The position of the key moves, the haptic feedback changes (even with fine-tuned vibrations, the lack of a physical edge to a key makes a noticeable difference), and requires that the functionality of the keys be completely configurable - something I personally find unlikely given the current trend of Apple products.
> People pay $50 or even $200 for custom app-related controllers for such apps, with buttons mapped to "transport controls" etc.
And they frequently have very specific form factors to match their controls. Very few are flat slates with graphics on them (excepting graphic tablets, which are emulating paper).
> You can even get behaviours that aren't possible with actual keys
Which assumes that we want functionality which is not possible with physical keys.
> Which could far more useful that "change brightness" that one does how often? Twice a day at most?
I have the function keys mapped to shortcuts in my text editor, so those keys get used rather frequently, actually.
> the others are not doable without ending up with a hotter and bigger machine
Bigger, up to a point, is fine by me. I'm not asking for an alienware gaming laptop, just a laptop fit for a developer.
> which would translate to something like a 4kg "laptop"
Aside from being condescending, this comment is also inaccurate. I'm not looking to do 4k gaming, I'm not looking to mine bitcoins; all I want to do is develop software while using collaboration tools and not have to worry about my battery when I'm off power, or a 10hz refresh rate on external monitors when I'm on power. Doesn't seem like an unreasonable expectation for a laptop aimed at professionals.
> Lastly, even the touch screen doesn't make much sense without a detachable screen for ergonomic reasons
I'm not asking for the removal of a touchpad, just the addition of a touch screen.
This has been true for function keys over several generations of Mac laptops/keyboards. Rarely they were kept in the same exact position for more than 2 years or so. So nothing new about the strip in this regard (if anything, it might give people the ability to have them where they are used to).
>and requires that the functionality of the keys be completely configurable - something I personally find unlikely given the current trend of Apple products.
That's kind of the whole point of having soft keys though. And I don't see this trend of Apple removing Mac OS configurability really, except if we talk about things like adding security sandboxes and checks (which is done for a reason: security).
>And they frequently have very specific form factors to match their controls. Very few are flat slates with graphics on them
Some though are basically just that. The lemur was just a touch screen for example and there are other strip like models of the same thing. Others are just sets of unmarked keys, for you to decide what each does, etc, but all identical otherwise (for which an OLED strip would be an improvement). Those things are popular in the electronic music production world (which I participate in). As are mere overlay stickers for the keyboard.
>I'm not asking for an alienware gaming laptop, just a laptop fit for a developer.
Developers usually have meagre CPU needs -- especially the majority which are people like web developers (and most C developers I know too). Heck, Linus Torvalds made do with the old MB Air (with Linux) and now a Chromebook, again hardly the most capable box.
The only exception would be for running multiple VMs, but while there might be legitimate reasons for running > 1 VM or needing more CPU power in general than what a quad i7 (as in in the MBPr 15") offers -- but I doubt those reasons are there for a large market.
>all I want to do is develop software while using collaboration tools and not have to worry about my battery when I'm off power
While larger battery life is always good, is there a large enough market of people who develop all day unplugged and need more than 5-6 hours of battery (which MBPs can do)? Enough to justify making a bulkier case for a bigger battery?
>I'm not asking for the removal of a touchpad, just the addition of a touch screen.
My argument wasn't addressing the removal of the touchpad, but the utility of having a touch-screen in the first place. If it's of marginal utility (without, as I wrote, a detachable screen), why have it?
For several reasons which are obvious to me.
1) You can of course leave the soft keys as the current function keys are -- and retain the "muscle memory", with losing nothing at all.
2) You can tune them to a specific app (e.g. Logic, Cubase, Premiere, Photoshop) and get a second (or third, etc) app-specific set of muscle memory for its shortcuts. People pay $50 or even $200 for custom app-related controllers for such apps, with buttons mapped to "transport controls" etc.
I guess you don't suddenly lose your muscle memory when you press "SHIFT" and the number row becomes a different row (e.g. 3=>#, 4=>$ etc). So you shouldn't lose it with 2 or even 3 or more sets of soft keys to change depending on context.
3) You can even get behaviours that aren't possible with actual keys -- e.g. have the soft panel display a volume bar you drag on.
4) You can show information that's not related to keys -- e.g. the current cpu temp, new emails, notifications, "batch jobs completed" etc. Which could far more useful that "change brightness" that one does how often? Twice a day at most?
>Here's what I want in a MBP refresh: More power. Enough battery life to allow me on a hangout all day long; or at least enough battery life that I can have Chrome running and still be able to code all day long. A strong enough graphics card to smoothly drive a pair of 4k monitors in addition to the internal monitor. No loss of existing ports. More CPU power for compiling code. A touch screen.
Except the loss of ports, the others are not doable without ending up with a hotter and bigger machine, and some work against each other (better cpu + graphics VS better battery life). If they used a more powerful Intel CPU it would eat into the battery life, and same for graphics card -- especially when it would be driving "a pair of 4K + the internal monitor".
In other words you want a desktop class workstation -- which would translate to something like a 4kg "laptop" -- and then you (or others) will complain that it's weighty, it gets too hot, etc (and nobody will buy it, except the kind of people who want the latest nvidia power card + pair of 4K monitors, that is, outliers).
Lastly, even the touch screen doesn't make much sense without a detachable screen for ergonomic reasons. 5 minutes with your hand raised and it's off to the doctor for some painkillers. If they'd ever do it, they'd need something like the Surface Book's turnaround scheme, which would probably sacrifice sturdiness.