Is the Tablet Stagnant?
9:03 am April 30th, 2007 by Sal Cangeloso
Over at Gottabemobile there are two pretty interesting articles on the lack of innovation he has been noticing in tablet PCs. In case you are not familiar with the site, it focuses almost exclusively on tablets and UMPCs so they definitely are keeping track on what’s out there and what’s on the way.
After reading the articles it is hard not to agree with some points that the author brings up. Tablet prices are still completely out of control and, yes, the Toshiba R400 is the most exciting tablet out there right now (from a design and innovation standpoint) but I still think the tablet is doing OK overall…
The original tablet PCs were very clunky and had a lot of problems, so over the past few years there have been a lot of refinements. These changes have not reinvented the tablet, but simply comparing something like the Thinkpad X60 tablet to a first generation model will let you understand how much the tablet has evolved. Today’s models, however commonplace, are much more practical and usable than the ones we drooled over just a few years ago. What I mean to say is that innovation can’t be maintained at a constant pace, especially for something like a tablet where there is a limited consumer base.
Personally I have been impressed with some models lately, like that X60 tablet and the R400 (for it’s coolness factor) and the article makes it seem like the author is burnt out. Four and a half years of focusing on one product category will do that to you. He is right to blame Microsoft for some of the tablets woes, as well as to play down the impact that Dell will have on the market.
The biggest thing I would say about the situation is that a tablet PC does not have to be just like a notebook. The product is firmly established enough that it should have started to further branch off from notebook computers and not be as influenced by the notebook market. This runs the risk of people needing a tablet and a notebook, but it doesn’t have to. Tablets need to do more than to maintain innovation at the same rate as notebooks (for example the X60 tablet is an reworked X60s and Dell’s tablet will be based on their D420 ultraportable).
Anyway, check out the articles and decide for yourself…
