Touchscreen MacBooks, iMacs: Is Apple Adding Touchscreen Technology To Mac Devices?

More details about Apple’s recent private meeting with a group of journalists have surfaced online. This time, there is confirmation on whether or not the Cupertino giant intends to release MacBooks and iMacs with touchscreen technology in the future.

Although the private discussion with reporters centered mostly on Apple’s plans for its Mac Pro computer, the company’s officials also spilled some details about the MacBook laptops and the iMac all-in-one desktop computers. For consumers who were hoping to see the day that Tim Cook’s company unveils touchscreen Mac machines, looks like this is never going to happen for them. Apparently, Apple is not looking to developing touchscreen Mac devices at all.

During the private gathering, marketing chief Phil Schiller was asked if the company is open to releasing Mac devices with touchscreen displays. Schiller responded with a “no” before proceeding to say, “That's a whole other long discussion we can get into, but suffice it to say, it's not a big need of the Mac Pro customers that we’re trying to address,” as quoted by TechCrunch.

READ: Apple iMac with Touch Bar in the works?

MacRumors pointed out that Schiller has already dismissed the idea of creating touchscreen iMacs and Macbooks late last year. “Can you imagine a 27-inch iMac where you have to reach over the air to try to touch and do things? That becomes absurd,” Apple’s marketing chief said at the time. Even design chief Jony Ive said in the past that touchscreen technology isn’t “particularly useful or appropriate application of Multi-Touch” for Mac devices.

Another thing that was recently revealed by Apple has to do with the processors for future Macs. Axios’ Rebecca Zisser stated in a report that the tech giant does not have plans to produce machines powered solely by ARM processors typically found in iPhones and iPads. Interestingly, Apple executives shared that they are open to using ARM chips as companion processors for future Macs.

IBTimes previously reported that Apple has confirmed its plan of releasing a redesigned Mac Pro in the near future. The new Mac Pro is said to embrace a modular design, so the company could readily roll out upgraded components on a regular basis. In addition, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi has shared that new iMac desktops are scheduled for release later this year. The new iMacs are said to be designed mainly for professional users.