Touch is NOT the "near" future of computing. Keyboard & mouse is.

[Coke Robot]

Zune was interesting and overall I found the zune HD pretty fun and new compared to the other players however their was definitely bads to the software on the player as well as on the computer. Also there really was no marketing for either the original players or the zune HD. Microsoft desperately needs help in this department. They finally had a pretty good design wise product but no one knew about it. I learned about the zune but I never was interested in it because there were no commercials I learned about the Zune HD because I went to a website. I don't like how they are rebranding it though. Xbox Music sounds stupid, zune has a much better ring to it. Also the logo doesn't really fit music on top of that the software/app looks horrid. Besides they should be marketing ALL their stuff under one place which is the store/marketplace. Making the store and then a separate center for music, xbox games and videos will just make things more confusing. Overall I would prefer they come up with another player and update the software and make it have the store and brand the software something else that all downloadables can fall under. But I guess that won't be happening. I don't want to use a windows phone for music plus there I like the bold text that the Zune HD uses the phone keeps using that same light weight EVERYWHERE. The zune hd was a nice touch device that was different (kind of) and felt like it was in the future. That was a good touch device. First they kill off the player now they make the brand sound goofy. Sigh.

I found about the Zune from a friend that had one and I was SO intrigued by it because I never had heard of one or saw one. It was really cool! A bit bulky, but cool nonetheless. It's a bloody shame it got nowhere because of Microsoft's abhorrent lack of marketing, or at least, the wrong marketing. I saw a few adverts for it on the YouTube, and they made no sense whatsoever. But the initial promo video of it was nice. This is true though, the marketing department of Microsoft SUCKS! Because of it, the Windows Phone hasn't booted off the ground as much as it should had in two years because they don't target television marketing. They have a few excellent ads on their YouTube channel, but nowhere to be seen on the telly. But they're getting their act together with their new marketing blitz with Nokia and Att. I think that's why they don't do well in that area because they have their OEMs and partners doing their adverting of their products that run Microsoft's software. It's just like the release of the Xbox, without Bungie and the Halo series, the Xbox probably wouldn't be the media hub of today.

Speaking of such. Turning the Zune brand into Xbox music, it's interesting. I'm starting to see how Microsoft is reshaping things. 2012 is really important to them because they have been silently reorganizing the company so it now has three main pillars: Windows Phone, Windows, and Xbox. And within each pillar are its different layers that make it great. The metro UI is so important to them because that's how they are marrying those pillars together. It's not one OS to rule them all, not yet, it's more one UI to rule them all and that is metro. And one of the emerging ways that is happening is with Xbox integration onto Windows and Windows Phone. I thought it was going to be for games only, but it seems not. But it makes sense though because the console is becoming a living room multi-media device and not solely for games anymore. Microsoft is trying to capitalize on that.

The app for it is iffy. I hope the one in the Release Preview is a FAR, FAR, FAR cry from the Xbox Music app that will come out. I haven't gotten it to work flawlessly in updating my music collection. I hate how in the Now Playing visualizer, in the album cover mosaic, it has random album covers to music I don't have and don't care to have. I don't care about justin beiber and his new boyfriend or whatever that is.... If I want new music, I want a dedicated store for it. The new Now Playing visualizer looks pretty sleek and MUCH more like the Zune software. I like that. The app may need work, but then again, it's the first build. The first Zune software build looks NOTHING like the one that's dying.

I'm kind of open to it. Apparently, my Windows Phone might get that in the upcoming Tango update or hopefully in Windows Phone 8 most likely. If I can have a visualizer like that on my phone, I like it! I also like how you can finish a video you have playing on your Windows Phone or PC and watch it on your TV. I hope that works with music, play it on my phone, finish and continue the playlist on my puter. That there, is the future!

 

[Trucidation]

Because Minority Report and Star Trek are clearly where tech is going. Riiight.

Touch will remain the province of handhelds, and those desktop users who only email, skype, and facebook (i.e. people who are better off with an idevice anyway). The keyboard isn't going to go away for a good long time unless you can make a touchscreen that can survive my >60 WPM hammering all day long. And it needs to be lying flat on a surface of course, because nobody is going to type faster than a snail if they have to hold their hands and arms up to touch a vertical screen for more than a few minutes.

