Such a device would be by far the most intuitive personal computing device since the iPhone. As I have often said this, a touch-screen interface for a computing device cannot be surpassed in intuitiveness by any other method or concept. Throughout the history of human race, we have been doing our work by directly interacting with the object of that work (cutting, slicing, pounding, grinding, drawing, painting...). What we did had a direct effect on what we were touhing (with hands or hand tools). In the last 40 years or so, we have suddenly been conditioned to interact with a tool in one place and expect the result of that interaction in another, several feet away (a keyboard and a screen). Somehow, the intelligent species that we are, we learned to use this counter-intuitive concept and several generations of people are now comfortable using keyboards, mice and screens. Still, we have to teach the unexperienced ones how to do this.

To bring back the direct tactile contact with our work would dramatically improve efficiency of interaction with the computing device. IPhone demonstrated that it's completely doable.

I can visualize a Mac with a touchscreen keyboard, something akin to the iPhone, but separate from the monitor. One could change keyboard language and layout via preferences, toggle it to become a drawing tablet, have menus, it could be backlit with adjustable brightness and contrast, easy to wipe clean. You could even mirror it or part of it on the monitor. For a MacBook it would be built in, for desktop Macs it would be separate.

I'm waiting until the new announcements in September before buying an iMac for this reason. Who knows what they've got up their sleeve, but they are clearly looking for a market differentiator and to cut their profits to ensure the competition cannot compete.

This could be it.

Does this guy know that HP already makes an all in one PC, running Vista with a Multi Touch screen? Hmm.....

In any case, I also think a Mac with a MultiTouch Screen makes sense.

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fartheststar wrote:
I'm waiting until the new announcements in September before buying an iMac for this reason. Who knows what they've got up their sleeve, but they are clearly looking for a market differentiator and to cut their profits to ensure the competition cannot compete.

This could be it.

I too am anxious for the announcement, I have money set aside for a new MacBook. If we see a new one this September, and it is a big change, I will get one. If it is little more than an incremental change then I can wait for a while.

I'm trying to imagine a reason why Apple would create a touchscreen Mac. Can you imagine holding your arm up all the time to touch the screen? No way.

Touchscreen works for devices that we're used to touching and, (sorry Star Trek Next Generation), don't work well for general computing use because of the lack of tactile feedback and the need to interact for long periods of time. That's why it works with a smartphone but not on a computer. It would also be very expensive to make a Mac's entire screen a touchscreen interface.

It might appeal to our techno-geek lust for new objects d'art from Apple but it won't be a useful solution.

Our guest displayed typical traditional thinking: "Can you imagine holding your arm up all the time to touch the screen? No way. "

Why on earth would you have to hold your arm up? Who in their sane mind would put the object they're working on somewhere 'UP'? When you write on something, does your notebook stand upright in front of you at arm's length?

I can see that perhaps as soon as five years from now, Apple's entire line of computers will be keyboardless, mouseless touchscreen devices. For heavy typists (writers, lawyers, etc), there will be a bluetooth add-on keyboard; the rest of us won't need it.

For the conservative ones, try wrapping your mind around that. It will come much faster than you think.

having my hands down and my head up works for me. I don't have to look at the keyboard or even the mouse for that matter. My iPod Touch is OK because it is easy to hold at eye level, but a big screen means I have to keep my head down to see it and touch it. That big screen lying down is going to take up a lot more desk real estate as well.

It might work for some limited applications like kiosks, but I wouldn't buy one for normal day-to-day stuff. Now, if they perfect voice commands, that would be a different story...

I've recently used HP's TouchSmart desktop computer and liked it a lot. I am told HP will be bringing to market next year a laptop version of the TouchSmart system.

Bring on a touchscreen Mac laptop, Apple. While you still have a chance to appear to be innovative with it.

-coaten

I don't think some of you dreamers understand ergonomics or human interface design at all.

