Microsoft Unveils Touch-Based Version of Office

herrmill · Jul 16, 2012, 08:00 PM

Here's something that will probably result in another debate for you folks between PC vs Mac.

Its interesting to see Ballmer take this approach but I seriously doubt the efficiencies of doing spreadsheets on a tablet will be high.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/te...of-office.html

FrogChief · Jul 16, 2012, 08:21 PM

I have to say that ALL these tech companies are rushing way too headlong into 'touch.'

Honestly, it's NOT the best user interface for all situations. It's MUCH more efficient to use a mouse and keyboard sized for human hands from a resting position, than it is to be constantly messing with a touchscreen in front of you.

For desktops, touch is useless AND pointless. Add to that, that you end up with a nasty/smudgy screen. My friend has one of those HP touch all in one desktops, the screen gets NASTY.

Where touch makes sense is in small / portable form factors and that's where it should stay. I'm pissed Windows 8 is based almost entirely on a 'touch' based UI (Metro.)

LcJ · Jul 16, 2012, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogChief

I have to say that ALL these tech companies are rushing way too headlong into 'touch.'

Honestly, it's NOT the best user interface for all situations. It's MUCH more efficient to use a mouse and keyboard sized for human hands from a resting position, than it is to be constantly messing with a touchscreen in front of you.

For desktops, touch is useless AND pointless. Add to that, that you end up with a nasty/smudgy screen. My friend has one of those HP touch all in one desktops, the screen gets NASTY.

Where touch makes sense is in small / portable form factors and that's where it should stay. I'm pissed Windows 8 is based almost entirely on a 'touch' based UI (Metro.)

All good points. Remember it is better to be pissed off than pissed on.

Years ago after the Apple GUI interface came out the University of Chicago did some research on the accuracy of theses done on DOS and the Apple Lisa. I don't think anyone was surprise to find out there were fewer errors on the theses created in DOS. Might be interesting and might not.

kalnaren · Jul 17, 2012, 07:06 AM

In all fairness, I use a word processor and a spreadsheet on my tablet. I'm running ICS, so I can just plug in a mouse for a mouse pointer and have a small tablet bluetooth KB. It's vastly more portable than my laptop and I can still use the tablet no problem without the KB/mouse (as I do most of the time).

I for one would actually like a good, competent word processor on my tablet. There are several places where it's advantageous over a laptop.

Jul 16, 2012, 08:00 PM	#1
herrmill Shanghai'd Expat Xiaoshan, China Joined Jun 2006 4,196 Posts	Microsoft Unveils Touch-Based Version of Office Here's something that will probably result in another debate for you folks between PC vs Mac. Its interesting to see Ballmer take this approach but I seriously doubt the efficiencies of doing spreadsheets on a tablet will be high. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/te...of-office.html

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Jul 16, 2012, 08:21 PM	#2
FrogChief Suspended Account Russian Federation, Sakha, Yakutsk Joined May 2006 2,978 Posts	I have to say that ALL these tech companies are rushing way too headlong into 'touch.' Honestly, it's NOT the best user interface for all situations. It's MUCH more efficient to use a mouse and keyboard sized for human hands from a resting position, than it is to be constantly messing with a touchscreen in front of you. For desktops, touch is useless AND pointless. Add to that, that you end up with a nasty/smudgy screen. My friend has one of those HP touch all in one desktops, the screen gets NASTY. Where touch makes sense is in small / portable form factors and that's where it should stay. I'm pissed Windows 8 is based almost entirely on a 'touch' based UI (Metro.)

Jul 17, 2012, 07:06 AM	#4
kalnaren Registered User Wasaga Beach, Ontario Joined Aug 2007 1,181 Posts	In all fairness, I use a word processor and a spreadsheet on my tablet. I'm running ICS, so I can just plug in a mouse for a mouse pointer and have a small tablet bluetooth KB. It's vastly more portable than my laptop and I can still use the tablet no problem without the KB/mouse (as I do most of the time). I for one would actually like a good, competent word processor on my tablet. There are several places where it's advantageous over a laptop.