Will the extension work in Canary? That reportedly already has touch bar support. I think Chrome is supposed to follow soon. Plenty of people use Chrome on the new MBPs anyway. The main drawback is when you're on battery. You can block most ads in Safari, but not the Youtube ones before the videos, as far as I've seen. Worth it to use Chrome for that probably. Runs fine on my 2016, but it makes my 2011 run warmer, so I try to stick to Safari on that one.
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Have you adapted to touchbar?
- Thread starter capelesshero
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Will the extension work in Canary? That reportedly already has touch bar support. I think Chrome is supposed to follow soon. Plenty of people use Chrome on the new MBPs anyway. The main drawback is when you're on battery. You can block most ads in Safari, but not the Youtube ones before the videos, as far as I've seen. Worth it to use Chrome for that probably. Runs fine on my 2016, but it makes my 2011 run warmer, so I try to stick to Safari on that one.
Hi all,
The title says it all.
I've been toying a little bit with the touchbar on a MacBook Pro on display at the Apple Store but didn't find any real use for it.
Does anyone own the MacBook Pro with touchbar? Could you give me some feedback on the touchbar?
Thanks a lot.
BMR
The title says it all.
I've been toying a little bit with the touchbar on a MacBook Pro on display at the Apple Store but didn't find any real use for it.
Does anyone own the MacBook Pro with touchbar? Could you give me some feedback on the touchbar?
Thanks a lot.
BMR
You didn't find any real use for it? What about:
- adjusting the volume
- adjusting keyboard backlighting
- adjusting screen brightness
- formatting text
- scrubbing through video and audio
- escaping out of what you're presently doing
- controlling media playback
Besides the system functions, apps are beginning to use the touchbar more and more. It requires an adjustment, of course. Then again, it's not providing unique functionality so far. Everything can still be done on screen with the trackpad.
Here are some examples of usefulness: https://blogs.office.com/2016/10/27/office-for-mac-adds-touch-bar-support/
- adjusting the volume
- adjusting keyboard backlighting
- adjusting screen brightness
- formatting text
- scrubbing through video and audio
- escaping out of what you're presently doing
- controlling media playback
Besides the system functions, apps are beginning to use the touchbar more and more. It requires an adjustment, of course. Then again, it's not providing unique functionality so far. Everything can still be done on screen with the trackpad.
Here are some examples of usefulness: https://blogs.office.com/2016/10/27/office-for-mac-adds-touch-bar-support/
I thought it was a gimmick personally. Even when I bought my MBP I sort of rolled my eyes as though it was something I would simply ignore. But this has not been the case. Yes, it actually is useful. I have changed the way I do many things now because the touch bar is right there and is a better way of doing it. Some of the stuff it does is gimmicky or not as useful, but for the most part, it definitely makes a better computing experience for me personally.
- adjusting the volume
There used to be a key on the keyboard.
- adjusting keyboard backlighting
There used to be a key on the keyboard.
- adjusting screen brightness
There used to be a key on the keyboard.
- formatting text
Don't see how it's an improvement compared to the on-screen options as you have to constantly move your fingers from the trackpad to the touchbar and back...
- scrubbing through video and audio
Could be useful.
- escaping out of what you're presently doing
Not sure what you mean by that.
- controlling media playback
Could be useful
Anyway, Thanks for the reply! Maybe I should give it a try after all.
There used to be a key on the keyboard.
- adjusting keyboard backlighting
There used to be a key on the keyboard.
- adjusting screen brightness
There used to be a key on the keyboard.
- formatting text
Don't see how it's an improvement compared to the on-screen options as you have to constantly move your fingers from the trackpad to the touchbar and back...
- scrubbing through video and audio
Could be useful.
- escaping out of what you're presently doing
Not sure what you mean by that.
- controlling media playback
Could be useful
Anyway, Thanks for the reply! Maybe I should give it a try after all.
