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Time:
10:24 EST/15:24 GMT | News Source:
ZDNet |
Posted By: Robert Stein |
I recently found myself in a Monty Python-like debate with a friend over whether Microsoft's Tablet PC is dead or simply "pining for the fjords." My take: The tablet PC is just catching its breath.
SURE, there are reasons to look at the whole tablet PC phenomenon and see doom and gloom. Since the initial flurry last November, we haven't seen many new machines running Microsoft's specialized operating system. Flying on business, you're not very likely to see any of your fellow passengers scribbling wildly on a tablet.
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#1 By
1896 (216.78.252.51)
at
3/5/2003 10:43:36 AM
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I totally disagree, the real problem is that nobody anticipated a so high interest in the Tablet PCs so it is hard to get one. Next versions will get better? Sure they will like it happened with everything human beings do. We are a learning and evolving species. IMO the whole article is just clueless and the author disconnected from reality.
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#2 By
7826 (65.205.133.2)
at
3/5/2003 10:54:18 AM
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The new Intel Cnetrino processor will be a perfect fit to Tablet PCs. At 1.6G, it's more powerful than those P3Ms used in current generation Tablet PCs and yet get better battery life with built-in Wi-Fi (hopefully low power too as current generation Wi-Fi chipsets are all very power hungry). Still, the size and weight of the current tablet PC makes it unlikely to write notes on it for a prolonged time.
This post was edited by Foxbat on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 at 10:54.
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#3 By
7390 (198.246.16.251)
at
3/5/2003 11:37:55 AM
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Some how I don't think that the author gets the big picture. From what I am reading he thought the tablet pc would replace the laptop and failed.
but I can't really think of a reason to buy one now, especially for any kind of a price premium over a standard notebook.
Then don't buy it, you should always base you purchases on actual need and not marketing. If the tablet is not for you then don't buy one. From my undertanding MS has targeted veritical markets and not joe public with this version. The tablet PC has exceeded sales expectations, what more does he want? Most articles that I have read have claimed victory for MS.
I love that line about the next version being cheaper and better. Brilliant, I can see that he is right on top of technology. I can see that he has special insight.
The only thing that doesn't get cheaper (pirce wise and better is Apple crap or as the russian say "Apple gavno". (tongue is cheek) :P
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#4 By
135 (213.61.245.251)
at
3/5/2003 12:31:06 PM
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JamesWjRose - Exactly!
According to Infoworld in 1999 we were in the Post-PC era. What that meant was desktop sales were going to die off, and more and more people would buy PDAs and other specific purpose utility computers instead.
Well it didn't really happen. These new devices sold, and they also sold PCs. They complement one another.
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#5 By
7206 (212.54.25.176)
at
3/5/2003 12:32:51 PM
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Dead??? Haven't they heard that for instance HP has sold TabletPC more than it expected, as well the production line can not produce fast enough for the selling team.
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#6 By
2332 (65.221.182.3)
at
3/5/2003 1:32:18 PM
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What the hell? Doesn't this guy read his own site? Tablet PC sales are huge! It was predicted that it would take until the end of 2003 for Tablet PC's to make up 4% of the laptop market.
Well guess what, they achieved that before the end of Feb!
They're predicted to have close to 20% market share of the laptop market by 2004, which is 5 TIMES the growth rate Microsoft expected.
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#7 By
7390 (198.246.16.251)
at
3/5/2003 2:03:06 PM
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#12 JWM, what is your point? Bill G said 5 years (and he is being very optimistic) but like my ogininal post said the author thought that it would happen over night and didn't.
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#8 By
2960 (156.80.64.132)
at
3/5/2003 4:29:15 PM
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I want a Smart Display for $499, and there is absolutely no reason why they couldn't sell one.
Ditching the mandatory bundled copy of XP Pro is a huge first step, and I always thought this was stupid to begin with. If people need XP Pro, they can buy a version with it and I can buy a cheaper version without it.
TL
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#9 By
2960 (156.80.64.132)
at
3/5/2003 4:30:21 PM
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James,
And Computers sure as hell didn't replace Paper :)
TL
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#10 By
7390 (63.211.44.114)
at
3/5/2003 5:29:45 PM
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I just passed 300 posts. 3200 (or so) more and I will pass SodaBlue.
But seriously the Tablet is something that MS can claim victory on. Lost in all of this is the fact the Desktop PC as know is taking a back seat. I have spoken to several coworkers and we all agree that a laptop/note/tablet with a docking station (when appropriate) would be our next choice over a stand desktop. And since they are putting the regular desktop chips into notebooks/laptops there isn't much of performance difference. And to be honest battery life is not much of an issue for me. I am usually some where near a power supply. Plus it's kind of hard to use a lap on the NY city subway at 5:30pm.
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#11 By
1845 (12.209.152.69)
at
3/5/2003 5:32:13 PM
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About 3300 and you'll pass me. :-)
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#12 By
2332 (65.221.182.3)
at
3/5/2003 6:36:43 PM
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#20 - Current market data is proving you wrong right now... we don't have to wait 5 years.
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#13 By
2332 (65.221.182.3)
at
3/5/2003 9:53:25 PM
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#22 - Congratulations... you've managed to quote an article which is 4 MONTHS OLD.
You've also managed to completely ignore the 6 DAY old article which gives us all an update on that 4 MONTH old data: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2131206,00.html
What you did is like quoting an article from 1920 as evidence there is no global warming.
Here is another blurb that further supports the fact the article you quoted is simply wrong:
Tablet PCs Far More Successful Than Previously Thought
Sales of Tablet PC devices are far higher than anyone, including Microsoft, predicted, and market researchers who saw the machines as just a niche market are scrambling to make new predictions. Gartner, for example, reported last fall that Tablet PCs would garner less than 3 percent of the notebook market by the end of 2004, but sales reports suggest that the machines have already accomplished that goal and the devices continue to sell briskly. Toshiba's Portege 3500, the best-selling Tablet PC, is pretty much sold out, a fact that hit home for me when I couldn't get one from the company despite that Toshiba is sponsoring the Microsoft Mobility Tour in which I present information about Tablet PCs. Giga Information Group now predicts that 25 percent of all notebooks will include Tablet PC features by the end of 2004, thanks to corporate upgrades and a new generation of more capable devices. Whatever the final tally is, one thing is clear: Tablet PCs are here to stay.
http://www.wininformant.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=38176
This post was edited by RMD on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 at 22:03.
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