Touchscreen Macbook '100% Confirmed,' Says Reputable Leaker (macrumors.com) 80
A leaker with a strong Apple rumor track record says a touchscreen MacBook is "100% confirmed. If true, it would mark a major reversal for Apple, which has long argued that the Mac is built for indirect input rather than reaching up to touch a vertical screen. MacRumors reports: Instant Digital has a good track record for Apple rumors and has provided some strikingly accurate information in the past, so it's always worth noting what they have to say about Apple's plans. The claim is also backed by several recent reports. [...] Touchscreen support is expected to be one of several major upgrades coming to Apple's next-generation high-end MacBook Pro models. Other rumored features include M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, an OLED display, a Dynamic Island (i.e., no notch), and a thinner design. The new laptops could also adopt MacBook Ultra branding.
Notably, macOS 27 Golden Gate also introduces a more touch-friendly interface, since Apple's Sidecar feature now allows users to tap and interact with macOS interface elements using a finger on their iPad. Apple apparently is not going to advertise the new MacBook Pro/Ultra as a touch-first device like the iPad -- it will be "touch-friendly, not touch-first," according to [Bloomberg's Mark Gurman]. In that sense, Apple will let customers use touch and mouse gestures interchangeably for all functions. Further reading: Steve Jobs Was Wrong About Touchscreen Laptops (2012)
Notably, macOS 27 Golden Gate also introduces a more touch-friendly interface, since Apple's Sidecar feature now allows users to tap and interact with macOS interface elements using a finger on their iPad. Apple apparently is not going to advertise the new MacBook Pro/Ultra as a touch-first device like the iPad -- it will be "touch-friendly, not touch-first," according to [Bloomberg's Mark Gurman]. In that sense, Apple will let customers use touch and mouse gestures interchangeably for all functions. Further reading: Steve Jobs Was Wrong About Touchscreen Laptops (2012)
Question ? (Score:3)
Does anyone want this?
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Re:Question ? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Question ? (Score:5, Insightful)
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An option that you have to pay for, which you may never use.
Awesome argument.
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An option that you have to pay for, which you may never use.
I've owned more than one inexpensive Windows laptop that I only discovered to be a touchscreen by accident - like most sane people I see only ergonomic downsides in a touchscreen computer. In fact one of the reasons I prefer to use a computer with a keyboard and mouse is precisely to avoid sliding my finger around a touchscreen. With that said, it appears to add little to the cost, so I guess I am happy to continue completely ignoring it on Macs as well as PCs.
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The touch screen makes the machine thicker and heavier, and reduces the visual quality of the screen (since it's an additional layer over it).
Don't worry though, Apple will sell you a $500 dumbbell to strengthen up your arm.
Re:Question ? (Score:5, Funny)
Because it makes your screen all dirty and gives you gorilla arms. Any other stupid questions ? PS: I've been known to punch colleagues who touch my screen after I told them not to.
Those punches would be more effective if you had gorilla arms. Just sayin'. :-)
Touchscreen Macbooks vs iPads w/ keyboards (Score:2)
I generally try & use a stylus - generic or specific - if I want to touch the screen. Although sometimes, I do end up touching it
But aside from that, there is another reason to ask your question. We already have iPads that have optional keyboard attachments to them. It looks like from a physical functionality standpoint, people who need a touchscreen Apple computer already have one. Now there is the subtle differences b/w iPadOS apps and Mac apps: like I've heard that spreadsheets have certain fea
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Most games that run on Macs do not run on iPads.
Same for any main stream IDE.
Heck, historically an iPad did not even have an accessible file system. No idea how it is now.
either as an iPad (installing iPadOS) or a Mac (macOS)? ... I want those, too, lol!
That is actually what I always wanted. A tablet computer running macOS. But, considering how many interesting Apps popped up on iOS
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either as an iPad (installing iPadOS) or a Mac (macOS)? That is actually what I always wanted. A tablet computer running macOS. But, considering how many interesting Apps popped up on iOS ... I want those, too, lol!
