Pictures and specs on a "new" Linux-based Tablet PC.
Here's a PCWorld article on it.
Hey, it's a Toshiba Portege 3500! :-)
Interestingly, PCWorld says the Lycoris Tablet PC is not ready for prime time. Not because of the hardware, but because of the software.
Yep. Software is the key whether it's Tablet Windows or Tablet Linux. Enabling developers is going to be a key to success.
Will an Open Source model built around an organic community outperform Microsoft's close-to-the-vest style of development? Probably not. However, the Linux world could eat into vertical markets, cutting price points along the way. Verticals are one area where Tablet Linux could do OK. I'm sure Microsoft will battle to keep the high-margin vertical markets, but if they are unable to get the ISVs in-sync with their efforts, this could leave the door open for creative and speedy Linux developers. This is going to be interesting to see how it unfolds.
Posted by Loren at November 1, 2003 12:21 PMAfter a post on Longhorn versus Panther on Whatisnew, someone said to me that it was foolsgold if any of these other software vendors thought they could beat Microsoft at the Tablet PC.
I agree with you, Loren, that Microsoft has real competition with Tablet-like designs. Since Microsoft is not planning major releases for two plus years other Operating System vendors - not just Linux - have a chance to offer and promote products at a faster release rate in response to 2 years worth of hardware changes (which is continual). I expect that these other vendors impact will potentially be greater on how people view, accept, and use Tablets than beating Microsoft per se.
In two years the market could shift to, say, a more appliance like product. This influence could change Microsoft's plans and impact the market more than any intentional action on Microsoft's part. On one hand, this extra marketing by other companies could get Microsoft closer to their goal of acceptance of pen and ink products without much more investment. On the other hand, Microsoft will have to stay spry and open to progress. Response times to filling needs will be important, whether it is issuing updates, drivers for hw compatiblity, or supporting small ISVs.
Posted by: Lora on November 1, 2003 07:01 PM