Compaq Computer Corp. endorsed Microsoft’s XP operating system Monday when
it agreed to fit the software platform into its pending tablet PC.
A proven consumer-sales leader in the PC industry,
Compaq has deemed XP the right fit for its own tablet PCs, which are small,
mobile computers the size of an 11-by-13-inch sheet of paper on which people
may take notes with a stylus.
Compaq will be a strategic partner in working with Microsoft to developing
the Tablet PC for Windows XP. The two companies have entered into an
agreement to work together to define the platform.
The tablet PC is a relatively new notebook computing concept and functions
as a sheet of paper. Handwriting is captured as rich digital ink for
immediate or later manipulation, including reformatting and editing.
While most heavyweights of PC-making are beginning their foray into the
tablet PC conception, companies such as Fujitsu and
Hitachi
are farther along in the process, having already created a few models of
their own.
In fact, a recent report by International Data Corp. found that Fujitsu is overwhelmingly the market leader for tablet PCs, with a 70 percent hold on that sector.
“You will now be able to make changes and add notes to existing documents
while on the go using a new intuitive interface, and then wirelessly
transmit those documents to those who need the updated materials,” said Jeri
Callaway, vice president of commercial PC products, Compaq Access Business
Group.
Compaq expects to ship its tablet PC when the Windows XP version for tablet
PC is released in 2002. Pricing is not available.
Microsoft announced its own tablet PC last November at Comdex 2000, but developments for it have been scant since.
But Microsoft Monday said Transmeta Corp. agreed to
power its tablet PC with the low-power Crusoe chip by 2002.
Microsoft will fit Transmeta’s chips into its tablet PC, which will run
Windows XP. The firms believe high performance, low weight, cool running
temperatures and long battery life will attract consumers to the product.
