HP to Offer Three-in-One Tablet PC

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1001-964648.html?tag=fd_top">http://news.com.com/2100-1001-964648.html?tag=fd_top</a><br /><br />HPs new Tablet PC looks tasty! The official Tablet PC launch is tomorrow, so expect to see a few posts on it if there's anything new and interesting.<br /><br /><img src="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/p/110602CompaqTabletPC.jpg" /><br /><br />"Hewlett-Packard will announce its own twist on the tablet PC on Thursday, with a new kind of transformable computer that features a detachable keyboard. Tablet PCs are essentially 3- to 4-pound "ultra-portable" notebook PCs with touch screens, wireless Internet connections, and speech and handwriting input. Some, known as convertibles, have screens that can rotate 180 degrees and fold down to create a tablet. Others follow a more traditional, tablet-only route. HP's Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 does both. The machine can be used like a notebook or like a tablet, thanks to a special detachable keyboard, and can also serve as a primary PC through a docking station.<br /><br />...HP's Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 is based on a 10.4-inch screen protected by tempered glass and includes a full-sized pen and a detachable keyboard. The machine will use Transmeta's TM5800 processor running at 1GHz, along with 256MB of RAM (random access memory) and a 20GB hard drive for $1,699. Adding 802.11 wireless networking, which the company believes most customers will do, ups the price to $1,799. Customers can also add extra memory and larger hard drives for additional fees. "

[marlof]

Now this is what I call a good looking device!

[dochall]

Now this is what I call a good looking device!

Getting boring but and potentially it will make a far bigger difference to my professional life than my PPC has.

I don't often say this ....'YAY microsoft'

I just hope it isn't a repeat of the Ipaq availability problems at the start.

[Paragon]

NOw if i can just find $3000.00 CND I'm all set. I have been considering a laptop for sometime, but when the talk of Tablet PCs started getting serious I decided to hold off. I'm glad I did. I think for me this is a much better device......of course after my PPC.

Dave

[johncj]

Ummm.... I almost hate to bring this up, but where is the outcry to have this XP edition available as software only? When you published the XP Media Center article, there were dozens of posts screaming for it to be released as an OS upgrade. Maybe nobody wants a TabletPC? Or is it because it is aimed at businesses rather than consumers? I'm not trying to start a fight here, I'm honestly curious as to the difference in the reaction.

[yvilla]

Ummm.... I almost hate to bring this up, but where is the outcry to have this XP edition available as software only? When you published the XP Media Center article, there were dozens of posts screaming for it to be released as an OS upgrade. Maybe nobody wants a TabletPC? Or is it because it is aimed at businesses rather than consumers? I'm not trying to start a fight here, I'm honestly curious as to the difference in the reaction.

Hunh? Your question isn't making much sense to me. How many people have the hardware already?--the whole point of XP Tablet Edition is the touch screen/handwriting capability. :roll:

[lspinellijr]

just wait until you see this product in action. it is the COOLEST product in years! :lol:
the iMAC is cool but THIS IS COOL and USEFUL :)

i have had the unique opportunity to play with this for a bit. it is sweet trust me, and like the pocket pc which was also only initially a corporate product this one will filter in homes too. it just makes too much sense not to!

[gliscameria]

WOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Now all I need to do is find 2000$.....

Old women beware! :twisted:

[Certified Optimist]

I want one too! :multi:
Let's see... I just need one kidney and one lung... so where's the address to closest black market...

[dochall]

Ummm.... I almost hate to bring this up, but where is the outcry to have this XP edition available as software only? When you published the XP Media Center article, there were dozens of posts screaming for it to be released as an OS upgrade. Maybe nobody wants a TabletPC? Or is it because it is aimed at businesses rather than consumers? I'm not trying to start a fight here, I'm honestly curious as to the difference in the reaction.

They are very different beasts. Many people have built PC's which sit in their living room which provide
- non-interlaced DVD playback with 5.1 (or indeed 7.1) sound
- MP3 jukebox
- PVR
- etc.

These are all built from standard off the shelf components. The only think missing is a decent GUI integrated into the OS.

Point me to anybody that has built their own tablet PC.

[dave]

shouldn't these be called "laptop-pc's-with-swivel-screens" instead of tablet pc's ?

[ECOslin]

I would'nt buy one, I already worry about breaking the hinges on the ones I've got. One swivel hinge point, give me a break.

Snap!!

I've broken hinges and catches before, good thing I can usually get the parts to fix them.

Edward

[TrojanUO]

Ummm.... I almost hate to bring this up, but where is the outcry to have this XP edition available as software only? When you published the XP Media Center article, there were dozens of posts screaming for it to be released as an OS upgrade. Maybe nobody wants a TabletPC? Or is it because it is aimed at businesses rather than consumers? I'm not trying to start a fight here, I'm honestly curious as to the difference in the reaction.

It already is available as Software to MSDN Developers. But it's pretty much useless for anyone else. The whole point to TabletPC is the EMR Pen's, and handwriting recognition. Developers have to use a Wacom Tablet, to emulate the Pen, but it's very hard to use, because you're writing on a little tablet on the desk, not directly on the screen. In short, it's useless without the hardware.

Media Center on the other hand, is a regular PC with Video Capture, that is designed to function as the focal point of your entertainment center. Something people are already using PC's to do, without the special software. Media Center isn't practically tied to a unique, high-cost piece of hardware. Anyone could, in theory, build an computer identical to the MCE computers being sold now, but would lack the software to tie it all together easily. So there's a market there for the software without the hardware.

