After being snubbed by some professionals for its 16GB RAM limit and lack of traditional USB ports, the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar has now been banned from bar examinations in a number of U.S. states.
A testing company has warned that the Touch Bar — specifically its predictive text feature — compromises exam integrity, so students are forced to use another laptop.
Despite its critics, its limitations, and its crazy price tag, the new MacBook Pro has been incredibly popular since making its debut. Apple says it is its fastest-selling pro machine to date, but those who bought one to study law are going to regret it.
CNET reports that machines equipped with the swanky new Touch Bar have been banned from bar exams in a number of U.S. states, including New York and Colorado. Others, such as North Carolina, will allow them so long as users disable the predictive text function.
The reason? According to ExamSoft, a company that provides exam management solutions, the predictive text function compromises exam integrity by assisting students with their test answers.
In states where the machine has been banned completely, students who turn up with one will be forced to write their answers on paper. In states where the machine is allowed with predictive text disabled, invigilators will be present to verify the feature is turned off.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
5 responses to “MacBook Pro with Touch Bar banned from bar exams”
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I took the Bar before all this portable computer nonsense. We had to think about our answers, outline them, and then hand write them.
Just because you can type fast and use lots of words doesn’t mean your answer is any better than one that is logical, well thought out, and well written.
[Shakes fist at cloud]
I don’t understand what the issue is. Are they implying that it’s a bar exam AND a spelling test?
If I understand correctly, predictive typing tries to suggest how to complete sentences so if there was a question related to a legal term or phrase, you could theoretically start typing it and the bar would suggest the possible ways to complete the term. That’s the only advantage I can think of that is remotely possible with the bar.
Are they saying a dumb text prediction algorithm can pass a law exam? Holy shit, it must be an easy exam.