Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 25th Oct 2012 14:52 UTC
When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone, one of its most prominent and most controversial features was the on-screen keyboard. In as world dominated by devices with physical keyboards, it was seen as a joke, something that could never work. We know better by now, of course, but while I still prefer the physical feel and clicks of a real keyboard, a recent new endeavour of mine has made me appreciate the on-screen keyboard in a whole new way.
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RE[4]: Are you really thanking Apple for this?
by leos on Fri 26th Oct 2012 21:22
in reply to "RE[3]: Are you really thanking Apple for this?"
Member since:2005-09-21
On something tablet sized, I still prefer a miniature keyboard to a touchscreen - just my opinion. Never underestimate the usefulness of tactile feedback!
Totally agree. Given the choice I choose a full size physical keyboard anyday over an on-screen one. I was thinking more about "thumb" size keyboards.
It was certainly a great market for apple to get into, but even if they hadn't I think the proliferation of modern tablet devices was quite inevitable given the decreasing costs of the technology. Technology's funny that way... some people would say Bill Gates was essential in bringing computing to the masses, but I think he capitalized on a market that was going to grow with or without microsoft. If microsoft hadn't been most popular, it'd just be one of the other players like apple, amiga, atari, xerox, etc. Alot of them would have been able to fit the "bill" 
For sure. So many examples in history where a technology was independently invented in two different areas just because conditions for it were right.
Member since:
2011-01-28
"Were talking about mobile devices here, and the device landscape proves that onscreen keyboards have won out compared to miniature physical ones."
On something tablet sized, I still prefer a miniature keyboard to a touchscreen - just my opinion. Never underestimate the usefulness of tactile feedback!
"Fact is, iOS was the System that made that interface popular and usable with good autocorrect"
It was certainly a great market for apple to get into, but even if they hadn't I think the proliferation of modern tablet devices was quite inevitable given the decreasing costs of the technology. Technology's funny that way... some people would say Bill Gates was essential in bringing computing to the masses, but I think he capitalized on a market that was going to grow with or without microsoft. If microsoft hadn't been most popular, it'd just be one of the other players like apple, amiga, atari, xerox, etc. Alot of them would have been able to fit the "bill"