Tablet design before and after the iPad...

[purbeast0]

http://osxdaily.com/2011/08/18/tablet-design-before-after-the-ipad/

my friend just linked me to that and I had a chuckle after looking at it heh.

 

[prism]

In before phandroids hijack!

 

[foghorn67]

While I welcome what the iPad did to the tablet market, I think it killed other things short term wise. Everyone is too focused on the consumption device now.
Admit it, we just dick around on tablets.
Sure there are productivity tools that might keep some things honest, but it's not the same direction.
Partly due to limitations in technology.
Now thanks to the new generation of ARM processors and regular x86 becoming more viable for mobile, it might change.
I'm hoping for a tablet that has a stylus so I can bang out some drawings, write notes, and still double as a consumption device.
Windows XP/Vista and even 7 don't handle touch and stylus input all that well. 7 was a huge improvement, but it's not a native interface for that. At best, a manufacturer can skin it like those HP touchscreen media machines, but that isn't the answer either.
I'm hoping for Windows 8 to finally bring us this opportunity, and I'm sure Apple has something up it's sleeve.

 

[Pliablemoose]

While I welcome what the iPad did to the tablet market, I think it killed other things short term wise. Everyone is too focused on the consumption device now.
Admit it, we just dick around on tablets.

Hell, I just dick around with PC's too...

It depends on your needs, I don't type novels or crunch spreadsheets, I use it to get on the web and do the gazillion things I need to do there, pay bills, email, trade stocks, the iPad is damn close to a laptop replacement for many people.

Windows 8 is going to be an abortion, remember it takes MS 3 tries to get it right?

 

[foghorn67]

Hell, I just dick around with PC's too...

It depends on your needs, I don't type novels or crunch spreadsheets, I use it to get on the web and do the gazillion things I need to do there, pay bills, email, trade stocks, the iPad is damn close to a laptop replacement for many people.

Windows 8 is going to be an abortion, remember it takes MS 3 tries to get it right?

Like I said, an all-in-one. The way it is now, if there is no app for it, you're screwed. Or you're depending on a website to be mobile friendly and Flash free.
If I want to draw with Autosketch or use a photo program to edit things deeper then Snapseed or Camera+, I'm screwed.
Fingerpaint? No thanks. Give me a stylus for productivity. Give me enough horsepower to run real programs.
BTW - Xbox got it right on the 2nd gen. And since MS won't be making tablets, they won't RROD.
The iphone too wasn't anything great until 2nd gen. Hell, there wasn't an appstore until the 3g hit the market.

 

[Pliablemoose]

What is the point of having Windows on a 10" screen?

Hell, I hate using it with anything but dual monitors, big dual monitors.

 

[poofyhairguy]

My old Toshiba looks way closer to an iPad than those examples:

 

[foghorn67]

What is the point of having Windows on a 10" screen?

Hell, I hate using it with anything but dual monitors, big dual monitors.

I don't think you are seeing the big picture. No pun intended
Someone is going to do this eventually. An OS that is scalable. It can work on a small screen, and it work on dual 1080p monitors on a desktop.
I had no issues using a small Lenevo tablet to draw in PS. It was awesome. It was just brought down with a slow processor. And of course, it wasn't tablet sized. It was laptop thick, not tablet thin.
Tons of people are buying MacBook Air's. Why not make something that sized with a stylus for productive folks that need an input besides fingerpainting on a screen? And that's a real computer, with a real processor in small lightweight frame running a real OS.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, if a formula works, why change it, right?

 

[Alone]

So? Before Apple made the iPad, they made other, ugly as sin tablets.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I don't think you are seeing the big picture. No pun intended
Someone is going to do this eventually. An OS that is scalable. It can work on a small screen, and it work on dual 1080p monitors on a desktop.
I had no issues using a small Lenevo tablet to draw in PS. It was awesome. It was just brought down with a slow processor. And of course, it wasn't tablet sized. It was laptop thick, not tablet thin.
Tons of people are buying MacBook Air's. Why not make something that sized with a stylus for productive folks that need an input besides fingerpainting on a screen? And that's a real computer, with a real processor in small lightweight frame running a real OS.

Well, yeah, we're headed in that direction, but the reality is most people don't need that much computer.

I've bought 2 MacBook Airs this year, 13" for me and an 11" for my daughter. I gotta tell you, they're pretty sweet.

