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PureOS is convergent

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Re: PureOS is convergent

#71

Post by sinuhe69 »

To be frank, I don’t see the benefit of convergence. Admittedly, one code base is cool and convenient, sure but if one considers the additional cost of design, maintenance and the loss of the optimal user experience, I think convergence is rather a minus. A small touch screen requires a totally different convention of user interactions as a big screen with only mouse and keyboard support. It’s simply the reality.

Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel (admittedly a new and shiny one), why don’t we just stick to the well proven approaches and design different UIs and front ends for different platforms? The bulk of the codes would go into the common business/security layers anyway. With CI/CD, each user would have his/her app with the same functionality but different UI for the optimal user experience without much headaches or additional burden.

Re: PureOS is convergent

#72

Post by wlesieutre »

tombert wrote: post #60
aliswe wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is an amazing device, thanks for sharing!

I think they released a new one with Linux pre-installed. I might look into that if I can sell my current one.

Oooh very cool. I wish Apple still had Target Display Mode as a feature on their devices, it'd be great to toss this in a bag as an "I might need a real computer" concession and be able to use my iPad as an external display for it.

Re: PureOS is convergent

#74

Post by bildung »

rinchik wrote: post #47
presscast wrote: post #34

What's the state of running linux natively on Mac these days?

linux natively on Mac? Why? whats the point?? the experience will be just horrible and 60% of the hardware will be idle, unused or just incompatible. You'll get an overpriced Thinkpad wrapped in gorgeous Mac's case. The amount of details, little "sprinkles" that average Mac and MacOS users take for granted is greatly underrated. When you look at the stats from all native available hardware, sensors etc, it really fee…

> The amount of details, little "sprinkles" that average Mac and MacOS users take for granted is greatly underrated.

Especially those sprinkles that get stuck under the keys ;)

Re: PureOS is convergent

#75

Post by dmitriid »

Tohquai7 wrote: post #51
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #20

My primary concern with this is that different applications are inherently optimized for the platform on which they were originally designed. There are some applications that have a very dense UI because there's simply alot of functionality that the program handles (think of a video editor, an IDE, etc). Trying to slim down those applications to make them reactive so that they will scale onto a phone or tablet just s…

IDEs and productivity tools often approximate a tile-based window managers where you can collapse all but the central tile (or conversely, put the central one in fullscreen) if you want the maximal real estate for the content instead of the auxiliary bars and then slide them in for a moment when you need them. This mode seems suited for mobile UIs, so that flexibility should get them pretty close to being convergent.…

Except... In IDEs you can have code side by side, and then a tool running in a third pane (let's say a debugger, or tests), and you have quick and convenient shortcuts to switch between these panes, and hidden panes, and other windows on desktop.

Phones have none of that. And they really can't really provide them because of limited screen estate and touch being the only way to interact with it.

Re: PureOS is convergent

#76

Post by tracker1 »

derefr wrote: post #52
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #20

My primary concern with this is that different applications are inherently optimized for the platform on which they were originally designed. There are some applications that have a very dense UI because there's simply alot of functionality that the program handles (think of a video editor, an IDE, etc). Trying to slim down those applications to make them reactive so that they will scale onto a phone or tablet just s…

How about, instead of creating applications that are on all levels a compromise between the two, just create applications that work hard to decouple their UIs (view/presentation layer) from their business logic; and then, for each application, write a small touch UI, a large touch UI, and a desktop UI, as separate view layers, all living together in a monorepo. Or, in other words, do what any third-party app develope…

This is precisely why I really like react and redux. There are times I track the window size and use different components to render. The state logic stays the same.

Re: PureOS is convergent

#77

Post by wanderfowl »

The exciting part of this to me is not the ability to run the same software on two devices, but the potential to run two 'kinds' of software on one single device.

This unlocks what is for me the most appealing computing fantasy: I have exactly one device to compute with. At home or work, I plug it into my dock, where it pairs to an eGPU/monitor, external storage, keyboard, and mouse, and is my desktop computer. There, I can access the 'pro' level apps we're discussing below.

On the couch or on the go, maybe I slide it into a bigger touchscreen with some extra dumb batteries, and it's now a tablet. Throw in a keyboard case, and now it's a laptop.

And if I'm sitting on the bus or walking to work, it's my phone, and I can edit today's lecture right there, or access all my files. Maybe I'm not firing up emacs or MATLAB, but it's still there if I needed to.

This, to me, is the fantasy of convergence. And considering we're now currently paying $4000+ for the trio of a laptop, tablet, and smartphone, I suspect one could create something pretty compelling and high-end and still feel like a bargain to many.

Re: PureOS is convergent

#78

Post by criddell »

rcthompson wrote: post #62
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #20

My primary concern with this is that different applications are inherently optimized for the platform on which they were originally designed. There are some applications that have a very dense UI because there's simply alot of functionality that the program handles (think of a video editor, an IDE, etc). Trying to slim down those applications to make them reactive so that they will scale onto a phone or tablet just s…

I guess we have to ask whether having a single OS running on phones and PCs means that every application written for that OS absolutely needs to be designed to run on both, or whether it's acceptable for an app launched on a phone to just say "sorry, you need a bigger screen" and quit. In other words, is it acceptable to write non-convergent apps for a convergent OS?

I think that would be perfectly acceptable.

Re: PureOS is convergent

#79

Post by criddell »

derefr wrote: post #52
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #20

My primary concern with this is that different applications are inherently optimized for the platform on which they were originally designed. There are some applications that have a very dense UI because there's simply alot of functionality that the program handles (think of a video editor, an IDE, etc). Trying to slim down those applications to make them reactive so that they will scale onto a phone or tablet just s…

How about, instead of creating applications that are on all levels a compromise between the two, just create applications that work hard to decouple their UIs (view/presentation layer) from their business logic; and then, for each application, write a small touch UI, a large touch UI, and a desktop UI, as separate view layers, all living together in a monorepo. Or, in other words, do what any third-party app develope…

If you are writing an IDE, it seems foolish to spend time on a small touch UI that will be used by almost nobody. If you can't do something well, don't do.
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