Yes, but you can map Caps Lock to Esc so it's not a deal breaker for me. However with changes like this, I think that people may slowly start considering Windows again because it now has a Linux command line and the new Surface devices are looking really nice.
Truth is I have had about 6 Mac Book Pros in a row, but i'm probably on my last one. i predict my next laptop will not be a mac. I'm just not on board with the hardware and cost anymore
This seems eerily appropriate:
PS, I see they also removed the magsafe connector, not cool.
The strip should have been above the function keys and escape key. As a VIM user (both in command line and in IntelliJ), I use the escape key all the time! A touch-screen escape is not the same, you don't get the feedback you get with a physical key. Reassigning another key is not an option, I use all the keys.
The lack of a power button is also concerning, my 2011 Mac still has a physical power button, and even though I hardly use it, once every two years I might need it to do a hard reset if things completely lock up, I don't see how the new MacBook will be immune against that.
Other than that, I now have to sacrifice volume buttons as well as brightness buttons for widgets on the touchbar, if I have to re-add all those buttons (volume +, volume -, mute, brightness +, brightness -, escape, power button,... ), there's not much space left for useful widgets on the touchbar.
To me it feels like an expensive gimmick that will actually hinder my workflow. If I had both function keys and the touch strip, I could see it being very useful.
Yes, although to be honest I'm more bothered by the lack of a physical power button. No matter what anyone hopes for, sometimes the OS gets locked up. I really don't want to be relying on a softkey at that point; nor trying to remember some non-obvious keyboard combo.
As a machine for dev: I'd rather see physical ESC and Power keys with the touch strip in between. That'd keep it nice and symmetrical while keeping the two keys I actually kinda care about.
To be fair - depending how hackable the strip is, I can see a hell of a lot of positives for developers. On-keyboard build results, anyone? ;) Also... developers probably don't make up as big a slice of the market as we probably like to think.
Apart from the insane price - surely it's a good thing - Because you can configure it to have esc and F keys In addition to many other?
They've taken the Vim vs. Emacs war to a whole new level ...
Mostly, but not surprised, by the fact the touchbar costs $400 alone. You can get an OLED TV for less than that.
I barely use ESC key. But the hardware of Surface Studio and Dial really appeal to me. Even though i don't draw things often, I would really like to have such a screen to draw things.
And Macbook, nothing but a very very tiny touch screen called touch bar. Can even draw pictures with it.