The resistance to creating a portable Macbook with a touch screen has been great at Apple. Among other things, the developers have considered that the functions that already exist are sufficient, and former CEO Steve Jobs himself set the agenda when he stated in 2010 that “touch surfaces do not want to be vertical”, meaning that surfaces where you use your fingers are tiring for the arms if you have to hold the up to point.
But now comes information that Apple may still be ready to take the development one step further – further than it did with the now-disappeared “touchbar” function, which was a kind of touch input, albeit horizontal. Engineers at Apple, including Craig Federighi, have confirmed that they have been working on prototypes of Macbook computers that have touch screen functionality.
A possible touch screen implementation could be in conjunction with new OLED panels, as well as an evolved design that could solve Steve Jobs’ concerns with tired wrists. For example, a flattened Macbook Pro could be rotated to be used as a graphic drawing pad with an integrated screen, and in practice could also replace other accessories such as pen surfaces for image editing and design work.
With the integration into the model program for Macbook Pro, the computing power would also be available for advanced and heavy image and video editing, something that could provide a functional all-in-one solution for creators with requirements for mobility and touch handling.
Whether or not Apple will launch a touchscreen computer is still unconfirmed, but many are tipping that 2025 could be the earliest we might see it happen.
