- A new device claims to add touchscreen features to any MacBook
- It senses your hand movements and works via USB-C
- Beware – the device is currently listed on Kickstarter
For years, a small but vocal contingent of Mac fans have been calling for Apple to add touchscreen capabilities to the MacBook, and if you believe the rumors, the company could be on the verge of doing exactly that with next year’s M6 model. But if you don’t want to wait that long, one company has developed a makeshift solution costs far less than buying a new MacBook Pro.
That product is called the LapTouch ($159, or around £120 / AU$245) and it’s currently seeking funds on Kickstarter, so all the usual crowdfunding caveats apply. There, its creator says it will turn any non-touch macOS laptop into a touchscreen equivalent, letting you interact with your computer by tapping and prodding its screen with your finger.
The LapTouch is a small horizontal bar that sits along the bottom edge of your MacBook’s display, resting on the space just above the keyboard (the area formerly occupied by the touch-enabled Touch Bar). One end has a cable attached – just plug that into one of your laptop’s USB-C ports and the LapTouch can be powered up. Once that’s done, your touchscreen is enabled.
It works by using light to detect the position of your hand or finger. You’ll be able to move your finger across your screen and see the response on your computer, where you can move the pointer, draw lines, scroll through images, and more. You can even use it by floating your hand in front of the screen, without needing to physically touch your laptop’s display.
An attractive option for some
Apple has long resisted the idea of creating a touchscreen MacBook because of the poor ergonomics involved. As Steve Jobs once described it, “after a short period of time, you start to fatigue, and after an extended period of time, your arm wants to fall off.” Apple has stuck rigidly to that line ever since, which has made the rumor that it’s going to perform a dramatic about-face all the more curious.
Personally, I’m not completely convinced by the LapTouch. I’ve never felt the need for a touchscreen laptop – using Apple’s Magic Trackpad or one of the best mice has always given me all the control I need – and the few times I’ve used a touchscreen computer, I’ve noticed the discomfort straight away.
What’s more, keeping a MacBook’s screen smudge-free is difficult enough if you regularly open and close the lid. I dread to think what state mine would be in after moving my finger all over it to use the LapTouch’s touchscreen abilities. Yes, you don’t have to actually touch the display to use the LapTouch, but holding my arm in the air for any significant amount of time is a quick recipe for pain and tiredness.
That said, the LapTouch might find an audience among people who are looking for touchscreen functionality in a laptop but don’t want to fork out for something like the rumored M6 MacBook Pro or a Microsoft Surface. When you just need to pay $159 to add touchscreen features to an existing laptop, that could be an attractive prospect for many people.
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