Judging by your response, you may want to rephrase your question to ask about what the touch bar does that is better than what the old keyboard did. There are myriad threads about that here, by the way. the most recent is at this link, but there are bigger ones with a lot more detail:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/have-you-adapted-to-touchbar.2037204/
A lot depends on what apps you use. The ones with touch bar awareness can do some cool things.
I felt the same way. Went to the Apple Store and tried it out as much as one can in-store. With my workflows it's really not useful at all. I also don't like the 15" form factor, but love the 13", so this all made my purchase decision very easy: Function Key 13" MacBook Pro.
Love this machine, honestly. I'm not a power-user or anything, but as a replacement for my 11" Air, I'm loving it.
As for Touch Bar, I'm not sold yet. Not saying I think it's not a good innovation, just that it's not for me yet. I'll see where tech is in 5 years or so when it's time for another replacement. For the time being, I actually prefer having the hard keys to do tasks like screen brightness and volume rather than having to click through virtual soft menus to get to what I need.
My point exactly. My MacBook Air 13" died after 6 years and I was hesitating between a new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
At the moment I feel like developers are thinking hard about apps to give that touchbar some use. As if Apple had come up with an answer to fulfill a need that did not exist... the way they've always done before.
I think that touchbar will become very useful in a couple of years. Better start learning how to use it now, I guess.
After all, if I don't like it I could still use the keyboard the old way
My point exactly. My MacBook Air 13" died after 6 years and I was hesitating between a new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
At the moment I feel like developers are thinking hard about apps to give that touchbar some use. As if Apple had come up with an answer to fulfill a need that did not exist... the way they've always done before.
I think that touchbar will become very useful in a couple of years. Better start learning how to use it now, I guess.
After all, if I don't like it I could still use the keyboard the old way
Yeah, I was pretty close to the 12" MacBook, but honestly I couldn't handle the gen 1 butterfly keyboard. I don't need a ton of processing power, so a 2 pound retina like the MacBook seemed like a home run. Went to the Apple Store and found the 1st gen butterfly keyboard wasn't compatible with how I grace the left shift key for capitalization. MacBook Pro's keyboard felt great and I also found the speakers had better low end response.
I agree that I can see some potential promise in the Touch Bar, but for me at least, at this point, am not all that interested in it. The 13" Function Key model has also been consistently on the Refurb site, which is the only place I buy Apple products. For now I'm wait and see, and loving my function keys. That was my other concern with the Touch Bar, is that you can't really use the keyboard the old way, since you have to go through a menu to get to the volume/brightness controls. I also use the Esc key from time to time and don't want to reach up to touch unresponsive glass. I figure the 2nd gen Touch Bar will likely incorporate some haptic feedback. I love the new "Click" sensation they've put in the Trackpad and think this might be useful up in the Touch Bar too.
The touch bar being forced upon buyers is not good, as it's a very subjective technology that is in no way a clear improvement for all users.
I really hope they find a way to offer TouchID + normal keyboard optionally at some point.
I really hope they find a way to offer TouchID + normal keyboard optionally at some point.
I was waiting for a MBA refresh that never came, and likely never will. This new MBP checks all the boxes of the Air with a much better screen, speakers, keyboard and trackpad (IMO) and nearly as small and light. I am really happy with the MBP as a mobile laptop (funny how I had to actually say that since some people are really vocal about wanting a not-so-mobile laptop). Honestly, the touchbar is a non-factor if you don't use function keys heavily. Sure it has potential, but it shouldn't be a determining factor either way, at least not yet. Try to look at everything else the MBP is offering. Those things alone will be sufficient in pushing you over the hump. I personally am not forcing use of the touchbar until more is available.My point exactly. My MacBook Air 13" died after 6 years and I was hesitating between a new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
At the moment I feel like developers are thinking hard about apps to give that touchbar some use. As if Apple had come up with an answer to fulfill a need that did not exist... the way they've always done before.
I think that touchbar will become very useful in a couple of years. Better start learning how to use it now, I guess.
After all, if I don't like it I could still use the keyboard the old way