What are kids usin' these days for class laptops?

[Jake]

But all the other shit phones they have running android are retarded, focus on the two phones and then make sure you get the OS updates out in a timely manner. Same goes for all the other manufacturers, too focused on getting out a new model instead of the latest and greatest OS on their perfectly fine and up to date existing models.

Yep. Too many devices with lousy user experiences. I haven't found any Android phone that has as good of a touchscreen keyboard as the iPhone. Stop putting money into re-making the same garbage phones and invest in a good touchscreen and a developer to refine the UX. The best 'droid on-screen keyboard I've used is the Droid X's. It comes close to the iPhone in responsiveness, thankfully.

And this OTA new-OS-update-push-when-we-feel-like-it is shit. The OS update should be ready for all devices at the same time. I agree, it's tough to do since each manufacturer can customize it to their taste and their phones. But then you get the same effect as Microsoft's had with Windows... it runs on so much shit hardware that the UX is muddled up for those who have good hardware.

When you aren't the one making "the whole widget" it's really tough to have a solid experience all the way around. That's why I'm an Apple fanboi. Stuff (generally) works well the first round.

Having never really used any tablet, I would think a physical keyboard or mouse would be better to zoom/navigate with gloves or dirty hands. What am I missing?

The iPad's screen is a sheet of glass. I can use it through my OG Racing mechanics' gloves, and if it gets greasy/oily you can clean it with some Invisible Glass or whatever. I have it in a case so the back doesn't get scratched (and it stays put a bit better on car-ish surfaces).