CNET: The Future of the Tablet is the PC

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by frahse

Apple's "Pony" is out of tricks.

They used to say a 3.5" screen iPhone was all you needed, now they sell about twice that large a screen.

The iPad was to be a new era for computers. Now it appears to be not much at all.

The iWatch was a new "coming." Now not so much.

Apple TV has been kicked around for a while now. Anyone have one?

iTunes makes people mad.

... Apple needs not only new tricks, they need a new "pony."

No.
The thing I criticize them for the most, and which keeps me from buying them will also keep them afloat for a long time.
Their decline will be gradual, not sudden in the way Sony ' s has been.

Part of their business plan on the consumer electronics side of the house is to sell stripped down models and convince people to do without features that detract from reliability. This enables them to offer long warranties.

Now, I have never wanted and device without removable storage, or a replaceable battery, and a device has to be either cheap or the only game in town to get be to buy without those things. I need whatever device I use for music to work in unairconditioned workspaces while getting knocked around. But all of the market is not me.

Apple phones have generally not had a very good transciever. That matters to me because I live in a rural area and do contract work in big metal buidings and hospitals. It doesn't matter at all to people in major metropolitan areas.

I think that even without Steve Jobs, they can convince the people who have always bought Apple to live with less features. They will lure them in with styling and high resolution screens and they will retain most of the people who have been their regular customer base.

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by robko

I disagree that moving your hands from keyboard to screen is an issue at all (let alone a "big, big issue").

I agree, I'm so used to the combination of keyboard and touchscreen on the SP3 that I keep poking at the screen on my (non-touch) laptop when I use it

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Yolina

I agree, I'm so used to the combination of keyboard and touchscreen on the SP3 that I keep poking at the screen on my (non-touch) laptop when I use it

Let's put it this way, UI tests have shown that most users do not like moving from keyboard to screen and back. Most users don't like having a touch screen configured such that you have to reach up. There will always be exceptions. My niece likes her touch screen laptop just fine. But if you are looking for market share rather than just niche status, then you want something that most users like.

[Yolina]

No-one is forced to use the touch screen if they don't like it I don't care how others users prefer to use their devices, it's none of my business after all.
I would however very much resent having the choice taken away from me because of "most users" - I am me, I am not them

[shalym]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Let's put it this way, UI tests have shown that most users do not like moving from keyboard to screen and back. Most users don't like having a touch screen configured such that you have to reach up. There will always be exceptions. My niece likes her touch screen laptop just fine. But if you are looking for market share rather than just niche status, then you want something that most users like.

Since you ignored my last post, I'm going to ask again. Why do you think that the touchscreen HAS to be used? Both Windows 8 and Windows 10 work just fine without a touchscreen, so it absolutely does not *have* to be used. I agree that it can be awkward sometimes to use the touchscreen if in laptop or desktop mode (although for some things it works great and feels natural) That's where the convertibles come in. Pop the keyboard off (or fold it back on some models) and you have an excellent tablet. I use my HP Split as a laptop if I'm working, and doing a lot of typing and mousing, and as a tablet at night on the couch when I'm relaxing.

Shari

[fjtorres]

There is a growing market for touch-enabled desktop monitors and non-convertible laptops.
It turns out there is a lot of PC functionality that doesn't need a keyboard.
(After all, tablets and phones are useful for *some* things; reading and media, web surfing.)
So, out in the real world people do like touchscreens on real PCs regardless what *some* labs might say.
MS has their own usability labs and they've been promoting convertibles for over a decade.

[WillAdams]

Yep, look back to IBM's ThinkPad 360PE:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:360PE

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

There is a growing market for touch-enabled desktop monitors and non-convertible laptops.
It turns out there is a lot of PC functionality that doesn't need a keyboard.
(After all, tablets and phones are useful for *some* things; reading and media, web surfing.)
So, out in the real world people do like touchscreens on real PCs regardless what *some* labs might say.
MS has their own usability labs and they've been promoting convertibles for over a decade.

Come to think of it, my stepdad's PC is an all in one touch screen. I think it is either a 24 or 26 inch screen.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Let's put it this way, UI tests have shown that most users do not like moving from keyboard to screen and back. Most users don't like having a touch screen configured such that you have to reach up. There will always be exceptions. My niece likes her touch screen laptop just fine. But if you are looking for market share rather than just niche status, then you want something that most users like.

Once again proof please. Where did this one place get their data?

[DiapDealer]

I would love the variety of input methods that a convertible would provide. I already reach up and touch the non-touch screen of my desktop thinking it should work; so it would be second nature for me. I think the combo of touch, keyboard and mouse would be fantastic. I'd consider grafting a third arm on myself if those convertibles get cheap enough.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by shalym

Since you ignored my last post, I'm going to ask again. Why do you think that the touchscreen HAS to be used? Both Windows 8 and Windows 10 work just fine without a touchscreen, so it absolutely does not *have* to be used. I agree that it can be awkward sometimes to use the touchscreen if in laptop or desktop mode (although for some things it works great and feels natural) That's where the convertibles come in. Pop the keyboard off (or fold it back on some models) and you have an excellent tablet. I use my HP Split as a laptop if I'm working, and doing a lot of typing and mousing, and as a tablet at night on the couch when I'm relaxing.

Shari

I'm exactly the same. I only add the keyboard when I want to use my Surface like a laptop, when it's on my lap it's used as a tablet as a touchscreen device, nd after trying to use spreadsheet on an iPad with my fingers I can tell you it's far easier using the Surface than the iPad! My pc is now both a tablet and a laptop.

[fjtorres]

The other aspect of Windows convertibles is that most support *Active* pens which work like mice so you can mix-n-match all four input methods: touchscreen, keyboard, trackpad, and active pen.

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The other aspect of Windows convertibles is that most support *Active* pens which work like mice so you can mix-n-match all four input methods: touchscreen, keyboard, trackpad, and active pen.

Yep, it's great

I also never take the keyboard off the SP3 since it's the cover too, and just fold it back when I know I won't need it for a while

The pen is pressure sensitive too - doing edits in photoshop straight on the screen is fairly similar to using a Cintiq (and obviously no need to plug it into a computer) though not quite as many functions as a Cintiq but these are £600+ for the smallest one IIRC

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Yolina

Yep, it's great

I also never take the keyboard off the SP3 since it's the cover too, and just fold it back when I know I won't need it for a while

The pen is pressure sensitive too - doing edits in photoshop straight on the screen is fairly similar to using a Cintiq (and obviously no need to plug it into a computer) though not quite as many functions as a Cintiq but these are £600+ for the smallest one IIRC

I find the pen really useful, especially as I keep the keyboard separate. I'm very wary of damaging the keyboard and it's quite expensive so I only attach it when I need it, I keep it in a sleeve the rest of the time. My Surface is is a folio cover just like any tablet would have

[crane3]

Originally Posted by Yolina

No-one is forced to use the touch screen if they don't like it I don't care how others users prefer to use their devices, it's none of my business after all.
I would however very much resent having the choice taken away from me because of "most users" - I am me, I am not them

Renewed my driver's license earlier this year. At the DMV, the tests are taken via touchscreens, no paper. The touch sensitivity is just as bad as some tablets for me as I had to "touch", hit, press, bat the screen several times in order for my mark to be registered. Of course, I also did some cursing about the touchscreen.

It is good that the tests were not timed. However, some professors have their exams online & to be taken using computers; for those without computers & if the computer labs switched to touchscreens, the students may be in big trouble.

Oh, how often does one clean the touchscreen monitor vs the screens on a tablet, especially if one has oily skin?