Mice aren't going away either unless a better replacement is found, and touch at the moment is not it. I've used styluses before and while good for some things they're definitely not mice.

 

[mdmd]

I am not a big fan of touch but I can see someone developing a touch keyboard for the desktop.
It probably already exists.
I have never used a tablet.
It just won't have the "feel" of spring loaded keys.
And touch mice pads I do not like.
I don't like dragging my finger around on a surface.
Keyboards and Mice are here to stay in our lifetime.
Minority Report was kind of creepy.
At least Star Trek seems like a good future.

 

[Coke Robot]

Because Minority Report and Star Trek are clearly where tech is going. Riiight.

Touch will remain the province of handhelds, and those desktop users who only email, skype, and facebook (i.e. people who are better off with an idevice anyway). The keyboard isn't going to go away for a good long time unless you can make a touchscreen that can survive my >60 WPM hammering all day long. And it needs to be lying flat on a surface of course, because nobody is going to type faster than a snail if they have to hold their hands and arms up to touch a vertical screen for more than a few minutes.

Mice aren't going away either unless a better replacement is found, and touch at the moment is not it. I've used styluses before and while good for some things they're definitely not mice.

Who said you can only type on a touchscreen and why is the touchscreen vertically oriented?

 

[lehnerus2000]

... and why is the touchscreen vertically oriented?

Because it's a 23" (or bigger) widescreen monitor?

 

[mdmd]

I change my mind :

If you think about the energy and friction required to pound a keyboard,...
the future for flat touch keyboards might be closer than we think now.
(just like in Star Trek)

I can see typing might be easier if the user doesn't have to press a key.
A good typist could go on at lightning speeds.
Actually, the "near future" might be flat touch keyboards.
Spring loaded keyboards might be considered "quaint" very soon.

And, thinking about it, doing away with that "click" might also be close.
Getting use to a touch pad for mouse movement might be easy and faster than "clicking".
Maybe it just takes a little getting used to.
...If you are not born into it.

 

[mdmd]

 

[Coke Robot]

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That's actually pretty cool, I'm not going to lie.

 

[legacy7955]

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That's actually pretty cool, I'm not going to lie.

Yeah it looks cool, like Apple cool. Is it a better way to type? No.

You see cokey, humans like, no NEED tactile analog feedback to be efficient and most importantly connected to the device they are using, whether a keyboard, or something else.

I gotta tell you touch mania reminds me of the 3D TV debacle. Is it cool, sure, do you NEED it? Nope, is it more expensive? Yep. Is it worth it, not many buyers seem to think so. \

But my god the "industry" pushed that over the past 5 years. But it still didn't work to convince buyers.

 

[mdmd]

You are probably right Legacy7955 that it is not "near"...
I think most posters agree with you.

............. I spilled coffee on my wireless and now the keys stick.
The above technology is in its infancy.
Needing tactile feedback is a habit.
(seems to me, a light tap on a surface is easier than thumping on a spring)

I am building a silent PC, no fans at all.
I would like a keyboard that is not louder than the PC.
I would also like a touch mouse that uses a smooth surface
- .... maybe Plexiglas (no springs or clicks).

NOT a fan of Apple products (too expensive).

The "old ways" will still be here for many, many, many years.
Touch is NOT the "near" future of computing.

 

[legacy7955]

You are probably right Legacy7955 that it is not "near"...
I think most posters agree with you.

............. I spilled coffee on my wireless and now the keys stick.
The above technology is in its infancy.
Needing tactile feedback is a habit.
(seems to me, a light tap on a surface is easier than thumping on a spring)

I am building a silent PC, no fans at all.
I would like a keyboard that is not louder than the PC.
I would also like a touch mouse that uses a smooth surface
- .... maybe Plexiglas (no springs or clicks).

NOT a fan of Apple products (too expensive).

The "old ways" will still be here for many, many, many years.
Touch is NOT the "near" future of computing.

I can promise you that your preference is in the distinct minority, when it comes to intense data entry.

