Apple Patents Switch-Less Force Touch Keyboard, Could Lead to Thinner Macs

[shaunp]

Apple. Go stick your thinner Macs where the sun doesn't shine! I want a proper laptop with a proper keyboard, a matte screen and an ethernet port. And for those of you wondering why I can't use WiFi, or use an adaptor, this answer is simple. Most of the sites I work at don't have wifi - we are the team setting everything up, there's no network at all let alone wifi, and as for adaptors they tend to work loose after a while and you don't want one of these dropping out when you are in the middle of doing something very important to something very expensive. And while you may not have this requirement plenty of people do, but Apple no longer provides a choice.

I've tried the keyboard on the new Macbook and it is dreadful. There's just no travel in the keys at all. I thought my rMBP and the wired keyboard on my nMP were short on keyboard travel, but these things are ridiculous. If you are wondering what a proper laptop keyboard should feel like pick up an old ThinkPad.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

The obsession with thinness is ridiculous! They are too hard to hold when too thin.

Think of all whimps who can't lift 2lbs.

 

[shaunp]

I agree, if the vision is there (which is dubious since Steve's passing). We'll see.

The problem is that Apple has a habit of making these things the only option, which puts its users in the position of "love us or leave us".

Exactly. Apple only gives us ONE option. That's the bit I don't like. I'm all for innovation, but I like choice too.

The Macbook keyboard feels awful (and I'm sure I'll get some heat for saying so on here) so I hope this new patent if it gets used by Apple results in a better typing experience when dealing with such a thin keyboard structure.

EDIT:// Just to stop any confusion from people replying to me, I am referring to only the 12" Retina MacBook keyboard and not the Airs or Pro notebooks which have perfectly fine keyboards in my opinion.

I still prefer the old ThinkPad keyboards. But fashion is more important than usability after all....

 

[Max(IT)]

Yay, smaller batteries!

Thinner at the expense of either battery life, heat dissipation or power. As if the current Macs are soooooo thick.

Who spoke about smaller battery ?
I think the last thing you can complain about MacBooks is battery life ....

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

How about a thinner keyboard so that we can have a thicker battery?

How often has Apple thinned other parts of their products and then filled the freed-up space with more battery? Not saying it never happens- because it has (maybe once or twice?)- but I wouldn't place a big bet on this being about giving us bigger batteries.

In fact, isn't it about time for Apple to jettison the battery? Sure the devices won't work without being plugged in or without a separate battery case but, if Apple did it, the ADF would spin how terrific it is that we all get to pick our own battery sizes now, we never have to worry about batteries going bad, rip those who won't adhere to just plugging it in somewhere AND spin the "thinner & lighter" mantra like it is all important. Sell that battery-free Macbook for the same full price and we can just pay extra for a battery case (pretty much what we do with iPhones now). Apple can make even more profit on each sale and we can celebrate not having to carry that extra, dirty money around after we buy the accessories to make it a "whole" laptop.

And while you're at it, get rid of the keyboard and screen too so that you can spin even thinner & lighter. What I think you should do is build a single port USB-C or Thunderbolt device to which keyboard, screen, battery, track pad, CPU etc all have to be attached (all sold separately). Call it the Macbook Pro Nano or something like that, priced as a full Macbook Pro even though all it actually is is a one-port USB or Thunderbolt jack. Don't worry, the faithful will spin that as the most flexible, thinnest & lightest MBP ever... even ridicule those who call a spade a spade. After all, "$200+ million in the bank can't be wrong" and "99% don't need anything more than whatever Apple chooses to serve up", etc.

 

[Renzatic]

Ultimately the tablet is going to replace the keyboard, not the screen, of the traditional computer. And since it's trivial to connect to any screen in your house, people will find it as convenient as a remote or video game controller and stop thinking about it as something best done in a chair at a desk... it'll be something you can do lounging in a couch or bed.

In a lot of ways, we're already reaching that point. Thing is, we won't be able to replace the keyboard completely until someone comes out with something truly better than what we have. It doesn't matter that what we have now is based upon century old typewriter technology. As long as it remains the superior solution, it'll stick around.

Haptics are an absolute necessity. A rough simulacrum of striking keys in the form of a buzz won't quite replace what we're all already used to.

 

[576316]

The MacBook is already too thin for it's own good and that's when functionality gets shunted.

 

[DanielSw]

THINNER?!?! THEY SHOULD HAVE A BIGGER BATTERY

/s

No they shouldn't. Thinner would be good.

The obsession with thinness is ridiculous! They are too hard to hold when too thin.

No it isn't. No they aren't.

