Tablet PC's

[arn]

This CNet article details Sony's withdrawl of it's Pen Tablet computer from the marketplace:
Slow sales are leading Sony Electronics, the PC division of the Japanese electronics giant, to rapidly phase out one of its more glamorous product lines--the Vaio Slimtop Pen Tablet--the company has confirmed. The computer came with a touch screen that allowed people to draw images directly onto the monitor and run Windows applications with a stylus.

Just an indication of the marketplace interest in such a device... especially for those of us who would want Apple to create a similar form-factor device.

 

[blakespot]

PDA

Oh, the PDA is definitely safer ground than the Pen Tablet. And that's still a sticky area to venture...


blakespot

 

[Kid Red]

hahaha, didn't Billy boy just release one the day of MWSF?

 

[menoinjun]

Actually, the sony computer that had the touchscreen was also a smaller, upright formfactor. We sold a couple different models at CompUSA, and none of them ever sold well due to the higher than average price. Many people were interested, butnone wanted to pay the premium.

-pete

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Chapter 13 here we come!

Oh boy! Sony's going down - I can hear the press now, "The beleagured Sony today anounced that due to lack of sales, the former market leader is quietly backing out of one of thier key markets..."

Oh - wait... those kind of comments are reserved for Apple only.

Never mind!

 

[Unregistered]

I remember discussing about this device when it was presented.
A nonsense devie with no future, and so obviously so.

 

[MojoJojo]

Didn't want to pay a premium?

It was a useless piece of ****. The Japanese are great at some things, but inspired design isn't one of them. Why the **** would anyone want to control windoze® with their finger or a stylus, let alone control it all.

win-trolls are uninspired, scared sheeple.

 

[ThlayliTheFierce]

A tablet device will sell well when it hooks up with a base unit, communicates wirelessly with that base unit, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. If Apple could do that for $1800, I think they'd sell.

 

[lazyrighteye@hotmail.com]

Bah ha ha!!!!

MojoJojo,
The "win-trolls" line made it worth my trip to the forum today. Thanks. =)
lazyrighteye

 

[Jesus uses a mac]

Sony is having trouble selling what...other then that pc tablet. Whats not selling well?

 

[mymemory]

Conclusions

The problem with that sony product is:
1. Is not made by Apple.
2. It doesn't have the Aple logo.
3. There is not any Steve Job's like fooling around with it.
4. Too expensive.
5. For the PC market well all the creative a fun people are not.

The right product in the wrong hands.

 

[Unregistered]

It didn't sell well b/c it did nothing unique...

All it was was a stylus controlling the mouse! There was no handwriting input/recognition, etc. It was doubly weird b/c when you removed the stylus, the pointer just stayed where it was, and would then "jump" to wherever you placed it next - very unnatural. I don't know how you'd solve that (using a standard, desktop OS), but PDA devices with NO pointer work much better.

It seemed like a neat concept until you realized that it did nothing differently.

 

[kansaigaijin]

sony tablet

did not sell because it was way too expensive for a windows product. doesnt somebody else (wacom?) make a similar input device for plug in like a regular tablet or keyboard. I see it all the time in my local Sofmap store. Sold on both sides of the store . . . about \40,000.

Also, why get so wound up about something that doesnt affect you, the sony was a windows thing. Also sony does try to make new products, the MD is still big here. At least they tried. No Dells here dude.

 

[cplmd]

Maybe a little research on what you post about????

The Sony Pen Tablet PC wan NOT a tablet pc. It is not what many of us are asking for.
It was a DESKTOP with a flat panel (like the new iMac) that you could write on the screen with a stylus - had no software other than Sony's to take advantage of this capability. It was not a handheld and not a tablet pc!

Do a little research before you make a decision on something!!!!

 

[dantec]

I have an Md...

but they suck...

Everyone here in Switz 2-3 years ago bought a M.D. cause it was the "thing" to have... Now most of them have been e-bayed... and MP3 players have filled in those spots, or even the CD-player has returned in some cases...

