The Secret Apple Touchscreens You’ll Never Get vs. The Surprising one You Might

Key Points:

• Apple has tested touchscreen Mac prototypes, but has decided against implementing them due to ergonomic and usability issues.
• Apple may reconsider touchscreen Macs in the future, especially if they can be sold as optional models.
• Apple is exploring alternatives to physical keyboards, such as virtual keyboards with haptic feedback and electrostatic charge, which could eliminate the need for physical keys in the long run.

As a tech journalist, I’ve been following the rumors and theories surrounding Apple’s potential plans for a touchscreen Mac. While Apple has consistently denied the idea, new information has emerged that sheds light on the company’s testing and decisions regarding this concept.

In 2010, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs revealed that the company had tested touchscreen Macs in the past, but ultimately rejected the idea due to ergonomic concerns. According to Jobs, touch surfaces don’t work well in vertical positions, causing fatigue and discomfort. This was echoed by Jony Ive and Phil Schiller, who also expressed similar sentiments.

As for myself, I had the opportunity to test third-party touchscreen Mac add-ons, which used infrared LEDs and a utility to detect finger movements as mouse inputs. The results were consistent with Jobs’ claims – after a short period, my arm did indeed feel the strain.

Despite Apple’s denials, I still think there’s a chance they may revisit the idea of touchscreen Macs as optional models. However, I believe it’s crucial to add a crucial proviso: I don’t want to see touchscreen functionality become the default, which would compromise the elegance and usability of macOS.

On the other hand, Apple is actively exploring alternatives to physical keyboards. Patents have described potential solutions for issues such as typing comfort, haptic feedback, and key placement. These innovations could lead to a future where MacBooks have virtual keyboards that simulate the feeling of real keys.

While this development is still years away, I believe it’s an inevitability. Apple has a history of denying rumors, only to release products that surprise and delight us. So, even if there are no hints at WWDC 2025, I’m confident that we’ll see a revolutionary keyboard-less MacBook in the not-too-distant future.

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