Apple set to refresh Macs, but key feature may not arrive until 2018

The countdown is on to Apple’s next big event, slated for the 27th of this month. Apple has been under fire for letting their Mac lineup of desktop and laptops languish while other brands have caught up with sleeker and sometimes even thinner Windows machines. But that could all change when Tim Cook and crew take the stage, and now the Wall Street Journal is reporting future models may have a unique new feature.
While rumors of a configurable OLED strip above the keyboard where the function keys usually reside on the expected new MacBooks have been around for a while, the Journal is reporting that in the near future, such as 2018, the whole keyboard may have e-ink keys that can be customized according to user preferences, languages or keyboard shortcuts for whatever software is being used.
CEO Tim Cook reportedly met with reps from aftermarket keyboard maker Sonder and Apple’s go-to maker partner Foxconn about just such a new keyboard, although all involved are saying “no comment.” However, Sonder is already taking preorders for their newest Mac-compatible keyboard that has – surprise – customizable e-ink keys. And it’s only $200, so you know implementation into a laptop would not be some huge expense.
Configurable keyboards are not new: DT tested a model with AMOLED keys way back in 2008, and while innovative at the time, it was so enormous it was barely usable. We’re looking forward to seeing how someone – perhaps Apple – finally brings this kind of highly flexible tech to a laptop.
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