It's not possible to buy it without the TouchBar any more :(
I really wanted to like it, and the concept could perhaps eventually be good, but the current implementation is infuriatingly bad:
• I need more than one tap to change the brightness, volume or skip to the next song.
• The buttons are in different locations depending on context, so it's not possible to use it by muscle memory.
• TouchBar automatically goes to sleep, making the previous two points worse.
• It's not even that good for its intended purpose. Previews of things on it are too tiny. Most actions still require multiple taps, and it's in the uncanny valley between direct and indirect manipulation.
Fingerprint sensor is convenient, but the TouchBar ended up being a gimmick, not a pro feature.
I really wanted to like it, and the concept could perhaps eventually be good, but the current implementation is infuriatingly bad:
• I need more than one tap to change the brightness, volume or skip to the next song.
• The buttons are in different locations depending on context, so it's not possible to use it by muscle memory.
• TouchBar automatically goes to sleep, making the previous two points worse.
• It's not even that good for its intended purpose. Previews of things on it are too tiny. Most actions still require multiple taps, and it's in the uncanny valley between direct and indirect manipulation.
Fingerprint sensor is convenient, but the TouchBar ended up being a gimmick, not a pro feature.