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"Touchscreens, and by extension tablets, are not useful for desktop computing. It ranges from amusing to mildly annoying when people in online comment threads b

by Zirro 14y ago

"Touchscreens, and by extension tablets, are not useful for desktop computing. It ranges from amusing to mildly annoying when people in online comment threads believe otherwise..." I can't tell for sure if it's what you are implying, but I don't believe tablets comes close to replacing desktop computers in terms of functionality, nor do I think they should be used for "desktop computing". However, I believe they have the potential to cover the needs of most people. Saying that tablet-sales will overtake other kinds of devices, and saying that tablets are fully capable of replacing such devices are very different things.

CamperBob2 14y ago
True, I think I see where you're coming from, in that your use of "overtaking" wasn't synonymous with "replacing." I'm mostly making fun of the Windows 8 school of thought that argues that tablet and desktop usage patterns are similar enough to warrant a one-size-fits-all GUI. I think tablets are a threat to a large portion of the laptop PC market, but laptops have already replaced desktops in most applications that can benefit from portability. If someone is using a desktop, chances are they need a desktop, running an OS that's well-suited to it.
- Zirro 14y ago
  I can see that my usage of "overtaking" was quite ambiguous, sorry about that. I also realise that I may have come off as positive to the path Microsoft is heading with Windows 8. This is not the case, as I do not think the "Metro"-style UI belongs on a desktop computer or that desktop computers should be used the same way you use a tablet. With that said, you make a good point about laptops and I should probably not consider them to be equally threatened in this situation, the way I did in my first post.
ams6110 14y ago
Yes. Large numbers of home users use their PC for email, Facebook, browsing/shopping, and maybe skype/Facetime. Tablets are perfectly good for that and easy to use while sitting on the couch. Those users are likely never again buying a standard desktop or laptop.
- seanmcdirmid 14y ago
  Kids will grow up on iPads and might...perhaps...graduate to macbooks when they go off to college. Then they'll use a PC at work and come home at night to their tablets/devices... Alas, there will be no one to program these PCs/devices in the future because kids won't grow up with code capable environments (well, maybe they'll be able to code on the web ala Kahn's academy).

by Zirro 14y ago

CamperBob2 14y ago

True, I think I see where you're coming from, in that your use of "overtaking" wasn't synonymous with "replacing." I'm mostly making fun of the Windows 8 school of thought that argues that tablet and desktop usage patterns are similar enough to warrant a one-size-fits-all GUI. I think tablets are a threat to a large portion of the laptop PC market, but laptops have already replaced desktops in most applications that can benefit from portability. If someone is using a desktop, chances are they need a desktop, running an OS that's well-suited to it.

Zirro 14y ago
I can see that my usage of "overtaking" was quite ambiguous, sorry about that. I also realise that I may have come off as positive to the path Microsoft is heading with Windows 8. This is not the case, as I do not think the "Metro"-style UI belongs on a desktop computer or that desktop computers should be used the same way you use a tablet. With that said, you make a good point about laptops and I should probably not consider them to be equally threatened in this situation, the way I did in my first post.

ams6110 14y ago

Yes. Large numbers of home users use their PC for email, Facebook, browsing/shopping, and maybe skype/Facetime. Tablets are perfectly good for that and easy to use while sitting on the couch. Those users are likely never again buying a standard desktop or laptop.

seanmcdirmid 14y ago
Kids will grow up on iPads and might...perhaps...graduate to macbooks when they go off to college. Then they'll use a PC at work and come home at night to their tablets/devices... Alas, there will be no one to program these PCs/devices in the future because kids won't grow up with code capable environments (well, maybe they'll be able to code on the web ala Kahn's academy).