Sidecar is the proof Apple is not releasing touchscreen Mac anytime soon

[StellarVixen]

In my opinion, this is Apple's compromise between laptops/desktops and touchscreen devices. And it is also the proof that Apple is gonna keep Mac OS and iOS / PadOS separate for foreseeable future. Any possibility of merger is out of question, anytime soon.


"You want a touchscreen Mac? Get the iPad, and you will be able to interact with your Mac via touchscreen. Because we still believe touchscreen laptops are ergonomic nightmare".

Now, if Apple wants to be serious with this approach, then the Mac OS needs UI transformation. Something like tablet mode in Windoze 10. Because the Mac OS UI, as it is now, is chore to interact with via touchscreen input.

 

[Velin]

In my opinion, this is Apple's compromise between laptops/desktops and touchscreen devices. And it is also the proof that Apple is gonna keep Mac OS and iOS / PadOS separate for foreseeable future.

Good. If you're a professional, a poweruser, or even just experienced with keyboard shortcuts, touchscreen laptops/desktops suck.

 

[StellarVixen]

Good. If you're a professional, a poweruser, or even just experienced with keyboard shortcuts, touchscreen laptops/desktops suck.

I agree with you, but there is portion of people who would love to interact with Mac OS via touch screen. I guess this is Apple's attempt to satisfy their wishes at least a little bit.

 

[maflynn]

Good. If you're a professional, a poweruser, or even just experienced with keyboard shortcuts, touchscreen laptops/desktops suck.

This is why the touchbar fails and to the OP's point. I believe the touchbar is apple's answer to the touch screen and that's the major reason why we'll not see a touch screen based MBP

 

[me55]

So many people are like, Apple is behind because they don't put touchscreens in their laptops. If any of these people would ever use a Windows laptop with a touchscreen they'd see how stupid that is. The only exception in my opinion are 2-in-1 laptops that you can fold to a big tablet.

I was skeptical at first at the Touch Bar but I have to say I really like it. It only needs more programs supporting it, the only time I use the F-keys are when using Windows in a virtual machine.

 

[acorntoy]

I mean touchscreen laptops have been around for what 5-7 years now? It’s pretty obvious by now Apple doesn’t want to deal with them.

 

[StellarVixen]

I mean touchscreen laptops have been around for what 5-7 years now? It’s pretty obvious by now Apple doesn’t want to deal with them.

I agree. But Sidecar is some sort of definitive confirmation from Apple.

 

[mrjohnnyglass]

I agree. But Sidecar is some sort of definitive confirmation from Apple.

I don't remember if it was Steve, Tim or Jony that said like 6-7 years ago that "the idea is utterly useless" and that people don't want to use their machines as a touch screen input device. There have been no rumors to the contrary in half a decade. But you think a feature update is some kind of definitive statement? Now?

 

[StellarVixen]

I don't remember if it was Steve, Tim or Jony that said like 6-7 years ago that "the idea is utterly useless" and that people don't want to use their machines as a touch screen input device. There have been no rumors to the contrary in half a decade. But you think a feature update is some kind of definitive statement? Now?

Steve said many things that post Steve Apple denied.

I agree there haven’t been rumor of touch screen MBP, but there have been rumors of Mac OS/iOS merger, which is kinda similar. By eliminating any possibility of building a macOS device with touchscreen, they have also reinforced the idea that macOS and iOS/iPadOS are to stay separate, because their core differences and applications are different. Apple does not want jack of all trades and master of none.

 

[mrjohnnyglass]

Either way, it's a horrible, awful idea and I'm glad Apple has never attempted it.

 

[Falhófnir]

Don't think it was ever on the cards as there's no real incentive for them to do it. This certainly helps Macs to compete with the likes of the Surface Book, XPS360, Dell XS 2in1 and other convertibles for digital art purposes, that's probably its major intended benefit.

To a large extent I think Apple miss the point of touch input. They seem to think an OS has to be completely touch-centric in order to work on a touchscreen device. As Windows shows this isn't the case. You can interact with the OS via keyboard and mouse or touch as you see fit. It can be implemented as an additional way of interacting with your content, not the one-or-the-other dichotomy Apple paint it as.

