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when will macbookair get the force touch?

C

canwe3

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 3, 2012
67
0
I need a new computer soon and thinking about switching to apple. srsly windows laptop with SSD cost almost the same as mac now days. I was checking out macbooks and have decided I need the new force trackpad. macbook air is the perfect weight/size/PRICE for me. The macbook is too expensive/weak. The macbook pro cost $1300 which I don't plan on spending.

would macbook air get the force trackpad this year or the next? It will be a decision between mac vs pc. cause I"m buying mac if they do include it this yr or next.


I personally found OSx pretty boring and prefer windows 7 OS but the hardware. There's no one close with macbook design, size,trackpad, weight and battery life.
 
Lots of people feel that the MacBook Air is on its way out. Personally, I have no idea. But I have always been really happy with the trackpad on my MBA and could care less about "force touch"….
 
Boyd01 said:
Lots of people feel that the MacBook Air is on its way out. Personally, I have no idea. But I have always been really happy with the trackpad on my MBA and could care less about "force touch"….
Click to expand...

Couldn't, bro! Couldn't!

But yeah the standard trackpads are great. However the Force Touch is in a league of its own. It's absolutely stunning. I think if you used one you'll be converted. :)
 
what's so special about this force touch thing?

myself, i configure my trackpads in a way that i never have to 'click' them, just taps... so I suppose i'd have to disable this otherwise it would bother me.
 
b0fh666 said:
what's so special about this force touch thing?

myself, i configure my trackpads in a way that i never have to 'click' them, just taps... so I suppose i'd have to disable this otherwise it would bother me.
Click to expand...

It's only when you're using it side-by-side with another that I think you appreciate it.

Basically when the computer is off, the trackpad just ... doesn't move. You press it and it's solid. It's so, so strange, especially when you've used the standard trackpad. Then as soon as you turn it on, it springs into life. You press it, and it clicks. But it doesn't. It literally doesn't click, it fools your finger into thinking it clicks with magnets and vibrations and stuff.

It also means you can click anywhere on the trackpad -- if you noticed that with the standard trackpads, you can't really click down on the corners.

And when you press hard on it, you get some taptic feedback ... it's so so great. Really cool.

From a user-interface perspective, it's far superior to the standard trackpad.

From an engineering perspective, it's a work of absolute genius.
 
keysofanxiety said:
It's only when you're using it side-by-side with another that I think you appreciate it.

Basically when the computer is off, the trackpad just ... doesn't move. You press it and it's solid. It's so, so strange, especially when you've used the standard trackpad. Then as soon as you turn it on, it springs into life. You press it, and it clicks. But it doesn't. It literally doesn't click, it fools your finger into thinking it clicks with magnets and vibrations and stuff.

It also means you can click anywhere on the trackpad -- if you noticed that with the standard trackpads, you can't really click down on the corners.

And when you press hard on it, you get some taptic feedback ... it's so so great. Really cool.

From a user-interface perspective, it's far superior to the standard trackpad.

From an engineering perspective, it's a work of absolute genius.
Click to expand...

Question #1: why would you be clicking your trackpad with the computer off? This might feel neat with a force touch trackpad but I don't see the practical value.

Also, all the reviews of MBs with force touch that I've read say that it's pretty unintuitive. There's no rhyme or reason to what you can press harder on or what it will do. Not sure why you're convinced that it's far superior.
 
motrek said:
Question #1: why would you be clicking your trackpad with the computer off? This might feel neat with a force touch trackpad but I don't see the practical value.

Also, all the reviews of MBs with force touch that I've read say that it's pretty unintuitive. There's no rhyme or reason to what you can press harder on or what it will do. Not sure why you're convinced that it's far superior.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have clarified.

On the standard trackpad, when the computer is off, you can still click it as it physically moves. Because the Force Touch is all electronic, it really puts it into perspective just how amazing it is, when you try to press it when it's turned off. It's like a solid block, then as soon as you turn the Mac on, it whirls into life like an air hockey table.

Again, this is from what I've personally used and tried out at work. I find it amazing. I'd gently suggest you hold off on judgement until you have an opportunity to try it because I really think you'll be impressed.
 
I have decided to wait for 2016 and see what happens.




redheeler said:
Is there a reason you absolutely need Force Touch?
Click to expand...

Being able to click on the top.

Boyd01 said:
Lots of people feel that the MacBook Air is on its way out.
Click to expand...

it is in few yrs but apple will continue to update

keysofanxiety said:
Couldn't, bro! Couldn't!
Click to expand...

this guy is right, thanks for correcting. you know I really wish ppl would correct others, I have **** grammar and everyone just makes fun of my grammar like I'm from europe or south america. I know I need to capitalize those but I'm talking about my sentence structure. ppl online just insult my grammar instead of telling me what I did wrong.


