The catch, as you may have noticed, is that the touch strip would eliminate hardware keys that people use regularly. That's a particular concern for the Esc key -- while it's not as vital as it is in other operating systems, it could make life difficult for certain tasks (say, exiting full-screen video mode). Whether or not it's a problem depends on Apple's implementation.

There are a few other design clues in the images as well. It looks like the new Pro will use the same butterfly mechanism keys as the 12-inch MacBook. Like them or hate them, you'll have to get used to them if you're a Mac user. The built-in audio on the 13-inch system may get an upgrade through top-mounted speakers (mirroring what you see on the 15-inch today). And do we see hints of a MacBook-style metal hinge?

The top-down view from the inadvertent leak doesn't reveal other details, such as the expected USB-C ports or the kind of performance you can expect under the hood. When October 27th is just a couple of days away, though, you won't have to wait long to see what else the new laptop has in store.