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I would absolutely LOVE a touch screen iMac, and have been patiently waiting. As a DJ, I think a touch screen surface would be ideal.

Anyone out there ever use an iMac enabled with "Troll Touch" technology? Wondering if anyone has any feedback regarding responsiveness. If Apple doesn't include touch screens with the refresh, I might have to go that route.

But you are part of a very small minority. For home use a desktop computer with a touch screen is ergonomically disastrous.
 
You know, besides the frightening impracticality of a 27" vertical touch-screen being discussed here, the idea that the "PC era" is drawing to a close really has me wondering: X-Code on an iPad? Beyond the simplest "hello world" application, how could anyone dream of creating robust apps without large screen real estate, a physical keyboard, or an open file system? :confused:

Just sayin...
 
But you are part of a very small minority. For home use a desktop computer with a touch screen is ergonomically disastrous.

I think that is sort of missing the point. Touch wouldn't replace the mouse and keyboard but would be a third input. I know I would use it e.g. if i want to pause a movie I'm watching or switch music and all sorts of casual, brief use. No one would obviously spend hours using a vertical touch screen , for that kind of extended use you would still have a keyboard and mouse.
 
I think that is sort of missing the point. Touch wouldn't replace the mouse and keyboard but would be a third input. I know I would use it e.g. if i want to pause a movie I'm watching or switch music and all sorts of casual, brief use. No one would obviously spend hours using a vertical touch screen , for that kind of extended use you would still have a keyboard and mouse.

Wait, what? You want Apple to make the display touch screen so you could pause a movie or switch a music track in iTunes? So you want Apple to add in more technology, which would probably translate to a higher priced Mac just to do simple, trivial tasks as that?

You do know that there are media keys on top of your Apple keyboard for just this sort of functionality, right? I also believe if iTunes is your current app in focus, the spacebar acts as a pause/play key. This is usually the case for most media players as well. There is even wireless freedom if you have the Bluetooth keyboard. Furthermore, for extreme ease of use of media playback functionality, you can do all of this with the Apple remote app for your iPhone or iPad.

Your reasons for a touch screen iMac are just not very well justified and are already well addressed with current means: Either a Apple keyboard or the Apple remote app.

Edit: How could I forget the third option of controlling your media. The Apple remote (hardware aluminum, the one used with the Apple TV.
 
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Wait, what? You want Apple to make the display touch screen so you could pause a movie or switch a music track in iTunes? So you want Apple to add in more technology, which would probably translate to a higher priced Mac just to do simple, trivial tasks as that?

You do know that there are media keys on top of your Apple keyboard for just this sort of functionality, right? I also believe if iTunes is your current app in focus, the spacebar acts as a pause/play key. This is usually the case for most media players as well. There is even wireless freedom if you have the Bluetooth keyboard. Furthermore, for extreme ease of use of media playback functionality, you can do all of this with the Apple remote app for your iPhone or iPad.

Your reasons for a touch screen iMac are just not very well justified and are already well addressed with current means: Either a Apple keyboard or the Apple remote app.

Edit: How could I forget the third option of controlling your media. The Apple remote (hardware aluminum, the one used with the Apple TV.

Not saying I think Apple will do it or even that they should, just saying that it would be a nice thing to have, particularly if OS X were more touch-friendly like Windows 8. And I was just giving two examples of things I would use it for. I use my imac as a media center in my living room and i can imagine using a touch screen when walking by if I just want to check or adjust something, much more convenient than looking for my phone or a remote. I can also imagine games and apps where it would be cool to use touch now and then. Would I pay extra for it? Sure, not a whole lot more, but a bit.
 
After having an HP Touchsmarrt all in one, I can say without any doubt that a touch screen desktop is not practical. Think about constantly reaching out to touch a screen (its annoying and uncomfortable)
 
Wonder how artists and teachers cope? It's less of a leap than one might think. Angled surface thats adjustable and hey presto, one large iPad.

Do you think the Doctor in Star Trek saw many patients due to ergonomics?
 
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With the success of the iPad, Apple moving OSX towards iOS, other companies developing touch innovations, we will see an Apple desktop with a touch screen someday. Just not now, possible about the time of OSXI or maybe it'll be called iOSX. Right now it doesn't make sense.
 
Only Apple could do it after HP's touch screen PC failed, at least I think it failed. I'm not saying Apple is God, just that somehow they can make something that previously failed under another manufacturer and make it a success.
 
I can see reasons for a touchscreen iMac if it can be laid down as it the patent illustration, as an artists drawing board for example, but even then I think most would prefer a stylus to a finger for input.

A touch screen is great on an iPad because you don't want to carry around other input devices such as a mouse or keyboard. An iMac already has the other input devices.

The one other area a touchscreen has an advantage is tailored input through virtual buttons, but that could be achieved by adding a screen underneath the touch surface of a Magic Trackpad for much less cost.
 
Absolutely not.

Thanks for the insight.... It is possible - unlikely, but possible....

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You know, besides the frightening impracticality of a 27" vertical touch-screen being discussed here, the idea that the "PC era" is drawing to a close really has me wondering: X-Code on an iPad? Beyond the simplest "hello world" application, how could anyone dream of creating robust apps without large screen real estate, a physical keyboard, or an open file system? :confused:

Just sayin...

Except for the keyboard, how did people create programs on early computers with tiny tiny screens?
 
The way in which we consume and use media nowadays is changing, it's this shift that has given us a sudden use for touchscreen devices. A user mentioned that using Xcode on such a device would not work, again, it's media consumption thats changing, the tools to create the programs and media will develop at a different rate entirely.
 
I think that is sort of missing the point. Touch wouldn't replace the mouse and keyboard but would be a third input. I know I would use it e.g. if i want to pause a movie I'm watching or switch music and all sorts of casual, brief use. No one would obviously spend hours using a vertical touch screen , for that kind of extended use you would still have a keyboard and mouse.

I've been doing some thinking and two footed research ( sort of ).

A Touchscreen iMac, though maybe not ideal for the home user would give Apple a potential inroad to the Retail POS Market.

There are a ton of Touchscreen Windows computers being used in that arena. Hell I have one produced by a company named PAR here myself. I don't use it much because I don't currently have a retail store but I kept it because one day I might have the need for it. We do play some games on it from time to time, just to make sure it is functional.

Of course that POS market may not be big enough to warrant Apple expending the funds to develop such a system. However Apple sure has enough cash reserve to do so IF they wanted.
 
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