4 ms·

Maybe I'm contrarian, cynical, and/or old, but I never fully understood the compulsion to advance an alternative mobile ecosystem in the form of iOS and Android

Maybe I'm contrarian, cynical, and/or old, but I never fully understood the compulsion to advance an alternative mobile ecosystem in the form of iOS and Android -- at least not with the mission of eradicating OSX, Linux, Windows on laptops. A tablet with a keyboard is a poor laptop replacement -- slow, limited, and in an awkward form factor. Most "native apps" are CRUD apps that are better on mobile than web apps mainly just because mobile web browsers need to improve. (Admittedly possible big exception to that: Games.) So if, after a couple years of experimenting, it turns out many people don't love tablets as laptop replacements, after all? I think -- that's fine. Experiment done. It didn't pan out. Let it go. Let's move the effort back to improving and innovating with "conventional" laptops and OSs, as well as trying things more inherently new like wearables or whatever. I understand that each generation wants to reinvent all the wheels, but it seems like an unfortunate, wasteful diversion of resources.

seabrookmx 12y ago
Agreed. I find tablets have a few niche uses which may continue to warrant new tablet development, but I really don't see the desire to push them into the role of "main computational device" for the majority of users. I own a tablet that hasn't had the WiFi turned on in over a year. I use it exclusively as an e-reader (soon, I may just buy a proper e-reader). I think these devices have a place, but I'm not going to code on it, or write my cover letter on it. People need to stop telling me I should be able to, because even if I could, I wouldn't want to!
- seanmcdirmid 12y ago
  Coding is quite possible on a tablet, especially if we can develop tablet friendly programming languages [1]; but we definitely aren't there yet! If you think about, programmers spend more time thinking and choosing abstractions than typing in code (and no one codes at more than 20 words-per-minute, while this is mostly bursty). For any kind of real writing, one needs a mechanical IBM Model M keyboard, at least :) > People need to stop telling me I should be able to, because even if I could, I wouldn't want to! Well, I still carry a laptop in my bag at least. Tablets are great in bed and on planes. [1] http://research.microsoft.com/apps/pubs/default.aspx?id=179364 http://research.microsoft.com/apps/pubs/default.aspx?id=1793...
  - seabrookmx 12y ago
    > one needs a mechanical IBM Model M keyboard While better than a rubber dome keyboard for sure, I think I'm one of the few people out there that prefers the Cherry MX switches over the oldschool buckling spring. MX Browns with the o-ring mod (as to not disturb my office mates) is a dream to type on.

seabrookmx 12y ago

Agreed. I find tablets have a few niche uses which may continue to warrant new tablet development, but I really don't see the desire to push them into the role of "main computational device" for the majority of users. I own a tablet that hasn't had the WiFi turned on in over a year. I use it exclusively as an e-reader (soon, I may just buy a proper e-reader). I think these devices have a place, but I'm not going to code on it, or write my cover letter on it. People need to stop telling me I should be able to, because even if I could, I wouldn't want to!

seanmcdirmid 12y ago
Coding is quite possible on a tablet, especially if we can develop tablet friendly programming languages [1]; but we definitely aren't there yet! If you think about, programmers spend more time thinking and choosing abstractions than typing in code (and no one codes at more than 20 words-per-minute, while this is mostly bursty). For any kind of real writing, one needs a mechanical IBM Model M keyboard, at least :) > People need to stop telling me I should be able to, because even if I could, I wouldn't want to! Well, I still carry a laptop in my bag at least. Tablets are great in bed and on planes. [1] http://research.microsoft.com/apps/pubs/default.aspx?id=179364 http://research.microsoft.com/apps/pubs/default.aspx?id=1793...
- seabrookmx 12y ago
  > one needs a mechanical IBM Model M keyboard While better than a rubber dome keyboard for sure, I think I'm one of the few people out there that prefers the Cherry MX switches over the oldschool buckling spring. MX Browns with the o-ring mod (as to not disturb my office mates) is a dream to type on.