Apple Testing Touchscreen Panels for Future iMac?

[Blu101]

I go back to the point I made in my first post. For the NORMAL Mac user (home user, programmer, photographer, blogger, whatever) a touch screen mac is IDIOTIC.

Its a gymic, and nothing more. Lets look at a few, every day examples.

You've got your nice shiney 27" iMac sitting in front of you. No mouse, no keyboard. Lets open up safari from our dock. Reach approx 20 inches in front of you to your screen and tap your safari icon.

(browser opens up)

Ok, now lets go to something like facebook. So hit the address bar, an on screen keyboard of sorts pops up. Now, you're going to have to ben your hands backwards so you can still see what you're typing, but obviously because this is an awesome magical screen, that must be good for you.

See the problem? You need a keyboard/mouse. Once you've got them - it renders the touchscreen pointless.

Lets take another example. Try playing something like The Sims, or a car racing game. You cant exactly pick up a 27" iMac and start waving it about to control your game now can you.

Another example. Word processing. You've got an essay to type up. You need a keyboard and mouse - again, rendering the touchscreen pointless.

Final example: You want to watch a movie. You hit play, go in to full screen...ewww greasy finger prints...but you made sure you washed your hands every half hour...how'd that happen: NATURAL OILS IN YOUR SKIN!


Here's a question for you: What possible improvement do you think this will bring? I mean seriously, how the hell can you think a touchscreen computer is anything more than 'cool'? It's pointless, and designed to pull in all the idiots who will be fooled by another speech from Lord Steve.

So, to sum up: Its a gymic, a stupid idea, and basically stupid. You can just overcome the ergonomics or cleanliness issues.[/SIZE]

You need to read the first 6 pages of this thread

And if you bothered to take the 2mins that it takes to read the link to Apple's patent, you'd see that the touch screen isn't meant as a replacement for the keyboard and mouse, it's meant as an additional form of input. That fact alone renders all of your examples useless, since you still have the mouse and keyboard. And yes, there are touch based games that don't use "screen tilting" in order to play...

 

[deus_ex_machina]

Yeah, sure. But cars have also created a long list of problems, including pollution, depleting of resources and over 40,000 death a year just in the US. So stop using this quote as the quintessence of business wisdom.

The quote is about committing an appeal to tradition fallacy, not business wisdom. It has everything to do with poor reasoning, which is rampant throughout this thread.

 

[Blu101]

I already have to spend a minute daily cleaning the paw prints of my 3 toddler off my iMac. I. Don't. Like. Smudges.

Where is your iMac and how does your toddler reach it

 

[ecualegacy]

Where is your iMac and how does your toddler reach it

On the desk in the living room (1300 sq ft townhome doesn't give you too many options). He's an avid mac fanboy (wink wink). I live in dread however that he'll throw something and crack the glass. But he loves pointing out stuff on the screen when we play his favorite shows or flash games. Makes a nice learning board actually. He likes the iPhone & iPad at the store too but hasn't got the hang of tapping things with one finger while leaving the rest of the screen hands free.

 

[Blu101]

On the desk in the living room (1300 sq ft townhome doesn't give you too many options). He's an avid mac fanboy (wink wink). I live in dread however that he'll throw something and crack the glass. But he loves pointing out stuff on the screen when we play his favorite shows or flash games. Makes a nice learning board actually. He likes the iPhone & iPad at the store too but hasn't got the hang of tapping things with one finger while leaving the rest of the screen hands free.

Hang in there, soon he will be old enough to know touching screens is a no no (computers and TVs alike)

 

[doctor-don]

Make mine the size of the weather guy's at CNN.

 

[ecualegacy]

Hang in there, soon he will be old enough to know touching screens is a no no (computers and TVs alike)

Boy will he be confused if/when the iMac Touch rolls out

 

[ecualegacy]

Make mine the size of the weather guy's at CNN.

HOO-YAH!

 

[doctor-don]

Where is your iMac and how does your toddler reach it

On the desk in the living room (1300 sq ft townhome doesn't give you too many options). He's an avid mac fanboy (wink wink). I live in dread however that he'll throw something and crack the glass. But he loves pointing out stuff on the screen when we play his favorite shows or flash games. Makes a nice learning board actually. He likes the iPhone & iPad at the store too but hasn't got the hang of tapping things with one finger while leaving the rest of the screen hands free.

Hang in there, soon he will be old enough to know touching screens is a no no (computers and TVs alike)

When my daughter was two, she was enjoying Manhole, the precursor to Myst, on the Mac Classic.

And the word for the touchscreen is gimmick.

 

[res1233]

I think it's a terrible idea. With that said, the rumor mill has been turning pretty hard on this idea, which in my view means it will almost definitely happen. All these rumors have to be coming from somewhere.

