On TV.com: TOP 10 Shows CANCELED Too Soon
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
MacBooks with massive trackpads
The latest MacBooks feature bigger trackpads than ever, offering an increasing number of touch-based controls for nimble-fingered users. In this patent, the trackpad seems to span the entire width of the laptop, adding a wider range of touch controls.

This is an interesting one as it may be an upgrade of an earlier idea that involved hot-swappable physical laptop keyboard elements, which allowed users to add input devices like piano keyboards and a mini mixing console. These days, since soft interfaces are the new hard interfaces, this is the logical evolution.

Verdict: 6/10
The iPhone and other touchscreen devices have demonstrated that similar controls can be integrated into soft interfaces. And why not?

Credit: US Patent and Trademark Office

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 13 Talkback(s)
Yeah, right
Unless you have done a reasonable survey of touch typists
to really learn their preferences (nah, didn't think so), it
seems beyond presumptuous to speak for "most of them".
You don't like... (Read the rest)
Posted by: frabjous Posted on: 10/31/08 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
not so far fetched  mistermachine | 10/30/08
RE: (Gallery: 10 Apple patents to watch )  stevejg61 | 10/30/08
Some of these are VERY old...  Stuka | 10/31/08
RE: (Gallery: 10 Apple patents to watch )  Samic | 10/31/08
Yeah, right  frabjous | 10/31/08
iMac Docking Station  geoguba@... | 10/31/08
The worst part of it is...  GrizzledGeezer | 10/31/08
If they are so obvious and trivial  frgough | 10/31/08
Didn't Apple tinker with this concept before?  ddunn68@... | 10/31/08
Duo Dock  Stuka | 10/31/08
RE: (Gallery: 10 Apple patents to watch )  orimata | 10/31/08
Same here... But...  Paul18992 | 10/31/08
touchpad  rednickja@... | 10/31/08

What do you think?

advertisement

More ZDNet Photo Galleries

SmartPlanet

Click Here