Among the new technologies that Microsoft is showing off here at Comdex Fall 2002 in Las Vegas is its Smart Display technology. Although Microsoft is being careful to target this technology specifically at consumers, some of the prototypes I saw might appeal to businesses. When Smart Displays become available January 8, I might buy one--if I can afford it. They won't come cheap.

The idea behind a Smart Display is to take remote control, via wireless Ethernet (WiFi), of a computer from a tablet-like device that's smart, but not nearly as smart as a Tablet PC. You can leave your notebook or desktop computer on your desk and, if you need access to it, you can grab any Smart Display-compliant device, and access the computer as if you were sitting right in front of it. You can also work with Smart Display in your lap.

The first wave of Smart Displays will consist of touch-sensitive LCD panels in the slate form factor. They won't have significant processing power or any local storage. And, unlike Tablet PCs, which have digitizing displays that require a special stylus, Smart Displays are sensitive to the touch of anything--like your finger.

One horse that Microsoft led to the laptop water is ViewSonic. Getting into the Smart Display business was a natural for ViewSonic. The company specializes in display technology and has sold several tablet-like devices throughout its history. ViewSonic will offer two WiFi-equipped Smart Display devices: the 10-inch AirPanel V110 and the 15-inch AirPanel V150.

According to ViewSonic senior product manager Dave Feldman, both will also come with a USB-based WiFi adapter for the host system and wizard-driven software to easily establish a peer-to-peer WiFi connection (the sort that doesn't require a wireless access point). Of the two models, the V150 is particularly noteworthy for its VGA-port equipped docking station. When used with the dock, the V150 works like a normal flat panel display. By undocking the V150, it is returned to its wireless Smart Display mode and the user is free to roam about.

Smart Displays have handwriting recognition built-in. Like Tablet PC, if the handwriting recognition isn't to your satisfaction, you can pop-up a software-based keyboard onto the screen, or you can connect a USB-based keyboard (as well as a mouse). ViewSonic's AirPanel's have two USB-ports. According to Microsoft product manager Megan Kidd, Smart Display's support of USB-peripherals is limited to keyboards and mice.

Unlike some Tablet PCs, whose battery can't be changed without a time-consuming shut-down or hibernation, Windows CE-based Smart Displays can be suspended and resumed in a matter of seconds. A battery swap equates to almost no interruption in usage. Each of the AirPanels comes with one battery. Spares will be available, but the company hasn't yet disclosed pricing for them.

ViewSonic's Feldman said that users can expect about four hours of battery life from the AirPanels' standard batteries (which are detachable). A seven-hour battery will be made available for the V150. Neither device comes with the companion docking stations that charge the V110 and V150 AirPanels, but these can be purchased separately for $150 and $199, respectively. Order one of ViewSonic's Smart Displays before January 8 and the docking station comes free.

Under the hood, Smart Displays use the same technology and protocols used by Windows Terminal Services (WTS). A Smart Display must log into the host system the same way that any WTS client (like a PocketPC-based device) would log into any WTS host, and it uses the same underlying security based on usernames, passwords, and encrypted transmissions.

One of the Catch-22s of Smart Display is that Microsoft isn't positioning it for business use. But the dependency on WTS means that home users must run Windows XP Professional because Windows XP Home Edition does not have built-in support for WTS. An upgrade to XP Pro for XP Home users costs $199, but that upgrade will be included in the purchase price of ViewSonic's AirPanels.

This brings us to the million dollar question: How much? When I first heard about the Smart Displays, I had visions of a cool laptop device that only cost a couple of hundred dollars. But when Feldman first mentioned the pricing, I wasn't sure I'd heard correctly. The V110 will cost $999 and the V150 will cost $1,299. Throw in a dock and an extra battery or two and, well, you may find yourself weighing the purchase of a Smart Display against one of those sub-$1,000 notebooks that vendors like Hewlett-Packard appear have put on fire sale.

It seems a little pricey for something that targets the consumer segment. Perhaps one of the other offerings from Philips, NEC, or Fujitsu, none of whom I've discussed product plans with, will bare some more down-to-earth pricing.

Are you ready to part with $1,000 or more for a Smart Display or do the prices have to come down? How much would you be willing to pay for this functionality? TalkBack below or write to david.berlind@cnet.com.