apple touch bar is not a new idea . this idea has stolen from some of the logitech keyboards. Apple these days has nothing new for their fellow lovers,
The purpose is not just implementing iOS functions in the keyboard and putting it at your fingertips, but it does help editing stuff be more precise. Just wait until someone who is a master of editing try it. I could see this giving an extra boost in editing and ways to use a Mac.
Ok the example you gave is valid, I agree - toggling between bold or italics right? How do you go from giving that single (very basic) example to saying that all I am doing is browsing the web?
Honesty, I don't see myself ever using the touchbar on a keyboard. Especially if it is a wireless keyboard which implies that I'm using it in a desktop situation with a mouse or trackpad. Almost all of the functions of the touchpad I would do faster with the mouse without looking down. I'm rarely ever looking down at the keyboard. It makes a little more sense to have the touchbar on the MacBook because you may not be using a mouse. Another problem is that the touchbar just seems to un-necessarily complicate the complexity of the keyboard by adding all of this software to it. The touchbar looks cool but how useful is it really? I think Apple is just adding some touch functionally at this point because it shows "progress". But really, they are reluctant to go full touchscreen on the MacBook or cinema display - because they don't want to take sales away from the iPad line.
I don't agree with you.. I'll give you just one example and there's no way on earth you could do it faster with the mouse... Suppose you are typing a letter, you are using both hands to type so it will be so easy to toggle bolds or Italics and continue typing without ever interrupting your inertia. If you had to use the mouse you would need to stop typing, get the mouse and then resume typing... I guess your argument is valid for a person who's doing nothing just browsing the web with the hand already on the mouse.
I know, you could do that with keyboard shortcuts.. but even for emoticons works better.... I guess you'll have to wait and see the creativeness of developers.
Ok, just want to clarify. Perhaps my main point is that Apple designed this "touchbar" because it is an obvious aesthetic advancement that shows they are still trying to innovate. But a main catalyst for their designing is it because they currently refuse to add touchscreen technology to their laptops for BUSINESS reasons. Sorry for the all-caps but I really want to stress that. They don't want to take business away from the iPad line. Touchscreen technology in the MacBooks would be awesome. I strongly believe that they will adopt touchscreen a in the future but I guess we will see.
One other comment related to your example of the touchbar being useful for toggles (which I agree with) is that it's still very difficult for the user to locate the digital "button" without having any physical key feedback. This is a huge current complaint amongst many developers who say that they need the physical key feedback. But maybe they are just complaining before trying - maybe so. But I think it has been studied and proven that carpal tunnel and other ergonomics complications result when the hands and fingers don't have the proper resistance during these actions.