I'll be happy when Lenovo releases another ThinkPad which has NO trackpad, and only the TrackPoint.
Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
31–40 of 224 posts
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#32The 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 th…
The examples they've currently demonstrated are useless, and that's probably because ASUS alone cannot bring software partners on board. Real use cases will arrive when Windows adds support for touchscreen pads, which I think they should do. Once software support is available, ASUS's implementation can be used by "pro-users" in novel ways; especially in content creation apps.
Apple's bar is one dimensional, which limits what it can be used for. I wouldn't trade that for physical keys I press every day.
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#33I 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 ca…
I use a Trackball mouse so this sounds awesome but I already decided to get a Microsoft Surface Book 2 for my next laptop so I wont bother.
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
It does the bulk of its assembly in mainland China, assembly != production obviously, which is why, for example, most of an iPhone isn’t made in China even if it is assembled there.
Components not made in China are actually more expensive to source there outside of SEZs.
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#35I think this is a wonderful idea, given that touchscreen responsiveness and power optimization have been a focus of research over the last decade. At worst it's a touch pad, at best it's so much more. Of course a lot depends on how software developers will embrace it - and I hope Linux users get some love. (I wish Asus and reviewers will stay away from gimmicks like watching movies on it.) In any case, far better tha…
Office appears to have non-trivial ribbon integration:
> The [Excel and Word] ribbon where they live occupies 20% of the screen on the ZenBook Pro, so shifting those functions to the top edge of the trackpad gives you more space to do your work.
https://edgeup.asus.com/2018/take-control-with-the-zenbook-p...
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#36I think this is a wonderful idea, given that touchscreen responsiveness and power optimization have been a focus of research over the last decade. At worst it's a touch pad, at best it's so much more. Of course a lot depends on how software developers will embrace it - and I hope Linux users get some love. (I wish Asus and reviewers will stay away from gimmicks like watching movies on it.) In any case, far better tha…
At first sight the thing is terrifying, but it seems a rather quite reasonable alternative play on the touchbar that does not mess with the ability to sell the device. Two massive benefits: the tactile response of the keyboard is totally preserved, and the feature can be entirely disabled for conservative users who cannot think of an immediate use for the display.
Clearly it will appeal to gadgeteers (as much as I expect the touchbar does) who can use it for instrumentation or other generally distracting applications. Then there is the blindingly obvious: video editing on a laptop always sucks, there is never enough screen space. But moving the monitor window (rendered video preview) to the touchpad area might change that considerably -- it amounts to a 25% increase in display area, and in a 'natural application' of video editing, the monitor would be separate anyway.
I think this design, simply by virtue of being optional, and large and rectangular, is hugely more applicable than the touchbar.
The modality (pumping F6 to enable/disable) could definitely be improved upon. I can imagine it quite natural to use a hot corner of the pad itself as a toggle, or perhaps some gesture or similar.
Very excited to see how these work out in the real world
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#37This 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.
Something like this maybe: https://tanvas.co/
CES 2017 coverage by Engadget: https://youtu.be/LrbJWiAc6JI
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#38I thought I would hate the TouchBar. But after two days of using it, I like it. I have been using Pro version for about 3 months and I still love the TouchBar.
I don’t know how to explain this, but I just no longer feels the need to press an esc key, and no more tapping for adjusting volume/brightness. I can also adjust font size or color in Words using the touchbar. My I can choose an emjoi in hipchat client using touchbar application. It feels great.
This, I don’t know, really weird. I might have to try it, but I doubt I will like it at all. The whole purpose seems like a secondry screen to me. Constantly having to look down instead of looking at the bigger screen so you can control is so backward to me.
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#39I'll be happy when Lenovo releases another ThinkPad which has NO trackpad, and only the TrackPoint.
It probably wouldn't sell enough numbers and would be a financial disaster.
As an option, that'd be nice. But that'd probably require re-engineering the inside shell...
Re: Asus replaced the touchpad on its new ZenBook Pro with a 5.5-inch touchscreen
#40This would be cool /if/ it added more functionality. For example—a digitizer, Force Touch, or both.
I love my MbP Trackpad, but a digitizer would absolutely slay, especially combined with some sort of display.