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 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 john ternus apple ceo

Tim Cook Comments on His Final Day as Apple CEO

Monday August 31, 2026 8:39 am PDT by
Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO on September 1, with the company's hardware engineering John Ternus set to take over. With the transition set to take place tomorrow, there have been quite a few headlines about Cook lately. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The latest story comes from 9to5Mac, which said it has obtained Cook's full memo to Apple...
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)