Tablet PC Launch Events

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.event-register.com/hp-tabletpc/index.htm

The Tablet PC drum is starting to beat louder with the November 7th launch date looming. HP has a public event on November 6th - are they trying to steal Microsoft's thunder or what? At any rate, the event kicks off at 5 PM in New York City, so if you're in the area stop by and tell me what I missed. :wink:



"Join Michael Capellas from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at the Hudson Theater as he rings in the new era of mobile computing at the Compaq Tablet PC Party - with special guests Dick Clark, Chubby Checker, Gary U.S. Bonds, and the Shirelles!"

Tablet PCs and Chubby Checker? Old, new, it's all the same. Oh wait - maybe he'll start singing that "Let's twist again" song while Michael Capellas shakes his hips and transforms the HP Tablet PC from keyboard mode to monitor mode. Gosh, that would be fun to see. 8)

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.event-register.com/hp-tabletpc/index.htm

The Tablet PC drum is starting to beat louder with the November 7th launch date looming. HP has a public event on November 6th - are they trying to steal Microsoft's thunder or what? At any rate, the event kicks off at 5 PM in New York City, so if you're in the area stop by and tell me what I missed. :wink:



"Join Michael Capellas from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at the Hudson Theater as he rings in the new era of mobile computing at the Compaq Tablet PC Party - with special guests Dick Clark, Chubby Checker, Gary U.S. Bonds, and the Shirelles!"

Tablet PCs and Chubby Checker? Old, new, it's all the same. Oh wait - maybe he'll start singing that "Let's twist again" song while Michael Capellas shakes his hips and transforms the HP Tablet PC from keyboard mode to monitor mode. Gosh, that would be fun to see. 8)

[Arne Hess]

What's wrong on the HP picture above!?
The guy use a landline phone instead of a HP WDA.
He has still a PC on his desk and why the hell he use his Tablet PC for Outlook!?

I would exchange one of my xda to the Tablet PC of that guy. With the xda he could make phone calls and use Outlook as well... :wink: and wouldn't need his Tablet anymore... :lol:

[splintercell]

I am going to the Philly launch event on November 8th. Our IT department is taking a nice leisurely road trip away from worries. And then a nice "business" lunch someplace along the way. :wink:

[Jonathan1]

HEH I've been so hyped over these things the last few months that I've almost convinced myself to just go out and buy one the day they came out. Then I remembered MS's track record on product released. Mainly that it usually does take them 3 attempts to get anything right. From Windows NT to Pocket PC to Tablet PC. So I think I need to step back from the buzz for a second and take a critical look at the Tablet PC. I'm going to hold off on one until I can walk into CompUSA or Best Buy and spend an hour playing with one.

My biggest concern is MS's disregard for handwriting recog. There are more then a few articles where MS has disregarded handwriting recog as the most important thing on the Tablet PC. *scratches head* Huh? What would happen if my keyboard only recognized 1 in 10 keystrokes? Handwriting recog IS the most important part of the device simply because it is the core method of interacting and inputting info into that device.

Personally I think when MS disregards something it usually means they can't get it to function right out of the box which could be a serious buzzkill for the Tablet PC.

What MS should have done is just gone to Apple and licensed whatever tech they used in the Newton's handwriting recog for the Tablet PC. TO date the software on my Newton is close to 90% accurate for me. Along with the previous “gripes” I also want to know:

• How do device manufacturers plan to deal with the potential for the device to be scratched? Do they have a better surface? Writewrite for the Tablet PC? Since the pen uses a EM method of input it doesn’t require direct interaction with the surface so a cover of some sort should work. Last thing I want to do is spend 2K+ on a new device and scratch the bloody thing within a weeks time.
  
• Is anyone else planning on releasing better handwriting recog? CalliGrapher for the Tablet PC anyone?
  
• What companies are on board to support the Tablet PC. From what I’ve heard Adobe is going to be supporting it which should be interesting. Specialized version of Photoshop anyone? What other companies?

