Glass Touch Pad on Next MacBook?

[Tosser]

Haven't gotten chance to read all the posts but I just always wondered ... Why doesn't someone make a trackpad/touchpad that fingers can be used on and also a stylus for signing documents/drawing etc.?

I've always tried using the eraser end of pencil and other random things to get the touchpad on my computer to respond but it doesn't seem to pick up anything but fingers. At the same time a glass touchpad or something would be great but if we could use a stylus on it at the same time would be great!

The eraser end of a pencil doesn't "transmit" (sorry, I'm not english) current, so it won't be able to do that. Nor would a piece of wood, unless soaking wet, or your hands if they're overly dry for that matter.

A piece of metal will do, however it would need a certain area to be covered, so you'd need a flat end piece for that – too pointy and it won't work.

I think of track pads as "passive", whereas stylus-controlled pda's etc. as "active".

Anyway, even if you wanted an "active" one, there would be no need for glass whatsoever. It's superfluous.

 

[194567]

I rather think the new trackpad is going to be multitouch and glossy.

 

[atvbballrob]

what would be the actual purpose of a glass trackpad?

 

[Tosser]

what would be the actual purpose of a glass trackpad?

Besides "bling" (to people attracted to glossy things, bright colors and the like), there are none.

 

[shamino]

what would be the actual purpose of a glass trackpad?

Depends on what they mean by "glass".

If it's an ordinary trackpad, simply made of (possibly colored) glass, then it's just a matter of style.

If they're talking about a secondary display with multitouch capabilities, then there might be all kinds of interesting uses, many of which were already discussed in this thread.

 

[iMacmatician]

No more button on the trackpad? That's what the followup article to the 9 to 5 mac / Computerworld report says. Apparently the trackpad is becoming like the iPhone. Multi-touch is to be more pervasive in Mac OS X, although it is still trackpad-based (not display).

"What about the button? Will future MacBooks have a physical mouse button?"

 

[effer]

I don't know if someone has already mentioned this, but they could make the entire trackpad surface 'click' when pressed with a bit of force. If you try to imagine this when you use your trackpad, it actually makes a lot of sense.

 

[Tosser]

No more button on the trackpad? That's what the followup article to the 9 to 5 mac / Computerworld report says. Apparently the trackpad is becoming like the iPhone. Multi-touch is to be more pervasive in Mac OS X, although it is still trackpad-based (not display).

"What about the button? Will future MacBooks have a physical mouse button?"

Sheesh! I hope not

 

[iMacmatician]

I don't know if someone has already mentioned this, but they could make the entire trackpad surface 'click' when pressed with a bit of force. If you try to imagine this when you use your trackpad, it actually makes a lot of sense.

It's been mentioned, and I agree with you on this. I want the trackpad to physically press down and "click" like how the trackpad button does now. This could be why the trackpad is moving to glass; the current trackpad's not as stiff as a glass one.

The iPhone doesn't need to do this because I don't "track" with its display, I only touch it when I need to do something.

 

[macdot]

It would be interested to see how they integrate this.

 

[Electro Funk]

the ipod touch/iphone screen is the same size as the current trackpads :\

the trackpad it is actually a little longer, but the same width; on the macbook i am in front of anyway...

interesting, thanks for pointing that out.

something i had never noticed. and is sure puts into perspective how large the trackpad really is.

i would like to see some more multi touch features integrated into the pad, but as others have said, not sure i am down with the glass...

EDIT: with all that being said, when my iphone is off, the "screen" is black. so i would assume that if the trackpad were glass it would be the same color as the laptop, so might not look as bad as i was envisioning. (unless it was lit up, then that would change things a bit)

 

[xDYLANx]

********... if apple is going to remain ahead of the HP TouchSmart, all the screens need to be touchable...

have you actually used the TouchSmart, terrible. Also very unresponsive, why am I paying all this money for a computer that I have to "touch" so hard, I might shatter the screen?

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Bring it on, i'm ready for anything as long as it's

 

[kyrow123]

I don't know if someone has already mentioned this, but they could make the entire trackpad surface 'click' when pressed with a bit of force. If you try to imagine this when you use your trackpad, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Exactly...possibly something like the BB Thunder display (have to press to select, not really a true touch interface).

 

[apple2E]

I don't know if someone has already mentioned this, but they could make the entire trackpad surface 'click' when pressed with a bit of force. If you try to imagine this when you use your trackpad, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Don't they already have that? I believe you can go in the system preferences and do this.

 

[kontheur]

An old one:

 

[MowingDevil]

An old one:

I would make so many mistakes trying to type on that thing. Can't imagine getting a feel for it at all...

 

[X3n0 AcId]

An old one:

ha looks kinda cool...but i don't think its practical...

 

[keithmaniac]

Custom UI controls

Lots of people have alluded to this in many ways, but I didn't notice anyone explicitly stating some of the cool things that a touch screen trackpad could do. As one poster mentioned, Apple has issued patents for custom ui's with a mechanical overlay, but instead of that, your hand is the overlay. I could see a bank of sliders and knobs to control audio apps or animation controls, jog wheels to dial up and down volume, timelines etc. Drum pads, keyboards, think of all of the cool interfaces people have come up with on the iphone, coupled with the power of a laptop and it is a very exciting idea to me. Not to mention the game playing possibilities.

 

[elpenguino]

An old one:

That could actually be close- minus the keyboard. I'd like to see the glass top with a keyboard like the Macbook Air's. That and a free polishing cloth and cleaner.

 

[iKwick7]

I posted this a good few months ago on macrumours when there was talk of a shiny new trackpad

Now that I like!

It's got a SketchUp modelled look to it.

 

[clockworkorange]

Kontheur's post looks like something I'd have liked at the start of 2008, now it looks weird.

I really hope they don't phase out the current Macbook Pro keys, I've always liked these keys (more in the PowerBook, they were metal O_O).


One thing I want to see, is an LED behind the power button, they keyboard is lit, why can't the Power Button be?

 

[fatalerror]

New macbook ....

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zv1HaNcrLT0/SNy6VmWmKvI/AAAAAAAAK_Y/m_5dwZlM2es/s1600-h/macbooknew1.jpg

Or not

 

[jb60606]

A glass trackpad is stupid.

Get rid of the trackpad altogether and develop technology that will let us move the mouse with head movements... kind of like how an Apache helicopter pilot controls his gun turret with that helmet targeting system. I'd trade my mouse in for a helmet, any day.

 

[Wotan31]

Now that I like!

Ewwwwww!!! R U Serious?? I'll bet you drive a Pontiac Aztek!