I just wanted the Function Keys back, not for the Touch Bar to go away.

[shenfrey]

I just had to share my thoughts on the recent changes Apple made to the MacBook Pro lineup. I always wished they’d bring back the traditional function keys because I missed the tactile feel and ease of use. But now that they’ve actually done it and removed the Touch Bar, I’m feeling a bit conflicted. The Touch Bar had its quirks, but it also brought some unique advantages, like dynamic controls that changed with each app and the ability to customize it with shortcuts I used regularly. Now that it’s gone, I can’t help but feel like we’re missing out on some innovative potential. Sure, the function keys are reliable and familiar, but was it worth losing the Touch Bar’s flexibility and modern touch? It’s a classic case of being careful what you wish for because sometimes what you think you want isn’t exactly what you need.

Anyone else feeling the same way?

 

[coffeemilktea]

The Touch Bar looked incredibly cool, but it was impractical and didn't get enough developer support. (Also, there were times where it just outright didn't work and I'd need to restart my MacBook Pro).

It was a fun and interesting idea, but I don't really miss it.

 

[dmccloud]

I said this in another thread a few weeks ago, but when I replaced my M1 MBP (which had a touchbar) with my M2 Max MBP, I had completely forgotten about the touchbar within a week. That was how little I used it despite having used Better Touch Tool to customize several things with the touchbar.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Sure, the function keys are reliable and familiar, but was it worth losing the Touch Bar’s flexibility and modern touch?

Absolutely!

Perhaps I would feel differently in an alternate reality where Apple didn’t release it and then promptly abandon it. I always found it cumbersome and annoying.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I liked the TouchBar, but since there was no support on desktop or external keyboard it was never more than a toy for me.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I liked the TouchBar, but since there was no support on desktop or external keyboard it was never more than a toy for me.

Yeah, imagine if all that dev talent had been put into illumination for an external keyboard! (I guess we shouldn’t complain though, we did eventually get Touch ID.)

 

[Pakaku]

Now that keycap with LED screens in them are a thing, I always wondered why Apple never tried making their own function-key row with screens, to combine the tactile feeling with the customizability. Maybe they gave up if the touchbar really was that glitchy.

 

[Infinity Vortex]

I’m going to miss my TB whenever I upgrade my Mac.

 

[Plutonius]

I just had to share my thoughts on the recent changes Apple made to the MacBook Pro lineup. I always wished they’d bring back the traditional function keys because I missed the tactile feel and ease of use. But now that they’ve actually done it and removed the Touch Bar, I’m feeling a bit conflicted. The Touch Bar had its quirks, but it also brought some unique advantages, like dynamic controls that changed with each app and the ability to customize it with shortcuts I used regularly. Now that it’s gone, I can’t help but feel like we’re missing out on some innovative potential. Sure, the function keys are reliable and familiar, but was it worth losing the Touch Bar’s flexibility and modern touch? It’s a classic case of being careful what you wish for because sometimes what you think you want isn’t exactly what you need.

Anyone else feeling the same way?

Many people didn't like the touch bar since they thought that it added cost, they didn't use it and the laptop would be cheaper without it.

Is anyone really surprised that the price didn't go down after Apple removed it ?

 

[subjonas]

It seems like another 3D Touch story—a useful innovation that just didn’t get enough widespread use for some reason and fizzled out. A real shame.

 

[penlost]

I miss being able to configure it for information like track being played, battery etc. I know you can do that on the main screen but it was nice to glance down and see it all. I don't think it ever worked as a function key row though

 

[H_D]

Although I use FN-keys rather often (Adobe makes such heavy use of these F-keys that I have switched the functionality in system settings to being FN first, control volume etc second and STILL wish I could do this on a App-to-App-basis), I thought the Touch Bar was neat concept, and the Loupedeck shows where it could have gone. Being able to control video files, having special (configurable) keys at hand – marvelous. Plus, it was a first step into «Macbook can work with TOUCH» and it is frustrating that Apple stepped back from that evolution.

 

[adrianlondon]

It seems like another 3D Touch story—a useful innovation that just didn’t get enough widespread use for some reason and fizzled out. A real shame.

That's probably because it was never implemented across the entire range, so app developers could only use 3D touch and the touch bar for functions that were also activated by other methods.