I'm having a talk in the near future about touchscreen devices (in the tablet space) and what the most important features people are looking for when it comes to them.

Broken down in, roughly;

- Screen
Resistive/Capacitive, Multitouch, size, resolution, etc

- OS
Does it matter if the device is running an Opensourced OS?
Is Android 'open enough'? Would you use a great hardware - but it's running Win? Etc

- Software Features/applications
What are your top 4-5 application features you are looking for?
Streaming media, Social media integration, video conferencing, do you want it to be a phone or 'just' a tablet, seamless integration with work applications like Outlook, VPN capabilities, do you 'need' to be able to gain root (or equivalent) access, etc

- Hardware features
Physical keyboard or not, physical size (a) for a device that incorporates phone functionality, b) for a device that is a tablet only), USB, two-way facing cameras, minimum megapixels, speakers, etc

- Price/Manufacturer
Where do you draw the line for a device that would meet these/your requirements? Does the brand/manufacturer matter to you?

As an "interesting" tidbit: In 2005 90% of people wanted to just buy a phone and use it as delivered. In 2009 that number was down to 75% where 25% said they wanted to have more control over fundamental features including operating system.


If anyone out there have any strong thoughts on what he/she would like to see in a future touchscreen tablet I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Note: There is no commercial interest or intent in asking these questions.

A bit wacky but I would like to see a tablet with kickstand that projects a keyboard + touch pad onto the desk.

Keeps the device super thin and doesn't need additional accessories.

Mine is easy, get me a Nokia N900 XL with 5.0" screen.

Screen: Resistive. I don't care much about multitouch; I've used my Nintendo DS heavily since 2005 using stylus. Resolution definitely matters for me, more so than physical size.

OS : I enjoy using Maemo, I think having a "portable computer" is really handy. Of course, that is from the viewpoint of a power user/hobbyist programmer, and that probably influences my point of view a lot. Haven't tried/don't know a lot about other OSes (except playing around a bit with an iPhone, but not actually owning one).

Software Features/applications: Also using it as a phone is a handy "all-in-one" solution IMO.

Hardware features: Physical keyboard really helps a lot, I've figured, but I wrote decently fast with stylus on my DS.

That's mostly it for me. Should be noted that the only touch devices I've used (well, except for quickly testing something in a shop, or similar) is the N900 and the Nintendo DS. Also, I probably wouldn't be interested in a "tablet" as in the iPad kind of model, mostly since I don't find any need for it when I (more or less) have a computer in my pocket, with 800x480px resolution and decent hardware.

Why do you prefer resistive? What features/usages do you think would benefit from resistive vs capacitive?

Would there be argument for not having phone feature incorporated into the device?

Hello, thanks for this thread, I always wanted to write this.


-Screen:
I don't know why people are so keen about capacitive screens. I want to use my tablet with a stylus or with my fingernails not with a sausage. I also want a pressure sensitive screen for drawing. So I think resistive is much better than capacitive. Multitouch is cool but not really necessary. I prefer pocketable Tablets, so screen with 4.3 to 5 inches are good, like the dell streak. resoloution not too extreme high but still with a good Image quality. I'm fine with the n900s res: 800x400 on a 3.5 screen. I also think AMOLED screens are really nice, like the Galaxy S.

-OS
Definetly open source or mostly open. Ubuntu, MeeGo and other Linux based OS are one of the main factors to me. I'll never buy a Windows Tablet/Phone. I don't have expierence with Android. I think it would be better than having Windows, but I still prefer a real Linux.

-Software
Multimedia, Phone and everything else. I want a device that does everything . And ofcorse with root acces.

-Hardware
I'd love a 4 row qwerty (or qwertz in my case) Keyboard to slide up.
Ofcorse micro USB and front camera. Main camera should take good pictures 15mp minimum . No, just kidding. I don't use the Camera Much, but IF phone camera once REALLY can replace a digicam, I would pay 200$ extra for the device. Oh and it would be nice to be able to switch the micro sd card without removing the battery or the back cover. Like we can with the Nokia n73.

-Manufacturer
First: I'm not a big fanboy or hater. But Im never going to buy an Apple product. I like Nokia, Intel, HP, Samsung ond others. I don't really care as long as its good. But I also like to support some homebrew stuff like the Open Pandora.

-Price
For a really good device, that can do everything I want and more, I would pay 700-1000$. (+200$ for a real Digicam as mentioned above).

It's also Important to me to have a strong community that does everything on it's own. And for that an open OS is needed. I don't want a coorporation that tells me what I must do and what not from above.

