Hello Nair,

Some good point here...

> Thinking practically, requiring users to physically touch the display
> on an already light devicee would probably cause it to tilt backward
> without counterweight in the base...

Dane: Then this might be the wrong device to introduce multi-touch, it is an 
accessory experience at best. Bottom line... not an additional value to the 
user. This is why I commented on the Lenovo and Toshiba tablet PCs being a 
better functional design for this as they have the reversible fold display that 
hides the keyboard and creates a solid surface for direct touch ON the display. 
And what about the iPhone? That is a light mobile device with direct touch 
capability. Nobody complains you need 2 hands to use it for multi-touch 
features (hold with one, touch x 2 with the other).

> The best way to integrate those novel interactions was to use the
> already existing touchpad. I feel like once people use it, it'll make
> sense.

Dane: Sure, if the initiative is to "find a way to add multi-touch to this 
system". Otherwise I disagree...and it is inconsistent with what they are doing 
with iPhone. Your right, people WILL learn to use it and 'adapt' which will 
just create yet more habits that will need to be broken down as user interfaces 
become more and more natural. Is that a solid initiative or adding value to the 
existing device? I think not.

> Do you really need to put your fingers on a photo or an app window to
> feel sufficiently connected to the interaction? You're already using a
> desktop OS


Dane: No, I don't think multi-touch on the trackpad is necessary either on this 
device. I can guarantee if 'multi-touch' and 'gestures' are being added that 
the optimal goal is have direct interaction with content rather than having a 
physical device wedged in between you and the things you care about. Anything 
less is likely a stepping stone to that method, and therefore, the current 
interaction methods (keyboard and trackpad w/out multi-touch) are sufficient. 
Adding multi-touch to an indirect trackpad (requiring yet more hand-eye 
coordination) is just a novelty and in my opinion confusing new and legacy 
interaction methods.

Multi-touch, gestures, etc. all have the common goal of making the experience 
more 'natural' and I believe the MacBook Air is contradictory in that space, 
that's all.

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