Apple has finally brought touchscreen support to the MacBook Pro, ending years of resistance to a feature that’s long been standard on many Windows laptops. Now, the company’s executives have explained why it took so long, and why Apple believes the technology is finally ready for the Mac.

In an interview with Wired, Apple CEO John Ternus explained that the company wanted to introduce touch without compromising the MacBook Pro‘s existing design. That meant making sure the addition wouldn’t increase the laptop’s weight or thickness, something Apple says it has achieved alongside the switch to a new OLED display.

“The Mac is first and foremost an indirect input device, built around the trackpad and keyboard,” Ternus said. “But I think there’s times when it’s comfortable and handy to have touch.”

It’s a notable change for Apple, which has long maintained that Macs and iPads serve different purposes and shouldn’t be combined into a single device.

Despite the addition of a touchscreen, the company isn’t abandoning that approach. Instead, touch is being positioned as an extra way to interact with the MacBook Pro, rather than a replacement for its keyboard and trackpad.

Apple hardware chief Johny Srouji also told Wired that improvements in display technology, Apple silicon and software have finally made it possible to deliver the experience the company wanted.

Meanwhile, marketing chief Greg Joswiak pointed to growing demand from professional users and younger creators who have come to expect touchscreen functionality.

The new MacBook Pro also includes several hardware changes to accommodate touch input.

Apple has redesigned its thermal architecture to prevent the display from becoming uncomfortable to touch, added an anti-reflective coating that it says won’t require additional cleaning, and reinforced the hinge to keep the screen steady when pressed.

The touchscreen MacBook Pro models are available to pre-order now, with prices starting at $2,899 and availability beginning 6 November.

While Apple has taken its time bringing touch to the Mac, the company appears determined to make it an addition to the familiar MacBook experience rather than turn the laptop into another iPad.