NO-one, I havn't even seen anyone use a M.D. for about a year...

Mines just collecting dust on my nightstand.

 

[kansaigaijin]

Re: Maybe a little research on what you post about????

Originally posted by cplmd
The Sony Pen Tablet PC wan NOT a tablet pc. It is not what many of us are asking for.
It was a DESKTOP with a flat panel (like the new iMac) that you could write on the screen with a stylus - had no software other than Sony's to take advantage of this capability. It was not a handheld and not a tablet pc!

Do a little research before you make a decision on something!!!!

I know what the sony was, it was way too expensive. I played with it in London Drugs in Canada and in stores in Japan. Sony could't get the cost down to what people were willing to pay for something like that. That is why it was relevent to what you want. The cost to make a mobile pen input HW recognising thingy would not make it profitatble that is why nobody makes one.
And again why are you so angry?

 

[usa4jer]

not surprised

no wonder the damn thing didn't sell. what the hells the point of having a "tablet" when its stuck to the dang computer? i want an all in one tablet device, something i can keep on my lap and draw on while i'm sitting on the couch wasting away watching TV. i want something the size of an imac display that can play CDs (standard CD-Rom would be fine for this, methinks) and comes with an airport card that can seamlessly talk to my G4 and the internet at the same time. and i want it to have a 20 hour battery. and it should hang on my wall as a really nice pictureframe/server when i'm not using it. and i want to pay no more than $1200 for it. serves sony right for ripping off apple's every design. apple can do it, i know they can. oh, and i want a G5 chip in it, but i think that was obvious already. and if this ain't released come seybold, well, i can't be held responsible for my actions. i don't think i'm being unreasonable here people. who's with me? someone? anyone? ahh, the hell with all of you, i'm going to make a hotpocket.

 

[mischief]

Bingo.

Yes!!!! Finally someone comprehends! A small, simple device. Maybe not even USB/FW equipped. Only 2 slight variances though: Client, not server and add an IR port to control consumer electronics like your home entertainment centre from the desktop a la universal remote.

 

[MojoJojo]

Re: Bah ha ha!!!!

Originally posted by lazyrighteye@hotmail.com
MojoJojo,
The "win-trolls" line made it worth my trip to the forum today. Thanks. =)
lazyrighteye

Hey, which do you think should be my new sig on my emails?:

"Win-trolls are uninspired, scared sheeple."

"BLEAT, win- sheeple, BLEAT!"

"Yo, win-troll, keep your snout buried deep in the sheep's ass in front of you; be a good little sheeple."

 

[mischief]

*snort* LOL

Stick with the first one.

 

[cplmd]

Re: Re: Maybe a little research on what you post about????

Originally posted by kansaigaijin

I know what the sony was, it was way too expensive. I played with it in London Drugs in Canada and in stores in Japan. Sony could't get the cost down to what people were willing to pay for something like that. That is why it was relevent to what you want. The cost to make a mobile pen input HW recognising thingy would not make it profitatble that is why nobody makes one.
And again why are you so angry?

Angry?? please - this is just a new group!!!

My comment was directed at:
"Just an indication of the marketplace interest in such a device... especially for those of us who would want Apple to create a similar form-factor device."

I have yet to see anyone one here asking for pen-input on a Mac Flat Panel desktop - which is what Sony's Pen Tablet PC was - a desktop not a tablet and certainly not portable -

But because some saw tablet and didn't look any further and they dismiss the whole tablet concept - something a company that controls the other 98% of the computing market IS interested in.

Therefore, some of us would like to see Apple use it's design genius at making a tablet device, given that I don't think Apple will win the desktop war perhaps it can in the next area of computing.

Which of course leads to the question WHAT IS the next area of computing or are desktops all we will ever have????????

