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Microsoft Surface Exec Thinks Apple Will Build a Touchscreen MacBook

The Touch Bar is just the beginning of a touch-capable Mac

Oct 29, 2016 07:48 GMT  ·  By
The Touch Bar is the first major step towards a touchscreen on the Mac, Hall says
   The Touch Bar is the first major step towards a touchscreen on the Mac, Hall says

Apple has launched its new-generation MacBooks and just like pretty much everyone expected, a touch-capable display is not available on the refreshed lineup, which makes many wonder whether Cupertino plans to ever make the transition to this tech or not.

As far as Microsoft’s VP of Surface Marketing is concerned, the Touch Bar that Apple has added to these new models is just the first step towards a touch-capable MacBook.

Touch and detachable MacBook coming

In a series of tweets posted a few hours ago, Brian Hall explains that he’s 100 percent sure that Apple will make a MacBook with touch display at some point in the future and there are 95 percent chances that this screen would be detachable.

“I've had a day to think. officially am calling it. 100% Apple is making touchscreen mac, 95% detachable. They're too smart not to,” he said, adding that “they would not have planned just the touchbar. Buy a Surface now & let's let the games really begin when they get (real) touch.”

Truth be told, Apple doesn’t seem to be too interested in making touch-capable laptops at the moment, but this device category invented by Microsoft is rapidly gaining ground, so Cupertino might not have any other option at some point than to align with the market demand.

There are people who think that Apple doesn’t have to make a touch and detachable MacBook because it already has the iPad Pro, but since it’s powered by iOS, this one is closer to the tablet category rather than to laptops. The iPad Pro does come with touch capabilities and a detachable keyboard, but since it’s not capable of running desktop software, it can’t be considered a Surface Book or Surface Pro rival.

Time will tell if Apple is indeed planning the switch to touch displays, but for the moment, the company seems to be betting big on a more traditional approach that Microsoft, on the other hand, is not at all interested in.