Has Microsoft single-handedly killed off touch?
Summary: Microsoft 'Courier', the potential saviour to all modern-day students, has been cancelled before it was even properly announced. Have they shot themselves in the foot with this one?
Students of the world, a day of international mourning. Remember a couple of months back when I wrote about the 'second coming' of all student tech, the Microsoft 'Courier' digital journal which could have revolutionised the way the Generation Y read, write, study and develop ideas?
Well they've only gone and bloody cancelled it, haven't they? The one time I write something positive that the company is doing; albeit a research project and not much more than a concept, even the thought it could exist was enough to make me write in a such positive way.
But as the concept is no more, and the alleged Hewlett-Packard/Windows-integrated "slate project" being cancelled, where else has Microsoft got to go with their touch technology?
Sam Diaz seems to think that Microsoft has been "scared off" by the competition, such as Apple's iPad and the potential for once-strong Palm to fiercely ride into the sunset of popular sales again, could well be the reason. Though, in true public-relations style, their press unit gave absolutely no reason as to why the project was pulled.
Windows 7 props up the 'touch users' figures, though the vast majority of users will not have the capability of hardware to use the feature. So, with niche users such as myself and a handful spread across the market, only Windows really has the potential to compete in the touch market against the likes of iPad users.
Even then, there's no real word of dedicated Windows 7 plus touch devices to come. So even though touch is a highly useful feature to have, there isn't the technology, money or resources to maintain it outside of Windows in their books it seems.
Though touch technology will not be going away for a long time yet - thanks to the introduction of multi-touch technology and the fascinating expansion of Apple's use for touch with the iPhone and iPad - Microsoft doesn't really have anywhere else to go.
That is, unless they have something up their sleeves that even the all-knowing Mary Jo Foley doesn't know about. (Nah, that could never happen).
What do you think: Has Microsoft shot themselves in the foot?
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Talkback
MS Idiocy or because MS could not copy the tech???
Right. Talk about copying,
It's the same thing, time after time, to the point we don't even have to read them anymore to know what you're gonna say.
It the same 3 phrases copied and passed around from one ABMer to another...
Yawn.
What the hell are you smoking???
Maybe that would calm you down a little.
potential saviour to all modern-day students
revolutionary and exciting???
Its no surprise that Microsoft couldn't make a tablet that worked right with Windows 7... HP couldn't do it either... But hey... What do I know... I'm just a Mac... And all the decent stuff in Windows 7... Yeah... That was MY idea.
Oh hey... Here's a stretch of a prediction... Any Windows 7 Tablets that come to market will suck...
On the bright side, one company figured out how to make a tablet that doesn't suck... Perhaps others will copy...er...follow.... oh wait.. according to you bozos, the tablet has been around for years and years, Apple didn't invent it... they just copied it... Correction, they copied the parts that didn't suck, and they left the suck behind, in Redmond, where things that suck live...
RE: Has Microsoft single-handedly killed off touch?
Timing. If people think they need a pad
See what happens in a year, it could be a whole different story at that point.
People may find a pad not all that usefull or rugged?
Why Wouldn't They
Once again the unimaginative at MS missed a great opportunity. The Tablet type PC will revolutionize computing. With inventions like external laser keyboards and smaller faster electronics it is not hard to imagine a world where these types of devices have a huge market share.
Will the laptop, PC still be around...sure for a while. The phone is simply too small for many users no matter how powerful you can make them. Or at least that is my opinion..I have been hapring for years about the "perfect size" that is viewable, portable, and powerful.
These nice little E-Readers..lol..will become full bore production machines in 2-3 years and it fits many lifestyles. Again, MS realizes this and instead of wasting money hitting the market late at this point it makes more sense to focus on stronger brands within the company.
Quit complaining and just go buy and iPad!!
They are cool as heck!! It must suck to be a MS homer that loves gadgets when Apple makes all the cool ones...you got XP on a clunky laptop though!! LOL...keep hating and being miserable. ipod, macbook, mac-mini, and hopefully an ipad soon....i LOVE MY TECHNOLOGY and at the end of the day that is what you MS homers hate. You hate that people love their poducts!! Lame to hate on something other people enjoy..we have enough of those people..they are politicians!!
RE: Has Microsoft single-handedly killed off touch?
You cannot be serious about Natal?!
Microsoft will need to avoid Apple patents.
