QOTW: Apple Touch Bar or Microsoft Surface Dial?

[HEXUS]

Two intriguing methods of input, but which do you think would be most useful to you?

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[will19565]

i think it's it a thing of wait and see with both of these products.
p.s. i like both, but unless proven otherwise the touch bar seems more useful.

[LSG501]

To me the dial is more ergonomic if you can do all the same features on the desk (I already use a 3D connexion device) as you can on the screen.

I feel the touch bar on the macbook pro isn't in a great place and it also requires you to physically look at what you're doing imo, while the MS dial doesn't, due to it just rotating, unless you are specifically selecting something.

Mind you both systems are excessively overpriced for what they offer.

Also it's funny how they're both aiming these at 'creative' people... must be the new buzz word for selling pc's this year. I'm their target market and I can't see a reason to get either, there are items out there that do what they offer already and I don't need to replace what I have already invested in.

[el_raberto]

Neither, 'nough said.

[plexabit]

i think it's it a thing of wait and see with both of these products.
p.s. i like both, but unless proven otherwise the touch bar seems more useful.

Agreed. Although I think Microsoft would sell many more units if they had made a sort of Thunderbolt Display instead so those requiring more power can get all the nice features with any old Windows 10 PC. Hook that up to, for example, a Magnus EN1080 and you have a super portable, ultra-powerful setup. Why would Microsoft use a 980M anyway? That baffles me.

I thought the Surface Studio cost a lot, but a midrange MBP 15" is nearly that much. Yeesh, prices.

[Spud1]

The thing is, neither are innovative - they are both just applications of existing, proven technology. I don't quite see the purpose of the "dial" for the mass market, but configurable keyboards are much more useful in that space. So if you ask me which one I would prefer, it's definitely adding configurable keys to a keyboard.

Like I say though neither are new or innovative; the fact we are talking about them just shows how powerful marketing can be.

[Marrond]

I can't honestly imagine why anyone would ANY of these. Touch bar with literally no feedback requiring you to take off your eyes from the screen every time you want to use it is a complete waste of space, and in this case also battery. It was being said for a while that MacBook is an expensive Facebook machine and Apple finally delivers to their biggest customer base with touch bar that allows you to preview all your emojis.

DIAL on the other hand lacks the most important part, namely hotkeys. Sure, it looks nice but that would be about it usability wise. 2D artists will be better off getting Wacom's standalone ExpressKey Accessory (that is if they're crazy enough to overpay for the absolutely horrible hardware and get Studio in the first place - even if people can afford it, Cintiq 27'' + an ITX build are still a better deal) and use it instead for better productivity. Same for 3D - hotkeys are ESSENTIAL.


It turns out if you want a decent laptop that looks like a MacBook but isn't castrated of each and any usability you have to go with Razer, and if you want a decent AiO you better wait for Studio 2 when they (hopefully) pull their heads out of their asses.

[lumireleon]

I am not impressed. The only Microsoft gadget I am impressed with is Halo and Xbox One.

[Biscuit]

I quite like the look of both TBQH. Not "MUST HAVE IT NOW" like it but definitely interested to see if these things work out.
Apple has had a pretty good time in recent history of setting standards, even if they arent the original innovator. If we see something on their product its a reasonable indication we'll start seeing it on others.

[Myss_tree]

I use a desktop most of the time (hardly ever turn the laptop on) which would logically point to the Surface Studio however watching the video of it, its not aimed at me as i am not a "creative proffesional". I do prefer as well the desktop box / monitor seperation rather than an all in one.
I like the look and potential of the touchbar however with its dated looks not to mention exhorbitant price and lack of usb ports i would not want the Macbook Pro.
So i would not particularly want either.

[mikerr]

"Apple Touch BAR or Microsoft Surface Touch SCREEN"

Remember the Dial works on Surface Pro 4 as well (and will cost $99) - I'll probably buy a dial to play with it
- reminds me of the 3dconnexion's SpaceNavigator:
http://www.3dconnexion.co.uk/products.html

but with the addition of being able to use directly on the display.


The Studio looks great - but way too pricey to consider for most people.

[EndlessWaves]

For my normal workflow? Neither, My monitor is out of arms reach and I never look at my keyboard.

The Surface Dial has the potential to impact my workflow more than the touch bar though. If it gets widespread software support then I could well see my next monitor being of a design that worked with it.

[eviling]

Neither for me. The use cases for either seems far too limited in normal day to day use. And both seem to be easily replaceable with an app overlay on the actual screen instead.

[SiliconAudio]

Apple painted themselves into a corner when they ruled out touch-screens on their Macbooks a few years ago. Now it's like they want it, but don't want to cave and look like the are following MS. The result is this ridiculous touch bar.

As for the MS dial - total gimmick. I could do everything they show there with a good scroll mouse far more ergonomically.

Neither feature is killer enough to make we want to go out and get either device.

[Pleiades]

Deffo the Dial, though for a rather small demographic...

[nitro912gr]

I will go for the surface for sure. It is a great deal on what you get for what you spent, IF (and that's a big if) you are the niche market that this machine is targeting. As a graphic designer I want this for my office for sure (I wanted an iMac but it cost the same and doesn't have the functionality of surface) but as a gamer I don't really care.

As for the price I will say again it is a fine price and it is not just a "say it is for pros and make it cost a lot", it is a good price.
I mean look at the other way you can do it, you get a wacom touch screen with pen that goes for around 2800$ which is not 4K and you still need to add the computer, so yeah basically it is a good price.

On the other hand I don't see what this touch bar can add in my workflow, if I got this right it changes depending on the app you are focused at, so that mean it take functionality away from me since I can no longer change music while working in illustrator, because I have to change to spotify so that the touchbar change too. This is not what I'm looking for, I prefer the old keys.
(and changing all the ports like that? it is supposed to be a mobile computer, how they do that if you have to carry a lot of adaptors to use the devices you already have?)