Steve Jobs Was Wrong About Touchscreen Laptops 526
theodp writes "Don't believe everything Steve Jobs and Tim Cook tell you, advises The Verge's Sean Hollister. Gunshy of touchscreen laptops after hearing the two Apple CEOs dismiss the technology (Jobs: 'Touch surfaces don't want to be vertical.' Cook: 'You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not gonna be pleasing to the user.'), Hollister was surprised to discover that Windows 8 touchscreen laptops actually don't suck and that the dreaded 'Gorilla Arm Syndrome' did not materialize. 'The more I've used Windows 8, despite its faults, the more I've become convinced that touchscreens are the future — even vertical ones,' writes Hollister. 'We've been looking at this all wrong. A touchscreen isn't a replacement for a keyboard or mouse, it's a complement.' Echoing a prediction from Coding Horror's Jeff Atwood that 'it is only a matter of time before all laptops must be touch laptops,' Hollister wouldn't be surprised at all if Apple eventually embraces-and-extends the tech: 'Microsoft might have validated the idea, but now Apple has another chance to swoop in, perfecting and popularizing the very interface that it strategically ridiculed just two years ago. It wouldn't be the first time. After all, how many iPad minis come with sandpaper for filing fingers down?'"
It would be worthless for work (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Its stupid on a laptop or desktop (Score:5, Informative)
The Surface Pro does include touch support - 10 point multitouch [microsoft.com], in fact. It happens to also have an active digitizer to support pen input. It can do both.
The fact that you didn't know that implies that you really have no idea what you're talking about.
Microsoft's Windows 8 Numbers Meaningless (Score:5, Informative)
Lies, damn lies, and statistics...
Microsoft says it has sold more than 40 million Windows 8 licenses, but the information is worthless in absence of key data the company won't divulge.
We don't know because Microsoft isn't saying. We don't know how many of the 40 million licenses come from low-cost upgrades, from volume licensing sales that kick in automatically, or from direct sales to consumers. And we don't know how many of the 40 million licenses are sitting on systems that have yet to find a buyer.
So why won't Microsoft provide a breakdown? What is it hiding? Its silence speaks volumes or, perhaps more accurately, low volumes.
http://www.informationweek.com/software/windows8/microsofts-windows-8-numbers-meaningless/240142865?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All [informationweek.com]
Re:It's very possible (Score:4, Informative)
It's also very possible that the Asus Transformer range showed that a good touchscreen tablet/laptop combo is a useful bit of gear well before "Microsoft might have validated the idea".
It's because I own a Transformer that I know touchscreen laptops suck.
Re:Microsoft's Windows 8 Numbers Meaningless (Score:5, Informative)
and all you'll be left with is your conspiracy theories.
You mean Information Week's conspiracy theories. I just copy/pasted.
Here's SMH's conspiracy theory:
Windows 8 sales in Australia and overseas are below expectations, with one US expert describing its user interface as "a monster that terrorises poor office workers and strangles their productivity".
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/windows-8-sales-flounder-as-critics-pan-clumsy-interface-20121126-2a2d0.html#ixzz2Drq6iNt7/ [smh.com.au]
The Register's conspiracy theory:
Reports that Windows 8 hasn't been moving as briskly as the industry had hoped continue to emerge, with major retailers reporting slow sales and Microsoft insiders allegedly describing the initial numbers as "disappointing."
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/19/retailers_report_slow_win8_sales/ [theregister.co.uk]
Reuters conspiracy theory:
Consumer sales of Windows-powered personal computers fell 21 percent overall last month, figures released by a leading retail research firm showed on Thursday, indicating a lackluster debut for Microsoft Corp's Windows 8 operating system.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/29/us-microsoft-windows-idUSBRE8AS12Y20121129 [reuters.com]
ComputerWorld's conspiracy theory:
Microsoft has been touting its claim of 40 million Windows 8 licenses sold as evidence of a booming launch. But analysts and Asian PC makers beg to disagree, and say sales of the new operating system have been sluggish.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/windows/21410/windows-8-sales-are-sluggish-not-booming-say-analysts-and-asian-pc-makers [computerworld.com]
Looks like the whole damn world's in on it!
Re:It's very possible (Score:4, Informative)
While true, it's also true that the same wipes you use to clean their grubby hands are remarkably good at cleaning touch screens too. Coincidence?
Re:It's very possible (Score:4, Informative)
To make Win8 usable, you just have to install it. It is quite usable as is. Maybe not efficient, and probably not agreeing with the preferences of many people, but that is not the same as being unusable.
People have their own standards regarding what constitutes "usable". Those with a low threshold for nonsense or high standsrds could rightfully conclude windows 8 is unusable in its current form.
The question of usability is value judgement you do NOT get to make for others.
Re:It's very possible (Score:2, Informative)
A brief google search reveals that you have overstated sales by well over an order of magnitude: In the third quarter of 2011 partners reduced supply orders and company dropped down manufacturing volumes to 10 000 per month; this measure helped Asus to avoid overstocking in the warehouses and not to participate in sales of the devices at giveaway prices as HP did with TouchPad and RIM with its Playbook. [androidbot.net]
This appears to be a case of willful ignorance on your part and your contempt is misdirected. Perhaps we should anticipate a similar 97% reduction in shipments of the Nexus 7 in the second quarter of its production as well?
Re:It's very possible (Score:4, Informative)