Apple Planning 22-Inch Touchscreen iMac for Later This Year?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/18/apple-planning-22-inch-touchscreen-imac-for-later-this-year/)

In a brief note (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100118PB202.html), DigiTimes points to a report (http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-News/2007Cti-News-Content/0,4521,12050901+122010011800260,00.html) [Google translation (http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-News/2007Cti-News-Content/0%2C4521%2C12050901+122010011800260%2C00.html&hl=en&langpair=auto|en)] from Taiwan's China Times claiming that Apple is preparing to launch a 22-inch touchscreen iMac in the second half of this year. Longtime manufacturing partner Quanta is among the companies expected to receive orders to build the new iMac.

The report notes that the popularity of "all-in-one" computers like the iMac is surging, with unit sales set to double in 2010 as other competitors such as Dell ramp up their offerings. In order to meet the challenge from these competitors, Apple will reportedly look to the touchscreen offering as continued means of differentiating itself.

Today's report also claims that Apple's highly-anticipated tablet will launch later this month, and will include a 9.7-inch screen.

Article Link: Apple Planning 22-Inch Touchscreen iMac for Later This Year? (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/18/apple-planning-22-inch-touchscreen-imac-for-later-this-year/)

[azentropy]

You would get quite a workout having to do everything on a 22" touchscreen.

[jciapara]

and the saga continues...

[vaizki]

I hope it comes with integrated cleaning fluid nozzles and screen wipers.

[RichardI]

Aren't finger marks (smudges from the oils in your skin) an issue on touch devices? I can't stand having even a speck of dust on my 24" beauty. :D

Rich :cool:

[Benito]

A touchscreen iMac would be nice as long as the monitor was made to not show fingerprints. As well, the stand the iMac is on really needs to be solid so there isn't a risk of pushing your iMac over while using the touchscreen.

[fun173]

That would be very interesting? i wonder if this would sell well or not

[mmccaskill]

Why not 21.5?

[Grimace]

Your arms would be sooooooo tired!!

[Full of Win]

Aren't finger marks (smudges from the oils in your skin) an issue on touch devices? I can't stand having even a speck of dust on my 24" beauty. :D

Rich :cool:

Don't forget that Apple has the oleophobic layer on the iPhone for this issue. One would assume that such a coating would be used here.

[*LTD*]

Gorilla-arm anyone?

This doesn't sound like a good idea. I can see someone using a touchscreeen while standing, but sitting at a desk, arms either resting (ow, my elbows!) on the desk or extended with no support . . . :(

Now, if the screen is shifted about 140 degrees and slightly below the user somehow, then maybe.

[chibamac]

if it stands on a desk the same way my imac does then using it as a touch screen is way to cumbersome imo.. If it somehow rests on a lap or horizontal on a desk then maybe it could be useful.

[lightpeak]

Come up w/ your own ideas, Apple, and stop stealing others. lol ;):p

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/touchsmart/

Just keeping the "Praise Apple" fanboys here humble. I wonder how they'd feel if HP sued Apple over this? Oh, wait... I know! :D

Now getting serious: Won't work. People are use to having their iMacs a good foot away from them at the far back end of the desk. Imagine how tired your arms would get having to stretch. Imagine how tired your eyes would get to have your iMac a few inches away from your face... besides awkward looking.

[donster28]

Whoa, I didn't see this one coming from right field but engadget.com has a post about this. There's also a possibility it'll get annouced next week.

The iMacs are rumored to have a capacitive screen much like the iPhones (cue, a new yellow screen threads...hehehe)

I was attracted to the HP Touchsmart during the holidays, but this really puts a different perspective on things. I think I'll hold a little further on the purchase of my i5. :)

[Patrick J]

I'm thinking about virtual gestures, not on the screen. Gestures, waves, swipes could be in the air, sensed by the camera. Pinch/zoom, tap to select, etc could be on the screen.

[iWoz]

Was gonna post this rumour earlier, but didn't get around to it.

Very expensive luxury me thinks!!

Im happy with what I have :D

[chas0001]

Perhaps its a tablet device that can be inserted into a display enclosure so that it can also be used as a 'normal' computer. Saw some mock ups of this somewhere.

Cannot really see the benefit of having an iMac with a touchscreen.

[Lesser Evets]

Should have been done 18 months back.

They had the programming, the tech existed, just needed to do it.

People who think a touch screen computer looks like/sits like a normal computer - you are stupid. Join the world where things are designed to be used by people, not merely imitate existing designs. The base has to be designed to bring it closer and tilt down to touch friendly angles. Sheesh. It's pretty obvious that eliminating mouse and keyboard for less serious computer users is going to be the future.

And don't panic, people: there will always be adjunct keyboards for speed entry of data. No one is raping away your precious little keys, just making them unnecessary for computer use.

[iDisk]

They could have it confused with a 22" Cinema Display.... Maybe?

For those who are looking at the "LITERAL" functionality of touch, I say THINK DIFFERENT . It's Apple we're talking about here, what have they done so far to disappoint with touch? .. None to my knowledge.

iDisk

:apple:

[Ed91]

A touchscreen iMac would be nice as long as the monitor was made to not show fingerprints.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/Ed91/Screen-Cleaning-Technology.jpg

You saw it here first.

[VenusianSky]

You can still use a keyboard and mouse on most touchscreen computers.

[cube]

To be up to date it should also be 3D Ready.

[definitive]

would be nice if actually true, especially if the screen's touch features were like iphone's

[DipDog3]

Editor: "Our traffic is down, what can we do to boost traffic?"
Writer: "How about a baseless Apple rumor?"
Editor: "Sounds great, be sure to include high traffic keywords like Touch"
Lawyer: "We can't just make up stuff, we'll get sued."
Writer: "We'll base our story on a bad translation of a foreign language site?"
Editor: "Yea, use that same one we used last time, Communist Times."
Writer: "China Commercial Times?"
Editor: "Yea, whatever"

[Rocketman]

Now, if the screen is shifted about 140 degrees and slightly below the user somehow, then maybe.

So I guess we will see them at bars and casinos. . . .

Revive the Pac-Man table!

CES had a bunch of iMac clone touch screen PC's.

Rocketman

[dXTC]

I've played around with some of the HP TouchSmart desktops, and came to the conclusion that a touchscreen desktop is little more than a gimmick as the concept now stands.

Pros: viewing photos becomes very intuitive (especially rotate/zoom) and kids love the hands-on feel.

Cons: I'm not too keen on holding my hands up to the screen for too long, especially for text entry; it wasn't very ergonomic. (As Lesser Evets has mentioned, there would have to be a design shift to touch-friendly levels-- which means eliminating the "iMac chin".) Precision work like Photoshop and sniping in FPS games seem better suited for off-screen controllers. And of course, keeping the screen clean would be a chore.

Maybe Apple can come up with a "killer app" for large-scale touchscreen. Who knows? Maybe one day, we'll all be like the weather reporters on CNN. :)

EDIT: To Ed91: LMAO! :D

[lightpeak]

Windows 7 touch screen capibility:
http://cnettv.cnet.com/touch-screen-features-windows-7/9742-1_53-50074521.html

Don't you just LOVE the cutting-edge techonlogy on [strike through]Windows[/strike through] Mac?

[jtgotsjets]

this seems like page 2 stuff.

[spcdust]

Whoa, I didn't see this one coming from right field but engadget.com has a post about this. There's also a possibility it'll get annouced nest week.

I was attracted the HP Touchsmart during the holidays, but this really puts a different perspective on things. I think I'll hold a little further on the purchase of my i5. :)

Personally, I have never seen why anyone would want a touch screen desktop computer (totally get it for a handheld portable) but I'm open to be proven that there is some advantage. Also, wouldn't we constantly be having to clean our "lovely" glossy screens?

[alexhasfun28]

Oh! Sounds very nice, although it may seem a little chessy for me, but I can see Apple stepping up its game on this. Not now, already,.. But in the next year or so. I can already get a picture of what it may look like! :)

I got a question, if you can put as many computing features on a laptop, with wi-fi, etc.. (On a macbook pro.) then why can't the iMac be much slimmer and still have all those same features? It'll also go for all those other computers with 4gb memory and stuff..

[baryon]

It could be interesting for simple tasks, such as swiping to switch spaces, or moving windows and stuff like that, but not for all the other stuff that you can comfortably do with the standard keyboard and mouse already...

I really hope that if this is true, Apple will have a rock solid solution for finder prints, because I seriously hate that I already have to clean my MacBook Pro's screen from the keyboard grease marks after each time I close it.

