The rumor mill is abuzz about Apple releasing a tablet PC early next year.
But I'm more excited about One-Laptop-Per-Child's (OLPC) planned release of a tablet in 2012.
For those not familiar with OLPC, it is a non-profit founded years ago with the goal of creating a laptop computer that would be cheap and rugged enough to supply to millions of children in the developing world.
OLPC is not well known, but I consider them one of the most important technology companies of the last decade.
I say this because their impact on the computer industry has been enormous. OLPC effectively invented the netbook PC category and their relentless focus on costs spurred Intel and others to create cheaper PC componentry, laptops and desktops.
Their design focus - very low costs, ease of use, portability, ruggedness and connectivity - has led to breakthrough ideas and designs that have been quickly copied by the rest of the computer industry.
And along the way, millions of children who would not have had access to computers and the Internet have it due to OLPC. Not bad for a small, under-funded non-profit.
Their new tablet will be made of a single sheet of flexible plastic that will be unbreakable. The hook on the corner will be used for carrying the PC and the price goal is less than $100. Low cost components mean less power than a full sized PC, but plenty of juice for almost all PC users.
Expect to see variations of this design from a variety of computer manufacturers over the next couple of years.
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