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This could be a whole new metaphor for computing. It would entail a large amount of work in reprogramming (or a system level OS re-design) but if all menus and selection items pop up on the glass trackpad, no more mousing around to make selections, choose options, pick menus - then think of the gesture control available to supplement regular trackpad activity - this would be worth far more than a "MacTouch" or whatever tablet you were considering. You can then use the glass trackpad for forms input, signing docuemnts, etc. I sure hope this is in the works. :)

As developers start to fine tune for the glasspad, all kinds of UI changes can be made on thefly, and customized menus become an easy inclusion.
 
It would be cool to be able to "dock" an iPhone in the trackpad space of a Macbook. Then you'd have your multi-touch trackpad and phone built into the laptop... :D
 
I've worn shiny two black MB trackpads and one was so bad Apple exchanged it for a MBP (+ price difference.) Maybe this is Apples solution? The MB trackpads wore faster than any Apples I've ever used.
 
Glass Trackpad?

This opens up some exciting possibilities. Much like when the iPhone was in development, many mock ups were available to developers without the entire product feature set included in a single prototype. Is it possible there really could be a glass trackpad in the next MB? Indeed. Perhaps there will be some sickly cool means of controlling the UI and manipulating windows that makes sense over a touchscreen. Or perhaps this is all smoke and mirrors and there's really a hot new atom-based MB Touch on the horizon. Any way you slice it, it's sweet i-ness coming our way soon!

David
:apple: 2 MacBook Pros, iMac, Mac Mini Apple TV, iPhone and countless iPods :apple:

PS: Since when has Steve let us down? Okay, lets not go there. :)
 
thinner version with lots of room to rest those wrists on

U2MacBookProTouch.jpg

I seem to remember a multi-touch patent Apple filed that can distinguish a palm imprint from a finger and so on. If the large touch screen/touch pad is in the works, you should be able to rest your palms on it while you type without any unwanted side effects.
 
Looks like I have been Tossed....

Not that the behaviour is getting old or anything....

Are you saying something, or did you just decide to comment on my post to get a bit of attention?

Have any of you used an iPhone?! My fingers are all over it and I rarely have to do much more than wipe a sleeve over it. The coating they use on the glass is fantastic. I hove no case, carry it in my pocket, and it looks like the day I bought it a year ago, with the exception of a few dings on the back.

You're forgetting that we already have a touchpad, why introduce something like that?


Plus, of course it would be a display below it ... not just a glass trackpad.

You have a much bigger display above the keyboard. Why would you want a glass-one below?
 
********... if apple is going to remain ahead of the HP TouchSmart, all the screens need to be touchable...
 
Geez!

Some of us really are cranky regarding a completely hypothetical design choice.

I can see a lot of very cool possibilities in having a iPhone-like touchpad or larger... but I have to wonder, would all the time I saved with those possible applications just be wasted by posting on MR more often? ;)
 
Two Clicks

A glass touchpad with soft legends and feedback would be nice, but only if it comes with a real right click button. Please?
 
I agree, I like this idea, but I think there needs to be the static REAL buttons, even right below the screen.
 
I agree, I like this idea, but I think there needs to be the static REAL buttons, even right below the screen.
Either that or the trackpad needs to be depressable.

********... if apple is going to remain ahead of the HP TouchSmart, all the screens need to be touchable...
But the question is: Does Apple need to? And would the advantages of a touchscreen on current Mac software be worth the added cost?
 
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