CES: Consumer Electronics Show

[MrPinkPanther]

CES is quite interesting this year. Where did this idea that Slate PCs are a must come from? I've only discovered Dell, HP (with Microsoft) and Apple are creating slate PCs last night. It seems like a completely random thing to create, when smartphones were becoming clever, like small handheld computers in your pocket.

To put it simply it's because of Apple. For many years they've been rumoured to be creating a tablet but in the second half of last year several "sources" at Apple and related businesses confirmed it was in development for an early 2010 release. Companies like HP then saw that if Apple did it in 2010 then they'd better do it too because Apple are very good at creating new crazes. So essentially these new tablets are designed to pre-empt apples which is expected to be announced at the end of this month.

[GommeInc]

To put it simply it's because of Apple. For many years they've been rumoured to be creating a tablet but in the second half of last year several "sources" at Apple and related businesses confirmed it was in development for an early 2010 release. Companies like HP then saw that if Apple did it in 2010 then they'd better do it too because Apple are very good at creating new crazes. So essentially these new tablets are designed to pre-empt apples which is expected to be announced at the end of this month.

Indeed, it seems the in thing lately is to do what Apple do, even though Apple don't necessarily do it that well (seeing as they release one item missing bog-standard features, then release another one 6 months later with the features that should of come with the original). All they need to do is update the Touch or iPhone, they're pretty much slate computers Then again, people love novelty items so it won't be that surprising if people buy them and find a use for them, no matter how inconvienient they seem to be on paper. Like walking around with a WACOM tablet, but with a screen

[The Professor]

Tbh I don't mind at all if Apple make a tablet. With the iphone they did so many things right with the touchscreen (capacative, responsive, finger friendly interface) which made everyone else who was still relying on stylus based touch screens to up their game. Now we have android, webos and iphone OS which were built with finger freindlyness in mind and microsoft say they're going to do the same to windows mobile. If they can do the same with the tablet and make everyone else get a move on with various technologies the world will be better for it.

And if they fail we all get to laugh

[GommeInc]

And if they fail we all get to laugh

Yep There was only one tablet that fascinated me, and that was the one that can be used as a monitor with a keyboard and mouse, and when you remove it from it's holder it becomes a slate like device. Looks really snazzy.

[Tomm]

I assume you will be able to use them with a standard pen as well rather than just your fingers?

[Recursion]

The day I buy a slate PC will be when it interfaces with programs on my computer as a second display, and it comes with a high quality pressure sensitive touchscreen with pen (using a Wacom panel maybe?)

[MrPinkPanther]

I assume you will be able to use them with a standard pen as well rather than just your fingers?

Probably not. When the iPhone was launched Steve Jobs was talking about "Plastic styluses" in a negative way. I think it will be all finger and gesture based.

Indeed, it seems the in thing lately is to do what Apple do, even though Apple don't necessarily do it that well (seeing as they release one item missing bog-standard features, then release another one 6 months later with the features that should of come with the original). All they need to do is update the Touch or iPhone, they're pretty much slate computers Then again, people love novelty items so it won't be that surprising if people buy them and find a use for them, no matter how inconvienient they seem to be on paper. Like walking around with a WACOM tablet, but with a screen

It's supposedly aiming at the netbook market which boomed last year but not only having the internet but apps too. I'd like to think that I won't be buying one because I already have an iTouch and a Macbook (Although I run Windows 7 on it ) but realistically I know as soon as the advert for it comes on, I'll be rushing out to buy one. I'm not an Apple Fanboy in that I can see faults in their products and I don't think they are amazing but they do manufacture them to top quality which makes me excited about the iSlate.

[Tomm]

Well to me one of the advantages of a tablet PC would be that you could write on it with a pen like a normal document. I don't see myself trying to write/draw something with my fingers.

Probably not. When the iPhone was launched Steve Jobs was talking about "Plastic styluses" in a negative way. I think it will be all finger and gesture based.


It's supposedly aiming at the netbook market which boomed last year but not only having the internet but apps too. I'd like to think that I won't be buying one because I already have an iTouch and a Macbook (Although I run Windows 7 on it ) but realistically I know as soon as the advert for it comes on, I'll be rushing out to buy one. I'm not an Apple Fanboy in that I can see faults in their products and I don't think they are amazing but they do manufacture them to top quality which makes me excited about the iSlate.

[MrPinkPanther]

Well to me one of the advantages of a tablet PC would be that you could write on it with a pen like a normal document. I don't see myself trying to write/draw something with my fingers.

I agree, using it as a very basic Graphics tablet would be good. I suspect that a Stylus won't come with it but there will be 3rd party accessories that will let you use one.

[GommeInc]

It's supposedly aiming at the netbook market which boomed last year but not only having the internet but apps too. I'd like to think that I won't be buying one because I already have an iTouch and a Macbook (Although I run Windows 7 on it ) but realistically I know as soon as the advert for it comes on, I'll be rushing out to buy one. I'm not an Apple Fanboy in that I can see faults in their products and I don't think they are amazing but they do manufacture them to top quality which makes me excited about the iSlate.

They sound rather distant from the uses of the NetBook market if everything is done with Apps. And the iSlate sounds like it won't be that interesting if it's just finger based (WACOM tablet functionalities would be awesome), or lacks the cool function another company was thinking of doing which was having it like a removeable touchscreen monitor that can be used as a lightweight PC at home when you want to sit down and get tasks done quickly.

But I guess time will prove that