Microsoft's Prototype Multi-Touch Tablet/Booklet

[jmpage2]

But even about the Viruses. I haven't used an anti virus since 2003, simply because I know enough about computers to exercise good common sense. Here people seem to think that if you just turn on a Windows computer it will get a virus. Anti viruses are mostly for people who don't really understand computer, and like to google celebrity pics, or naughty pics.

You don't seem to understand that worms and other things can affect a Windows box even through no user action.

You have to be exceedingly vigilant on a Windows box to avoid these kinds of problems.

I was very similar to you, a power user who took extreme pride in my ability to keep my Windows machine running well through common sense.

Even then it turns out that my machine had become infected.

The bottom line is that the typical user who is just browsing the internet and leaving a computer connected 24/7 should not have to install and manage security suites just to avoid having problems.

Power users might be able to avoid having issues with Windows PCs but typical users have nothing but problems.

 

[BongoBanger]

Apple is the devil. Those are the tech specs. Get back to me when you get over your hatred of Apple and then maybe we have a real discussion regarding Microsoft's products (and only their products).

Apple are the devil? That's a surprise. I though they were a manufacturer of rather good laptops, PMPs and phones.

Clearly my mistake just as your assumption I hate them would appear to be.

 

[EagerDragon]

Look this is no iPhone -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNwvmS_LV1s

That was not invented by M$. It is just an implementation of the same technology that Apple and other purchase from some researchers. M$ does it with a camera and projector, Apple does it with capasitive resistance surfaces like the one on the iPhone.

Same thing just different ways of implementing it. Neither Apple not Microsoft invented the concept.

Several universities have been working on this, for example: http://cs.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/

It was then spun out into a business see: http://www.perceptivepixel.com/ and the video which it is a lot more impresive than the one from M$.

See Jeff Hans (inventor) demo: http://infosthetics.com/archives/2007/03/even_more_multitouch_screen.html

As I said neither Microsoft not Apple invented this, they just use different methods to implement the same thing.

Enjoy

 

[BongoBanger]

You don't seem to understand that worms and other things can affect a Windows box even through no user action.

Give me a specific example of a worm that can affect Vista or W7 without third party intervention.

You might mention the recent SMB vulnerability but since you would have to switch off Windows Defender (which is on by default) I probably wouldn't.

Like I said earlier. It's not 2006 anymore.

What you are missing is that MS is terrible at execution. The reason that Apple is so successful is that they design the hardware, create the software and spend eons refining the UI.

Replace "is terrible" with "was terrible" and I would agree with you absolutely.

 

[pol0001]

I think it is a really useful concept. Would buy one if it should be released. For me such a device would be very useful. I don't want a desktop replacement, I want a "note book". Currently, at work I use Moleskine notebooks a lot to take notes a meetings, prepare myself for client visits or just put down my ideas.
I like that it's function seem to be based on OneNote. No matter what others say, for me there is no software that can keep up to it.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

I sit in an office every day with a guy whose XBox 360 has died three times now. I don't think it's going out on a limb to say that any product with that kind of failure rate is far from "great."

2 Xbox's and 2 Xbox 360's 3 years strong no issues!

Most of the Xbox issues are from users who stuff them in credenzas or below a cable box. Electronic devices need air.

 

[BongoBanger]

2 Xbox's and 2 Xbox 360's 3 years strong no issues!

Most of the Xbox issues are from users who stuff them in credenzas or below a cable box. Electronic devices need air.

Actually, in fairness, the Series 1 and 2 Xbox 360s had terrible reliability issues and were an embarrassment to Microsoft's quality control operations. That said, the Jasper based 360s are fine.

 

[llurgy]

Me really likey! Me really want! Drooling.......

 

[*LTD*]

Some people here are acting as if this thing is actually in production, will look exactly as shown, and it's release is immiment.

This is MS, guys. They can't even get a mobile OS right in two years, despite the fact that they've had one for nearly a decade now. And when they do manage to come up with a decent device, they seem to release it after the market has moved on.

As long as Ballmer and current management are there, Microsoft's MO won't change.

 

[jmpage2]

Give me a specific example of a worm that can affect Vista or W7 without third party intervention.

You might mention the recent SMB vulnerability but since you would have to switch off Windows Defender (which is on by default) I probably wouldn't.

Like I said earlier. It's not 2006 anymore.



Replace "is terrible" with "was terrible" and I would agree with you absolutely.

I am not completely up to date on the current security situation with Windows computers so I will have to take you at your word that there are no current major security threats to Windows Vista or Windows 7.

What I do know is that MS has done a terrible job of insulating Windows users from attacks, having to resort to UAC interactions to avoid programs, active-x controls, etc, from hijacking the admin account on the machine.

Again, users shouldn't have to worry about these sorts of things. It's just a fundamental design issue.

Let's extend the user experience beyond worms/viruses and major bugs and talk about other aspects of the user experience such as backing up user data.

To back up my sister's new Vista machine took the purchase of $30 in aftermarket software and over two hours on the phone explaining how to configure it to do a full backup, how to create backups of other folders, etc.

My friend who bought a Mac plugged in a hard disk, told TM to use it and he was done.

The list goes on and on.

A friend (innocently) installed a 3rd party application that hijacked some of the pointers in Windows for what codecs to use to encode/decode audio and video which rendered many of his audio/video files unusable. MS offers no way to "fix" this other than a script that tries to reinstall a few basic codecs, so he had to resort to loading a 3rd party codec application that caused additional problems with his machine.

At the end of the day, this sums it up pretty good;

 

[kdarling]

See, this is exactly what I was talking about. Kind of turning me off to macs. The same outdated critism over and over which makes the person making them look silly. We're in 2009, I haven't had a blue screen of death since the year 2000 when I was using Windows 98.

Same here, and I use a lot of stuff.

The _only_ BSOD I've seen in the past ten years since using W2K or XP, was with iTunes on a PC... just a few months ago.

 

[NT1440]

2 Xbox's and 2 Xbox 360's 3 years strong no issues!

Most of the Xbox issues are from users who stuff them in credenzas or below a cable box. Electronic devices need air.

Even MS said that they have had a 52-57% failure rate.

Thats all taken care of now with the Jasper motherboard redesign tho

 

[gnomeisland]

The interface only works if your hands are free floating...

is it just me or does that thing look incredibly uncomfortable to use? you could only really use it on a table of some sort. the "mobile" just isnt there for me.

Agreed. The tablet looks *really* cool and I love the booklet idea but this seems to be the most ridiculous implementation. For one, why don't offer the option to use it like a traditional laptop (aka XO-2)? Also, it seems like all the functional alternate between finger touch and stylus actions. Now perhaps that is only because MS wants to emphasize that you can use both since, up until now, the multitouch Apple devices are not stylus friends. However, having used WinMo I immediately had fears of having to juggle a stylus to get any work done. To be practical and killer this *needs* to have a one hand operation mode. It needs an on screen keyboard that pops up on either screen, or taking up the whole screen (like the XO-2). Otherwise this video strikes me a glossy example of someone trying to "think Apple" without really knowing what that means.

All that rants aside, I say release it MS. It obviously has some great features and that will make Apple move faster on implementing their great features (ie App Store). Meanwhile your kitchy implementation will just leave most people wanting more, a great prep for what I hope will be killer product (iTablet) released sometime before my grandchildren die.

 

[jmpage2]

Same here, and I use a lot of stuff.

The _only_ BSOD I've seen in the past ten years since using W2K or XP, was with iTunes on a PC... just a few months ago.

Geez, give me a break. I'm an MCSE and work with Server 2003, Server 2008 and every desktop flavor there is.

I've seen it all from BSOD to unresponsive processes, driver crashes, etc.

While we can't pin this all on MS (they do have to work with "everything") sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade.

This pipe dream world where there are no BSODs, no crashes, no freezes or lockups is a world where a user never installs new drivers, new devices and new software.

 

[VoR]

At the end of the day, this sums it up pretty good;

Using the examples you've just quoted, surely windows wouldn't be in the 'user friendly' section?

ps. The picture is rubbish
pps. I'm part of the gang that has continued to use windows machines heavily on a daily basis, and hasn't had a blue screen since 98/me

 

[gohanmzt]

Would it be possible to hackintosh this thing?

 

[Antares]

Interesting artist's concept. This is like a giant Nintendo DS!

 

[SAN66]

Any of these device that does not have tactile text entry will fail. I'm talking to you too apple. MS's concept looks cool, but it will only fill a niche market.

The iPhone is different in this regards as tactile text entry on phones is cumbersome in itself and a virtual keyboard is fine for something tiny that fits in your pocket and they're already regarded as companion devices, not full fledged computers. Still there are many people I know who will not purchase one because of the lack of a tactile keyboard.

