3 ms·
The main reason tablets never took off is that tablets are supposed to be a lot more convenient for on-the-go use than notebook computers, but in practice, they
by dkarl 17y ago
The main reason tablets never took off is that tablets are supposed to be a lot more convenient for on-the-go use than notebook computers, but in practice, they aren't. Their size and the fact that they can't be used one-handed means that you give up a lot of the functionality of a notebook for not much more convenience. Shrinking technology and improved touch-screen interfaces have alleviated that problem but actually narrowed the niche even further, because now tablets have to find a space between notebooks and iPhones.
Also, his "3. Input systems" should just say "3. Pens." Microsoft's opinion, which I would normally respect because they have done a lot of work to support tablets, be damned. Stylus-based input seems really awesome until you try it. Even as pointing-and-dragging devices, they're inconvenient. Take them out (with your other free hand), use them, put them back, and make sure you don't drop them down a grate. What a hassle.
I'm expecting, and kind of dreading, Apple proving me wrong and persuading me to part with $600.
- shaddi 17y agoI largely agree with your pen point, but I couldn't imagine (yes, I've tried) writing notes, for instance, without a pen. Perhaps, though, that's not really the best use of a tablet, which seems to be the premise that most tablets out there today are based upon.
- evgen 17y agoI would settle for Inkwell using my finger. As an old Newton user who was very pleased with the recognition on my MP2100 and a MS tablet user (ended up getting RightPen because XP Tablet's recognition was not the "global" recognition system I was used to from my Newton days) I like using a stylus. OTOH, seeing how close iPhone gestures are to old Newton gestures I think it would not be a large jump for an iTablet to enable write-anywhere functionality via the multi-touch system and even enhance it slightly with the "multi" part in multi-touch.
- frossie 17y agonarrowed the niche even further, because now tablets have to find a space between notebooks and iPhones True, on the other hand there is an e-book reader niche that wasn't around a decade ago, which is ripe for the picking with the right kind of platform. I'm expecting, and kind of dreading, Apple proving me wrong and persuading me to part with $600. Tell me about it! In many ways I am "in the market" for a device that shall we say represents the idealised sum of all the iTablet rumours, but the price will be an issue - not so much in terms of cold hard cash, but at $600 it exceeds my comfort level for the cost of a device that I routinely carry around.