A year after the debut of Microsoft's innovative Tablet PC platform, the software giant is keeping an upbeat tone despite slow sales. A powerful new hardware platform is in the works that will erase past performance and battery life problems, and a new version of the Tablet PC software--Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2004, code-named Lonestar--will fix some technical problems in the original software. But a growing rift between the hardware makers that create the Tablet PCs and software-maker Microsoft could escalate into the biggest threat to the handwriting-capable systems. This week, PC maker Acer, one of the original Tablet PC makers, reiterated charges that Microsoft isn't doing enough to drive forward the Tablet PC market. "[The Tablet PC market] is a mess," Jim Wong, president of the Acer IT Products Business Group, said. "We are disappointed in the market. We believe it will happen, but it will happen too late. We keep on challenging Microsoft [to do more]." Wong's charges follow similar complaints that Acer President Wang Chen-tang made last month when he said that Acer barely sold 100,000 Tablet PCs last year, far short of its target of 2 million units. And all the hardware makers sold only 256,000 Tablet PCs through June 30, according to market research firm IDC. Wong says Tablet PC sales are hampered by high prices and a lack of applications that take advantage of the unique features of Tablet PCs. To this day, large corporations with specific needs build most Tablet PC applications inhouse. Microsoft says it's addressing these problems. Regarding Acer's charge that pricing is too high, many PC makers are now charging just a small premium over non-Tablet PC hardware models; Gateway is offering a Tablet PC model that's just $100 more than an equivalent notebook computer running Windows XP Professional Edition. But Wong says that the Tablet PC OS should cost the same as, and not more than, XP Pro, as it does now. As for applications, Microsoft says its constant upgrading of the XP Tablet PC Edition software development kit (SDK) has helped developers more easily and seamlessly add Tablet PC-specific features to existing applications. And the new version of the OS, due in early 2004, makes it much easier for users to input handwriting-based Digital Ink data. In many cases, the company tells me, developers can add new XP Tablet PC Edition 2004 functionality without even recompiling applications--a boon for companies that want to get running on the new system quickly. Clearly, the platform's biggest problem is communication. Microsoft needs to do a better job of informing key volume markets such as the educational sector that the Tablet PC is an effective and inexpensive solution that can benefit large numbers of users. Most people who try a Tablet PC immediately understand its benefits, but it's a product you really need to pick up and experiment with before you appreciate it. The Tablet PC isn't a product for everyone--many computer users type far more quickly than they write, and many people's handwriting is illegible. But many people could benefit from the handwriting capabilities in XP Tablet PC Edition. The trick is to let them know such capabilities are available. If successful, the Tablet PC, combined with strong Microsoft Smartphone sales, should destroy the market for traditional PDAs. That scenario isn't taking place yet.
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Hmm...I don't know if I'd credit Microsoft with "innovating" the Tablet PC paltform. I think I'd give that distinction to Apple and the Newton, which of course had its own problems. If they had just gotten the handwriting recognition right, or bundled Grafitti before the device's reputation went out the window...
I've actually reviewed one of the early tablet PC entries (the Fujitsu Stylistic ST4110) and had several issues with it. It is definitely a step in the right direction, but I had issues with the weight, battery life, pen tracking, failure of OS and apps to adapt to the pen paradigm, and the list goes on. So I don't think the biggest problem with adoption is education; the devices have to mature a bit more to be really useful.
My dream tablet (from whatever company comes out with it) would ideally be the size and weight of a clipboard, and make improvements in the aforementioned areas. But I don't think I'd want just a tablet. As Paul pointed out, many type much faster than they write, so I'd have to go for a hybrid device that has both keyboard and writing area.
John F. Braun December 02, 2003
After testing out 7 different tablet models during the last year our research lab has come to the conclusion that only the models that are usuable to the general buisness user are the laptop/tablet hybrid models. The biggest problem with the platform isn't communication but that almost all the software available is designed for keyboard and mouse input and are quite awkward to use with the stylus.
Glenn Davies December 03, 2003
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I've actually reviewed one of the early tablet PC entries (the Fujitsu Stylistic ST4110) and had several issues with it. It is definitely a step in the right direction, but I had issues with the weight, battery life, pen tracking, failure of OS and apps to adapt to the pen paradigm, and the list goes on. So I don't think the biggest problem with adoption is education; the devices have to mature a bit more to be really useful.
My dream tablet (from whatever company comes out with it) would ideally be the size and weight of a clipboard, and make improvements in the aforementioned areas. But I don't think I'd want just a tablet. As Paul pointed out, many type much faster than they write, so I'd have to go for a hybrid device that has both keyboard and writing area.
John F. Braun December 02, 2003