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

[MacRumors]

In a brief note, DigiTimes points to a report [Google translation] 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?

 

[azentropy]

Apple's answer to the Wii Fit!

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]

Isn't smudging an issue?

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.

Rich

 

[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.

 

[Theclamshell]

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.

Rich

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]

hmm

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

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!

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]

Touchscreen Imac's On The Way?

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

 

[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

 

[Ed91]

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

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]

Digitimes Brainstorming Meeting

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