The other day someone made a quick remark that a really good Tablet PC would be all display, thin and light. Is this person an idealist or someone who has really only noticed the selection of notebook PCs that are equipped with integrated digitizer and pen? As it turns out, it was the latter.
Convertibles certainly have been easier for people to use for a broad set of tasks. After all, with a convertible Tablet PC you have all the features of a regular notebook and gain usability.
However, slate form factors are growing in numbers too – from mobile phones to full PCs. Perhaps they just blend into our lives better today than they did a decade ago, so slip under the radar. The display is certainly the dominant feature of slates and unless ruggedized unit, slates are ultra slim.
As you know, software supporting extremely well defined uses for these visually dominant machines is critical. What are your favorite state features? How do you hope to see them evolve?