Roundup: Hands-On With Touch Bar on New MacBook Pros

[a.gomez]

Touchscreen laptops are awful.

you must not own one - they are actually amazing - Specially if they have a digitizer. I own the new Vaio Z Flip, and can never go back to Photoshop and ArtRage on the Go with a regular laptop again.

This boat has sailed - reason why Apple shows the iPad Pro with a keyboard and touchscreen like a laptop in their marketing. Apple needs to get over it - this touch bar is silliness.

 

[JorgTheElder]

Don't worry folks, it is nothing like the Lenovo Adaptive Keyboard... completely different, it has color... sometimes...

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/x-series/x1-carbon-2/

 

[Floris]

Don't be fooled by the way.
They mention you can do 2x 5k monitors on the 13", but that's a sales pitch.
One 5k in 5k resolution.
Two 5k in 4k resolution.

 

[heymonroe]

Why can't people just accept that full touch screens are dope for some people and real lousy for other people. And that a customizable toolbar can legitimately only ADD functionality to something that you are already happily using right now without it?

Not every piece of technology is for everyone.

If you want to say it doesn't justify the cost, that is fair but also specific to your financial situation and how you use your device.

 

[TechRemarker]

Apple pretty much killed the Macbook, Air, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, and Cinema Displays today.

How do you figure? The only thing they affectively killed is the Air by releasing a replacement for it thats better in everyday, but even with that they are still selling the airs so people who dont want to be without the ports can still buy it. The cinema display they already officially killed earlier this year. Whether they eventually release a new one or not is unknown. In regards to Mini and Mac Pro there weren't any rumors they would be releasing new ones today. This was a laptop event. Those would get updates at a desktop event when they release updated iMacs which will presumably happy early next year after the holiday season.

 

[Mefisto]

This is absolute crap!!!!

Apple removes the 3.5mm jack from the iPhone 7 forcing the use of wireless or the Lightning port connected headphones (or the use of some stupid Lighting to 3.5mm converter).

So now consumers drink the Apple Kook-Aid go out and purchase Lighting connected headphones and the arrogant Apple clowns release the new MacBook WITH a 3.5mm audio jack and NO Lighting connector.

When asked about removing the 3.5mm jack, Phil Schiller has been quoted saying “the company can't justify the continued use of an 'ancient' single-use port”, and it took “courage” to abandon the 3.5mm jack.

Greg Joswiak has been quoted saying “The audio connector is more than 100 years old. It had its last big innovation about 50 years ago. You know what that was? They made it smaller. It hasn’t been touched since then. It’s a dinosaur. It’s time to move on”.

Isn’t this lovely, Apple just finished telling everyone that the 3.5mm jack is a horrible, outdated, dinosaur technology and we all should run out and purchase wireless or Lighting connected headphones.

Thanks for the inconsistency Apple, or are you now going to say it took “courage” to leave the 3.5mm jack in the MacBook and you left out the Lighting port because that’s the next port on the chopping block.

Very nice of you to include a tl;dr at the beginning of your post as opposed to the end. Much appreciated.

On another note and not necessarily referring to this post in particular, what's with this Kool Aid brouhaha? If memory serves, Jonestown-folk (well Jim at least, and I imagine that's what this tired Kool Aid -foolery is in reference to) was all about Flavor Aid. Get your facts straight, at least.

I actually look forward to trying the new MBP:s in person, I had some trouble adjusting to the keyboard of the 12" MacBook, but it really didn't take that long. Touch Bar looks cool, but whether it actually provides a meaningful addition to a workflow remains to be seen. I can't wait.

 

[TechRemarker]

Looks great but still faster to unlock your mac automatically with an Apple Watch

Yes, but many people don't have apple watches and for people who do (like myself) either don't have it on all the time or in the morning when I put it says it can't unlock computer because apple watch isnt unlocked. If i unlock my watch at that time it still doesn't let you login unless you put computer to sleep and wake it up again. So having a dedicated button will help in many cases even for apple watch users.

 

[richinaus]

I'll probably get one and a Surface Studio.

this is the conclusion I am coming to . 13" MBP and Surface Studio

 

[andrewzzz]

No new Macbook Air? No new Mac Pro?

What the heck do they need that new campus for. That Apple Car better be AMAZING...

That Apple car ain't happenin...

 

[TechRemarker]

Very nice of you to include a tl;dr at the beginning of your post as opposed to the end. Much appreciated.

