The TabletPC needs more publicity
Was just reading Mikal Stills’ blog post and then read Steve Rubel’s post.
I agree, the TabletPC needs more and better publicity.
I was going to leave a comment on Robert’s blog yesterday, but I think i’ll just post some of it here.
I’ve been looking at purchasing the TabletPC for the past couple of months over here in Melbourne, Australia and haven’t seen one on display anywhere at all in the retail outlets.
That’s the number one thing that really sucks.
From memory, the Media Centre came out after the newer/updated Tablet PC OS was released and it has been shown off at a large majority of the local retail outlets around here.
Is there more demand for the Media Centre than the Tablet PC? Perhaps, but people don’t know what they want unless they have a chance to play around with it, or a similar device to it.
I’ve told a few friends that I want to buy a Tablet PC as my next laptop if I get the chance to and the prices are reasonable. Two of them have come back and said to me they thought the Tablet PC was a gimmick and they’d never buy one.
Both have been playing around with the slate styled devices at their work and they felt the devices were a bit underpowered (on the slow side of things). I believe they had the Ultra Low Voltage styled ones. Or perhaps older generation Tablets.
One of them, I managed to change his mindset a bit after I got him to install XP SP2 onto the Tablet PC.
Anyway, that is one of the perceptions that when you mention, Tablet PC, people think of the slate variety.
If you want something that can function as a laptop, as well as a Tablet PC when needed, get a convertable.
I’d like to highlight a news article (free subscription may be required) I saw in The Age last month about someone by the name of Jon Dee.
Who is Jon Dee?
He’s the founder of Planet Ark.
Jon uses a Tablet PC when he needs to be on the move, but he’s also likes macs.
He’s going to be creating an international radio show using his mac (actually, he’s making a podcast!).
From the article:
Why did you choose a tablet PC?
I do a lot of mobile stuff. The tablet allows you to make notes the way your brain is thinking. With the tablet, I can handwrite the notes on top of the screen, or handwrite emails. These even look like handwriting when I send them.
Do you think people respond better to messages that look handwritten?
Definitely! It feels like someone has gone out of their way to write to you.
At the very bottom of the article there’s the “favourite things” part (listed below):
MY FAVOURITE THINGS
1. XDA II phone; 2. Tablet PC; 3. iPod; 4. Power Mac G5; 5. webcam
I think perhaps people like Robert and others at Microsoft who look after the TabletPC division should seek out the non-geeks who make use of the Tablet PC and ask them why it is so useful to them?
Why do they like it?
Even if it’s just short interviews for Channel9, it’ll get people talking.
People from many many different industries.
A TV commercial idea?
A room of people in differing professions talking about what they love about their Tablet PCs.
Required equipment?
Robert Scoble’s video camera he uses for the Channel9 videos 
Doesn’t need to be long, it doesn’t need to be costly.
It needs to be in a downloadable format, as well as perhaps airing on the TV for max exposure.
(This is if you really think there needs to be a TV ad to make things move).
February 10th, 2005 at 04:33 pm
Hi,
I too have been looking around for a tabletPC…The cold, hard truth is that they are considered a “niche market” item, so that means that we’re unlikely to find these on display at our local Harvey Norman or Myer store. My requirements for a TPC have been power, lightweight and also the convertable style (because there are still times where a keyboard will be more functionable). Up until now, I’ve considered most TPC’s too expensive and under-powered for the price. A few weeks ago, I found the Fujitsu T4010 TPC. It’s a 1.6GHz Centrino (wireless + Bluetooth inbuilt) model, 512MB RAM, 12.1″ screen, 2kgs wieght, internal DVD+/- drive (also something I was hoping for, but willing to sacrafice if needed) and made in Japan for $4000. Still on the expensive side, but I’m more than happy to pay that price for a TPC that has nice features and isn’t going to be a slug (although I will be upgrading to 1GB RAM). What’s even better is that I managed to demo the prior model (T3010, I think) at Digital Fusion in Chatswood. I’m waiting for availability info on this item, but can say that I WILL be buying this TPC ASAP. I was looking at the Toshiba model, but thought that it is a bit heavier and doesn’t have internal CD-drive. Maybe it might be worthwhile for you to have a look at this model also? htpp://www.lifebook.com.au
February 20th, 2005 at 01:44 pm
I agree that it’d be great to see Channel9 videos about the Tablet PC ISVs and Tablet PC owners. Scoble is going to give it a try.
February 20th, 2005 at 04:04 pm
Lora, cool. Look forward to what Robert can come up with.
I remember all the times Robert’s mentioned that people seem to be amazed when they see his Tablet PC. Maybe what he could do is record those people telling him what they like about it. (And what amazes them).
Sort of like a podcast or something like that, and upload that.
A collection of things like that could be interesting.
March 15th, 2005 at 10:29 pm
I’m actually selling Tablet PC (Clevo & LG models) at a reasonable price. In fact better than the normal notebooks cost. Well, I’ve distributed flyers around but up until now noone has enquiries yet. Yes, I think we do need a good publicity! In my flyer, I even offer a free demonstration onsite at their convenient time & place. Want to know my price? Visit my web site and see for yourself.
Nice to know people are talking about this very slick and practical toy around.
Need enquiries in the Perth Area – redirect them to me I’ll be very glad to show off my Tablet PC :=)
Eduard