No touchscreens coming to pro Macs, says Apple's Phil Schiller
Apple isn't planning to offer touchscreens on any of its upcoming professional-level Macs, the company's worldwide marketing head said in revealing upcoming new Mac Pros and iMacs on Tuesday.
"Touch doesn't even register on the list of things pro users are interested in talking about," Phil Schiller told BuzzFeed News and other publications at an Apple prototyping lab. "They're interested in things like performance and storage and expandability."
Microsoft has had some success with the Surface Studio, an iMac-like all-in-one desktop that can lay nearly completely flat and not only features a touchscreen but a specialized accessory, the Surface Dial, meant to sit on the screen at that angle. While expensive, the Studio can be useful for people working in illustration, design, and similar tasks.
Apple is planning to ship new iMacs later this year, but most features are so far unknown. The only other definite point is that Apple will offer configurations it feels can meet professional needs.
The company will go a step further in 2018, releasing an overhauled Mac Pro with a modular design that should be see more regular upgrades. It will be joined by a new Apple-branded display -- Apple killed off the Thunderbolt Display in June 2016, letting third-party monitors fill in the gap.
"Touch doesn't even register on the list of things pro users are interested in talking about," Phil Schiller told BuzzFeed News and other publications at an Apple prototyping lab. "They're interested in things like performance and storage and expandability."
Microsoft has had some success with the Surface Studio, an iMac-like all-in-one desktop that can lay nearly completely flat and not only features a touchscreen but a specialized accessory, the Surface Dial, meant to sit on the screen at that angle. While expensive, the Studio can be useful for people working in illustration, design, and similar tasks.
Apple is planning to ship new iMacs later this year, but most features are so far unknown. The only other definite point is that Apple will offer configurations it feels can meet professional needs.
The company will go a step further in 2018, releasing an overhauled Mac Pro with a modular design that should be see more regular upgrades. It will be joined by a new Apple-branded display -- Apple killed off the Thunderbolt Display in June 2016, letting third-party monitors fill in the gap.
Comments
Maybe even write the necessary drivers for macOS. For example, when developing iOS apps, wouldn't it be nice if you could use your fingers and have the iOS Simulator accept touch input? I know I would love that! Pen input too! You could debug your Apple Pencil specific code on your Mac!
Seriously, I wish Cupertino would fire up their photocopiers. If Apple could make the iMac more like the Surface Studio, it would be a better product.
Or developers could, I don't know, ... develop and debug their touch apps by pushing the code to their connected iOS devices, like everyone actually does.
The Apple pencil is amazing, make it ubiquitous.
If you don't think this would be a substantial productivity improvement over the current situation, well, you probably don't spend much time writing iOS apps.
I find your suggestion akin to someone in 1900 suggesting that instead of a automobile, people could just use their horse "like everyone actually does".
Have they solved the Dial's downward drift problem yet?
What evidence do you have in saying the Surface Studio is a better machine to an iMac? As someone who works in the graphic design industry the thought of using a touchscreen monitor makes little sense. How many fingerprints would be over the screen when you clearly need a smudge free display to create work.
1) Touchscreen Macs are required as it is far easier / more intuitive just to touch what you want...
2) iPad needs mouse support to be truly usable and productive, as the UI with finger is a cumbersome workflow...
The iMac is the best retouching workstation I have ever used in my life, and I fit the definition of a pro-user in every way. At home my 2012 iMac with fusion drive is now over 5 years old and the screen is not at all outdated. In fact I am willing to bet it is better than your screen (more accurate) unless you too calibrate your screen with a spyder Pro or equivalent. After 5 years, hardware does become outdated so I'll be getting this new iMac without a doubt, maxed out with every option like I always do.