If these tablets have no method of tactile entry they will be relegated as companion devices and when it comes down to the choice between a netbook/notebook and a tablet device, most will choose the netbook/notebook because they are used to entry on a keyboard and will view them as "full computers" and the tablet as something I will also need a full computer for.

Now if they're smart, and I know you are apple, they will release something that is both a tablet and a netbook.

I can picture the commercial in my head now. The disembodied hands playing with the device and all and apple's narrator describing what it can do.

- Say you need a notebook to jot down notes during a meeting, draw some diagrams, share with your co-workers. It can do that.
(shows disembodied hands writing and drawing on the tablet with a stylus)
- Say you need a book reader to review those notes, surf the web or read the works of your favourite author. It can do that.
(shows disembodied hands flipping pages, scrolling etc with their fingers)
- Say you need a media player to watch movies on the go, listen to your favourite music or play a few games. It can do that.
(device flips to landscape and shows disembodied hands manipulating video/music/games)
- Or Say you just want to use it as a plain old laptop. It can do that too.
(shows device magnetically clicking into a keyboard base)
- Introducing the brand new 10 inch iBook Touch only from apple.
(Screen closes down on base keyboard just like a normal laptop)

 

[Pocket lint]

How about Virus's?

What about them? How many virusses are there for instance for Windows Mobile 5/6/6.1 in the wild?

In any case, I'll take added functionality with the notion that one has to think, over totally secure but utterly irrelevant.
Seriously, imagine an oversized Touch - or iPhone. All fine and well (and fun, might I add), until you actually have to get something done (no, twittering, checking youtube and checking facebook aren't productivity in my book).

 

[Chimpy]

Looks cool as hell. Then again, since it's just a rendered image, they may as well make it shoot lasers and bring about world peace while they're at it.

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[jmpage2]

Using the examples you've just quoted, surely windows wouldn't be in the 'user friendly' section?

ps. The picture is rubbish
pps. I'm part of the gang that has continued to use windows machines heavily on a daily basis, and hasn't had a blue screen since 98/me

I would say that OS X is far more into the "user friendly" space than MS is, but they both deserve to be in that set.

I didn't create the picture but it represents things well. Windows just isn't nearly as stable as OS X when it comes to the full desktop user experience.

At home I run a Windows Home Server for file sharing and it actually does a great job of providing Time Machine backup services to the Macs in the home.

I would not want to go back to using the MS desktop UI for my home computing needs though. As it is I cringe every time I turn from my lovely 24" iMac to the Dell laptop I must use for work.

 

[Rot'nApple]

Will it do screen spanning to teh Big Ass Table™?

You mean screen "squirting" don't you?!

 

[corinhorn]

Any of these device that does not have tactile text entry will fail. I'm talking to you too apple. MS's concept looks cool, but it will only fill a niche market.

The iPhone is different in this regards as tactile text entry on phones is cumbersome in itself and a virtual keyboard is fine for something tiny that fits in your pocket and they're already regarded as companion devices, not full fledged computers. Still there are many people I know who will not purchase one because of the lack of a tactile keyboard.

If these tablets have no method of tactile entry they will be relegated as companion devices and when it comes down to the choice between a netbook/notebook and a tablet device, most will choose the netbook/notebook because they are used to entry on a keyboard and will view them as "full computers" and the tablet as something I will also need a full computer for.

Agreed. I fail to see how this supposed Ms Tablet could replace my laptop.

 

[jmpage2]

What about them? How many virusses are there for instance for Windows Mobile 5/6/6.1 in the wild?

In any case, I'll take added functionality with the notion that one has to think, over totally secure but utterly irrelevant.
Seriously, imagine an oversized Touch - or iPhone. All fine and well (and fun, might I add), until you actually have to get something done (no, twittering, checking youtube and checking facebook aren't productivity in my book).

Pretty funny commenting considering that a business analysis recently demonstrated that business users actually get MORE done with an iPhone than with a RIM or WinMO device.

 

[bunty]

Didn't Scully have something called the Network Navigator back in the day as an idea? This seems similar to that. I don't like the idea of writing a url to go there and overall it seems like just a virtual scrapbook/notebook.

I wonder how you search for things you cut out and save on the virtual pages from the web; I can imagine this getting pretty cluttered and messy over time as it gets clogged up with bits and pieces of notes, kinda like a real notebook.

It's strange that it's moving back towards the paper notebook paradigm when computers and technology were taking away from that mess, I guess it's come full sine wave...again.