 

[kazmac]

All very valid points.

Still, I'd love to draw on a Surface Studio-Concept D9-like Mac. I do not need touch, but using the pencil on a Mac? Yes, please.

 

[Jimmy James]

I have a very nice windows touchscreen laptop for work. It always feels like an unnecessary gimmick.

 

[konqerror]

In my opinion, this is Apple's compromise between laptops/desktops and touchscreen devices. And it is also the proof that Apple is gonna keep Mac OS and iOS / PadOS separate for foreseeable future.

Not saying it's a good idea, but I see it as the exact opposite.

Think about it: they've just introduced the UI and APIs for a touchscreen Mac. Because support is low at this point, it's been released to those people who specifically go about linking their iPad up.

The next step is to put the touchscreen hardware right into the Mac.

 

[KPOM]

Steve said many things that post Steve Apple denied.

I agree there haven’t been rumor of touch screen MBP, but there have been rumors of Mac OS/iOS merger, which is kinda similar. By eliminating any possibility of building a macOS device with touchscreen, they have also reinforced the idea that macOS and iOS/iPadOS are to stay separate, because their core differences and applications are different. Apple does not want jack of all trades and master of none.

The Surface Neo seems interesting, and I wonder if Apple will eventually release a dual-screen device. For example, perhaps a MacBook with a touchscreen base with the “SideCar” features. Direct touch interaction without having to reach up.

 

[Pakaku]

Not saying it's a good idea, but I see it as the exact opposite.

Think about it: they've just introduced the UI and APIs for a touchscreen Mac. Because support is low at this point, it's been released to those people who specifically go about linking their iPad up.

The next step is to put the touchscreen hardware right into the Mac.

Or maybe that's all it is, special software to accomodate Sidecar and make it less frustrating to touch things on the iPad screen. Otherwise no, I don't see it hinting towards something as unergonomic as a touchscreen mac, using an OS that is optimized for a mouse cursor.

 

[Storm312]

I'm ay-okay with Mac not getting touch screen support. I use macOS primarily for programming and absolutely do not want touch screens influencing the UI decisions. I do think Sidecar is a pretty cool solution after the janky stuff gets worked out.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

The Surface Neo seems interesting, and I wonder if Apple will eventually release a dual-screen device. For example, perhaps a MacBook with a touchscreen base with the “SideCar” features. Direct touch interaction without having to reach up.

I could see a dual screen iPad way before iPhone. Do agree with OP about touch screen on a Mac being dead, which I am fine with. Use a surface book for some work programs, never use touch screen.

 

[Macintoshrumors]

Uhhhhhh they never intended to in the first place.

 

[maflynn]

The Surface Neo seems interesting, and I wonder if Apple will eventually release a dual-screen device. For example, perhaps a MacBook with a touchscreen base with the “SideCar” features. Direct touch interaction without having to reach up.

Possible, Apple downplayed the usefulness of a stylus on a number of occasions, but then Apple saw the success and popularity of the Surface Pro and then the iPad Pro showed up on our door steps with stylus support.

I like MS's implementation of dual screen over a bendadble screen as being marketed by Samsung and others.

I'm ay-okay with Mac not getting touch screen support

Since macOS isn't designed for touchscreen, and seeing the painful transition MS went through adopting touchscreens within windows, I'd say a touchscreen based laptop from apple isn't something we'll see in the near future.

 

[an-other]

To hop on the iPad Pro bandwagon. I could see this form factor becoming the Apple Surface alternative. The introduction of iPad OS and the potential morphing of all machines back to ARM processors seems to be a potential road map.

My personal business case is a no on touch screen (and it's ok if you crave it. We can both have different use cases.) I'm a bit persnickety about smudges/static location of a screen, and I personally find it faster with keyboard shortcuts or mousing. I need to have my work computer replaced, and I'm waiting for a form factor without a touch screen to be available internally before I do.