I would like a tablet designed to be used and supported for say five years before the manufacturer lost interest. I would like an implicit agreement that its compatibility with Internet standards would be maintained for that period, as much as possible.

Thanks that's a great list.

I like how you divide up the devices based on main usage and then tie features to them based on that.

Obviously there's a cross-over between the three and some people requires more - or less - of each feature, but it's a great way to segment the devices.

Maybe many devices (UMPC) 'fail' due to trying to be too much and expectations are poorly set - which results in negative consumer feedback and eventually the end of the product line. Maybe Apple strongest, apart from the brand name, marketing strategy was to be open about the iPad being an 'in-between' product and not aimed at being a laptop/netbook/smartphone replacement.

Not to say that your desire is entirely unreasonable, but 5 years is a long time. What else in life can you rely on for such a long time?

I would like to have a job that I would both want and be able to keep for longer than one year. I would like to have a house that I can both afford and enjoy for longer than 1 year. I would like to know that my significant other would care as much after five more years. I would like to know that my parents will be in good health for the next five years...

A tablet... not so important. If it gets old too soon, I will go without for a while...

I for one have been bashing the iPad since it was announced; but in all fairness, it matches the middle category on my list almost 1:1. Almost...

- Screen

MultiTouch is cool , but I want a stylus. MultiTouch + EMR technology is the best match. However, it is expensive...

- OS
Must be a open source OS.

- Software Features/applications
1) Task management
2) Internet connectivity
3) Imaging.

- Hardware features

Pico projector + camera... With six-sense like feature...

I know I am demanding too much

- Price/Manufacturer
USD $600-700. As my demand is really high.

OS: As standard as possible, which basically means "put desktop Linux on it" It's always annoying with these mobile platforms for things to have to be modified to run, or to not have access to standard libs (or missing GPSD). Angstrom is pretty perfect in this respect; Android really doesn't seem open enough to me.

Screen: I'm finding 5 inches at 800x480 to be very nice; higher resolution is obviously better, assuming there's some decent scaling options/dpi-dependent sizing. Transflective is great; even if it looks horrible in sunlight, you can read it.

Software: I want the same programs I run on the desktop (for the most part). Mostly to simplify copying settings around. In terms of generics: web browser, music player, e-mail client, and full terminal (esp. SSH client/server). Root access is definitely a must.

Hardware: I used to think a keyboard was a must, but now not so much. Maybe 4-6 hardware buttons minimum, up to a full keyboard. Pocketable is a must.

-Cameras: One on the back to act as a camera is nice, front-facing seems useless.

-USB host is SO nice to have; the Pandora folks got it right with the full-sized port.

-GPS (with GPSD). This is something that I have yet to see somebody get right (though I haven't gotten to test decently on my Archos 5). SirfStar III would be AWESOME!

-Size: The Archos 5 IT (Android) is just about perfect in size, I've found. A bit smaller would be OK, but not bigger.

-It'd be awesome if somebody put a ThinkPad-esque finish on their device instead of the shiny crap everybody seems to use. Or even matte aluminum.

-Perhaps most importantly, mainline Linux support for all hardware, or at least very easy-to-apply-and-update patches. Preferably broken up by function.

Price/manufacturer: If somebody REALLY got everything right (especially DIY upgrade potential), I'd probably go up to ~$500. I'll admit to hating Apple products, but if they got it right and for some reason completely changed their strategy around and made an open device as described above, I'd still probably buy it.

- Screen

Resistive rules because of the stylus. I can see better around a tiny stylus that my finger. Great visibility in daylight is a must.

- OS

It needs to be open, and work well. Anything that can't be updated by the community is doomed to die early, and I want to get several years of usefulness out of a device, at the least.

- Software Features/applications

Phone, txt, internet, games, video, and music is what I use mine for the most.

- Hardware features

Physical keyboard and a kickstand at two features I love. 3.5 to 4" screen. Anything bigger and its not going to be pocketable.

- Price/Manufacturer


$500 is as much as I would be willing to pay.

I think the world should reorganize and rethink a bit, and maybe some things should last a bit longer because people expect more of them.

I'm driving a 1990 Subaru. A 30-year time period for paying off a house is not unusual. They invented this thing called "marriage" which in theory is supposed to be permanent -- unfortunately there is no warranty on that! Health care is provided in many countries and the odds are getting better and better that people will live long lives.

And tablets -- consumers tend to get what they insist on. If a business decides to resist what consumers really want, releasing a string of instant-obsolete tablets, for example -- consumers might abandon it.

Since you are interested in a physical keyboard - how do you feel about the screen simply being able to tilt up instead of there being a stand?

Then companies like Nokia have to rethink their whole strategy of planned obsolescence; otherwise they don't get their quota of 1 upgrade every 1-2 years per customer. God forbid, they may actually have to get a content/service business running to give us more value.

While you're at it, I think we also need to discuss world peace, addressing famine and general socio-economic imbalance...

Personally, I see the high price of computer and smartphones as indication of how much people value information and communication.

PS: a $1250 notebook that gets upgraded every 3-4 years vs a $500 smartphone that gets an upgrade every year... which is more 'expensive'?