Daring Fireball - Mac Touch Bar the right idea

[smoledman]

http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/10/28/panzarino-touch-bar

Also contains a severe reality check on the Surface Studio. MS fans not going to like this one at all.

 

[Floris]

Just a typical 'look at me and what I have to say' post by him again. Sorry.

 

[phrehdd]

First, thanks for sharing. I think that the Surface Studio has nothing to worry about when it comes to the touch bar. There are most like 2-3 ways to accomplish the same thing if the goal is to provide what used to be "dedicated keys" for an application.

 

[Floris]

The surface studio is a great device for the windows world and for people who want to be creative in that way.
And it has nothing to do with the touch bar on a laptop from apple, which is not a 28" monitor ..

two different worlds.

 

[maflynn]

MS fans not going to like this one at all.

I don't think MS fans read Mac blogs, so there won't be any disappointed on their part.

From what I've read its typical comments by an apple fan, that most people looking at the Studio won't give it another thought.

 

[smoledman]

I don't think MS fans read Mac blogs, so there won't be any disappointed on their part.

From what I've read its typical comments by an apple fan, that most people looking at the Studio won't give it another thought.

What artists who have tried Studio have said is Surface Pen still is broken in terms of not being able to draw straight lines. That's a deal-breaker for 2-D artists. MS should have stayed with Wacom instead of that garbage nTrig.

 

[satchmo]

What artists who have tried Studio have said is Surface Pen still is broken in terms of not being able to draw straight lines. That's a deal-breaker for 2-D artists. MS should have stayed with Wacom instead of that garbage nTrig.

I know Gruber is an ardent Mac fan. But if what he says about latency and what you say about straight lines is true, it would be a deal-breaker.

The video of the Surface Studio wowed many. But if implementation sucks, then it's just a sexy concept. The devil is in the details. That said I still applaud MS for pushing the envelope.

 

[smoledman]

Considering Apple already perfected the drawing experience with Pencil, all they would need to do is come out with their own Mac Studio and this product would be DOA.

 

[satchmo]

Considering Apple already perfected the drawing experience with Pencil, all they would need to do is come out with their own Mac Studio and this product would be DOA.

I agree. But Apple hasn't and Microsoft has.
And unfortunately, I don't think there's any interest from Apple to create a Mac Studio.
I think we're more likely to see new iMacs with a Touch Bar keyboard.
Apple believes no one should touch a 'desktop' screen, only an iPad screen.

 

[smoledman]

I agree. But Apple hasn't and Microsoft has.
And unfortunately, I don't think there's any interest from Apple to create a Mac Studio.
I think we're more likely to see new iMacs with a Touch Bar keyboard.
Apple believes no one should touch a 'desktop' screen, only an iPad screen.

If Microsoft can perfect the Surface Pen, than that will explode sales of all Surface devices.

Also if Apple thinks the future is more touch stuff on the base instead of the screen, well good luck with that.

 

[maflynn]

Considering Apple already perfected the drawing experience with Pencil, all they would need to do is come out with their own Mac Studio and this product would be DOA.

But they won't, they've already stated touchscreens is not coming to the Macs.

 

[Michael Goff]

What artists who have tried Studio have said is Surface Pen still is broken in terms of not being able to draw straight lines. That's a deal-breaker for 2-D artists. MS should have stayed with Wacom instead of that garbage nTrig.

Weird. I just drew straight lines with my SP 3 pen.

 

[pat500000]

What artists who have tried Studio have said is Surface Pen still is broken in terms of not being able to draw straight lines. That's a deal-breaker for 2-D artists. MS should have stayed with Wacom instead of that garbage nTrig.

I thought they have the ruler tool.

 

[maflynn]

What artists who have tried Studio have said is Surface Pen still is broken in terms of not being able to draw straight lines.

So far, I've only seen positive responses and reviews.

MS should have stayed with Wacom instead of that garbage nTrig.

Do you use nTrig, what makes it garbage in your opinion, and have you used nTrig and compared it personally to Wacom?

 

[Michael Goff]

So far, I've only seen positive responses and reviews.


Do you use nTrig, what makes it garbage in your opinion, and have you used nTrig and compared it personally to Wacom?

If you are going by some bizarro universe where it can't draw a straight line, of course it's garbage. It isn't true, but starting from the flawed premise gets you here.

 

[smoledman]

If you are going by some bizarro universe where it can't draw a straight line, of course it's garbage. It isn't true, but starting from the flawed premise gets you here.

There are plenty of videos showing the jitter, poor low pressure sensitivity(can't draw thin lines), no tilt support. To me, if I were a graphic artist that is a deal-breaker. From all the videos I've seen of Apple Pencil it's flawless other than the charging method.

 

[maflynn]

here are plenty of videos showing the jitter, poor low pressure sensitivity(can't draw thin lines),

Please link to them, because, its my understanding that the Studio is not out yet so I'm not sure how there could be so many videos out there.

Also please provide details as to why you think ntrig is no good. As I asked earlier, have you used both? What do you find lacking on one not the other?

 

[Michael Goff]

There are plenty of videos showing the jitter, poor low pressure sensitivity(can't draw thin lines), no tilt support. To me, if I were a graphic artist that is a deal-breaker. From all the videos I've seen of Apple Pencil it's flawless other than the charging method.

The tilt support thing is the only one I can say is right about the SP Pen. The Apple Pencil is the only one with tilt support, and it didn't seem important to most artists until Apple did it. Now it's mysteriously a point against normal wacom and ntrig. The only jitter I have when I draw is my own. I draw straight lines. I can even draw thin lines. The Apple Pencil is great, but not perfect.

 

[smoledman]

Videos showing jitter:

here is a massive Microsoft support thread on the issue:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...n-inking/78c138e5-50db-4544-a988-6023a84b9675

http://www.surfaceforums.net/threads/n-trig-jitter-is-driving-me-nuts.18068/
[doublepost=1478376616][/doublepost]

The tilt support thing is the only one I can say is right about the SP Pen. The Apple Pencil is the only one with tilt support, and it didn't seem important to most artists until Apple did it. Now it's mysteriously a point against normal wacom and ntrig. The only jitter I have when I draw is my own. I draw straight lines. I can even draw thin lines. The Apple Pencil is great, but not perfect.

So you are using the Apple Pencil right? The only criticism I've heard is it's a bit heavy to hold and the stupid charging method. Otherwise a perfect drawing tool.

 

[Michael Goff]

Videos showing jitter:

here is a massive Microsoft support thread on the issue:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...n-inking/78c138e5-50db-4544-a988-6023a84b9675

http://www.surfaceforums.net/threads/n-trig-jitter-is-driving-me-nuts.18068/
[doublepost=1478376616][/doublepost]

So you are using the Apple Pencil right? The only criticism I've heard is it's a bit heavy to hold and the stupid charging method. Otherwise a perfect drawing tool.

Issues with the Apple Pencil when compared to the Surface Pen for me include:
Size is a bit weird for me
Weight is more, which isn't horrible but not as good
Two batteries last a year vs 12hr battery life
Buttons are convenient for quick erase when needed
I had to re-pair if BT was ever turned off

That's not even getting into OS differences that screw over the comparison even more.