Apple Tablet Interface to Come With 'Steep Learning Curve'?

If the Apple tablet is primarily for consuming data, it can get by with some version of the iPhone UI, tweaked for a larger screen. With some additional gestures, it could become elegant. Such a device could be successful, but would not be a paradigm shift.

To be truly revolutionary, the tablet would also have to have a superior mechanism for input. IMO, nothing beats a traditional, full-size physical keyboard for the input of text and commands. A tablet won't have one, so...

...if the pie-in-the-sky predictions that Apple is about to change computing forever are true, then there would indeed have to be some revolutionary method of inputing text and commands. That would require a learning curve, possibly a steep one.

So I hope this rumor is true, because it portends something very exciting, surprising, and "game-changing."

Sounds like a 3D interface to me... don't know what else would constitute a steep learning curve. Whether this is good or bad, I don't know.

Seriously? Does anyone really think that Apple, with its long history of attention to detail in design and ease of use, would come up with a device that required a steep learning curve?

This report smells of bogosity.

Since Apple purchased Fingerworks, and is perhaps basing a lot of its multi-touch technology on that... I wonder if we should all start studying this:

http://www.fingerworks.com/gesture_guide.html

:D

So I hope this rumor is true, because it portends something very exciting, surprising, and "game-changing."

+1

I'm mostly concerned about the price of the device and any accompanying month charges for internet access... I trust that the device itself will be quite excellent.

Seriously? Does anyone really think that Apple, with its long history of attention to detail in design and ease of use, would come up with a device that required a steep learning curve?

This report smells of bogosity.

Remember, this is just one person's opinion and it doesn't seem like a negative one. What this tells me is that the interface will be something new. 'Learning curve' doesn't necessarily equal 'hard to use.'

Personally i hope this thing comes with a version of OS X rather than the Iphone OS for something bigger...

The only thing that could really need to be addressed is the lack of physical keyboard, I'm thinking that thay may have invented some sort of new way of typing, or inputting information into a device. Maybe something voice controlled, or gestures.... Can't wait too see what though.

1) apple wouldnt made a product with a steep learning curve
2) apple wouldnt have a "meeting" to discuss things about this never mentioned or even remotely hinted or seen device.

'Steep Learning curve' usually equals 'hard to use.' It means you need to learn how to use it and it will take time and mistakes to get it right. It doesnt mean its new and you will just get use to it after some use.

Remember, this is just one person's opinion and it doesn't seem like a negative one. What this tells me is that the interface will be something new. 'Learning curve' doesn't necessarily equal 'hard to use.'

True, but it also does not purely mean that it is revolutionary per se. Learning curve does indicate that it takes time and practice to figure out... The iPhone had a very different interface from others on the market at the time, but one very rarely had to make use of any training materials to figure out how it worked. Maybe once in a while (I had to look up how to activate the compass in Maps when I got my 3GS), but not often.

I would hope that, similarly, the tablet would offer something revolutionary but also intuitive.

But, to the previous poster's point, "I know a guy who works at Apple, and he made me swear not to tell anyone, and he wouldn't really go into details, but..." rumors usually do not turn out to be true, do they? Next it will turn out that this conversation with the Apple employee happened in an elevator. ;)

just have the ability for video chatting. thats all i really care about. that and getting newspapers sent every morning to the new device so i have something to do on the subway.