Not "stoked" about Touchscreen rumors...

[seanuhthin]

How should I feel about this? I saw the rumors sprouting up about the new iMac possibly having a touch screen interface???!!! I have always stuck with apple for their minimalistic, easy to use standards, and I just can't imagine myself leaning over my desk to touch the safari icon on the dock. :( I have just always thought of touch screens on computers to be somewhat of an undesirable novelty. What do you all think? I am going to be pulling the trigger on a purchase of an iMac in the coming weeks for my Graphic Design needs, but should I really wait up for this update? If it is a boost in Graphics Cards and CPU's and what not, than i'm not worried, but if this crap is going to take place...ehhhh

[leftywamumonkey]

I agree, I do not like touch screens and there is also the possibility that the price will go up or the other components will not be given as much attention as before making them lower end. I would probably never use the feature because of the finger prints and the ergonomics but it they were going to add it, it would have to be a plus not a reason to be a big seller. I just hope touch screens are not available to iMacs yet.

Touch screens are not coming to iMacs for a while.

[appleguy123]

It'd probably be one of two things:
1. Touch iMac only has iOS and is in the 800-1200$ range
2. Touch iMac runs iOS with a touch layer similar to dashboard. It's there when you want it and not when you don't. I'm sure that they would let one of your fingers emulate a mouse in MacOS, but it would only be for those who want it.

[seanuhthin]

Hmmm... I like the idea of having an option. Almost like the MBP's option for a higher resolution screen? :/ I guess this is an indication that i'm not always a "latest and greatest" consumer. Then again there is a fine line between Latest (touchscreen novelty) and Greatest. :p

[Man-Droid]

Why are people so opposed to having touchscreen as an OPTION? It isn't like the mouse and keyboard would be tossed away and you could only use touch. Some tasks could benefit from it. If you can't think of any than more than likely a touchscreen iMac isn't aimed at you.

[lgtw]

This could be a pretty big step for some people. I think it shouldn't be done, I like the old, click and type style of the computers now. I don't think they should try and make the Mac more of an iPad or iPhone. If they do, they should at least have the option to buy a touch screen or a regular one, due to a lot of people not liking the touch screens, (as Apple loves connecting with their customers' preferences) and of course, for me, the occasional "fat finger".

-LGTW :apple:

[Hellhammer]

A 22" touchscreen isn't that cheap and OS X isn't designed for touch, let alone iOS in fully powered computer. Imagine the pain in your arms after minutes of use. It just isn't useful. It was just poor rumor with no actual evidence

[old-wiz]

A 22" touchscreen isn't that cheap and OS X isn't designed for touch, let alone iOS in fully powered computer. Imagine the pain in your arms after minutes of use. It just isn't useful. It was just poor rumor with no actual evidence

Imagine a 27" touch screen with your fingerprints all over it as well; you'd be cleaning the screen so often!

[Hellhammer]

Imagine a 27" touch screen with your fingerprints all over it as well; you'd be cleaning the screen so often!

Oh yeah, I forgot that! You would spend more time cleaning the display than using it :p

[Piggie]

I still think it's a stupid idea for a desktop.

Who would want top be typing on their keyboard, and using the mouse, then lift up their arms to poke around on the screen in front of them, then move their hands back down to the keyboard and mouse again?

Phone, MP3 player, Tablet, Table top computer, yeah fine.

But not a normal desktop machine.

[AlexisV]

Won't.

Happen.


Ever.
:D

[Sambo110]

A touch screen might be ok, if they were still well specced. Sometimes I like to lie back in my chair and it would be easier to touch then to use my mouse, but if it never happens I couldn't really care less.

[Bodhi395]

I'd only want a touchscreen iMac if it was very thin and could be placed on a slight angle on a desk. Having it sit upright would not be a very good angle for using a touch screen, but having it lower and slightly angled would make it great I think.

However, I fully believe these iMac touch screen rumors are just rumors and we won't be seeing a touch iMac for at least 3 or 4 more years.

[Man-Droid]

A 22" touchscreen isn't that cheap and OS X isn't designed for touch, let alone iOS in fully powered computer. Imagine the pain in your arms after minutes of use. It just isn't useful. It was just poor rumor with no actual evidence

The only reasons people can give against touchscreen is tired arms and fingerprints. Oh, and I find it useful.

[Hellhammer]

The only reasons people can give against touchscreen is tired arms and fingerprints. Oh, and I find it useful.

How about it being slow? Typing on a touchscreen is a lot slower than on a real keyboard. Of course you can use a keyboard but what's the point on touchscreen then? The OS should be designed for touch, otherwise it's hard to use as everything is so small and it's hard to select what you really wanted, not the thing next to it. Tired arms is a valid point. Using your computer shouldn't cause you physical pains.

It is an opinion question but I can't see what touch would improve and I wouldn't pay ANY extra to get it. Just for curiosity, why do you find it useful? What does it do better than kb+mouse does? No offense, just thinking :cool: I don't find iPad useful but looks like over 2 million people have :p

[MattSepeta]

No way. Not happening. Will not happen.

