Some Tablet PC News circa 2000 and 2001. It’s interesting to re-read what people were thinking the Tablet market would be like:
Microsoft Touts Opportunities With Tablet PC. April 2001.
Brass in the middle of Microsoft’s cultural shift. November 2000.
A couple of the predictions:
* A 1.5 lb Tablet–Hasn’t happened yet. NEC has gotten the closest, but unfortunately is not selling it’s slimest Tablet here in the United States.
* Publishing would migrate to the Tablet–eBooks and online newspapers are a perfect match for the Tablet, but they haven’t led the market the way some thought. Why? Partly because the content isn’t there. A critical mass is needed of Tablet owners and content. Another reason is more subtle. Many of the writers/press/etc that are in these industries are so keyboard oriented that they are skeptical of the Tablet and its pen. RSS feeds and blogs are the end-around to this market. The Tablet needs to provide software for these new media technologies.
* It’s rude to use a laptop in a meeting–Still true when meeting with customers and clients, but less so in most other cases. Rules change.