Apple Developing Full Multi-Touch Macs... in 2010?

[Stridder44]

I find this truly idiotic. I am not averse to change, and if this is some kind of tablet--then ok, they have their uses for certain people. But a laptop without a keyboard is just not an advance in technology that's actually useful for people.

Sometimes technology doesn't give the consumer any benefit, and a touch keyboard is just that, a useless feature developed for marketing purposes to make people think it's some great tech advance they have to have when they really don't.

Then you have clearly not used a multi-touch pad yet. Once you use a new MBA or MBP (with the multi touch pad) you won't be able to go back. Simple internet use is a MILLION times better than having to drag your finger to the back button, two-finger scrolling is a dream, I could go on.

You don't honestly think we'll be using a mouse and keyboard over the next 10 years do you? You can hate on it all day, but the truth is it will "fail" as much as the iPod "failed". At first it's very cool and weird, soon it becomes commonplace.

 

[MacFly123]

I find this truly idiotic. I am not averse to change, and if this is some kind of tablet--then ok, they have their uses for certain people. But a laptop without a keyboard is just not an advance in technology that's actually useful for people.

Sometimes technology doesn't give the consumer any benefit, and a touch keyboard is just that, a useless feature developed for marketing purposes to make people think it's some great tech advance they have to have when they really don't.

Think of it this way... According to Apple's patents its not that there is no keyboard, but it is a giant flat trackpad surface and when u want to type keys raise up by the surface being filled with air, or gel, or some mechanical system. So basically you will have both while at the same time creating awesome real-estate for sweet multi-touch. Now I would love that personally and I do not think it is useless at all. It think this would be a great innovation!

 

[JMax1]

Just think of the possibilities for people with disabilities. Not just text entry, but using multi touch to enter other commands pre-programmed in. A little swipe here could mean "i have to go to the bathroom" and another could be "i'm hungry!" Many people with communication disorders use pictures they point to to communicate, this could replace the pictures with commands, et al.

Ouch ... sounds like some safety training is in order there!


Seriously though, I assume this digit challenged crew of yours are fine with mice and keyboards and I assume Apple will be using those for a while to come, so no fears mate

Yeah, I think there will be no problem for someone missing a digit. People are good at coping and finding ways to adapt to their situation. Just look at this youtube link of a guitar player with no arms

 

[winterspan]

iPhone "touch keyboard" does not translate to the desktop

There is no way in hell that Apple is going to replace a normal keyboard with a touchscreen keyboard unless they have found some miracle new technology that allows "give" while typing. Touchscreen "keyboards" like the iPhone work because you are "thumbing"... this DOES NOT translate into full hand typing.

Don't believe me? I want everyone to stop right now and do this little experiment. Put your hands on the glassh/wood/metal desk in front of you and try to emulate typing on it! See what I mean? Now only would that be EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE, but it would cause carpal tunnel syndrome within a few hours of use! I can't believe this so called "Analyst" doesn't realize how totally impractical that would be.

Now I know Apple does have some amazing tech patents, but a multi-touch screen that somehow allows physical depression for typing seems pretty unlikely, although I remember something similar in one of Apples patents. I guess we'll have to see what they come up with...

 

[thehybridform]

Very cool

I'm using a Touch Stream (http://www.fingerworks.com/ST_product.html) keyboard with my mac book pro right now. The company is now defunct but it rocks.

From the website

The TouchStream LP is a stand-alone user interface that includes a full keyboard, standard mouse, and our extensive two handed gesture set. The TouchStream LP completely replaces your existing keyboard and mouse with a fully integrated package that packs a lot more power and capability.

Nice to see apple using this tech.

 

[Michael CM1]

This is an OK idea only if a keyboard is involved somehow. There is way too much input done with a keyboard to potentially yank that all away, even for an on-screen one. This tech is useful on iPhone because the size of the device makes traditional keyboards very cluttery, not to mention people use only one or two fingers at most to type on these.

My design would be to take a MacBook and to just turn the LCD screen into a touch screen. Keep the keyboard! If they are developing a seperate tablet to cut into some market I don't see outside of UPS delivery drivers, then that's cool. I just hate the "MacBook Touch" moniker because that implies it's going to be very similar to a MacBook.

 

[DukeSnyd]

exeptions

I work on ship's where it is common for one or two of the officers and crew to have thumbs and fingers missing from 'accidents' at work. How are these guys going to cope? I bet everyone of you knows someone with a digit missing, that's quite a lot of people that won't buy this concept, unless there is room for customising.

the same way they they deal with a standard mouse/ keyboard. i'm sure it will have customizable exceptions allowing those with missing digits to use it without any troubles

 

[gifford]

As a recent sufferer of RSI of the hands, im not sure how im going to cope watching people play with the next generation of toys knowing that i cant join in

be warned people, RSI is real, one super intensive 6 month programming project is all it took. I have been programming since the age of 9 and Im now 33, I have no idea what i'm going to do without a computer, my whole life has revolved around them.

Bloody marvellous

 

[andy721]

USA has stricter FCC rules. I don't even think Japan has a FCC. Do they?