[VenusianSky]

I've played around with some of the HP TouchSmart desktops, and came to the conclusion that a touchscreen desktop is little more than a gimmick as the concept now stands.


I messed around with the HP models at the store, and I thought the same. I don't think they are worth the price. It would be ideal for a specific task. Maybe someone that is in some sort of business that deals with viewing many photos.

[VenusianSky]

Windows 7 touch screen capibility:
http://cnettv.cnet.com/touch-screen-features-windows-7/9742-1_53-50074521.html

Don't you just LOVE the cutting-edge techonlogy on [strike through]Windows[/strike through] Mac?

Vista had it as well.

[Yonizzle]

this seems like page 2 stuff.
I agree. If Apple wanted to bolt a touchscreen onto a Mac, they could’ve done it long ago. The entire UI is designed around fast typing and small-target pointing. Apple could make some modifications to bundled applications to make it more useful, but for most of the huge library of third-party apps, it’d be pointless. If they’re going to make Mac OS X touchable, it’ll be in a big update to the OS.

[*LTD*]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/Ed91/Screen-Cleaning-Technology.jpg

You saw it here first.

Brilliant! :D

[MattSepeta]

Editor: "Our traffic is down, what can we do to boost traffic?"
Writer: "How about a baseless Apple rumor?"
Editor: "Sounds great, be sure to include high traffic keywords like Touch"
Lawyer: "We can't just make up stuff, we'll get sued."
Writer: "We'll base our story on a bad translation of a foreign language site?"
Editor: "Yea, use that same one we used last time, Communist Times."
Writer: "China Commercial Times?"
Editor: "Yea, whatever"

Too funny.


Regarding a touchscreen Imac... I doubt it. I am sitting at my 24" right now and cannot even imagine wanting to do anything with touchscreen that would not be easier and faster to do with a mouse.

Touchscreen Macbook or Macbook Pro though? THAT I might be interested in.

[GeekLawyer]

This makes little sense to me. From where I'm sitting, my fingertips can barely graze my iMac, unless I stand a little and reach to the back of the desk.

Touchscreen desktop computers are a usability fail.

[MacDaddy901]

I highly doubt this rumor. I think Jonathan Ive knows that it makes no sense to have a touchscreen monitor. A mouse does just fine.

[Takeo]

The only way I could see using this would be if the computer laid down on your desk instead of sitting up in the air in front of you... perhaps angled up at about 15 degrees up from the desk surface... with the keyboard right below it.

[lincolntran]

People who complain about having to extend your arms to use the touch iMac, or neck hurting, or smudges, or whatever (if it's actually made) NEED to think different. Don't you know Apple know this? They are the people who came up with intuitive designs that made you love the Mac OS X, iPhone, iPod, etc.... you know!

Unlike other company, Apple designers doesn't just "hey, let's make a touch iMac. They will actually sit down and "design" it before sending it to the assembly line. Just like they won't put OS X or the iPhone OS into the tablet and call it a day.

Geezzzzz!

[DakotaGuy]

This is a terrible idea. Touchscreen is a great idea for small devices like phones, media players, tablets and remote controls. It is a terrible idea for a desktop computer. Imagine how tired your arm would get having to continually reach up to the screen? Also, you would have fingerprints all over your screen and have to clean it all the time while continually washing your hands.

This input method would not have any advantages over a good keyboard-mouse combination other then an initial wow factor that will get old quick.

It's impractical and my guess is if they actually do this it will be a feature people pay for and rarely use. Of course knowing how Steve Jobs hates buttons might this be a replacement for a standard mouse? I hope not!

With all that said I doubt this rumor is true. It just doesn't make much sense.

[*LTD*]

Windows 7 touch screen capibility:
http://cnettv.cnet.com/touch-screen-features-windows-7/9742-1_53-50074521.html

Don't you just LOVE the cutting-edge techonlogy on [strike through]Windows[/strike through] Mac?

I'm not sure what you're trying to get at there (and with your previous post), other than trying to bait other members like you usually do.

Touchscreens on home computers haven't been done very well at all up to this point. Perhaps someone can come along and do it right. I just don't see it happening with the current way it's being done. It's gimmicky and very un-ergonmic.

[baryon]

I got a question, if you can put as many computing features on a laptop, with wi-fi, etc.. (On a macbook pro.) then why can't the iMac be much slimmer and still have all those same features? It'll also go for all those other computers with 4gb memory and stuff..

It would be possible, but it would be way to expensive for a desktop computer. The iMac has more powerful processors and a bigger screen, and that all generates more heat, therefore, the casing has to be bigger to allow the components to be spaced further away from each other so they don't overheat. The MacBook Air is way more expensive than a simple MacBook, although it has less computing power. This is because of all the manufacturing tricks involved to make it only a few millimetres thinner. The same applies for the iMac, and basically everything else (phones, cars, etc...).

[Morod]

Bad idea, Apple!

[*LTD*]

Bad idea, Apple!

Unless they figure out a way to implement it correctly.

[lightpeak]

(((A))) positive thing I can say about this possible revolutionary design is this:

1980's Macintosh ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgxurmQSLsc

Back then, we weren't too sure using a hand-held device called a "mouse" would make computing easier. Look at us now.

[TraceyS/FL]

Having shoulder/elbow problems.... i can't see a single purpose in having to reach my arms out to touch my screen.

My orthopedic surgeon would love me 'eh?????

[cube]

Stop whining. This is an additional, optional input method. Nobody is eliminating the mouse and keyboard.

[DakotaGuy]

Unless they figure out a way to implement it correctly.

The only way it would work comfortably is if they made it a 22" monitor that could sit flat on a countertop and then you stand over it to operate it. Spending hours reaching up to a screen to operate a computer would get old real quick.

Stop whining. This is an additional, optional input method. Nobody is eliminating the mouse and keyboard.

How do we know it won't replace the mouse and keyboard? Remember Apple hates buttons.

Your probably right, but we won't know until if and when it is introduced.

[lightpeak]

I'm not sure what you're trying to get at there (and with your previous post), other than trying to bait other members like you usually do.

Touchscreens on home computers haven't been done very well at all up to this point. Perhaps someone can come along and do it right. I just don't see it happening with the current way it's being done. It's gimmicky and very un-ergonmic.

The words of a true fanboy. Nothing of value ever exists until it's done by Apple.

I can give credit to Apple for revolutionizing the smart MP3 player and the smartphone. Why is it always a one-way street w/ Apple diehards?

[anubis]

I've played around with some of the HP TouchSmart desktops, and came to the conclusion that a touchscreen desktop is little more than a gimmick as the concept now stands.

Pros: viewing photos becomes very intuitive (especially rotate/zoom) and kids love the hands-on feel.

Cons: I'm not too keen on holding my hands up to the screen for too long, especially for text entry; it wasn't very ergonomic. (As Lesser Evets has mentioned, there would have to be a design shift to touch-friendly levels-- which means eliminating the "iMac chin".) Precision work like Photoshop and sniping in FPS games seem better suited for off-screen controllers. And of course, keeping the screen clean would be a chore.


+1

This "rumor" is a bunch of BS.

[zarusoba]

People who complain about having to extend your arms to use the touch iMac, or neck hurting, or smudges, or whatever (if it's actually made) NEED to think different. Don't you know Apple know this? They are the people who came up with intuitive designs that made you love the Mac OS X, iPhone, iPod, etc.... you know!

Unlike other company, Apple designers doesn't just "hey, let's make a touch iMac. They will actually sit down and "design" it before sending it to the assembly line. Just like they won't put OS X or the iPhone OS into the tablet and call it a day.

Geezzzzz!

Exactly. They won't do this without redesigning the ergonomics.

[*LTD*]

People who complain about having to extend your arms to use the touch iMac, or neck hurting, or smudges, or whatever (if it's actually made) NEED to think different. Don't you know Apple know this? They are the people who came up with intuitive designs that made you love the Mac OS X, iPhone, iPod, etc.... you know!

Unlike other company, Apple designers doesn't just "hey, let's make a touch iMac. They will actually sit down and "design" it before sending it to the assembly line. Just like they won't put OS X or the iPhone OS into the tablet and call it a day.

Geezzzzz!

Well I'm inclined to think (hope) you're right about this particular case. We can't forget that Apple doesn't just do technology, but *implementation* of technology like no one else. There might be a silver lining to this after all.