 

[wpeng]

Maybe this is what you are looking for? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6AdaT8WyDE

 

[aceO07]

My old Toshiba looks way closer to an iPad than those examples:

+1.. I was going to bring up the Thinkpad Tablet.

They weren't as thin or light as the current generation of tablets, but they also had a major feature most of this generation doesn't have(or doesn't do as well) yet.

Most don't make use of Wacom+stylus yet. Some do, but isn't as responsive.

 

[BladeVenom]

Microsoft's old tablets failed hard. They were just laptops without a keyboard.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TC1100-1.JPG

Funny how the HP/Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 didn't make the list. I guess that makes Compaq the real inovator in tablet design.

 

[MrX8503]

Although people don't like to admit it, Apple is a leader when it comes to design. Aside from the iPhone/iPad designs, the MBP is also another one.

I guess it helps when you have billions in the bank to fund R&D.

 

[purbeast0]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TC1100-1.JPG

Funny how the HP/Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 didn't make the list. I guess that makes Compaq the real inovator in tablet design.

yea that definitely looks most "ipad" like from prior to it.

 

[Oyeve]

Although people don't like to admit it, Apple is a leader when it comes to design. Aside from the iPhone/iPad designs, the MBP is also another one.

I guess it helps when you have billions in the bank to fund R&D.

I love apple's design of its products. Make it as thin as possible. But I wish they made it more openable. I would love to try and fix my sons 4th gen nano, the left side drops out and I am sure its just a connection but the damn thing is glued down.

 

[Binky]

Everyone is too focused on the consumption device now.
Admit it, we just dick around on tablets.
Sure there are productivity tools that might keep some things honest, but it's not the same direction.

According to your logic, everything must have a productive use or its not worthwhile? I'm sure thats too harsh but its sorta what you're saying. According to this theory, EVERYTHING in my house (including me) is unproductive! I have five computers with a bajillion gaming addons and devices and none of them are used for work. I have 2 tablets, 3 smartphones, 9 cordless phones, an Xbox, and three large TV's - none of which are used for work (ok, maybe a little bit on the phones).

So yeah, I've got a lot of money invested in dicking around and I like it that way. If I want to be productive, I go to my office where I have a very boring P4 computer that is incredibly productive for what I do with it.

 

[Dominato3r]

Looking back is reminding me of the Courier. Wtf happened to that? That would've been the ideal tablet for me. Software/hardware limitation?

 

[foghorn67]

According to your logic, everything must have a productive use or its not worthwhile? I'm sure thats too harsh but its sorta what you're saying. According to this theory, EVERYTHING in my house (including me) is unproductive! I have five computers with a bajillion gaming addons and devices and none of them are used for work. I have 2 tablets, 3 smartphones, 9 cordless phones, an Xbox, and three large TV's - none of which are used for work (ok, maybe a little bit on the phones).

So yeah, I've got a lot of money invested in dicking around and I like it that way. If I want to be productive, I go to my office where I have a very boring P4 computer that is incredibly productive for what I do with it.

You fail at comprehension.

 

[Binky]

You fail at comprehension.

I disagree.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TC1100-1.JPG

Funny how the HP/Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 didn't make the list. I guess that makes Compaq the real inovator in tablet design.

Because as usual, they cherry pick their compitition or are so out of the loop they don't actually know what they are talking about.

Although people don't like to admit it, Apple is a leader when it comes to design. Aside from the iPhone/iPad designs, the MBP is also another one.

I guess it helps when you have billions in the bank to fund R&D.

Their just not a leader in coming up with names. iPhone was 1st trademarked by Cisco in 1999
Apple does have some slick designs. The problem is most of them are 100% theirs. they take queues from other designs.

 

[foghorn67]

I disagree.

Of course. But you missed the point of my post entirely.

 

[smartpatrol]

Honestly, Windows 8 tablets are the only ones that sound interesting to me at this point. iPad & Honeycomb tablets are nothing but giant smartphones (which for some people is maybe all they're looking for, admittedly).

It's going to be awesome having a tablet with a touch-friendly UI, app store, front-facing camera, etc. AND that can run a real desktop OS, can be docked & works well with mouse+KB, and perhaps even supports an active digitizer + pressure-sensitive stylus.

You can run whatever apps/programs you want, no jailbraeaking or rooting necessary. You get the best of both worlds: both a content-consumption device and a full blown PC. I don't really see compatibility as an issue either. I'm sure all MS software and just about all open-source programs will be ARM compatible on day 1, with most major Windows programs following in the near future.