As for the human "need" for tactile feedback being a "habit", call it whatever you want it evolved over tens of thousands of years, and it made man successful.

 

[mdmd]

yes... true... I am in the minority ...
...we are talking about keyboards ... ok
it's ergonomics ...
a light touch is easier than pressing a spring

I think it would be a new experience.

Touch screens might also have their place.
NOT for data entry.
Good to launch something.

I am used to being out of step with the mainstream.

 

[mdmd]

The office is evolving.

In an office building...
For decades, rows and rows,
and hundreds and hundreds of women
would sit at their typewriter station all day
pounding on their hammer and ink machines.

pounding and pounding all day long

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
texting a few words or being a "flower" on twitter is one thing but try entering complex data on a spreadsheet with a mobile phone - even something with a screen the size of an Iphone.

What about very large monitors where you are seated or should be much more than arms length away.

The keyboard won't go away any time soon nor will the mouse. The only thing that came close to eliminating the mouse strangely enough was on the old IBM (before LENOVO took them over) Thinkpad range of laptops. They had what looked like a little awkward to use red pointer embedded on to the keyboard. - This in fact worked very well and was far superior to any of those track / touchpads -- I always disable those on my laptops.

Also when people are texting they are typing a few sentences and waiting for responses.

Most people I'm sure would have a real problem writing a 3,000 word article (possibly with images and diagrams too) , proof reading it and sending it off for publication all via a mobile phone's touch screen.

Some people might have skinny fingers which would allow them to do this but that's a rarity.

The real question is in 50 years or whatever will we actually NEED computers anymore. I can't say as who knows what inventions are likely to spill out in that period.

cheers
jimbo

 

[mdmd]

Texting has nothing to do with computer data entry.

Haven't you ever heard of a typewriter?
Where are they?

Mobile Phones have nothing to do with computer data entry.

In fact, touch is used by Industry everywhere:
manufacturing, banks, security, etc...

Who said anything about using monitors for data entry?

Touch is here, emotion will not deny evolution.

 

[jimbo45]

Texting has nothing to do with computer data entry.

Haven't you ever heard of a typewriter?
Where are they?

Mobile Phones have nothing to do with computer data entry.

In fact, touch is used by Industry everywhere:
manufacturing, banks, security, etc...

Who said anything about using monitors for data entry?

Touch is here, emotion will not deny evolution.

People seem to want data entry on a tablet in some cases.

If you are also saying "Data entry" not wanted on a touch screen monitor then you are demolishing your own argument. Unless data entry is done by voice you will have to have some type of keyboard data entry system.

As many people have said a totally touch type based OS isn't appropriate in a workplace.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[mdmd]

I am not presenting a point of view or opinion.
Secretarial and technical office data entry on a tablet ?

I have no opinion.
I have no argument.

I was referring to the full size desktop touch keyboard and mouse as in the above pics,
a few posts back,
which, by the way, are not available.
Full size desktop touch keyboards have yet to be invented.
NON mechanical hard surface keyboards.

I don't care.
I have no opinion for touch in the "office".
I am just stating that it is here and evolving.
Touch is widely used in industry.

As far as Windows 8 is concerned,
it is an evolved hybrid system that many dislike.

 

[Coke Robot]

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That's actually pretty cool, I'm not going to lie.

Yeah it looks cool, like Apple cool. Is it a better way to type? No.

You see cokey, humans like, no NEED tactile analog feedback to be efficient and most importantly connected to the device they are using, whether a keyboard, or something else.

I gotta tell you touch mania reminds me of the 3D TV debacle. Is it cool, sure, do you NEED it? Nope, is it more expensive? Yep. Is it worth it, not many buyers seem to think so. \

But my god the "industry" pushed that over the past 5 years. But it still didn't work to convince buyers.

I think I might be able to type pretty fast on that....

But 3DTV technology is far too limited and expensive to be decent. Holograms, that's where it is.

 

[crawfish]

 

[mdmd]

nice one crawfish

BSOD Windows 27


I like it!

think that clip of data was pulled
from the episode when his emotion chip was malfunctioning