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Am I the only one missing the touchbar?
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Am I the only one who misses the MBP Touch Bar?
Whenever I see an MBP with TB out in the wild (student I tutor or clients who own them), I see the owners using the Touch Bar—A LOT.
I’m extremely jealous. I also notice that it’s become somewhat of a novelty. When I see MBPs for sale on Facebook Marketplace or eBay, they generally lead with “MacBook Pro w/Touch Bar."
Am I the only one who misses it (who doesn’t even own one)? I feel Apple could have done a good more with it had they developed it.
Whenever I see an MBP with TB out in the wild (student I tutor or clients who own them), I see the owners using the Touch Bar—A LOT.
I’m extremely jealous. I also notice that it’s become somewhat of a novelty. When I see MBPs for sale on Facebook Marketplace or eBay, they generally lead with “MacBook Pro w/Touch Bar."
Am I the only one who misses it (who doesn’t even own one)? I feel Apple could have done a good more with it had they developed it.
The TB was a polarizing design with pros and cons. It could have had a brighter future had Apple actually invested in developing their idea, instead they confined it to the MBP line and left it there to rot. It ended up being perceived as a solution in search of a problem, relying on 3rd party apps and configs to get something useful out of it, which sealed its fate.
YMMV but at the end of the day I don't really miss it, mainly because as a non-tactile input device it went against the way I use a laptop keyboard.
YMMV but at the end of the day I don't really miss it, mainly because as a non-tactile input device it went against the way I use a laptop keyboard.
It's 50/50 for me. Having a screen with software controls on the keyboard deck is really handy, especially in apps like Final Cut, where it shined in timeline scrubbing, however in most apps it was a nuisance as Apple never did much with it, third-parties didn't support it at all (or not very well), and they got rid of physical function keys.
Controlling system functions like volume and brightness became more annoying then it had previously been. For example, in many apps I need to adjust the volume frequently and having to tap a button and scroll a slider instead of pressing a key made working so much harder than it used to be.
10 out of 10 Concept, 0 out of 10 Execution.
Controlling system functions like volume and brightness became more annoying then it had previously been. For example, in many apps I need to adjust the volume frequently and having to tap a button and scroll a slider instead of pressing a key made working so much harder than it used to be.
10 out of 10 Concept, 0 out of 10 Execution.
The introduction of the Touch Bar made me think of this incident. Maybe it was brought up a lot at the time, idk I didn't hang much on MR during those years.
But let's just say I saw it as an explanation on why the bar wasn't there in addition to the function keys. The idea was probably that it would feel more intuitive than just another row of keys.
And I think it TOTALLY could have felt that way too, if third parties had embraced it fully as well. But the motivation is of course pretty low when only a sub-set of high end laptops from Apple had these things. In my opinion they should have been more on the ball with this one, offered it on the entire laptop-line and tried selling standalone touch-bar keyboards as well.
I can miss the touch-bar at times (eh.. I still use my MBP with touch-bar regularly..) but all in all the lack of support made it pretty easy to transition from. It's still really cool, though.
https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11370 said:
But let's just say I saw it as an explanation on why the bar wasn't there in addition to the function keys. The idea was probably that it would feel more intuitive than just another row of keys.
And I think it TOTALLY could have felt that way too, if third parties had embraced it fully as well. But the motivation is of course pretty low when only a sub-set of high end laptops from Apple had these things. In my opinion they should have been more on the ball with this one, offered it on the entire laptop-line and tried selling standalone touch-bar keyboards as well.
I can miss the touch-bar at times (eh.. I still use my MBP with touch-bar regularly..) but all in all the lack of support made it pretty easy to transition from. It's still really cool, though.
It seems to me people who call it a useless gimmick, have not used it, or at least don’t use their laptop for so many things that are common to me, such as forms where you have to enter your name, phone, address, email, etc. etc. Although I’ve often been annoyed by touching it accidentally when trying to use the number keys, having it to just touch once and it fills in my whole address and similar stuff has saved me a lot of time, and continues to do so, not every day but very very often.
