Posted By Teeni on March 13, 2011

There is a lot of conjecture about the future of tablet PCs and there are basically two sizes that are being offered at this point in time.  There are 10-inch displays available now (iPad, iPad 2, Motorola Xoom) and there are 7-inch displays (such as the Galaxy Tab and the HTC Flyer) and many more are in the works as I am typing this.  It should definitely be an interesting year for tablet PCs.  Years ago  when I had one of the first mobile phones (which was a heavy, awkward device in an imitation leather bag and hence nicknamed the “bag phone”), tablet PCs were beginning to emerge.  However, back then they were only really considered for certain applications like computer aided design and drafting or other specialized functions.  I certainly thought they were going to explode on the scene at that time, but they kind of fizzled away like the fog on your bathroom mirror.  Now, it seems we are finally seeing widespread demand for tablet PCs and the manufacturers are all over the place with their designs and specifications.  I’d like to help them out by letting them know what I want. I hope they are reading.

Let’s face it, if you are going to be stuck in a cubicle or in your home all day, you probably don’t need a tablet PC since a desktop computer will suffice and is not all that expensive.  So I’ll just go a little crazy out on a limb here and assume that anyone who is looking into a tablet PC is looking for that superb portability factor that a desktop, laptop, or notebook  just can’t satisfy.  Examples of professionals who I think would desire a tablet PC would be visiting nurses, home health aids, meter readers, delivery personnel, salespeople, and anyone who uses public transportation for lengthy commutes. I would also think they would want something that can keep them socially connected and entertained during lulls.   With the technology that is available today, that isn’t really too much to ask.

Many of today’s smart phones already handle these tasks beautifully.  My iPod Touch, for example, keeps me organized with it’s calendar and shopping list applications.  My e-books, music, games, photos, and streaming videos keep me entertained during lulls. I can stay socially connected via email and Facebook.  It’s a great gadget and almost fits the bill for what I need.  ALMOST.  The thing is, it’s TOO small for some of the things I’d like to be able to do with it.  I mean, it’s great for personal messages and social networking, but really difficult to use for longer and more professional email messages.  It’s really not professional to use “texting” for work emails but it is harder to type longer messages in proper English since I don’t have baby-sized fingers (and haven’t since I was a baby).   It’s also hard to share information and photos from the internet with my clients because the screen is really meant for only one person to view (and generally my clients’ eyesight is worse than mine since I work with the elderly).

On the other end of the spectrum, I  also have an iPad.  I can definitely appreciate what a great gadget it is.    It has a beautiful display and does all the things my iPod does and then some.  I can now share information and photos from the internet with my clients.   But there are some major drawbacks.  To those who claim that it is easier to type on a 10-inch virtual keyboard, I have to agree that it is only slightly easier than on a smart phone or on my iPod.  And it is heavy.   I can’t hold it in one hand to read so it needs a stand.  Using it on my lap is not comfortable for any lengths of time because of the downward angle my neck needs to be in to view it (not to mention that all those EMFs on my lap concern me a bit).  It is also larger than I need for what I do much of the time.  Bringing it back and forth to work is a bit taxing.  It will do for now but I know I will tire of lugging it around.  To avoid any hunting and pecking or typo frustrations (as well as to save my sanity), I use a bluetooth keyboard with my iPad when I need to type a real message.  I wouldn’t mind this at all if the tablet itself were not so heavy to tote around.

I guess I am looking for a size that is in between my iPad and my iPod.  I would love a bigger screen than what my iPod offers but I still want it to be portable and fit in my purse or my bag. The 7-inch format definitely fits the bill.  I have to give credit to the makers of all the 7-inch e-readers who realized that their customers would be using their devices in a hand-held manner, much like they would a physical book, and provided those customers with a screen that is large enough to be easy on the eyes, yet light enough and small enough to carry their entire digital libraries with them wherever they go.  Kudos to you guys!  Also, as much as I admire the beauty of the larger, flashy screen size, it really is not a necessity. Let’s face it, how awkward will it be to take photos with a 10-inch screen?  A smaller screen works just as well for video conferencing especially since I doubt that is what many people will be doing with the device for the majority of time.  For those that argue that the bigger size is better for reading magazines and newspapers because they are more akin to reading the real thing, all I have to say is that I may as well read the actual physical volume. The whole idea of being portable and being mobile is what a tablet should be all about, in my opinion. It shouldn’t be about reproducing periodicals in the size that they appear in the physical world. To that, I think, “What is the point?” Besides, it’s easier (and lighter) for me to roll up a physical newspaper or magazine and stick that in my bag than it is to fit a 10-inch tablet display.  Once you fold those, the creases never come out!  Bigger is not always better.  But it would be nice to have the ability to output to a larger screen for those rare occasions when I do want to share things with a larger audience than one or two persons.

Screens larger than 7 inches really don’t make sense to me on a portable device.  I apologize for sounding sexist, but it makes me think that someone is trying to compensate for something lacking in other areas, if you know what I mean.  As a professional woman, I don’t need to be carrying around a portable man-cave.  I already carry a lunch, a purse, change of shoes, and various other items for my “portable office.”  What it comes down to for me is that a 10-inch screen is definitely the opposite of mobile.

Honestly, I don’t care what operating system is used as long as the tablet has applications that do what I need it to do.  I think the only reason that more 7-inch tablets haven’t already been sold is because there are so many still in the works, and people are taking the, “wait and see,” attitude while Apple has already established a pretty reliable larger device.  Tablets are still pricey at this point in time and, in this economy, people want to be sure that the device suits their needs before they make such a large expenditure of funds.  But I can tell you right now that I’m keeping my eyes peeled for my dream tablet to emerge and when it does, my 10-inch iPad is going to be handed down to my husband.

So, in summary, my requirements are as follows:

• 7-inch touch-responsive display
• Telephony capability for applications such as Skype
• Microphone for voice recording of memos, etc.
• 3G or 4G for when Wifi is not available
• Ability to use a stylus for handwritten notes and drawing applications (not sure why some people dislike styli but for some things they make a lot more sense than fat fingers do)
• Ability to connect to a folding portable keyboard for text-heavy applications
• Ability to output to a television, projector, or larger monitor
• Camera (nice to have but not really necessary since most phones already have cameras but maybe an option for those who desire a video conference capability)
• Long battery life
• Uncomplicated connections so as to avoid extra converters and adapters to lug around

And while I’m at it, I’d like a pony.

Feel free to leave your thoughts but remember to be respectful or be deleted.

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Tags: mobile devices, mobile office, tablet PCs, tablets