Microsoft: The Tablet Bridesmaid, Never the Bride?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/microsoft-to-announce-new-slates-targeting-ipad/' target='_blank'>http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/...targeting-ipad/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"A decade ago Bill Gates, founder and former chief executive of Microsoft, presented a new class of computing to the world: a tablet PC that offered a fully functional computer with the "intuitive aspects of pencil and paper." Since then, Microsoft has struggled to gain traction with a slate-like device, yet each year the company announces new products, software or operating systems that try to promote a world of Windows-based slate computers."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/lpt/auto/1292625104.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p><em>Above:&nbsp;Bert Keely, a&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;software architect, shows a prototype of the first &lsquo;Tablet PC' in 2000. <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/microsoft-to-announce-new-slates-targeting-ipad/" target="_blank">Photo courtesy of the New York Times</a>.</em></p><p>I'm trying not to unfairly jump to any conclusions yet, but here's what I predict I'll see at CES 2011: tablet/slate computers running Windows 7 that are heavier, slower, more expensive, and have significantly worse battery life than comparable iOS and Android slates. And that doesn't even factor in the user interface issues. Windows 7 is quite usable on a touch input basis...on a 20+ inch screen. On a 7 to 10 inch screen? Not so much. I'd love to be wrong, but I'll go out on a limb and say that Microsoft hasn't yet admitted to themselves that Windows is not the most appropriate operating system for lightweight slate devices.</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

I continue to disagree with that assertion. I don't think Win 7 is inherently unusable on a slate. There are places where the basic interface could be fingered up a bit, like the task tray, and window management icons, maximize, minimize, etc. but overall, it is not that tough to get around the OS. People do certainly compare it to iOS, but what is that except a row by column app launcher? It is once you get into the apps that the issues with a windows platfrom start to show up. But that isn't fundamentally due to the OS, but with the legacy of the platforms. You don't see MacOS on the iPad, you see a phone OS. Thatr grew up having no option but touch support, so the apps neccessarilt had to conform to that. There really weren't any Windows touch options, so the developers weren't inclined to think about them. Fact is when you get into a get into a production, business, what-have-you app on an iPad, a keyboard pops up. Same on a Windows tablet, you tap in a word document and you get the entry panel with a keyboard, which you can actually resize, and you can opt to handwrite, if the tablet is so equiped. The people that want to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, want to do them in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Many do that on a MAC. You can do a reasonable facsimile on an iPad with iWorks, but you run into many of the same limitatons there that you do whan running office apps on a Windows Slate.

Maybe I'm way off base. Wouldn't be the first time. I do think that Windows Slates have a chance, or should be given a chance, but only if they are real slates, not convertibles. Those things are just too bulky, and don't really highlight the advantages of a screen based input device. If you need a mouse and keyboard to get some stuff done, attaching a BT combo is trivial and even not to cumbersome when traveling. I have an HP slate on order. Lets see how it goes when it gets here.

[Jason Dunn]

I have an HP slate on order. Lets see how it goes when it gets here.

I'll be curious to know what you think of it, but my hunch will be that you'll think of it as a netbook in terms of performance and battery life, rather than an iPad/other slate device. There's no magical solution for taking an OS as heavy as Windows 7 and making it as lightweight as a phone OS.

[Sven Johannsen]

Oh, I agree that it will probably perform like a netbook, but with 2G of RAM it should be a bit better than my HP Mini. The 64G of ROM will be a bit more useful than the 16G in my current one. Thing is I am ditching at least half the size and weight, and gaining touch and stylus input. I expect I can use Office Web apps on it, something that doesn't work on my iPad. I could hook it up to a monitor using the dock, which I could do with the ipad, but with limited apps that output. Either will work with a BT keyboard, but the slate will support a BT mouse as well. I can throw those items in the carry on or checked luggage with minimal bulk, for a little more serious work in a hotel room. On the go, Not futzing with the need to have a stable surface or lap to use a netbook keyboard will be nice. I suppose I will give up the instant on of the iPad, but I bet sleep/hibernate might not be so bad from an SSD. A big plus will be the ability to run OneNote, along with syncing that to the web. Battery life will be a trade off too, I'm sure. Everything is. On the other hand, I'll bet its battery life is as good as any other Windows laptop (assuming you don't get an extended battery, that adds 25% to the size, and 50% to the weight). We'll see.