maemo.org - Talk - ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

maemo.org - Talk (https://talk.maemo.org/index.php)

- General (https://talk.maemo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=7)

- - ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines) (https://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=30649)

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayOnThaBeat (Post 308981)

That's how the jesus got so big.......

crap, seems my tablet failed me (thats what i get for using a N800's onscreen keyboard)...

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

Quote:

Originally Posted by n9ots (Post 308977)

Seems to me that any sort of technology can be used as a tool if you try hard enough.

yep, and this is why being able to develop ones own software, or know someone that can do so for you can be very important.

i guess it comes from how most of humans approach life. We try to apply existing knowhow and tools to new problems, and unless get some kind of lightbulb out of it, we dismiss it as futile.

instead one may have to go back to scratch, discard all what has come before, and build from that.

that is, rather then start with existing software and try to force it into a new box, one start with the box, and see what new software one can build into it.

and thats the problem i see when people talk about needing windows on something, as then it will slowly either fail (because the whole windows ui expects a keyboard and mouse), or morph towards existing windows based systems (netbooks becoming small laptops), rather then take on some shape of their own.

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergie (Post 308890)

Opinions? They talk about Apple's tablet, but I guess the same criticism applies to NITs too

The criticism is valid for laptop/netbook-sized tablets - if you're going to carry something of that size and weight it might as well have a keyboard. There's a reason this device class failed universally the first time around.

Our tablets are very different animals and win by default because they're there when/where you didn't anticipate the need to carry a PC with you.

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lma (Post 309014)

The Magic Ink had pretty interesting points related to that:

Quote:

Portability. Consider today’s ubiquitous information device—the book. We have the technology to manufacture 5000-page desk-sized tomes, but despite the high information content, such books are rare. The reason is simply that they can’t be carried around. As people increasingly expect information on demand, portability will become ever more critical. Today, people can talk to anyone on the planet by reaching into a pocket; tomorrow’s information device must be just as accessible. Like a wallet and keys, the computer will be dropped into the pocket or purse before leaving the house.** Ideally, it will even supplant both wallet and keys. This implies light weight and small volume.

Readability. Consider again the book. We have the technology to produce books smaller than a business card, but despite the improved portability, such books are also rare. The supremely-portable postage-stamp-sized book is non-existent. The catch: Although technology miniaturizes, the human eyespan remains a fundamental constant. In order to compete with the book, tomorrow’s information device must provide a book-sized surface area. Anything less cannot be read and skimmed comfortably, and cannot support spatially-distributed information graphics.

Though that paper supposes UIs and applications far smarter than what most of the stuff we use now is.

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

I personally find this whole argument completely stupid. I use my tablet for work quite often. In fact, I'm actually sitting in a large park/garden across the street from my office building, doing my work on my tablet as I type this out.

This is freedom.

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

i find the "pocket or purse" bit somewhat interesting.

while its not stated, the gender difference is very much implied...

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

I'm sometimes posting replies to blogs and forums using my n800. That's not very practical if you can access better computer, BUT let's say I can carry n800 in my pocket. This does not applies to notebooks or even most of keyboards. Hence n8x0 are sometimes the only way to go. It allows to be online even in mobile world and it can do most of job netbook can do. Of course there is convenience vs size and weight tradeoff. My fully blown desktop is most convenient with it's 3 * 1Tb HDD, 8Gb RAM and 4 CPU cores, large LCD and full-sized keyboard and mouse. But it weights too much :P. On other side my Symbian cell phone quite small. But it also lacks features as well and Symbian is quite limited and toy-like OS from my standpoint. Everything else located somewhere between and it's up to you to decide which convenience vs size and weight balance is good for you in specific scenarios.

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

i have replied to the forum using everything from opera mini om a featurephone, to a desktop computer...

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tso (Post 309046)

i find the "pocket or purse" bit somewhat interesting.

while its not stated, the gender difference is very much implied...

As I was saying... http://tabulacrypticum.wordpress.com...and-platforms/

;)

Re: ReadWriteWeb: Tablets are Toys (Not Mainstream Machines)

ah yes ;)

and that reminds me that i should look into getting that second civilian labs set, as the first one, while having potential, did not have any pockets that really fit my N800 (oops)...