 

[res1233]

When my daughter was two, she was enjoying Manhole, the precursor to Myst, on the Mac Classic.

And the word for the touchscreen is gimmick.

You daughter was enjoying manhole? Do you think before you type?

 

[ecualegacy]

All these rumors have to be coming from somewhere.

Yep, Apple's iRumor Mill.

 

[JAT]

That it depends on what you're doing?

Consider: 1 2 3. (And before you say it's contrived -- look down at the thread page list at the bottom right of this page...)

With a mouse - no problem. With a finger - you have to stop and either pinch to zoom in so you can see the links and get them straight or do the tap-and-hold-and-whoops-wrong-one-untap dance.

So a touch interface is great -- but only if the touch targets are big enough.

You're not using it right.

If you can't "see the links", then how can you surf? That sounds like a screen size issue, which even the iPad does not have unless you purposely create an issue by zooming out too far.

The touch interface on Apple's products, and (with a lesser degree of quality) even on other touch GUIs, is very capable of picking the proper link if you go just a bit slower. It isn't Tap, it's Touch. Hold your finger on the link and make sure it picks the one you want by angling slightly if needed. Usually adds a second or less. Picking any of your 3 huddled links is a breeze. So is choosing a certain page number at the top/bottom of this forum page, despite being surrounded by various links. (using iPod in landscape, zoomed so the post text fills the screen across, a normal way to surf this site, I think)

And I just checked, my pointer finger measures at a solid 1.4cm across on the tip, not exactly "small hands" skewing my usage here. (almost 1/3 of the iPod screen) The only hard part is my finger blocking the links so I can't see to select carefully.


On the general topic of the touch-computer...a laptop would be far more useful to me. For all the reasons laid out in this thread. The screen is right there within millimeters of my hands, so far more usable to reach up and access the touch screen when necessary. If it was me, I'd come out with it first in the MBP. But I could definitely come up with some uses even on a desktop.

 

[rmwebs]

You need to read the first 6 pages of this thread

And if you bothered to take the 2mins that it takes to read the link to Apple's patent, you'd see that the touch screen isn't meant as a replacement for the keyboard and mouse, it's meant as an additional form of input. That fact alone renders all of your examples useless, since you still have the mouse and keyboard. And yes, there are touch based games that don't use "screen tilting" in order to play...

I wouldnt have been able to make my post if I hadn't read all 6 pages (136 messages) of the thread.

I did bother to take 2 minutes to read the patent, and if you actually read my post - I did account for that by saying that if you have a keyboard and mouse in front of you, it renders the touchscreen useless. This fact alone proves that you are only making a post to start an argument.

Care to share which Mac OS X touchscreen game you claim exists? There are none, as obviously a touchscreen mac does not yet exist. You should correct your post by stating "there are touch <iOS> based games that dont use...".

Firstly, the games was just an example. Secondly, iOS != Mac OS X - the sooner you learn that, the quicker you can post a witty comeback


Interesting read from the beginning of the year: http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/touch_screen_imac_stupid/

Also - a quick side thought: Say they do come out with a touchscreen Mac. Making it 27" would be a ballache to use....trying to drag files, or click links or highlight text....its more effort than its worth. It would have to be small - small screens on a desktop is a no no.

Also, to the person on Page 6 who said having a touchscreen would make clicking links quicker....no....just...no.

 

[Stella]

You best be trollin.
Magic mouse is like the greatest mouse of all time.

The Magic Mouse is great - no doubt - especially when combined with BetterTouchTool, but in terms of ergonomics, yes, its a nightmare.

 

[Don Kosak]

I will be first in line to buy one of these.

About 10 years ago, I owned a very similar machine from Sony that had this type of dual-mode PC / Drafting Table mode.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Slimtop-PCV-LX900-Desktop-Pentium/dp/B00005T3YH

I loved this LX900. It was my favorite PC until it died.

Don't knock this format until you try it.

For one, don't imagine doing the stuff you do with a mouse on it... Someone said "Dragging an icon 25 inches down to the trash can with my finger...". You won't. Maybe you'll just touch and hold the icon to make a red (x) appear, or have a context menu gizmo pop up. Gestures will replace all of the weird unnatural stuff we do with a mouse.

Here is the point...

The future is all about direct manipulation of digital objects.

Instead of the crazy "hand > mouse > pointer > menu > menu item > effect" Rube Goldberg thing we have going on in computer interfaces, we will have something much more simple and direct: "Hand > item > effect"

"Hand > item > effect" is exactly like the real world.

It is about time someone took a step in this direction.

 

[Mr. Savage]

Awesome!

This would be perfect for, well...um...like, say you needed to, like, well...I dunno. Let's say you wanted to uh...

