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One of the primary reasons why Macs don't have touch screens
is that Apple believes it's not the best way to interact with a computer. In an
interview with Backchannel, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software
Engineering, Craig Federighi, stated that Apple has "been clear on our
point of view that touch doesn't want to be in the Mac." According to
Federighi, touch screens can be tiring to use for extended periods of time, and
they can also be less accurate than a mouse or trackpad.
In addition to the physical strain of using touch screens,
there are also ergonomic considerations to take into account. Touch screens on
laptops and desktops require users to lift their arms to reach the screen,
which can lead to discomfort and even repetitive strain injuries. As a company
that prides itself on the ergonomic design of its products, Apple may be
hesitant to introduce a feature that could potentially cause physical harm to
its users.
Another reason why Macs don't have touch screens is that
Apple has developed its own alternative in the form of the Touch Bar.
Introduced in 2016 on the MacBook Pro, the Touch Bar is a thin strip of OLED
screen that sits above the keyboard and provides context-sensitive controls for
various apps. While not a full touch screen, the Touch Bar allows users to
interact with their apps in a more intuitive way than with traditional keyboard
shortcuts or menu commands.
It's also worth noting that Apple has a history of being
cautious when it comes to adopting new technologies. The company tends to wait
until a technology is mature and proven before incorporating it into their
products. This was the case with USB-C, which Apple began incorporating into
their Macs in 2015, several years after it was first introduced. In the same
way, Apple may be waiting until touch screen technology has improved and become
more refined before incorporating it into their Macs.
There are also technical reasons why touch screens may not
be practical on Macs. For example, touch screens require a special type of
display known as an "in-cell" or "on-cell" display, which
is thinner and more sensitive than traditional displays. These displays can be
more expensive to manufacture, which could drive up the cost of Macs. In
addition, Macs are typically used for more complex tasks than smartphones or
tablets, which can make touch screen navigation more challenging.
Lastly, there's the question of whether touch screens are
really necessary on a desktop or laptop computer. While touch screens make
sense on smartphones and tablets, where the primary input method is touch, they
may not be as useful on a device that already has a keyboard and trackpad. Some
argue that touch screens on laptops are more of a gimmick than a truly useful
feature, and that the time and resources spent on developing touch screen
technology could be better used elsewhere.
In conclusion, there are several reasons why Macs don't have
touch screens. While touch screens have become popular on many other devices,
Apple believes that they're not the best way to interact with a computer, and
has instead developed its own alternative in the form of the Touch Bar.
Additionally, Apple tends to be cautious when adopting new technologies, and
may be waiting until touch screen technology has improved before incorporating
it into their Macs. Ultimately, the absence of touch screens on Macs may be
more of a design choice than a technological limitation, and it remains to be
seen whether Apple will change its stance on touch screens in the future.
#MacTouchScreens, #AppleDesign, #TouchBar
Mac touch screens, Apple design philosophy, Touch Bar, user
interface, ergonomics, technology adoption
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