3 ms·

Kind of an odd question in that obviously tablets are quite established now. Tablets took off because they offered most of the features casual computer users ne

by gdilla 12y ago

Kind of an odd question in that obviously tablets are quite established now. Tablets took off because they offered most of the features casual computer users need - web, email, facebook, youtube, aka basic communication and competent media consumption for a price cheaper than desktops and many a laptop. Add the extra portability and ease of use (AppStore, Don't make me think too much about a file system) makes it very convenient for many people. I do not own one, because I find my laptop is portable enough and I want a keyboard. Surfaces or hybrid touchscreen laptops I think are very promising. Sometimes swiping and tapping the screen can be a great interface for certain things, like games, scrolling and zooming. It's nice to have that on a full powered keyboard computer too.

scholia 12y ago
Much the same here. I own three tablets but very rarely use them: either I can do something on a smartphone or I'll use a laptop for the keyboard and ease of use (which comes partly from familiarity, but there are things you can't easily do on a tablet). I've been using a Microsoft Surface Pro since it came out, and I rarely use it without a keyboard. However, I do use the touch screen quite a lot. More than I expected. Something like the Asus Transformer T100 might be a good cheap option for someone who is going to use partly as a tablet. The obvious drawbacks are (1) it still needs Windows Updates etc and (2) it doesn't have the iPad's app ecosystem.
martijn_himself 12y ago
I totally agree it is an odd question, thanks for the thoughtful response. My thoughts are that even though it is established I still quite often wonder if using a tablet is an improvement over using a (very) portable laptop. I often see people struggling using the touch keyboard to write e-mails or take notes and wonder about the cramped ergonomics. The games on tablets are often very uninspiring clones of (portable) console classics at best and exploitative money making schemes at worst. There is often no way to tell the difference. I realise this all sounds very negative, I know there are plenty examples of applications where tablet-type interface shine. I like the idea of hybrid touch screens too and would be interested to see if Apple could be tempted to move into that area with the MacBook Air.
- PaulHoule 12y ago
  2 words Bluetooth keyboard. Logitech, Staples and Microsoft have long harbored fear of a Bluetooth planet but all the hybrid and convertable stuff is there because people are fooled by form factors. Add a BT keyboard and mouse and then you can write, develop software, etc. On a Win8 machine you can even use your old software.
  - martijn_himself 12y ago
    Interesting point. Do Apple and app developers design/build with BT keyboards in mind? Do you use a tablet for software development?
    - loumf 12y ago
      Yur app will automatically not bring up the software keyboard. The main issue is that they don't make keyboard shortcuts for things you need to tap on. I don't know of a single app that does that, so you have to type-type, tap-tap, type. I hate the mouse, so I REALLY hate this. I bet Win8 apps make more shortcuts -- Windows has always been better at this.

by gdilla 12y ago

scholia 12y ago

Much the same here. I own three tablets but very rarely use them: either I can do something on a smartphone or I'll use a laptop for the keyboard and ease of use (which comes partly from familiarity, but there are things you can't easily do on a tablet). I've been using a Microsoft Surface Pro since it came out, and I rarely use it without a keyboard. However, I do use the touch screen quite a lot. More than I expected. Something like the Asus Transformer T100 might be a good cheap option for someone who is going to use partly as a tablet. The obvious drawbacks are (1) it still needs Windows Updates etc and (2) it doesn't have the iPad's app ecosystem.

martijn_himself 12y ago

I totally agree it is an odd question, thanks for the thoughtful response. My thoughts are that even though it is established I still quite often wonder if using a tablet is an improvement over using a (very) portable laptop. I often see people struggling using the touch keyboard to write e-mails or take notes and wonder about the cramped ergonomics. The games on tablets are often very uninspiring clones of (portable) console classics at best and exploitative money making schemes at worst. There is often no way to tell the difference. I realise this all sounds very negative, I know there are plenty examples of applications where tablet-type interface shine. I like the idea of hybrid touch screens too and would be interested to see if Apple could be tempted to move into that area with the MacBook Air.

PaulHoule 12y ago
2 words Bluetooth keyboard. Logitech, Staples and Microsoft have long harbored fear of a Bluetooth planet but all the hybrid and convertable stuff is there because people are fooled by form factors. Add a BT keyboard and mouse and then you can write, develop software, etc. On a Win8 machine you can even use your old software.
- martijn_himself 12y ago
  Interesting point. Do Apple and app developers design/build with BT keyboards in mind? Do you use a tablet for software development?
  - loumf 12y ago
    Yur app will automatically not bring up the software keyboard. The main issue is that they don't make keyboard shortcuts for things you need to tap on. I don't know of a single app that does that, so you have to type-type, tap-tap, type. I hate the mouse, so I REALLY hate this. I bet Win8 apps make more shortcuts -- Windows has always been better at this.