OK! It's pointless and it's annoying, and it's like the upper echelons of Apple got together in a Future Products Planning meeting all looked around at each other and said: "I can't think of anything, can you?" and eventually someone piped up and said, "Steve, I know you don't care about Macs as much as you once did, but, given your child-like fascination with #@%!#* touchscreens, why don't we do a touchscreen iMac?"

Laughter erupts around the table and ridicule is heaped on the suggestion as the person responsible for it slumps down low in his chair.

"No, No, I like this!" chimes in Mr. Jobs, and the room immediately goes silent.

"No disrespect intended sir," one rational-minded designer says, "but it's kind of ridiculous."

Jobs scowls: "Well, yes it may very well be ridiculous, but have you seen the new iPod nano? In case you haven't noticed we here at Apple have arrived at a place where it doesn't matter how absurd a product is––if we build it, they will come. We're doing this. Meeting adjourned."

 

[nelmat]

Back in the 80s maybe. Some of you people need to get out more, these things have been in use in kiosks and as POS terminals for such a long time, it's not even funny try to pass this off as "innovation".

Rubbish. There isn't a single home computer made to be used as a standard desktop and to then click into position for touch interaction. This does not exist in the home market. POS touch screen displays compared to a home computer with full touch interaction - what a crap parallel to draw.

I listened to people like you at the announcement of the iPad - they wrong then as you are wrong now. This is the start of a computer revolution. It's innovative, exciting and brilliant. Can't wait.

Awesome!

This would be perfect for, well...um...like, say you needed to, like, well...I dunno. Let's say you wanted to uh...

OK! It's pointless and it's annoying, and it's like the upper echelons of Apple got together in a Future Products Planning meeting all looked around at each other and said: "I can't think of anything, can you?" and eventually someone piped up and said, "Steve, I know you don't care about Macs as much as you once did, but, given your child-like fascination with #@%!#* touchscreens, why don't we do a touchscreen iMac?"

Laughter erupts around the table and ridicule is heaped on the suggestion as the person responsible for it slumps down low in his chair.

"No, No, I like this!" chimes in Mr. Jobs, and the room immediately goes silent.

"No disrespect intended sir," one rational-minded designer says, "but it's kind of ridiculous."

Jobs scowls: "Well, yes it may very well be ridiculous, but have you seen the new iPod nano? In case you haven't noticed we here at Apple have arrived at a place where it doesn't matter how absurd a product is––if we build it, they will come. We're doing this. Meeting adjourned."

You're obviously not a graphic designer or a fan of gaming on the iPad, or an audio engineer who uses cubase and would love to do away with the keyboard and interact with a virtual mixer and controls on screen - open your mind and stop being so bloody dismissive of something simply because YOU have no imagination.

 

[Fattyq]

I love how everybody is an expert of product development for Apple in this thread.
I'm convinced the concept is going to work; obviously, there will be a transition period.
My 2 years old daughter who is used to touch interfaces often tries to touch on my iMac's screen already.

I agree, I think they know what they are doing. And if you really don't like it, there is alway going to be a Mac Pro line.

 

[sinsin07]

No touchscreens for desktop computers. It's just silly!

I don't think anything that big would be practical to use with a touch screen. Plus if it's running OS X most programs won't work well with a touch screen since they were designed for a mouse and keyboard.

Yeah, the smudging and (especially) the ergonmics (or lack thereof) is what kills this concept, which doesn't mean that people won't buy just because it's new and they can (e.g., I bought the magic trackpad and have hardly used it since the first day). Imagine dragging a file from the upper left corner of the screen to the trash on a 27" one of these things, and then multiply this kind of motion by 1000 a day

Yeah, this doesn't really make any sense. Touch interface is great on a small device like a phone or tablet. Doesn't really make much sense when you get to something as large as a desktop monitor which normally sits a couple of feet away from you.

I agree! Do you know how tiring it would be to touch everything on your 30" screens, rather than a few inches of space with your mouse area....

Ew, touchscreens are as tacky as a yellow convertible. Why dont you just hold a sign that says "Look at Me"

believe Apple will just keep their touchscreens to their iDevices.

BUT if you want to turn my office desk into a touch screen, then by all means.

This is really unsuitable,crazy,un-realistic & down right stupid.......

I am sure it's real and will go ahead

What apps from the App Store would you actually find useful on an iMac? Can you name even one? Most games are accelerometer controlled, they would not work, the utilities can all be replaced by dashboard widgets, and apps like Facebook are only useful on an iPhone because the screen is too small to actually go on Facebook.com. Even on the iPad people are using less apps and more browsing.

I think Apps are good for portable devices but they're not better than what you already have on your normal computer. Or at least not comparable, which means many apps simply don't make sense on an iMac.