[Stella]

Although the idea sounds good, without a redesign of the Mac - using a touch screen mac will be very uncomfortable, like other people have already said.

I'm pretty sure that Apple have taken this into account and redesigned as necessary. I hope.

Simply adding multitouch to the existing iMac model - why - if its uncomfortable? Gimmicky. Re-design is necessary.

Myabe the keyboard will become optional, and have the screen like a book - or at a very tilted angle? Think big , unportable, tablet,

[lightpeak]

The Base would have to be a on swinging arm like a flat screen TV wall mount to pull it out and forward so you could touch when you want and have it back a bit when you don't or if it's not in use.

[macduke]

Come up w/ your own ideas, Apple, and stop stealing others. lol ;):p

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/touchsmart/

Just keeping the "Praise Apple" fanboys here humble. I wonder how they'd feel if HP sued Apple over this? Oh, wait... I know! :D

Now getting serious: Won't work. People are use to having their iMacs a good foot away from them at the far back end of the desk. Imagine how tired your arms would get having to stretch. Imagine how tired your eyes would get to have your iMac a few inches away from your face... besides awkward looking.

1.) Apple, along with their aquisition of Fingerworks, has been a pioneer of such multi-touch technology for many years. HP's implementation is more about gimmick, while Apple's is more about doing something useful. There is a big difference, which will be apparent once the tablet is released. Let's not kid ourselves: the only reason we haven't seen this sooner on Macs is because they wanted it on the tablet first. It has been in the works for a long time. And for what it's worth, there have been touch screens going back much further than HP's effort. Companies have only begun using them again recently because of Apple's successful use of the technology in the iPhone platform.

2.) Apple hires these employees known as industrial engineers. You see, their job is to design something that is beautiful and usuable. I can assure you that you're not the first one bright enough to take into consideration the concerns of using a capacitive touch screen on such a large scale. If they make something that is crap, Steve Jobs will give them hell until it works, and we won't see it for sale a day before that happens. Apple has changed the way people interact with computers before, from the mouse, to the click-wheel, to the multi-touch iPhone interface. I don't see how they couldn't do something similar with a desktop. Especially since going into the future, that seems like the easiest and most natural way to interact with a computer. Minority Report, Star Trek, Avatar? The future begins 2010.

Ok, now on to the tablet: http://www.macrumors.com/2009/11/19/apple-tablet-delayed-with-oled-model-planned-3g-possible/
According to their sources, Apple is working with Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), Quanta Computer and Pegatron Technology in the manufacturing of two different tablet PCs, one with a 10.6 inch TFT LCD while the other will have a 9.7-inch OLED panel. The reason for the delay is speculated to be related to the relatively high cost of the OLED panel itself which could bring the total cost of the device near $2000. Meanwhile, the 10.6 inch LCD device is estimated to cost around $800-$1000.

This new report states 9.7" screen, and the old report above states the 9.7" screen is OLED. Could this be confirmation of OLED in the tablet? If so, I hope that all the outdoor viewing issues have been resolved. I also hope that it costs much less than $2000. I don't see many people buying at that price. I'm sure Apple knows that already, but then does a lower price pretty much guarantee a cheap OLED panel? Which means poor outdoor viewing. All of this nonsense leads me to believe that the tablet won't have OLED. I also don't see Apple fragmenting their tablet device into regular and pro versions this early in the game. Could it happen a couple years down the road? Sure, but not this soon. I'm expecting standard LCD. They would need magic OLED panels to make it a decent price that is viewable outdoors.

[zedsdead]

The Base would have to be a on swinging arm like a flat screen TV wall mount to pull it out and forward so you could touch when you want and have it back a bit when you don't or if it's not in use.

I agree. They would have to go back to something similar to the design of the G4 iMac.

I don't think this is happening anytime soon.

[ecualegacy]

I hope it comes with integrated cleaning fluid nozzles and screen wipers.

PRICELESS COMMENT! :D

[SeaFox]

The report notes that the popularity of "all-in-one" computers like the iMac is surging, with unit sales set to double in 2010 as other competitors such as Dell ramp up their offerings.
That's because many of these other offerings have TV tuners built in. So you get a true multipurpose device.

[ecualegacy]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/Ed91/Screen-Cleaning-Technology.jpg

You saw it here first.


ROFL!!! Thanks soooo much for that pic! :D

[Airforcekid]

I was thinking a natal interface with gestures away from the screen. This way small laptops and older iMacs can utilize it.

[AAPLaday]

I could imagine using it for shifting and moving app windows about like in Expose, and also for selecting most common used app menus like copy paste print etc. I imagine this could work really well if it is done well. There are times when i use a computer and have many windows open that i wish i could just reach out and resize and move them instead of having to use a mouse

[SwiftLives]

Until someone can answer why a touchscreen interface on a 20+ in. display would be better than a keyboard and mouse, it won't happen. Even as a supplement to the keyboard and mouse, I don't see the use for a touchscreen display. I don't think this rumor is very credible.

[fat phil]

I think a touch-screen iMac is a brilliant idea.

And all the better for getting rid of bingo-wings!

[MikeELL]

What if touch OSX is the future of OSX?

Imagine this timeline:

Jan 27: Apple introduces Tablet(s) with touchscreen (+multitouch on back). Awesome new 3-D interface (touch the front of the screen you work on the foreground, touch the back and you work on the background). Awesome handwriting recognition. Camera thingy integrated into the screen as per their patent (http://www.macrumors.com/2006/01/13/apple-integrated-sensing-display/). Announces SDK for both tablet and iphone apps.

April/June/July: New iphone/ipod touch with multitouch front and back, integrated camera thingy.

Q3: Apple introduces new iMac - where the "chin" of the iMac is the dock for the detachable 22-inch tablet. Super thin so that it too can be taken around as a large tablet with same 3-D interface, multitouch front and back, sensing display, and handwriting.
Also introduce MacBook Pro line up with multitouch options. And Free standing displays (adjustable for ergonomic effect) for use with Mac Pros.

The important thing is that any big display is adjustable in much the same way as the lamp iMac so that it can be ergonomically used for touch in general and handwriting in particular.

Any takers?

[blybug]

I'm thinking about virtual gestures, not on the screen. Gestures, waves, swipes could be in the air, sensed by the camera. Pinch/zoom, tap to select, etc could be on the screen.

Yes. This would be Apple's way of doing things...even to the point of having all the gestures be sensed by the camera or the screen itself within a certain range. Perhaps this is where that patent for the "camera" built into the pixels of the screen itself comes into play. Eliminates the smudgy screen problem which Steve wouldn't stand for (me neither!), and introduces a whole new level of cool.

Will the Tablet be the first to demo these gestures with its "surprising" interface?

[*LTD*]

1.) Apple, along with their aquisition of Fingerworks, has been a pioneer of such multi-touch technology for many years. HP's implementation is more about gimmick, while Apple's is more about doing something useful. There is a big difference, which will be apparent once the tablet is released. Let's not kid ourselves: the only reason we haven't seen this sooner on Macs is because they wanted it on the tablet first. It has been in the works for a long time. And for what it's worth, there have been touch screens going back much further than HP's effort. Companies have only begun using them again recently because of Apple's successful use of the technology in the iPhone platform.

2.) Apple hires these employees known as industrial engineers. You see, their job is to design something that is beautiful and usuable. I can assure you that you're not the first one bright enough to take into consideration the concerns of using a capacitive touch screen on such a large scale. If they make something that is crap, Steve Jobs will give them hell until it works, and we won't see it for sale a day before that happens. Apple has changed the way people interact with computers before, from the mouse, to the click-wheel, to the multi-touch iPhone interface. I don't see how they couldn't do something similar with a desktop. Especially since going into the future, that seems like the easiest and most natural way to interact with a computer. Minority Report, Star Trek, Avatar? The future begins 2010.

Ok, now on to the tablet: http://www.macrumors.com/2009/11/19/apple-tablet-delayed-with-oled-model-planned-3g-possible/


This new report states 9.7" screen, and the old report above states the 9.7" screen is OLED. Could this be confirmation of OLED in the tablet? If so, I hope that all the outdoor viewing issues have been resolved. I also hope that it costs much less than $2000. I don't see many people buying at that price. I'm sure Apple knows that already, but then does a lower price pretty much guarantee a cheap OLED panel? Which means poor outdoor viewing. All of this nonsense leads me to believe that the tablet won't have OLED. I also don't see Apple fragmenting their tablet device into regular and pro versions this early in the game. Could it happen a couple years down the road? Sure, but not this soon. I'm expecting standard LCD. They would need magic OLED panels to make it a decent price that is viewable outdoors.

