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Nokia's new "Tablet" device

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Did you see the news last week regarding Nokia's new 770 "Internet Tablet" device? These are clearly not TabletPCs, they appear to be more related to the PocketPC. Or perhaps the Nintendo DS.

It is frustrating for me to see the term "Tablet" get diluted, but I suppose that "tablet" has been around since the first caveman broke off that piece of rock he/she was drawing on. It's not like I own the word.

For the record, TabletPCs are full-function mobile computers running Windows XP Tablet PC Edition (a superset of Windows XP). We enable users to engage their PC in a more natural way (I don't convert my handwritten notes to text, why should I?) and break down the walls that having a screen between you and your conversation-mate puts up.

5 days till I board that plane for Florida. I can hardly wait!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    May 30, 2005
    Seriously, Microsoft needs to select more unique names if you want to avoid confusion - Tablet PC, Windows, Word, Access could all potentally lead to confusion.

    iPod, Powerbook do not get confused with other products.
  • Anonymous
    May 31, 2005
    Agreed. I don't really mind the broad naming but don't get bent out of shape when someone refers to a Treo as a "smart phone" or a nokia as a "Tablet" because they are accurate terms for those devices as well.
  • Anonymous
    May 31, 2005
    Good comments. I did acknowledge the broadness of the term "Tablet" in the original post.

    Unfortunately, since Microsoft promotes open standards, my guess is that we purposely choose vague names like "Word" and "Access". "Windows" wasn't generic as it pertains to personal computer software at the time it was originally developed.

    You can develop software for any number of TabletPCs made by various hardware OEMs. And it should work on all of them.

    Anyways, my gut reaction upon seeing the headline was "that's not a Tablet". I've calmed down now :)
  • Anonymous
    June 01, 2005
    Even the term "Tablet PC" (for the record, is there a space?) is a broad term but I think it has to be. Apple has the luxury of owning the product end to end. If MS locked in with a narrow term it may be difficult to get all the various OEMs on board.
  • Anonymous
    June 02, 2005
    Yes there is a space. See http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/default.mspx

    I've been inconsistent in my own writings (even internally). I'll have to be more careful from now on :)