Evan asks:
When I go to a deposition or a meeting, it's pen and paper I take, not a laptop computer. Am I behind the times?
And would someone please explain the appeal of tablet PCs? When Matt Homann urged readers to buy a tablet PC in a guest post, he promised a "leap in productivity" for anyone taking notes on a tablet, then converting those notes to text. But I can't write very well on a tablet. I miss the feeling of ordinary pen and paper.
Which leads me to ask, again, "Am I behind the times?"
I can understand not wanting to take a laptop computer. They present a barrier between you and the person sitting across from you, not to mention that typing is generally disruptive. This is exactly why I will never take a laptop (or use my Toshiba is laptop mode) to most meetings and certain seminars.
And this is exactly the appeal of the Tablet PC - you avoid the intrusive aspects of bringing a laptop but you still get all the benefits of capturing your notes electronically.
Scoble commented recently (in response to an Engadget story) that Microsoft was really blowing it by not making the Tablet a bigger deal and suggested a Super Bowl ad to help market them. While this would certainly improve visibility, I don't necessarily think this is the answer. One of the problems is that it really can be tough to effectively communicate the benefits of a Tablet. Sure, they have a high "wow" factor, but it's hard to appreciate the value add until you experience one yourself.
So the obvious question here is: how do we get people to experience the Tablet PC?
The first thing, which is both obvious and necessary for mass market adoption: reduce the price premium. If the difference between a laptop and a convertible Tablet is nominal, they become more accessible to the average consumer. And when I say nominal, I'm talking (perhaps unrealistically) of something in the range of $100 or less. Preferably less.
Yes, visibility will help. A better retail presence. More advertising, especially to the student population. I still think students are the ideal target market here.
Of course, the problem is that you're really only exposing the consumer to the “wow”. People have a well-defined understanding of the standard laptop, but they generally don't have the same understanding of the Tablet. If the Tablet is indeed a paradigm shift (however slight or significant), they need to experience that shift, not be told about it.
Someone suggested a Tablet PC rental store awhile back. I think this is an extraordinary idea - an idea Microsoft might seriously want to consider. Tell them about it, and they'll blow it off as something that is all hype and only has utility in niche markets. Get the Tablets in the hands of people and, more often than not, you'll have a convert.
In fact, if I don't sell the Acer soon, I might actually “rent” it out to people who want to try out the Tablet.