I don’t know. I’m cautiously optimistic with the Tablet PC. But I need to play with one before I make any decisions. If nothing else I may very well hold off until Dell decides to jump into the market. I’ve always been a big fan of Dell products. If they have decided to hold off on releasing a Tablet PC there usually is a good reason and that reason may very well apply to me as well. *shrugs* Time will tell. If anything I’m most likely going to stop by a CompUSA or Best By November 7th and see what they have to offer.

[This has been a Jonathan rambling. We now return you to your regularly scheduled posts]

[dochall]

Originally Posted by Jonathan1

I don’t know. I’m cautiously optimistic with the Tablet PC. But I need to play with one before I make any decisions.

I agree with most of your comments, but remember that this isn't MS's first attempt at pen computing. I'm currently looking at a new laptop. I was going to go for a lightweight one anyway so the tablet PC is right up my street.

I act as a consultant so attend a lot of meetings. Being able to take notes directly on the tablet PC is a real boon. Something I have tried on my PPC but no always with the greatest sucess. This could be particularly useful if a pen enabled version of visio is also available.

The other thing that actually really interests me is the use the tablet pc as an ebook reader. A full 12" inch screen will be a boon for reading and reviewing documents. Also having access to the Adobe ebook reader (as well as acrobat will change my whole computing experience.

I do hope it is a huge sucess, I can see a tablet pc/ppc combo providing so many potential solutions to the frustrations with a normal laptop/ppc combo.

Roll on November 7th.

[xnovax]

I have a friend who has been one of 80 or so "Microsoft Champions" for tablet computing. He's been living with one for months. This guy is a hard sell but he has embraced this device with a passion I've never heard from him before. (He's a techie for MS -- not a sales weenie.) He's convinced embedded XP is going to rule the tablet market space. It doesn't matter who the hardware vendors are. It will be interesting to watch this develop.

[Steven Cedrone]

Originally Posted by Jonathan1

My biggest concern is MS's disregard for handwriting recog. There are more then a few articles where MS has disregarded handwriting recog as the most important thing on the Tablet PC. *scratches head* Huh? What would happen if my keyboard only recognized 1 in 10 keystrokes? Handwriting recog IS the most important part of the device simply because it is the core method of interacting and inputting info into that device.

Huh?

Why would Microsoft disregard one of the biggest features of this device? AFAIK, Microsoft has pumped huge amounts of money into the handwriting recognition software on these units(I can even remember when they were taking handwriting samples years ago).

I saw dozens of people pick these up and use them, and the handwriting recognition was flawless (out of the box, no learning/teaching involved)...

Steve

[Sven]

I haven't used a Tablet PC, which naturally comes with a version of XP with special addons just for the new UI you know, but I have used a Pocket PC for handwriting and the handwritting recognition capabilities of Office XP when coupled with a drawing tablet. I think the latter two are pretty darn good, so have no doubt the HWR will be quite good on the Tablet. It has to be... that is the intended use. I really enjoy handing my PPC, with Calligrapher, to someone who hasn't used one but knows about Palm Graffitti, "No, no special characters, just write. Yea, anywhere on the screen." Nine out of 10 times they're impressed. MS could never have sold a point and click interface if the mice didn't work. I don't think they'd release a Tablet that the input mechanism doesn't work.

BTW, I bet the guy in the picture isn't using a regular computer with a a Tablet PC. I bet that's a MIRA (remote display?) .

[Jason Dunn]

Well, FWIW, on the demos I've seen the HWR is quite good - the correction tool looks great, which is the fatal flaw of Transcriber on the Pocket PC....

[David McNamee]

Originally Posted by Arne Hess

He has still a PC on his desk and why the hell he use his Tablet PC for Outlook!?

Maybe the idea is that the Tablet PC is what you live out of, and the desktop PC is used for specialized applications like financials, medical or CAD.