[TrojanUO]

shouldn't these be called "laptop-pc's-with-swivel-screens" instead of tablet pc's ?
There are three potential configurations.

Laptop with Swivel Screen, and EMR Stylus. (The Acer model talked about a week or two ago)
Tablet with Detachable Screen and EMR Stylus. (The HP in this article)
Pure Tablet PC's. (I believe Viewsonic's version is a sample of this model, as well as the original Compaq designed Proof of Concept)

[Jason Dunn]

shouldn't these be called "laptop-pc's-with-swivel-screens" instead of tablet pc's ?

Nope. Laptops don't come with pressure sensitive touch-screens or the special build of Windows XP for Tablet PCs. :D

[Wiggin]

shouldn't these be called "laptop-pc's-with-swivel-screens" instead of tablet pc's ?

This may serve as a perfect example of what the Tablet PC can expect to face in the broader consumer poplulation that is not technically inclined. It reminds me of the initial reaction that the very early Hand Held devices garnered when they hit the market.
("Isn't this just an electronic calculator with phone numbers in it?" :crazyeyes: ).

It will take some time for the buying public to understand the potential that the new Tablet devices offers the user. As someone who has earned a living using portable computers (who remembers one of the first "PCs" made by Compaq in 1984 that looked like a sewing machine, weighed 20 lbs, had a green mono color screen, had a flip-down keyboard, 2 floppy drives, no hard drives, and had 128 KB of RAM?? :lol: Now THAT was a rocking machine!), I certainly do not represent the "average consumer" of portable computers. I have been waiting for a device like the new Tablets for five years now. I was fortunate to have been involved with the development of the new XP-based OS that will run these machines. These things are VERY kewl, and the only way to understand the paradigm shift they represent is to use one for more than 60 seconds at your local PC store. :infinity:

How long did it take the world to let go of the horse & buggy when Henry F. showed the world a different idea? How long will it take for people to let go of pencil & paper?? :lol:

In my opinion, Tablets will not replace PPCs, they will be an integrated companion. There's still the "pocket" factor that Tablets will not offer. But for those who believe in taking their computers with them everywhere they travel in the world, the next generation of Tablets will soon change the way folks look at portable processing.

...oh, and don't forget, MS designed the OS... so don't expect perfection. Generation 3 will be industrial. Gen 1 and 2 OS products from MS are always challenging. But for those who love to be at the front of the curve, an occasional "Tablet Blue Screen of Death" is a small price to pay :way to go:

:beer:

[TrojanUO]

Nope. Laptops don't come with pressure sensitive touch-screens ... :D

Strictly speaking, neither do Tablet PC's.

You can put your hand on a Tablet PC Screen, and nothing will happen. You need to use a special EMR Pen/Stylus. They function almost the same as a Wacom Tablet.

Basically, the screen puts up a small electromagnetic field above the screen, that interacts with the pen.

[Jason Dunn]

Yeah, I know you need a special stylus - but my point was that they support 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is very different from the touch screens they use at McDonald's. :lol:

[Newsboy]

Cross-posting, but applicable here.

For the record, I did not make it to today's event in Rochester. Too much other stuff going on at work. Sorry Jason!

Though from playing with the ACER unit in Manhattan on Sunday, I was underwhelmed. To me, there just seems to be far too small of a market for this product to get excited about it. The price is too high for most corporations to justify, nevermind individual end users. The unit I tried was a bit too heavy to see me carrying it around the office or the building, nevermind holding it on my forearm. The locking hinge on the Acer unit seemed incredibly flimsy, I have no doubt it would break in very short order, particularly if dropped (say, off of someone's forearm? ).

The Tablet PC's claim to fame is the ability to write notes on the screen and later recall and share them with other users. I think a better (and lighter!) product for this purpose is the Logitech io Digital Personal Pen. Like the Tablet PC, it can record your notes written on a paper pad, and later upload them to your desktop PC for distribution and archiving. I'd be far more likely to carry around a WiFi PocketPC and a Logitech Pen then I would a Tablet PC.

I might seem to be a bit harsh, but I just don't see this product taking off the way MS intends it to. This device is probably headed towards a tiny niche market much as the Handheld PC was. I expect the new $150-300 PPCs to make a much bigger splash than this.

[Newsboy]

And RE: the EMR stylus...this is the same setup (technologically) as the Sony VAIO Slimtop used. I've had a chance to play with that PC extensively, and I think I may be purchasing one come december (if I can find it for about $1000.). The different levels of pressure sensitivity are great for altering the size and thickness of drawing tools in PhotoShop. I make no claim to be an artist, but it would be great to do photo editing and web site graphics editing on that thing.

Hmmm...lessee...VAIO Slimtop...$2400 at Circuit City, $1350 at J&R, 110% pricematch at CC, 8% tax...$1345? Damn, approaching Tablet PC range! *sigh*

There's a program that lets you use your PocketPC as a Wacom tablet (of sorts) when docked with your desktop PC. I can't find it, anyone remember what program that is? Have to wonder if that would work wirelessly with a WiFi card? Now that would be cool!

[TrojanUO]

There's a program that lets you use your PocketPC as a Wacom tablet (of sorts) when docked with your desktop PC. I can't find it, anyone remember what program that is? Have to wonder if that would work wirelessly with a WiFi card? Now that would be cool!

Entisoft PocketTablet

http://www.entisoft.com/PocketTablet/