Very well stated.

[fat phil]

Until someone can answer why a touchscreen interface on a 20+ in. display would be better than a keyboard and mouse, it won't happen. Even as a supplement to the keyboard and mouse, I don't see the use for a touchscreen display. I don't think this rumor is very credible.

I kid you not that when I first got my unibody macbook, I would occasionally reach out to touch the screen before catching myself.

The canny attraction is gestures rather than actual interaction. Just to be able to swipe between Spaces instead of using the damned keyboard would do it for me. I love the MBP trackpad; it's my favourite new feature without question, and choice can only make iMacs more desirable rather than less.

[Trexznl]

You guys aren't using your imagination.

A 22" inch TouchiMac of course won't be used in the current form and would be really sucky.

I imagine it to be like a big tablet on a stand. So that the biggest part of the screen is underneath your hands, like a laptop keyboard. And then you can change the angle of the device between parallel to the surface, and being upswept.

That way it'd be quite useable.

[*LTD*]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/Ed91/Screen-Cleaning-Technology.jpg

You saw it here first.

Which view is that in iPhoto? Or is it a fullscreen Coverflow variation in the Finder window?

[VenusianSky]

Until someone can answer why a touchscreen interface on a 20+ in. display would be better than a keyboard and mouse, it won't happen. Even as a supplement to the keyboard and mouse, I don't see the use for a touchscreen display. I don't think this rumor is very credible.

A touchscreen is better than a keyboard and mouse for specific applications and uses. I don't think it is out to replace the regular usage of a keyboard and mouse, but rather target a specific (niche) market. Maybe interactive learning applications for children or a photo library for an event planner. I personally have no use, nor does many people here it seems, but there is a market out there for it.

[akadmon]

Stop :apple:! This type of design in an ergonomic disaster!!!

The only way I can envision it working is if the iMac is actually laying flat (or almost flat) on its back. ( i.e. something akin to MS Surface). Otherwise, a far better option is to bundle the iMac with a keyboard equipped with a large (say 7") LCD trackpad.

[Hellhammer]

We won't see touchscreen iMacs anytime soon. Your arm would be so full of pain after 10 minutes of use. A touch keyboard I can see happening this year but seriously, touchscreen computers are useless for normal use.

[macduke]

Well I'm inclined to think (hope) you're right about this particular case. We can't forget that Apple doesn't just do technology, but *implementation* of technology like no one else. There might be a silver lining to this after all.

I couldn't agree with you guys more.

HP's process: let's add a touchscreen to our all-in-one iMac ripoff!

Apple's process: how can we fundamentally change how people interact with their computer, while making it easier, intuitive, and less time consuming?

As a side note, as the iPhone has become more popular, there have been more and more Windows users on this site. Its getting a bit annoying how they love their iPhones, but love bashing Apple's other efforts, which have a lot to do with what made the iPhone possible. They can have their crappy HP TouchSmart TM2T or whatever, I just don't want to hear about it all day long. This is MACrumors.

Interesting quote from that HP model's description:
A convertible multitouch tablet that runs on Intel CULV and can be used as a slate or conventional laptop.

I doubt they would even be calling this a "slate" if that wasn't the rumored name for Apple's tablet device.

[wgbit]

i think if apple can make sure of the hardware durability (flickering screen, mobo problem and others), this will be a good start for advancement, otherwise, just another crazy toy to play with.

[AppleZwei]

Come up w/ your own ideas, Apple, and stop stealing others. lol ;):p

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/touchsmart/

Just keeping the "Praise Apple" fanboys here humble. I wonder how they'd feel if HP sued Apple over this? Oh, wait... I know! :D

Now getting serious: Won't work. People are use to having their iMacs a good foot away from them at the far back end of the desk. Imagine how tired your arms would get having to stretch. Imagine how tired your eyes would get to have your iMac a few inches away from your face... besides awkward looking.

The TouchSmart doesn't work. It's inaccurate and has the computer crippling Windows OS.

Also: Everyone should stop assuming it will be touch only. You know it will have a keyboard, mouse, and touchscreen which would BE AWESOME for graphics design and manipulating of a lot of information. There are times I wish I could do things with my hands on my current iMac, much in the way I've been doing things on my iPhone.

[farmboy]

I hope it comes with integrated cleaning fluid nozzles and screen wipers.

What...no defroster? FAIL!

[macrumorsMaster]

Come up w/ your own ideas, Apple, and stop stealing others. lol ;):p

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/touchsmart/

Just keeping the "Praise Apple" fanboys here humble. I wonder how they'd feel if HP sued Apple over this? Oh, wait... I know! :D



I know, funny how the article said it was a way for Apple to differentiate itself, when others have already done it. Kids love it, cuz they can draw right on the screen with their fingers!



HP's process: let's add a touchscreen to our all-in-one iMac ripoff!

Apple's process: how can we fundamentally change how people interact with their computer, while making it easier, intuitive, and less time consuming?

Apple real process: How can we copy others and make it better


he TouchSmart doesn't work. It's inaccurate and has the computer crippling Windows OS.

I don't know if it was hp or another, but I tried it at Costco (and so did my son) and it seemed accurate enough!

[MacDawg]

Discussion here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=850359)

Woof, Woof - Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

[AppleZwei]

I know, funny how the article said it was a way for Apple to differentiate itself, when others have already done it. Kids love it, cuz they can draw right on the screen with their fingers!

Again, you shouldn't take the TouchSmart seriously. It fails at doing anything touch-wise, and it doesn't have multitouch like this iMac *might* have.

[AidenShaw]

Until someone can answer why a touchscreen interface on a 20+ in. display would be better than a keyboard and mouse, it won't happen.

Think POS terminals and kiosk apps for a good fit.

[Glideslope]

I see this as a positive step. It's not like this will be a machine that only accepts Touch Input. It will most likely be like any iMac, with Touch Capabilities that you choose to implement.

I think this might actually be quite successful if Apple nails the implementation, and the price point is no different. :apple:

[miles01110]

This doesn't sound like a good idea.

...omg. LTD said something done by Apple wasn't a good idea??? Account must have been hijacked.

Anyway re: the smudging issue... seems like a golden opportunity to incorporate some of the advances made in materials science over the past couple years. For example, there's an interesting article (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/business/17novel.html?hpw) in the Times about plastic coatings that resist grime buildup.

[Glideslope]

Think POS terminals and kiosk apps for a good fit.

Apples current direction. Bingo. ;)

[RebootD]

Even if it did have a swivel stand to bring it closer to the user (and angle up towards you so you can rest your hands on it) if you wanted to use a keyboard for entry one would have to swing it out of the way.

Would you really want to

1. Swivel toward you to use touch interface on screen
2. Swivel away, pull keyboard closer to input long data/forms
3. Push keyboard away and swivel screen back down towards you
4. Rinse Repeat?

[ecualegacy]

Apple's process: how can we fundamentally change how people interact with their computer, while making it easier, intuitive, and less time consuming?

You mean like removing the *cut* feature from Finder, sorting everything alphabetically (mixing folders and files), giving you no "minimize all applications and their windows" :D

Seriously though, apple gets a lot more right than wrong and I think your comment about copying from others is somewhat off the mark. Yes, Apple looks at how it can make other ideas work better, but it does come up with original work too.

Like others here have said, you might find some utility with this if you lay the imac at an angle like the consols on Star Trek. I'd be interesting in giving it a try. But I really hate the idea of smudges and don't relish the idea of wearing a glove to keep things clean.

[blybug]

Think POS terminals and kiosk apps for a good fit.

Oh, like the screen of every drive-up ATM on every street corner in America? Nothing innovative here. I think the camera and/or screen itself sensing subtle gestures in the air is where Apple will push the envelope.

Try it now...I've got my wrists resting on the bottom of my laptop as I type, instead of moving my right wrist down to the trackpad to scroll the screen, I just flick my finger in the air. Wave of two hands outward could invoke Expose to clear windows off the screen. Just thought of those 2 while sitting here. I'm sure Apple's engineers could come up with a whole suite of useful and intuitive gestures that reduces repetitive movements and enhances on screen interaction.

While other manufacturers are playing iPhone catch-up by duct-taping "touch" onto their existing offerings, Apple could leap ahead by adding "no touch" gesturing, which is much more ergonomic and "clean" for a large upright device that you can't wipe off on your sleeve.