Well, touch screens are like eye glasses
wearing spectacles for forty seven years and cleaning them is a daily
morning ritual. Its not fun nor hard, just something that needs to be
done.
Now, what has this to do with touch screens, canceled Courier Tablet
projects and Zack's Blog? I'll get around to that shortly.
Today I received my 64 gig iPad 3G model via FedEx. And, you know,
Peter, cleaning the iPad screen will also become a daily ritual. (Just
bought a very cheap microfiber cloth and lens cleaning fluid kit today
to help with that.)
Just using this iPad for several hours has convinced me that Zack need
not mourn the passing of the Courier. (I had high hopes for that
concept myself)
In anticipation of its arrival, I had bought an optional pen stylus (Pogo
Sketch) on Amazon and tried it out on several sketch supported apps
available for the iPad. (Again .. its only been several hours separating
the iPad arrival and this blog comment.) Son-of-a-gun but the stylus
works as advertised.
Don't forget that stylus input was a big, BIG selling point for the
Courier Tablet Concept. (I saw the online Courier concept videos like
countless others). Trust me, the iPad can perform any stylus function
that the Courier Tablet concept was designed to do. And its doing
that "Right now" not six months from now.
I won't repeat my experiences with the iPad because it would only
mirror those already printed or blogged about. And yes-it is a
magical device.
If you could only experience the iPad for an extended period of time,
you would get over your hated for touch screens. On a electronic
gadget of the iPad's size a touch screen interface is the only way to
go.
I know that Zack is waiting for an Android tablet and my best wishes
go out to him but like his colleague, Jason Perlow, I find the form
factor of the iPad "just right" in performing its tasks. (You can't
believe how easy and fast browsing one's email is on the iPad.)
PS I'm composing this blog comment on my dual screen MacBook
home system and not on the iPad (although I could with its virtual
keyboard or using it with my Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard
6000 - a superb product, by the way) but I feel each tool has its
proper place and uses.
So there you go. I'm a happy camper--eye glass and iPad screen
cleaning not withstanding.
You and Zack must plan on getting a tablet soon -- whether an iPad
or an Android tablet or an HP Palm OS based tablet (the Slate is dead,
too, I guess) Just plan on the purchase. It will enhance your life.
Mike
I'm not waiting for Android anything
and don't want anything else personally.
Sorry about that, Zack.
before taking the plunge.
Anyway, as you are very well aware, "tech marches on" and you might
wish to try an upgraded tablet computer at a future date. There is no
law (other than the law of Financial Reality for Students) that might
hinder you from acquiring a second computing device.
All I can say is the nearly "instant on" and extremely quick response
time features of the iPad are quite addictive. Not to mention its form
factor relative to my MacBook laptop.
And, although Windows 7 is a great operating system upgrade from
previous versions, I've read from more than one respected source that
it might not be the most optimal OS for a tablet device.
If you have not done so already could you blog about the pros and
cons of your Windows 7/Tablet experience so far. (If you have, would
you please supply the link to that article. I would wish to read it.)
Thanks,
Mike
What's so good about touch screens?
But someday... when you get a chance... You should try one running on an Apple platform... Because they are awesome when Apple does them.
Seriously??? Microsoft... Clever??? BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Whew.... gotta catch my breath on that one... Good one... Thanks for that laugh... ;)
You shouldn't write anymore articles!!!!!
HP canceling the slate is of their own accord and has nothing to with the courrier. More than anything it would be because of their financial situation which hasn't been looking too good lately.
The courrier was a research venture and proof of concept for advancing their touch technology to be used in future products. This has been done time and time again and their research started before the iPad was ever even thought of. What they have done is collected a ton of notes and written a bunch of class libraries for rapid development when they decide it makes sense.
There is no touch monopoly and anyone can and will try to come up with the next gimmick only to have whiny kids such as yourself complain.
Besides, going after a market with almost no disposal income with ultra high unemployment rates (students) doesn't really make a lot of sense right now does it?
And please stop basing your life of microsoft off of Mary Jo Foley. It is really pathetic and the reason that reputable people don't use her as a source is because they know better.
HP's finances are fine.
Anyway, maybe MS canned it because they checked iPad sales, discounted the usual fanboys who'll buy anything with a fruit on it and realised there isn't a market for these devices.
RE: Has Microsoft single-handedly killed off touch?
RE: Has Microsoft single-handedly killed off touch?
RE: Has Microsoft single-handedly killed off touch?