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Tablets are also better for non-technical users as their primary computing device. This is entirely a software issue and has nothing to do with tablet form fac

Tablets are also better for non-technical users as their primary computing device. This is entirely a software issue and has nothing to do with tablet form factor except that is where this software philosophy became mainstream.

emodendroket 12y ago
I don't agree. Apple and Microsoft have been entirely about making computers easier to use and bringing them to the masses for a long time. To the extent tablets are easier to use it's because they don't support multitasking.
- wvenable 12y ago
  You don't seem to disagree! Yes, they don't support multitasking. They're also very restrictive with limited application interaction modes. The primary interface is a full screen of evenly spaced product icons. All of these things are why they're good for non-technical users. These restrictions also make them very malware proof. They're products which just work and don't much, if any, support or maintenance. Microsoft and Apple could have never brought out a desktop or laptop with these kind of limitations before tablets became popular.
marssaxman 12y ago
No keyboard = minimal text entry = disqualification as "primary" anything.
- wvenable 12y ago
  I think most smartphone users would disagree that no keyboard equals minimal text entry. Phones are hardly used for calls now. But I also know a lot of people with keyboards for their iPads. But really I think that most non-technical users aren't using their keyboard enough to really need one. If you are hunt-a-peck typer, a physical keyboard isn't that much of a necessity.
  - marssaxman 12y ago
    I hardly use my phone for calls either, but I'd still call the amount of text I can stand to enter into a touchscreen "minimal". A couple of sentences at a time, maybe. I think the fact that I have been touch-typing since I was eight or nine actually makes it much more difficult to put up with touchscreen keyboards, because it's so difficult to make myself look at the keys instead of the text.

emodendroket 12y ago

I don't agree. Apple and Microsoft have been entirely about making computers easier to use and bringing them to the masses for a long time. To the extent tablets are easier to use it's because they don't support multitasking.

wvenable 12y ago
You don't seem to disagree! Yes, they don't support multitasking. They're also very restrictive with limited application interaction modes. The primary interface is a full screen of evenly spaced product icons. All of these things are why they're good for non-technical users. These restrictions also make them very malware proof. They're products which just work and don't much, if any, support or maintenance. Microsoft and Apple could have never brought out a desktop or laptop with these kind of limitations before tablets became popular.

marssaxman 12y ago

No keyboard = minimal text entry = disqualification as "primary" anything.

wvenable 12y ago
I think most smartphone users would disagree that no keyboard equals minimal text entry. Phones are hardly used for calls now. But I also know a lot of people with keyboards for their iPads. But really I think that most non-technical users aren't using their keyboard enough to really need one. If you are hunt-a-peck typer, a physical keyboard isn't that much of a necessity.
- marssaxman 12y ago
  I hardly use my phone for calls either, but I'd still call the amount of text I can stand to enter into a touchscreen "minimal". A couple of sentences at a time, maybe. I think the fact that I have been touch-typing since I was eight or nine actually makes it much more difficult to put up with touchscreen keyboards, because it's so difficult to make myself look at the keys instead of the text.