The reason why touchscreen works on the iPhone is because you only use a single app at a time, type with at most two thumbs, and don't author anything beyond a short email or text message. It allows more intuitive interaction within a limited screen real estate.

The same does not apply when you scale the device to a tablet or Mac-sized computer. A tablet requires you to hold it with one arm which reduces you to a single hand or to lay it flat on a table which makes hand angles awkward.

That's why Apple implemented Gestures into its notebooks because it was natural and productivity enhancing.

Now, maybe Apple will design a new keyboard and mouse combination for desktop Macs that implements Gestures and forgoes the mouse. That I could see.

But if you have to lift your arm up from the keyboard to the screen all the time - that is a waste and will be tiring.

Touchscreens were used in an amazing way during the last presidential elections with the one where reporters would interact with.

Seems to me that touchscreens are great to retrieve information with limited input, but not for things requiring a lot of input. At least not yet.

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vasic wrote:
Why on earth would you have to hold your arm up? Who in their sane mind would put the object they're working on somewhere 'UP'?

I can see that perhaps as soon as five years from now, Apple's entire line of computers will be keyboardless, mouseless touchscreen devices. For heavy typists (writers, lawyers, etc), there will be a bluetooth add-on keyboard; the rest of us won't need it.

I recently bought a newer MacBook Pro, and prior to that I had a hunch that it would make more sense to have a "touch tablet" than an upright screen. There are some things that are just SO freakin' slick when it comes to a touch interface, like the difference between two-finger scrolling and the roller ball on a Mighty Mouse. Sooner or later, multi-touch is coming.

It would almost be stupid for Apple (or whoever) to not include a virtual keyboard, but I do predict physical keyboards sticking around for quite a while. A lot of people argue in favor of tactile feedback, and I tend to agree with that.

I can bet the only thing keeping Apple from doing it is availability
it is not the same a wee screen like the iphone to a full size screen
like in a mac book.
That is why many people speculate on a mini tablet as a first step
in the right direction.

Esegre

Touch screens will come but it will not be the revolutionary interface that displaces all other interfaces that the over-excited are talking about. The ergonomics is just all wrong for desktop (or even laptop) computing. Either you hold the screen upright and say hello to carpal tunnel syndrome, or you lay the screen down flat and deal with neck and back pains.

The best approach is what Apple is doing now -a multitouch pad (or screen!) on the keyboard area separate from the display itself. What's to stop Apple from implementing 'virtual fingerprints' to mirror on the display where your actual fingers are on the touch pad?

Still though, I would not replace a real keyboard with a multitouch version. Call me old school but I need character keys that depress when I type.

Why is this an "either/or" question? Why can't it be both? An iMac with a traditional keyboard and a fully functional, multi-touch enabled screen? Or a MB/MBP with the same? I hate to say this, but HP's system is heading in the right direction, mainly because it looks a lot like coverflow and allows the user to switch between a touch-centric experience and a traditional, keyboard and mouse interface.
I don't think Apple should take away from their user interface options, but the addition of a touchscreen would be great.
Just my two zimbabwean (sp?) cents worth.

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Guest wrote:
Why is this an "either/or" question? Why can't it be both?

It can be both, at least until we change the way we interface with computers. However, for some people (under-excited non-dreamers) the world is binary all black and white with no shades of gray in between, much less colors.

Anyone here still using punch cards? Hell, I started out in small print shop setting type in a composing stick, we have been through a lot of changes in the graphic arts.

"The dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible" T.E. Lawrence

Time to roll out the LCARS interface...

I have enough trouble, already, keeping finger prints off of my screen. I cannot imagine the horrors of a screen that people deliberately touch. YUK!!!

It's hardly an argument about traditional, it's ALL about ergonomics.

If we're talking about complete touch-screen devices there are numerous ergonomic concerns. Several issues immediately come to mind.

Screen location and positioning: Up, down? Set in desk, on desk tilted and at what optimum angle and what about glare?
Seating, hand and arm positioning.
Fingerprints, streaks and smudges on-screen obscuring the image with possible eyesight impact.