Guess its really my fault for not knowing anything about grammar, I graduated hs and heck even 2yrs of college but really I didn't do any of the writting/reading. I don't understand the grammar rules and I should take some time to educate myself but do I really need too? I just type exactly how I speak. What I didn't noticed that everyone else write very differently than how they speak. It's like writing and speaking is different language. When you read a book out loud, you don't use those words to community or express ur words when talking to someone. I honestly have no clue how to master this "writing language/talent". I mean ppl recommended i should read more books and learn the "grammar rules" but they don't help you put words together inside ur head so u can write. Even some uneducated ghetto/urban kind of dudes write extremely well. Other failure on my list I guess

edit: that was on my mind for so long. I have decided I'm going to fix this writing setbacks by end of 2015. ofcourse that'll lead to 2016, 2017,2018,etc.. till I die without even trying......
 
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keysofanxiety said:
It's only when you're using it side-by-side with another that I think you appreciate it.

Basically when the computer is off, the trackpad just ... doesn't move. You press it and it's solid. It's so, so strange, especially when you've used the standard trackpad. Then as soon as you turn it on, it springs into life. You press it, and it clicks. But it doesn't. It literally doesn't click, it fools your finger into thinking it clicks with magnets and vibrations and stuff.

It also means you can click anywhere on the trackpad -- if you noticed that with the standard trackpads, you can't really click down on the corners.

And when you press hard on it, you get some taptic feedback ... it's so so great. Really cool.

From a user-interface perspective, it's far superior to the standard trackpad.

From an engineering perspective, it's a work of absolute genius.
Click to expand...

that's fine... just for me it makes zero sense as i never actually 'click' my trackpads (have bettertouchtool mapping taps to clicks).

but for whoever uses the clicks, its certainly a step up. years of clicking take a toll on the trackpad, as i recently discovered when bought an used 2012 cmbp... had to 'refurb' the trackpad as it was quite loose and that took some creative tinkering :D

on the other hand, the trackpad on my other 2012 that i bought new and never clicked regularly is still mint.

cheers
 
keysofanxiety said:
Sorry, I should have clarified.

On the standard trackpad, when the computer is off, you can still click it as it physically moves. Because the Force Touch is all electronic, it really puts it into perspective just how amazing it is, when you try to press it when it's turned off. It's like a solid block, then as soon as you turn the Mac on, it whirls into life like an air hockey table.

Again, this is from what I've personally used and tried out at work. I find it amazing. I'd gently suggest you hold off on judgement until you have an opportunity to try it because I really think you'll be impressed.
Click to expand...

I've tried it, and I was impressed, but I saw no practical value.
 
keysofanxiety said:
It's only when you're using it side-by-side with another that I think you appreciate it.

Basically when the computer is off, the trackpad just ... doesn't move. You press it and it's solid. It's so, so strange, especially when you've used the standard trackpad. Then as soon as you turn it on, it springs into life. You press it, and it clicks. But it doesn't. It literally doesn't click, it fools your finger into thinking it clicks with magnets and vibrations and stuff.

It also means you can click anywhere on the trackpad -- if you noticed that with the standard trackpads, you can't really click down on the corners.

And when you press hard on it, you get some taptic feedback ... it's so so great. Really cool.

From a user-interface perspective, it's far superior to the standard trackpad.

From an engineering perspective, it's a work of absolute genius.
Click to expand...

Nice summary. I was always a tap-to-click user. Totally converted now!

----------
motrek said:
Question #1: why would you be clicking your trackpad with the computer off? This might feel neat with a force touch trackpad but I don't see the practical value.

Also, all the reviews of MBs with force touch that I've read say that it's pretty unintuitive. There's no rhyme or reason to what you can press harder on or what it will do. Not sure why you're convinced that it's far superior.
Click to expand...

I haven't found much use for the force click, but the improvement in standard click behavior is really noticeable.
 
canwe3 said:
and have decided I need the new force trackpad.
Click to expand...

No you don't.

The Force Touch trackpad is very, very nice, bit its really not a must-have and the older apple trackpad with the physical click is still better than anything you'll find on a PC.

As for the air, nobody knows - Apple doesn't share its plans. A lot of people are speculating that the Air will be made irrelevant by the next major revision of the MacBook Pros, dependent on Intel's new 'Skylake' chips. That's very plausible but still only speculation.

Personally, I think that the $300 difference between the Air and the Pro would be money well spent: far better screen, more RAM, better CPU, better connectivity and, yes, you get your force touch trackpad. Slightly thicker and heavier but really still very slim & light.
 
The advatanges of Force Touch are saving space (not relevant with the preexisting MBA and rMBP cases), and clicking on the top 33% of the trackpad (this is useful though not a dealbreaker for me). Otherwise it feels exactly the same.

Who gives a crap if you can or can't click when the laptop is turned off.
 
