Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen • Hacker News Board

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#21

Post by Operyl » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 4:54 AM UTC

naikrovek wrote: post #17

Operyl wrote: post #8

OK, I skimmed but didn't see: what if I rest my palms on my trackpad? I don't want random actions taking place because of this.

It's a trackpad. What do you think it will do if you touch it accidentally? It's gonna fuck your shit up so bad that you can't undo it, just like a real trackpad would.

Not true at all. macOS has some rather intelligent tracking if it’s a palm touching, or a finger for example. Alternatively, there’s also completely turning off tap to click.

But that’s for taps, not for a full scale UI on my trackpad with dragging sliders etc.

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#22

Post by nerdwaller » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 4:55 AM UTC

The big difference between the ASUS usage (which I wouldn’t consider buying) and the Apple TouchBar (one I don’t love, but can understand for non-pro users) is that the TouchBar is intended to not be an extension to the display[0]. The trackpad as a complimentary display seems pretty gimmicky - at least while the market share for the maker is so limited. Of course some level of that is up to the implementation of the various apps (but since it’s not 1st party to the OS, I expect usage issues).

I’d expect a standard user (and even myself) to be highly confused about if they can use the area as a trackpad or if they need to toggle some mode.

> Use the Touch Bar as an extension of the keyboard and trackpad, not as a display.

[0]: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#23

Post by seanmcdirmid » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 4:57 AM UTC

walrus01 wrote: post #19

analog31 wrote: post #7

When I was looking for an inexpensive touch pad for a product idea, it appeared that small touch screens were only marginally more expensive -- and worked better -- than available off-the-shelf touch pads. That was without even lighting the display up. But of course the temptation to use the display for something would have been irresistible.

My theory is that economies of scale for 5.5 inch 1080p touchscreens in mainland Chinese manufacturing make it a lot cheaper now. That is just about the most common screen size and not the higher than 1080 resolution found on high end phones.

The LCDs are probably not made in mainland China though, and ASUS is still Taiwanese.

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#24

Post by curun1r » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 4:58 AM UTC

agumonkey wrote: post #14

quantumofmalice wrote: post #6

This makes far more sense than apples touch bar, especially if it was modal with a few different keys that brought up different screens.

Only advantage for apple is the location. Less visual context switching.

It depends...for some tasks, it's less context switching. For example, Apple's Preview app has a feature where you can add a signature to a document. You can scan your signature, but you can also enter it on the touchpad. But the latter is very difficult because you can either look at your finger or the screen, but not both. Having this kind of screen would solve that problem.

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#25

Post by nielsbot » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 5:01 AM UTC

For this to provide a great user experience Asus will need a really high level of software + hardware integration.. (Think Apple or Nintendo) Without that this is just a gimmick.

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#26

Post by gsich » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 5:02 AM UTC

systems wrote: post #2

that is very confusing i am sure the next step, someone will replace the physical keyboard, with full size touch screen and software keyboard and future laptops will come with two screens and no keyboard ... and they will be like tablets with double screen, and then someone will sell a physical keyboard accessory to the two screen laptop and .. it will be very confusing

Please not. Input delay is absolutely annoying.

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#27

Post by hliyan » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 5:02 AM UTC

This is really going to distract touch typists due to peripheral vision. If they really want to do something revolutionary, they should try replacing the entire keyboard with a touch screen with haptic feedback (like the MacBook touchpad). Force touch when the keyboard is displayed will act as a keypress. Soft touch will control the mouse pointer.

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#28

Post by hliyan » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 5:04 AM UTC

baybal2 wrote: post #20

systems wrote: post #2

that is very confusing i am sure the next step, someone will replace the physical keyboard, with full size touch screen and software keyboard and future laptops will come with two screens and no keyboard ... and they will be like tablets with double screen, and then someone will sell a physical keyboard accessory to the two screen laptop and .. it will be very confusing

It not that easy to use when you can't physically feel the keys. And having to wipe the screen so often sucks.

Haptic feedback?

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#29

Post by walrus01 » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 5:10 AM UTC

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #23

walrus01 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My theory is that economies of scale for 5.5 inch 1080p touchscreens in mainland Chinese manufacturing make it a lot cheaper now. That is just about the most common screen size and not the higher than 1080 resolution found on high end phones.

The LCDs are probably not made in mainland China though, and ASUS is still Taiwanese.

ASUS is Taiwanese but as with most Taiwanese oem and odm these days, does the bulk of its manufacturing in the mainland. Same for others like msi, tyan, supermicro, quanta, hon hai precision industry (foxconn), etc.

Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen

#30

Post by _hardwaregeek » Sat, Jun 09, 2018, 5:12 AM UTC

I was walking through a computer store recently and I couldn't help but notice how tacky all the computers looked. The Touch Bar may be frivolous, pretty useless and a waste of money, but it blends into the design of the laptop and most importantly, is subtle. Now, Asus could certainly prove me wrong and implement some beautiful, understated software for the touchpad, but judging by the demo photos, that isn't the case. Not to mention, how does it perform as a touchpad? Will I have to avoid hitting some corner for fear that it will open a new app? At least the Touch Bar took away features that most consumers (i.e. non professional computer users) won't miss.