That's what! Google is getting there - w/ Googlebooks and AluminiumOS, whenever those are out. Essentially, I want the same apps that I get on my Android phone (I happen to have both an iPhone and Android for different reasons) available on my tablet+keyboard running Android/ChromeOS. Unfortunately, a lot of Android apps need Telephony and GPS features of hardware, where Chromebooks are SOL
So yeah, perfect thing would be an iPad w/ keyboard w/ an M5 and maybe cellular connectivity, running macOS 26
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On my work machine, I do the same.
I figured punching is more effective than just yelling.
However for a screen on my lap, a couch potato entertainment laptop, perhaps used in unisono with my iPad, I love it.
Then again: regardless if YOUR laptop has a touch screen or not, no one forces YOU to touch it, or?
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Also ...
- Battery drain (maybe you can turn it off?),
- Expense (it's a Mac; it doesn't need to be *more* expensive),
- Screen replacement gets somehow even more costly,
And finally,
- Remember Windows 8? Metro UI? Remember when a major OS maker tried to converge on touch last time?
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I sometimes do, whenever I have one handy. On my previous phones, even though I'd give them matte screen protectors, my fingerprints would smudge certain areas of the screen to where cleaning wouldn't restore the even look. After spoiling a few such screen protectors, I decided to use the stylus nib on the back of my pen whenever I can, and try to have it w/ me whenever I have the phone
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Because it makes your screen all dirty and gives you gorilla arms.
Yes Americans are completely afraid of any exercise even if that is lifting their arm (the notable exception being if said arm is holding a Twinkie). That is the main concern here. My body is going to morph into a different animal simply because I occasionally lift my arm.
I think the real concern here is that no one is doing any chest work, and it just looks ridiculous when a muscly man displays dominance in front of a potential mate by beating his flabby manboobs.
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Re:Question ? (Score:4, Funny)
Because it makes the device both worse and more expensive?
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Re:Question ? (Score:5, Insightful)
Fixed it for you.
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Because we all know how configurable Apple makes screen choice on MacBook Pro.
Oh wait, they have one screen per laptop size. ONE. With an optional nano-texture coating to break up glare.
So you were saying how we should just order without?
Re: Question ? (Score:2)
Thatâ(TM)s not true: they have a matte option.
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Which I mentioned in the second line of my comment.
It's still the same display, with a coating.
Please read.
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How worse? If you don't like a touchscreen, as others pointed out, just buy a Mac
And expensive? One can always go for an iPad, if price is the issue
Re:Question ? (Score:4, Insightful)
and more expensive?
he said about buying a Macbook without even a hint of irony.
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At nearly every price tier, Macs are competitive with PCs, at least when we're talking about laptops. If you spec out a $3000 Macbook Pro, you'll be hard pressed to find a PC laptop that performs as well for less money. The real difference is that Macs only come at quite discrete price points, so you might not be able to find something that's going to match your budget.
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Macs are competitive for the base spec and if you don't care about upgrades, and if you are fine running MacOS or one Linux distro.
Thinkpads are usually a better option, especially when you want a decent amount of RAM. Large choice of operating systems, at least the SSD and radios can usually be upgraded, and Lenovo support in terms of maintenance manuals and user replaceable spare parts is second to none. You also have more configuration options, e.g. mine has an OLED screen and it's amazing. Better keyboa
Because MacOS isn't designed for touch (Score:4, Interesting)
Phones, Tablets, and Computers are distinct devices..akin to motorcycles, passenger sedans, and pickup trucks. Each is optimized for a specific subset of use cases. Yes, you can haul lumber in a prius...I have many times...and it suuucks...it's much better to haul large goods in a van or truck. It's much nicer to do a family road trip on in a minivan than a harley or F150. It's much nicer to navigate small streets on a Harley than a cargo van. No one wants a prius optimized to haul lumber. They want it to be a family car.
I can't think of a single good reason to make a laptop act like a tablet. I know many people with windows touchscreen laptops. I've NEVER seen any good use case for them. In fact, I've never actually seen someone use the touchscreen on theirs. The pointer is just so much better and more convenient...and then your screen is cleaner and your flow is not interrupted.
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you guys get this wrong all the time. The idea of touch is not to replace your precious mouse or turn mbp into a 'tablet'. There are PLENTY of obvious uses for touch on mac os that include non-precise pointer requirements. E.g. almost any scrolling, like a pdf, spreadsheet, web
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Over the last several releases macOS has been getting more and more like iOS, for better or worse. The UI is less dense now also, so UI anti-patterns like putting controls in the title area to ostensibly better utilize screen real state because necessary.
