All signs point to the launch of slate-like touchscreen computers next year. The highly-anticipated Apple tablet will appear sometime in 2010, according to a variety of sources, and the soap opera known as the CrunchPad may or may not appear, depending on the outcome of a likely bout of legal wrangling. There are signs that Microsoft may enter the market too.
Conceptually, a tablet device is appealing: An 8- or 10-inch LCD color display with touch input -- essentially a netbook screen minus the rest of the computer. A tablet could resolve many of the ergonomic limitations of today's smartphone, namely the small display that limits its usefulness as a Web browser and media player.
But given the saturation of mobile phones and laptop computers, particularly in the consumer market, is there a place for the tablet? Assuming that a slate computer would work best in the home -- not many of us would want to lug a 10-inch tablet around all day -- what benefits would it provide to the average user? Here are some pros and cons:
Kitchen appliance: A Web-enabled tablet would offer a lot of benefits here. Cooks could easily access recipes online, and watch TV shows via iTunes, particularly if reports of Apple's plans to offer subscription TV service are true. A kitchen touchscreen would need a screen-protecting film and a protective case -- many iPhone owners have these -- or run the risk of Canola-clogged circuits. In addition, a stand or wall mount might be necessary. After all, you can't hold a touchscreen while making dinner.
Home Web browser: Many people like smartphone touchscreens, which I find too small for Web browsing. A tablet with a netbook-sized display would a big plus, particularly for touch input. If I'm sitting on the sofa, I'd rather hold a tablet than perch a notebook on my lap. Then again, if you're sitting at a desk, a laptop would be the better choice.