Y So Jelly said:
The advatanges of Force Touch are saving space (not relevant with the preexisting MBA and rMBP cases), and clicking on the top 33% of the trackpad (this is useful though not a dealbreaker for me). Otherwise it feels exactly the same.

Who gives a crap if you can or can't click when the laptop is turned off.
Click to expand...

And if you tap-to-click then you really never have the inclination to click anywhere but the bottom of the touchpad anyway (to drag stuff, etc.).
 
motrek said:
And if you tap-to-click then you really never have the inclination to click anywhere but the bottom of the touchpad anyway (to drag stuff, etc.).
Click to expand...
Tap-to-click seems to be rarely used by Macbook owners. I'm the only one that I know who owns a Macbook and uses tap-to-click. Whenever I have to assist someone with their system, it's pretty comical (in a sad way) to watch me wait for the system to respond to my tap. :eek:

I guess that's why force touch seems to be a big deal for people.
 
Last edited:
sracer said:
Tap-to-click seems to be rarely used by Macbook owners. I'm the only one that I know who owns a Macbook and uses tap-to-click. Whenever I have to assist someone with their system, it's pretty comical (in a sad way) to watch we wait for the system to respond to my tap. :eek:

I guess that's why force touch seems to be a big deal for people.
Click to expand...

Sounds like me when I go to an Apple Store and try to fidget with one of the computers there. First thing I do is turn on tap-to-click (after a few similarly comical attempts).

I really don't understand why anybody would want "click-to-click".

I've been tapping to click on all my laptops (including PC laptops) since I bought my first one in... 2003?...
 
canwe3 said:
I don't understand the grammar rules and I should take some time to educate myself but do I really need too?
Click to expand...

To be perfectly frank, if you can't write a well-composed cover letter for your resume, you are ****ed as an adult.

I just type exactly how I speak. What I didn't noticed that everyone else write very differently than how they speak. It's like writing and speaking is different language. When you read a book out loud, you don't use those words to community or express ur words when talking to someone. I honestly have no clue how to master this "writing language/talent". I mean ppl recommended i should read more books and learn the "grammar rules" but they don't help you put words together inside ur head so u can write. Even some uneducated ghetto/urban kind of dudes write extremely well. Other failure on my list I guess.
Click to expand...

It's admirable that you want to improve your grammar, and I get that writing sometimes feels like it is different from speaking. You should probably work on your spoken English as well. LOL.

Approach it as a two process; write your initial post and then rewrite it focusing on the things you notice.

For example, when looking at "When you read a book out loud, you don't use those words to community or express ur words when talking to someone." it is apparent that it could be phrased better. Just reading an awkward sentence out loud will make certain errors obvious.

Find a sentence or two that you recognize as well constructed. Once you understand the point that person was trying to make, write it in your own voice, and then see how yours can be improved. Look for online lessons and exercises, even ones made for elementary and middle school students, and see what you can learn from them.

Rest assured that the people who are insulting your grammar, regularly mess up on semicolons and other fine details. Improving your grammar and English usage can be a slow process, but the results are worth it. Especially if you expect to get better jobs.

PS. I still battle with learning the lessons I should have payed attention to in high-school.
 
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b0fh666 said:
what's so special about this force touch thing?

myself, i configure my trackpads in a way that i never have to 'click' them, just taps... so I suppose i'd have to disable this otherwise it would bother me.
Click to expand...

The force touch is a gimmick. In other words, it's pretty useless to the majority of the population. The fact you can press harder and that's meant to translate into some on-screen representation you can control is flawed. You see that with all the applications it has. They're all pretty meh.
 
dogslobber said:
The force touch is a gimmick. In other words, it's pretty useless to the majority of the population. The fact you can press harder and that's meant to translate into some on-screen representation you can control is flawed. You see that with all the applications it has. They're all pretty meh.
Click to expand...

I haven't found a use for the force touch, but used with traditional gestures and clicks the new hardware is in my opinion a huge improvement over the old "diving board" pad. You can click anywhere on the pad, and dragging things is much easier and predictable because the pressure required doesn't change as you move from top to bottom.
 
newellj said:
I haven't found a use for the force touch, but used with traditional gestures and clicks the new hardware is in my opinion a huge improvement over the old "diving board" pad. You can click anywhere on the pad, and dragging things is much easier and predictable because the pressure required doesn't change as you move from top to bottom.
Click to expand...

I've always found it supremely awkward to drag something by pressing down with the finger I'm dragging with. Like, awkward to the point of unusable. For example, what happens when you reach the edge of the trackpad but you want to keep dragging the thing? You have to let go and drag it some more with a separate gesture. Force Touch doesn't address this problem.

Much better is to use a finger on your non-dominant hand to click on the bottom of the trackpad when you're positioned over the thing you want to drag. (Very easy with the diving board pad.)

Then you have the rest of the trackpad free to move the object around using your dominant hand. You don't have to press that finger down so you can drag something using multiple swipes no problem and it's not awkward at all.
 
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