Thursday, August 02, 2007



So, Apple is making a Mac-centric announcement next week. Common speculation is that they'll announce an iMac (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac) refresh. But Jeremy Toeman (http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/07/31/apple-to-announce-ultraportable-tablet-mac/) of LIVEdigitally suspects that might be a cover for the unveiling of a Mac Tablet. Personally, I think that would be a great thing, and there is data to support his theory. However, there is stronger support for an iMac with a touchpad.

First. Jeremy is right that Apple, having sunk serious bucks into multi-touch, would want to expand multi-touch input to its other products. However, that doesn't necessarily equate to touchscreens. Macbooks have multi-touch input via the touchpad; iMacs don't... yet. Adding that functionality to their desktop line would bring it in line with their phone and notebooks.

Second, the thin keyboard photos and rumors floating around seem untrue because Apple hasn't taken action against them. But what if that 'board is simply incomplete? Perhaps they seek to standardize their keyboard layout and integrate trackpads into them, so users can switch seamlessly between their notebooks and desktops?

Finally, is it even feasible to make a 10" touchscreen with Apple's multi-touch functionality? I'm sure it could be done, but at what cost? And how would it be handled? Multi-touch reads multiple points of contact. It could read the fingers holding it, as well as the controlling hand. It's not unworkable, but it's not a straightforward upscale of the iPhone either.

At most, I think we could see iMacs with touchscreens, much like the HP Touchsmart (http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/447010-0-0-225-121.html). More likely though, I think iMacs with keyboards with touchpads are coming down the line. Either way, Apple will be embracing touch input and moving closer to a Mac Tablet.



CateGoogles: Tablet_PC
general_tech
Mood = skeptical

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