On another note and not necessarily referring to this post in particular, what's with this Kool Aid brouhaha? If memory serves, Jonestown-folk (well Jim at least, and I imagine that's what this tired Kool Aid -foolery is in reference to) was all about Flavor Aid. Get your facts straight, at least.

I actually look forward to trying the new MBP:s in person, I had some trouble adjusting to the keyboard of the 12" MacBook, but it really didn't take that long. Touch Bar looks cool, but whether it actually provides a meaningful addition to a workflow remains to be seen. I can't wait.

Apple did not release a MacBook with a headphone jack today. They released MacBook "Pros". As people in the music industry require it for pro use. When they do eventually release a new MacBook which is aimed at consumers I imagine it won't have the port. Though remember one of the reasons for removing it was water proofing and Apple is not currently trying to waterproof the MacBook pros.

 

[Zellio]

Hahah. I just meant who do you think you are that you 'deserve' whatever it is you think you deserved by 'waiting' 2 years (your choice, by the way. i've waited 4)


Just that people complain about the price and functionality of things when they probably don't need them. Of course it makes no sense for my father to spend $2500+ on a laptop since all he does is look at eBay. But people that actually are "pro" (i.e power, hardcore, whatever) users can see the value in the cost, as well as the functionality of something like a customizable toolbar. Sure, it's not for everyone. But nothing is, or ever will be.

An actual pro user who types very fast would find something like a MECHANICAL KEYBOARD a much better value

It's not about 'remembering shortcuts.' It's about need, and muscle memory. I don't need to hit the fn + __ very often so I haven't innately learned to use those keys without looking. With the touch bar, not only is it less "keystrokes" for lack of a better term (i.e just hitting the brightness on the touch id, instead of fn+f1) but you will also innately learn how to use the touchbar without looking over time, even if it's not haptic. That's just human nature. This isn't something that has existed yet, so it's sort of ridiculous to dismiss it as being worthless until you get some time using it.

Oh really? This is the first device with contextual oled key mapping?

http://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002HE5OR6

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3136...apples-touch-bar-before-apples-touch-bar.html

You are only about 9 years late to the party. Not good for a supposed 'pro' user.

 

[Sigspd]

So, those of us that still plug in our iPhones can't do it without a dongle. Wonderful, that would be more stuff to carry. So not worth the wait. Looks good, my 2013 15" would have to die before I even consider this.

 

[JorgTheElder]

I guess its good that you're not in charge then, since that idea survives about 8 seconds of scrutiny.

Ok, put your money where you mouth is, give us a list of cons to having the trackpad be a touch screen.

His idea sound 100% better than what they added...

 

[Donoban]

You're missing the context, it's based off my first post which addresses the fact that they moved over the esc key for the sake of visual balance when they didn't have to.

Now you're splitting hairs man. You can position it anywhere you like on the courage bar. Hope you enjoy using it.

 

[calzon65]

Very nice of you to include a tl;dr at the beginning of your post as opposed to the end. Much appreciated.

On another note and not necessarily referring to this post in particular, what's with this Kool Aid brouhaha? If memory serves, Jonestown-folk (well Jim at least, and I imagine that's what this tired Kool Aid -foolery is in reference to) was all about Flavor Aid. Get your facts straight, at least.

I actually look forward to trying the new MBP:s in person, I had some trouble adjusting to the keyboard of the 12" MacBook, but it really didn't take that long. Touch Bar looks cool, but whether it actually provides a meaningful addition to a workflow remains to be seen. I can't wait.

My facts are perfectly straight and I fully understand the meaning. The reference, in general American culture, to "Kool Aid drinkers" refers to people who follow mindlessly as in the Jonestown people who drank that Kook Aid. It's a reference that is used many times in American business and other settings.

 

[Mefisto]

Apple did not release a MacBook with a headphone jack today. They released MacBook "Pros". As people in the music industry require it for pro use. When they do eventually release a new MacBook which is aimed at consumers I imagine it won't have the port. Though remember one of the reasons for removing it was water proofing and Apple is not currently trying to waterproof the MacBook pros.

I admit to having a few beers in me, but did you per chance quote the wrong post? I'm having a tough time figuring out what you response has to do with my original post, worthless as it may be.

 

[tkatz]

Why can't people just accept that full touch screens are dope for some people and real lousy for other people. And that a customizable toolbar can legitimately only ADD functionality to something that you are already happily using right now without it?

Not every piece of technology is for everyone.

If you want to say it doesn't justify the cost, that is fair but also specific to your financial situation and how you use your device.

