>It’s a useless feature in search of a use-case.

This was true until just now. The use case is right at the end of OP's quote. These laptops now run iOS apps that are designed with touch as their primary or only interface. It is weird to include the functionality to run these apps but not the functionality to interact with them properly.

I think this is more of a nudge to Slack and Discord (and certain others) to make their Mac apps based on their iPad apps instead of Electron. And for some games to add keyboard support.

And once they do, others will follow. Except Google or Facebook, which will remain website-only because their whole businesses is based on ad networks across the web.

I don't think iOS apps that have poor UX on the Mac will be allowed in the Mac App Store long term.

> Not only is most desktop software not well suited to touch interactions, touchscreens on laptops are also an ergonomic nightmare.

I think the opposite form factor would make more sense: an iPad Pro that runs macOS. You could have a laptop style dock but allow it to be used in tablet mode too.

I agree with everything you just said except this conclusion:

“It’s a useless feature in search of a use-case”

Sometimes it’s going to be easier to pinch to zoom, for example, than do the same thing with a keyboard or mouse.

Touch is no longer an expensive feature to add, so it makes sense to add it for certain use cases.

Also imagine a Mac being used in a kiosk situation where an iPad isn’t big enough.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we eventually get a Mac that is essentially a giant iPad in form factor which can operate in both modes. On a stand to act like a desktop, or on the table, to act as a giant iPad. It would make little sense to disable touch when in upright mode.

You can pinch to zoom with a trackpad.

I too assume touch based Macs are coming at some point. But I expect them to live alongside conventional laptops for as long as people continue to buy them. Whenever I’ve tried different kind of convertibles they’ve felt like compromises. The tablet and the laptop seem like the best version of each.

Not everyone can use a trackpad.

I’m curious: when would someone be able to use a touchscreen to pinch to zoom, but not be able to use a trackpad to make the same gesture? Is this an accessibility issue or just a question of what hardware is present?

An accessibility issue. Plenty of people with RSI for example can use a vertical mouse or other adapted pointing device, but not use a trackpad.

Orientation matters a lot.

My own limited personal experience is that a touchscreen is basically useless in a conventional laptop whose hinge only opens to 135-180 degrees. Once you can open the screen 360 degrees, you have a fighting chance at being able to take handwritten notes and drawings on a somewhat ergonomic convertible tablet. But I've never had to do this much, and have always preferred pen and paper.

You're envisioning using a touchscreen device much like you'd use your smartphone which is flawed to say the least. Having used a touchscreen laptop for the last 6+ years, I assure you there's a place for touch in laptops. The arguments against touch on a laptop are much like arguing against any other peripheral used.

> Try reaching your hand up to touch your monitor and hold it there for a minute. Now try pretending you’ll do this for an 8 hour workday.

This is asinine and you know it. That's akin to arguing that we shouldn't use mice or touchpads by saying "just try typing with an onscreen keyboard all day using point and click."

>This is asinine and you know it

Why do you think we use mice and keyboards instead of touchscreens for serious work? Gorilla arm syndrome has been known since the Apple 1.

We originally just used keyboards, the mouse was introduced as the technology evolved. The mouse didn't display the keyboard. The same thing is happening now and touchscreens will not display the keyboard or mouse, they will compliment them just as the mouse did the keyboard.

"Serious work" is determined by the value it provides, not the way it's produced.

All my touch needs in laptop are satisfied by the track pad. I have Apple Magic Trackpad instead of a mouse. I never felt need for a mouse or touching my screen.

People said similar things about mice, scroll wheels, and trackpads.

Input methods are additive to the user experience. No one is proposing that you use touch exclusively on your laptop. It becomes of of multiple input methods, with keyboard, mouse/trackpad, voice, that are appropriate for different use cases and different times. It is about options and flexibility.

I frequently use an iPad on a keyboard stand. I frequently switch controls depending on what I’m doing. Sometimes just to induce variety to help avoid RSI.

Older people love touchscreens on laptops and use the feature very heavily (I think my mother touches her Surface Book's screen in laptop mode more than the trackpad). I see it as a nice to have when I'm recommending laptops for others even if I hardly ever use it myself. It doesn't have to be a revolutionary new input style that apps transform to make use of, and I think that's where Apple gets stuck because that's so alien to their design philosophy.

Lots of options for interaction gives less repetitive movements.