Fans of the computing format believe that over time, other keyboard-free methods of data input will become increasingly popular--especially for writing quick notes or in Asian countries, where complex language characters make keyboard input challenging. Between 570,000 to 770,000 machines based on Microsoft's Tablet PC software are expected to be available to the US market in 2003, IDC's Promisel said. That's a small number when compared to the 13 million notebook computers expected to ship in the US next year. It may still be too early to tell whether tablet-style PCs will find a suitable niche. The growing popularity of Wi-Fi networks, for example, is one thing that could help boost the popularity of mobile computing, Eckert said. Until recently, most people used notebooks as light desktops that could be moved from one Ethernet outlet to another. Wireless connectivity greatly enhances the appeal of such portable devices. Critics point out that Fujitsu and other hardware companies already have tablet PC devices on the market--yet most run a standard version of the Windows operating system. Price may be a factor in keeping tablet PCs from catching on; current tablets cost from $4,000 to $5,000 (£2580), while machines running the Tablet PC operating system are expected to cost around $2,000, Promisel said. Additionally, energy-efficient processors and small hard drives have also steadily declined in price, which in turn, lowers the overall system cost. Putting a shine on the inside
Microsoft has compiled a massive database of handwriting samples and a dictionary for the first release of its operating system for tablet PCs, said Jeff Raikes, Microsoft's group vice president, last month in an interview with CNET News.com. English, French, German, Korean, Japanese and simplified and complex Chinese versions are promised to be supported at the system's launch. Support for Spanish and Italian will follow. Finally, "you now have a full strength OS," Eckert said. News.com's Ian Fried contributed to this report.
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