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Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

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Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#21

Post by Radix_ »

pm90 wrote: post #18
eupharis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. This is mindblowing. I just went through the thought/body experiment: On your desktop/laptop, assume you already have a touchscreen and everything works perfectly. Assume every swipe interaction you have ever used works perfectly. Interact with the computer. Navigate around the computer. Drag and drop files. Surf around the internet. Click tabs and hyperlinks and whatever with the mouse, with touch, even with ta…

I see what you're getting at, and I agree that it feels quite clunky....now. But I wouldn't be so dismissive quite yet. What if in the future you could detach your screen and keep it on the table? Now, you have an actual "surface" (just like a tablet). You can play games with others on this surface . Maybe, divide the screens and then have everyone use part of their screen for their own work. (I'm just listing what I…

'Mindblowing' is nearly always a positive thing. I think your comment really made an impression. I did as he said, lounging here with my laptop, and it really was a nice feeling to have the option to reach up and scroll the page with my thumb. I'd like to put three fingers down and tap my left most finger to shuffle tabs but that's impossible now. I'm looking forward to future hardware.

Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#22

Post by pm90 »

Radix_ wrote: post #21
pm90 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see what you're getting at, and I agree that it feels quite clunky....now. But I wouldn't be so dismissive quite yet. What if in the future you could detach your screen and keep it on the table? Now, you have an actual "surface" (just like a tablet). You can play games with others on this surface . Maybe, divide the screens and then have everyone use part of their screen for their own work. (I'm just listing what I…

'Mindblowing' is nearly always a positive thing. I think your comment really made an impression. I did as he said, lounging here with my laptop, and it really was a nice feeling to have the option to reach up and scroll the page with my thumb. I'd like to put three fingers down and tap my left most finger to shuffle tabs but that's impossible now. I'm looking forward to future hardware.

Oh, I wasn't sure whether eupharis was being sarcastic. Thanks for clarifying that!

Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#23

Post by allertonm »

There might be something to this. Despite Jobs' statements about the usefulness (or otherwise) of upright touch screens, accessory manufacturers have been catering to people who want to use their iPad upright literally since day one. Apple itself is doing this with the Smart Cover. So if that's OK, does adding a physical keyboard laid flat to the equation somehow turn it wrong? Seems like a stretch.

Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#24

Post by drivebyacct2 »

I think people are really missing the point of Surface if they think that the focus is on touch+classic. It's about supporting classic. And supporting touch. And it does, Metro-with-mouse takes getting used to, but it can be done.

The Surface RT can play the iPad role.

The Surface Pro can play the iPad role and the laptop role.

That's why what Microsoft is doing is risky but has the potential for user value: For some reason, people really want to use Android apps on their computer. Think about the number of apps and games that would be available? That's what Microsoft is getting out of this. Developers get to target both casual users and pro users. And pro users who are casual users after 5PM.

I don't plan to buy a Surface, but I see a lot more potential than I think others are really willing to see if they're honest with themselves.

Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#26

Post by ankushsharma »

I have read that windows 8 has certain features which can be used only by touch.Using a touch screen when I have keyboard and touchpad attached doesn't sounds good to me, so a mix of touch and keyboard combination is creepy. But if they can make the tablets something like either I can use only touch or only keyboard then things will be much more easy and less confusing

Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#27

Post by voltagex_ »

wluu wrote: post #11
mgkimsal wrote: post #4

I played with 3 Win8 touchscreen computers at a store the other day. The big 'all in one' one - from HP I think - was just not good. You might get used to it, but I didn't like it. The dragging - which you end up having to do a lot of - was pretty slow, and no amount of poking around in the system settings showed a way to change the responsiveness. Secondly, it doesn't seem that there's any sort of speed sensitivity…

I tried an Acer all in one with a touch screen, then a Sony Vaio 11 Duo and then to a bunch of non-touch laptops running Windows 8 in a store over the weekend. I think in terms of Windows 8, the new touch screen is easier to navigate and interact with using touch than it is with keyboard and mouse. And feels more natural. I think the keyboard & mouse experience could be improved. An example, my brother installed Wind…

A Microsoft Touch Mouse with the latest Win8 drivers is a good stopgap - you can use the gestures on top of the mouse to bring up charms and so on.

Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#28

Post by knieveltech »

So touchscreen's coming back into vogue? Great in a tablet format. For standard computer monitors this is a major ergonomics no-no: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen#.22Gorilla_arm.22

Of course if this leads to light-table style hardware that could be pretty awesome.

Re: Is Microsoft Right About Touchscreen Computers?

#30

Post by vvhn »

CrankyPants wrote: post #25
splicer wrote: post #6

I think the reason Apple reversed the default trackpad two finger scroll direction is because they plan on releasing Macs with touchscreens in the near future.

I always figured it was to match iOS.

I agree. Most people's first Apple device these days is an iDevice and if they go on to get a Mac as well, they get greeted by familiar things like launchpad, scrolling etc. .
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