Paul Thurrott predicts "Tablet PCs Set to Soar."
I'm not sure if I agree with his comments about slates, the maturity of the OS, and so on, but I like his optimism. :-)
Posted by Loren at October 4, 2003 10:54 AMIs 1 percent of the PC market the peak of the product life cycle, or the first stage of a long adoption process? Judging by the large number of people I meet who are totally unfamiliar with the Tablet PC and its features I have to guess that we're still in the introduction stage. But maybe we need one more round of hardware and software innovation to make the truly compelling product.
Posted by: Ed Strong on October 4, 2003 07:14 PMThe hardware has come of its own, the 2nd Generation is not wanting anymore, and all sorts of software programs out there that make use of direct Ink functionality (tho always more needed). Tablet PC is still an emerging tech, thus it needs more “introductions” than usual, and plus it is a tech that one cannot fully appreciate UNTIL one sees it in action. It HAS to be seen; it will not sell itself. So the starting marketing has a big hurdle from the get-go. But overall, marketing of such and “introductions of” has been quite muted and narrowed upon strict vertical with some minor hits in things Educational, but that should change...it better, put it that way. :) Quite viral, once seen. End Users are CAPTIVATED once they see it. Just needs TONS of “introductions”. But also things are a long-range outlook.
Infragistics echoing the optimism...
“We’re in the early stages of ink right now. We know that and everybody knows that,” McCabe said. “But the Tablet PC is a form factor that we really think is very viable and has great potential going forward. We’ve seen tremendous productivity benefit for our own staff by running in a Tablet PC world.”
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3086421
Posted by: Christopher Coulter on October 5, 2003 03:46 AMNot to argue Chris' comments, I still have to take a performance hit in addition to paying a higher price for my Tablet. And the apps I use every day are less-than-totally Tablet-aware.
Many of the users I demo for are just within their comfort zone with their current laptops or desktops. "Stretching" to a Tablet would take them out of that zone which results in resistance.