[ntkachov]

I disagree that its an awful idea. If anything its a pretty great idea with a lackluster execution. There are alot of problems it can solve but it needs to have a killer app first to drive adoption. "Contextually sensitive" actions are decent but not the killer app.

[vidoc]

> I disagree that its an awful idea. If anything its a pretty great idea with a lackluster execution.

I dont think any execution can overcome the fact that going from analogic to software keys is a downgrade in terms of usability.

[robenkleene]

It's only true that a physical key is always better if you're sending a single key press event, which unfortunately is usually the case for most Touch Bar controls, but there are certain use cases where sending a stream of events is preferably: For example adjusting color sliders in Photoshop, or a volume fader in Logic Pro.

The foundational problem with the Touch Bar is that it's a UI only for some use cases that are desktop-first workflows (like design and music production). And not only is the Touch Bar not available for the desktop, the form factor is so compromised by the small size of a laptop that it ends up not even being good for the use cases that it is a good fit for on a laptop.

I was initially excited when I saw the Touch Bar, because I hate adjusting sliders and knobs with the mouse (and find that UI element to be nicer to use on an iPad for example). But the Touch Bar is so small it's terrible for adjusting sliders and knobs, and I usually use an Exeter all keyboard and mouse when I'm doing these tasks anyway...

[jonplackett]

What we need is keys with tiny screens on. Tactile feel so you can use without looking AND contextual.

If only someone had made something like this already... oh yeah gamer keyboards have had this for YEARS.

[karatestomp]

It needs to require pressure to activate, not a micrometer of skin brushing the edge of it, before I'll have to stop disabling most of it to make my laptop keyboard usable.

I find force touch trackpad unusable, too. Can't drag+drop reliably on it—like, maybe a 25% success rate for a click & drag of any significant length. Wife's the same way (except she didn't know the feature existed, so thought her new laptop was broken). Had to disable it on both our machines, which is fine since I don't remember what they said it was for at the event where it was announced, so I'm missing nothing. Both of us are young-ish and have entirely OK manual dexterity and sensitivity, as far as I know.

[onemoresoop]

I want F keys on my keyboard. It could have been an additional thing but just slashing the F-row and replacing it with touch keys ain't too practical. Still miss the headphone jack.

[darkerside]

Solution in search of a problem