does using apple’s ipad “laptop replacement pro” make you want a touchscreen macbook?

[Greenmeenie]

I find it funny that people have been defending apple’s decision not to include a touchscreen but apple’s ipad pro is the best argument for one. I constantly find myself reaching for the screen as I do with my ipad pro and keyboard to scroll through websites and to open apps.

Anybody else do this?

Dude. I am so entrenched in the iOS ecosystem now(got rid of my laptop a few years ago)...that I do the same thing when using any computer. Instinctively reach for the screen. Lol. That’s how you know an iPad user vs a pc user.

I dunno if Apple will add touch screen to their MacBooks tho. I think the next thing they will add will be Face ID, but a touch screen? Don’t see it happening. At least not for awhile. I think Apple will just keep evolving the iPads as laptop replacements. But expecting them to add touch screen to MacBooks or Mac OS to iPads is a fruitless hope.

 

[mofunk]

I like using the function keys and shortcuts in the apps. Using the touch screen takes up more time. Plus who wants to keep cleaning the screen. Have you noticed that the IPP screens collect more fingerprints than the other iPads? I can do all the touch screen functions on a trackpad. No need to use a touch screen.

 

[bevsb2]

I love my MacBook Pro as is and don't want a touch screen on it. It would be awkward to use and I don't want fingerprints on my computer screen.

 

[DNichter]

I don't think touch enabled macbook pro would improve my life or be game changing. I do think it'd unify the experience between a macbook and an ipad with keyboard.

Probably not worth it then. Different products for different people and tasks. macOS with a touch screen would be a bad product.

 

[JBGoode]

No. I dislike touch screen laptops. Why would I want to reach out to touch the screen when I have a perfectly good trackpad that's closer and probably far more accurate and functional than my finger? Not to mention getting prints all over the screen for no good reason. If they made a Macbook with a detachable screen or with tablet mode then maybe, but then again I have an iPad so probably not.

 

[dk001]

I find it funny that people have been defending apple’s decision not to include a touchscreen but apple’s ipad pro is the best argument for one. I constantly find myself reaching for the screen as I do with my ipad pro and keyboard to scroll through websites and to open apps.

Anybody else do this?

Far too often! What makes it worse is my Windows device is a Yoga - hybrid.
So all my devices are touchscreen EXCEPT my MB.

 

[OLDGUYWITHAHIFI]

Many claim the iPad is a laptop or desktop replacement. If you add a keyboard, you pretty much have a tough screen 2 in 1 PC. Go figure.

 

[subjonas]

I wouldn’t object if Apple figured out a way for the software to switch between touch UI and mouse UI seamlessly (though I don’t know how that would work). But I’m not begging for it. Even as a heavy iPad user, I don’t really miss touch when using my mbp. Touch is great for the tablet form factor obviously, but I find when I’m using a keyboard and a decent size screen, I’d rather use a trackpad.

I would, however, want a pencil-enabled MacBook, since I use heavy duty Mac drawing applications, and would like the option to not have to drag around a Cintiq with my mbp. Touch doesn’t work well on a designed-for-mouse UI but a stylus does since it’s a precise pointer, like a mouse.

 

[DNichter]

Many claim the iPad is a laptop or desktop replacement. If you add a keyboard, you pretty much have a tough screen 2 in 1 PC. Go figure.

Sort of. I use an iPad as my primary computer and I really only use my bluetooth keyboard for typing, mostly relying on keyboard shortcuts at this time. The main difference though is that iOS is made for touch so it is still better in this scenario than any touchscreen PC. I can use an iPad set up this way, but would probably never use macOS or a Windows computer this way.

 

[MadeByApple]

I think many people want a touch screen and/or a laptop with pencil support.

Apple being so resistant to this change reminds me of the ignorance of phone companies that insisted physical buttons on a phone were better than touch screen.

Eventually phone makers (even blackberry) gave in to the market demand. For blackberry it was too late and their customers moved on.

Apple will eventually make the hybrid Laptop. I just hope they don’t lose too many loyal customers. Windows has improved tremendously. The only thing keeping me on MacOS/iOS is iMessages...which isn’t enough to keep me loyal if Apple continues their recent trend of over-hyped, underwhelming laptops.

