Ahh, the dream of a powerful computer, a computer you could
hold with one hand. You are high above the clouds as you think about it. And
then… BAM! You plummet back to earth as you realize it is just a dream. This
has been the scenario for who knows how long, almost since computers were first
invented. Time and time again many companies like Microsoft, Apple, Tandy, and
more have tried and failed. Now Microsoft is attempting to conquer the tablet
computer once again. This time they are making a go at it with their Tablet PC
version of Windows. As they get ready to launch later this year, there is one
question everyone is asking. Will they succeed?
There are mixed emotions about this, some feel
they will succeed and some feel they won't. Even as Microsoft readies their
Tablet PC version of Microsoft Windows for release, hardware manufacturers are
debating whether or not to enter the playing field. Hewlett-Packard/Compaq, Tatung, Fujitsu, Acer, NEC, and
several others are all in, while IBM, Dell, and Gateway are sitting it out. But
if you ask Bill Gates and company, they feel the time is right.
It seems that they very well could be right this
time. The technologies involved have gotten better and better. Ink input, hand writing recognition, voice recognition, all of these
have gotten much better since the days of the Newton WebPad
(one of many failed tablet computing projects).
The market also seems prime, as more and more
people go for the "Mobile Warrior" effect. And with those mobile
warriors having to carry cell phones, PDAs, laptops,
and all sorts other equipment; it seems like a good time to make their load a bit
smaller.
How much smaller will Tablet PCs make the load?
Well it is hard to say, but as a general rule, current prototypes of Tablet PCs
weigh about the same as current ultra-portable laptops. However they are a good
deal smaller due to the lack of keyboard on most of them. Now notice that I
said "the lack of keyboard on MOST of them". It just so happens that Acer has a prototype that resembles a laptop,
with a keyboard and all, which turns into a Tablet PC with a 360 degree flip of
the screen. This provides a convenient solution to input problem of writing or
speaking everything into the Tablet PC. However it also adds a good deal of
size and weight to the tablet. Other manufacturers are working on detachable
keyboards and docks similar to those of current laptops for working at the
desk.
The Tablet PC is not the only tablet computing
project that Microsoft is working on. They also have Mira, which is targeted
towards the home user. Mira is a flat panel display that uses 802.11b to allow
use of a home pc anywhere in the house. It resembles the Tablet PC in many
ways, but is different in the fact that almost all processing takes place at
the main computer in another room. So rather than being a
full PC, it simply functions as a remote wireless display and data input panel.
Microsoft has invested so much money into their
various tablet computing projects, they are almost betting on their success. If
the Tablet PC does take off, this will be a very big year for mobile computing.
If it doesn't, it could turn out to be a very bad year. A lot is on the line as
Microsoft readies for a launch later this year. At the time of this article
senior officials at Microsoft have said the launch date will be November 7. So
maybe later this year… you have the dream of a powerful computer, a computer
you could hold in one hand. You are high above the clouds as you think about
it. And then… BAM! You fall back to earth in shock… why? It is because you
still can't believe that the tablet computing dream has come true. All this thanks
to Bill Gates and company at Microsoft.
About the author: Spencer
Goad is the Owner-Editor of TabletPCBuzz.com, an
online community for those with interest in the Microsoft Tablet PC. Spencer is
also the Owner-Editor of HANDeComputing.com, an online handheld computing news,
views and reviews web-site. Spencer can be contacted at - spg@handecomputing.com