 

[Max(IT)]

Oh damn, the secret is out. I am testing one of those new keyboards, the prototype is below...

My very first home computer....

Interesting choice in a time when people aren't asking for thinner anymore and instead a better battery.

Says who ?
Last time I checked, Apple are establishing new sales records, for both Macs and iPhones, quarter after quarter.
So "people", outside a geek forum, seem to appreciate the thin line...

 

[Renzatic]

The MacBook is already too thin for it's own good and that's when functionality gets shunted.

The rMB is as thin as it can be without sacrificing any more usability. Really, by this point, what would having a scant couple less millimeters, or a reduction of 1/15th of a pound add to the experience?

 

[Rafagon]

No matter what Apple does with their keyboards, they'll never come up with something as good as this:

 

[DanielSw]

The Macbook keyboard feels awful (and I'm sure I'll get some heat for saying so on here) so I hope this new patent if it gets used by Apple results in a better typing experience when dealing with such a thin keyboard structure.

EDIT:// Just to stop any confusion from people replying to me, I am referring to only the 12" Retina MacBook keyboard and not the Airs or Pro notebooks which have perfectly fine keyboards in my opinion.

It doesn't feel awful, it feels good. I love my rMB!

The rMB is as thin as it can be without sacrificing any more usability. Really, by this point, what would having a scant couple less millimeters, or a reduction of 1/15th of a pound add to the experience?

Looking is better than thinking. Wait and see!

 

[Renzatic]

It doesn't feel awful, it feels good. I love my rMB!

Now imagine if they made the keys perfect flat, no travel whatsoever, and subtracted 1.3mm from the depth of the entire machine.

Would it be better?

 

[DanielSw]

No matter what Apple does with their keyboards, they'll never come up with something as good as this:

The current wired version is FAR better!

 

[citysnaps]

I agree, if the vision is there (which is dubious since Steve's passing). We'll see.

The problem is that Apple has a habit of making these things the only option, which puts its users in the position of "love us or leave us".

Not the only option... If you're a traveler and value light weight small size (over other attributes), a nice screen, and decent performance for basic activities the MacBook is for you.

Want something that's still portable with good battery life, but need greater performance because you're editing video or on a search for the next prime number, then a MacBook Pro is the right choice.

If your needs are somewhere between the two, then buy a MacBook Air.

How many more choices do you need?

As an aside, when Jobs came back to Apple one of the first things he did was streamline the product lineup, offering fewer choices.

No matter what Apple does with their keyboards, they'll never come up with something as "good" as this:

Thank God. That probably weighs more than a rMB.

 

[kungpaaao]

Key travel is already too short in the newest Macbooks. This sounds awful.

I used my old MacBook and had trouble with the keys and typing after using my MacBook 2015 for a few months.

The only issue I have with new MacBook keyboard is that it helps me to keep my fingernails short.

 

[ignatius345]

I used my old MacBook and had trouble with the keys and typing after using my MacBook 2015 for a few months.

The only issue I have with new MacBook keyboard is that it helps me to keep my fingernails short.

I think adjusting to any significantly different type of keyboard is hard at first. I usually use very nice mechanical keyboards, so the switch to ultra-low travel feels very jarring to me.

 

[Cole Slaw]

Mr. Ive wants to make it thinner.
What a surprise.
Despite how great he thinks he is, he's actually a bit of a one trick pony with this sick obsession with thinness above all other cosiderations.
I thought he spent most of his time these days doodling cars, but alas he has managed to find a moment or two to turn his attention back to destroying Apple's computer lineup.

 

[navaira]

In fact, isn't it about time for Apple to jettison the battery? Sure the devices won't work without being plugged in or without a separate battery case but, if Apple did it, the ADF would spin how terrific it is that we all get to pick our own battery sizes now, we never have to worry about batteries going bad, rip those who won't adhere to just plugging it in somewhere AND spin the "thinner & lighter" mantra like it is all important. Sell that battery-free Macbook for the same full price and we can just pay extra for a battery case (pretty much what we do with iPhones now). Apple can make even more profit on each sale and we can celebrate not having to carry that extra, dirty money around after we buy the accessories to make it a "whole" laptop.

And while you're at it, get rid of the keyboard and screen too so that you can spin even thinner & lighter. What I think you should do is build a single port USB-C or Thunderbolt device to which keyboard, screen, battery, track pad, CPU etc all have to be attached (all sold separately). Call it the Macbook Pro Nano or something like that, priced as a full Macbook Pro even though all it actually is is a one-port USB or Thunderbolt jack. Don't worry, the faithful will spin that as the most flexible, thinnest & lightest MBP ever... even ridicule those who call a spade a spade. After all, "$200+ million in the bank can't be wrong" and "99% don't need anything more than whatever Apple chooses to serve up", etc.

