Tablet PC Seeks Mainstream

[See correction to this article issued October 18, 2004]

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 improves pen input and text recognition, and offers wider language support. The edition is a superset of Windows XP Professional for Tablet PCs, lightweight notebooks with displays that support pen input. So far Tablets have gained traction for some mobile workers, but haven’t taken off with general business users. The new platform and better application support will help, but Tablet sales could increase if pen input and their other distinctive capabilities become standard features of Windows.

A Foothold in Custom Solutions

At their Nov. 2002 introduction, Tablet PCs were aimed at “corridor warriors,” office workers who spend a significant part of their day moving from meeting to meeting, and at highly mobile workers such as nurses and insurance claims adjusters. Workers use the Tablet PC’s “digital ink” feature to handwrite notes on the display, and they can also detach the display for one-handed use. (See the illustration “Tablet PC Hardware“.) After entry, digital ink can be converted to text via handwriting recognition software included in the Tablet PC platform. However, applications on the Tablet must support digital ink and recognition for the capabilities to be useful.