Feasibility of Touch Screen Apple Notebooks

[fuziwuzi]

the only issue, i have with touch screen (especially upright ones) is the thought of have to hold my arms up to the screen for hours i now see the benefits if mice and touch pats,

 

[drewyboy]

Never....Never ever ever

I hate this stupid Macbook Touch rumor. Not only do I think it's a bad idea, but it distracts us from what should be our real priority: macbook refreshes in time for the back-to-school crowd!

I don't know how many times i've seen this. Every year people always say this, and always say that Apple is going to loose soooo much money if they don't update for the college crowd. I'm going to say it once. This is the reason why they wait. They update AFTER the big back to school push to EMPTY OLD inventory. Why else do you think they are bribing you with an iPod touch? They will never update their lappy's before the back to school sales are done.

 

[neven]

More and more Apple is making things smaller. Screens included. This does not help us over 40 types in the least. As you get older, it is difficult to read small screens on all your gadgets (iPods, iPhone etc..) It is very clear to me that Apple is more interested in the youth market. Eyes are newer and can easily read all this over hyped microscopic coolness. I am losing major faith in Apple and I have been a mac evangelst since 1988. Sorry Apple. More people in the world than just kids.

Are you saying that because there are visually impaired people in the world, Apple should stop making devices for everyone else?

Apple is now making products with the widest array of screen sizes in their history, from the 2" iPod nano to the 30" ACD (of which you can connect 2, or 3...) Several years ago, you didn't have the option of getting their signature desktop in 24" size - now you do. Want a 17" laptop? Go ahead.

There's no way to design an iPod or iPhone with a large screen. It's pointless - you might as well be asking for an oversized remote. Apple is not in the specialty/novelty gadget business; they make products for the mass market. Compared to every other cellphone, PDA, or smartphone I've used, the iPhone uses gigantic, easy-to-read controls.

What Apple product would you like to see, exactly? An 8" iPhone? An iPod nano with a 6" display? A 22" tablet?

 

[thecartoonguy]

If Apple released something like a 9" multitouch tablet or netbook, and it had a reasonable processor, one or two usb, 802.11b/g/n, GPS, and maybe even something like an HSDPA radio, I would grab one in a heartbeat for $800 to $1000 dollars, no questions.

Many people don't realize what utility such a machine has, but I can tell you:

Sitting in a business meeting and typing notes on a laptop is HORRIBLE, I feel like my clients see me as "hiding" behind the screen -- it really separates me from the meeting, even if I am absolutely present.

However, a tablet is more akin to a notepad, and if it is lying on the table, it doesn't serve as a separator that kind of breaks eye contact with my clients and myself. That is VERY important to me. If it also surfs web (which of course it would) and does email, etc. then yes, I would nab one of these in a heartbeat.

FYI my iPhone can KIND of do this to a degree, but is a little too small IMHO to have sitting on the table and for me to use the keyboard to enter notes. 8" or 9" screen however would be perfecto!

I could see Apple doing a UMPC killer -- just like they released an MP# player-killer and smart phone-killer. They don't have to create a new market, they just have to perfect what's already there, and get it right, and very compelling, at the right price.

Good points

 

[crees!]

Laptop - Screen the same, Keyboard Touch

I could see a laptop where the screen stays the same but the keyboard is replaced by a touch surface that can adapt to the app at hand.

 

[Polish97]

However, a tablet is more akin to a notepad, and if it is lying on the table, it doesn't serve as a separator that kind of breaks eye contact with my clients and myself. That is VERY important to me. If it also surfs web (which of course it would) and does email, etc. then yes, I would nab one of these in a heartbeat.

FYI my iPhone can KIND of do this to a degree, but is a little too small IMHO to have sitting on the table and for me to use the keyboard to enter notes. 8" or 9" screen however would be perfecto!

This is the mindset I believe will sell a larger touch screen with limited functionality.

Everyone wants the world of a device, It should be better than the current MBP or I won't buy it...etc, etc, etc...

I want a screen I can read without holding it a foot from my face. Something that is able to easily take notes on that won't look like I'm surfing the web and not paying attention.

And yet the trolls here poo poo anything that doesn't run Photoshop CS3.

 

[CommanderData]

Ohhhh Please do Apple!!!!!!! A 9" screen is perfect. I use a Fujitsu P1620 right now for work (with 8.9" 1280x768 display), and have no problems at all other than the fact that it runs Windows Multi-touch would be awesome, and a legit Mac OS sub-notebook would be cool (NOT the Air, way too big! Thin does not equal small).

I'd buy three or four of them immediately, no matter what the cost. Do you hear me Apple??? I am offering you money, build this device!

 

[krye]

Errrrr! Enough with the MacBook Touches already!

There will always be two camps to this rumor: Those that want one, why they think Apple will release one, and why it will succeed and the other camp that doesn't want one, explains why it would be a bad business move for Apple, and why it will flop.

The same thing goes for iPod cars, toaster ovens, and mini Mac Pro towers.

 

[~Shard~]

It's interesting how certain technological advancements repeat themselves with respect to price points. I remember when 15" CRTs were in the "sweet spot" from a cost effective perspective, with 17" CRTs demanding a premium. Then it shifted to 19" CRTs, then flat panels, and once again, 15" LCDs were just about as big as you'd want to go, with 17" LCDs being much more costly. Now, you can hardly find a 17" LCD!

I see the trend repeating again with multi-touch displays. To start off with, larger multi-touch screens will be too costly and infeasible as this article suggests, relegating implementations to stick with 9" screens (or whatever the optimum size ends up being). Then, over time, they will become larger and cheaper and we will have 24" multi-touch iMacs (and larger!) a few years down the road.

I realize it's just like anything else, really, whether it's storage and memory becoming larger and cheaper, but it's interesting nonetheless how certain things never change.

 

[GorillaPaws]

A tablet mac would be cool imho, but I don't think a 9" version would cut it. The other thing apple has to work out on a production-type machine is data input. At work we are trying our best to implement slate-style tablets by fujitsu. The Wacom pen technology is fairly impressive for Vista (even if everything else about the OS is garbage), but even still, it seems like it's short of where it needs to be for the technology to really be a feasible replacement for the keyboard.

I think the multi-touch paradigm is pretty cool, but you'd still have to figure out text input. Apple's inkwell is a fair bit behind vista's implementation which itself is short of where it needs to be to truly replace the keyboard when inputting data.

I can use my touchscreen keyboard on the iPhone pretty well, but I really don't think the "thumbs" method will really cut it for more than short entries like searching or other quick entries. Can you imagine trying to type a 10-page essay on a full-screen version of the iPhone keyboard?

The last option would be some type of pull-out/flip around keyboard, and those look so cheap and gimmicky to me. I'm not sure I can see Apple walking that road while maintaining their commitment to sturdy/quality-construction products.

 

[scotty56]

Man I've given up. There have been too many rumors the last few weeks. I dont know what to believe..I love macrumors

 

[thecartoonguy]

More and more Apple is making things smaller. Screens included. This does not help us over 40 types in the least. As you get older, it is difficult to read small screens on all your gadgets (iPods, iPhone etc..) It is very clear to me that Apple is more interested in the youth market. Eyes are newer and can easily read all this over hyped microscopic coolness. I am losing major faith in Apple and I have been a mac evangelst since 1988. Sorry Apple. More people in the world than just kids.

Would you rather have Apple produce an iPod like this? Seriously wear glasses like the rest of our older generation. Oh and you should stop yelling at the kids walking on your yard.... that is if you are entering the third stage of old man grumpus

 

[WoFat]

Idiot Boy Needs Help Here

Someone please explain why so many wet themselves over the possibility of a screen you can touch? 3D manipulating bubble screen might be neeto for those lonely nights at porn sites but really now.... it's just a screen.

 

[aprilfools]

What I am saying is that Apple spends more time on developing products that appeal to the youth. They are on a path that anything new from them is smaller. I can see Apple stop making laptop computers all together. The computer is the size of a quarter just because they can do it. And this helps me how?? Growth in technology isn't always a good thing unless you are young and have perfect eyesight.

Are you saying that because there are visually impaired people in the world, Apple should stop making devices for everyone else?

Apple is now making products with the widest array of screen sizes in their history, from the 2" iPod nano to the 30" ACD (of which you can connect 2, or 3...) Several years ago, you didn't have the option of getting their signature desktop in 24" size - now you do. Want a 17" laptop? Go ahead.

There's no way to design an iPod or iPhone with a large screen. It's pointless - you might as well be asking for an oversized remote. Apple is not in the specialty/novelty gadget business; they make products for the mass market. Compared to every other cellphone, PDA, or smartphone I've used, the iPhone uses gigantic, easy-to-read controls.

What Apple product would you like to see, exactly? An 8" iPhone? An iPod nano with a 6" display? A 22" tablet?

 

[bobbleheadbob]

I think this is in line with what some analysts have been saying for a while. A smaller touch-device is probably more likely than a larger, full screen notebook with a touch screen. The cost to do a full screen Touch MB or MBP has got to be prohibitive. Plus, I think Apple has probably watched other Windoze Touchscreen notebooks largely fail in the marketplace (or at least not be as widely adopted as they would like).

A smaller screen just seems to make more sense and would give Apple the opportunity (yet again) to dominate a market space where others have not. Just imagine something the size of a Kindle with OS functionality built in!

Prediction: this will be the big announcement at the MWSF Keynote in January. I can't wait.

 

[~Shard~]

the only issue, i have with touch screen (especially upright ones) is the thought of have to hold my arms up to the screen for hours i now see the benefits if mice and touch pats,

But think about the upper arm and shoulder strength you'd build! Perhaps Apple will take an approach like the Wii where you will be able to get a workout from using your multi-touch Mac! After all, there are many out of shape computer users out there...

 

[thecartoonguy]

Someone please explain why so many wet themselves over the possibility of a screen you can touch? 3D manipulating bubble screen might be neeto for those lonely nights at porn sites but really now.... it's just a screen.

LOL

 

[Abstract]

Laptops aren't meant to be touch in my opinion. If you want a touch screen, get an iPod Touch or an iPhone. Laptops are for real typing...keyboard typing.

Maybe I just need to get with the times

No you don't. A touchscreen laptop would be silly. A Tablet has proven to be of little usefulness. I like the idea of the LCD touch trackpad the best so far. One reason is that it may actually be useful. Lots of the people here who think a touchscreen subnotebook is a great idea love it because of the possibility of a small laptop. So really, most of these people just want a small laptop, whether it's touch or conventional.


And no, Apple wouldn't release a touchscreen laptop for $700-800. Get ready for a $1500 price tag.

 

[surferfromuk]

I wouldn't count on anything using a stylus from Apple - your finger and a 'auto-zoom' keyboard but not a stylus.

 

[cvaldes]

There are rumors around saying the next-gen Macbook will have a glass trackpad. That seems to indicate that multi-touch input (like the iPhone/iPod touch) would come to the notebook starting with the trackpad.

I can see several immediate uses for an iPhone-like touchscreen trackpad with multi-touch input, including Cover Flow album browsing, iTunes basic controls (Back, Play/Pause, Forward, volume); fast list scrolling; standard web surfing buttons (Back, Forward, Reload, Stop, Home, Page Up, Page Down); image editing/resizing/navigation.

If you're watching a movie on your notebook computer, why not put the player controls on the auxiliary touchscreen trackpad/display? It makes total sense to me, rather than overlaying controls over the primary display.

Since a touchscreen trackpad wouldn't be your primary viewing screen, it would be less of a factor concerning fingerprints than actually touching your screen.

Large touchscreen LCDs will have to come down in price and Apple (and other developers) will need to figure out how to properly exploit this to their best advantage, but judging from the iPhone and iPod touch OS work done thus far, I could see this in a year or two.

A lot of people read "touchscreen display" and assume "no physical keyboard". That's poor logic: no one is saying that the physical keyboard has no future (it's great for longer typing sessions). Those people are missing the point. The point is that a touchscreen interface is another input method, just like the mouse, trackpad, trackball, digitizing tablet, speech recognition, etc.

 

[lagunamac]

Introducing the iPod Touch Maxi ;-)

Wouldn't that be a "Maxi-Pad"?

 

[iMacmatician]

I think this is in line with what some analysts have been saying for a while. A smaller touch-device is probably more likely than a larger, full screen notebook with a touch screen. The cost to do a full screen Touch MB or MBP has got to be prohibitive. Plus, I think Apple has probably watched other Windoze Touchscreen notebooks largely fail in the marketplace (or at least not be as widely adopted as they would like).

A smaller screen just seems to make more sense and would give Apple the opportunity (yet again) to dominate a market space where others have not. Just imagine something the size of a Kindle with OS functionality built in!

Prediction: this will be the big announcement at the MWSF Keynote in January. I can't wait.

I think we will finally see the long-rumored mini-tablet running iPhone OS at Macworld 2009.

The redesigned notebooks coming this fall with glass trackpads and stuff are likely to be released earlier than Macworld because they may not be as significant as the mini-tablet.

The rumors about a Tablet Mac don't have much to do with the mini-tablet.

Redesigned MacBook + Mini-tablet =

 

[thecartoonguy]

Wouldn't that be a "Maxi-Pad"?

Oh that was badddddd. LOL

 

[iMacmatician]

Oh that was badddddd. LOL

iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad touch.

 

[darklyt]

Where are the iPhone rumors? We really don't have enough of them anymore. It's all about macs, macs, macs... I thought this site was about Apple products, not just macs...



An Apple tablet could be a really cool product, and with a few extra sensors it could rival both the Star Trek pads and the tricorder. You would just need a light spectrum sensor (to help check for life signs, element compositions of rocks, etc.) and maybe some sonar and subspace gear. We could be close to a breakthrough of the Evil Empire's hold on the PC world. I mean the Federation's. I mean M$... I mean...