----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Coulter" <kilmerr5******.com>
> What's cool about the upcoming Tablet PC software?
> http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=7603#7603
> "Peter Loforte, general manager of the Tablet PC team, shows us what is
> cool about the upcoming Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 software update
> (code-named "Lonestar") This is a free update and will automatically come
> with the upcoming Windows XP Service Pack 2."

The Loforte video was the most interesting one, focusing on advances in pen
input. It is very relevant to the question of whether handwriting
recognition should be part of the operating system or be an add-on such as
ritePen software
(http://www.penandinternet.com/piweb/...-qsg/index.asp). The Loforte
video makes a good case for handwriting recognition being part of the
operating system.

Why would a company like OQO use the non-tablet XP approach for their
pocket-size pen-enabled "ultrapersonal computer"
(http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics/) and suggest add-on software for
handwriting recognition, if desired? Although it is true that OQO's
pull-out keyboard is useful, one can imagine many cases in which one is
using the pen for navigation and need to enter a small amount of text and
prefer to use the pen. The advances shown in the Loforte video look like
they go way beyond the capabilities of the ritePen software that one could
add to the OQO to add handwriting recognition.

Why would a company like OQO shun Tablet XP if it has such clear usefulness?
Are the hardware requirements for Tablet XP too burdensome? Is there a
large cost premium for Tablet XP? Or did OQO make the decision based on
earlier versions of Tablet XP, and simply bet on the wrong horse?