With the most recent campaign season over, it's time for many politicians to look back and determine what things worked well, and what things failed. I think one gadget that will play a greater role in future campaigns is the tablet PC.

A tablet PC is like a laptop mixed with a PDA. They have touchscreens that usually work with a stylus. Tablet PCs can be great on the campaign trail, because they are small and great for entering information while on the go. For instance, many campaigns send out "fact finders" to sense the feelings of voters. With a tablet, they can have a survey on their screen, and just enter in the potential voter's answers as they get them. This information can later be integrated into a large database.

It's important to pick the right laptop for the job. Some tablets are not so great with constant handling and shuffling around. Others are built to go anywhere and get stuffed anywhere, like between your shoes and belts in your suitcase.

One great site to find out about tablet PCs is TabletPCReview.com. They have plenty of straightforward reviews, plus news about upcoming models and even support forums for people who have problems with the tablet they've already bought. It's a great way to keep on top of what the next great tablet innovation will be, so you don't buy that mediocre model a week before a much better model comes out at the same price.