The Touchscreen Mac Controversy: Will Apple Change Its Mind?

Touchscreen Macs: The Idea That Will Not Die

For over a decade, Apple has consistently rejected the idea of touchscreen Macs. Steve Jobs famously stated in 2010 that vertical touch surfaces are ergonomically terrible and lead to user fatigue. This stance was reaffirmed by senior executives like Craig Federighi and Tom Boger, who emphasized that macOS is designed for indirect manipulation using a keyboard and mouse/trackpad, while the iPad remains a touch-first device.

However, recent remarks by Mac and iPad marketing VP Tom Boger slightly opened the door to the possibility of a change. While he reiterated Apple's long-standing position, he added, 'I can’t say we never change our mind.'

The author, who has tested third-party modifications adding touchscreen functionality to Macs, found that such features are rarely used and often lead to discomfort. They suggest that using an iPad with the Magic Keyboard provides a good proxy for testing a touchscreen Mac, and conclude that the occasional use of touch for rapid scrolling is not sufficient to justify the added cost.

The article concludes by suggesting that if Apple were to create a touchscreen Mac, it might help determine whether there is enough demand to keep such a product in the lineup. However, the author strongly believes that this idea will ultimately fail due to limited practical use and ergonomic issues.