 

[kansaigaijin]

next thing in computing

I don't think it will be a tablet with screen viewer.
It will be a giant wall screen plasma with wireless input, voice etc. 40 to 60 inches. All the bits will be in closet somewhere. You won't be looking at any desk top box thingy.
The MS announcement? Vapourware.

The Wacom tablet, way to expensive. Saw one today, but forgot how much, I think over Y100,000

 

[kansaigaijin]

next thing in computing

I don't think it will be a tablet with screen viewer.
It will be a giant wall screen plasma with wireless input, voice etc. 40 to 60 inches. All the bits will be in closet somewhere. You won't be looking at any desk top box thingy.
The MS announcement? Vapourware.

The Wacom tablet, way to expensive. Saw one today, but forgot how much, I think over Y100,000

Check the site,
For comfort and convenience, Cintiq features a removable pen holder that can be attached to either side and adjusted to your preferred height and angle. The Cintiq stand allows you to easily adjust the angle of your Cintiq screen between 18 and 73 degrees - and you can even remove the stand to comfortably rest the Cintiq in your lap.

the price just $1899. thats understandable, anything in Yen over a hundred thousand (ju man yen) and my brain goes numb. a 64 bit number there.

 

[cplmd]

Next thing.....

I have a problem with thinking the NEXT thing will be one thing!

So little of the world population even uses computers that those of us who do forget where the real market is. Given that with the current tech economy is in a bit of a slow down, who is going to spend money on new tech products? Then when you figure out who will spend the money then the question is what do they want.

Most people replace a desktop computer every two to three years. Hand helds from one year to 18 months and cell phones vary by location - 18 months in US, 12 in europe and 9 in Japan. So, will most of us who have desktops already be buying alot of new desktops - unless your at Genetech - no. Sure maybe as a second or third but not really fertile like the big days of the 90's.

So you need first time buyers who finally take the plunge and an new iMac is a great choice for them. But I don't think that will be a huge market.

What could be big is many things. I like your big screen idea but mainly for things that need a big screen - movies, family photo albums review or teleconferenceing.

But on the other hand, a small hand held object to control it and all the other devices in the house might have a place too.

When you think about reaching all the other people who are computer phobic (or deprived ) I think you need to look at how they do things and what device or service you can offer them to replace or improve that.

So I think the next big thing is not a device but a concept, access to information any where at any time. Not just at a desktop or sitting with a laptop but anywhere. Cars, walking, standing using voice to control and display of a nice screen to fit the information provided.

What we need is a revolution in software, specifically networking software, allowing you to use any device in the home and office network of your choice.

Is a tablet sized pc one way of doing that, providing a window to the info you need? yes. Is it the only way? no.

So if I am going to dream and ask then let me have a nice large wall screen and a tiny hand held or even an audio only network device and some screen sizes in between. But most importantly, let them be able to share information and capabilities between each other without any input from the user so that anyone could use these devices.

 

[mischief]

Confirmation:

The tablet device Bill Gates described in his "M$ Digital Hub" IS real. I cannot divulge how I know this as it would bankrupt an immediate relative (It's Ironic- I have one working for each side). But the device is 18 months into case and interface design. I have confirmation of 802.11 compliance. The X-Box will be M$'s tie in to conventional consumer electronics.

Any evidence we can find for a similar Apple device must be scrutinized as such a device could change the market significantly.

My best interpretation of the Ives/Jobs/Woz Tablet would be a netpliance remote-booted from your iTools account (no significant HD) and run an 800 Mhz Apollo. Maybe 2 SODIMM slots@133Mhz. The device could, in later stages be used as a "portable KVM" for other Airport capable machines. Note: If the Skycom satellites get placed in time this means your home LAN could be treated as a single system spewing as many desktops as logged users from diverse, sometimes remote locations.

Has anyone thought about the "clustering" capabilities of such a network? With diffuse universal Airport service both processor and communications bandwidth could be holographically expanded.



These extrapolations cover about ten years worth of projection into the potentialities so don't get uptight about the broad brush-strokes.