The coming touch-screen revolution is a problem that really needs a total design and ergonomic solution. And it needs to be thought out BEFORE they are everywhere.

Look at the way personal computers were suddenly everywhere with little or no thought as to the physical impact they would have on users. Ergonomics were and still are an afterthought.

Will we swap two nasty sources of injury... keyboard and mouse use... for an entirely new set of issues?

Do we want to get stuck with a 21st Century equivalent of the crappy, confusing and inefficient QWERTY keyboard layout? Let's do it right from the beginning!

I have been using the wacom Cintiq pen enabled LCD screen with my mac and it makes so much sense for creative work - it makes using a mouse seem very backward. With regards to ergonomics - the pen eradicated a pain I was getting in my right elbow and wrist I was getting from using the mouse (the reason I looked to a new inputting device) . I am also looking directly at information my hand is interacting with - which helped relieve eye strain. The only issue I have with this set up is the screen is tied to the mac pro, so you can't just pick it up to move about.
IF we were be able to pick up and use a mac like an art pad - interact with it the way you feel intuitively - ! - I just can't wait...
I hope it's at least a 17" screen (with a pen and multi touch functionality mixed together)

The idea of direct finger to screen input is intriguing. I like the concept. However, the use of this would be restricted to particular areas. Moving things around the screen, zooming, organizing, menus and such. Basically a touch screen would be a replacement for the mouse. Typing needs a keyboard. I type a lot and I NEED the click, the keystroke, the position of the keyboard. I have no problem with having direct screen input for graphics and such. A fingerPAINT program would be great. The gaming possibilities are endless. On the other hand what would a touch screen do for someone working in Excel? Or writing a novel? Or balancing their checkbook? Not much frankly.

A touch screen will end up like the much vaunted TabletPC: A cool idea that the Technorotti would trumpet and would be wonderful for a limited group of uses. Most people however want to look at their computer and type on a keyboard. And I don?t see that changing.

It would be fun to play with though.

dell already did this, so how can apple innovate it.?

Google for "gorilla arm" to find a few thousand articles explaining why this won't fly.

"dell already did this, so how can apple innovate it.?"

Make it better.

It seems strange for Apple to reinvent the wheel.

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gopher wrote:
It seems strange for Apple to reinvent the wheel.

Yes, but the Apple wheel will be round

Apple typically isn't a company that designs things just for the sake of designing them. It typically looks to solve a problem with it's designs. At least in the way most people describe such functionality, I just don't see the need for touch screen functionality on a desktop computer. Or even a laptop.

I like how Apple added such functionality to the track pad on Macbook Pros. I'd like to see that spread across the entire line of Macs. I also could possibly see touch screen compatibility to replace a mouse. It would possibly be quicker for most people to point on the screen to move a cursor. However, a touch screen for typing purposes would be a major step backwards.

I can type 40-60 words per minute on a tactile keyboard, far faster than I can type on a touch-sensitive screen, and on a standard keyboard, not that damn Microsoft ergonomic joke.

A touch-sensitive screen has one huge problem - how will it determine what "icon" or "link" is being touched by us folks with big fingers ? Web pages (like this one) are already overloaded with links, and the teeniny little icons are sometimes a booger to click accurately with a mouse!

Finally, how about someone who has tremors in their hands or fingers? The Baby Boomer Generation (me included) will in a 20 years have a hard time keeping control of pointing device. Of course, that will never happen to Mr Perfect, Steve Jobs, who has a reputation of criticizing everyone but himself as inferior.

A guest upthread mentioned a "mini-tablet" as the first step in the right direction. Well? what's an iPod touch if not a mini-tablet computer?

Put TextEdit and a keyboard hookup on the touch or iPhone, and it would handle at least 80% of what I do with a non-work computer. The iPhone and touch are game changers, in the same way that laptops were game changers 10-15 years ago.