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I don't think the stylus was the biggest problem with the $2-3k tablet computers running a generic OS with applications that were mostly optimized for desktop use.
the stylus was a big reason why app interfaces were so terrible. it allowed lazy manufacturers to strap a pressure-sensitive screen onto a notebook and call it a tablet pc. crappy hardware disinterests great software developers.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's one reason I'd want a stylus on the iPad (or any other tablet device), and it's not for handwriting. It's for sketching. Diagrams, wireframes, or just a squirrel in the park. Give me a simple sketching program - think Painter Light. Let it synch to a repository on my desktop. Let me use the tablet as an actual tablet via bluetooth when I'm actually at my desk. I would probably pay bank for that.
You can get stylus' for apple's touch devices, I recently ordered one for my iPad. It's called a Pogo Sketch I plan to use my iPad for doodling and whatnot of a night time in bed, aswell as reading and general media consumption - its really my "bed time" screen device.
I would think that a stylus would be awesome on the iPad for drawing applications (or even prototyping apps such as Omnigraffle). I haven't used an iPad yet but I imagine drawing with my index finger to be a little clumsy.
One of the better comments by Jobs, "It’s really true, if you’ve got a bunch of rich guys who can afford their third computer — you know, they’ve got a desktop, they’ve got a portable and now they’re gonna have one of these to read with… that’s your market!" I've got my iPhone, I've got my Macbook Pro, I've got my gaming systems (and we have a few Kindles floating around the house)... I need the iPad because?
I don't think the stylus was the biggest problem with the $2-3k tablet computers running a generic OS with applications that were mostly optimized for desktop use.
did you ever use a stylus? painfully unsexy in a pocket protector kind of way. the stylus was a big reason why app interfaces were so terrible. it allowed lazy manufacturers to strap a pressure-sensitive screen onto a notebook and call it a tablet pc. crappy hardware disinterests great software developers.
The biggest flaw of the Tablet PCs was that no one really committed to the interface. This was surely a result of the expense and not having much traction. And a giant failure on Microsoft's part.
However, the "keep handwriting around" thing was (and is) a good idea. People like to decry handwriting recognition, but the idea was really "use digital ink, don't convert".
--EDIT--
Also, the screens weren't pressure sensitive. They were capacitive, it only worked with the stylus.
I don't think the stylus was the biggest problem with the $2-3k tablet computers running a generic OS with applications that were mostly optimized for desktop use.
did you ever use a stylus? painfully unsexy in a pocket protector kind of way. the stylus was a big reason why app interfaces were so terrible. it allowed lazy manufacturers to strap a pressure-sensitive screen onto a notebook and call it a tablet pc. crappy hardware disinterests great software developers.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
did you ever use a stylus? painfully unsexy in a pocket protector kind of way. the stylus was a big reason why app interfaces were so terrible. it allowed lazy manufacturers to strap a pressure-sensitive screen onto a notebook and call it a tablet pc. crappy hardware disinterests great software developers.
Yep, I actually owned a few tablet PCs. A stylus is a fantastic interface for entering unstructured information, one handed input, or drawing. It's not great for navigating. The biggest flaw of the Tablet PCs was that no one really committed to the interface. This was surely a result of the expense and not having much traction. And a giant failure on Microsoft's part. However, the "keep handwriting around" thing was…
It’s just that, as with the missing arrow keys (also clearly sometimes useful) on the original Macintosh, Apple doesn’t want anyone to get into bad habits. You can call that paternalism but that’s just how Apple rolls :)
I find this interesting from a historical perspective. You can really see the thought process that led to the design decisions on the iPhone and iPad: Get desktop sync right, optimize for user consumption of data, avoid handwriting recognition (since it's inefficient anyway), the PDA is dead (instead, a phone has to have PDA features). I also like the subtle way Jobs deflects the issue of whether or not tablet device…
One of the better comments by Jobs, "It’s really true, if you’ve got a bunch of rich guys who can afford their third computer — you know, they’ve got a desktop, they’ve got a portable and now they’re gonna have one of these to read with… that’s your market!" I've got my iPhone, I've got my Macbook Pro, I've got my gaming systems (and we have a few Kindles floating around the house)... I need the iPad because?
it's better at most non-geeky things than your macbook pro. i know because i own both.
Compare a Macbook Pro to another laptop that is $500 cheaper. I'd argue there is $500 worth of value there. Is there $500 worth of value for the iPad over the Macbook Pro? I can think of a lot of things to do with $500 that would be better for me than buying an iPad.
He's right, though amusing that some of the arguments he mentions against a tablet were levelled against the iPad :) Personally, paper is still great for its flexibility, but I hardly write on it. I use it to scribble drawings of how things fit together, or jot down notes as I debug a tricky problem, run over algorithms in my head, etc. I want Caprica style digital paper for scribbling on that still allows me to pers…