4 ms·

Perhaps they aim to get rid of the keyboard completely, replacing it with a haptic feedback capable device and a glass plate with the keys inscribed?

visarga 7y ago
That would have all the pleasures of typing on a table, hitting your fingertips on a hard surface. Try it.
- ilikehurdles 7y ago
  I already have a touch bar so I know what it's like.
  - rhinoceraptor 7y ago
    It's like a keyboard, except flakier and with improved accidental inputs!
    - visarga 7y ago
      It's not like a keyboard. It's like hitting something hard that hurts your fingertips. And you can't compare it to a phone either, because on a phone you type one-handed. The two-hand keyboard typing experience uses much more kinetic energy.
- mikhailt 7y ago
  Or you know, every smartphone and tablets with a hard glass cover touchscreen?
  - rhinoceraptor 7y ago
    Obviously that is not a good enough solution for people who type a lot, or they wouldn't need keyboard cases for the iPad.
- cameronbrown 7y ago
  Initially I was in agreement, but.. I don't know. The iPhone's virtual click does have a strange feeling to it, but you really do get used to it feeling like a click, without it even moving. Maybe they could pull that concept off on a keyboard scale?
- ajconway 7y ago
  I actually think that there might be something to it. The current keyboards already have a small key travel. A solid-state keyboard with “taptic” feedback from individual keys could feel ok.
  - BitwiseFool 7y ago
    You may be on to something. They did the same thing with the iPhone 7. They removed the physical home button and simulated feedback with vibration. Then they got rid of the home button for the iPhone X.
  - munificent 7y ago
    The current haptic feedback on the touchpad works fine because all you need to know is that you pressed the touchpad, not where you pressed it. That's no longer true once you have a range of keys that you are pressing. You need to ensure your fingers are properly aligned so that you press the key you intend before you press it. Without some actual structure, you don't get that feedback.
- redwall_hp 7y ago
  For all people love to talk about haptics, they miss the point: haptic feedback is feedback. As in, it happens after you do something. Typing, unless you don't know how to type, is done entirely by feel. You have raised spots to align your hands, and then you work off muscle memory and the feel of the keys. Things you feel before you push the keys...
fastball 7y ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA
mnm1 7y ago
Repetitive Stress Injuries for the masses. How fun! As if using a laptop wasn't bad enough for RSI sufferers. Leave it to Apple to make it worse. I wouldn't be surprised though. The Apple of the last few years has been putting out shit product after shit product. Broken. Bad design. Overpriced. Shit.

visarga 7y ago

That would have all the pleasures of typing on a table, hitting your fingertips on a hard surface. Try it.

ilikehurdles 7y ago
I already have a touch bar so I know what it's like.
- rhinoceraptor 7y ago
  It's like a keyboard, except flakier and with improved accidental inputs!
  - visarga 7y ago
    It's not like a keyboard. It's like hitting something hard that hurts your fingertips. And you can't compare it to a phone either, because on a phone you type one-handed. The two-hand keyboard typing experience uses much more kinetic energy.
mikhailt 7y ago
Or you know, every smartphone and tablets with a hard glass cover touchscreen?
- rhinoceraptor 7y ago
  Obviously that is not a good enough solution for people who type a lot, or they wouldn't need keyboard cases for the iPad.
cameronbrown 7y ago
Initially I was in agreement, but.. I don't know. The iPhone's virtual click does have a strange feeling to it, but you really do get used to it feeling like a click, without it even moving. Maybe they could pull that concept off on a keyboard scale?
ajconway 7y ago
I actually think that there might be something to it. The current keyboards already have a small key travel. A solid-state keyboard with “taptic” feedback from individual keys could feel ok.
- BitwiseFool 7y ago
  You may be on to something. They did the same thing with the iPhone 7. They removed the physical home button and simulated feedback with vibration. Then they got rid of the home button for the iPhone X.
- munificent 7y ago
  The current haptic feedback on the touchpad works fine because all you need to know is that you pressed the touchpad, not where you pressed it. That's no longer true once you have a range of keys that you are pressing. You need to ensure your fingers are properly aligned so that you press the key you intend before you press it. Without some actual structure, you don't get that feedback.
redwall_hp 7y ago
For all people love to talk about haptics, they miss the point: haptic feedback is feedback. As in, it happens after you do something. Typing, unless you don't know how to type, is done entirely by feel. You have raised spots to align your hands, and then you work off muscle memory and the feel of the keys. Things you feel before you push the keys...

fastball 7y ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA

mnm1 7y ago

Repetitive Stress Injuries for the masses. How fun! As if using a laptop wasn't bad enough for RSI sufferers. Leave it to Apple to make it worse. I wouldn't be surprised though. The Apple of the last few years has been putting out shit product after shit product. Broken. Bad design. Overpriced. Shit.