theregoesdave

So far this year, it’s hard to read a tech blog or even mainstream media without hearing rumors about Apple’s rumored iSlate (or is it iPad?). CES was abuzz with touch screen computers and prototype touch tablets running Windows 7 or Android. This is happening before Chrome OS even launches as Google’s netbook operating system to replace Android.

Don’t get me wrong, I thing that touch computing holds a lot of promise. It’s just that there are still a lot of kinks to work out in the user experience of creating interfaces, shortcuts and gestures that feel natural and users glom onto. Microsoft is the only company out there currently with a touch-friendly operating system in Windows 7, though that may change shortly.

The mobile phone industry, on the other hand, is on the brink of a major shift in usage that could reach a huge portion of consumers. The smartphone wars between Apple, Google, Palm and others are creating tons of relatively low-cost and full-featured. Now that Motorola itself will be dropping 20-30 Android handsets this year alone, everyone will be able to ‘get smart.’

All that said, I’m dying to play with a touch tablet or laptop, I’m just not sure it will be ready for prime time. Even then, I think most people will want the option to plug in a keyboard and mouse before tablets can replace their desktop or even laptop machine.

• Palm Nova Mobile OS to be demoed at CES
• Dell Mini 3i an iPhone clone that runs Android
• Google Android: Open Source my Phone
• Microsoft’s iPhone killers: The Turtle and next-gen Sidekick
• Speculation rife about forthcoming Samsung Android phones