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Feasibility of Touch Screen Apple Notebooks
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This is the Summer of the Sub-Notebooks...
Asus introduced its Eee sub-notebook w/7 inch screen just before Christmas last year. It proved so popular (reportedly selling 300,000 units) that Asus has since expanded its line to include many additional models (the 2G, 4G, 900, 901, and 1000) with screens from 7 to 10 inches.
This summer: MSI introduced it's Wind model w/10" screen; Advent introduced a 10" netbook; Acer introduced the Inspire One, with 9" screen; HP has at least two sub-notebooks out w/screen under 11"; and Dell is saying they'll release a 10" netbook in August. Many more are expected before Christmas '08.
I think it's a really interesting concept, but I think it's a couple years from perfection. Although what someone said about using it as a "legal pad" in meetings and the such is a really good idea. I agree about laptops blocking your view. However what happens to the people that have messy writting? The software can't translate their text into a word processor with any degree of accuracy.
That relies on handwriting recognition. What if there is a better way to do it.
The predictive text on phones comes to mind as well as limiting the amount of text to keep things simple. How much do you need to take down?
-names, dates, ideas... Not a full document that needs extensive grammar.
That would be my hopes. there are smarter people than me solving problems this could be one software issue that's taking longer than normal.
I hate any idea of an extra screen on a laptop, e.g. replacing the trackpad, and i hate the idea of losing a keyboard to have that on the touch screen. The idea of the iTablet or whatever people are calling it surely wouldn't realistically suit many people?? I'd find it very limiting...
The only product that would suit me personally, and surely quite a lot of people, is something like a MBP with NO lower specs and with touch screen on the MAIN screen, so no features are lost, but allowing full touch features for relevant applications and general use, e.g. clicking and dragging items and so on. And I guess that isn't very feasible or likely yet. (Not that this really bothers me). I just hope this doesn't delay a new MBP at all.
Although, please don't just quote me and have a go at me for saying that, haha I'm still open minded, and maybe a brilliant new product will come out of it.
The only product that would suit me personally, and surely quite a lot of people, is something like a MBP with NO lower specs and with touch screen on the MAIN screen, so no features are lost, but allowing full touch features for relevant applications and general use, e.g. clicking and dragging items and so on. And I guess that isn't very feasible or likely yet. (Not that this really bothers me). I just hope this doesn't delay a new MBP at all.
Although, please don't just quote me and have a go at me for saying that, haha I'm still open minded, and maybe a brilliant new product will come out of it.
It seems to me that the next logical step would be to merge The MacBook's with the iPhone touchscreen technology, but only in replacement of the trackpad. The trackpad and the iPhone are nearly the same size. Why not incorporate the screen there leaving the existing screen on the laptops. Then use the trackpad as: 1) a standard trackpad 2) your dock (with icons to select from) 3) a basic finder (for finding files, apps, etc). Switch between the three options with a swish of your finger much like sliding between differing app windows on the iPhone. It would save real estate and in fact provide additional real estate from something like the MacBook Air. I'd even make it user configurable so other more inventive souls can add additional uses for it.
Why not?
Hi all.
Frankly, I'm amazed at why so many of you are so blasé to large-scale touch screens (laptop-sized and up.) For me, this is the obvious future. I think a multi-touch laptop screen, or sweet Jesus, a 30" Apple Cinema Display would increase my productivity level. As good as a mouse or trackpad is, it simply doesn't beat pointing your finger at what you want and pressing it. Don't even get me started on those infuriating little "nipples" that someone decided to wedge in the middle of the keyboard to get you to move the pointer.
I agree that there are some things to iron out. A laptop screen moving away or shaking each time you press it is a problem. Maybe they can figure a way to "lock" it in place? Having multi-touch on an ACD is probably not very healthy to the shoulders if you are constantly touching it. I would probably mount the display on an arm and position it just above my keyboard at an angle (like a laptop). That way, I don't think touching the screen would be any more uncomfortable than reaching for a mouse.
I dunno. Maybe it's just me, but I'd pay bucks for this. Don't tell me that Star Trek workstations aren't the way of the future. The iPod Touch is practically akin to the ST padd, and I love it It pains me to say this, but I think the MS Surface computer is a very exciting look into the future. Go rent The Island again, and marvel at their super cool desk computer.
So there.
Hi all.
Frankly, I'm amazed at why so many of you are so blasé to large-scale touch screens (laptop-sized and up.) For me, this is the obvious future. I think a multi-touch laptop screen, or sweet Jesus, a 30" Apple Cinema Display would increase my productivity level. As good as a mouse or trackpad is, it simply doesn't beat pointing your finger at what you want and pressing it. Don't even get me started on those infuriating little "nipples" that someone decided to wedge in the middle of the keyboard to get you to move the pointer.
I agree that there are some things to iron out. A laptop screen moving away or shaking each time you press it is a problem. Maybe they can figure a way to "lock" it in place? Having multi-touch on an ACD is probably not very healthy to the shoulders if you are constantly touching it. I would probably mount the display on an arm and position it just above my keyboard at an angle (like a laptop). That way, I don't think touching the screen would be any more uncomfortable than reaching for a mouse.
I dunno. Maybe it's just me, but I'd pay bucks for this. Don't tell me that Star Trek workstations aren't the way of the future. The iPod Touch is practically akin to the ST padd, and I love it It pains me to say this, but I think the MS Surface computer is a very exciting look into the future. Go rent The Island again, and marvel at their super cool desk computer.
So there.
I am not sure if the question I am asking has been addressed. So I apologize if it has.
If the new product were to be introduced in August, should be expect somewhat of a keynote/apple event in order for it to be introduced? Or will it just appear on the Apple website without introductions. I have been a fan of Apple for only two years now. Therefore, I don't have much knowledge about Apple events in August or September. Besides the one in France that I think has been cancelled or something.
Just want to know what to expect.
Thanks guys!
If the new product were to be introduced in August, should be expect somewhat of a keynote/apple event in order for it to be introduced? Or will it just appear on the Apple website without introductions. I have been a fan of Apple for only two years now. Therefore, I don't have much knowledge about Apple events in August or September. Besides the one in France that I think has been cancelled or something.
Just want to know what to expect.
Thanks guys!
I would never use something like that for an essay, but I'm think school uses (I'll be in college in September). Taking notes in class, where you'd have to use a couple pages of a regular paper notebook. Or answering questions from a text book. No essays, but sometimes class notes can be lengthy.
for the posters of the older generations (incl. me, b. 1958) thinking "our cash" is the center of the universe: we are the generation of land lines, ford pintos, and cassettes. we do not drive trends and need to be dragged into innovation. we want comfort for today in the vocabulary of yesterday. youth imagines tomorrow and they do it better. our generation purchases, invests, and calls tech support. that's out job. we need our youth to pull us out of our internal combustion d-battery coffin. if your body fails you, get peripheral aids, hit keystrokes to enlarge text, etc. one shouldn't roadblock innovation with expectations that suit one's personal universe -- no matter your age.
50% of laptop panels are 15". Due to the scale of production, the cost of making a 15" display is about the same as that of a 13" display. Just look at Dell's XPS models. Configured the same, the 13" and 15" models are the same price. Dell is a very simple company to understand: they won't price to very similar products the same unless they have similar profit margin.
I agree. Using a multi-touch display as a track pad seems to be the next logical step.
It just isn't feasible or usable to make the whole screen touch sensitive or replacing a perfect tactile keyboard with a feedback lacking touch keyboard.
But it could be really useful to have a 7"x3" widescreen track pad equipped with multi-touch.
I hear theres also a 13" that Apple makes.. umm whats it called, just can't think of the name...
Newton 2 anyone?
iPhone anyone?
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
Thats exactly what everyone doesn't seem to understand, they don't understand that the beauty of something like an iPhone is that you can hold it in your hand in whatever position you want and its light enough to not tire you. Take something like that HP's TouchPC thing or w/e they're calling it and just imagine holding your hands up waving them around like a fool trying to get something done by touch when it can be done w/ a mouse/keyboard 10x faster... oh and then theres the issue of cleaning the screen every 5 minutes, or alternatively looking at your fingerprints instead of the content.
They're wetting themselves because they never used a "big" touchscreen. For example the HP's TouchPCs or Wacom's Cintiq 20/21 tablets... ...and having never used anything like it they're imagining it'll be like Minority Report or the like...
Hell, I'd be happy if they dropped the MacBook's price to that
Not with the rumors of a price dropJust what Apple needs...more expensive hardware.
iduno, as pretty as it is, reminds me more of the G4 cube then the Mini in terms of design...
When has Apple EVER refreshed entry level laptops before school started? They ALWAYS sell off the current models cheap in summer through early fall and release new computers and iPods after the sales end, just in time for Xmas shopping.
for the posters of the older generations (incl. me, b. 1958) thinking "our cash" is the center of the universe: we are the generation of land lines, ford pintos, and cassettes. we do not drive trends and need to be dragged into innovation. we want comfort for today in the vocabulary of yesterday. youth imagines tomorrow and they do it better. our generation purchases, invests, and calls tech support. that's out job. we need our youth to pull us out of our internal combustion d-battery coffin. if your body fails you, get peripheral aids, hit keystrokes to enlarge text, etc. one shouldn't roadblock innovation with expectations that suit one's personal universe -- no matter your age.
This is a bias load of crap against age.
Steve Jobs is one of the top visionaries in the industry and he is over 50. Some of the best science fiction and futuristic visions have come from the likes of Azimov, and Clarke long after they past 50.
You don't have to be young to dream, enjoy life, or be adventuresome.
Everyone has a right to an opinion no matter what age and sometimes experience is more valuable than naivety.
Agreed... I would be first in line to buy such a device, especially at that price point.
i wonder where thin bright cheap touchscreens will take us?
i can see the future laptop as a touchscreen on the bottom that is a virtual keyboard one moment and a photoshop screen the next. the top would be a second screen to view other documents or the text you're typing. the two screens could also behave as one. keyboards probably won't disappear altogether -- the bottom touchscreen could flip to reveal a keyboard, or the keyboard would be peripheral.
i can see the future laptop as a touchscreen on the bottom that is a virtual keyboard one moment and a photoshop screen the next. the top would be a second screen to view other documents or the text you're typing. the two screens could also behave as one. keyboards probably won't disappear altogether -- the bottom touchscreen could flip to reveal a keyboard, or the keyboard would be peripheral.
If you think all this talk is too much now, wait till Apple announces its media event next month!
"One more thing..."
It's equivalent to watching a tantalizingly close football game! I get a similar rush following such events. I can vividly remember Steve Jobs announcing the Santa Rosa MBP, iPhone, iPod Touch, etc.
I truly believe that the Macbook Touch is the next big thing Steve has got up his sleeve!
"One more thing..."
It's equivalent to watching a tantalizingly close football game! I get a similar rush following such events. I can vividly remember Steve Jobs announcing the Santa Rosa MBP, iPhone, iPod Touch, etc.
I truly believe that the Macbook Touch is the next big thing Steve has got up his sleeve!
So what are you suggesting?
A small screen laptop with HUGE type? Or a large screen laptop (which they already have)? I don't get what you are complaining about. Do you want a gigantic screen touch pad? The small screen touch pad does not exist by the way, so this complaint about what Apple is doing really isn't valid anyway. Or were you hoping for an 8 inch touchscreen iPhone?