I started looking at tablets about a month ago. Wanted the largest screen out there, and am limited to 10". So I am going to hold off.
I am a field service tech (mechanic) who has managed to drag my department into the 21st century. In 2007 we had to turn in written time sheets weekly, then it went daily (fax it in if you are out of town). I had been using a computer the whole time to track my hours, and GPS logs for CYA, so I started e-mailing mine in. 1 month after the "Daily" deadline, the other mechanics went out and got a laptop and learned how to do basic functions like email, spreadsheets, word processors. 6 months later the other field crew foremen started getting laptops. 1 year later, we got the company to pony up the funds for wireless modem cards and accounts, so now we get repair sheets, diagrams ect same day, rather than sometime in the next week.
I can see the tablet becoming very integrated into both field work, as well as office dweller and education, if they can get the screens up to 15 or 17 inch and a battery life with moderate use to 5 hours.
The term "Notebook" applies. Meetings, classroom, anything that is the standard 8.5 x 11 paper should be the same size on a screen. Current laptops, are too big by comparison, for constant carrying around, and too delicate for field work to be removed from the vehicle (I have a stand built in my truck, everyone else keeps theirs in a bag and boots up as needed).
For me, I need to be able to read electrical hydraulic schematics on something more than a 10" screen without getting lost in tracing.
Why they have taken the standard of either 7" or 10" is odd. Bigger than a phone, and smaller than everything else a person is going to be lugging around, ergo you have a pack, briefcase, etc to keep it in. I suppose it is just advancements in technology and a "Test" to see how the public digs in.
I'd guess that once the cost comes down to $600 for a 15-17" full touch screen tablet, you will see them replacing the laptop for those that are not parked behind the same desk of some sort for most of the day. External peripherals like CDR/DVDR, eSATA drives, keyboards & rodents, and full out docking stations will start seeing an increase in sales for offices and dorms.
Right now I have a 1 y/o $2k 17" laptop (top of the line when I ordered it, obsolete the day I got it) that I lug around every day for work. Given my work environment I am surprised it is in as good shape as it is. No failures or damage other than a few scratches on the case.
I'd love to be able to safely take it out of my truck when I am working on some of the heavy equipment rather than constantly climbing up and down/back and forth to my truck when working on the high detail stuff. I don't need the keyboard, DVD drive for that.
Maybe in another 5 years I'll see it.
