Tablet PCs Could Rival Handhelds in Size

Ed Hardy · 04-15-2003, 05:06 PM

It’s possible future handhelds won’t run Pocket PC or Palm OS at all. Instead they’ll be very small Tablet PCs.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Ta...dhelds_in_Size

PennyWisdom · 04-15-2003, 07:01 PM

Geez, can you imagine the batteries on these things? They're gonna be frickin beasts! We all know how big laptop batteries are. Now imagine, it takes one of those to power a laptop with similar specs to these handheld-size tablets for just 2 to 3 hours! And can you imagine trying to view a full WinXP app on a 4 or 5 inch screen? They are going to have to implement some kind of zoom in feature, where you can make the display act as a small window on a normal size desktop.

I'll stick with my PocketPC, thank you very much!

imported_Covert · 04-15-2003, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PennyWisdom
Geez, can you imagine the batteries on these things? They're gonna be frickin beasts! We all know how big laptop batteries are. Now imagine, it takes one of those to power a laptop with similar specs to these handheld-size tablets for just 2 to 3 hours! And can you imagine trying to view a full WinXP app on a 4 or 5 inch screen? They are going to have to implement some kind of zoom in feature, where you can make the display act as a small window on a normal size desktop.

I'll stick with my PocketPC, thank you very much!

While the first generation of the devices certainly won't be without its flaws, I think it's an interesting way for things to evolve. A handheld-friendly desktop-Windows-compatible OS would make everything so much easier...and make developing mobile applications much easier.

Stephen Borchert · 04-15-2003, 07:17 PM

(yawn)

I think I'm suffering from PDA -ennui. However, that is a valid point. The Tablet PC is similar to my olde and still reliable IBM z50.

JK27 · 04-16-2003, 03:33 PM

Somehow, I just don't care for the idea of a spinning HD on a device as small as a PPC. My concerns: battery life, durability (will it survive a drop as well as a solid state PPC?) and boot-up time.

P.S. Another thumbs up for the IBM Z50 -- perhaps ahead of its time, in many ways! Mine still works great and is a super notetaker at conferences -- and no hard drive!

JLP · 04-16-2003, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ed
It’s possible future handhelds won’t run Pocket PC or Palm OS at all. Instead they’ll be very small Tablet PCs.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Ta...dhelds_in_Size

Please note that this is what I predicted about a year ago just after the OQO was announced!!!

((I tried finding this thread here but all I could find was 5 recent threads. Was there a problem with archives??))

Stephen Borchert · 04-16-2003, 08:32 PM

Another thought:

I like Windows CE as a desktop operating system as well. Unfortunately, since it would compete with XP it won't go anywhere, but some of the features of CE would be nice in a PC. Instant On, a more stable operating system (since the features are stripped out, it doesn't have many of the security holes), and built-in desktop applications.

It is an ideal "thin-client" that would allow you to store some files locally, but others on the network.

With a little more "oomph" and features, the z50-style would be an awesome laptop to take on the road. I'm thinking of something between what it is now and a Tablet PC.

masitti · 04-17-2003, 12:27 AM

I am all for it... I am quite tired of Windows CE and think it would be better in focusing one OS to be compatible through out different technologies. I'd really like to see Apple jump in the game... it'd be a killer system and excellent competition between PPC and Palm OS.

Ed Hardy · 04-17-2003, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jlp
((I tried finding this thread here but all I could find was 5 recent threads. Was there a problem with archives??))

Yes. There is something wrong with the database that limits how far back you can search. Steve and the people from vBulletin have been trying to fix this for months without destroying the database.

lord_shar · 04-18-2003, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jk27
Somehow, I just don't care for the idea of a spinning HD on a device as small as a PPC. My concerns: battery life, durability (will it survive a drop as well as a solid state PPC?) and boot-up time.

Most laptops don't weather drops very well (unless built to military specs).

As far as HD's in PPC's, microdrives are already here, and they've proven themselves to be quite durable.

I would like to see full sized PC's crunched down to PDA levels, but they will have all of the strengths and weaknesses of normal PC's (especially power-consumption).