Small tablets absolutely need applications that were designed with a "touch first" approach. Once you step outside of the Metro world in Windows 8, which has a very good touch model by the way, the traditional Windows apps that make up at least 90% of the productive apps for Windows 8 are torturous to use without a keyboard and mouse. Problem is, with a mini tablet the keyboard covers are going to be mini also, so you're faced with the double whammy sized problem for usability. This is a great example of why Microsoft's hybrid approach for Windows 8 has been such a colossal failure, it imposes far too many compromises for every market and application that it tries to serve. If Microsoft beefs up the tablet capabilities and UX to work better on small form factor hardware it will be wasting some of the most compelling characteristics of desktop/notebook PCs with big screens and keyboards. Windows 8 tries to do everything - but ends up doing nearly nothing well.
The iPad Mini does much better in its small form factor because the vast majority of its apps are touch-first designs. The aspect ratio that Apple chose for the Mini is also far better than most of the small form factor Android and Win8 tablets. The Mini is actually very useful and enjoyable to use in portrait mode.
Lenovo will pull its 8-inch Windows tablets from the U.S. market, the Chinese company said Wednesday, citing lack of demand for smaller touchscreen devices running Microsoft's controversial Windows 8 operating system.
Occam's Razor. The simplest explanation, IMO, is that fat American fingers just can't use the touchscreen version of Win8 on an 8-inch tablet very well. Hence the lack of demand. Whereas larger tablets and laptops with keyboards accommodate those thick fingers better. Hasn't MS been pushing stylus and keyboard accessories? That's proof that they are aware of the problem, and don't know how to code their software to get around it. Versus iOS, which more deftly interprets the sloppy movements of those pudgy American fingers. Thus the fat-friendly iPad and iPad mini can sell. Lenovo can't license iOS, and are stuck with MS. So they are pulling out of a losing situation. Smart move, Lenovo.
Occam's Razor. The simplest explanation, IMO, is that fat American fingers just can't use the touchscreen version of Win8 on an 8-inch tablet very well. Hence the lack of demand. Whereas larger tablets and laptops with keyboards accommodate those thick fingers better. Hasn't MS been pushing stylus and keyboard accessories? That's proof that they are aware of the problem, and don't know how to code their software to get around it. Versus iOS, which more deftly interprets the sloppy movements of those pudgy American fingers. Thus the fat-friendly iPad and iPad mini can sell. Lenovo can't license iOS, and are stuck with MS. So they are pulling out of a losing situation. Smart move, Lenovo.
They use iDevices perfectly fine and Win8 Metro buttons are much larger than iOS icons. I think it comes down to be convenience and functionality which results in usability.
They use iDevices perfectly fine and Win8 Metro buttons are much larger than iOS icons. I think it comes down to be convenience and functionality which results in usability.
Well my explanation above falls apart now that Lenovo has clarified that they'll continue in the 8-inch market, with other products and those TBA. Oh well, at least I don't purport to be a stock advisor or market analyst! I'll have to try out some Win8 touch screen somewhere (if I can find one), to see how my very fat fingers work with it.
I'll have to try out some Win8 touch screen somewhere (if I can find one), to see how my very fat fingers work with it.
Can't be that hard to find, I just a did a simple internet search and it brought up many stores; Best Buy, Walmart, Fry's, Costco, Sams Club, Sears etc. Have you ever actually looked?
Can't be that hard to find, I just a did a simple internet search and it brought up many stores; Best Buy, Walmart, Fry's, Costco, Sams Club, Sears etc. Have you ever actually looked?
LOL, touché. Actually, no, I have never looked.
But I meant I'd try it out not in a retail sales environment, but by finding an owner and using theirs for a few minutes. I just never see them "in the wild" so finding an actual owner could be a challenge for me.
"The LORD said to Moses, "Create a new document on an iPad like the first one, and I will write on them the words that were on the first iPad, which you broke."
Comments
Small tablets absolutely need applications that were designed with a "touch first" approach. Once you step outside of the Metro world in Windows 8, which has a very good touch model by the way, the traditional Windows apps that make up at least 90% of the productive apps for Windows 8 are torturous to use without a keyboard and mouse. Problem is, with a mini tablet the keyboard covers are going to be mini also, so you're faced with the double whammy sized problem for usability. This is a great example of why Microsoft's hybrid approach for Windows 8 has been such a colossal failure, it imposes far too many compromises for every market and application that it tries to serve. If Microsoft beefs up the tablet capabilities and UX to work better on small form factor hardware it will be wasting some of the most compelling characteristics of desktop/notebook PCs with big screens and keyboards. Windows 8 tries to do everything - but ends up doing nearly nothing well.
The iPad Mini does much better in its small form factor because the vast majority of its apps are touch-first designs. The aspect ratio that Apple chose for the Mini is also far better than most of the small form factor Android and Win8 tablets. The Mini is actually very useful and enjoyable to use in portrait mode.
Occam's Razor. The simplest explanation, IMO, is that fat American fingers just can't use the touchscreen version of Win8 on an 8-inch tablet very well. Hence the lack of demand. Whereas larger tablets and laptops with keyboards accommodate those thick fingers better. Hasn't MS been pushing stylus and keyboard accessories? That's proof that they are aware of the problem, and don't know how to code their software to get around it. Versus iOS, which more deftly interprets the sloppy movements of those pudgy American fingers. Thus the fat-friendly iPad and iPad mini can sell. Lenovo can't license iOS, and are stuck with MS. So they are pulling out of a losing situation. Smart move, Lenovo.
They use iDevices perfectly fine and Win8 Metro buttons are much larger than iOS icons. I think it comes down to be convenience and functionality which results in usability.
They use iDevices perfectly fine and Win8 Metro buttons are much larger than iOS icons. I think it comes down to be convenience and functionality which results in usability.
Well my explanation above falls apart now that Lenovo has clarified that they'll continue in the 8-inch market, with other products and those TBA. Oh well, at least I don't purport to be a stock advisor or market analyst! I'll have to try out some Win8 touch screen somewhere (if I can find one), to see how my very fat fingers work with it.
I'll have to try out some Win8 touch screen somewhere (if I can find one), to see how my very fat fingers work with it.
Can't be that hard to find, I just a did a simple internet search and it brought up many stores; Best Buy, Walmart, Fry's, Costco, Sams Club, Sears etc. Have you ever actually looked?
Can't be that hard to find, I just a did a simple internet search and it brought up many stores; Best Buy, Walmart, Fry's, Costco, Sams Club, Sears etc. Have you ever actually looked?
LOL, touché. Actually, no, I have never looked.
But I meant I'd try it out not in a retail sales environment, but by finding an owner and using theirs for a few minutes. I just never see them "in the wild" so finding an actual owner could be a challenge for me.
Ode to iPad
Beethoven
iPad Shot The Sheriff
–Bob Marley, circa 1973
iPad, Robot
Hungry iPads (Dirty Dancing)
(I've Had) The Time of My iPad (Dirty Dancing)
“iPad a Dream” (Benjamin Luther Frost)
Good one!