Apple touch screen, OS look and feel 2014
the touch screen
Steve Jobs, after extensive research, concluded that working with a vertical touch screen, wouldn't work, as one's hands and arms would get so tired that they would feel like dropping off; thus the iPad made total sense. I understood that as well as the idea about no USB bus on an iPad. Nonetheless, as soon as I bought my iPad2, I also picked up a Kensington leather case that also had a bluetooth alpha numeric keypad attached. I didn't know I wanted that keyboard, but there it was; and I loved it!!! Although I use to bring my MacBookPro to work; I have brought my iPad with alphanumeric keyboard in a leather case instead and for many years now. It's been incredible: light, touch screen, keyboard: used it just like my MacBookPro, except, no USB and no folder oriented desktop system.
I basically have had what is now being marketed as a "Slate".
And since Apple is far superior, I would love to see them add a touch screen to the MacBook Air. Then I'd have USB and Touch Screen like I have now.
I believe Steve J. might even agree that using a touch screen in this way, would provide a variable way to access and change information: not as the only way, but an alternate way. It would be used as desired as another way to access one's input. It feels magical; and "a sense of magic" was an important facet of what Steve looked for.
OS look and feel
I have gone along with the new look and feel of the newer OS (what choice did I have?). I believe though that many of us still miss the original Apple icon look and feel. It's like the old TekServe store in Manhattan: you stepped out of the elevator and the familiar boot up tone sounded off. It was great, so too the warmth and charm of that store. They moved some years back. What was cool about it: Even though they modernized their facility, (and although no more elevator for us) they still kept the warmth and charm of that Apple "feel". The new TekServe still had old wooden floors, a stack of original Macs, old timey radios on display, a dime Coca Cola machine: a folk oriented country store: Apple.
I get that designers want to keep traveling the road of establishing trend with new looks, new feels. Johnny Appleseed sowed lots of apples. And I do enjoy the new Honey-Crisp apple hybrids. But I wish Apple would make it so that I have a choice in the look and feel of my Apple products. I loved the way the calendar used to look and feel. I identified with it's folkiness, with Apple's revolutionary feel, it's way of being the computer of the people, the "not-a-business-computer"; it was me. And I love that MacIntosh apples still make the best apple pies.
I get that the new look is simpler and so on, but this company's success was founded on a look and feel that is being left behind. At least keep the "home-grown" feel as an option for those of us who have come to know and love all things Apple.
hopeful
I remain hopeful that Apple will keep in touch with what people want. Part of Steve's charm is he gave us what we didn't even know we wanted. But Steve is now on another plain. And everyone out there is trying to re-invent his wheel in one way or another. So I hope Apple "stays hungry" and strives to excel the magic of how Apple products do what they do, and I hope Apple "stays foolish" (not conservative) and embraces what it's faithful want. (well okay speaking for myself and anyone else who agrees) please give us either a touch screen on the MacBook Air (it has USB) or An iPad with USB and help 3rd party developers design better packaging for the bluetooth keyboards.
Thanks for listening. =^)