Microsoft has, in my opinion, successfully re-introduced touch screens into the laptop market with the advent of Windows 8. I am very tempted to purchase the Acer Aspire S7, but I'm willing to wait until Apple introduces the updated Macbooks in June (as they have traditionally). If Apple adds a touch screen to the Macbook Air, I would pay anything they ask. The problem is, Apple is too proud to follow the crowd.
John Ive, who now oversees the design of all Apple products, made it clear that touching a screen in front of you was unnatural, so they introduced a large multi-touch track pad. Now that Ive is wielding more power, there is even less hope for touchscreen Macbooks.
I assume Apple's concerns are three-fold. First, they don't want to loose the lion's share of the tablet market with customers who purchase a laptop instead of an iPad. Secondly, Apple prides itself in being unique and pushing boundaries. Touch screen laptops are already a "thing" thanks to Microsoft. Apple would be following the leader and it would leave a sour taste in Tim Cook's mouth.
But the biggest concern with touch screen laptops might be something else entirely. Apple would need a completely new operating system. They can't make touch screens and upload OS X because the software is designed for a small cursor closing web pages and navigating the screen. Microsoft specifically designed Windows 8 for touchscreen use, with large icons and mutli-touch gestures.
I believe Apple will eventually introduce touch screens to their Macbooks, but not until they can perfect an operating system that uses touch to its full capacity. And not until they realize that they can't blindly protect the iPad.
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