Apple’s new Touch Bar looks like the coolest innovation since trackpads, but there’s just one problem: You must buy a brand new MacBook Pro to get it.
It seems inevitable that Apple will eventually bring the Touch Bar to all Macs, so a concept artist created a mockup of what that may look like. It looks like a Touch Bar on a new Magic Keyboard would be even more incredible than on the MacBook Pro.
Take a closer look:
Photo: Hazza42/Reddit
Apple introduced the new Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro at a keynote last week. The new input uses a touch-sensitive OLED screen to display dynamic buttons and controls based on what app you’re using.
[contextly_auto_sidebar] Developers can add support for the Touch Bar to their apps. A number of Apple’s popular apps will support the new feature once the Touch Bar-equipped MacBook Pros ship next month.
Making the Touch Bar accessible for all Mac users would certainly give developers more incentive to support the feature. Soon enough, it might seem really weird to not have a Touch Bar on your keyboard.
Knowing Apple, the Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar won’t be cheap. Expect to pay at least $200 or more.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
20 responses to “Apple needs to make this Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar”
I would buy that in an instant. It should be wired though. I love the illuminated keys.
I would buy that if the touch bar was 40mm wide.
Looks nice!
I think inevitably Apple will make a keyboard similar to that with a Touch Bar, but expect it to be at least $250.00
No way. The security enclave wouldn’t be secure on a wireless keyboard.
But damn, a backlit, full size wireless apple keyboard with or without the touch bar would be an instant buy
Why not? If the thumbprint is stored in the keyboard, why not? It runs iOS for the TouchBar/Touch ID sensor
If it’s the extended keyboard and the OLED bar is full length of the keyboard like it is in the photo but if they do a wireless keyboard version with a shorter OLED bar, it could potentially be $200. MSRP. I think the biggest issue is having enough batteries to drive it and then making them in enough quantities.
Apple first needs to figure out how to make a wireless keyboard with a numeric keyboard, which apparently is beyond their technical capabilities. :(
It’s not beyond their technical abilities, it’s that most people don’t NEED the keyboard with numeric keypad.
Yet they still include one in the wired keyboard. Hmm…
I use one all the time on my desk at work. But I’d substitute it in an instant for a oled magic touchpad in its place (and e-ink keys).
I find that strange. Most people I know can’t live without it. And, as a Finale user, not having one would almost make the software useless.
a sonos styled E-ink keyboard with touchbar would be awesome.
so would replacing the track pad with a retina touch display.
So, this is a product ripe for using Apple’s patented wireless area charging … :-)
I emailed Tim Cook and said this is a no brainer…
Most definitely for FCPX.
Magic Keyboard 2 is 120€ and it’s not even backlit (it’s 2016!) despite being 2nd gen. external keyboard (!!!!). Utter nonsense. Touchbar is not likely to get to the desktop Macs.
I would buy it too.
Yes, that exactly, with the numeric keypad, because pro apps like Logic use the keypad as unique keys for certain critical functions.
I’d love to see this also include the massive new trackpad as well as a whole unit.