The Evolution and Death of the Laptop Computer

TechNewsWorld has published an article today that shows how many computing tech writers just don’t get it.  The article is worth reading as it covers the evolution of mobile computing devices from the Apple Newton to the Tablet PC of today.  The author makes some good points about why these technologies had problems when they were introduced and how each genre of mobile device led to the next.  Where the article goes off base is in the section about the Tablet PC.  He mentions the new Motion LS800 as a good step toward a more mobile size yet claims that a keyboard is probably a requirement for a laptop replacement.  The size of the keyboard determines the size of the Tablet PC (or the notebook computer) so it’s not clear what this guy wants to see produced.  Where I really have a problem is the statement:

The tablet PC is clearly coming but it is more an evolution of the user interface right now than a true replacement for the existing laptop computer.

Hasn’t this author seen convertible Tablet PCs?  These are full notebook computers with extra functionality as a Tablet PC.  These are already replacements for the existing laptop computer, not several years out as the article states.  I wish people writing these types of articles would actually use a Tablet PC before they make incorrect statements like this.  Off soap box now.