick to paper.
I've played with them a few times too. The handwriting recognition is sweeeet - it blows inkwell, and anything else I've tried, out of the water. You've got to be careful when playing with store demos, though, since the system is adaptive.
separation anxiety (Score:2)
Oh bugger, in the above I MEANT to say. . . (Score:2)
If I'm scribbling to keep up with my professors I'm (not) *paying attention to the professor.*
Previewing doesn't help if your brain has taken a vacation.
Hey, I'm over forty, give me a break.
KFG
Re:On the other hand. . . (Score:2)
Other courses I don't have the option in, though. The course-material might be crap, or might not even exist at all, so you need to take notes to study from come exam time.
Re:On the other hand. . . (Score:2)
I'm sure that given enough time and effort he could work up the strength and dexterity to get his speed up to something reasonable, but he doesn't believe it's worth the effort. Frankly, I agree with him.
Re:I think a lot of /.ers aren't getting it... (Score:2)
tablet PCs may not sell (Score:2)
You must be new... (Score:4, Funny)
You're new to Slashdot, arn't you? If your going to post an article about Microsoft operating systems, you need to finish the article with "I wonder how long it will take someone to get Linux running on it," or "If we could only change that operating system..."
=)
Nonsense (Score:2)
Missing the point (Score:5, Informative)
Journal is it's "killer app". I take all my notes for my classes (I'm a college student) on it. It saves paper, I can search them easily, and I can easily archive all my notes.
I couldn't live without it these days.
Some articles (Score:4, Informative)
About the move from Win CE to Win XP:
Yahoo opinions [yahoo.com]
Another review with XP tablet systems
Testing squad of eWeek [eweek.com]
The first presentation of the thing was broadcasted by Loudeye
Press release - coverage [prnewswire.com]
GateWay into action on tablet market
Better late than never [yahoo.com]
Selective uses (Score:5, Interesting)
The tech's love them, and productivity has increased.
Tablet PC in actual use (Score:5, Informative)
I am a long time "pen computer" user, mostly on Newtons. Until the tablet arrived, I used a MessagePad 2100, but I lived in fear of dropping the thing or having some other failure and not being able to repair or replace it. So when the Tablet PC came along, I read everything I could I on them and decided to go with the Fujitsu because it was a/ a "real" tablet, not a laptop with a magic twist around (and break) screen and b/ Fujitsu has built pen computers for vertical markets for several years and has more experience with these devices.
So far my tablet has lived up to my expectations both good and bad. Yes, Windows XP Tablet Edition is still Windows. It's still painful to update and install software, it still occasionally hangs for no apparent reason. But by and large it works.
The tablet form factor is killer. It's very nice to write on and hardly gets noticed (not what happens when you bring a laptop to some meetings). The handwriting recognition is excellent, at least as good as my Newton if not better. However, be warned that I'm one of the two people in the country (or so it seems) for whom hardwriting recognition seems to work well. Your mileage will vary.
I've used the "digital ink" only journal application that Microsoft supplies in a couple of meetings now and I really like it. The pen editting tools and the ability to add space in the middle of a page are nice. It works well enough to use all the time.
The major downside is that the device is very expensive compared to a similar laptop and it runs Windows. But if you are really a pen computer person, like me, it's nifty.
Re:Tablet PC in actual use (Score:2)
lspci output (Score:3, Interesting)
Old idea, new spin. BFD (Score:3, Insightful)
dammit, dotted already. (Score:2)
Textbook Replacement (Score:2)
Re:Textbook Replacement (Score:2)
We actually met with most of the publishers to get them on board. We also met with some Office suite publishers to work on getting some features to automatically activate and deactivate based on whether or not the tablet was in or near the school. I liked it and thought it had a lot of potential. Too bad I couldn't snarf one at the end of the testing period
Does Anyone Here have A Real Job? (Score:5, Insightful)
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
Re:Does Anyone Here have A Real Job? (Score:2)
"Doctor? The patient on 313 is in shock... yeah, we followed your indications, 15 ml. of estricnin... What do you mean you wrote astrigent?".