You see: I'm describing what I want as the n900 sucessor.
I'm not keen on a tablet PC device like the iPad or other 10 inch+ tablets. I think these kind of devices are pretty usesless.

Lol I feel like a child on Santa Claus lap, telling him what I want for Chritsmas .

And one last thing: I apologize that my english is not perfect, as it's not my first language. I hope you still understand what I mean.

Your English is stellar and thank you very much for your well thought out post. Much appreciated.

I've been told a million times that what I look for in the handheld communications space is a) niche to excess (ie. <1% market interest) and b) never going to be made.

Then the n900 came out. I rejoiced.

I am not a fan-boy though some may label me as such. It's my first Nokia device, and I have been playing the technology game for more than 15 years.

Having said that, what I personally want from a touchscreen device is essentially the n900. I only wish they would continue to bring out more devices with the same aim.

Hardware
- Resistive screen (or at least including active stylus if capacitive)
- Highest resolution technically feasible (1280x720 would be outstanding)
- Multitouch... don't really care
- LCD/AMOLED.. don't really care
- 3-4" screen; I'm not blind!
- Superior connectivity (GSM, 802.11, bluetooth with all profiles, USB host, HDMI, 3.5mm audio + toslink, etc)
- Qwerty keyboard (software keyboards are useless for xterm, forms, etc)
- Weight is irrelevant. It could weigh 500g for all I care.
- >24 hour battery life with moderate usage
- LOTS of ram. Whatever the state of the art is, add 50% more. The n900 should have shipped with 512mb.
- High quality camera (aperture size, not megapixels) with flash

Software
I will never buy another phone with a proprietary OS. In fact, personally I'll never buy another phone unless it can run a full GNU toolchain natively. If that means I'm stuck with the n900 for the next 10 years, so be it.

Android doesn't really do it for me. I don't understand why they didn't use X11. Nor why they wrote their own libc.

Maemo is brilliant. As I've posted a dozen other times, it's heartbreaking to me that Nokia is abandoning it.

Ideally my phone OS would be a Debian derivative, 100% GPL or LGPL, unencumbered with arbitrary "it's a phone!" limitations.. X11 based.. with minimal eye candy. I want the interface to look sharp and modern, with smooth transitions and using a well thought out window manager.

I'm a *nix admin by trade, so a quality xterm and well laid out filesystem is a must. DBUS is great. If the OS can be a descendent of classic Unix philosophy, I'm happy.

I detest all forms of DRM restriction and will never buy a device I must jump through hoops to "root." I'd gladly pay more money for a device that has no form of "content protection" whatsoever.

I also personally don't understand portrait mode. I've set all my applications to landscape, except the photos app. I just find it easier when things aren't constantly rolling around on you. Easier to develop for.

Features
I've owned smartphones for about 8 years now, starting with an old Kyocera brick running PalmOS. I've used my phones for everything over the years.

Most important features for me, in order, are productivity (calendar, contact list, tasks), messaging (email/sms/IM), bluetooth streaming music, powerful networking (ie. becoming wifi router for tethering), camera (still and video), and informational widgets (ie. clocks, "today," weather, etc).

I'd like to add that, like many others, phone is at the dead bottom of the list. I'd say my GSM radio routes 95% data packets, 5% voice.

It needs to work, sure... but virtually everything else is more important.

Price/market
People say that I'm alone in what I'm looking for, but I just do not believe it. I strongly believe that there is a sizable market of technology lovers out there, and selling them a pocket laptop with GSM radio should be enough to support a product line.

Personally, cost is really no object. I do recognize that I'm alone in this one.

But, my handheld is probably my most frequently used device.. or at least tied with my laptop(s). I take it with me everywhere I go.. it's my alarm clock, music player, communicator, camera, calendar, cycling computer, and sometimes even Internet router.

So I have no qualms about paying $1000, or even $1500 for a handheld if it meets all my criteria.

Sorry for the long message but hope it's what you were looking for!

Silvermountain,

I had compiled a list of features I want from electronic devices a while ago (Jan 2010) that you may find useful. I am uploading the pdf as an attachment.

I had listed 3 devices, roughly corresponding to a mobile phone, a tablet, and a PC. I got the idea for the three sizes from another member of TMO (I believe it was johnkzin), but the features I list are my own preferences.

Other users have shared their preferences in this old thread:

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=35516

Thanks for your very strong opinions on the topic - and yes, I doubt that you are 'alone' in wanting what you stated above. If it makes up a "market" I don't know of course