Having just moved from a 2016 MBP to a 2021 MBP, yes, I miss the Touchbar. Lots of little conveniences that I took for granted, such as, with one tap, being able to auto fill phone numbers, address, etc. into web forms, ability to end a video conference without using the mouse to click on the button on the screen, etc.
I think it was just implimented at the wrong time along with the removal of the function buttons. I remember when I had my intel based MBP and the touch bar would get extremely hot because of the intel chip because it would only be a certain area mostly. Since I have the M1 MBP I do still have it and use it somewhat I still find myself using gestures more and since I don't watch a lot of video and whatnot I don't find using some features all that much. The biggest thing though is that it never gets hot with the M1 and I really feel most issues like freezing and whatnot was caused because of the heat on the touch bar especially depending what you were doing I am sure there are others here that can agree, but the intel based MBPs could get seriously hot
There are laptops that implement a similar type of component, but like the touchbar it seems very niche. I've said a lot about the touch bar over the years.
One of the major downfalls to me, is that if a product manufacturer removes a feature and then forces its customers to use a less efficient means, well that's going to piss off its customers. The removal of the function keys are just that. More people used them then Apple thought and they misjudged that sometimes physical keys are superior to touchscreen.
Another downfall, is the lack of adoption. I don't know too many applications that really took full use of the touchbar. There were some to be sure, but by and large it's adoption was less then luke warm imo
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Personally I think the Touch Bar was great, and it is missed, but the standard function keys are far more useful and reliable also, also the adoption of the Touch Bar by developers was weak.
I think it would have been a better idea for apple to incorporate the touch at into the bottom bezel of the screen this generation whilst also bringing back the function keys.
I think it would have been a better idea for apple to incorporate the touch at into the bottom bezel of the screen this generation whilst also bringing back the function keys.
That is true, touchbar use is a niche thing and more of a secondary choice or optional feature. It started too strong between the removal of the function keys and basically mandatory on every Mac sold during the timeframe. So I certainly agree with you on that and I should have added that in my original response.
I think the lack of adaptation certainly didn’t help, and this relates to what I said about being like a supporting feature so that people who say like being able to scrub video with it can or play the next song they are listening too without needing to memorize they button combo to do certain things.
No. I love the Touch Bar and I'd love to see it on the m series Macs. I think the only people who hated it either A. Never used it or B. Did really basic stuff and didn't have apps that took advantage of it.
Apple could have pushed it farther by allowing end users to customize it easier verses the developers of an app though.
Apple could have pushed it farther by allowing end users to customize it easier verses the developers of an app though.
Definitely miss it, mainly for auto-filling web forms. Also useful for some other random things too, like quickly adding a label to files in the Finder. The formatting buttons were very useful when typing in Notes. There were many times when I didn’t use it when I could, but when I did, it was very handy.
While there are some things I miss about the touchbar (mainly customizing it using Better Touch Tool), overall I can't say I've missed it since moving to my new MBP. I used BTT to set up things like one touch screenshots, some FCP controls, and autofilling lines of code in XCode, but I've found other ways to accomplish the same goals without the touchbar.
I only have 1 TB Mac my 15" 2017, I did like using Pock and putting the dock in it. That was kinda cool I thought
I do not miss it because I have never used it, but I think it deserved a second chance.
I think it was a good idea that was poorly executed.
I think it was a good idea that was poorly executed.
I LOVE the TouchBar. Absolutely adore it. I still have the original (now vintage) MBP 15" with TouchBar and I refuse to upgrade because I can't envisage functioning without it. You see, I type in three languages and the TB is very, very, very useful as anyone who types in multiple languages can attest. It automatically adjusts to the language to help in spelling and word anticipation. It's also much more convenient for taking screenshots and volume, brightness, emoji and video player functions. I will hold on to it as long as I can.
