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Why a touch screen desktop is a bad idea

Not sure if anyone has seen this yet, but it's a brief intro to Microsft's new OS ("Touch"), due for release in 2010. It only demonstrates some proprietary apps (picture viewer, piano, and maps), but looks like it has potential. I imagine it's going to need some pretty significant hardware, though.

That map software looks sweet.
 
This would be horrible for desktop computers.

I'm lazy as it is and enjoy kicking back with my effortless hand slouched on my Logitech mouse with ease. They would need to have a workout club fee included with this idea. Tone those shoulders kids, touch screen is on the way. :rolleyes:
 
nuckinfutz said:
True

A Touch Screen that isn't horizontal (a la MS Surface) is an ergononic nightmare.

I'm amazed at how many people have bought into the idea that somehow touchscreen is suitable for standard desktop use. Yeah maybe if you're on a glorified kiosk.
Click to expand...

I think it can have it's uses. Like, if you could slide the monitor towards you, in an angle, so that it has the same properties as an architect's workspace, and work in a selection of apps. I'd love to have it in Photoshop, hate to have it in Coda. A solution like that has to be able to adapt itself to several working environments to be successful.
 
I played with the HP Touchsmart desktop at Sam's Club and it got extremely tiring. I think Apple should make a tablet notebook. I would turn in my tablet for that. ;)
 
imaketouchtheme said:
Man, how weak are people going to be that lifting up your arm to touch something is tiring.

Unbelievable.
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People complain about doing that for Wii games. It's nothing new.
But it does get tiring. As I said in this thread last year; I've used a touchscreen PC for some length and yes it's not as comfy as using a keyboard and mouse. It's good for portable machines but I don't want it anywhere near my computer.
 
Who said a touchscreen would be a replacement of the mouse and keyboard? Using it along with the mouse and keyboard is what I'm talking about. I could never see myself without a physical keyboard, ever. But for doing simple tasks like browsing files on a computer, light web browsing, etc, I believe it's much more convenient.
 
I'd like to see some sort of a hybrid keyboard. Physical keys for typing but replace the numeric keypad with a touchscreen like the iPhone. One tap to reach files, one to reach apps and so on. programs like PhotoShop could use the feature to display the last 3 or 4 tools used and limit mousing to the tool bar. A keyed overlay could convert it to a standard number pad with feedback. As a touchpad, the number pad could be configured to display any kind of calculator needed.

Dale
 
Is Snow Leopard even designed to do this? I've seen Windows 7 videos and the menu buttons, etc. seem bigger for the fingers (which takes up real estate). This seems like it won't catch on for a while though since most programs aren't designed for the purpose of finger use.
 
mithrilfox said:
Many people have been talking lately about the possibility of a touch screen iMac or other such things. The craze is obviously fueled by the very popular and very well-designed iPhone. The touch screen works great on the iPhone, right, so wouldn't it be great on our iMacs, too?

Not ... at ... all.


The problem here lies in the radically different way that these two devices are used. Despite videos circulating supposedly showing people using touch screen iMacs, the honest truth is, it's a bad idea from the start. Although the future could reveal a very niched and particular usage for some technology like this on our desktops, it will NOT replace the keyboard/mouse by any means.
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I believe its true what you say, but there are numerous Technologies that could help the touch screen be a better experience. Like the iPhone, its not something that will work alone but something that will work seamlessly with other technologies. In other words, think outside of the box and don't just look at the touch screen; how about voice control replacing the keyboard. We are going to lose these standard tools we use to maneuver the desktop at some point, the keyboard cannot last forever.
 
imaketouchtheme said:
Who said a touchscreen would be a replacement of the mouse and keyboard? Using it along with the mouse and keyboard is what I'm talking about. I could never see myself without a physical keyboard, ever. But for doing simple tasks like browsing files on a computer, light web browsing, etc, I believe it's much more convenient.
Click to expand...

Its all in your head, but at some point even you will get use to it.
 
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