I wonder if people have come around to the touchbar. It was almost universally derided on HN when it became a thing. Personally, I haven't, which is one of the reasons I'm glad I switched to the M1 Macbook Air which doesn't have the touchbar. Now I can change the volume and the brightness without having to look down!
I never used it, but I'd love to try. I think that it's a great concept, because I rarely use Fx buttons, I can't memorize them. They're useful for debuggers, but every IDE defines them differently, so I just gave up. I think that I'd love this feature and it's sad to see it gone, I'm considering buying M1 Macbook 16" and according to rumors it'll have ordinary keyboard.
Of course Esc must be a separate physical key, but they did it right in the latest revisions.
I’m on the side that mostly dislikes touch bar (although my opinion is nowhere that extreme. Slight preference at best).
But I tell you what, it was the first time in my 30 years of being around computers that I had to reinstall the OS because my Esc key disappeared. No joke.
Even tried contacting Apple support.. nobody was able to help me to reset settings and make Esc come back. I think that’s kinda hilarious situation.
There is some weird point to your comment. If the touchbar was truly useful/successful it would be on the Magic Keyboard.
Due to laws regarding workplace ergonomic you’re required to have a real keyboard, you cannot use the one on the laptop (this is in Denmark). That means that the Magic Keyboard is a requirement in professional settings. The touchbar therefor is specifically NOT for professional use, it’s not available.
I think if “anyone” actually cared for it, they’d have offered it. I don’t see them introducing a pro-pro-keyboard with Touch ID plus Touch Bar in addition to one with just Touch ID, but I can imagine a world where only an upgrade with both existed.