[VenusianSky]

Think POS terminals and kiosk apps for a good fit.

Wow! Someone else on this thread that can actually think outside of their small insignificant little individual world.

There are many uses for touchscreen computers. They just may not be ideal for surfing the web, updating facebook, syncing an iPod and posting comments on MR.

[knightlie]

The words of a true fanboy. Nothing of value ever exists until it's done by Apple.

Then show us the non-Apple touchscreen Windows PCs that have revolutionised the industry. That's right, you can't, because they suck. Apple do it better than the rest of the industry - get over it.

[Dagless]

I was contracted to make a website for a local firm selling touchscreen computers, I was even given a touchscreen monitor as a gift. Honestly they're not great. As a point of sale computer or whatever they're great. But I couldn't work on one.
Laptops could be better, since you're a lot closer to the display. Just cant see this working as a desktop computer. Though if anyone can get it working its Apple.

[Ed91]

Which view is that in iPhoto? Or is it a fullscreen Coverflow variation in the Finder window?

I'm not certain, but I'd guess it's a full screen view from Aperture 2. I don't have it though, so that's just a guess.

[miles01110]

There are many uses for touchscreen computers. They just may not be ideal for surfing the web, updating facebook, syncing an iPod and posting comments on MR.

In other words, "95% of the average Mac users' computer activity."

Then show us the non-Apple touchscreen Windows PCs that have revolutionised the industry. That's right, you can't, because they suck. Apple do it better than the rest of the industry - get over it.

Touchscreens haven't taken off because they suck, and because the mouse/keyboard interface is much more efficient than waving your arms all over the place like a fool.

[knightlie]

Apple real process: How can we copy others and make it better

Can you provide a list of things Apple has copied in the way you describe? Didn't think so.


I don't know if it was hp or another, but I tried it at Costco (and so did my son) and it seemed accurate enough!

Just because you can operate Windows Paint with it doesn't mean it's accurate enough for general use.

[knightlie]

In other words, "95% of the average Mac users' computer activity."

I love how you know what all Mac users are doing with their computers. 95% of the average Windoze user's usage is probably doing the same thing. See how stupid it sounds?

Touchscreens haven't taken off because they suck, and because the mouse/keyboard interface is much more efficient than waving your arms all over the place like a fool.

Exactly. and that's why Apple will do it differently in order to make sure it does work, unlike Stevie Ballmer and his photo-frame PC, with controls too small for the human finger to operate.

[twoodcc]

i would like to see apple do this, but we'll see. i sure hope the tablet launched later this month

[miles01110]

I love how you know what all Mac users are doing with their computers. 95% of the average Windoze user's usage is probably doing the same thing. See how stupid it sounds?


Actually most sales of Windows are in the corporate sector, so I'm willing to bet that's not the case. Good try though.

[kingtj]

Exactly... I *own* a 22" TouchSmart, so I'm well aware of how they get used. Everyone who sees it has an initial "Oooh! Wow! You can touch the screen to do things!" reaction, and thinks it's really cool to play with for about 30 seconds.

After that? It doesn't get used again. They go back to the keyboard and mouse combo for everything.

Even HP themselves seem to acknowledge this fact. Their sales literature often suggests the HP TouchSmart as sort of a "lifestyle computer" you could put out in a main room of your house (or even hang on the wall someplace), so people wanting to check the weather, latest news headlines, or just change a background photo real quickly could casually swipe it with their fingers to do it, as they passed by.

Problem with that idea is, not many people will really buy one to use it in that manner. It's the same issue Gateway had years ago, when they pushed the idea of some of their PCs being used in the family room/living room as a shared machine for the whole family. It takes the *personal* out of personal computing, and people don't generally go for it. Plus, the way most of us use computers, we need an environment that encourages sitting at it and concentrating on it for relatively long periods of time. That's not usually compatible with a setup out in the middle of a high-traffic area of a house or apartment, where people expect it to be available at any time to just "walk by and swipe its screen for a quick update".


I've played around with some of the HP TouchSmart desktops, and came to the conclusion that a touchscreen desktop is little more than a gimmick as the concept now stands.

Pros: viewing photos becomes very intuitive (especially rotate/zoom) and kids love the hands-on feel.

Cons: I'm not too keen on holding my hands up to the screen for too long, especially for text entry; it wasn't very ergonomic. (As Lesser Evets has mentioned, there would have to be a design shift to touch-friendly levels-- which means eliminating the "iMac chin".) Precision work like Photoshop and sniping in FPS games seem better suited for off-screen controllers. And of course, keeping the screen clean would be a chore.

Maybe Apple can come up with a "killer app" for large-scale touchscreen. Who knows? Maybe one day, we'll all be like the weather reporters on CNN. :)

EDIT: To Ed91: LMAO! :D

[SwiftLives]

The most important aspect of using a keyboard is the tactile feedback you get when typing. You can easily figure out where your fingers are on a keyboard without looking at it - you can even tell where your fingers are in relation to a specific key.

This doesn't work on a touchscreen.

Take a moment, and try typing on your flat desk. It actually starts to hurt your fingers after awhile.

A touchscreen - whether it's a tablet or a large display - is not viable to use as a full replacement for a keyboard and a mouse.

That being said, Apple employs people far smarter than me. If anyone can figure out a non-gimmiky and functional use for a touchscreen, I think it would be Apple.

[ecualegacy]

Even HP themselves seem to acknowledge this fact. Their sales literature often suggests the HP TouchSmart as sort of a "lifestyle computer" you could put out in a main room of your house (or even hang on the wall someplace), so people wanting to check the weather, latest news headlines, or just change a background photo real quickly could casually swipe it with their fingers to do it, as they passed by.


Building on that ... I use my iMac 21.5" already for some of that: I hit my dashboard key (F4) and lo, I see the weather widget and even the latest radar loop. I don't bother checking headlines till I get into work (don't wanna wet the appetite). Changing a background photo? Wonder if there is an app, er, widget for that. i.e., there isn't much that touch has to offer ... yet. :D We'll see if Apple can come up with something interesting.

[SandynJosh]

Yes. This would be Apple's way of doing things...even to the point of having all the gestures be sensed by the camera or the screen itself within a certain range. Perhaps this is where that patent for the "camera" built into the pixels of the screen itself comes into play. Eliminates the smudgy screen problem which Steve wouldn't stand for (me neither!), and introduces a whole new level of cool.

Yeah, cool until you have an itchy nose.

The only advantage I can see to a touch screen is to avoid getting hot wings sauce on your keyboard.;)

[ditzy]

I really hope that this isn't true. My arm is starting to hurt just thinking about it. I doubt that this is true though. As the iMac was just updated.

[Compile 'em all]

Yo digitimes, I'm really happy for you, I'ma Let you finish, but a multitouch iMac is the one of the stupidest rumors all time!

[SandynJosh]

...and because the mouse/keyboard interface is much more efficient than waving your arms all over the place like a fool.

I don't know... waving one's arms like a fool hasn't stopped people from doing it since the telephone was invented.

[fat phil]

I really hope that this isn't true. My arm is starting to hurt just thinking about it. I doubt that this is true though. As the iMac was just updated.

I'm in the pro-touchscreen camp, but I have to concur with the doubt.

[fat phil]

I don't know... waving one's arms like a fool hasn't stopped people from doing it since the telephone was invented.

Or shoulder joints...

There's never a shortage of fools...:)

[Marvy]

I don't see why everyone thinks this so unbelievable. I assume shortly after the slate comes out, some iMac like base stands are released that you can rest the iSlate on, making it something like a desktop Mac. Of course, that depends on what OS it will be running in the end.

So maybe this is just an iSlate accessory or Apple is planning on releasing an iMac that can be used as either a slate or a desktop resting on a stand (and hooked up to a keyboard and mouse).

[macnchiefs]

How would apple be differentiating itself when HP and Sony already have touchscreen all in ones?

Sounds like they'll be joining the pack to a certain degree

[Eye4Desyn]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/Ed91/Screen-Cleaning-Technology.jpg

You saw it here first.

