I need to buy a new Macbook Pro. I do a lot of heavy Photoshop and would be severely handicapped without the function keys that they have now done away with and replaced with the touch bar. How far back do I need to go to get a 15 inch Macbook Pro with function keys?
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Need Macbook Pro with Function Keys!
- Thread starter Marci
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I have a related requirement. I need a MBP with functional keys.
The older MBP design had function keys, and the last year Apple offered that line was 2015. Then Apple offered a MBP in 2016 and 2017 without a Touch Bar along with a model with the Touch Bar. The 2016/2017 models I referred to are of the newer design. After 2017, all MBPs have Touch Bars.
***Now I'm remembering you needed a 15". The 2016/2017 non-Touch Bar models didn't come in 15", so you'll need to find a 2015 model.***
***Now I'm remembering you needed a 15". The 2016/2017 non-Touch Bar models didn't come in 15", so you'll need to find a 2015 model.***
It is becoming difficult to justify buying MBP with function keys as you need to go to quite a bit old devices by now. There are two options with current devices - either use TB and force display of function keys via TB control application. It can be done in Preferences or via application - I have forced Function keys in Mail.app. Unluckily, it is difficult to find them with fingers as they are not real keys.
My option is to use external keyboards on common places, where I work. I find real size keyboard more usable anyway. There you have function keys as real, physical, keys.
My option is to use external keyboards on common places, where I work. I find real size keyboard more usable anyway. There you have function keys as real, physical, keys.
When you press the "fn" key on a Touchbar-equipped Mac, the Touchbar shows function keys in the bar. You can also set them to be on all the time in System Preferences.
See:
https://www.imangoss.net/how-to-show-fn-key-function-key-on-macbook-pro-touch-bar/
If you prefer physical keys, you can also use a mapping application to match fn-1 to F1, fn-2 to F2 etc.
Your choices are limited, a 4 year old used MBP, or a PC (lenovo, Dell, etc etc).
Personally, I didn't like the touchbar with the function keys showing. While that helped, there was a lack of tactile feedback. Not having physical keys was a large impediment for me, though YMMV
Personally, I didn't like the touchbar with the function keys showing. While that helped, there was a lack of tactile feedback. Not having physical keys was a large impediment for me, though YMMV
That's fine when you're working at home on a desk, but its not really feasible when you away from the desk, either wanting to use it on the couch, or when travelling.
Yes, that's an option as I said, but as we're approaching 2020, is that really sound advice? Its a sad state of affairs that people are recommending a 4 (to 5) year old computer over the current MBP offerings
Yes, that's an option as I said, but as we're approaching 2020, is that really sound advice? Its a sad state of affairs that people are recommending a 4 (to 5) year old computer over the current MBP offerings
MacBook Pros have a lot of horsepower so a 2014 or 2015 may be able to meet your needs. You could, of course, design a BlueTooth or USB function key strip to go over the Touchbar. It would probably sell quite well if under $100. If I needed more horsepower than my 2014 and 2015 MacBook Pros, then I would just use them with remote desktop into something more powerful - but I already have the older models. You could get a cheap Windows laptop to remote desktop into a new MacBook Pro and probably find something with a better or more reliable keyboard.
Yes, stupid I know. But that's what Apple has forced onto us.
You get the standard set of 12 F keys.
This whole TouchBar mess is overblown. They did not take any functionality away, you still have all the F keys you ever wanted. You just can have more of different, application specific, controls. They decided the "more" will be default, but can be easily switched back.
The trouble is, that now these are pictures which you need to touch and cannot be found by fingers without looking or lot of experience. So we lost some (physical buttons) but gained flexibility.
I see in the future flat, touch keyboard, like iPhone and iPad has, with no physical buttons. It will be thinner, flexible and "much better" - except for those who type without looking at the keyboard and need the physical buttons to locate positions.
One of the developers in my group missed having the "feel" of real function keys, so he mapped pressing the "fn" key with "1" to F1, 2 to F2, etc. While he thought needing to use a modifier key would be a slight negative to having the native keys, he found it was nice not having to stretch his hand above the number row to reach the old function keys (he is a rapid touch-typist obviously). He actually prefers that now, and mapped other keyboards with actual function keys the same way.
I just use a bluetooth Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Key Pad and a bluetooth mouse.
It works well and gives you a full sized keyboard with all the function keys.
This is going to sound both egotistical, and slightly brash, and I do apologize for that ahead of time, but I've been a professional designer for close to 20 years now and I've used Photoshop in some capacity since 1997. I have never relied on nor used the F keys; I've never felt they were necessary for navigating the app efficiently. For me, it's always been much more useful to remap all of my most used shortcuts to keys to allow my left hand to stay in close proximity to the modifier row. My suggestion would be for you to do the same, if at all possible.
That said, I did return my 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro and upgraded a 2015 model with a higher capacity SSD because I'm also a developer and could not work with the new keyboard. The travel and multiple other issues made it nearly unusable for me. Slightly hypocritical I guess, but there it is.
That said, I did return my 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro and upgraded a 2015 model with a higher capacity SSD because I'm also a developer and could not work with the new keyboard. The travel and multiple other issues made it nearly unusable for me. Slightly hypocritical I guess, but there it is.
We use an app throughout our group called "BetterTouchTool", and that is one of its functions, among many others.
But honestly that may be overkill/too-complicated for your needs. Here are some third-party apps that do the job:
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/apps-customize-mac-keyboard/