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Nobody wants it, but also people have been saying that Apple was going to bring touchscreens in the "next release" since the time of Netbooks. Notably the Macbook 12" was going to come with it.
Maybe they will come, maybe they will not.
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My current laptop is a touchscreen and i find it useful. I tried using a surface and a surface book and they both were awful experiences/ This is on a dell XPS and it has been useful. That being said i do not use it every day
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Your personal anecode of a single data point does not refute his many data points he has from corporate usage patterns.
Re: Question ? (Score:1)
Who cares. This laptop will probably cost $5000 so nobody was going to buy it anyway except people who want to brag they have a mac âoeultra.â
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At this point, both my Windows laptops are touchscreen. There are times when the mouse pointer doesn't get recognized, during which time, I touch the screen. It's also useful if I want to create a human signature and sign it on a document, although I do have my signature saved as a .bmp file (I heard that .png might be a better format)
But you're right: most of the time, I use it as a normal laptop. Although the Surface, I occasionally disconnect the keyboard when I want to use it as a book, using the N
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My previous [Linux] Thinkpad was a Twist. As much as I loved the machine, I hated the screen BECAUSE it was a touchscreen. It had a shiny/glossy glass surface which made the screen a total horror to see with tons of reflections. And I never used the touch or "twist" [tablet] feature, anyway. It added cost and weight on top of that. I already have a Samsung Android tablet for when I want that form factor.
I made sure my next/current [Linux] Thinkpad had a matte non-touch screen and I am much happier. I
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Have you ever see the way MacBook screens have the keyboard key borders seared into the screens from people with oily fingers typing on them and closing them while their are still hot? Screen gate here we come.
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My last few laptops have all had touchscreens. It is minimally useful, because I don't use a separate mouse with the laptop. Sometimes it is easier to touch the screen than to use the touchpad to move the mouse and click something.
It is just a standard feature at this point. Not really something to care about either way.
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I've used the touch screen on my ThinkPad exactly zero times.
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Does anyone want this?
Look for stats on docking station for iPad sales
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My laptop came with the feature and I didn't even realize it. I never actually use it but maybe it could be useful. You don't actually have to use it. The mouse and keyboard work just fine.
Re: Question ? (Score:2)
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Nope. I have a feeling that the "leaker" has bad information, because an M5 iPad and an M5 Macbook are exactly the same hardware. What's likely going to happen is that there will be Mac-Pad or something that is an iPad product with Macbook features, like how the Neo is essentially an iPhone CPU in a macbook.
Like don't get me wrong, I think "touch" laptops are miserable experiences for all but children. But the "iPad" / "iPhone" products are designed around this godawful fat-fingering the screen instead of a
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I don't think everyone hates touchpads. A lot of people likely prefer them (at least the Apple ones) because they've spent so little time at desktop computers. A lot of (most?) computer users that don't JUST use touchscreen devices are on laptops. The Macbook is Apple's best selling mac, after all.
Re: Question ? (Score:2)
Reputable leaker? (Score:4, Funny)
I don't know man (Score:3)
Just don't wink at all when you describe someone as "reputable leaker"
Sure. . . (Score:3)
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Would you use a racing wheel to manage files ? What about a keyboard for drawing program ? Wo why are you complainig that controls too small to use via touch screen are too small - AND, this is why touch screen is 'minimally' useful? bro..
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Would you use a racing wheel to manage files ?
That is classic whataboutism. I never said anything about a racing wheel. The programs I use assume I will use a mouse and keyboard. That means the X icon to close a window is way too small for my fingers to hit all the time. It is fine for a mouse to click on it.
What about a keyboard for drawing program ?
Again, whataboutism. I do not use drawing programs so I have no idea why you are trying to deflect from the actual issue.
Wo why are you complainig that controls too small to use via touch screen are too small - AND, this is why touch screen is 'minimally' useful? bro..
I am not sure how to explain this but programs developed with Windows in mind . . . expect there to be windows. Programs were n
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If a company builds touch-screen support into their OS, you expect affordances to the UI to support actually using the touch screen. If they don't want to do that, they shouldn't support that feature, that's why. This is the dumbest comment I've seen on slashdot in a long time.
