Apple has steadfastly maintained two separate sets of software for their desktop and mobile devices; iOS on smartphones and tablets, and macOS (formerly known as OS X) for desktops and laptops. But that dichotomy is becoming an increasing source of frustration to many users. It's time for Apple to introduce a touchscreen Mac.

There's a new Macbook Air coming to the market, and while Apple hasn't changed anything major in its most popular laptop, it's promising big upgrades on the last generation of Macbook Airs. Here's what you need to know if you want to get your hands on a new Macbook in Australia.

New macOS versions usually mean better performance on Apple’s latest hardware, but they’re rarely optimised for anything older (even last year’s models). So what’s the consensus on macOS Mojave, Apple’s latest operating system, when it comes to older machines?

The latest and greatest version of macOS is here. Whether you’ve been bingeing on the beta for months or forgot all about version 10.14 of Apple’s desktop operating system, you can download the final version of macOS Mojave starting right now. Well, maybe.

So you're trying to choose between a Windows PC or an Apple Mac. Or, maybe, you're just curious to see what a Mac can do better than a Windows PC.

Mac: While most people set up their Macs so all they need is a password, or a finger-press, to authenticate into their machines, the computer your company gives you might be a little more strict. Instead of letting you save your login name or display a list of your system’s users to pick, for example, you might have to actually type in your account name and password.

Mac: Your Mac’s Night Shift and True Tone modes are great and all, but they can be fussy at times, and they might not work (or work very well) with an externally connected display. Separately, it’s also annoying to have to tap buttons and fumble through on-screen displays just to adjust your monitor’s brightness and contrast to your liking.

I don't know about you, but I'm still on the fence about Apple's Touch Bar. The most use I get out of it is accidentally tapping the virtual "back" button in my browser when trying to press a number key. That and I mainly use the Touch Bar to adjust my MacBook's brightness and volume. (Perhaps I need to configure more useful keys.)

Apple dropped some pretty big news today: It's no longer selling the 2015 MacBook Pro, which was arguably the last model that had a decent keyboard. Oh, and Apple also updated its top-shelf MacBook Pros, which will now set you back $10,339 for the most expensive iteration — a 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, 4TB of solid-state storage, 32GB of memory and a six-core, 2.9GHz Intel Core i9 CPU.

macOS Mojave is in public beta now and it has a lot of cool features that might not totally change the way you use your Mac, but will speed up parts of your workflow, help keep your files organised and make you smile with customisable touches.

Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International Securities has a solid track record at predicting what Apple is planning. His success is based on looking at supply chain information and tracking what's going on in the Asian manufacturing hubs Apple use to produce all the gear that bears the "Designed in California" tagline. This time around, Kuo says almost every product will be revised including the Mac mini which is closing in on four years since it was updated. So, what can Apple fans look forward to this year?

Mac: If you're fancy enough to have a MacBook with a Touch Bar, and you don't hate that Apple replaced your physical keys with virtual ones (perhaps a blessing, given the former's quality), you may have already tried customising it a little bit.

About four months ago, the left Shift button on my MacBook randomly stopped working. I use my computer for work and couldn't really afford to be without it, so now I've developed some right pinkie muscles I didn't know I ever had, and trained myself to use the Shift button on the right side of my keyboard instead.

Sometimes, the best tech problems aren't the super-specific, why-is-this-doing-that-thing-and-now-smoking-help kinds of questions. Recently, a reader sent in a fairly generic question that's applicable to everyone, because it concerns our favourite topic: passwords.

For almost a full decade, Apple's MacBook and MacBook Air were the head of the pack. They certainly weren't the most cost-affordable, but with a killer touchpad, trackpad, plenty of battery life and a lightweight chassis that made it perfectly portable for university, conferences, and commutes, they were popular for a reason.

But the years passed by. Apple neglected a product that was beloved by many -- the official product page is still talking about CPUs that are three generations behind the competition. And with the new generation of thin and light laptops that just arrived in Australia, and the ones to come, it's an uphill battle for Apple.

My girlfriend Jessica just got a brand-new MacBook Pro — keyboard issues be damned. It can feel a little jarring to go from physical buttons to the MacBook Pro's new Touch Bar, especially when you're used to being able to just function-key your way through system commands in macOS.

Do not be me. I was desperate for a new Apple laptop to replace my dying 2012 one and as soon as the 2016 Macbook Pro with Touch Bar was available to buy I ordered it. This was a major redesign for Apple, and experience with other products told me that buying the first generation of a new laptop would be a very bumpy ride. I did it anyways.

This scenario should be familiar: Your MacBook charger snaps, breaks, frays or just stops working. Apple wants $109 for a replacement, but you found a knockoff charger online for a lot less. What do you do?

Apple still refuses to release a touchscreen MacBook (no, the Touch Bar doesn't count), but one group of developers have come up with a clever solution. Using some impressive AI software and about a buck's worth of hardware, the team was able to bring rudimentary touchscreen controls to an Apple laptop.