Except that you have that backwards. While I'm in the "touch screens are dope" group, their use is not required. If you have a touch screen you can still use your keyboard and mouse and never touch the screen.

However, removing a row of physical keys REMOVES functionality while potentially adding some alternative functionality. I use the escape key regularly. On the touch bar it is now offset to the right. On every other keyboard I own its directly above the tilde key (which I use often as well). I also have muscle memory using various F keys, so I don't have to look down at them to use them.

A lot of what the touch bar was being shown off doing I already do using keystrokes that don't require me to look down at the keyboard.

 

[Nefilim]

Don't worry folks, it is nothing like the Lenovo Adaptive Keyboard... completely different, it has color... sometimes...

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/x-series/x1-carbon-2/

Good thing, Apples approach is completely the opposite of Lenovos - very flexible, responsive and functional, where as lenovos apparenlty had a few different preset symbols per button (and not a seamless row as display)

 

[costabile4601]

As I work from my Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon, with integrated touchbar. I'm sorry, but the cost of Innovation at MAC is quite high.

 

[heymonroe]

An actual pro user who types very fast would find something like a MECHANICAL KEYBOARD a much better value



Oh really? This is the first device with contextual oled key mapping?

http://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002HE5OR6

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3136...apples-touch-bar-before-apples-touch-bar.html

You are only about 9 years late to the party. Not good for a supposed 'pro' user.

Solid point that lousier versions of this technology exist on products that are extremely worthless and/or extremely specific in their application. (A gaming keyboard? Cool comparison) If you want to compare the usage of razer and macbooks lets do that.
[doublepost=1477607787][/doublepost]

Except that you have that backwards. While I'm in the "touch screens are dope" group, their use is not required. If you have a touch screen you can still use your keyboard and mouse and never touch the screen.

However, removing a row of physical keys REMOVES functionality while potentially adding some alternative functionality. I use the escape key regularly. On the touch bar it is now offset to the right. On every other keyboard I own its directly above the tilde key (which I use often as well). I also have muscle memory using the F10-F15 keys, so I don't have to look down at them to use them.

A lot of what the touch bar was being shown off doing I already do using keystrokes that don't require me to look down at the keyboard.

Actually, every photo i've seen has the ESC key in it's normal location (top left) on the touch bar.

 

[MXBY]

Pretty disappointed, or at least ambivalent toward the new MBP.

The toolbar is kinda cool, but I don't think it would make a huge difference for me. I hardly ever look at the keyboard, and make extensive use of keyboard shortcuts or Alfred, which is fast. I don't even need the huge trackpad, because I'm using BetterTouchTool at beyond the top system trackpad sensitivity, and only use a portion of the surface anyway.

The pricing is prohibitive. Will hold on to my current 2013 rMBP for quite a few years, until prices come down again.

What I'm waiting for is a 5K iMac with Thunderbolt 3 and Target Display Mode, but guess I will have to wait another 6-12 months. In the meantime, my 2011 iMac is slowly dying...

 

[tkatz]

Actually, every photo i've seen has the ESC key in it's normal location (top left) on the touch bar.

Nope, on a normal keyboard the escape key is directly above the tilde key. In that image its between the tilde and 1 keys. I find that when I press it I tend to hit the leftish side. I guess the question will be, if you hit anywhere in the black space to the left of "ESC", will that count as hitting the escape key?..

 

[prasand]

Now you're splitting hairs man. You can position it anywhere you like on the courage bar. Hope you enjoy using it.

The blank space to the left which was used for visual balance is a waste. It could have been used towards a button akin to the touch ID button, if they really wanted balance. I wouldn't even care if it was a multi-function button that could be mapped to any purpose including Esc. What is the point of the space on the left? There was no need for them to move the keys over when there are MANY touch typing pros that use a keyboard without looking down. Now, they will have to look down.

 

[heymonroe]

Nope, on a normal keyboard the escape key is directly above the tilde key. In that image its between the tilde and 1 keys. I find that when I press it I tend to hit the leftish side. I guess the question will be, if you hit anywhere in the black space to the left of "ESC", will that count as hitting the escape key?..

Ok, well we can agree that it's NOT on the right, as you claimed earlier? If you want to nitpick the millimeters, I'll concede that to you, as long as you concede that likely after 2 or 3 days of using it you aren't going to notice anymore.

 

[komone]

Proof that the magic of Apple was always and was ONLY ever Steve Jobs. An era is truly closed now that his last influences in direction have drained out of the company. (Look at CEO performance and history of this company, and it's real clear)