The touchscreen MacBook Pro: what Apple's announcement changes
· BehindLines newsroom
Apple introduced a touchscreen MacBook Pro on October 28, describing it as a first for its Mac computers. Two sizes, 14 and 16 inches, were announced. The launch adds a way to interact with software.
Touch an image and keep your shortcuts
Apple's announcement gives examples including scrolling a page, zooming into a photograph and moving elements directly on the screen. The proposed uses include visual work and software musical instruments.
The screen is called PROLED XDR and uses OLED technology with two light-emitting layers. The configurations announced use M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. These specifications describe the product being introduced; they do not, by themselves, measure time saved in actual work.
Two separate dates
Preorders opened on October 28 in the markets announced by Apple. Initial deliveries and availability in stores are scheduled to begin on November 6. Being able to order a computer should therefore be distinguished from already having it delivered.
DPReview points out another distinction: these touchscreen models use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, while the standard 14-inch MacBook Pro announced earlier in the week has an M6 chip. The announcements therefore do not describe a single computer offered without other differences. The photography publication also notes the new screen's support for the Adobe RGB colour space. DPReview's overview.
Claims still awaiting measurement
A presentation identifies the changes; only extended use will show their everyday value.
For readers, the practical issue is whether touching the screen directly makes their own tasks easier. The announcement opens that possibility without, on its own, providing an independent comparison of how people use the computer.