You can't teach old doctors to type, and you can't teach them to handwrite nicely. And you can't teach a Tablet to understand the infamous "doctor handwriting".
The needs of A Real Job. (Score:4, Interesting)
Nobody wants hostpital records, warehousing inventory etc done and stored on a heavy local harddrive. Nope, you want them stored back on the server. THus no need for the local harddrive (cost, size, weight, battery life).
For any real job you need better battery life that can take you through a whole work day.
In no real organisation will the BigBoss sign up to supply the blue-collar types with the latest most fancy and expensive computers..
Jslate and aquapad-style devices are far more suited to this kind of role.
They'll sell a few TabletPCs to the BigBoss who wants the coolest toy in town. That's it.
M$ have screwed up every effort they have made to move off the desktop. This is mainly because they into a new field and try to force the Microsoft Way onto folks without understanding their needs. Unfortunately they have deep enough pockets to dominate (force out of business) anyone with real solutions.
TabletPC is about Microsoft's sixth attempt in mobile space, why should this succeed when all their other attempst have failed? Naah, TabletPC can join the junk-pile with WinCE, Windows for Pen, Stinger for phones, CarPC (or AutoPC) and all their other stuff.
It's all marketing (Score:2)
I don't know, I'm a Linux user that codes PHP as a hobby and still runs a P3 600, but my take on these tablet PCs is that they are for moms and dads that have money to blow and are easily drawn to shiny things.
Don't want to spend $1000+? Try a Progear! (Score:4, Interesting)
If you want to check out the "Progear Scene," head over to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/progear/ [yahoo.com] to check otu the Progear User's Group. We've been hacking away at this thing for a a good six months (or so) now.
<SHAMLESS PLUG>Check out www.mira2go.com to buy a PG for circa US$600.</SHAMLESS PLUG>
How I use my Tablet (Score:5, Interesting)
For taking notes I use MS Journal, they go in as ink and stay as ink. My recognition of my writing will always be better than their recognition and I don't feel like going through the correction just to get a smaller file size. If I was sharing the notes with someone else I might, but what I keep for myself I keep as ink.
Browsing I do a mixture or pen and keyboard. I definitely like browsing in tablet mode with the pen it just feels more natural, however entering URL's with the pen is still 50/50 so if I have to pull out the keyboard it's back to landscape mode.
Any type of command line work such as admin work or coding simply requires a keyboard, no two ways about it. If I remote accesss in to work I have to use a keyboard (they are running a version of MetaFrame that doesn't support pen). This is where the pen will fail to win over the gear-heads in my opinion.
Also I do find myself using keyboard and pen more than I thought I would. Glidepoints still just don't cut it for me, so I'd rather do the extra grab for the pen.
All in all I'm really happy with it (I should be since it was free) and I can't imagine buying a laptop without Tablet features after using a Tablet.
Compaq tc1000 (Score:5, Informative)
I found the stylus (pen) interface extremely good - the mouse will follow the stylus even if the stylus is not physically touching the screen up to a height of about 1.5 inches. This makes things a lot easier than having to drag the stylus physically across the screen when moving, say, a folder. A single click is acheived by just touching the stylus to the screen for most applications. The stylus on this machine was apparently "active", requiring one AAAA battery - I did not take it apart to verify this, and have no idea how long the battery would last, but it must be a fair while.
The "lazy susan" type keyboard (note: not full docking) station is extremely space efficient, and the key feel is (for me) not too bad for the form factor. The tablet is "smart" enough to know when it has been plugged in to the keyboard base, and rotate the screen from portrait to landscape mode automatically. I was sold - it would be a great setup to take on the road, as it would actually be quite usable in an aircraft, on your lap etc.
Apparently there is a full docking station available (with CD/DVD ROM etc), but we did not have access to it. Under most circumstances, given the inbuilt WLAN interface, the keyboard station would be sufficient.
