Having spent precious little time with a prototype, my sense is that the Tablet PC's main appeal will be to home enthusiasts with wireless networks and students with deep pockets.

Tablet PC will primarily be packaged in two form factors: dedicated tablets (most of which can be connected to external keyboards, monitors, etc. for use as a normal PC), and notebook/tablet convertibles that open clamshell-style like other notebooks. With their LCD displays mounted on swivels, these convertibles can be used like a normal notebook when the clamshell is open, or like a tablet when the clamshell is closed. In the latter mode, one of Tablet PC's cool features is the ability to change the orientation of the display from horizontal to vertical. This way, when using its built-in journal application, the device looks and feels like a letter-sized white pad.

However, both form factors have limitations that may discourage early adoption, perhaps giving Microsoft time to reach the proverbial version 3.0--the version at which many products are said to hit their stride.

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In either form factor, the biggest question is whether a Tablet PC will serve as the user's primary computing device--as a desktop or notebook replacement? It could appeal to the mobile crowd that already regards notebooks as desktop replacements and wants tablet functionality, such as the ability to scribble notes instead of typing them.

Taking notes
I can take notes much more quickly with a keyboard than I ever could with a pen. My notes are more complete, too, which means any column I write based on those notes is much closer to completion than if I was scratching notes into my composition notebook. Once the Tablet PC ships, I'm sure the collapsible keyboards won't be far behind.

One thing you could never do with a notebook computer is copy a chart from a whiteboard into a Word document. With the stylus-based input of a tablet, however, you can. You can also just doodle away, the same way you would with a regular notepad. It rates very high on the cool factor. The Tablet PC will even take a stab at recognizing what you've drawn and attempt to clean it up for you.

With the dedicated slate-based form factor, users might go to a meeting, scribble on their tablets, and then, when they get back to their desks, dock the device to return it to its normal PC mode, with, at the very least, an externally connected keyboard and mouse. With the convertible form factor, users could skip the docking process. Instead, after a meeting ended, they might just go back to the office, swivel the display back into notebook mode, and switch it back to horizontal orientation.

My sense is that as a person's primary computing device, the dedicated slate-based form factor isn't going to fly unless there's a mission-critical application demanding it. For starters, I have been routinely reminded by readers that even notebooks aren't ready to replace desktops. Tablets won't be able to skirt the problems endemic to notebooks--breakdowns, timely repair, theft, and loss. Worse, for road warriors who require a tablet, the dedicated slate-based form factor will make it difficult to use the device as a standard PC when traveling. For them, the convertible form factor will probably have more appeal because of its versatility.

But you're sill left with all the problems that notebooks have, plus the added complexity and fragility of a touchscreen-like display with special swiveling hardware. More things can go wrong.

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