I'm considering purchasing the 13" MBP that still offers the TB and putting it in storage for when my 15" finally clunks into complete obsolescence so I can pull it out then. If Apple doesn't bring back the TB, I anticipate I'll continue to have it for at least the next decade or unless some radical new innovation makes it unnecessary. I've become too used to it and I'm not interested in a MacBook without one.
Fingers crossed 🤞 that Apple hasn't completely written it off and is considering making it optional or having it co-exist with the old function keys (which I don't care for because I never use them anyway). I feel TB haters were just more vocal than those of us who had no complaints and that if the current top-end models offered a TB option, they would sell out faster than those with function keys. No data, just a hunch.
So, Mr Cook. If you're reading this 😂 Please bring back the TouchBar.
I'm considering purchasing the 13" MBP that still offers the TB and putting it in storage for when my 15" finally clunks into complete obsolescence so I can pull it out then. If Apple doesn't bring back the TB, I anticipate I'll continue to have it for at least the next decade or unless some radical new innovation makes it unnecessary. I've become too used to it and I'm not interested in a MacBook without one.
Fingers crossed 🤞 that Apple hasn't completely written it off and is considering making it optional or having it co-exist with the old function keys (which I don't care for because I never use them anyway). I feel TB haters were just more vocal than those of us who had no complaints and that if the current top-end models offered a TB option, they would sell out faster than those with function keys. No data, just a hunch.
So, Mr Cook. If you're reading this 😂 Please bring back the TouchBar.
It is kind of like dynamic island with developer support lacking but for some features it was really cool. It would have been nice if they kept at least one modern model with it like the M2 MBA.
I could never buy the old style MBP just because of the bezels alone.
However the idea and execution got a lot of flac from people that I thought was BS.
A function key is nice but how many times do you really need it while the touchbar could morph into video and audio controls to allow granular playback controls.
I think it really depends if Mac's will ever get a full fledge touchscreen or OLED screens?
If we had an OLED touchscreen then the touchbar would be redundant.
It’s always interesting to me the level of appreciation and derision from different people for the same feature! Slight bezels never bothered me in the slightest yet for some people they’re an actual distraction.
Very often! Apparently to many more than me, the option to have discrete function keys instantly at the ready is preferable with her, having to do a few taps or swipes to get to the desired function.
This is like the argument for or against replacing buttons in cars with touchscreens. There are pros/cons for each, but when you drill right down to the basics of, say, "instant access" vs. "vast customization/flexibility," preferences vary immensely. (I'm a button guy; touchscreens of any great complexity do not belong in cars IMHO and seem more about giving engineers/designers a creative outlet for a solution in search of a problem)
God, I hope we never get touchscreen Macs. Not only would that result in de-improvements to the OS interface to accommodate touch/tap, but unlike iPhone or mobile device that’s easy to adjust and wipe the screen clean, the idea of smudges and marks on a laptop screen that’s usually left at a constant angle (such that the smudges and fingerprints would be too easily seen and be constantly required to be wiped away) would drive me nuts.
A main problem with the Touch Bar is that Apple messed up by replacing the function keys; I believe their absence was the bigger pain than having the Touch Bar. Having both would be the ideal option; a touchbar either above the function keys or just under the screen.
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I agree. I think he touchbar would have been great as an extra set of controls instead of replacing the Fn row, but it was missing wide 3rd party support. Better Touch Tool really showed how useful it could be.
This isn't right – there was more sophisticated function baked in to the Touch Bar technology.
Instead of tapping on the volume/brightness icon in the Touch Bar, and then moving the slider, you can instead tap & hold the icon, then start sliding to make a precise adjustment in one go.
I still have a 13" and 15" MacBook Pro that have the Touch Bar (I'm not selling them due to poor trade-in value, might as well keep it), and it is pretty cool I would say for casual use.