For those wanting to support Transmeta, this device contains the new 1Ghz Crusoe TM5800 processor. Battery life was claimed "up to five hours", realistically about 3.5-4hr max. Not stunning, but quite good considering the form factor. Speed was not lightning fast, but probably acceptable for most tasks you would envisage for this type of device. ZDNet bagged it in this [zdnet.com.au] review, but I did not find it as bad as they make out
I hardly used the digital ink features, so cannot comment on them, but others in my section who tried the journal feature seemed to like it.
When I first saw this device, I pretty much blew it off as a "toy" laptop with a detachable screen, but they really are a bit more than that. After using it for a short while I had to revise my initial hasty opinion, and by the end I did not want to give it back. I would use it in place of a "full" laptop without hesitation.
Naturally for a new product the price is a bit steep for what you get, and since as far as I know no Linux geeks have had a chance to check it out, its Linux readiness is unknown - it is a given that Linux probably cannot support the software augmented hardware features such as the digital ink/journal etc - but even if the device supported a standard linux install with X, and the mouse and wireless card worked, these would be a great portable. workstation.
If I can get my hands on one for a bit longer I will try a Linux install, but will need to be carefult to not blow away the OS if possible - it did not look easy to reinstall the base OS, given the lack of inbuilt CDROM device. Comments from anyone who has tried (even at this early stage) to install Linux are welcome.
Re:Compaq tc1000 (Score:2)
Is there really much point to installing linux on one of these things yet as there is absolutely no linux handwriting recognition app that could make the most useful part of it (the pen) actually, well, useful?
Depending on how these evolve, I may go for one once the price comes down commensurate with its real capabilities (it is less capable than a decent laptop but costs more). I would love to be able to slap a linux distro (any distro) on it if/when it could take advantage of the pen and handwriting rec.
I'm not holding my breath on that last bit though. This is just not an area where I see open source coming through.
AnandTech Site Speed (Score:2, Informative)
Enjoy the review,
Matthew Witheiler
Senior Hardware Editor
AnandTech.com
My experience (Score:4, Interesting)
I feel a little like I'm being a tool for Microsoft, but it's probably because I've made a few other posts on the subject. When someone puts together a great product I feel they should get credit where credit is due.
I purchased the Viewsonic v1100 after playing with it in the store for an hour. If I had to do it again, I would probably get one of the Fujitsus instead, since that is what other slashdot users seem to buy. Don't get me wrong though, I love the one I got. It's worth every cent I paid. I figured that if I was going to plunk down some money on one of these, then I would embrace it. And embrace it I did. I stopped using paper whenever possible, and tried to convert as many documents into their electronic counterparts.
I work as a technician between several buildings, so with this tablet I can connect, through 802.11b, to the help desk software we have. Using this, I have effectively replaced all of my notepads, lists, and papers that I used to carry around with me. It ends up replacing about the same weight, only now everything is organized, and I can bring it all with me.
All I can say is that it just works. The interface is simple, yet works extremely well, and it runs all the apps I need.
Oh yeah, and it hasn't crashed once in the three weeks I've had it.
Recognition complaint (Score:2)
Having said that I will say there are some things I've noticed about writing habits (watching other people use the device). Some people like to write very small - for text recognition the bigger the better. Some people complaining about the recognition level can't write legible text i.e. I have a friend who will write something down for me and I can't read it. Two days later if I give him the same paper back and ask for an explanation he can't read it either. Recognition is relative.
Gates wanted the recognition software to tailor to the user, but the product developers want the recognition to be more generalized and the users would have to adjust. Personally I think there has to be a compromise - people need to pay attention to penmanship and the recognition software should adapt somewhat to the individuals writing (much like speech recognition adapts to the individuals voice).
Recognition (Score:2)
Nice but... (Score:2)
I'd also like to see the durability of one. If it can't take some abuse then it will fail. It is too expensive to break if it drops on the ground.
I really do hope it works because it would open up some interesting possibilities, but unless the price drops I really don't see it being a big seller. Don't forget that tech people will still be needed to fix problems which adds to the cost. There are backup & restore issues which adds to the cost. There are security issues where an expensive device vanishes (not to mention the data on it) and that adds to the cost.
I'd also be curious to see how people who are not good with PCs react. Odds are they are comfortable with a pen and paper and would just as soon keep it.