... Or, what if Apple found a way to make today's non-touch applications useable on a touch screen? Basically, a touch-enable Snow Leopard with bigger buttons and touch-friendly controls, running the same apps we run today... But then the apps would not be touch-friendly enough...

I don't get it.

Perfect examples why some people become rich and others remain part of the pack.

Why do you speculate that if the iMac gets a touch screen every thing must be done by touch. Your lack of vision is evident in spades. Good thing you don't work for Apple.

 

[LeoNobilis]

I fail to comprehend some commenters' obsession with the status quo. I'd sell my MacBook Pro at once to buy a multitouch-enabled one should Apple released these. The same for an iMac. How could one possibly oppose the introduction of such functionality?!. Some fellow Mac users do astonish me quite a bit...

 

[Blue Velvet]

How could one possibly oppose the introduction of such functionality?!

Because, for starters, I can move a cursor across two displays by moving a mouse by an inch or two while my arms are supported on a desk... for many hours on end. The mouse, trackball, touchpad are levers of sorts.

I wouldn't necessarily oppose touchscreen Macs. I just fail to see how they would be easy to use for a day of work as they're currently proposed.

 

[rmwebs]

Awesome!

This would be perfect for, well...um...like, say you needed to, like, well...I dunno. Let's say you wanted to uh...

OK! It's pointless and it's annoying, and it's like the upper echelons of Apple got together in a Future Products Planning meeting all looked around at each other and said: "I can't think of anything, can you?" and eventually someone piped up and said, "Steve, I know you don't care about Macs as much as you once did, but, given your child-like fascination with #@%!#* touchscreens, why don't we do a touchscreen iMac?"

Laughter erupts around the table and ridicule is heaped on the suggestion as the person responsible for it slumps down low in his chair.

"No, No, I like this!" chimes in Mr. Jobs, and the room immediately goes silent.

"No disrespect intended sir," one rational-minded designer says, "but it's kind of ridiculous."

Jobs scowls: "Well, yes it may very well be ridiculous, but have you seen the new iPod nano? In case you haven't noticed we here at Apple have arrived at a place where it doesn't matter how absurd a product is––if we build it, they will come. We're doing this. Meeting adjourned."

^ Gave me a good laugh....nice one

I wonder how true it is though!

 

[AidenShaw]

Because, for starters, I can move a cursor across two displays by moving a mouse by an inch or two while my arms are supported on a desk... for many hours on end. The mouse, trackball, touchpad are levers of sorts.

I wouldn't necessarily oppose touchscreen Macs. I just fail to see how they would be easy to use for a day of work as they're currently proposed.

Since I've had a Windows 7 multi-touch laptop for more than a year, I think that the answer is really simple -

most of the time, the touch screen augments the keyboard & mouse - it doesn't replace them​

It becomes 2nd nature. If a web page has a "Submit" button, you simply touch it. If there's a text box that needs input - touch the text box, type the data, then touch "submit".

Nothing requires you to use touch, but often touching the screen is faster and more intuitive than moving your hand to the mouse (or touch panel), moving the cursor to the target, then clicking somewhere on something to move focus, then typing. If you have to move your hand to the touchpad/pointing stick/mouse - it's really just as easy to directly touch the object on the screen.

If you're reading a webpage or other document, swiping the screen is much more natural than finding the keyboard or mouse to scroll the window a bit.

I'll laugh when a touch-screen Imac comes out, and the people complaining today that it's pointless will be the people who marvel at how wonderful touch is and praise Apple for their genius.

And the smudge issue is a non-issue. I was showing my nieces (college freshman and senior) some stuff using the laptop - and it was "cool", "wow" and the like. When I put the laptop to sleep, they said "gross!" when the screen went black. I said "you didn't notice that in the last 30 minutes, did you?". Seems like people deal just fine with touch screen smudges on their Itoys, after all.

 

[Nahaz]

I see a few problems with a touchscreen computer.

1. Valuable screen space would be taken up by the keyboard popping up all the time. So many more spelling mistakes would be made. Also the majority of keyboard users are probably still use to a tactile device and a screen keyboard would lose all that input.

2. If the screen was also to replace the mouse, the mouse pointer is more accurate for certain circumstances such as cad and painting. Your finger does not beat a mouse pointer.

3. The Mac is slowly pushing more into the games market with companies like Steam and Blizzard leading the way. A proper keyboard would be a necessity for this area.

I can see the advantages of going completely touchscreen, but I think it would be better for Apple as a company to develop the iPad down that path. Use it as the guinea pig of future touchscreen technology. If the iPad eventually becomes an iMac then so be it but don't discontinue the current keyboard/mouse layout. It would be technological suicide at this stage.

Bottom line, if Apple releases a iMac that is Touchscreen only with no external keyboard or mouse option, then I guess it will be back to Windows and a PC for me, and I would hate that to happen.