Touch Bar should be bottom of keyboard?

[Chupa Chupa]

That would completely upend the typing layout and make the correct hard position for typing awkward to achieve.

Touchbar should be the on-screen dock area so the users eyes can maintain contact with the screen. I know Schiller/Apple doesn't like touch screen and maybe they are correct on a desktop where the user sits farther away from the screen. But we are talking laptop here. My fingers are inches away from the screen.

 

[Wowereit]

You know what would've been kind of cool?
The trackpad is glass anyway, so putting an OLED display under the glass won't change the feel at all but you could use it for TB-like things.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

You know what would've been kind of cool?
The trackpad is glass anyway, so putting an OLED display under the glass won't change the feel at all but you could use it for TB-like things.

So replace a pointing device with another pointing device? Basically turn the touchpad into a touchscreen version of what's on the display? Seems pointless. Also how would you use it as a pointing device if you're touching icons?

 

[WuMyster]

You know what would've been kind of cool?
The trackpad is glass anyway, so putting an OLED display under the glass won't change the feel at all but you could use it for TB-like things.

No. People who think this should sit down and really think. Turning the touchpad into an iPhone/iPad? How are you supposed to move the cursor.

 

[Mais78]

It's an extension of the keyboard replacing the function keys

Note really, if Apple's intention was to just replace the Fn keys they would not have bothered. It wants to be much more, try it. I just think implementation is not great. At least for Safari I don't see the point, I don't see myself switching tabs using the TB, waste of time.

 

[wegster]

It's a good job designers exist.

Exactly.
Simple hand gesture or keep the OLED portion minimized at top, or disabled altogether. I can think of a dozen ways to solve this 'problem' - guess the other guy can't, while calling people 'stupid.' It's ok, feel free to think only inside the box.

 

[jclardy]

Bottom has one major issue - accidental touches and no visibility. With your hands in the standard typing position, your palms are covering 75% of what would be the below keyboard touchbar. So now you have to move your hands just to see what is being displayed, let alone accidentally hitting things with your palms or thumb when hitting the spacebar.

 

[Macalway]

Side touch bars yes. you have all that space. Sure the speakers are there, that's a problem, but....

Below the keyboard? Not so sure about that. Then again, the entire area could be a graphic touch surface. I mean, the trackpad is that, minus the visuals, and practically takes up the whole bottom half anyway.

Then cost is a factor. I think if they charged another few bucks it would not go well.

 

[Brandon Hobart]

The touch bar is meant to be touched only. If it is located at the bottom (where you want it to be) and you accidentally touched it at the wrong time/place, it can cause problems. Although, the place you have described is obviously at an easy approach but Apple have classified engineers who must have decided the place for the touch bar accurate. It can be bad for some cases but it is good for most of the cases.