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It Looks Like Apple is Killing the Physical Esc and Power Keys On New MacBook Pro
Curious minds on the internet have uncovered an image file on their Mac, which was added by Apple in the latest macOS update. The image reveals a new laptop that fully fits the description of rumored MacBook Pro, which Apple is expected to launch on October 27. The laptop in the picture has what seems like a "contextual" OLED display (some are calling it Magic Toolbar display) on the top. What's interesting from that picture is that there's no physical Escape key or Power key to be found anywhere.
Editor's note: We usually tend to avoid covering leaks and rumors, but several readers pitched the story to us, and media outlets are also covering it now, which adds some credibility to the matter.
Editor's note: We usually tend to avoid covering leaks and rumors, but several readers pitched the story to us, and media outlets are also covering it now, which adds some credibility to the matter.
Please try to link to a site that does not obtrusively ask for money when you want to see the story. I'm sure there are other sites that have the same coverage without ruining my experience.
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Lenovo did this with their X1 Carbon a while back too. What is the obsession with removing functionality? Sure, Mac users probably don't use the Escape key too much, let alone the function keys. However, Esc has always been the equivalent of Cancel on MacOS and Windows dialog boxes, and terminal-based applications still use it.
I don't know - I guess I feel old. Yes, hipster apps don't use control keys on luddite keyboards. Apps! But, removing a functional item for purely aesthetic purposes -- which I guarantee is the reason Apple is doing this -- seems to me like a bad precedent to set. People who use their computers for actual work like the idea of a full keyboard, and removing keys from an already-sparse MacBook Pro keyboard doesn't seem like a good way to attract this class of user. You already have to use a combination to get home, end, pgup and pgdn on Mac keyboards, for example.
... but we will if we can't get enough wild speculation and laughable hyperbole to fill the front page.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
I suppose the Esc Key will be an option on the new OLED panel. Perhaps it's not lost, just moved.
No. We just won't be using macbooks for development any more. Shame really. I'm waiting for someone to make the ultimate linux-based software development laptop now. And it would be nice if it had some of the design cohesion and just-works features of apple products.
Before someone rants, of course developers use many other editor tools, but proper support of the terminal and vi is essential for a serious server-software (back end software, or IT admin) development box.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
You never turn off your devices. You will be constantly be consuming monetized content.
Including the surf noise it plays while you're sleeping.
Someone who wants to turn it off must, obviously, be deviant and need intervention.
Not defending Apple. Can't stand to use them myself. Can barely stand Windows most days but that's because I like knowing what's going on under the hood. I understand what those little things mean and how to use them to my advantage to make my work easier. That's not the case for everyone.
It's well past time for UI to have different modes. Have one that's for ease of use. Have another for power and expert users. It's not a matter of safety. It's a matter of different use cases. I am hobbled with certain files hidden from the UI. I am hobbled when I have to constantly confirm dialogs that shouldn't have needed confirmation. I'm looking at you, Excel. Yes, I wanted that file in a comma delimited format. Yes I want to quit because I already saved and told you I didn't want to change the format last time. Yes I am certain that I want to quit my quitting and not change the format.
Been able to right click for decades.... Why do you guys that have zero experience with a MAC keep trying to bring that fake piece of info Up?
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
On a Macbook (Pro, at least) the Esc key is on the same row as the function keys. The function key row is (ostensibly) being replaced with a touch bar and a oled display. So, it seems very clear that the Esc key will simply be part of that in the appropriate modes.
And, given it's Probably going to be right on the left hand side, it'll be easy to press by touch-typists, who just have to touch-locate the edge of that screen.
So... why all this drama?
Oh. Right.... Slashdot.