It won't be realized until the entire concept of "Desktop Computer" as we know it, is turned upside down and unrecognizable by today's standards. Just the thought of having my arms extended straight out over my desk for 8 hours a day is excruciating! Not to mention the mess it would make on the monitor! If anyone even glances their fingertip over my screen I immediately have to wipe it down :o

NOW, I DO want to see the track pad dongle thingy that was "leaked" a few months back. I would love to have a touch pad that I could attach to the left side of the keyboard maybe to use in conjunction with the magic mouse when doing design work. Maybe even just have it right to the side of the mouse even. I really like that idea.

Or an even longer keyboard with a trackpad extended out past the NUM pad, but seeing the way things are going, apple will nix the NUM pad to jam the track pad on. :mad:


It is an opinion question but I can't see what touch would improve and I wouldn't pay ANY extra to get it. Just for curiosity, why do you find it useful? What does it do better than kb+mouse does? No offense, just thinking :cool: I don't find iPad useful but looks like over 2 million people have :p

Right there with you: I still see 0 justification for owning an iPad, other than "I have the money" or "my wife is too stupid to operate a laptop" lol

[niuniu]

iMacs are very popular in small business applications. I see them everywhere in the city, from opticians to jewellry stores now. Touchscreen is perfect for them, as the screen is usually high up and you can tap and interact with the screen while interacting with the customer.

Just because an iMac had a touchscreen, doesn't mean you have to use it. It just means that Apple have opened access and usability to different groups.

But boo hoo - you don't need it, so no-one else should have it :rolleyes:

[MattSepeta]

Fair enough, but when you step back and juxtapose the amount of people using an iMac in their home to the amount of people using an iMac in their business, I would expect to see a 30-1 split, or something along those lines, I am not really sure of course.

If they were to offer a special order touch screen iMac for business-customer interaction purposes, that would be completely awesome.

I, along with the other 98% of people who would not use the touch screen feature, hardly want to pay the extra premium it would surely require. I would estimate a touch screen iMac would cost upwards of 60% more than a non-touch screen.

Would be cool to see them in business though. I could see them being used in boutique type stores to let customers customize items, special order, view interactive demos, etc.:)

[Spike88]

I'm looking forward to touch screen technology. If one wants to use a mouse, they use a mouse. If one wants to "touch the screen", then they touch. Nobody said the one "must" touch the screen.

For teaching my disabled son, touching the screen during his specialized home screen sessions would be really cool. Certify much better then today's mouse button technology.

For dirt??? My other son has an IPod Touch and it doesn't get dirty / slimmy from grease fingers. His screen is very cool to use. IMO, having Touch Screen ability on a future iMac would be really cool. And if someone doesn't want to "touch it", they don't have use. Simply use the mouse instead.

.

[Spike88]

If wondering, HP and MS are already heading into Touch Screen technology arena. If Apple doesn't offer simular (or better) Touch Screen Desktop product, then they will loose more market share. HP has a cool Touch Screen Technology on the market today. see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa2xAIli5zg With a few more years of product fine-tuning, their product will get even better.

Talk about "Touch Screen", isn't I-Pod and Apple's new product called I-Pad a "screen touch" devices already? Seems Apple is heading into the direction. If the add Blu-Ray, they'd get more market share. But that's for a different thread....

.

[lucidmedia]

I'd only want a touchscreen iMac if it was very thin and could be placed on a slight angle on a desk. Having it sit upright would not be a very good angle for using a touch screen, but having it lower and slightly angled would make it great I think.

Exactly. A "multi-touch" surface requires a different form factor than the traditional desktop computer.

I have several colleagues who use large Cintiq monitors (which are pen-based, but used similarly to touch screens) and they work quite well when used at a drafting-table angle.

I have a 52-inch multi-touch surface at home and for certain types of uses the interface works really well.

These are not new technologies, and apple is actually quite far behind when it comes to large-scale multi-touch use.

And for those complaining that using a touch screen all day is too tiring, imagine those poor folks that are paid to drive a truck all day! or swing a hammer! Poor orchestra conductors! :D The widespread injuries and pain that come from spending years doing controlled fine muscle movements should remind us that the mouse and keyboard not perfect input devices. We are simply used to them. The whole point of "natural user interfaces" like multitouch devices is to better mimic the natural movements our bodies are designed for.

[wirelessness]

Won't.

Happen.


Ever.
:D

I think Apple would love to find a way to sell more iOS applications. Seems like a logical way to possibly accomplish that goal. I could see it being useful for Apps like Google Maps or Google Earth where pinching and zooming might work better than mouse navigation. Overall I'm not sure how useful it would be but it might sell more apps.....

[Zoobiee]

if the iMac's form factor's kinda like the Wacom Cintiq, sure. Otherwise...i dunno. Its rather annoying switching from keyboard to touch screen. also all those fingerprintses...!

Z

[UltimaLink]

I hope this rumor was just misunderstood. I really hope there is an update on the Magic Mouse software to allow more gestures or something.

Also I want then to update it so you can right click with more than one finger on the mouse.