TouchBar haters, what do you use the F keys for?

[Lucas Curious]

just wondering what people use the F keys for other than adjusting volume and brightness? My use is assigning them to different Apps so that I can quickly jump around 10 spaces since this is faster than swiping trackpad unless anyone has a better way.

 

[mouthster]

Volume, brightness, sometimes play/pause. Point is I don't have to look down to do those things. Also loving the full fat escape key on the new keyboard.

 

[Pugly]

I assign them to key commands in Logic Pro, you can switch them back to function keys in keyboard settings. It gives you 12 extra easy to find key commands(and even more with modifier keys of course)... which is sort of what the touchbar is doing but much better. The TouchBar is just too slow, and pulls me out of the creative process... I do like having it in sidecar though.

I've been starting to assign the function keys to other key commands in other Apps too. I think I've only really scratched the surface of what I can get out of them.

I still keep volume controls on the function keys though, everything else holding down the fn key no big deal.

 

[HardBall]

Not a hater, I actually found tocuhbar occasionally useful, for the times that I do sketching or photo editing on the side. I do absolutely need the physical esc key, the 2016 implementation of that was patently awful. Another thing that happens is when I try to wipe down the keyboard with an isopropyl alcohol cloth, it usually randomly activates something ridiculous, not a good design trait.

 

[ElectronGuru]

My use is assigning them to different Apps so that I can quickly jump around 10 spaces since this is faster than swiping trackpad unless anyone has a better way.

I assign specific spaces to particular apps or app pairings. Then activating a specific app auto loads the space it’s assigned to.

 

[Lucas Curious]

I assign specific spaces to particular apps or app pairings. Then activating a specific app auto loads the space it’s assigned to.

can you provide instructions how to do this?

 

[bobcomer]

just wondering what people use the F keys for other than adjusting volume and brightness? My use is assigning them to different Apps so that I can quickly jump around 10 spaces since this is faster than swiping trackpad unless anyone has a better way.

I always have an app running that uses the function keys. (F1, F2, ...)

 

[lordhamster]

just wondering what people use the F keys for

Mostly for writing curse words.

 

[EnderTW]

Not having to look at a touchscreen when focusing on my work. dumbest design ever.

 

[Maxim Glukhov]

I am a software engineer and the IDE I use has many shortcuts that use the F keys by default, either on their own or a combination with other keys. Given that I am usually working with external keyboard I am very used to those shortcuts and remember them blindly.

To use the same shortcuts with the touchbar was a nightmare since I have to actually look down for them and I don't have the feedback of pressing them like the rest of the keys, that means I have to stop what I am doing. There's some support from the IDEs to display those shortcuts as icons on the touchbar but it doesn't really solve the problem and usually not all shortcuts I need fit there, plus I give up other system controls that you mentioned.

Having those physical F keys there will allow me to work nearly as fast as I work with external keyboard.

 

[ElectronGuru]

can you provide instructions how to do this?

0) recommend closing existing spaces first

1) make a new empty space

2) go to that space

3) click hold on the docked app to assign

4) navigate the menu to ‘this desktop’

5) repeat for other apps to that space

6) repeat 1-5 for other spaces

7) test by clicking assigned apps in the dock but other app activations work too

* works best if avoid making spaces for other purposes, but full screen spaces are fine!

 

[Rafterman]

I can't say I found the touchbar super-useful, but it sure does look cool.

 

[Nismo73]

Personally I would want regular keys for Escape, Brightness and Volume…then a mini touchbar in the middle area.

 

[DaveOP]

I never hated the Touch Bar, but I got a ton of accidental touches on it while typing. It's nice to not have Siri, unmute, etc randomly happening anymore.

 

[ethant]

As the other poster mentioned, they are very frequently used by developers in their tools. Also used a lot when working in Excel.

 

[R3k]

Power using Logic, sometimes I can’t tell people what key commands I’m using as it’s just muscle memory st this point. The Touch Bar killed that for the F keys and why I always brought along an external keyboard. Not a problem now.

 

[AFK]

I can't say I found the touchbar super-useful, but it sure does look cool.

love staring at it and it makes me giggle like a little girl when i see it switch based on the app i use.

i mainly use my hand built mechanical keyboard and my function keys have custom artisan keycaps on it. so i guess no different than the touchbar in terms of usefulness ?