(2002-11-20) Tablet P C

Steve Gillmor on the promise of the TabletPC as "idea processor" (Thinking Space). And what's the Killer App? Ink is an idea processor. It provides a unique service, the ability to capture ideas in process and massage them into shape. Its target market - CxOs, architects, and creative types - offers an infinite return on investment. One good idea can launch a company. I think I would find the focus on HandWriting to be a pain. Having a wireless Keyboard (especially something as portable as the Stowaway or that projected Virtual Keyboard) would be cool. Likewise having an option to have drawing objects turned into nicely rounded items (e.g. you scribble an oval, it turns into a Mind Mapping node).

Dan Bricklin focuses on reading rather than writing.

• Nov22 follows up with some history to support his claim that current tablets aren't a huge step beyond the old attempts, but that their time has come because (a) the net has resulted in us doing lots more onscreen reading, and (b) wireless connectivity untethers the tablet from the net.

Ah, how I wish the Momenta SmallTalk-based laptop had survived. Third-party developers who have used the Momenta environment praise its powerful object orientation and interfacebuilding tools, which have been compared to NextStep. Momenta plans to ship a full 486-based developer's kit, including class libraries and methods, to help third parties create "pen-centric" programs.

(page was renamed from z2002-11-20-TablePC)