I recall when apple made the first iPhones, people said it wasn't possible to sell a phone with one button only. Tesla has designed a clean, efficient interface to match the internal and external decor. If you want additional buttons, I suspect you could glue or stitch them on and twirl them to your heart's content.
Well to be honest it has the 'one button' and a power button, and a volume rocker. So really 4 buttons. But you point is valid.
It still needs a photo button. I don't think I could go back to a phone without a dedicated two position (focus, shutter) camera button. I am so Glad WindowsPhone requires this.
As for the touch screen, I was VERY VERY skeptical about it being safe and non-distracting. Now I think it is safer than buttons. Because it is VERY easy to see as it is large and uncluttered. It also has much better identification (my VW had a lot of poorly labled buttons) via writing on the button.
As for distracting. It does allow me to look through lots of songs, and has other cool stuff that is VERY easy to get to. So I am tempted to do more than I should. But honestly it is much better than buttons.
The only thing I think it really lacks is a physical button to change to day mode. By background brightness is 0% at night. If for some reason it switches to night mode when it is even moderately bright my screens are basically unreadable. Having a gesture, or fixed tap-and-hold section of the screen to force Day mode would be really helpful. Right now I just wait to stop, or change the night brightness with the scroll wheel, then change it to day mode. That and I really would like a physical button for lights. Even though I am VERY impressed with auto mode. I really like adjusting my headlights (and fogs) often and for lots of reasons.
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Actually, I think it has too many buttons - why on earth is the rear window lock, as well as the drivers controls for the non-driver windows still physical buttons and not on the touchscreen?
Often I want to lower the rear windows to 80%, but that's hard to do with physical buttons.
NOOO! Don't take away my 4 window auto down physical buttons. I press them many times a day! I want them fixed and avalible all the time. As for the window locks, you can throw that to the screen.
I think the side mirrors are really the next thing that should get put on the screen. You just don't use them that often.