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

No japan doesn't have one.

 

[cnote678]

So, let me try to reduce this to what I think it will entail in a tangible fashion and see what everybody thinks:

This will just be a touch-screen, separate from the keyboard and trackpad(if it is not eliminated). The keyboard, whether it is destined to be the Optimus Maximus or some takeoff of Fingerworks, will evolve separately and is not part of the discussion.

So the problem that arises is yes, all you've done is essentially removed need for a mouse-but you have to keep reaching your hands up all day to use your pointer arrow. Why would you want to have to touch the screen to use multitouch? Your hand would be in the way of your work. Maybe I'm incapable of thinking out of the box here, but this doesn't seem that practical to me. Resting one's arms to compute is just natural, i.e. the current multitouch system on MBP and MBA(which can be adapted via software to understand the gestures in the diagram) is ideal, and very capable. Thoughts? Enlighten me.

 

[jouster]

No.

Do you have any idea how much easier it is to use two-finger scrolling than move your cursor over to the little scroll arrow and click? Drives me insance on windows laptops.

Me too. Or it would if my company's four year-old Dell didn't have a scroll feature built into its trackpad.

like people using Sat Nav on the motorway, is it really that hard to remember which exit to come off at?

It's hard to remember somewhere you've never been to.

 

[SandynJosh]

I'm using a Touch Stream (http://www.fingerworks.com/ST_product.html) keyboard with my mac book pro right now. The company is now defunct but it rocks.

From the website

Nice to see apple using this tech.

Apple bought the patents, that's why Fingerworks is defunct. The guy I know that was one of the owners made a bundle.

 

[Syrus28]

Then you have clearly not used a multi-touch pad yet. Once you use a new MBA or MBP (with the multi touch pad) you won't be able to go back. Simple internet use is a MILLION times better than having to drag your finger to the back button, two-finger scrolling is a dream, I could go on.

I dunno about you, "but dragging" my finger to the back button is not any more irritating than swiping back and forth on the track-pad... I mean, my hand is already on the keyboard. I usually have one hand on the keyboard and one on the track-pad. And yes, I have played with a new MBP. Its not that its bad, but I can see a limit on how useful it would be. Still, we have to draw a line some where, and multi-touch replacing a keyboard is where I do. Not everything new is absolutely necessary or even useful.

You don't honestly think we'll be using a mouse and keyboard over the next 10 years do you? You can hate on it all day, but the truth is it will "fail" as much as the iPod "failed". At first it's very cool and weird, soon it becomes commonplace.

Truth be told, I do. The keyboard simply cannot be replicated by a touch screen. Imagine an iPhone keyboard the size of a regular one. See how much work you get done on that thing. Its all fine and dandy when the keyboard is only 1.5 inches big and your typing in a URL, but I don't see it replacing a real keyboard ANY time soon. If anything, voice recognition will replace it, but not a touch screen...

 

[christian_k]

If anything, voice recognition will replace it, but not a touch screen...

I don't think that. Imagine an office with some people and all are "talking" to computers. This would be too loud for concentrated work and maybe even too lout for voice recognition itself. You can use a keyboard even with loud music playing or in a loud factory.

A lot of people can type much faster than they speak - even more when it comes to large amounts of numbers or special characters. I cannot imagine to use voice recognition for programming.

A very difficult problem is internationalization. If Apple made a voice regocnition, how long would I have to wait for a version that understands German? Leopards "superb" speech synth is still only suitable for English - even tough speech synth technology is around for 20 years or so.

I think voice recognition is a nice technology. You can call someone while driving in a car. But no keyboard replacement....

Christian

 

[RedAbundance]

multi-touch is the future! i totally see this happening to apple and it's just a matter of time. it'll be interesting to see how apple introduce an all-touch keyless computer though.

 

[UberGeek9]

Sounds pretty awesome, but at the same time I woud be rather worried about the lack of a keybord.. I don't know if that would work out too great at first.

 

[sleepingworker]

I don't think I want a keyboard-less mac... I like keyboards!

There will still be physical keyboards around for a long time after full multi-touch devices become more main stream (although the citibank cash machines seem pretty main stream to me) so you won't have to worry.

For others, like me, the idea of this new technology coming to pass - especially with the development of Haptics for touch feedback - is very exciting. I would love a touch interface with Photoshop and a customizable touch palate and keyboard.

 

[i.maverick]

my arms suddenly feel shorter

we all know this was going to happen or is going to happen...
the only issue i see is to make it comfortable for people. if we are using a keyboard and mouse, we can b at a reasonable distance from the desktop screen. if i have to touch the screen, i can't stay too far, and the position would be tiresome.
or maybe i'm missing.!?

 

[morespce54]

I just can't wait.
I had the chance to play with the MBA trackpad and kind of liked it. For me, there is clearly some job that still needs to be done but I think they're heading the right way...

 

[Appleismylove]

Gooooo Apple!

 

[mikey.f]

2010 sounds good... I just bought a new MacBook Pro and wouldn't like to see something like this coming any time soon