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Microsoft Tries to Nudge Tablet PCs Into the Mainstream, new HP convertible

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| PC, Tablet
Microsoft Tries to Nudge Tablet PCs Into the Mainstream, new HP convertible

Some two years after its introduction, Microsoft is seeking to drive its Tablet PC technology into the mainstream with lower prices. But some analysts say that alone won’t do the trick–and not many PC vendors are helping Microsoft’s effort.

Microsoft and vendors including Toshiba and Acer want to move beyond niche markets, so they will no longer target Tablet PCs chiefly at mobile professionals and specific industries such as health care and insurance. This year, both Acer and Toshiba will start selling tablets that are not as thin, light, or powerful as their predecessors, but that are up to 25 percent cheaper.

“We’re right on the verge of seeing a lot more competitively priced tablets on the market,” said Robert Williams, director of business development and partner engineering in Microsoft’s Mobile Platforms Division. “This spring, you will see tablets go into retail in the $1500 to $1600 price range.”

For the past year or so, Microsoft has been working with PC makers and component suppliers to push down the cost of manufacturing Tablet PCs, Williams said. As a result, the new tablets should only be $100 to $200 more expensive than comparable notebooks, he said.

Toshiba America plans to ship a new Tablet PC in its Satellite consumer and small business notebook line in the first quarter of this year. The $1599 Satellite R15-S822 will be the first Toshiba Tablet PC to be sold widely in retail stores, said Terry Cronin, director of product management in Toshiba’s digital products division.

“The market is expanding. Tablet is becoming just another feature on top of notebooks. 2005 is really a take-off point for going mainstream,” Cronin said.

Newcomer Averatec is ahead of the curve. The San Diego company in mid-2004 shipped a $1350 Tablet PC that is sold in retail stores. At Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, several employees took a corporate credit card and bought all the Averatec machines on sale at a local Costco Wholesale store. ”

Looks like Acer is entering the Consumer market, as well.

“Acer, which has been selling Tablet PCs since the launch of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition in November 2002, later this year plans to join Toshiba and Averatec with a lower-cost Tablet PC, said Sumit Agnihotry, a product marketing manager at Acer America.

“What we’re heading to in 2005 is to drive Tablet PC to an optimal price point, basically bring Tablet PC to a traditional notebook price, and we believe that is below $1500,” Agnihotry said. Acer’s new Tablet PC may be sold in retail stores, a first for Acer, he said. ”

And here is a key bit of news for those looking for info on new HP Tablets:

“On February 2, HP plans to introduce two new Tablet PCs in its business notebook lineup. One of the devices will be the company’s first convertible notebook, a machine that resembles a traditional notebook but that has a screen that swivels around to support pen-based computing. The device will cost just over $2000, Mazzantini said. “

I’ve heard what this new convertible looks like. If its’ true, it’ll be hot!…

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Brokers, agents, recorders key to paperless transaction

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| PC, PC News, Tablet
Brokers, agents, recorders key to paperless transaction

The power to make the paperless real estate transaction a reality is in the hands of real estate brokers, agents and county recorders, according to panelists in an Inman News audio conference on the subject Wednesday.

“On the front end, in terms of the real estate side, there is no barrier to entry. It’s legal, it’s valid, it’s being practiced today,” said Dan Tealdi, chief executive officer of Criterion’s REDTablet, a tablet PC company. “We need to see county recorders adopt technology on the title side.”

While fellow panelist Brad Dick, senior vice president of document storage firm Zodas, agreed, the third panelist on the “Paperless Real Estate Transaction” online conference went one step further.

Asked if there is actual demand on the part of buyers and sellers for the paperless transaction, Lorenzini gave a qualified “yes.”

“You’re talking about millions of transactions going on. Only a fraction of those are demanding it, but a fraction of millions is still a large number,” DocuSign’s CEO said. “Mortgage brokers, agents all believe this is inevitable. A year or two or three from now everyone’s going to be signing electronically.”

Seattle-based DocuSign’s product makes it possible for a buyer or seller to sign documents using only a PC, without additional hardware such as a stylus, from any location. REDTablet, owned by San Bruno, Calif.-based Criterion, makes tablet PCs that can capture a signature done with a stylus and apply that signature electronically to documents in a transaction.”…

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Making Tablet PC Evangelism Wholly Transparent

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| PC, Tablet, Tablet PC
Making Tablet PC Evangelism Wholly Transparent

Having bloggers evangelize Microsoft’s Tablet PC is what Steve Rubel suggests as an answer to Robert Scoble’s vexation on the seeming invisibilty of the Tablet PC …

All I would like to add to this excellent thinking is related to making sure such an exercise would be wholly transparent, leaving no doubt at all in anyone’s mind exactly what the deal is here.

Taking a leaf out of Marqui’s book with its pay-the-bloggers campaign would be my suggestion.

Quick recap: Marqui makes a communication management system and they pay certain bloggers $800 a month to blog about their product, where each blogger is wholly free to write whatever they like about the product, supportive or critical. Each blogger is required to clearly disclose his affiliation on his blog, and Marqui publishes a list of all paid bloggers on their website, including an index of all posts made by the paid bloggers.

No, I’m not suggesting Microsoft pays bloggers (but that’s an interesting thought…) to write about the Tablet PC and/or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 (what a mouthful!). Rather, any blogger who gets a free Tablet PC as part of such a suggested evangelism campaign should very clearly identify that fact. Microsoft, too, would name all the names. Also bring in the providers of the actual hardware, the Tablet PCs themselves – get Toshiba, Acer, HP Compaq, etc, involved.

In such an open way – one that re-defines marketing and PR – the business benefits could be huge as with such transparency comes greater credibility and trust in the writing, the writer and the sponsors. ”

That’s a great idea and innovative thinking. I agree that it would need to be transparent. I especially like the idea of putting them in the hands of non-geek bloggers, like the Michael Hyatt’s of the world.…

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HP’s new TC4200

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| PC, Tablet
HP's new TC4200

12.1″ XGA display, wide viewing angle, ambient light sensor
Processor: Intel® Pentium® M processors 730 to 770 or
Intel Celeron® M processor 370
Video: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Weight: 4.5lbs
Memory: up to 2GB, DDR II SDRAM
Removable media: Secure Digital
Battery: supports an extended battery for an additional 4 hours of battery life, and enhanced stand-by for up to 1 week.
Pen: Digital eraser pen with tether and clip.
Dimensions: Dimensions (H x W x D)
1.35 (at front) x 11.22 x 9.25 in (34.3 (at front) x 285 x 235 mm)
Price: As low as $1599

“The HP Compaq tc4200 Tablet PC is a full-function PC delivering performance and compatibility in an innovative form factor, while simplifying your computing needs with the added convenience of handwriting. The light and stylish design is meant for mobile professionals needing powerful and highly-mobile computers that also offer enhanced security and reliability. IT managers will value the full portfolio of integrated security options, breadth of integrated wireless choices, and unsurpassed common accessories and consistency with the entire enterprise notebook line. With total cost of ownership in mind the HP Compaq tc4200 Tablet PC is the ideal choice for enterprise-wide deployment to highly mobile users desiring innovation and versatility.”…

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