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A touch bar keyboard for the iMac would be useless

Aluminum213

Aluminum213

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Mar 16, 2012
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I've read about rumors that this could happen next year (highly doubt it), but after using my iMac extensively today for work I literally laughed at the idea of Apple releasing a touch bar keyboard accessory. The distance the eye travels from the screen to the keyboard is huge and would basically stop any type of workflow, especially considering that it's not even intuitive on the MacBook Pro with far less distance between the two
 
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I feel the same way.

I don't doubt they are exploring a touch bar at the bottom of the actual screen. That would make sense to me more. I know that's not what rumors say.
 
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Aluminum213 said:
I've read about rumors that this could happen next year (highly doubt it), but after using my iMac extensively today for work I literally laughed at the idea of Apple releasing a touch bar keyboard accessory. The distance the eye travels from the screen to the keyboard is huge and would basically stop any type of workflow, especially considering that it's not even intuitive on the MacBook Pro with far less distance between the two
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I don't think it is that much different to a MBP as you are taking your eyes off the screen anyway, so once you are doing it, the difference is minimal.

This doesn't mean I don't think the touch bar is a great idea...... I think they will make an external keyboard one though.

For people like me who completely touch type it is inefficient to be looking at the keyboard. It is just a distraction for non-professionals who need help.
 
Depends on where you place your keyboard when working on an iMac. Many people have it right there below the display on a desk, so it's virtually the same thing as the MBP. Plus, if they want to add Touch ID to the iMac, it'll certainly be in the same form and utilize the T1 chip as a secure element.

I think initially a Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar will be a pricey add on as a custom configuration. So, if you think its dumb and don't want to use it, you can pass on it.
 
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I'm not too sure about that. I have the ability to add a touch bar to my iMac via iPad Pro with duet display and it's quite interesting to see the functions of the different apps. It would be nice to have these on my desktop keyboard even if that means it needs to be plugged in, or the battery life is reduced to say a week or so.
 
As the reports have said, whether Apple choose to release it or not depends on customer reactions to the Touch Bar. Personally, I think they should. It's not like it will be replacing the current keyboard so it makes even more sense to offer it for the iMac.
 
Aluminum213 – allegedly the point of the Touch Bar is to replace static inputs with dynamic ones. Couldn't you make a similar argument that a keyboard is useless for the iMac because your eyes have to move to see the keys? (The only exception I can see would be the touch-typing subset of users.)
 
Starfia said:
a similar argument that a keyboard is useless for the iMac because your eyes have to move to see the keys? (The only exception I can see would be the touch-typing subset of users.)
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Most people I know don't need to look at the keyboard, including myself. This is also why I think I have a hard time typing as quick on an iPad because I don't have the same tactile feedback.

Using that argument, I don't like TB, because I use the function keys and I don't like to avert my eyes off the display if I don't have too. With TB you need too. Also many of the tasks that TB does can be accomplished by way of keyboard shortcuts. For those tasks, the shortcuts are much more efficient imo.
 
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I tested the touchbar from a friends computer, just a few hours, I found out that doesn't works with quicktime 7, and the inconvenience of looking at the keyboard to find out what options are replicated is a waste for a pro user.

This super feature should come with the cheapest Macs, for people who prefer to use the trackpad instead a mouse or a wacom and prefer to move their spare hand and look to the keyboard instead of the main finger, those who a shortcut is just cutting their hair...

And this is talking about working with the macbook's keyboard, can't think who the hell uses his super macbook pro retina to edit video, 3D, design... without an external keyboard, mouse, screens set up (of course TB will be super super useful to low down the volume when watching a movie in the airplane...)

This is the hardware version of the Finder's "Cover Flow", who the hell uses it?

In this touch era, casual people is claiming for a well done "surface" (sorry micorsoft, you are the sole problem of my surface), and not to try cheat pro users with toys from the 90s.
 
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PatriotInvasion said:
I think initially a Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar will be a pricey add on as a custom configuration. So, if you think its dumb and don't want to use it, you can pass on it.
Click to expand...
The Magic Keyboard is part of the iMac bundle though. So probably they would instead make the old one w/o Touch Bar an option without any price deduction to "encourage" the Touch Bar adoption.
 
I'm a touch typist, but due to my extremely irregular use of number keys and function keys while I'm touch typing I inevitably look down at my keyboard when I do need to press numbers or function keys.

So I think in terms of a touch bar, since I'm already looking down it wont be any more distracting for me to use unless they move too many commonly used features away from the screen to the touchbar.
 
Agreed with those saying touchID. I would like to see a fingerprint reader and I would like to see a backlit keyboard, even if this option would have to be wired. I don't care about a touch bar for the iMac. That seems to be inherently geared more toward the laptop format.
 
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I used it on a MBP at the Apple Store and I left with a positive impression of it. I'm not exactly sure how I would leverage it for my workload but I appreciate having the option to buy it with an iMac regardless of whether I do or not.

For people like me who are spelling impaired I did like the spelling suggestions. The current way the MacOS handles it is clunky in comparison. It can usually get fat fingered typos right but struggles with me trying to spell things that I'm unsure of "no replacements found".

Also I would like TouchID, installing and uninstalling stuff to simply logging in could be greatly sped up which would be nice. Sure its not really difficult to enter my password but its a nice layer of convenience and security (using a very complicated password and safety from key loggers and/or phishing apps).

Although Apple uses a security chip for TouchID and they would need to implement a secure proprietary wireless transmission type, etc etc. I have a feeling that a Touch Bar keyboard would actually lack TouchID on an iMac.
 
cynics said:
Also I would like TouchID, installing and uninstalling stuff to simply logging in could be greatly sped up which would be nice. Sure its not really difficult to enter my password but its a nice layer of convenience and security (using a very complicated password and safety from key loggers and/or phishing apps)
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My password is optimized to be able to be typed in a fraction of a second, but I understand this argument.

If there was a little touch ID pad on the keyboard I'd probably find myself using it.
 
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