Back in the heady, crazy days of the dot-com boom, countless companies designed or produced devices that were supposed to make our personal and business lives easier. One of those devices was the Web tablet.

Web tablets were flat panel devices that resembled a large writing pad. The monitor was built into the device, and it was light enough to carry around in the crook of your arm. Web tablets had limited functions -- like checking e-mail and browsing the Web -- but could also be used for other basic computing tasks. But with the end of the dot-com era, the Web tablet died.

Or that's what people thought. Now, under the guise of the "Tablet PC," Web tablets are attempting a comeback thanks to the efforts of companies like Microsoft, HP, and Fujitsu as well as smaller players like Amtek and Monitor Computer. And Tablet PCs are trying to snake their way into the professional world. They're shaping up to be very useful in both business and industry.

Why Tablet PCs?

And not notebooks or PDAs? The first factor is functions. Tablet PCs exist in the middle ground between notebooks and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) like the Palm. They pack more punch than a PDA (not to mention a bigger, clearer screen), but somewhat less than a notebook. You get the applications you need and nothing else.

That Tablet PCs only take a couple of seconds to start up is a bonus. You waste no time waiting while Windows boots up -- that takes a while even on the fastest notebooks. While PDAs also feature "instant on", they're often too small or lack the proper software to do serious work.

There there's the "clamshell barrier." Many of you have probably seen this in a meeting. That's where you're facing a person using a notebook and you have to look at the person over his or her open computer. Many people find the clamshell barrier frustrating and impersonal.

The final factor is simple convenience. People in the field don't always have the luxury of having a flat surface on which to place a notebook. If you've ever tried typing on a notebook with one hand while holding it in the crook of your arm, you know this is at best uncomfortable. Being able to hold a small, light device with pen input functionality is a definite boon.

Business/Industry Sectors

Tablet PCs have a wide number of applications in the following areas:

• Manufacturing
• Distribution
• Insurance
• Finance
• Legal
• Technology
• Health Care

You can use a Tablet PC to quickly get access to product descriptions and catalogs, get the latest quotes or prices, check inventory, find customer information, and more. You can also use a Tablet PC to keep connected with the office, as well as perform common productivity task like word processing, working with spreadsheets, and answering client e-mails.

Making the Transition

In order for Tablet PCs to become viable business tools, they need all of the the following characteristics:

• Robustness
• Ease of use
• Software
• Wireless capability
• Security
• Price

Robustness

Portable computer hardware tends to take a lot of abuse. I'm not saying that a Tablet PC should be built like the old Panasonic ToughBooks (which were practically indestructible), but it should be able to absorb the usual bumps, jostles, and bangs that come with everyday use. On top of that, the screen should at least be scratch resistant.

Ease of Use

Nothing is more frustrating than a device that's difficult to use. While it's hard to design something that everyone finds easy to use, a Tablet PC (or any other computing device) should have a negligible learning curve.

How negligible? It should be fairly obvious what the physical buttons and ports on the device are for. In the user interface, menus and buttons should be clearly marked. Either with descriptive, international icons or just text.

Software

Without software, a computing device is just a useless piece of plastic and metal. A Tablet PC should be bundled with the software that their users need. In business, you can do away with multimedia components like RealPlayer and Flash (unless you rely on these tools to create and deliver presentations), and replace them with productivity and communications tools applicable to the user's business. Packing some form of Java support into a Tablet PC would be a bonus. Why? Numerous firms use Java to develop custom applications, and there are a number of useful free and Open Source software packages out there that your firm may use or find useful.

Wireless Capability

Being tied to a telephone jack is no fun. When you're at a client site, there will be times when a jack won't be available. Wireless connections to the Internet and, by extension, to a company network are the way to go. In fact, this one feature could make or break the adoption of Web tablets in business.

Security

Workers in the field will be constantly accessing sensitive or confidential company information. This ranges from scheduling information and e-mails to customers to product information and pricing databases. Generally, the type of information you don't want falling into the wrong hands. With insecure connections, or an insecure device, the chances of sensitive information being hijacked increases.

There are a number of ways to secure a connection. You can use encrypted e-mail, standard protocols like SSL and TLS/WTLS, or proprietary Java applications. If your company is using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), things are a bit safer. You can use common VPN software on Tablet PCs running Windows XP, but it might be harder to find good VPN software for ones that run Linux.

Price

Price will also be a factor, especially in these days of companies carefully watching their spending. Some firms will be buying hundreds or thousands of units. At current prices (sometimes $1,000 U.S. or more), Tablet PCs can be very cost prohibitive. Prices need to be kept reasonable -- well below the current levels. Or, Tablet PC manufacturers should offer attractive volume discounts.

Tablet PCs have the potential to be very useful tools in business and industry. Not every enterprise will use them, but the ones that do probably won't regret it.