Apple Patents Switch-Less Force Touch Keyboard, Could Lead to Thinner Macs

[GoodBytes]

I assume Apples would also give it the same haptic feedback as the new trackpad, so its completely different as it would give you a tactile clicky feeling when you press down

 

that would be cool if they could work that out

Hopefully, but don't you need 1 under each key, or zones? I guess execution will decide if its any good.

[ShadowCaptain]

Hopefully, but don't you need 1 under each key, or zones? I guess execution will decide if its any good.

 

hmm maybe, i mean if they shrink them down, like they have one inside the apple watch, so they can clearly make their "taptic" engine very small, but its probably still too thick

 

I could just imagine it working in an iPad with clicky touch screen - please invent that apple 

[Yoinkerman]

hmm maybe, i mean if they shrink them down, like they have one inside the apple watch, so they can clearly make their "taptic" engine very small, but its probably still too thick

I could just imagine it working in an iPad with clicky touch screen - please invent that apple

On a tablet, sure. Stay the F away from my laptop and computer though.

[ShadowCaptain]

On a tablet, sure. Stay the F away from my laptop and computer though.

 

Maybe, again depends how they are implemented and if there is a tangible benefit etc normally the stuff apple implement is for the better

 

Dont forget apple patent many things but never actually release them, they might save them for future ideas etc

[TechGod]

Why Apple?

I have a relatively thick Thinkpad, and guess what. The world didn't end, my arm didn't break. It's fine. In fact the thinness of Apple computers already, I just don't see the point going any farther. It just seems pointless.

Apple's laptops are on the thick side of you compare to the LG Gram, Dell XPS 13 etc...

[TechStyle]

Could be a huge disruption in the market. Nice job.

[LAwLz]

This seems like a horrible, horrible idea.

 

I know what typing on a touch keyboard feels like, and force touch would only fix the issue accidental key presses when you put your hand down on it.

It would not fix the issue of you jamming your fingers on a piece of glass which feels awful. It wouldn't fix the issue of the lack of tactile feedback either. So you would have to watch the text as you write it in order to confirm that you are pressing the buttons. Speaking of watching things, you would have no way of knowing where your fingers are positioned. Keyboards got bumps on F and J for a reason...

[79wjd]

This seems like a horrible, horrible idea.

 

I know what typing on a touch keyboard feels like, and force touch would only fix the issue accidental key presses when you put your hand down on it.

It would not fix the issue of you jamming your fingers on a piece of glass which feels awful. It wouldn't fix the issue of the lack of tactile feedback either. So you would have to watch the text as you write it in order to confirm that you are pressing the buttons. Speaking of watching things, you would have no way of knowing where your fingers are positioned. Keyboards got bumps on F and J for a reason...

There are two issues with on screen keyboards, the one you mentioned and the fact that they just generally suck to use. When I need to type something on my SP3 I'll switch to the handwriting recognition keyboard instead because the normal onscreen typing experience is just fucking awful (it probably mis-predicts every third word). Which is a truly pitiful statement....(I mean the handwriting recognition is actually pretty good, but it's still not great, plus I can type far faster than I can write). 

 

Also, I don't actually find myself using those bumps to identify where my hands are on the keyboard, they just tend to naturally rest in certain positions, and based on where my hand is in relationship to my wrist tells me where the specific keys I'm looking for are (i.e. I, and probably most people who are good typists, can just walk up to a keyboard they're familiar (blindfolded) even with those bumps removed and have no issues typing. (I'm also referring to a standard laptop keyboard -- i.e. one where the keys themselves aren't individually contoured)

[HalGameGuru]

@LAwLz

 

#RealKeyboardsHaveCurves

#RealKeyboardsHaveBumps

 

I've never felt comfortable with anything less than a full relief keyboard. I need to be able to slide my fingers across veritable bunkers and pillboxes so I can type quickly, precisely, and decisively.

 

I always feel lost sliding my fingers across an original surface pro touch keyboard or on-screen keyboard. I also tend to rest heavy on the keyboard causing errant characters and mispresses. I can type passably on a traditional keyboard, I have noticeable issues on touch or flat keyboards. Even chiclet style are uncomfortable but doable.

[AlexGoesHigh]

I'm just going to say that like @GoodBytes mentioned, MS tried something like this and they dropped for a more familar and actually more expensive keyboard, there had to be a reason for dropping it.

Apple's laptops are on the thick side of you compare to the LG Gram, Dell XPS 13 etc...

The gram is cheap plastic and no battery, when you cheap out like that is very easy to make it thin and light, the XPS 13 though it is indeed good engineering but its not that much thinner or thicker that the air.

[Yoinkerman]

Maybe, again depends how they are implemented and if there is a tangible benefit etc normally the stuff apple implement is for the better

Dont forget apple patent many things but never actually release them, they might save them for future ideas etc

I'm still bitter they got rid of buttons on phones. The only situation where software buttons are better is when watching full screen video. That's it.

[TechGod]

the gram is cheap plastic and no battery, when you cheap out like that is very easy to make it thin and light, the xps 13 though it is indeed good engineering but its not that much thinner or thicker that the air

I'm just arguing that its not like Apple is the only one with their laptop flagships being thin. 

[deviant88]

the real problem with this is that we dont need thinner macs or phones

[Dabombinable]

the real problem with this is that we dont need thinner macs or phones

But how else will Apple sell "new" fashion accessories?

[79wjd]

But how else will Apple sell "new" fashion accessories?

by utilizing more powerful hardware than its competitors?

[Albatross]

I don't think anything they do will ever make touch keyboards any less annoying.

[TechGod]

But how else will Apple sell "new" fashion accessories?

Do you seriously think Macs are underpowered for the price??

[79wjd]

Do you seriously think Macs are underpowered for the price??

If you're JUST looking at FPS/$ or render time/$, then yes (but there are other very important factors which negate the cost differences).

[TechGod]

If you're JUST looking at FPS/$ or render time/$, then yes (but there are other very important factors which negate the cost differences).

Exactly, for me, the battery, keyboard, screen and trackpad on their laptops makes up for some *slight* reduction in performance. 

[Dabombinable]

by utilizing more powerful hardware than its competitors?

Apple and utilising more powerful hardware? Just look at their history and try to say that again.

[79wjd]

Exactly, for me, the battery, keyboard, screen and trackpad on their laptops makes up for some *slight* reduction in performance. 

You'll get no arguments from me. I'd gladly pay the extra amount for the trackpad alone seeing as most other trackpads still aren't as good as the one that Apple uses (excluding force touch...I'm not a fan of that). 

 

Apple and utilising more powerful hardware? Just look at their history and try to say that again.

last time I checked the A9/A9X tops the charts.

[TechGod]

Apple and utilising more powerful hardware? Just look at their history and try to say that again.

AFAIK, they were the first to use SandyBridge processors. Back in the day, used a 760M which was pretty much in any notebook the size of the 15" rMBP etc...its not like they shove crappy hardware into their machines. That's not true. Except the new iMac. A 5400rpm HDD? ARE YOU SERIOUS APPLE??? WHO THE HELL THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA??????????????

[HalGameGuru]

AFAIK, they were the first to use SandyBridge processors. Back in the day, used a 760M which was pretty much in any notebook the size of the 15" rMBP etc...its not like they shove crappy hardware into their machines. That's not true. Except the new iMac. A 5400rpm HDD? ARE YOU SERIOUS APPLE??? WHO THE HELL THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA??????????????

IT does let them upsell an SSD at an insane markup. So why not?

[TechGod]

IT does let them upsell an SSD at an insane markup. So why not?

For a company that pushed PCIE SSDs and now NVME SSDs...its just a tad bit stupid...

[HalGameGuru]

For a company that pushed PCIE SSDs and now NVME SSDs...its just a tad bit stupid...

Is it stupid if Chevy puts a v8 in their trucks but a 4 banger in the coupe? For the people who get pinched an SSD option will be available, and it lets them further inflate their prices. In the halls of Apple HQ whoever came up with this idea probably got a raise and a promotion.