Lenovo Says Customers Don't Want Slate-Tablets

By Jane McEntegart
published

Lenovo has made the bold statement that customers don't want slate PCs.

CNet reports that, despite updating its tablet line of PCs, adding Intel's Core i5 and i7 CPUs to the mix, Lenovo has said it will not be bringing a slate PC to the market because customers don't want them. Lenovo asked a wide range of customers about slate PCs and found that people were too attached to their keyboards to think about ditching them for a slate PC.

“We of course build plastic mock-ups that we show (to customers). We had a slate form factor. The feedback was that for (our) customers it will not work because of the need to have (a physical) keyboard,” Mika Majapuro, senior worldwide product marketing manager at Lenovo, said in an interview with CNet. Majapuro goes on to say that he found the response from customers nothing short of amazing:

"It was amazing to me. At first I didn't want to believe (our customers) but the keyboard was such a big need for them."

According to CNet, Lenovo didn't just ask professionals and businesses, they also quizzed high school students about their desires for a slate PC. However, their reaction was much the same; they needed a keyboard.

"These were 14-year-old kids, who, I thought, would be most willing to try a virtual keyboard but they said no, we want the physical (built-in) keyboard," said Majapuro.

The news comes at a time when several companies (HP and Apple) have already announced slate PCs and others are rumored to launch slates later this year.

Would you buy a Lenovo slate PC? Let us know in the comments below.

Jane McEntegart
54 Comments Comment from the forums
  • burnley14
    I agree, I want my physical keyboard too. No Slate/Tablet for me.
    Reply
  • Hothr
    I can see the slate PCs taking over where netbooks are now. Casual couch surfing and media playback.
    That is what I would want it for.
    Reply
  • makotech222
    I have the x200 tablet and its pretty darn good tablet PC. I couldnt imagine using it without a keyboard/trackpoint though.
    Reply
  • mianmian
    There is definitely market for slate. But need more touch friendly apps for big screen.
    Reply
  • Lenovo/IBM ThinkPads always had a good reputation for quality keyboards. I imagine that people who are used to Lenovo's portable offerings wouldn't want to lose a strong selling point.
    Reply
  • Personally I would love to have a slate PC. I see it as the perfect device for the living room. Good for pictures, media, browsing, and they tend to look slick to boot. Sure, they're not good for everything, but then netbooks aren't good for everything either. With a netbook you have to either use a mouse (and carry it around with you), or use the touchpad. Personally I think it's a heck of a lot easier to just touch the screen.
    Reply
  • hakesterman
    I don't get why people are so attached to physical Keyboards. I have typed emails on touch
    screens and it works perfectly. The digital keys will be nearly the same size and they are as senative
    as a real keyboard. I love the idea of not haveing an extra keyboard and haveing it built in is just
    awsome. It seems like whenever something different comes along people hesitate for awhile before they
    even want to try it. Try it and i assure you it's easy to adapt to.
    Reply
  • phantomtrooper
    i would buy a netbook before i bought a tablet. a tablet is kind of like a novelty item. sure the touch technology is cool but its far from the easiest to use. i will stick with my mouse and keyboard thank you. oh and i hope the ipad is a falls flat on its face.
    Reply
  • fradav4
    How has no one brought this up? What about keyboards as accessories. Why should having a slate pc mean no physical keyboard? On the go I would use it as a slate PC. If I were in a more comfortable working environment (like on a desk) then I would just connect a physical keyboard to it.
    Reply
  • r0x0r
    hakestermanI don't get why people are so attached to physical Keyboards. I have typed emails on touchscreens and it works perfectly. The digital keys will be nearly the same size and they are as senativeas a real keyboard. I love the idea of not haveing an extra keyboard and haveing it built in is justawsome. It seems like whenever something different comes along people hesitate for awhile before theyeven want to try it. Try it and i assure you it's easy to adapt to.
    Using multi-keys (shift + key for example) on a keyboard instead of a screen means that your finger has somewhere secure to rest (textured, indented key), whilst the rest of your hand moves about, thus reducing the chance of your finger sliding away and resulting in a error.

    Also keyboards are far, far greater for touch typing and speed typing. Not only that, a virtual keyboard doesn't give you the haptic perception you get with a proper physical keyboard. It's this haptic perception which allows people to type 50+wpm (that, and a lot of practice!)
    Reply