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There is an "alt + windows key + SOMETHING" key which does that.
Happened to my GF once, was kind of impossible to google for the problem on her computer, lol.
Funny is, one would assume, that the track pad would kind of change orientation, too ... but it does not. So fooling around on her computer was an acrobatic trick, until I found the key sequence.
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I agree, it is brain dead like so many idiotic things MS is doing.
I had to fix a laptop for a guy I know today. There are "three fingere gestures" active on the trackpad - no one knows what they do.
I switch off all that bullshit on my laptops (does not matter if Mac or Windows) I am seriously not in the mood to memorize "oh what did I do, with my fingers?" and how to revert it ...
And I seriously can not remember why in one app swiping left is like and in the other it is swiping right.
When I want to delete a
Will the screen fold back flat? (Score:3)
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Yes, Lenovo had this feature. They were called the Yoga.
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It's not like it's a new thing.
Well currently literally every manufacturer except for Apple has such a laptop on the market.
Re: Will the screen fold back flat? (Score:2)
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Re: Will the screen fold back flat? (Score:2)
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They're both Darwin. Everything they sell is Apple Silicon. The rest is form factor and marketing.
Others may have a different workflow but I am personally not a fan of laptops. The work laptop sits docked with external screens at both home and the office via a single USB-C cable, keyboard and mouse. Maybe 3 hours a week are spent in a meeting room multitasking urgent stuff while the boss does an, unrelated, presentation.
Would I use it on the journey home if it were a tablet? Absolutely. Jobs didn't approve
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Re: Will the screen fold back flat? (Score:2)
Can I run Homebrew on that? What about Linux, Windows and macOS VMs?
At this point, macs are iPads are macs (Score:2)
Aside from what ChunderDownunder said, the latest iPads have started using the M-series CPUs, not just the A-series, while you have the Macbook Neos w/ the A-series. So from a CPU standpoint, they are interchangeable, and so it's demonstrably false that an iPad can't run macOS, or that a Mac can't run iPadOS. So it's more a case of installing certain configurations, as opposed to, say installing Windows on one of these things
Only thing - Apple might want to consider making every iPad app capable of runn
While just scrolling through this article... (Score:3)
They solved Gorilla Arm? (Score:1)
Did they finally solve Gorilla Arm Syndrome [wired.com]?
My experience with touchscreens (Score:2)
I have used my iPad as a second screen where touch is enable, and never really found it useful as well.
Just look at Apple's track record. (Score:1)
Surely all the people who buy Apple laptops because of the great screens want to have a glossy screen with fingerprints all over it. I know that when I am tweaking an image in Photoshop on a small display what I really want to see is my own little fingerprints on top of all the details. And what makes it even better is that I will get to have one UI for my touchscreen laptop and a different UI for my non-touchscreen laptop. Just like those touch bar laptops that everybody loved so much. And Force Touch, tha
MacOS doesn't have touch ? (Score:2)
I don't use Mac. I've always had issues with the pay to be cool thing.
In this day and age there is now touch? OK this little factoid caught me by complete surprise.
I'm Linux/Unix dude with the occasional Windows use. So I'm completely out of touch with MacOS.
Again I'm completely shocked this isn't in the OS yet.
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I've always had issues with the pay to be cool thing.
This tired old saw? Look, among any crowd, you're going to have a mix of motivations. Is it possible that some people bought Apples to be cool? Sure. Mum would say they have more money than brains.
In my professional experience, however, when given the choice of machine to use, 9 out of 10 folks chose a Mac. Why?
- Because it works, and it's one less thing to mess up your day - usually: every machine can suffer hardware faults;
- it has *NIX built in, so it's familiar if we're supporting Linux machi
Not sure why touch-friendly laptop is wanted ? (Score:2)
What would have actually been smart is (Score:2)
What would have actually been smart is if they integrated the Apple Vision Natural Input.
Imagine being able to just look at UI elements and pinching your fingers as your hands rest on the table or in front of you, and don't even need to be on the trackpad.
Wouldn't make your screen dirty, and would actually make more sense than having to keep your arms lifted to interact with it. In fact it might be more ergonomic than the trackpad for many UI use cases.
Rumors can't be 100% confirmed. (Score:1)