I've been seriously thinking we can't be far from a Macbook without any ports whatsoever, wireless charging. "Nobody is using USB anymore, everything is in the cloud... the iCloud!" As for battery itself, I can foresee 16 minutes, 256 minutes and 1024 minutes options, €100 for each upgrade. And there will be people here on the forum arguing that 16 minutes is plenty and their girlfriend never uses the Macbook longer than 5 minutes anyway, and if you don't like it don't buy it.

 

[guzhogi]

Why not an OS X tablet with a keyboard that can be added or detached?

Oh... "no one wants that", right-right, got it.

Like this?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/modbook/modbook-pro-x-154-retina-quad-core-mac-os-x-tablet

Still not production ready, but hopefully soon.

 

[jacobj]

That would be wonderful, but with how Apple has been going they will use a thinner keyboard to make the whole thing thinner, and if anything a smaller battery.

I know. You can only hope. They tend to ensure that battery is good enough for reasonable use though. It's just that there are people like me that aren't reasonable.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I've been seriously thinking we can't be far from a Macbook without any ports whatsoever, wireless charging. "Nobody is using USB anymore, everything is in the cloud... the iCloud!" As for battery itself, I can foresee 16 minutes, 256 minutes and 1024 minutes options, €100 for each upgrade. And there will be people here on the forum arguing that 16 minutes is plenty and their girlfriend never uses the Macbook longer than 5 minutes anyway, and if you don't like it don't buy it.

You are wise in the ways of the ADF. But I still think the battery must go for "thinner". In your scenario, it would be wireless powering instead of charging. In other words, think completely separate slab that is the battery that must be put under the keyboard when using the "thinner" MB. That way, Apple can sell us a much, MUCH thinner MB without the battery AND a separately-cased battery to boot.

They've already succeeded in moving commonly used ports out to a very profitable accessory item. Many need that accessory for one port or another. So they buy it separately and it has to go into the laptop bag. Even though they are carrying around MORE weight for both parts (because now you have 2 parts of a laptop in separate cases), Apple gets to both spin "thinner & lighter" laptop AND make more profit by selling the laptop for just as much revenue AND sell the accessory of ports that used to be built into laptops.

Why not just do the same with battery, keyboard, screen, CPU, etc? Apparently, we'll happily pay up in full for that Thunderbolt or USB hub now branded MB and pay up for the classic accessories of keyboard, screen, battery, etc. too... even pound others who point out that this new MB is just a USB hub priced at the old laptop prices as missing the point, being "stupid", 99% don't need and so on.

 

[jacobj]

How often has Apple thinned other parts of their products and then filled the freed-up space with more battery? Not saying it never happens- because it has (maybe once or twice?)- but I wouldn't place a big bet on this being about giving us bigger batteries.

In fact, isn't it about time for Apple to jettison the battery? Sure the devices won't work without being plugged in or without a separate battery case but, if Apple did it, the ADF would spin how terrific it is that we all get to pick our own battery sizes now, we never have to worry about batteries going bad, rip those who won't adhere to just plugging it in somewhere AND spin the "thinner & lighter" mantra like it is all important. Sell that battery-free Macbook for the same full price and we can just pay extra for a battery case (pretty much what we do with iPhones now). Apple can make even more profit on each sale and we can celebrate not having to carry that extra, dirty money around after we buy the accessories to make it a "whole" laptop.

And while you're at it, get rid of the keyboard and screen too so that you can spin even thinner & lighter. What I think you should do is build a single port USB-C or Thunderbolt device to which keyboard, screen, battery, track pad, CPU etc all have to be attached (all sold separately). Call it the Macbook Pro Nano or something like that, priced as a full Macbook Pro even though all it actually is is a one-port USB or Thunderbolt jack. Don't worry, the faithful will spin that as the most flexible, thinnest & lightest MBP ever... even ridicule those who call a spade a spade. After all, "$200+ million in the bank can't be wrong" and "99% don't need anything more than whatever Apple chooses to serve up", etc.

I think you are unfair, but there is probably some truth to it.
As for me, it really bugs me that the ATV doesn't do 4K. I can't see why they didn't. It bugs me and shows that they arare not interested in being leading edge.

 

[Razeus]

I actually like clickity-clackity keyboards...

 

[Renzatic]

I actually like clickity-clackity keyboards...

For me, it's not so much key travel as much as the satisfying *snik* while pressed.

Gotta have that *snik*.