 

[ziggo]

The point is to unify development (and it will benefit both platform) not to have a touch screen macbook, that will never happen, why bring touch in a non optimised touch os when you have a 12 years old OS designed for touch controls and that is only limited by choice?
You would rather start from iOs with a decent file system and better multi tasking ability which is exactly what we will see in the future.

Precisely

 

[DNichter]

I think many people want a touch screen and/or a laptop with pencil support.

Apple being so resistant to this change reminds me of the ignorance of phone companies that insisted physical buttons on a phone were better than touch screen.

Eventually phone makers (even blackberry) gave in to the market demand. For blackberry it was too late and their customers moved on.

Apple will eventually make the hybrid Laptop. I just hope they don’t lose too many loyal customers. Windows has improved tremendously. The only thing keeping me on MacOS/iOS is iMessages...which isn’t enough to keep me loyal if Apple continues their recent trend of over-hyped, underwhelming laptops.

The only thing I would potentially expect is an iOS laptop, but even that is likely pretty far fetched. As long as it is running macOS, you won't see a touch screen. iOS is macOS optimized for touch.

 

[KPOM]

I wouldn’t object if Apple figured out a way for the software to switch between touch UI and mouse UI seamlessly (though I don’t know how that would work). But I’m not begging for it. Even as a heavy iPad user, I don’t really miss touch when using my mbp. Touch is great for the tablet form factor obviously, but I find when I’m using a keyboard and a decent size screen, I’d rather use a trackpad.

Microsoft's Windows 10 APIs do have a similar feature where an app can switch between "tablet" mode and "desktop" mode. It is hit-or-miss, as you might expect. What is happening on the Windows side is that user interfaces are gradually being optimized for touch mode. It's a bit annoying since it makes it more difficult to use with a trackpad or mouse. Adobe Acrobat is a perfect example of this. The old UI was much easier to use. Now since they need to make larger touch buttons, more features are nested in layers of submenus.

 

[bnmcj1]

Anyone claiming to be a huge apple user for years who uses the whole ‘toy’ line clearly isn’t a huge user or at least one that never bothered to learn how to use all that stuff they bought for years. The iPad even before the Pro could do way more than consumption and text editing.

But hey, you go enjoy your Surface. It’s your money after all. Perhaps it will keep you busy enough that you stop coming around Apple boards to brag about how you left Apple for something you think is superior. Attention seeking much with those posts

Oh, believe me I am enjoying my surface book. Heck, feels like it is 10 years in the future compared to a Macbook. And never have I gotten so much for my money in terms of hardware.

Best of all is probably the tablet functionality with a real browser. So glad to be out of toy mode.

 

[subjonas]

Microsoft's Windows 10 APIs do have a similar feature where an app can switch between "tablet" mode and "desktop" mode. It is hit-or-miss, as you might expect. What is happening on the Windows side is that user interfaces are gradually being optimized for touch mode. It's a bit annoying since it makes it more difficult to use with a trackpad or mouse. Adobe Acrobat is a perfect example of this. The old UI was much easier to use. Now since they need to make larger touch buttons, more features are nested in layers of submenus.

Yeah it would take a lot of work to get the smooth switching working right, on Apple’s and third party developers’ part. Even then, like I said, I’m not begging for it—the layers of sub menus in touch UIs being one of the reasons. Touch is just never really a necessity for me, only a convenience in some situations. What is a necessity for me—mouse UI with robust and flexible Mac software, powerful Mac hardware, and a tablet form factor with stylus input for drawing. (Which is why I would like a Mac tablet with pencil input, not touch.)

 

[sracer]

No it doesn’t, just makes you want a less limited ios (file system, external hd, two instances of the same app, extended screen, etcc)

This. I'm a big proponent of "Think Different" to get the iPad to do more of what I need to get done, but thinking different can only go so far and cannot overcome the technical limitations of iOS in its current form.

 

[1rottenapple]

I find it funny that people have been defending apple’s decision not to include a touchscreen but apple’s ipad pro is the best argument for one. I constantly find myself reaching for the screen as I do with my ipad pro and keyboard to scroll through websites and to open apps.

Anybody else do this?

