I hat to answer my own post, so I'll post anothe
I hat to answer my own post, so I'll post another.. I did a little better search and found the info on the 4200.. I certainly hope this is not the end of the line for the tc1000/1100 form factor!! The 4200 looks like a cross between a true Tablet and a Notebook PC - no doubt to satisy those caught in the middle. I will not hammer them too hard until I get it in my hands for a test run, but I think they goofed with the 4200.. They need to keep improving the power and reliability of the 1100 ! I guess I am doomed to always like things that go against marketing trends!! My prediction is that "real tablet users" i.e. those that really use thier tablets as tablets will not like the 4200 as much as the 1000/1100
Specifics -
4200 - too big! size is not everything - The 1000/1100 is just right!
No detacheable keybaord - This is one of the major reasons I liked the 1000
Everyone I know with them ( a lot) hates the touch sensitive mouse pad thing!!
Teh 4200 is not as "clean" from a design standpoint -If you do not understand what I mean here, ask an engineer.
I agree with you whole-heartedly, but I get a lot of grief in return from many on this board. I think it is a big goof and will not go over well, even with the Mass Audience everyone says it is aimed to rope into the tablet arena. I think it will serve as a final nail in the tablet pc arena, especially if HP stops developing the 1100 and toshiba drops the M200. The news models from these 2 leaders say it all...bye bye tablets.
Please prove me wrong....
This has been discussed before and there really is no right or wrong in this. I too have embraced the slate and try and use the keyboard less and less - for this reason there is nothing like the TC1000/TC1100. I may not go for the convertible approach because of this reason.
But for a moment now, think of it this way - if a company such as HP who has many different kinds of users chooses to be 'obstinate' and insist that slate is the only way to go, and if only a (vocal) minority agree with this strongly, then in the long term this is not going to be good for the tablet PC in general. Companies are there to make money - that is undeniable. Does it not make more sense to provide as broad a range of products for your customers as you can - and that includes bringing out a convertible tablet pc - to keep your customers happy, remain profitable, and continue to ensure that the tablet pc technology lives on.
I think that as long as the slate users are not abandoned (and I would not think that will happen) that HP chooses to introduce the TC4200 is a *good* thing. I think Rob Bushway in his blog a few days back said that in the future there may well be a day that the term "tablet pc" will not exist anymore, not because the technology has been dropped - but because ALL such portable technology is ink enabled in this way - the avaialbility of a keyboard or not will then be irrelevant - one purchases whatever one needs.
This can only be done if the technology is guaranteed survival - that will not happen if manufacturers only pander to the minority who 'totally get it' - I am one of that minority, but I am happy to see other people go with the 'safe' keyboard option, if it means that the slate will be here for years to come ...
I hope this goes some way towards explaining my thoughts on this ...
Very well said, James.
The TC1100 is not going away. The TC4200 is just another product in their tablet line meant to attract a broad audience. After using it at Windows Anywhere, I can tell you that they have done a very good job.
James, great reply. Rob, what sets the 4200 apart from other "like" TPC's????? I don't see anything that does set it apart.
When I look at the latest crop of Tablet PCs (the HP and the Toshiba) I can't help be encouraged about the future of Ink.
These are mainstream machines with the added capablilities that come with the added benefit of the Tablet PC features in Windows XP (Tablet PC Edition).
I hope that these machines, with their lower price point, will be more attractive to retailers and that we see them in stores beside the "regular" portables.
Some users may ask the insightful question, "With all that I can do with the pen, do I really need the keyboard?"
And of course, when they decide to do a little more research and hit the web, they will go to the HP or Toshiba sites. When they search for Tablet PC, they'll see the other models (TC1100 and M200 respectively) too.
And with their interest piqued, they may just do a search for Tablet PC and end up here.
Hey folks... It's all good.
My first TPC will more likely than not be an HP tc4200 or a Toshiba M205. Perhaps my second TPC will be a slate, like the Motion M1400. For me, it's too big a leap of faith at for $1500-$2000.
My colleague has a TC1100 and it is a very nice machine... however we provide a lot of IT support/consultancy and I *personally* dont think the TC1100 will suit me in this regard...
Troubleshooting downed servers whilst trying to type on the TC1100 is not my personal idea of fun... (I should say my colleage thinks the keyboard is fine for him)...
Therefore I have decided to make my first Tablet PC the TC4200... I desperately want the ink functionailty but at this point feel I need the more substantial keyboard (I know I could an external one but dont need to be remembering to carry more than I already have too)...
For the record as has been posted here... a new 1.2GHz TC1100 is available in the channel to order now...
The TC4200 is also available to order here in the channel in the UK as well...
I have also been told by my senior channel contact (I was CC'd on his email from HP)... that a new Sonoma based TC1100 is coming... however sadly they are saying it wont be until 2006...
This is somewhat supported by the fact they are launching the 1.2Ghz model... (somewhat pointless if Sonoma is around the corner)...
But I rather suspect providing supplies permit the new Sonoma TC1100 will come to market at the end of 2005 rather than 2006... but who knows!
Regards,
Mark.
It drives me nuts the number of people who are so "narrow minded" that they can't see past their own wants and needs. I've read about a million posts so far whining and complaining about how there's one feature they wanted or they expected each tablet pc to be a radically new form factor. HP is adding a convertable to their product line, they're still commited to the slate. The tc4200 is not for everybody. Most of the people who grip about wanting this and wanting that wouldn't buy it if they did sell it because it would be expesive and heavy if it had everything but the kitchen sink. I'd like to see a 12" slate from HP with a really good detachable keyboard. This is the best product for my needs available.
The fact is that ultra-portables are a small market, tablet PCs are too so if you get only 4% of 4% by limiting yourself to that market theres a problem.
Here's the facts and why we're going to have convertibles.
Convertables are faster. Most slates use ULV which are just now reaching 1.2GHz while Sonoma based convertibles can get 2.13GHz CPU's and 533MHz DDR2 memory.
Convertibles have screen sizes much more common in other notebooks.
Frankly most people consider 12.1" screens too small and for those using their notebook as the primary and many cases only computer would prefer a larger screen. Even students who are some of the most mobile users of all tend to get 14" screens. Part of that is no doublt due to pricing but the pricing is cheaper on those screens because of the larger production numbers.
Convertibles have better keyboards. This one is a given. No matter how successful tablets are I doubt the keyboard goes away and for long posts and emails the keyboard is definately faster and tends to have fewer mistakes as well.
Notebooks with ULV processors and 12" and smaller screens have always been out of the mainstream and adding tablet fuctions will grow the segment but it will still be small even if it grows and attracts people who would have purchased a larger notebook or a PDA. Its more reasonable to expect that we'll eventually see 14" convertibles outsell them by a landslide.
I'll aslo add I think HP should introduce a 14" tablet and give it the option to have SXGA+. I'd love to have that resolution but not on a 12" LCD. - at least not until LongHorn when we have highDPI.
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