The first Windows-Powered Smart Displays (formerly code-named Mira) became available on Jan. 8, almost exactly one year after they were announced. Smart Displays are portable, flat-panel monitors which accept input from a stylus and use a built-in 802.11b wireless connection to connect to a PC. The first Smart Displays will likely be a niche product, as consumers must pay a US$1,000 premium for the devices, cannot use them with a second monitor at the same time, and cannot use them for certain functions, such as watching video. Microsoft plans technical improvements and hopes lower prices will eventually spur mainstream adoption.

Improvements Planned

Unlike the similar-looking Tablet PC, Smart Displays have minimal local storage and are not a substitute for a notebook computer. Rather, when docked, they work as a flat-panel monitor. But when undocked, users can enter data via a stylus and touch-sensitive screen; this data is then transferred over the wireless network to the PC. Manufacturers plan at least two form factors for Smart Displays: a 15-inch size to be used as both a primary monitor and a removable display, and a 10-inch size to be used as a secondary display alongside a conventional one.

Smart Displays run a special variant of the Windows CE .NET operating system, and use version 5.1 of Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP, which is also the basis of Windows Terminal Services) to connect to the host PC, which must be running Windows XP Professional. ViewSonic, the first company to manufacture Smart Displays, is bundling a CD-ROM containing a free upgrade from any operating system after Windows 98 (including Windows XP Home Edition) to Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1, and other manufacturers are expected to follow suit.

Because the Remote Desktop feature in Windows XP Professional does not support "concurrency" (the ability to use both the host and remote devices at the same time), only one Smart Display can be used with a PC at a time, and the PC mouse and keyboard are locked when the Smart Display is undocked. This is particularly problematic for smaller versions of the Smart Display, which are designed to be used as a secondary monitor.

Additionally, because 802.11b has a top transfer rate of 11Mbps, the first Smart Displays are unsuitable for certain bandwidth-intensive applications, such as watching video or playing certain types of games.

Microsoft is aware of these drawbacks, and plans to add RDP concurrency and support for 802.11a wireless connectivity (which offers speeds up to 54Mbps) to future versions of the Smart Display software, but the company has not determined details such as pricing or release dates. These improvements might require hardware upgrades as well.

Microsoft also announced that it is working with Hewlett-Packard to "extend the features and functionality of future usage scenarios." A likely scenario would be a stationary flat-panel screen with 802.11a capabilities that could connect wirelessly to a remote PC. This could be useful for presentations, videoconferencing, or watching videos that had previously been downloaded to a PC, for example.

Pricing and Availability

ViewSonic is currently selling its 15-inch Airpanel V150 for a suggested retail price of US$1,299—a significant premium over regular 15-inch flat panel displays, which have street prices as low as US$300 (suggested retail prices average between US$500 and US$600). By the end of Feb. 2003, ViewSonic will also offer the 10-inch V110 for US$999. Customers who buy either ViewSonic Smart Panel before Mar. 31 will also receive software from Nevo and an infrared PC card for the Smart Display that, together, allow it to function as a remote control for home entertainment devices (e.g., TV, stereo) and automation (e.g., lights).

Other manufacturers are also on board for the 15-inch models: Philips will offer one for US$1,499 by the end of Feb. 2003, BenQ will release one by the end of March, and Samsung will make one in time for the 2003 holiday season.

For more information on Smart Displays, see Microsoft's site at www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/smartdisplay/ or ViewSonic's at www.viewsonic.com/smartdisplays/. For more information about Nevo's remote control software, see www.mynevo.com/nevo_smd.htm.