Phil Schiller Says Apple Tested and Rejected Touch Screen Macs, Finding It 'Absurd' on a Desktop

[DNichter]

It's like Schiller is being deliberately disingenuous. People don't want a touchscreen Mac so they can lean over the keyboard and touch it while it's on their lap/table. That is indeed uncomfortable, though it must be pointed out that is what Apple tells iPad Pro users they should do (that keyboard desperately needs a trackpad).

People want a touchscreen Mac so they can fold the keyboard out of the way/detach it and use it as a tablet, so they don't have to cart two devices around if they want to read in portrait mode.

Or does he really understand customers so badly? Well, that would explain the Macbook keyboard debacle.

This right here, I can agree with. The potentially disingenuous part is stemming from the fact that Apple wants to sell you two devices. I would love a device the size of the rMB, where when the screen detached, it automatically switched to iOS. Now, I am no engineer and can think of a number of issues with this. Mainly around size and weight. I think when this can be done, we may see such a device.

 

[agentx]

I look forward to the touch bar keyboard for $500 ;-)
Its a laptop very overpriced one at that...buy it or look for other options.
I have an external screen and the input devices most of time so my 2012 MBP still rocks with i7, 16Gb Ram 2 x 1TB SSD. I just look forward to a modern Filesystem to speed up MacOS.

 

[NoNothing]

I actually agree with him. i wouldn't want a touch screen desktop.

a laptop....maybe.

There is an issue with that, however, and I have seen it play out in Windows 10 enterprise apps.

If you add touch to a laptop, developers will start mixing interface metaphors. Like trying to use mouse over on touch based interfaces, pinch and swipe gestures don't work well on mouse based interfaces (but do work okay on trackpad interfaces). I have used too many enterprise apps that use a mix of mouse (like mouse over) and touch interfaces (swipe) on the desktop (did the developers use laptops?) and it kills my shoulder and upper back.

The Surface Studio looks to be a very solid design with a very very narrow use case. It requires entire new work areas built around the device. $$$$$$$

 

[Dbolander]

Here's Apple's patent for a touch screen iMac from several years ago which looks remarkably similar to the new Microsoft computer: http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/08/the-mother-lode-welcome-to-the-imac-touch.html

 

[pixarman]

I don't need to imagine a 27-inch iMac with a touch screen. Microsoft has already shown us it is possible. In your own words, Microsoft had the "courage" to do what you say is absurd/impossible.

If your team is not able to figure out a way for touch and standard inputs to coexist, you need to find a better team. Don't tell me something isn't possible. Of all companies, Apple, should not be the company that settles for sub par.

Here's a freebie. Mash an iPad Pro with a MacBook Pro. The screen would literally be a docked iPad Pro. Only when connected to the keyboard base, the tablet converts to a full Mac OS system. It would work the same as all current and traditional MacBooks work, only with a multi-touch capabilities in the screen and touchpad/bar. While docked, all the power comes from the base. Your files/apps exist on both machines via iCloud. As soon as the iPad is removed from the base, the OS automagically switches to iOS. All your open documents are now seamlessly running in their counterparts iOS versions, nothing lost...nothing to save...it's just there and you can continue working via full tablet mode if you choose. Everything always synched and seamless. The iPad Pro would be a complete system fully capable and not dependent on the MacBook shell to operate too. So you could just use the base when you need it. And possibly sell them together and offer a base for those that already have an iPad Pro.

I bet you could sell this for $3000 and people would buy it up in droves.

 

[smallcoffee]

Perfect article to come out to "combat" some of the recent reviews.

I don't agree with him about the cables though. That is one of the most talked about ires customers have. It was also one of my key reasons not to purchase (at this time).

It's ultimately better for consumers. In x years would you rather have one cable for anything, or multiple cables, singles, and ports? That's what Apple asked. It's a pain now, but the future will be much better.

 

[bozzykid]

Schiller should just be honest and say Apple doesn't want to kill sales of the iPad even more by having a touchscreen Macbook.

 

[nikhsub1]

I've deployed hundreds of touchscreen laptops in the medical field - mostly they are worthless. There are some applications where it can be useful but not enough to warrant it IMO. Much more efficient with the trackpad...

 

[Mascots]

*Personally, I'm for the touch bar and its implementation and not one for a touchscreen Mac.

But he's making it out like that's where the current MacBook is causing controversy - it's not. It's just another excuse to try and pump it down out throats as the best **** ever. It's pretty neat, but not an interaction defining experience - and not worth that price bump given what's under the hood.

 

[Elijen]

Can you imagine a 27-inch iMac where you have to reach over the air to try to touch and do things? That becomes absurd.

Which is why you just need to move the screen so that it is more accessible like Microsoft did.

Still instead of moving a finger by 1cm you need to move the whole hand by 50cm and put greasy mark on your display. WTF is the point???

 

[newdeal]

He knows more than I do however I can't see why you can't have an OS that works well with touch and with a mouse at the same time. I mean if they added a mouse to iOS would it be terrible to interact with? No it wouldn't. It just takes a bit of thinking

 

[pat500000]

And the stock is bleeding from his comment.

