New Toshiba Tablet PCs

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Although the pen-based computing concept and Microsoft's latest attempt at it get good marks, information technology managers, analysts and others in the industry say machines running the software giant's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition OS need to improve in function and come down in cost before tablet devices achieve broad-based popularity.

The latest crop of gadgets is set to debut at a high-profile launch in New York on Thursday. Weighing 3 to 4 pounds and costing north of $2,000, the PCs use a specialized version of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system that's optimized for pen input.

Merrill Lynch Chief Technology Officer John McKinley said the current crop of tablets running Microsoft's software is by far the best pen-based computing effort to date. However, he doesn't see sales taking off right away. Among the reasons is that, as good as Microsoft's handwriting recognition is, it still has just as much trouble deciphering bad script as any other handwriting recognition program.

"There are no miracles," McKinley said in an interview. "I got a C in handwriting in grade school. Having used the tablet, I understand why I got a C."

Microsoft officials declined to comment for this story. In the past, the company has said it hopes to eventually convince a significant portion of corporate laptop buyers to choose a tablet PC.

"If you can get (a notebook) for about $1,800 with long life battery like Toshiba Satellite A70 Battery, Toshiba Satellite A75 Battery, Toshiba Tecra 8000 Battery, Toshiba Tecra 8100 Battery, Toshiba Tecra 9000 Battery, Toshiba Tecra 9100 Battery, Toshiba Satellite 1900 Battery, Toshiba Satellite A60-662 Battery, Toshiba Satellite A65 Battery, Toshiba Satellite 2100 Battery and high screen resolution, and for less than a 10 percent increment have your tablet (PC), I think a significant part of that market will find that a compelling value proposition," Microsoft group vice president Jeff Raikes said in a September interview.

For the most part, the devices running the new Microsoft OS fall into two categories.

Some of them, including models from Toshiba and Acer, are laptops with screens that can be twisted around backward and then folded down to create a tablet. Others are pure tablets, resembling an Etch-a-Sketch. Hewlett-Packard takes the middle ground between handheld and notebook, with a model that can operate as a laptop, but only with a plug-in keyboard.

Larry Singer, the chief information officer for the state of Georgia, said he likes the idea of a tablet computer for entering data, but says such devices don't really replace laptops.

"We don't see this as a replacement for a notebook," Singer said. "I really think it's replacing paper. It's (playing to) a different audience that doesn't have PCs now; people who do forms work in the field."

As Singer sees it, the devices could be used by people such as child-welfare case workers, who rely heavily on paper files. Case workers could take a tablet PC along on a home visit, for example. Rather than filling out a stack of paper forms, workers could enter and maintain case files electronically, speeding the process and potentially saving money.

Although the devices could have other solid uses, such as in schools, Singer said the current crop doesn't pass the durability test.