June 27, 2003

Let's Talk Tablet PC

OK, I admit it, I want a Tablet PC. In fact if it wasn't for a little miscommunication between my credit card company and I, I would have already ordered one (I thought my card number had been snatched so I canceled, turns out it was just my domain registrar automatically re-registering all my domains). I've decided to buy an older model Acer from Costco. The older Acer wouldn't be my first choice (256MB max RAM mainly), the newer Acer would (Centrino + 2 GB max RAM, much better), but I want to get it from a place that has a very solid return policy and Costco fits that bill better then anyone else.

Obviously since I'm so concerned about the return policy, it's clear I'm skeptical about whether I'll ultimately like the Tablet PC. There's good justification for this too, I've bought way, way too many pen based devices that have just ended up in the drawer. It's been a quest for me to find a digital companion that I'm truly comfortable with. I've tried numerous PDAs (Windows CE, Pocket PC, Psion, Palm, Zaurus) and so far the best thing I've ever found is my trusty Apple Powerbook. The failing of all these devices has always been usability. They just aren't comfortable enough to work with all the time. The Palm sized devices are too small and the clam shell devices too cumbersome to use standing up. And herein is where we reach the problem with Tablet PC, it's a Microsoft product and Microsoft's concept of usability basically sucks. They're way too focused on features for features sake and not enough on building a coherent experience. The Tablet PC is something that I've always felt needed a coherent experience in the form of a custom designed OS like a modern PenPoint.

Unfortunately the market as it is hasn't really left any room for someone to be able to step up and create an entirely new platform. So I'm stuck with looking at the current possibilities. I'm desperately hoping that Apple will make a Tablet device, but I don't have my hopes set too high on that, so it pretty much leaves Tablet PC as the winner. Simply because there's no one else in the game.

I'm worried about how well the Tablet will work for me. Primarily because I don't use Office and absolutely detest proprietary file formats. Microsoft is pushing ink as a new data format, but as far as I can tell there's nothing being done about making it a data format that exists anywhere other then Windows. That's not encouraging.

So anyway, my anti-Microsoft leaning aside there are some things that appeal heavily to me about the Tablet PC. The funny thing about a lot of these is that they wouldn't exist if the Tablet PC was not based on Windows XP. So I guess to start I have to admit my feeling about the OS needing to be a custom tablet specific thing is probably wrong. Progress I guess.

Here's what I'm looking to get out of the Tablet.

- First I'm approaching it as if it was an entirely new device focused on some particular tasks. I'm not looking for a general purpose computer so to speak. That's what my Macs are for and they're not going away.

- A big thing I want is an information repository. Notes, manuals, design documents, magazines whatever. I want it in a small package that can be used in a non-computer centric way. i.e. why the tablet form factor is appealing. This is also why I can't stand proprietary formats and my biggest concern overall. I don't like having all my information tied up in something that I can't easily repurpose without Microsoft providing the tools to do so. More then anything else this factor alone could be a killer.

- I don't care about handwriting recognition very much, I'm interested in ink. On the general concept level this is something that I think Microsoft got right, we'll see how I feel about the real implementation later. I'm looking for an enhanced notepad experience. I'm constantly in conflict between using paper and the computer, I'm hoping the tablet can finally put an end to that question. Again uncomfortable about the closed file format.

- Sketching. I want to be able to make digital sketches for UI designs and such. From my playing with the Tablet PC in the store, this is something that I think might work pretty well. It's really annoying on paper to sketch multiple different versions of a very similar interface. On the tablet you can sketch the basic interface once and then copy and modify to create the other interface states. Very appealing.

- Reading. I'm definitely looking at the Tablet PC as a real enabler for digital books and magazines. As I've written about a couple times recently, this is an area I've been exploring a lot lately and it's something that absolutely calls out for the tablet form factor. Reading on the Pocket PC is nice, but the screen is just too small for things like the Zinio magazine reader. Here yet again, closed formats and also DRM is unappealing.

- Media. I'm looking at it to open a door for more digital media exploration. This is something that comes from the Tablet PC being a Windows XP system. In particular I'm interested in having something to access Windows only media solutions like listen.com and Movielink. I just discovered Movielink yesterday and it definitely looks interesting. No Mac version of course. I also could use my existing PC laptop for that, but I can't stand the thing and there's no room for its bulk on my desk. The tablet is appealing because of the small size and its orientation for getting away from the desk. And say it with me now, again closed formats and DRM make me nervous, although both of these seem to be services that provide a value where DRM isn't such a hinderance(i.e. it's not something that you're going to keep for a long time). Movielink in particular is the first use of DRM that I actually understand and am OK with.

- Integration with the Mac through Remote Desktop connection. This is how I make use of my current Windows laptop and it works fairly well for basic usage. You can even send the sound from the Windows laptop so that it plays through the Macs speakers. The quality isn't great, but it's better then crawling around on the floor to swap cables. I like this better then running Virtual PC too.

Hmm, there's probably some other things too, but that's a decent list. I think I can justify the purchase, but I have a lot of reservations. We'll see how it goes.

Posted by kstaken at June 27, 2003 11:41 PM | TrackBack