....And now you can have your brand new 27" touchscreen iMac complete with it's very own .......wait for it.........wait for it......................iWiper :D

[MacHamster68]

cant see the point of a tochscreen
and as many are complaining a want to get ther iMacs fixed cleand or even exchanged because of some dust on the screen or glass
what will they do if this nice screen is covered with fingerprints all over the screen , a relative bougth a touchsmart , it was nice looking but , it it covered in fingerprints and as often as he cleans it ,as soon as he's touching it there are fingerprints again
i would certainly know better things to do then screen cleaning every half hour
and its a unavoidable thing as its the nature of your skin to get greasy
also like hellhammer pointed out your arms will be aching while touching the 27 inch screen .. ok you certainly will get exercise

i would also favor a touch keyboard like the optimus tactus as it would even make a mouse obsolete

http://www.ubergizmo.com/zoom.php?dir=2007/12/optimus-tactus/&page=1

[aegisdesign]

Wouldn't they have to make it matte to avoid fingerprints showing?

If so, I'm all for this rumour regardless of any silly touchscreen interface. :D

[sinsin07]

I believe the following is a Wacom. I would not speculate on user base as I have no idea how many graphic artist are out there.

[kddpop]

i agree that with the current form factor of the imac, touch would be kinda awkward.

im remembering those early demos of multitouch with the fellow standing if front of a very large table that was essentially a screen. photo manipulation, mapping, fun animated graphics.
could be great for a more upward facing imac. like a small table-top table.

i might be interested in such an interface. photo processing, graphic design, and audio design.

-kyle

[Sir Cecil]

Only benefit I can see with a touchscreen iMac is when two or three people are at the computer discussing a project and they don't have to keep handing the keyboard and mouse to each other.

[*LTD*]

How would apple be differentiating itself when HP and Sony already have touchscreen all in ones?

Same way Apple differentiated itself with the iPhone, iPod, etc.

It all comes down to implemenation.

[Boghog]

Stop :apple:! This type of design in an ergonomic disaster!!!
The only way I can envision it working is if the iMac is actually laying flat (or almost flat) on its back. ( i.e. something akin to MS Surface).

I just thought a curved surface might be nice. Not vertically like in Avatar but horizontally, so that the lower edge of your screen has an angle of about 5 degrees (similar to a keyboard) and the upper edge is at maybe a bit more than 45 degrees.
Is that doable?

But again (as with the tablet) the big question is the input paradigm. General navigation, text input and precision input are very different requirements. That's one reason why we have a mouse and a keyboard. Current touchscreens (including the iPhone's) don't handle the latter two too well.
The tablet will show us the way. I expect a stylus will take care of precision input as in graphics applications. Handwriting recognition might then allow for text input - although other threads have shown that quite a few people prefer typing over writing. In a stationary computer also speech recognition might make more sense than in a tablet.
In the end I think a new kind of chord or gesture typing would be best to replace the keyboard. You could achieve speeds at least as high as on a traditional QWERTY using only one hand - but considering the steep learning curve, I doubt Apple will go for that.

[4mat]

Wirelessly posted (SAMSUNG-SGH-A821/1.0 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.4 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.0 configuration/CLDC-1.1)

So it may be like an iMac inside something like the Wacom Cintiq??

[nagromme]

I don’t get it. Five pages re touchscreen desktops, and NOBODY has mentioned Popeye? :confused: :)

http://myexercise4fitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/popeye.jpg

("Later this year" is about when HP will pull the plug on their touchscreen all-in-one line. A fun feature, but one that’s little more than a toy to tire of quickly—in more ways than one. If it didn’t cost anything, then it’s OK that nobody will use a feature for long. But this feature does cost.)

[MacHamster68]

horrible ...i would go mad cleaning after i had used the screen ..not to imagine if more people are touching it:eek:
... you need a good supplier for cleaning wipes then .. delivered daily ...cost more for cleaning wipes then a new iMac then

[VenusianSky]

I believe the following is a Wacom. I would not speculate on user base as I have no idea how many graphic artist are out there.

This is weird. I was just talking to my buddy about uses for touchscreen computers, and he mentioned how Jason @ OCC uses one.

[donster28]

Discussion here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=850359)

Woof, Woof - Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

I guess it's officially posted now...thanks for the link MacDawg.

Just want to add that I'm guessing Apple might be utilizing a non-smudging lcd much like the iPhone 3GS's. I'm sure they thought of the smudges already. They might even make it a non-glossy lcd hehehe...


Can't wait for the announcement on the 27th. From how the invite looks like, a touch screen iMac might really be popping up along with the tablet. :P

[Rocketman]

Wow! Someone else on this thread that can actually think outside of their small insignificant little individual world.

There are many uses for touchscreen computers. They just may not be ideal for surfing the web, updating Facebook, syncing an iPod and posting comments on MR.

Long before there was even OSX a subset of Macphiles were seeking and requesting OS support for touch screens. It was not forthcoming. There were some third party applications and vertical market applications that employed both MacOS (8 and 9) and a touch screen, mainly for kiosks.

By simply having OS level support and a manufacturer and ecosystem supported GUI, IO and system, many of those applications will emerge again. Many years later.

I think we could see different form factor uses of the device such as a canted desktop, a coffeee table, a bartop surface, slot machine like (iMac like) workstations.

The current implementation is handtop computing, but as the visual surface gets larger, it will be a fixed position use. By having remote gesture capture devices, such as an iPhone as a gesture remote for a 52" screen, there is less of a need for touch sensitivity on larger screens. So it will be interesting to see why now.

The "new" screen is not only a display, but a gesture capture device from touch and motion, as well as a visual capture device. The screen itself simply does more things now (well, soon anyway).

Rocketman

[fat phil]

I believe the following is a Wacom. I would not speculate on user base as I have no idea how many graphic artist are out there.

It's a Cintiq. I have a broken one. It weighs a ton and cost me £2.5k

Great for artists, not useful for anything else, not even viewing movies (the screen is corrugated for stylus traction, thus the image is dimmed slightly).

[iMacmatician]

I agree. If Apple wanted to bolt a touchscreen onto a Mac, they could’ve done it long ago. The entire UI is designed around fast typing and small-target pointing. Apple could make some modifications to bundled applications to make it more useful, but for most of the huge library of third-party apps, it’d be pointless. If they’re going to make Mac OS X touchable, it’ll be in a big update to the OS.The Touch iMac, like the tablet will run iPhone OS extended. You heard it here first.

Just kidding…mostly. :D (I doubt this rumor.)

[raysfan81]

I hope it comes with integrated cleaning fluid nozzles and screen wipers.

hahaha I found that very funny

[sinsin07]

It's a Cintiq. I have a broken one. It weighs a ton and cost me £2.5k

Great for artists, not useful for anything else, not even viewing movies (the screen is corrugated for stylus traction, thus the image is dimmed slightly).

Thanks for the clarification. Good thing I did not emphatically claim it was a Wacom, LOL.:D Good looking out!

I was just trying to point out that if there was a touch iMac it could be made to tilt out when needed.

[aucl]

In order to meet the challenge from these competitors, Apple will reportedly look to the touchscreen offering as continued means of differentiating itself.


I saw that from HP and others in some bigger electronic stores a year ago at least already. i do not believe that that is really bringing the difference, …
better we can use the rumored tablet while charging and synching in a wacom like way or so, …

[AppleMojo]

In my opinion as it stands... software and interfaces have been designed around the keyboard and mouse, so it's quite obvious a lot of people can't comprehend how touch interfaces would work.

For daily use, emailing, word-processing, etc -- touch screens ultimately aren't effective using our current operating systems.

There are of course many, many uses for touch and multi-touch screens. They are in kiosks, grocery stores, ATM's, subway stations, etc.

Development languages are rapidly deploying touch events and API's for everything from single touch to multi-touch devices and displays.

It's coming, it just has to be deployed in a manor that will benefit the regular user.

To be honest, I won't enjoy holding my arms out to touch my screen, thus the reason why I don't think it will be deployed in this manor.

[nelsonlowe]

Its funny that a Nexus Google Ad is under this linked thread on the main page.

[MacFly123]

You would get quite a workout having to do everything on a 22" touchscreen.

A touchscreen iMac would be nice as long as the monitor was made to not show fingerprints. As well, the stand the iMac is on really needs to be solid so there isn't a risk of pushing your iMac over while using the touchscreen.

Your arms would be sooooooo tired!!

This rumor doesn't make much sense. This sounds like something Microsoft and PC makers would do as some easy to throw together gimmick with no real usable functionality!

Apple would have to ergonomically redesign it. But, I just don't see them going quite this direction. Especially when they just introduced the multi-touch Magic Mouse for the desktops!

As far as finger prints go, the iPhone 3Gs has an oleophobic coating on the screen that highly reduces finger prints. I'm sure they would do something similar if they ever make a product like this!

[fat phil]

Thanks for the clarification. Good thing I did not emphatically claim it was a Wacom, LOL.:D Good looking out!

