Scoble posts: Oh, this is cool. Folks are using cell phones to create "flash mobs" in New York. Heh, wouldn't it freak out the Microsoft execs if we all just met at building 34 every Friday, stood around the building using our Tablets for 15 minutes at noon to 12:15, and then disbanded? Oh, I love that kind of weirdness.
I'm not sure if Scoble wants to organize a social Tablet PC protest or just have some geeky fun. Wow, Scoble sure has a creative enthusiasm for tech.
Actually, I think some of us Tablet PC natives are getting a little restless. True, it's the early days of the Tablet PC frontier, but I think many of us would like to see more advocacy of the Tablet PC platform on the part of Microsoft.
How can we inspire MS execs to help the Tablet PC become even more successful? I mean, I know there are .NET evangelists galore, but is there a Tablet PC evangelist--outside of BillG? I see .NET blogs, PM blogs, a VP blog, but where's the Tablet team blog? (Too busy? Not enough money or resources?) Is there a way that Microsoft can help the manufacturers get Tablets in front of people in stores? People are interested, but Tablet PCs seem to be something people want to touch before buying. College season is coming up, it would be a shame to miss it. Can relationships with experts in vertical markets be strengthened? And what about ISVs? We'd like some help with the Journal file format, pretty please.
In the meantime, I'll still use my tablets. I'll still work on Tablet PC applications. I'll still show the Tablet PC to customers, colleagues, friends and family. I'll still try to discover ways to do things with the Tablet that I wasn't able to do practically before. And I know others are doing the same. The Tablet PC is exciting.
But now you got me thinking: I wonder if we have enough Tablet PCers for a flash mob here in Phoenix? Let's see, we've got to pick a place with WiFi....hmmm.... :-)
Posted by Loren at June 18, 2003 03:10 AM> Is there a way that Microsoft can help the manufacturers get Tablets in front of people in stores?
I don't think the stores are the issue. Tablet PCs are in CompUSA and that's about the only store in most towns anymore. Tablets should be targeted to newspapers and media people.
People are in disbelief until they touch it.
Posted by: Lora on June 18, 2003 09:56 AMLora just emailed this directory of public WiFi hotspots for Phoenix:
http://wififreespot.com/ar.html
Let's see, who wants coffee for 10 minutes? lol.
Loren
Loren, I keep thinking about the beginning of your post....
Really though, it's the way MS handles everything: start it, expect the team to carry on - and in this case expect the hardware vendors / software devs to carry on (create ad campaigns, get into the public sector, promote in the local community, etc).
So, get a flash mob together in PHX and continue to develop new TPC products.
-- Lora
Posted by: Lora on June 18, 2003 10:41 AMPeter (http://www.kstati.com/tabula/2003_06_15_archive.asp#105595158761327112) is wondering where the Tablet PC team is.
To their credit, they've been putting together some Tablet PC chats, which are a good start. But the interaction is limited. I think a blog would help to get across the team's personality, commitment, and enthusiasm.
Hey, look at it this way: If Microsoft is *not* going to be releasing any significant new Tablet PC upgrades, why not create a blog and let us know how busy you are. Tell us what exciting research is being worked on for foreign languages. Tell us about wild ideas you've seen at universities. Tell us what applications you would really like to see the ISV community grab with a vengeance. And sure, tell us what you ate for lunch--while reading an eBook on your Tablet PC, of course. :-)
Posted by: Loren on June 18, 2003 10:59 AM> If Microsoft is *not* going to be releasing any significant new Tablet PC upgrades
Lora reminds me that OneNote is on its way.
Posted by: Loren on June 18, 2003 11:31 AM"People are in disbelief until they touch it.
Posted by Lora at June 18, 2003 09:56 AM"
I agree with this, and the problem with retail is you can't really touch it. The Tablets that are on display don't have the correct stylii, and are locked in a cage. The last time I was at CompUSA they had a huge display for the Viewsonic Mira devices (this is such a dumb idea) but the Tablets were locked on the back row with the regular notebooks. The best place I've seen to actually hold a Tablet is the Franklin Covey stores.
Posted by: Rick Lobrecht on June 18, 2003 12:22 PM