Is the future of power-computing, really 100% touch?

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i_hate_toms

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Everywhere I look, this is one of the main justifications people put forward to defend Windows 8 and it's modern UI.
I love the modern UI on my conventional (non-touch) laptop. In fact, I find it (in some ways) better than the Windows 7 start menu. I'm one of those few who didn't spoil the real "Windows 8 Experience" by slamming Start8 or ClassicShell on it's face - I really like windows 8 the way it is out of the box. But in no way am I going to give up the conventional laptop/ desktop form-factor in favor of things like yoga/ surface. The thought of having to deal with touch devices (or devices with quirky rotating screens and laptops with detachable keyboards) in a work/office environment, outright scares me.
Please tell me conventional computers are here to stay!
 
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Remember the days when Win Vista / 7 came out, and people still stuck to Windows XP? I guess human beings (us) take time to adapt to change, it's just natural.

Why change the old platform if it works just well?
To answer the question... it depends on the person I guess.

As long as there are gamers on this planet, the demand exists for APM intensive set-up, I'm sure the industry/economics will take care of that.

I sometimes like the new UI and the touch-screen features.
 
Interesting thread, should get a lot of discussion here.

It's a hard question to answer. For some things conventional desktops/laptops are better, for some things, tablets are better. It really depends what you want to do I suppose. More and more people are buying tablets these days. I just got a Fire HD the other day.

The biggest problem I see with using shared touch devices in an office/work environment is the spread of germs.

I don't think computing will ever be '100% touch' though.
 
Although I personally don't like the idea of a touch screen computer, I think that's the way its going to go. In fact, look at most electronic devices, for example the mobile phone. Look how its evolved so quickly. Almost all phones are now touch screens.

My guess is people tend to like the 'look' of touchscreen. Its a rather new ish technology and people seem to find it more 'wow' and that's why I believe computers will fully change over in a couple of years.
 
The conventional computer will not go until touchscreens become good enough to recognise key strokes as accurately as a keyboard does, which I doubt will ever come tbh.

Also touch screens are much harsher on the fingers when using them for long periods because there is no give, the screen is solid whereas the key compression makes it much more comfortable for prolonged use.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies.
I actually agree with our moderator (Aastii) on this.
A tablet is awesome for casual computing, as in checking your emails, socializing in facebook, watch videos and play music. It also makes a good choice for small works like typing a small page on word.
But if you're an engineer like me, you spend hours writing and testing C#/C++ code, and designing/ simulating digital circuits in "Multisim Professional", the touch screen very quickly starts to become a real pain. The only option is to connect an external keyboard and mouse, which defeats the purpose of purchasing a touch screen.
When the iPhone first launched, i had been using a Nokia N95, and I so badly wanted a touch screen phone. The same revolution is taking place in the power-computing world now, but for some reason i am not at all thrilled about touchscreens on a laptop.
The industry is taking a wrong turn IMO.
If I had the power to drive things, I would get rid of tablets altogether, retain the conventional computer form factor for serious computing, and design smartphones which are as powerful as tablets. A 4.5 inch touchscreen quad core smartphone with 2 GB of RAM and 100GB of storage, coupled with an i7 ultrabook, would more than satisfy all our computing needs, the tablet is just a waste.
Please don't fight over this, i am stating my personal opinion, not trying to brainwash others into believing what I said.
Once again, thanks everyone for reading my post and replying. CF rocks :)
 
I think touch screens are here to stay, Windows 8 is not for me but I do have much respect for the work Microsoft has put into it. Lets just hope this quarter it does better, this quarter sales for PC manufactures is a important one for the fact that PC sales are at there highest during the holidays and tax return season and for the holidays PC sales were down 23% which means that during this quarter if people continue to buy android or iOS devices since they are at a lower price point and since a majority of people just check there facebook, listen music and watch movies Windows 8 may not be MS answer for much longer.

I also think it will be a generation thing, I am not old but for us older people who grew up using the PC we still see the value of a computer, where as you take my four year old son, we walk into a best buy he will jump onto a all in one touch computer and he navigates like a pro (usually to the cut the rope game) but you put him in front of a traditional computer the mouse is even a task for him, I am sure his generation won't even know what a mouse is.
 
DM, here is the thing though, your son doesn't game and he doesn't work.

Every job i have had in the last 5 years, a computer was needed and a touch screen simply would not suit as you cant be as productive as with a keyboard and an os allowing multiple windows at once.

These are standard desktops, not anything powerful. You then look at the likes of programmers and graphical designers, a touch screen may be used as a peripheral for the latter for drawing, but everything else a full tower, mouse and keyboard is needed.

For the home user, a lot will just browae the net, check emails and Facebook, again something a tablet or smart phone could do. But if you program, if you game a full base unit is needed and you cant wasd on a touch screen. It is like fps gaming with a mouse vs a track pad, the latter is not feasible.

There will be a market for conventional computers for a long time yet
 
This is just my belief.

I believe that conventional keyboard and mouse will not disappear. Just like back in the day when people said that desktops would disappear and people will be using laptops. That was 10 years ago and desktops are still very much alive. Desktops are not only here to stay but so is the keyboard and mouse.

Windows 8 to me was introduced at the wrong time. What Microsoft should have done is develop the market for touch computer first then introduce the software, not the other way around. Don't get me wrong, touchscreen PC's are coming in, but it is taking some time. The general public (at least in my region) are staying away from touch screen PC. I think the main reason is that number one it's just not practical at this time. Number two is that it's hard to change from keyboard and mouse.

Some may say "well what about the mobile market (with phones and Tablets)" If you actually take a look at what a mobile phone and tablet could do back in the day, you will see why things changed so quickly. Number one is that mobile phones in the past were just used for talking. Then introduced to texting. If you take a look at the mobile internet age, you will find that it actually did take a while for people to adapt to touch screen. Touch screen to mobile phones were introduced back in the early 90's and didn't really take off until early 2000's. Now people caught on to this trend at this time because of the added features to touch. Now a person could do all sorts of things on a phone, but only if it was touch. Not to mention the ease of use.

Computers on the other hand, the only benefit that i can find from conventional to touch is the ease of use along with less clutter. There is no real advantage over having a touch vs keyboard and mouse. In fact there is an advantage the other way.

My prediction is that touch PC will make it's way into the market as a strong contender, but PC (Desktop and laptop) will not die off. They will be around and used strongly all over.

Right now my favorite "touch PC" if you would like to call it that would have to be the Asus Taichi. For my preferences and needs, this is the best for me. But only used in the Tablet form. Not large word processing and demanding tasks.
 
both have their place, but i dont see either taking place of the other. so no. touchscreens have their place...but desktops have theirs.
 
Aastii said:
DM, here is the thing though, your son doesn't game and he doesn't work.

Every job i have had in the last 5 years, a computer was needed and a touch screen simply would not suit as you cant be as productive as with a keyboard and an os allowing multiple windows at once.

These are standard desktops, not anything powerful. You then look at the likes of programmers and graphical designers, a touch screen may be used as a peripheral for the latter for drawing, but everything else a full tower, mouse and keyboard is needed.

For the home user, a lot will just browae the net, check emails and Facebook, again something a tablet or smart phone could do. But if you program, if you game a full base unit is needed and you cant wasd on a touch screen. It is like fps gaming with a mouse vs a track pad, the latter is not feasible.

There will be a market for conventional computers for a long time yet
Click to expand...

I never said the PC will disappear but I am sure by the time my son is old enough to appreciate electronics the tablet will evolve into something much more.
 
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