I was just trying to point out that if there was a touch iMac it could be made to tilt out when needed.

Well, it's a Wacom Cintiq, so you'd have been ok.

Mine was just on the boring stand, but I've seen people with their mounted on armatures, which are very cool - nice liquid gliding motion to them too.

Personally I'm waiting for Minority Report style 3-minutes-into-the-future screens...

[MorphingDragon]

This is exiting news to people? :confused:

[Eidorian]

Gorilla-arm anyone?

This doesn't sound like a good idea. I can see someone using a touchscreeen while standing, but sitting at a desk, arms either resting (ow, my elbows!) on the desk or extended with no support . . . :(

Now, if the screen is shifted about 140 degrees and slightly below the user somehow, then maybe.I don't see a reason to chime in with more strong arm comments. :D

I'm glad we all agree but then you start to look like the Surface.

[MorphingDragon]

I don't see a reason to chime in with more strong arm comments. :D

I'm glad we all agree but then you start to look like the Surface.

Some of those chubby little kids can get some exercise! :D

[aricher]

So I guess we will see them at bars and casinos. . . .
Revive the Pac-Man table!

CES had a bunch of iMac clone touch screen PC's.

Rocketman

I think MS beat Apple to the punch on that one...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/521903348_50dc368b47_o.jpg

[MorphingDragon]

I think MS beat Apple to the punch on that one...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/521903348_50dc368b47_o.jpg

Hmm, more Microsoft Gimmicky Goodness.

[MacHamster68]

who wants a 27 inch touchscreen ?
here you got one its a barbone system so just swap the screens

http://www.epanel.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=83&category_id=16&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

[Abyssgh0st]

I heard that on the 27th they're releasing:

1. A 22" touchscreen tablet.
2. A 7-10.1" iMac.

It'll be a crazy day!











[/sarcasm]

[EliteF50]

God, I hope not. Touch-screen desktop computers are just plain stupid.

[EliteF50]

God, I hope not. Touch-screen desktop computers are just plain stupid.

[CWallace]

The part I found interesting was:

The report notes that the popularity of "all-in-one" computers like the iMac is surging, with unit sales set to double in 2010 as other competitors such as Dell ramp up their offerings.

Kind of puts in a new light the constant claims we hear that "nobody uses an All-In-One computer" in every thread carping about Apple not offering a cheap quad-core SFF tower.

[DarwinOSX]

Whoa, I didn't see this one coming from right field but engadget.com has a post about this. There's also a possibility it'll get annouced next week.

The iMacs are rumored to have a capacitive screen much like the iPhones (cue, a new yellow screen threads...hehehe)

I was attracted to the HP Touchsmart during the holidays, but this really puts a different perspective on things. I think I'll hold a little further on the purchase of my i5. :)


I also have zero desire for a touchscreen Mac. Don't be sucked in by internet gossip btw.

[Xtremehkr]

I can't see myself using one, it's a little gimmicky. I can't see anyone sitting at a desk moving their arms to manipulate a screen for 8 hours a day.

Those Bamboo trackpads seem to be a better option for increasing the number of tasks you can achieve through finger manipulation.

[shoogshoog]

1. Pull iMac within reach of fingers
2. Before you go blind, pretend it is now touchscreen
3. When you realize how you hate moving your entire arm, decide if you would really want a 22" touchscreen iMac

[Pigumon]

Doesn't seem something that Apple could sell on a mass scale, so I doubt they'd do it.

I'd love it for a media center. It would be INSANE as a jukebox, both audio and video, and great for home automation.

I'm hoping the tablet could be used in this way.

Something most people missed here is that they're coming out with a tablet, probably a new kind of touch interface, if that's so maybe it works so well that it's feasible on a desktop computer.

[Rocketman]

Doesn't seem something that Apple could sell on a mass scale, so I doubt they'd do it.

I'd love it for a media center. It would be INSANE as a jukebox, both audio and video, and great for home automation.

I'm hoping the tablet could be used in this way.

They sell hundreds of millons of iPods. If they sold even 5% as many "juke boxes", and 5% as many devices for other purposes and sold them for $1000 + 40% of $99 per month, that would be > 10,000,000 x (1000 + (2400 x 0.4)).

Dude.

$10,960 million dollars.

$11B

What if they had more than a 5-10% market share or, gag, grow the market?

Could be triple.

[MattInOz]

What if touch OSX is the future of OSX?

Any takers?


What if Touch is the death of Mac OS X?
Mac OS X while being developed to be hardware agnostic has one fundamental killer assumption, that you sit down to use it.

You can't really break that assumption without breaking the system.
Now iPhone OS is the result of breaking that assumption but is just enough to get you working.

Now expand iPhone OS to a tablet and you want to use it standing and sitting, and with multiple apps running at the same time even maybe opperating on the same document. With the option to use a keyboard and mouse.

You then have something that is as different to either of the two parts we have at the moment as Mac was to the ][ series. Those two lived side by side for a couple of years but the writing was on the wall.

Mac would one day scale to fill the whole range.
As Touch will one day scale to fill the whole range from iPhone to a massive multi-node research cluster.

In which case will this 22inch Touch Device be an iMac?

[dukemunk]

I grabbed my iphone and took this video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcpdBOuiCVE

Guess the cat is out of the hat! http://images.macrumors.com/vb/images/smilies/blackapple.gif

[iMacmatician]

What if Touch is the death of Mac OS X?I was joking when I made that one comment but I do think iPhone OS (or something similar) will slowly move further up the product line, maybe displacing lower-end Mac OS X-based products.

[Terminal.app]

I also have zero desire for a touchscreen Mac. Don't be sucked in by internet gossip btw.

Same here. I've always thought touch screens on a desktop computer were gimmicky as hell, and of no practical use. A relative of mine bought a cheap Dell AIO with a touch screen, used it for maybe a week and then the novelty wore off and it was back to the physical keyboard and mouse. (Plus the screen was a plasticky disaster with a "crunchy" feel to it. You'd be surprised how quickly your hand gets tired after having to mash the same button several times to get a response.)

[jaysen]

This is exiting news to people? :confused:

Thinking the same thing...

[Stella]

Hmm, more Microsoft Gimmicky Goodness.

Actually, Surface is anything but gimmicky.. it is in fact very nice, with a huge amount of commercial application.

Unfortunately, just not very stable, when it ran on Vista!!

[chrislayton]

Touchscreen is EXCELLENT that what I need it. I knew lot of you think that is negative. Let me tell you reason why I told it is excellent. Long as we still use mouse for our regular daily. One big positive about touchscreen is perfect for business. It will go faster and smooth when work at Sale-Point at checkout. And also Package processing. I have been work on packet everyday to select box size, etc. touchscreen it will be HUGE save time to get everything done.

I really need touchscreen on iMac rather than purchase non-Apple monitor.

[oldwatery]

I am amazed at the amount of people here who are not seeing the big picture and just thinking in terms of todays way of using a computer. Especially those of you who say things like "my arm will get tired after 10 minutes" Are you really serious?

As for the "the screen will get dirty" arguments. Please, that really is last century. Do you really believe Apple would do this if they did not have the materials to overcome this obvious problem? These are the people who said the same thing about the iPhone...and were proved so very wrong.

The whole touch screen thing is the future but it will be based on a new paradigm of working with a computer. Surely most of you have seen Star Trek. Mice are so 20th century. Running programs where control panels are used..ie most audio and video..will become so much more efficient. Why the hell would you want to use a mouse or keyboard to press a button or move a slider?

There are thousands of applications where direct "contact" with the control surface or interface works better than a mouse ever could. So it won't replace a keyboard for text entry but selecting songs in iTunes or other mundane tasks would be so much easier with a touch screen. And why are people thinking the screen will still be an upright item? Why can't it lay down in a more horizontal position.

Start thinking outside the box and you will see the huge potential of a device like this. Trust me, this is the future of computing. It will also spurn a whole new breed of software much like the iPhone did with apps. Software that previously could or would not be efficient or work at all with the old way of doing things will be introduced.

With the imminent arrival of the tablet and Apple's on going investment into touch and gesture control this is a no brainer as far as I am concerned. This is the most logical and exciting rumor to come out of Apple in years and I for one cannot wait for it's implementation. :D

[cumanzor]

As for the "the screen will get dirty" arguments. Please, that really is last century. Do you really believe Apple would do this if they did not have the materials to overcome this obvious problem? These are the people who said the same thing about the iPhone...and were proved so very wrong.

