[lsbeller]

IMO, the strength of the TabletPC is INK - both in handwriting recognition and subsequent conversion to text and in keeping your handwriting just the way it is in programs like MS Journal and Onenote. I don't think you need the thumbboard. Maybe it's just me, but I still write faster than I thumbboard and the TabletPC recognition is about 99% perfect in its recognition for me.

For me, a minitablet should be pure slate, all screen, about the same size as a classic or executive size day planner but extremely thin. I could then carry it in a nice leather portfolio and take it most anywhere. Of course, it should have BT and USB so I could connect a keyboard and a mouse if I a wanted to.

I imagine something that looks a little like the iMate Jam at about 4 or 5 times that size.

[lsbeller]

IMO, the strength of the TabletPC is INK - both in handwriting recognition and subsequent conversion to text and in keeping your handwriting just the way it is in programs like MS Journal and Onenote. I don't think you need the thumbboard. Maybe it's just me, but I still write faster than I thumbboard and the TabletPC recognition is about 99% perfect in its recognition for me.

For me, a minitablet should be pure slate, all screen, about the same size as a classic or executive size day planner but extremely thin. I could then carry it in a nice leather portfolio and take it most anywhere. Of course, it should have BT and USB so I could connect a keyboard and a mouse if I a wanted to.

I imagine something that looks a little like the iMate Jam at about 4 or 5 times that size.

[beq]

What's weird for me, my particular handwriting is really bad (both in speed and legibility). When I was in class I was actually forced to use a notebook so I can type the lecture notes because whenever I handwrite the notes I always fall behind (not finished before the lecturer goes on to the next slide).

I used to be much better at handwriting in childhood, not sure what happened. When I write, often characters don't get written down right like I want it (ex. an "a" is written where the loop is not fully closed) then I have to spend time retracing it slowly, stuff like that...

That said, I do handwrite faster than typing on the Pocket PC simply because I can't touch type on it...

[karen]

Boy, this form factor would be a great thing for my current project - one where technology is in the field. The client is currently evaluating both PPCs and tablet/laptop forms.

PPC screens are too small, in reality, for someone who is trying to see a diagram and enter some values while standing in a construction hole.

And a laptop is way too combersome for that.

Tablets seem to be the best fit, but they are still a bit too big and heavy.

So I think a mini-tablet or larger PDA are the real solution.

[Pete Wilson]

I think an updated Newton is ideal in many ways. I find my Pocket PC too small for browsing, or practical spreadsheeting compared to the Newton. A 800x600 screen in that form factor as a full tablet PC would also be great for clinical use - as long as it fit in a lab coat pocket.

[ctmagnus]

Originally Posted by Pete Wilson

I find my Pocket PC too small for browsing, or practical spreadsheeting compared to the Newton.

I find that a 60%-65% zoom works nicely in PlanMaker and even better in Pocket Excel.

[Jason Lee]

Man, make on of these i can play World of Warcraft on and i'm there.. :mrgreen:

[Steve Jordan]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

you cant combine small size of pda and usability of notebook.

(Hmm... how come my quotes don't format properly anymore?)

Oh, yass, you can.

Processors and memory have come far enough that a PPC-sized computer can (and does) run a full version of Windows Whatever, and run full versions of any application and their full-version documents. Add either a detachable keyboard or, better yet, speech-to-text capability (now being built into a new Samsung cell phone) and you have your notebook capability. Add a detachable tablet-sized screen and you have digital ink capability.

PPCs are great for mobile organizing, but they can be a LOT more than that... they can be your full computer! The sooner the industry realizes that, the sooner we can start carrying our entire digital world with us, and use it according to what peripherals we decide to carry with us.

[abarry]

Bill Gates just announced that MS is toying with the idea of an ultra portable tablet PC. Read about it at:

http://tabletpcs.engadget.com/entry/1234000830041475/

and

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/341/C3978/

[LyubinVadim]

I've recently purchased new Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet 1866 Pentium M 758 1.5 GHz LV Centrino RAM : 512 MB HD : 60 GB Gigabit Ether 18663RU here
on costupdate store on eBay. I’m enjoying it. I find it convenient. And it has a lot of possibilities.
:mrgreen: