Future MacBook Could Feature Removable Key That Works as a Mouse

[Macalway]

Lol

This is a stretch.

 

[bobcomer]

Sounds cool to me. Not sure it would be better than a lenovo trackpoint, but i'd try it.

 

[Spock]

This is probably for legal purposes should they attempt anything remotely similar.

Apple has (usually) shied away from design language that dedicates a space or compartment to an accessory. Why? My guess is that the primary product should never be compromised by a missing, required accessory. Functionally, the device is crippled. Aesthetically, it’s less attractive.

Also, the space ends up being wasted if you lose the accessory or choose not to buy it. It serves as a reminder that something is missing. It’s why you’ll never see a stylus slot on an iphone or ipad. You also won’t see a groove above the keyboard on a Macbook.

The Duo Dock would like a word with you...

 

[0924487]

What happens if you lose a keyboard key?

Don’t worry, only $79 for a replacement.

 

[0924487]

Wouldn't it make more sense to have a small hand-held pointing device be a removable piece of the trackpad, not of the keyboard?

Trackpad has haptic engine underneath it, and it’s only about 1/8 of an inch deep before all batteries.

 

[ersan191]

Lol no chance in hell this makes it to production.

 

[bobcomer]

Magic Mouse Mini, No buttons and will come in space gray ….. what can go wrong?

Good point!

 

[jclardy]

TBH I want this on my windows laptop where the trackpad sucks. On my Air the trackpad is better than 95% of portable travel mice.

 

[fernelius]

I can imagine nothing more seamless than needing to play this game every time I want to use my mouse:

And a custom order setting will prevent people from stealing your mouse...

 

[jozero]

Would make perfect sense for the iPad Folio keyboard case

 

[ikramerica]

What is this, a mouse for ants?! It needs to be at least... 3 times this size!

I am at least 10x larger than an ant. Minimum.

 

[Wando64]

If only they could invent something that allows you to use your finger as a precision pointing device...

EDIT: That’s a joke folks.

 

[azentropy]

LOL...

Phil Schiller: "Can't innovate anymore, my ass!"​

 

[yellow8]

They already invented this with the butterfly keyboard: you had to remove the key to clean under it.

 

[citysnaps]

What happens if you lose a keyboard key?

It becomes missing.

 

[Geepaw]

I think this is a cool idea. I do find that the track pad is limited in doing some tasks -- especially when traveling. This is why I travel with a mouse. This would be an interesting solution. I would at least give it try and have an open mind about it.

 

[bobcomer]

If only they could invent something that allows you to use your finger as a precision pointing device...

Trackpoint? (Thinkpad's and some Dell's)

 

[Mick-Mac]

Awesome idea (not!). Looking forward to two & three finger swipes, and pinching to zoom in and out on this marvel of engineering. They should have used the round power button for this, that way it could have also been shaped like a hockey puck - missed opportunity right there...

 

[erinsarah]

Yeah...no. I'm thinking if they really want to go that route, something like the MS Arc Mouse, which flattens out for travel, slipped into a space under the keyboard, would be a lot more useful. But hey...I'm no visionary.

 

[ZMacintosh]

might as well make it where your iPhone can be a magic mouse

 

[ScreenSavers]

Oooo comfortable. Because the Magic Mouse isn’t small and flat enough already. /s

 

[bollman]

I can imagine nothing more seamless than needing to play this game every time I want to use my mouse:

You Sir, have an impeccable sense of humour!

 

[Mousse]

What would this mini-mouse do that the built-in track pad can't? The only thing I can think of is to use for slideshow presentation. Hail, we can get a cheap USB presenter for that. Oh wait. They want to build MacBooks with only 1 port.😒

From the picture, it looks like it would be a mouse the size of the shift key. Crickey! My arthritis acts up at the very thought.😞

 

[BGPL]

In the 90's I had a serial mouse the size of a quarter that had a really small roller ball on it and a very small single button below the ball. It was a nightmare to use unless you were on an airplane where you didn't have the flat surface for a mouse. It was before trackpads and such.

Apple could make this really cool if it used gestures or worked like a Wii controller.

 

[WitchDoktor]

It's like a Tiny Elvis(tm) mouse.