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I tried to love the Touch Bar but now I'm ready for it to go away

Macworld

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October 2021

Apple needs to bring Center Stage to the Mac ASAP.

- ROMAN LOYOLA

I tried to love the Touch Bar but now I'm ready for it to go away

Five years ago this fall, Apple introduced a new MacBook Pro (fave.co/3Bp89Es). But this wasn’t your ordinary spec bump, this MacBook Pro featured a love-it-or-hate-it feature: the Touch Bar, Apple’s answer to the touchscreen interfaces that became popular in Windows laptops. The OLED strip replaced the top row of keys on the MacBook Pro keyboard, and the controls it displays change based on the software you are using.

Some thought the Touch Bar was a brilliant innovation, including a few here at Macworld. When the Touch Bar was unveiled, Macworld posted articles proclaiming “The MacBook Pro’s innovative Touch Bar will grab you” (fave. co/2Y9YhQz) and the “Touch Bar is the touchscreen done right” (fave.co/3jquQli). But those were the opinions of individuals I worked with, and my experience with the Touch Bar was different. I didn’t like it at all.

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