The next generation Picture Frame (Score:3, Insightful)
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!
It's not the tablet that's expensive, it's the pen (Score:4, Informative)
There was one tablet on display, but no stylus to operate it. I tried using my PDA stylus to no avail. A salesperson eventually wandered over to help and said he'd have to go get the special pen they keep under lock and key. When he came back after a couple of minutes I asked why they didn't have it on some sort of chain so people could use it, he told me that the pens for the tablet PCs they stock sell for between $150 and $300 each depending upon the brand (they appear to be interchangable as we used a Toshiba pen on a non-Toshiba tablet) and they had already had two grow legs and walk away.
As someone who has lost at least 3 PDA styli in the past few years (yes, I was one of those kind of geeks who bought a Pilot the first week it was released) I know it's just a matter of time before I would lose the tablet's pen, and there is no way in hell I'm going to tie myself to a PC that is useless without a $300 pen that can be lost that easily.
After leaving, I got to wondering if the tablets could be used with the same kind of stylus that a graphics tablet uses, as those can be purchased for far less than $150. I'll need to remember to take my Wacom pen with me next time I go shopping...
One Question: (Score:3, Funny)
1984 (Score:2)
user review.. (Score:3, Interesting)
finally.. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:finally.. (Score:3, Informative)
good - another user interface (Score:3, Interesting)
just look around your desk where you work - see all those scraps of paper? you probably used them because its too much a pain to enter it in a computer. In my case, they are usually diagrams and drawings to help figure something out. No way could I enter those quickly and easily in a computer. no way can I easily search through all those papers for a specific drawing done a year ago. the Tablet PC offers this.
for now, its a bit too expensive and probably not a good as it can be, but thats true of all new technology. in a couple years, it'll be just about right.
Anybody try an io? (Score:3, Interesting)
I've got an old CrossPad as well and it was a great compromise between the new Tablets and regular old pen and paper. The best thing is that you always had a hard copy of whatever you wrote no matter what. I imagine getting an application crashing error after an hour or two of taking notes would absolutely suck.
Re:what about caplets (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tablet vs Wacom (Score:2)
Re:Tablet vs Wacom (Score:3, Interesting)
Insightful?
What are you going to do, walk around with it strapped to your leg?
The entire point of the tablet pc is so you can use it standing or walking, situations where you can't easily open your laptop.
In terms you might understand, it's the equivalent of having a clipboard and being able to jot notes and flip through pages of info. Yes, you can also use the clibboard on top of a desk, but that's not the idea- the idea is mobility.
Re:Tablet vs Wacom (Score:2)
Yes, you can also use the clibboard on top of a desk, but that's not the idea- the idea is mobility.
Or...you can use the clipboard. It accepts handwriting input with 100% efficiency and no interpretation errors. It doesn't use any batteries, costs pennies on the dollar, is lighter, and the media is capable of lasting (in usable form) for literally 100s if not 1000s of years.
Can a tablet PC do THAT?! Huh? Thought not.
Re:PDAs, Tablets, blah blah blah (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
Re:That was quick (Score:2)
Re:First porting post! (Score:2)
Hell I have 5 year old tablet pc that run's slackware fine.
why would you think that something old like a tablet pc wouldn't have linux support?
tablet pc's have been around for over 10 years.
Re:Linux Tablet PC (Score:2)
neat concept, but vaporware != worth a frontpage story (well, most of the time =)
No it's not.. (Score:2)
No it's not. It's just 'News for Nerds'.
Yes, it has a pro-free pro-open-source software bent, but not to the exclusion of everything else. Don't assume that everybody here is a Linuxhead.
Re:Umm... hello?? (Score:3, Informative)
Windows has also hade remote desktop services built in and available as add on software (PC Anywhere) for as long as windows has been existance. This is not about remote desktops as a posibility, this is about a complete hardware unit that allows you to take your remote desktop with you wirelessly for short distances from your computer. It is less, but also about using a pen to it's fullest (so far) as a UI tool instead of a mouse or keyboard.
Unix did not have THIS 30 years ago.