 

[NoNothing]

Not really. I use Win10 desktop and MBP laptop, and my experience is that for a desktop, maybe a touchscreen is not integral or super important, but it never gets in the way of using the keyboard / mouse. I find the touchscreen useful when looking over somebody's shoulder, when you have several people looking at a project or content on the screen and you can write on or touch the screen. I will say on a laptop it's far more useful, I find myself trying to scroll pages on the screen of my MBP.

No, 100% really. When you use desktops with mixed touch screen/mouse interfaces it is literally painful. Shoulders. Upper-back. Worst idea EVER in computing.

 

[StayPuft]

No, 100% really. When you use desktops with mixed touch screen/mouse interfaces it is literally painful. Shoulders. Upper-back. Worst idea EVER in computing.

Sure, if it's just a desktop screen. But again ... Surface Studio ... that's how it should be done.

 

[flyinmac]

Basically, Apple's statement is that they don't know how to implement a touch screen on a computer without reimagining the operating system and the physical design, and that's just to hard for them.

Naturally, they'd have to improve the OS to make a touch interface more intuitive. And they'd also have to redesign the hardware to make it more natural.

But really all they know about that stuff these days is how to remove features while adding a little eye candy. It's asking too much of them to expect investment of time and resources to develop a new OS interface and more natural hardware

 

[kdarling]

Surface Studio is not a desktop computer. Don't get me wrong. It's a great piece of HW and design, but it's not an every-day computer. It's a tool for designers and architect, not a mainstream device.

So if those Mac-PC commercials started again, Microsoft would now be the hip young artist, and Apple would be the pudgy older businessman (just like real life Apple execs)?

 

[MalcolmTucker]

This right here, I can agree with. The potentially disingenuous part is stemming from the fact that Apple wants to sell you two devices. I would love a device the size of the rMB, where when the screen detached, it automatically switched to iOS. Now, I am no engineer and can think of a number of issues with this. Mainly around size and weight. I think when this can be done, we may see such a device.

At a company where everything is centered around physical design and Jonny Ive's desires, your not going to see touchscreen until after Jonny Ive quits or retires.

The problem it seems, is that Apple can't keep software developers around long enough to last one complete software release. Unlike Microsoft, developers at Apple are low-man-on-the-totem pole.

 

[BootsWalking]

Half these people complaining and saying Apple is wrong have probably touched a windows laptop screen once on a demo unit in store and thought it was cool, but did you notice how the screen rocks back n forth... wobble wobble, yeah not cool...

Try it in tent mode with an external keyboard. No wobble.

 

[Carlanga]

I guess M$ finally bested Apple in innovation. His excuse is weak. The real reason is they probably don't want to cannibalize the iPad sales. Especially the "pro" version.

I like the new MacBook Pro and the touch bar is cool but it doesn't earn it the current price tags.

 

[0815]

Apple tests before releasing. MR forum members review before testing.

Thank you ... good to know that there are still some sane people out there.

 

[Elbon]

There are already products which let you do that. Products like the Cintiq which works with a Mac. But for that to be the mainstream way computers work?

I wish I could upvote this more.

I don't agree with every design decision Apple makes, but I do agree with this one. Making the screen the primary form of input on a tablet or phone makes sense. On a computer, the keyboard and mouse/trackpad are more efficient, and more natural.

 

[BootsWalking]

When the Surface Studio becomes a smash hit like the iMac, I'm sure Apple will take notice.

The Surface Pro is a smash hit yet Apple is acting like they haven't noticed that either.

 

[samcraig]

It's ultimately better for consumers. In x years would you rather have one cable for anything, or multiple cables, singles, and ports? That's what Apple asked. It's a pain now, but the future will be much better.

As with I'm assuming many consumers - I'll upgrade next cycle when the use of those formats are more ubiquitous and I'm ready to change over. It is a pain now. And I've had growing pains with my 2009 iMac for over a year. I was seriously tempted by the new machines - but opted to get the best bang for my buck and use case by getting a Late 2015 5K 27" iMac.

In a few years when/if I'm ready to upgrade, I'll enjoy (hopefully) more options and maybe a lower price (more bang for the buck).

 

[H2SO4]

I am a Machead though, hahah. But man, has Tim Cook really started to drive Apple into the ground....

I’m just as bad but I’m not sure how long my patience will last.
Bought a Mac Pro in ’06.
Thought about replacing it in ’10, but didn't as I thought there must be another one around the corner.
Saw the late ’13 Mac Am atrocity and held off.
Bought a secondhand ’10 model last year.
Thought there’d be an updated Mac Am this year. Still didn’t buy and the price has now gone up £500!!

All that time I refused to buy a windows box. Not sure how long I can keep holding tho.

 

[christian_koehler]

I think Apple is wrong on this point - at least for Notebooks.

Just got a Surface pro 4 and I love it.
Touch and pen input don't work in every situation. Keyboard and touch pad don't either. But the device
is light and small and you can easily change positions whenever you want. The display is superb and the pen input works very well.

Yes, maybe the iPad pro does have a somewhat nicer pen. But the problem with the iPad pro is iOS.
The killer app for the Surface pro is Photoshop. Real Photoshop, not some mobile "remove red eye/crop/apply preset filter app".

I did not try the Surface Studio. So I cannot talk about ergonomics on that one. But Surface pro is a very nice product.
A few years ago, I had expected something linke this from Apple. But it has become the product that made me switch back to Windows after 15 years.

Apple, you dropped the ball.

Christian