Post: #1

Has anyone else tried this thing out? I was in a store yesterday and the salesman showed it to me on the iPad Pro. I was amazed at how well it works and how good the lines look. I can see this making a typical computer and mouse or trackpad mostly obsolete for a lot of people within a few years. For the design industry, I expect to see something like large iPads about 30 inches wide become the norm.

Post: #2

(05-04-2016 11:32 AM)RexImperator Wrote:  Has anyone else tried this thing out? I was in a store yesterday and the salesman showed it to me on the iPad Pro. I was amazed at how well it works and how good the lines look. I can see this making a typical computer and mouse or trackpad mostly obsolete for a lot of people within a few years. For the design industry, I expect to see something like large iPads about 30 inches wide become the norm.

Wacom tablets, i know some designers who use them.



I don't see this as being ground breaking the same way the iPhone was, another competitor in a very niche market.

Post: #3

With the Wacom you don't actually draw on the screen. It's totally different in an important way.

Apple Pencil is like drawing or writing on electronic paper.

Keyboard use may be greatly diminished in the future.

Post: #4

There are graphics tablets where you draw on the screen. Wacom Cintiq if you have the scratch, or some less expensive models. I was looking at a ~$400 one a few months ago but ended up doing a lot less graphics work so I haven't bought anything yet.

I am getting pretty annoyed with the push away from keyboards, actually. I'm very happy using a keyboard, and it's way, way faster and easier than writing by hand. If I want to draw, sure, I want a graphics tablet because using a mouse for that sucks. But I don't want a touch screen on my computer, and for general purpose use there's no chance I want to switch away from a mouse to a pen.

There's no practical reason for this convergent design in computers. Different devices have different uses. I don't use my smartphone or tablet the same way I use a laptop. Thus, I don't need the same software UI or input methods.

Post: #5

I'm for anything improving efficiency when it comes to input. I've tried trackballs, but found they weren't my cup of tea. I've also tried Dragonsoft Naturally Speaking voice-to-text software, but found it wanting. Granted, that was several years ago. I'd be more interested in better voice-to-text software, as that would save me and many other typists who write a lot throughout the day a lot of time. As for the Apple Pencil, I can see how it would be a very useful tool for designers, especially with a large screen tablet.

Post: #6

(05-04-2016 12:05 PM)weambulance Wrote:  There's no practical reason for this convergent design in computers. Different devices have different uses. I don't use my smartphone or tablet the same way I use a laptop. Thus, I don't need the same software UI or input methods.

It's super easy to add an external keyboard or mouse to a tablet for those who want that. Eventually the dedicated laptop form will largely disappear, just like big desktops have.

Think about the freedom you could have doing your writing and note-taking in cursive on an electronic piece of paper instead of typing.

Post: #7

Wish I could use this with a regular iPhone. I hate typing on my phone, a stylus would be a nice alternative.

Post: #8

I don't get why anyone would rather write stuff instead of type. Unless physically writing is a hobby for you, typing is just a much more superior way of doing things. If ancient people could write books by pressing buttons instead of doing calligraphy I'm confident they'll jump on it.

Post: #9

This is definitely for a niche audience - keyboards are just a million times faster for writing.

Phree is another interesting competitor:




Voice-to-text is my predicted mainstream upgrade to keyboards though once they get the technology down properly. Siri and Dragon NaturallySpeaking are decent but still have a way to go.

Also gesture control will see a huge surge in the next few years, both through video cameras e.g. Kinect as well as wearables like Myo:

Post: #10

I have a surface 3 with the pen and it works incredibly well. I write my school notes and it is so fluid and clean. The pen has like 150 pressure points so the harder you press the thicker the line goes.

It is a nice and cheaper alternative.

Had the ipad air 2 before this, and would never go back

Post: #11

(05-04-2016 08:44 PM)Centurion Wrote:  I don't get why anyone would rather write stuff instead of type. Unless physically writing is a hobby for you, typing is just a much more superior way of doing things. If ancient people could write books by pressing buttons instead of doing calligraphy I'm confident they'll jump on it.

My post might've been unclear - I meant using the stylus to type instead of my fingertip, not writing words instead of type.

However, for scribbling down quick notes (like a grocery list), it would be handy to have that, too.

Post: #12

It's good for short amounts of text, replacing the finger touch and for drawing/graphics but it's going to be much slower and not efficient for typing. Voice to text would be good but obviously can't be used in every scenario and I wouldn't always want to be speaking all day long.

Post: #13

(05-04-2016 09:58 PM)Valentine Wrote:  Also gesture control will see a huge surge in the next few years, both through video cameras e.g. Kinect as well as wearables like Myo:

(VIDEO)

I think this is really unfortunate in combination with every device always being connected to the internet. I'm very far from a conspiracy theorist, but I really doubt that the camera on these devices will ever be off. The next step after this will be video analytics - a technology that allows the large scale analysis of a video feed to determine someone's preferences.

Imagine a classic family scenario with one of these camera based, gesture controlled devices. It's 7:30 in the morning, the husband is going to work and says to his wife, "Honey, I just finished the last of the milk. Can you remember to get some at the store today?"

The camera doesn't catch all of this, but because of the built in microphone, the conversation is captured, stored and sent to the company providing the device.

30 minutes later, the wife is using her phone for GPS navigation, texting, etc. In every app she uses, she sees advertisements for milk.

I'm sure what I described can be done today, but let's take it one step further: A single guy in an apartment finishes a carton of milk in view of the camera in his TV. He says nothing out loud, writes nothing down, and probably doesn't even remember it himself. However, throughout the day, his phone shows him several advertisements for milk.

The sign that this is coming will be these devices running Android OS or Apple starting their own advertising company like Google.

Post: #14

What's better is the pen that comes with the HP Pro Slate 12. You can write on a piece of actual paper with the pen and it's duplicated on the tablet.