I don’t. They’re different devices. I think iPads are the future computers but I don’t think the MacBook should be half a tablet and half a laptop. Using the surface pro for example. I don’t think it’s a good tablet. It’s a good laptop but it can’t do both equally. The targets are too small for example when touching the screen.

 

[Booji]

I find touch screen very useful on Windows machines, when sharing a document with a group, it is easy to scroll through it rather than having to go down to the keyboard or mouse. It is also especially useful in productivity with Adobe CC apps.

 

[570934]

I've never been in the camp of a touch screen MacBook, however, I've just started using the iPads Smart Keyboard and I fine myself reaching for a trackpad. Especially on the larger 12.9 screen as it's a pain in the arm reaching up to the screen constantly which would mean it would be far worse on larger laptop screens. Take the iPad off the keyboard and use it as a normally iPad and it feels perfect again.

So no, a touchscreen MacBook would a terrible idea, but a trackpad and pointer on the iPad would be great.

 

[mightyjabba]

I don’t think a touchscreen on a conventional MacBook design would add anything to the product at all. The OS isn’t optimized for touch so at best it would allow you to scroll with your finger, but that’s what the trackpad is for.

I suppose in theory they could have more of a tablet or a convertible design that runs MacOS but that seems like it would blur the line with the iPad. Long term I’m not sure what Apple’s vision is. It seems weird that they would maintain two OSes indefinitely, but it seems like iOS is pretty far away from being to take over as the only OS.

 

[570934]

I don’t think a touchscreen on a conventional MacBook design would add anything to the product at all. The OS isn’t optimized for touch so at best it would allow you to scroll with your finger, but that’s what the trackpad is for.

I suppose in theory they could have more of a tablet or a convertible design that runs MacOS but that seems like it would blur the line with the iPad. Long term I’m not sure what Apple’s vision is. It seems weird that they would maintain two OSes indefinitely, but it seems like iOS is pretty far away from being to take over as the only OS.

I've never tried a touch screen laptop, but watching the wife trying to tap the screen on the rare occasions she uses my MacBook I can see that the screen has too much movement to make it a nice thing to use.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Nope. But when I use my brother’s MacBook Pro, I find myself always reaching out to touch the screen! Always. It’s really quite funny. I ditched my laptop a few years ago. I use my iPhone as my main travel camera. I am so entrenched in the iOS ecosystem now, that even my iMac is collecting dust at home. I don’t feel the need for a laptop that mimics an iPad. For one thing, it’d be thicker & heavier than my 11” iPad Pro. So no thanks. But I can see how some people might want one. Not for me tho.

 

[secretk]

Unfortunately my laptop does not have touch screen. I have been eyeing Asus Zenbook 2 in 1 laptops though. They are quite portable and do have touchscreen.

Now granted I do not want to use the touch screen when the laptop is a laptop (meaning regular position). I would use it when I put the laptop in laying position (mimicking tablet or iPad). Then I would use the touchscreen with stylus (similarly to how I currently use the iPad with the Apple Pencil).

It is true though that for this you need relatively small and portable laptop. I am eyeing the Asus because it has enough ports so that I am able to hook up big monitor whenever I need one. This way I can have the portability and the bigger screen when I am at home.

So yeah I am pretty sure that my next laptop purchase would be portable 2 in 1 laptop with touchscreen. I hope that by then the Windows compatible pens would get better and more precise.

 

[Porterhouse]

My previous laptop was a Lenovo and had a touchscreen. I didn't use it a lot, but I used it enough that when I was forced to get a new laptop, that was one of the things I had listed as criteria.

At the same time, I realized I was buying a new laptop every 1.5-2 years, and it was getting ridiculous. A few people suggested that I go ahead and get a MB, and I was interested, though price and lack of touchscreen held me back. I did enough research about longevity that I got over the price, and after a week or two with MBP, I was over the touchscreen thing. At this point, I wouldn't go back, especially when I look at the fingerprints on my iPP.

However, I would like to be able to use the Apple Pencil with my MBP now and then. Pipe dreams. . .

 

[RudySnow]

What exactly is your question? Do you find yourself touching a MacBook screen to do things because of your iPad experience, or because you really think macOS would benefit from touch support?