Windows 8 without touch is like a day without sunshine

I'll admit that when Windows 8 first arrived it wasn't clear to me what the appeail might be for users. A user interface (UI) with controls to be used a lot but were hidden from the operator didn't make a lot of sense to me. It didn't help that the UI was intended to be used on devices allowing touch operation as well as conventional mouse and trackpad systems. It seemed that Microsoft was trying to do too much with the UI in order to appeal to the broadest market possible.

This dual mode of operation that has evolved over time works fairly well and I enjoy using Windows 8 as a result. It took time but I have settled into an easy system of using Windows 8. Touch in Metro, trackpad/keyboard in desktop mode.
That's come crashing down as I am testing a new ThinkPad that lacks a touch screen. This 14-inch laptop (review of the T431s coming soon) is a great laptop in every way. It is thin and light yet powerful and good for both the consumer and enterprise crowds. It is the poster child for Windows 8 use, except it doesn't have a touch screen.

Windows 8 without touch is like a day without sunshine | ZDNet
 
Hi there
Well if the above is true then why did Ms BOTHER with a desktop interface at all.

There are so many areas where Touch is a TOTAL IRRELEVANCE. Where do some of these so called "techie" Mags (or Rags) find these "journalists" from -- Have they ever been out into an Engineering shop for example or visited the summit of a Volcano which could erupt in the near future -- you certainly wouldn't want to take off a THICK pair of gloves which are almost Space suit style in that environment -- so pray tell me if you can how I'd get a Touch screen to work while lowering a sensor into the magma to record and measure temperature and gases for example while wearing gloves something very akin to a Space suit pair of gloves.

Just ignore a lot of that ZDNET junk if you are doing any sort of this type of work.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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It is important not to make too quick a decision about a use interface as first impressions may not last. Easy to learn is not the same as easy to use. Some of the things a new user may like the most may turn out to be the ones that are hated the most when experience is developed.

For some types of applications a touch screen may be very good, while for others it will be very bad. Among other things it just doesn't provide the kind of precise interaction required for some applications.
 

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What's amusing is that from a practical and logical standpoint touch interface after a short time using it gets physically tiring! Constantly raising your arms and hands to touch a screen that is directly in front of you is a waste of energy and it is awkward to boot.

When it comes to productivity touch is NOT practical. The good old keyboard and mouse still can be beat. This is just a logical fact.
 

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Hi there
Well if the above is true then why did Ms BOTHER with a desktop interface at all.

There are so many areas where Touch is a TOTAL IRRELEVANCE. Where do some of these so called "techie" Mags (or Rags) find these "journalists" from -- Have they ever been out into an Engineering shop for example or visited the summit of a Volcano which could erupt in the near future -- you certainly wouldn't want to take off a THICK pair of gloves which are almost Space suit style in that environment -- so pray tell me if you can how I'd get a Touch screen to work while lowering a sensor into the magma to record and measure temperature and gases for example while wearing gloves something very akin to a Space suit pair of gloves.

Just ignore a lot of that ZDNET junk if you are doing any sort of this type of work.

Cheers
jimbo

Simple. Use a stylus.
 

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What's amusing is that from a practical and logical standpoint touch interface after a short time using it gets physically tiring! Constantly raising your arms and hands to touch a screen that is directly in front of you is a waste of energy and it is awkward to boot.

When it comes to productivity touch is NOT practical. The good old keyboard and mouse still can be beat. This is just a logical fact.

Not using touch correctly/ergonomically.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
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    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
What's amusing is that from a practical and logical standpoint touch interface after a short time using it gets physically tiring! Constantly raising your arms and hands to touch a screen that is directly in front of you is a waste of energy and it is awkward to boot.
Touch screens aren't really new but have been around for years. That is one of the reasons why they never became popular until recently. They work well with applications that require only minimal and simple interaction with the user. But for anything beyond that you will be wanting something else - such as the good old fashioned mouse or trackpad.
 

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Touch is the best thing right now for small handheld devices.

It is not the best thing for a vertical screen.

Not hard to understand.
 

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Touch is perfect if everyone adopts Mr Robot's work style. We are all doing it wrong, World+Dog is out of step with Microsoft.
 

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What's amusing is that from a practical and logical standpoint touch interface after a short time using it gets physically tiring! Constantly raising your arms and hands to touch a screen that is directly in front of you is a waste of energy and it is awkward to boot.

When it comes to productivity touch is NOT practical. The good old keyboard and mouse still can be beat. This is just a logical fact.

Not using touch correctly/ergonomically.

Easy to say not so easy to do though. It's easy enough to do with a tablet not so easy to do with a desktop PC and a descent sized monitor. Not if you also want to be able use a keyboard and mouse.
 

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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
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    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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