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Touch Bar on Apple keyboard?

over 6 years ago from

Are we going to see the Touch Bar on a new Apple keyboard?

31 comments

  • Laurens SpangenbergLaurens Spangenberg, over 6 years ago

    I hope not. In the MacBook Pros, the touch bar is in the same line of vision as the bottom part of the screen. Basically, if you want to glance at the touch bar you simply have to point your eyes to the Dock.

    On iMacs, you would have to practically face your eyes to the keyboard.

    5 points
    • Ray YipRay Yip, over 6 years ago

      No, the buttons on Touch Bar works the same way just like any keys of the keyboard, it's not a kind of second screen.

      1 point
      • Laurens SpangenbergLaurens Spangenberg, over 6 years ago

        Yes it is. The lack of tactility means that you will have to (literally) look at it one way or the other. That isn't a problem on the MacBook Pros, but that will be annoying on iMacs.

        5 points
        • Rolando MurilloRolando Murillo, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

          Hopefully this will improve with haptic feedback or something like that. I actually think Apple did a good job with the home button in iPhone 7 (it almost feels like a real click), I would like this to continue being improved.

          0 points
  • Ix TechauIx Techau, over 6 years ago

    This is why I'm not interested in the new MBPs yet. I plug my laptop into an external screen+keyboard+trackpad at work, and use it as an actual laptop at home. I don't want to get used to the touch bar at home only to lose that functionality at work.

    3 points
  • Doug OrchardDoug Orchard, over 6 years ago

    Would be more useful! But since it has it's own ARM processor. That idea would increase the cost another $200. So feasibly it will never happen.

    3 points
    • Vivek GaniVivek Gani, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

      Processors with an ARM instruction set architecture aren't necessarily expensive - and they come in a huuuge variety of flavors depending on just how much computing you need. Volume BOM cost of just the chip range from pennies to a few bucks. Apple probably also pays a smaller ARM licensing fee due to the sheer volume/negotiating they do.

      My speculation would be we see touchbar keyboard for ~200 alongside the imac refresh in Q1 2017. The cheaper "Magic Keyboard" will still be sold for the budget-conscious/those that don't want the touchbar.

      Had a crazy thought that just the touchbar itself could be sold as a passthrough added to the magic keyboard, but that's too awkward of a solution.

      1 point
      • Doug OrchardDoug Orchard, over 6 years ago

        Don't get me wrong, Apple tends to overcharge on 'features'. The touchBar being the latest in these.

        The new Pros have basically the same chip in the apple watch running the watchOS. The cost alone for these chips cannot be expensive it's just the Apple tax applied after.

        0 points
    • Cory MalnarickCory Malnarick, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

      they may push towards integrating iOS with MacOS and offer some kind of integrated touch bar product for tablets that expand your desktop into your tablet in a touchbar "way," since much of the tech exists on tablets (or can) see: quadro.me

      1 point
      • Vivek GaniVivek Gani, over 6 years ago

        Agree - that fits in well with the touchbar idea making more sense within 'fullscreen mode' experiences.

        0 points
    • Marc EdwardsMarc Edwards, over 6 years ago

      Lots of Apple’s adaptors have ARM CPUs in them.

      1 point
    • John PJohn P, over 6 years ago

      ARM is cheap as chips, the one they are using likely costs them less than $10

      0 points
  • Andu PotoracAndu Potorac, over 6 years ago

    Yes.

    3 points
  • Stephen Thomas, over 6 years ago

    Are you okay plugging in your keyboard every few days to charge it? Or going back to a full wired keyboard?

    1 point
    • Marc EdwardsMarc Edwards, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

      Make the keyboard wired! :P

      2 points
    • Laurens SpangenbergLaurens Spangenberg, over 6 years ago

      I don't think there's anything particularly scandalous about seeing a cable in the middle of your desk every few days for a few hours.

      1 point
    • John PJohn P, over 6 years ago

      Never bothered moving to the wireless ones anyway seen as they were a pile of crap for years. Stupid little screw battery door that got stuck, ate batteries too fast, etc.

      0 points
  • John PJohn P, over 6 years ago

    Honestly I doubt it, not for any technical reason but simply because people who would sign it off don't care about desktop users.

    0 points
  • Grady Kelly, over 6 years ago

    I thought about this on Friday and wrote about it on Medium today.

    https://medium.com/@gradykelly/the-touch-bar-should-have-been-on-the-magic-keyboard-first-201f7b21ed05#.mq1c34odo

    https://dribbble.com/shots/3056600-Invision-Touch-Barhttps://dribbble.com/shots/3056814-Invision-Touch-Bar-Track-Pad

    0 points
  • Diö Arista R Diö Arista R , over 6 years ago

    I Don't know, but i see there no have F1-F12 , maybe make me should change the shortcuts for keyframe? i use adobe animator cc..

    0 points
  • n keylen keyle, over 6 years ago

    Hopefully off to the side. It'd be more ergonomic. In fact I could see them replacing the keypad with that.

    Sad thing is I use Windows so unless some fancy hackery happens (which I'm hopeful someone will), it could mean I should stock up on the current apple keyboards.

    0 points
  • Cory MalnarickCory Malnarick, over 6 years ago

    Why didn't Apple buy the leap motion and integrate it into the touchbar?

    0 points
  • Andy LeverenzAndy Leverenz, over 6 years ago

    I'd say it's coming or something similar for iMac/ Mac Pro users.

    0 points
    • John PJohn P, over 6 years ago

      The idea of Apple caring about the needs of Mac Pro users at all is utterly laughable. It hasn't been updated in 3 years.

      0 points
  • Norm Sheeran, over 6 years ago

    Yes in time for the new imac

    0 points
  • Hanu ManHanu Man, over 6 years ago

    Hype!

    0 points