Tim Cook: I've Given Up Physical Keyboards, Use iPad "80% of the Time" - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

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

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.

Popular Stories

iPhone 4 on Black Feature

Full iPhone 4 'Antennagate' Q&A Video Surfaces After 16 Years

Thursday September 24, 2026 5:39 am PDT by
A 47-minute video of the Q&A session from Apple's 2010 iPhone 4 "antennagate" press conference has surfaced on YouTube, showing Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and Bob Mansfield answering reporters' questions. The recording was highlighted by Daring Fireball's John Gruber, who attended the event. Apple called the July 16, 2010 press conference amid complaints that holding the iPhone 4 in a particular...
iPhone Ultra Fold Feature

Foldable iPhone Development History and Price Revealed in New Report

Tuesday September 8, 2026 5:55 am PDT by
Former Apple CEO Tim Cook played a major role in the development of the foldable iPhone, which could reach around $3,000 with storage upgrades, according to new details shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Early in the development of the foldable iPhone, the company reportedly targeted a starting retail price of $1,999, hoping to come under the "potentially controversial $2,000 barrier." The...
Tim Cook Apple Logo

Tim Cook Won't Appear in Apple's September 9 Event Video

Monday September 7, 2026 2:27 am PDT by
Tim Cook will attend the screening for Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event this Wednesday, but he will not feature in the event video itself, according to sources cited by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Cook stepped down as Apple CEO on September 1 to become executive chairman of the company, paving the way for John Ternus to take over the top job. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that...

Top Rated Comments

180 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
180 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
180 months ago
Trust Auto-Correct??? If Tim Cook ever leaves Apple, he has a promising career in comedy.
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
180 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
180 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
180 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)
Latest Stories
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
2 hours ago
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
3 hours ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
7 hours ago
Apple Event on October 13?
Apple Event on October 13?
8 hours ago
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
10 hours ago
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
10 hours ago
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
12 hours ago
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
12 hours ago
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
13 hours ago
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
14 hours ago
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
14 hours ago
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
15 hours ago
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
1 day ago
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
1 day ago
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
1 day ago
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
1 day ago
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
1 day ago
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
1 day ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
1 day ago
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
1 day ago
Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features
Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features
1 day ago
Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year
Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year
1 day ago
Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models
Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models
1 day ago
Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac
Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac
1 day ago
Apple Says Emergency SOS via Satellite Now Available in Norway
Apple Says Emergency SOS via Satellite Now Available in Norway
1 day ago
AppleCare Guide: Is it Worth Paying For?
AppleCare Guide: Is it Worth Paying For?
1 day ago
Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI
Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI
1 day ago
Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often
Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often
1 day ago
Amazon Discounting New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Alongside Early Prime Day Deals on Monitors
Amazon Discounting New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Alongside Early Prime Day Deals on Monitors
1 day ago
New Apple TV 4K Hinted at in Support Document
New Apple TV 4K Hinted at in Support Document
2 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors