Steve Jobs famously dismissed laptop touchscreens in 2010, calling them "ergonomically terrible." He argued that touch surfaces don't want to be vertical, and that users quickly fatigue and eventually feel their arm wants to fall off. Sixteen years later, Apple has challenged that view by announcing its first touchscreen laptops, the MacBook Pros with PROLED XDR displays.
The idea is hardly new. Microsoft's Surface laptops and tablets have offered touch for years, many Windows on ARM laptops include touchscreens, and plenty of x86 laptops do too. Windows 8 remains a cautionary tale for many users who recall its troubled touch-focused approach.
Apple's move is notable partly because John Ternus, who oversaw the Intel to Apple silicon transition for Macs, is now CEO after taking over from Tim Cook. The new MacBook Pros were reportedly designed before his appointment, but his influence on the OLED-based touchscreens is clear.
The debate may depend on form factor. Touchscreens could make more sense on laptops with 360° hinges or 2-in-1 convertibles that switch into tablet mode. The new MacBook Pros have neither. Do you agree with Jobs, or do you think Ternus and Apple are right? Vote in our weekly poll and share your view.
Source: GSMArena · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing