Tim Cook: I've Given Up Physical Keyboards, Use iPad "80% of the Time" - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Tim Cook: I've Given Up Physical Keyboards, Use iPad "80% of the Time"

by

As part of its teaser for tonight's Rock Center interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook, NBC has released a clip with Cook talking about the virtual keyboard built into the iPhone and the iPad. He suggests that Brian Williams should stick with it and trust the autocorrect feature in iOS.

Cook says that he does spend time on the Mac but spends 80% of his time on the iPad. "And of course" Cook says, "I have [my iPhone] with me all the time."


Cook also shares that he gets many emails from customers and loves it because "they talk to you as if you're sitting at their kitchen table." He does share that he sometimes "gets an earful" from dissatisfied customers.

Tag: Tim Cook

Popular Stories

TMRS 191 Tim Cook Is Out as Apple CEO Thumb

The MacRumors Show: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO

Friday April 24, 2026 9:06 am PDT by
On this week's special episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's bombshell announcement that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, 2026, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus set to succeed him. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Cook will transition to executive chairman, where he will "assist with certain aspects of the company, including...
Read Full Article • 24 comments
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple CEO Tim Cook Stepping Down, John Ternus Taking Over

Monday April 20, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple's chief executive officer, and hardware engineering chief John Ternus is set to take over, Apple announced today. Cook will continue on as Apple CEO through the summer, with Ternus set to join Apple's Board of Directors and take over as CEO on September 1, 2026. Cook is going to transition to executive chairman, and he will "assist with certain...
Read Full Article • 583 comments
tim cook john ternus apple ceo

Apple's Tim Cook Shares Community Letter After Announcing Plans to Step Down as CEO

Monday April 20, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
Current Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to leave his role on September 1, 2026, and as he prepares to step down as CEO, he has written a letter addressed to the Apple community. Cook said that he starts his day reading notes from Apple users all over the world, which fills him with an indescribable gratitude. According to Cook, Ternus is the perfect person to take over as Apple's CEO. To the...
Read Full Article • 267 comments

Top Rated Comments

W
WestonHarvey1
175 months ago
Waiting for Apple to make this.

Image (http://a.tgcdn.net/images/products/additional/large/e722_cube_laser_virtual_keyboard_for_iphone_inuse.jpg)
They already did. It's called the virtual keyboard, and it's on the iPad, and it's way more convenient than that useless monstrosity you pasted.
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maxwelltech Avatar
maxwelltech
175 months ago
The virtual keyboard on the iPad is decent, but I feel a lot more productive when working on a physical keyboard. There is no way I can type an 1000 word essay on an iPad :D
By the way, I hated the auto-correcting feature on my iPhone and iPad.
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BornAgainApple Avatar
BornAgainApple
175 months ago
Trust Auto-Correct??? If Tim Cook ever leaves Apple, he has a promising career in comedy.
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
bobbytallant
175 months ago
The virtual keyboard on the iPad is decent, but I feel a lot more productive when working on a physical keyboard. There is no way I can type an 500 word essay on an iPad :D
By the way, I hated the auto-correcting feature on my iPhone and iPad.

Wow a 500 word essay? Is that the demands of the US education system today :eek:
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stella Avatar
Stella
175 months ago
Sure - virtual keyboards are fine for web browsing and the odd email - but dont go overboard - anything else and they are PITA, especially for touch typists. Firstly they need tactile feedback. On a physical keyboard I know if I've typed the wrong letter - cant do that on iPad without looking.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ubele Avatar
Ubele
175 months ago
Let the paranoid rumors based on misinterpretation begin. I'll start:

WTF? Tim is saying that the iPad and iPhone are fine for 80% of what users need to do? This is a sure sign that Apple plans to discontinue its Mac line, except for maybe one model, which no doubt will start at $3,000. Greedy bas***ds! Apple is doomed. I'm switching back to Windows PCs before it's too late!

[Obligatory ;) emoticon for people who don't read my opening line and think I'm serious]
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments