In the last few weeks, I've received several inquiries about the annual CES Tablet PC & UMPC Gathering. Correct, it'll still be actually at CES in January and it's only September. However, the feedback continues to be so positive and long lasting that people are already looking forward to the event! I'm pleased that it's continued to be so successful.

The industry is advancing and I want to make sure that the product interests represented are forward looking. Yes, I'm sure there will be plenty of Windows 7 chatter and hardware comparisons. A couple years ago we expanded the gathering to include mini-Tablet PCs more commonly known as UMPCs. Last year people interested in MIDs attended. My observation is that the common connection is an interest in natural input. Do you agree?

Following that logic, what do you think if Surface is included? What about... yep, I'll ask (gulp) -- iPhone? (Of course, Macworld may overlap, as the gathering has most recently been on the 3rd day of CES. So, it might just be like '08 where people are welcome to pull out their iPhones.)

And yes, then the gathering will need a new name...suggestions?

Previous sponsors of the annual Tablet PC Gathering include (in no particular order): Microsoft Tablet PC & UMPC teams, Microsoft DPE Channel 9 (compliments of Robert Scoble), Motion Computing, TabletKiosk, HP, Lenovo, Fujitsu, VIA, Mobile Demand, OQO, abletFactory, Etymotic, OtterBox, TechSmith, CaseLogic, Diskeeper, JKontheRun, TabletPC2, GottaBeMobile, TabletLawyer, Chris Pirillo Show, ActiveWords, ProvoLabs, and of course TuxReports & all the Microsoft Tablet PC MVPs.

(Steve at Boston Pocket PC posted photos from the 2008 gathering, if you'd like to take a peek at all that was given away.)



What Is New in Tablet PCs and UMPCs.