Tablet PCs the new hype technology

I am going to be honest - I don't see the point of a tablet PC. It seems completely useless to me. I mean, how much work can you actually do the thing? How do you type, etc. The netbook was useful as it allowed one to do all the computering tasks, but at a smaller level. This tablet pc has the "smaller level" part waxed, but I don't see how it can accomplish "computering tasks" effeciently.
 
I agree. What may be useful is a laptop or netbook with touchscreen capabilities. But technology doesn't seem to be quite mature enough for seamless usage....
 
ThatOtherGuy said:
I agree. What may be useful is a laptop or netbook with touchscreen capabilities. But technology doesn't seem to be quite mature enough for seamless usage....
Click to expand...

Why do you say that a netbook or laptop with touch screen is useful? When used as a laptop, such a device has the screen oriented more or less vertically which means you must keep your arm outstretched to interact with the display.
This makes the process prone to fatigue of the large arm muscles. Google for 'gorilla arm' to see what I mean.
A tablet, on the other hand, can rest on the table or in your other hand or on in your lap and you can interact with the touch surface easily and without fatigue.
 
I can see a tablet being super useful...if its thought through 100%. On a desktop a shtty GUI choice can be worked around...on a touchscreen no chance.
 
I see tablet useful in a variety of work tasks..
Think Engineers or Supervisors on-site, Easy to "carry" the drawings or specks around. High res images allowing for awesome zoom and detail? Need to change something? highlight it and send to manager, or get updated drawing real time... Etc..
Hospitals Nurses can log in to the system and get vital patient info/charts, instead of the need for paper. They can update the system real time and the doctors checking up on patients can just log in and read the patients status updates..
 
nakedpeanut said:
I see tablet useful in a variety of work tasks..
Think Engineers or Supervisors on-site, Easy to "carry" the drawings or specks around. High res images allowing for awesome zoom and detail? Need to change something? highlight it and send to manager, or get updated drawing real time... Etc..
Hospitals Nurses can log in to the system and get vital patient info/charts, instead of the need for paper. They can update the system real time and the doctors checking up on patients can just log in and read the patients status updates..
Click to expand...

Mobile Clinical Assistant:
http://www.toughbook.eu/products-and-services/mobile-clinical-assistant
 
tablets are the shizzam .. I can play poker on the couch, read a book, browse the web .. remote control my other pc or media centre .. all without the need to lug a laptop or netbook around .. wish I could just affor one then .. ;)
 
Error!!

ERROR! The point about Ubuntu planning to enter the tablet market is wrong. I recently read that canonical is not planning to enter that market. That said I am never investing in one :)
 
PeterCH said:
Why do you say that a netbook or laptop with touch screen is useful? When used as a laptop, such a device has the screen oriented more or less vertically which means you must keep your arm outstretched to interact with the display.
This makes the process prone to fatigue of the large arm muscles. Google for 'gorilla arm' to see what I mean.
A tablet, on the other hand, can rest on the table or in your other hand or on in your lap and you can interact with the touch surface easily and without fatigue.
Click to expand...

It can be used like a normal laptop with the keyboard OR the screen flips and lays flat on the keyboard and can be used like a tablet.
 
Hey its a glorified clipboard, notepad ... great for meetings, making quick notes or easy repetitive tasks, or a picture frame .

I do see a future for these devices just not as they are now.
Small and lacking in complexity makes it appealing, but it is still very niche and trying to use it as an everyday office device will become an exercise in patience.
 
I can think of uses for a tablet PC but it needs to have a 3G/HSDPA modem, GPS receiver and a sunlight readable display.
The last feature is what peeves me off the most about cellular handsets and tablet PC's. I want to be able to use the device in full sun without having to squint and the current LCD technology (transflective and transmissive) don't come close to electronic ink displays.
What's the point in having such a fancy device and not being able to use it everywhere?

Scenario: Employee and director standing in the parking lot.
Yes, sir. I have the documents right here ... errr ... lets walk to that building over there so I can show you. :erm:
 
What is the difference between a PDA and a tablet PC?
Does the hierarchy look something like this:
PC -> Laptop -> Netbook -> Tablet PC -> PDA -> Phone?
 
PDA's usually use their own family of CPU's, not compatibile with the Intel-descended PC CPUs.

Tablets usually use Intel-descended CPU's, i.e. they can run "standard software". Tablets are available in 2 main variations - with an integrated keyboard (in which case they are like laptops or netbooks with the added functionality of finger and/or stylus steering), or keyboardless (perhaps with an optional external USB or BT keyboard), the "pure" tablets which are usually ony steered by finger/stylus.

How often have you done a days work without hardly touching a keyboard, using only the mouse?
 
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