Vratislav Holub At the beginning of 2023, interesting leaks and speculations swept through the Apple community, according to which Apple is working on the arrival of a MacBook with a touch screen. This news immediately gained enormous attention. There was never such a device in Apple's menu, in fact, quite the opposite. Years ago, Steve Jobs directly mentioned that touch screens on laptops do not make sense, their use is not comfortable and in the end they bring more harm than good.
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Various prototypes were even to be developed in apple laboratories and their subsequent testing. But the result was always the same. The touch screen is interesting only from the beginning, but its use in this particular form is not completely comfortable. In the end, this is an interesting, but not very useful gadget. But it seems that Apple is about to abandon its principles. According to Bloomberg's well-informed reporter Mark Gurman, the device is expected to be introduced as early as 2025.
Do Apple fans want a MacBook with a touchscreen?
Let's put any advantages or disadvantages aside for now and let's focus on the most important thing. What do the users themselves actually say about speculation? On the social network Reddit, specifically on r/mac, a rather interesting poll took place, in which over 5 people participated. The survey responds to the already mentioned speculations and thus seeks an answer to the question whether Apple users are even interested in a touch screen. But the results probably won't surprise anyone. Almost half of the respondents (45,28%) expressed themselves clearly. In their opinion, Apple should not change the current form of MacBooks and their trackpads in any way.
Macbook Air M2 (2022)
The rest then split into two camps. Less than 34% of respondents would like to see at least a minor change, specifically in the form of trackpad support for the Apple Pencil stylus. In the end, it could be a rather interesting compromise that could be used especially by graphic artists and designers. The smallest group in the poll, only 20,75%, was made up of fans who, on the other hand, would welcome the arrival of touch screens. One thing is clear from the results. There is simply no interest in a touchscreen MacBook.
Gorilla hand syndrome
It is important to draw on experience in this direction. There are already a number of laptops on the market that have a touch screen. Nevertheless, it is nothing groundbreaking. Their users often ignore this "advantage" or use it only sporadically. The so-called gorilla arm syndrome is absolutely essential in this. This explains why using a vertical screen is quite an impractical solution. Even Steve Jobs mentioned this in part years ago. The touch screen on laptops is simply not very comfortable. Due to the need to stretch the arm, it is practically inevitable that pain will appear after a while.
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The same is the case, for example, when using various kiosks - for example in fast food chains, at the airport and the like. Their short-term use is not a problem. But after a certain time, the gorilla hand syndrome begins to manifest itself, when it is quite uncomfortable to hold it. First comes the fatigue of the limb, then the pain. It is therefore not surprising that touch screens in laptops have not had any major success. Would you welcome their arrival in MacBooks, or do you think it is not exactly the wisest step?
