I've been playing with my new Nikon 5700 a lot. Instead of blogging I've been hanging out on the DPReview forums. If you're into digital cameras, that site is something else.

Pop!Tech is getting on my mind. I see that Buzz is gearing up for it as well.

I can't wait to take pictures there this year. Artificial Worlds are the topic of conversation. Well, what's more artificial than digital pictures? Is it real or is it just five million numbers arranged in an interesting way?

Speaking of interesting things, I've been reading Paul Andrews' comments from Microsoft's big shindig this week.

Paul Andrews says that there aren't a lot of big OEMs waiting to bring out Tablet Computers.

Well, I work for a big OEM and I know we're excited about the Tablet.

The problem is: "Can we make money on it?"

Did anyone notice that NEC is only importing one laptop computer in the United States?

Now, without putting my job on the line, why do you think that is? (NEC makes many more than just one model, including one with a really neato 2000-pixel-wide display, over in Japan, but NEC won't import them into the United States).

Hint: the market is saturated here with inexpensive computers.

OK. Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and IBM are in the middle of a price war (they don't call it that, of course, but they all fight each other in price and none are making all that much profit in the desktop business). There's a reason why computer prices are fairly low (look at what you can get for $1000 today -- it's astounding).

NEC has decided to stay out of the market here unless they can offer something that no one else is offering (for instance, we have the only laptop that works in bright sunlight -- really cool for those places that have 802.11b hotspots in public parks).

One other thing: Paul also says that there's only three PocketPC makers. Um, let's count.

Compaq/HP (Until last month had two separate product lines) Toshiba NEC Audiovox Casio

Just how many does the market need? I'm not suprised to see consolidation in this marketplace. It just isn't big enough to support six different manufacturers (some of which, like Compaq and HP, have multiple models). I think the market needs one low-priced model, and one or two high priced models. There were too many in the marketplace and no one was making enough profit to survive.

So, how do we do it? We add features to make our offerings attractive to Enterprise customers. For instance, we have remote control software and VPN software built into our units. Funny enough the reviewers never tell you anything about that, but the Enterprise customers figure it out. When you're buying 400 handhelds you do your homework.

I think Paul's right on, though, with the smart phone. Microsoft's .NET strategy is to make its Visual Basic programmers more useful by letting them program for all sorts of devices, not just desktop computers. Microsoft's strategy is pretty sound. Its execution is a little weak (Microsoft is taking longer and longer to get new technology into the hands of users).

You know, I'm probably going to lose my MVP status this year (I've been an MVP for four years) and I'm almost not caring about that. Microsoft just isn't where the action is anymore. Is it worth getting on betas when Microsoft is just slower and slower and less and less interesting? (Not to mention that the company's ideas are starting to scare me more than enthrall me?)

What areas will change the fastest over the next five years? How about digital cameras? They are just heating up and getting hotter. There are several really nice 5 megapixel cameras available for $900 to $1200 (did anyone notice that Dell and CDW are selling digital cameras now?) Most of the reviewers say the Nikon 5700 is the best in the $1200 and under category, though.

Where will the next big thing come from? I'm watching the weblogs to find out!