Are you as confused as I am about the naming conventions for the Tablet PC operating system? We all know that Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is the name for the present day shipping version of Windows XP installed on a Tablet PC. But what is the name for the future version?

Well, we know that in the future we will have version 2 hidden inside Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). Microsoft employees, though, keep talking about Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. Is this a separate product?

No, it’s SP2. In which case, why is there a separate name?

Before we get started with this question, we better get some ideas out in the open.

On one hand I'm curious why there needs to be a name for the Tablet PC Edition if a separate product doesn't exist and then the other hand slaps my face for asking such a stupid question. Seriously, though. If MS has killed the separate product line then why not just admit it in the name? Heck. Just admit it publicly.

The question, Name changes, Is it the death of the Tablet PC set off a flurry of posts and activity on many other sites. There were sensational headlines that ranged from the death of the Tablet PC is imminent to the death has been greatly exaggerated. The original post on this site was only viewed 400 times. So, I’m not sure what they were discussing on other sites. It certainly had little to do with my questions posted in that thread.

Sadly, my question wasn’t answered. If the Tablet PC Edition OS doesn’t exist separately then how does it live? It’s dead.

Guess the flurry of activity answered why MS doesn’t admit it publicly. People can’t handle the question.

Here’s a simple answer. The Tablet PC Edition lives. The living proof is that it will be incorporated inside the bigger daddy OS – Windows XP. The Tablet PC Edition will be a virus inside of a host.

As a tangent, though, Is that Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional that will carry the virus? Ugh. Quit asking such silly questions. It’s the Professional version because Tablet PC Edition is a superset of the professional version, right?

Now, back to my question in this thread, are you confused by the naming of this new version of the operating system? Does all of this shifting around confuse you?

Me too.

Here is what I gather to be happening. There will be one SKU that can be installed on a desktop, notebook or Tablet PC. I think you will get a different set of OS components installed based on the hardware. In other words, install Windows XP SP2 on a desktop and you get Windows XP. Install Windows XP on a Tablet PC and you get Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005.

That seems to create a marketing confusion for me because the name Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 doesn’t really exist as a separate product. Is it really version two of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2? No,. Wait. It’s Windows XP Mobile Edition with Tablet PC Technology. No. Wait.

What do I buy? And can I buy it separately?

Clear mechanism. It’s a free download and you don’t purchase it. Buy a Tablet PC today with version one of the OS and you can download the SP2 and get the new features.

Actually, this is all fudge. It’s apples and oranges. Let the OEM install the OS and let me just use it. Yep. It all comes down to the OEMs. They are at fault.

The best explanation given to date for the combining of Tablet PC Edition with Service Pack 2 was that OEMs asked Microsoft to combine SKUs so that they only had to handle the one SKU -- Windows XP. The complaint was that too many SKUs cost them money.

OK. One more question. What is the name of the retail product I want to buy so that I can install the OS and have inking functions on my desktop?

Yeah. Maybe that isn’t possible. But should it be possible if the OS has the Tablet PC functions?

Sigh. I see all of this just leads to more confusion. So now I have to ask, does market confusion cost money too or do only the OEMs matter?

__________________
Layne P. Heiny / Administrator for Tux Reports Network

Please do not send private messages requesting technical support. Place your request in the proper forum and hopefully someone can help you.

Computer Sites
Tablet PC Blogs | Technology Questions | Tablet PC Post | Windows Vista | What Is New

Prelaunch
Insane Politics