Or something else entirely. It is totally anti-Apple in my vision. When I plug my iPad on a keyboard, I barelly use touch.
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I think the rumor about a “touchscreen” MacBook Ultra is fake
- Thread starter tyranne201
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Stormz
macrumors regular
Yeah, purely from a usability point of view, it seems to make more sense for touchscreen to come to the lower cost, consumer end MB than the pro end. And the obvious problem there is that touchscreen involves increased production costs. So I do share the scepticism, and feel like it's somewhat a solution in search of a problem.
ScanTheNavian
macrumors 6502
If the screen can bend all the way to the back so that it's like a thicker book then it'll be a much more pleasant document reading or drawing device. It's about having both options in one instead of having to get a whole iPad just for those purposes. Of course, the weight means that it'll never be as optimized for it as an iPad, but it might not matter to many.
Even if it bends, macOS is not design for touch. The icons are way too small for fingers.
Everything screams hybrid.
It's definitely one of the more perplexing rumors. Apple has been explicitly against touchscreens on Macs for a long time, so it would be surprising to see it happen.
Although, if it does, I'm pretty sure it won't be the way Windows does it. I don't think the OS will switch to a "touch" mode where you can do everything with touch. I think Apple will only enable touch for specific functions, like maybe some optional touch widgets or panels, as well as Catalyst iPad apps, and multitouch gestures across the Mac environment--but I don't think we'll be able to "point" (touch buttons) in the normal Mac environment which is designed for mouse. This would make touch only a supplementary input, but still of some usefulness.
But what still puzzles me is there has been no rumor that the form factor will accommodate a touch screen. If it remains the traditional clamshell, then I think touch will have very limited usefulness, even if meant to be supplementary. And if little usefulness, then I don't know why Apple would be willing to make such a reversal.
My hope is that the rumors missed that it will be some kind of convertible form factor (preferably something like the Surface Laptop Studio) and that it will also support some kind of Pencil input. I think Apple would enable a Pencil to tap on buttons in the Mac environment because it is a precision pointer like a mouse.
Although, if it does, I'm pretty sure it won't be the way Windows does it. I don't think the OS will switch to a "touch" mode where you can do everything with touch. I think Apple will only enable touch for specific functions, like maybe some optional touch widgets or panels, as well as Catalyst iPad apps, and multitouch gestures across the Mac environment--but I don't think we'll be able to "point" (touch buttons) in the normal Mac environment which is designed for mouse. This would make touch only a supplementary input, but still of some usefulness.
But what still puzzles me is there has been no rumor that the form factor will accommodate a touch screen. If it remains the traditional clamshell, then I think touch will have very limited usefulness, even if meant to be supplementary. And if little usefulness, then I don't know why Apple would be willing to make such a reversal.
My hope is that the rumors missed that it will be some kind of convertible form factor (preferably something like the Surface Laptop Studio) and that it will also support some kind of Pencil input. I think Apple would enable a Pencil to tap on buttons in the Mac environment because it is a precision pointer like a mouse.
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JPack
macrumors P6
It's a logical next step for MacBook. A lot of people want to quickly scroll, zoom, or switch apps. iPadOS already tells you how Apple will implement it in macOS. If your finger touches certain hotspots, those interface elements will magnify.
Reminds me of non-believers of low-cost MacBook. "It's gotta be running iPadOS, there's no way Apple would let an iPhone chip run macOS!"
Reminds me of non-believers of low-cost MacBook. "It's gotta be running iPadOS, there's no way Apple would let an iPhone chip run macOS!"
Non-Euclidean
macrumors 6502a
The simple fact is some people like to smear their greasy little sausages on a screen a touch interface anywhere. A younger generation that grew up with touch phones and tablets would find it natural and expect it.
So from Apples point of view its flexibility to meet a possible demand. If the demand isn’t there, then it doesn’t matter.
I can’t imagine it’s anything different than an option like nano for the display.
So from Apples point of view its flexibility to meet a possible demand. If the demand isn’t there, then it doesn’t matter.
I can’t imagine it’s anything different than an option like nano for the display.
We nerd the iPad more powerful. Not a greasy MacBook Pro or another Touch Bar failure.
I hope the handsome Ternus sees this.
in a recent interview with that eyebrows guy, he said: “we are very protective of the iPad”
If that’s true, I doubt this rumor is true. They will never cannibalize their products.
XboxEvolved
macrumors 65816
If it's used in a way where the finger is just essentially the pointer and isn't necessarily a full touch thing, I could see them doing it especially when selling to education markets. At the very least it could be in testing.
JPack
macrumors P6
A 0.6-inch device that weighs 3.5 lb is not cannibalizing something 0.2 inches thin weighing 1.3 lbs.
Being protective means Mac will never run iPadOS, have a rear camera, nor have Pencil support.
golfnut1982
macrumors 6502a
No, the iPad does not need MORE power! It has the same chip as the MacBook Air in it..... plus its OS is designed for a tablet, Mac OS wouldn't' fit well with it really.
I believe the rumours myself. I can see it happening.
hovscorpion12
macrumors 68040
Apple released MacBook's with the touch-bar. Obviously there are those who disliked it. Apple will be coming back with a newer version with the hope that the reception will be more positive this time.
The most disgusting part about it to me is having a beautiful expensive OLED screen and smudging it all up with fingerprints
hovscorpion12
macrumors 68040
I guarantee you. The touch-screen will not be the main OLED panel. It will be the keyboard.
This is a patent Apple filled.
In 2026, this patent now makes sense. We no longer have the home button. Our iPhone's are the same thickness of the MacBook chassis, and its all screen.
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JPack
macrumors P6
It makes sense from a sci-fi movie set designer perspective, but not in the real world.
Nobody wants to have their $1,000 iPhone held hostage in a MacBook chassis just so Apple can save $150 in components. The user experience switching between macOS and iOS would just be terrible. And if people thought the butterfly keyboard had shallow key travel, wait until they try the OLED keyboard.
golfnut1982
macrumors 6502a
I hope it ends up to be an iPad Pro that can be docked to have MacBook Pro power, and be carried around as one as well.