Ermmm... not really. Depending on the user, the screen can get "dirty" with finger prints. Maybe I'm just a bit obsessive with this kind of things.

[MorphingDragon]

Actually, Surface is anything but gimmicky.. it is in fact very nice, with a huge amount of commercial application.

Thats what they were saying about the Wii.

[oldwatery]

Ermmm... not really. Depending on the user, the screen can get "dirty" with finger prints. Maybe I'm just a bit obsessive with this kind of things.

Yeh I realize that some people will get it dirty whatever it is made of.
My point is that this will only be viable if finger prints are not going to be a problem...which I am sure Apple have already or will address.

[CWallace]

My company uses plenty of Panasonic Toughbooks with touchsceens and I find it to be something I use in addition to a mouse or touchpad, not exclusively in place of.

So if Apple added it to the iMac line, it would be just another input device available to me. There are times when it would be convenient to use the touchscreen and times it would be convenient to use a mouse.

[oldwatery]

My company uses plenty of Panasonic Toughbooks with touchsceens and I find it to be something I use in addition to a mouse or touchpad, not exclusively in place of.

So if Apple added it to the iMac line, it would be just another input device available to me. There are times when it would be convenient to use the touchscreen and times it would be convenient to use a mouse.

Ah....the voice of reason ;)

[PeterQVenkman]

Put a decent, non core 2 duo processor in a 21.5 (or 22) inch iMac, and I'll buy it in an instant.

That is, of course, if Apple can make a fast computer under $2000.

[nagromme]

Ah....the voice of reason ;)

Except if it almost always makes more sense NOT to touch the screen, then having the (cool and occasionally useful) touch feature would not be worth the cost. I don’t see Apple applying touch as “something that’s usually not very good but we’ll throw it in because sometimes it’s nice.” (That sounds like HP.) I see Apple applying touch where it’s good in its OWN right. An iMac doesn’t need that.

As for arms tiring—that’s not an imaginary problem, that’s real. Look up the history of “light pens."

[mtbdudex]

Wayback machine.
1985, May, I started my 1st job at GM Tech Center in Warren Mi.

GM had touchscreen PC's back then, and they were terrible!!
They also had MacPlus and Laserprinters in 1986/87, then EDS came in a got rid of them all.
http://www.webenweb.co.uk/museum/hp150.jpg
Hewlett-Packard 150 with Touch Screen and twin 3.5 inch floppy disks, running customised MS-DOS 2.0 (c.1984). HP included a special front-end program for MS-DOS to make use of the Touch-screen for file management etc. The touch-screen uses an array of infra-red light beams across the surface of the screen. Unlike most PCs, the 8086-based motherboard is inside the monitor, and only the disk drives are in the base unit. These are connected using an HPIB cable, also known as GPIB or IEEE-488. There is also a recess in the top of the monitor where a small dot-matrix printer can be installed.

[MattInOz]

Except if it almost always makes more sense NOT to touch the screen, then having the (cool and occasionally useful) touch feature would not be worth the cost. I don’t see Apple applying touch as “something that’s usually not very good but we’ll throw it in because sometimes it’s nice.” (That sounds like HP.) I see Apple applying touch where it’s good in its OWN right. An iMac doesn’t need that.

As for arms tiring—that’s not an imaginary problem, that’s real. Look up the history of “light pens."

Maybe everyone using a Light pen was a wimp. Or maybe they longed to be a WIMP.

Before computers we used Drawing boards for 8+ hours a day, that could be upright or flat or anywhere in between. During the day we would mix between standing and sitting. Rarely would your arms be resting on a surface like now with keyboard and mice. Rarely did i get to the end of the day and go "my arms are tired".

I think the "tired arm" problem is more an example of how bad the sedentary seated computer posture really is for you. The body loves movement as touch screens be come common place we will we will embrace working standing up and moving round. Putting the larger touch screens on stands and arms that offer a freedom of movement we gave up for this new fan dangled technology.

[satcomer]

I think the "tired arm" problem is more an example of how bad the sedentary seated computer posture really is for you. The body loves movement as touch screens be come common place we will we will embrace working standing up and moving round. Putting the larger touch screens on stands and arms that offer a freedom of movement we gave up for this new fan dangled technology.

I don't want to reach to touch a screen all day while on the net. All I want is HAL or SAL in my house. Once we reach that point then I will head into the future.:D

[spydr]

You would get quite a workout having to do everything on a 22" touchscreen.

Better be ambidextrous, or else one of your arms is going to be gigantic and the other emaciated

[iMJustAGuy]

I think they kinda see how everyone wants os x on the tablet. So I feel this kind of "confirms" it won't have the full OS on it. (the tablet)

[MaskedMuscle]

The majority of the comments posted about a the negatives of a touchscreen iMac are irrational. Here are some of the brainless remarks and some logical retorts.

1. Fingerprints and germs on the screen... Everything you have in your home and office gets touched--books, papers, pens, carpet, pillows, etc. Many are difficult to clean, but an LCD screen is smooth and can be cleaned easily and has the potential to be way cleaner than everything else you have since you can actually see the dirt and grease on it, rather than having it hidden inside of your mattress pad or within the keys on your keyboard.

2. Reaching up and out across the desk would be tiring... True, but why on earth would a company whose designs are usually so good design a touch computer meant to be used across your desk? When is the last time you taped your newspaper onto the wall across your desk rather than placing it down on the table and angling it up to you. They would have to design in like a drafting desk and I am sure would only consider that.

3. Typing on a virtual keyboard for any length of time would be cumbersome... OK, now that is true since you have no tactile feedback about where your fingers are.

4. A touchscreen would make it tiring and will cause tendinitis or the like... When a person does paperwork, reads the newspaper, reads a book, they touch and move their arms several times more than you do with a mouse. Years ago people used to do things with their arms and hands without any problems. Now we see people thinking they are getting injured because they are moving, but what would happen when a terribly out of shape, inactive person (like most of us today) with muscular atrophy tries to play football? They would get hurt. Inactivity causes problems, not activity.

5. Other Windows all-in-one desktops have failed and shown us how hard to use they are, and therefore have no point. ...Since when were Apple's designs ever comparable to the Windows machine counterparts? It seems logical to me that computing (in all senses) is on a path that makes it more realistic, presenting computing as a viable virtual alternative to real life. Since when in real life do you view a photo album and proceed to view the next picture by moving a tiny little pointer to a tiny little "next" arrow and press down with your right pointer finger? I just flick page over.

Now, with that said, I still have no clue as to whether or not Apple will release such a product, nor if it will sell well or not. I just wanted to give my thoughts and some feedback on what everyone else has been saying. Call me crazy but everyone seems crazy to me.

[think$act]

Come up w/ your own ideas, Apple, and stop stealing others. lol ;):p

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/touchsmart/

Just keeping the "Praise Apple" fanboys here humble. I wonder how they'd feel if HP sued Apple over this? Oh, wait... I know! :D

Now getting serious: Won't work. People are use to having their iMacs a good foot away from them at the far back end of the desk. Imagine how tired your arms would get having to stretch. Imagine how tired your eyes would get to have your iMac a few inches away from your face... besides awkward looking.

Why would Apple want to copy the very inconvenient-to-use large-touchscreen implementation of HP? What does Steve Jobs stand for: trying to make really great products that are produced by thinking differently. Steve Jobs is not into copying; he is into innovating. If Apple does produce a "touchscreen" desktop computer, the user will not directly touch the screen but will interact with the monitor and computer via the Apple Magic Trackpad which has leaked out. And the Apple Magic Trackpad will work with the same multi-touch finger and hand gestures as the iPhone and iPad. Connect the dots...and this is the logical prediction that you arrive at.

[Dj BW]

This "feature" is already available on imacs. One just sold on eBay for $1400


http://trolltouch.com/page7/videos.html

[beaner454]

Better be ambidextrous, or else one of your arms is going to be gigantic and the other emaciated

I know my left pointer finger is so weak and puny compared to my right after using the iPhone so much!

[Mr. Incredible]

Will there be a touch screen iMac this year or fat chance?

[InsanelyApple]

Will there be a touch screen iMac this year or fat chance?

Wow. Way to grave dig dude.

[mtbdudex]

its 2012, where is this iMac??

[fertilized-egg]

its 2012, where is this iMac??

I'm sure Digitimes will let us know in a year or so :D

[^^BIGMac]

You can still use a keyboard and mouse on most touchscreen computers.I hope so! :o