Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Permanent Esc key on 2016 MBP Magic Toolbar?

A

Appleaker

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jun 13, 2016
2,197
4,194
esc_key.png


The positioning of the 'cancel' button on the Magic Toolbar has been strange, but it could suggest a fixed escape key.

By this, I mean one that is a software key although present throughout all functions, such as Apple Pay.

The above is the most likely option, however it would be interesting if Apple implemented 2 physical keys/buttons either side of the Magic Toolbar (right for escape, and left for power/TouchID). There is a very subtle difference in shading between the cancel button and the black area, so maybe this is the case?
 
I'm not a fan of the missing escape key or even a software escape key. What happens if the software glitches/locks up? No escape until you restart? Oh wait.... there's no physical power button either.... i guess you will have to remove the power chord and battery...oh wait.... ugh

Im stoked for every other update.... smaller bezel and footprint, new keyboard, new display, new guts, new ports.... but that missing escape and power keys seem to unnecessarily make users dependent on the reliability of software(which manages the toolbar)....all for what? visual symmetry?
 
  • Like
Reactions: arkitect, Hustler1337, T'hain Esh Kelch and 1 other person
hawkeye_a said:
I'm not a fan of the missing escape key or even a software escape key. What happens if the software glitches/locks up? No escape until you restart? Oh wait.... there's no physical power button either.... i guess you will have to remove the power chord and battery...oh wait.... ugh

Im stoked for every other update.... smaller bezel and footprint, new keyboard, new display, new guts, new ports.... but that missing escape and power keys seem to unnecessarily make users dependent on the reliability of software(which manages the toolbar)....all for what? visual symmetry?
Click to expand...
I agree with you, although there is an option to assign the escape key to another key. However that removed the function of the other key...

Thankfully the power button is physical or if you're right then it could be pressure sensitive but I do think it needs to be a physical button anyway.
 
As far as the 'computer-human-interfce'.... whats the point of this toolbar? What could it "do" that couldn't be achieved with current keyboard function keys?

TouchID is great...IMHO they should have put it onto the existing power button. If they wanted to customize keyboards they should have opted for an entire eInk type keyboard, where the function keys change as well. (But not things like the Escape/Tab/caps/Shift/Return keys, etc)

This "Magic Toolbar" is a complication, an obstacle, dare I say, a gimmick to using the machine. IMHO
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aquaporin and Appleaker
MVMNT said:
Future handoff feature.

Power off your machine from your device?
Click to expand...
That seems to make sense for desktops, as it would be part of the Home app.
[doublepost=1477519627][/doublepost]
hawkeye_a said:
As far as the 'computer-human-interfce'.... whats the point of this toolbar? What could it "do" that couldn't be achieved with current keyboard function keys?

TouchID is great...IMHO they should have put it onto the existing power button. If they wanted to customize keyboards they should have opted for an entire eInk type keyboard, where the function keys change as well. (But not things like the Escape/Tab/caps/Shift/Return keys, etc)

This "Magic Toolbar" is a complication, an obstacle, dare I say, a gimmick to using the machine. IMHO
Click to expand...
Yeah it'll be a gimmick and that's all review will talk about. It does provide extra functionality but at a trade-off to many Pro users. An e-ink display would have been an option that everybody would be happy with and it could be applied to the whole keyboard.
 
What else has been magic so far in Apple's inventory.

Mouse. Trackpad.

How have they fared?
 
MVMNT said:
What else has been magic so far in Apple's inventory.

Mouse. Trackpad.

How have they fared?
Click to expand...
They've fared pretty well, haven't they.......?

In any case, physical buttons (or alternative methods) for both of these somewhat vital keys are a must. We'll see pretty soon what solution has been applied.
 
Appleaker said:
The positioning of the 'cancel' button on the Magic Toolbar has been strange, but it could suggest a fixed escape key.
Click to expand...

Why display Cancel on the OLED bar if there's already an Escape key next to it? That'll just lead to #DoublEscGate.
 
Scary Spice said:
Where did you find this pic? If it is real, it looks dangerous if you try to close the lid on it!
Click to expand...
Don't worry, it's just a render by Martin Hajek - The same person who did the widely used MacBook Pro renders.
But you bring up a good point - If (or I should say when) that accessory is made, it would have to be put in every time you want to use it, and taken out when you're done, and put in your adapter bag (if it can fit).
 
leman said:
Can we wait another 10 hours before complaining? I'm sure they though of the escape key ;)
Click to expand...

No! Those 10 hours are precious for me to complain!!!! ;)

Apple may as well have an "out" for this issue, or they might as well have good reason to do it. But IMHO...changing such a fundamental usage pattern that has been around for almost as long as keyboards have is frustrating. It would be akin to them finding a different layout for the keys on the keyboard.... they could have all the research to support the change, all the good intentions, etc... but would it warrant such a disruption for users? "Just because they can do something, doesn't mean that they should".

I suspect such "features" are the product of the "yes men" culture of the post-Steve Apple.

I am eager to see how the thing works. but so far i see it as a gimmick, an unnecessary complication and expense on the product (like 3D touch on the iPhone). If they need to "highlight" touchID when its waiting for a fingerprint to read, they could have had a pulsating light on the powerbutton with TouchID, they dont need an additional screen to get a user's attention, which removes existing functionality(keys) IMHO.

Worst case for users, is they buy an external USB keyboard(and additional dock to USB-C) to try and ignore that bar. I was fine with them getting rid of the floppy, the CD/DVD drive, etc...but the escape key and power button might be too far IMHO.... we'll see. /end rant
 
hawkeye_a said:
I am eager to see how the thing works
Click to expand...

I think the escape key will be there as usually, but apps might be flexible to override it with something else they need. For instance, TextMate uses escape for auto-completion. It would be neat if it could spell that out (maybe even with a hint for what it could autocomplete it to) in the bar instead.

hawkeye_a said:
but so far i see it as a gimmick
Click to expand...

Of course its a gimmick :p But so is HiDPI display, wide gamut screen, ergonomic keyboards etc etc. These things are not really nessessary and we can do without them. But these gimmicks can also make our lives easier and nicer. It remains to be seen whether this will also be true for the touchbar. I can potentially see some neat applications for it.

hawkeye_a said:
like 3D touch on the iPhone
Click to expand...

3D touch is amazing! It adds an entire dimension to the user interaction. I find it very useful.
 
dv8r said:
"The Escape key is ancient, it needs to die, so we courageously removed it."

That kind of thinking?
Click to expand...
"But if you're stuck in the past and would like a physical escape key, we offer a great external escape key for just $29"
 
I'm amazed that some of the people in this thread haven't thrown themselves off a bridge when they run out of milk. What if my local shop doesn't have the one I like!

If apple ever remove the home button from the iphone there will be people genuinely panicking about how they will exit apps. I'll let you in on a secret.... Apple know we need a power button and esc button. They also know that we need a way to hard reset the laptop if it freezes up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ctyrider
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back