Live data from Hacker News

New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

macdaddy.io

191–200 of 224 posts

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#191

> Reducing mA (power draw) rather than increasing mAh (power storage) is the most effective way to increase battery life, which would go a long way to explain manufacturers’ obsession with thinness (which, in electrical terms often directly translates efficiency (i.e., smallness)) in their devices rather than just giving us something that endures. I think it goes the other way; the manufacturers' obsession with thinn…

I find myself thinking that i recall reading about certain thinkpads (or some other brand) had the option of an attached battery that would fit flush with the laptop bottom.

Thus i find myself thinking about some way to do a combo of frames/cases and batteries so that one can add a frame to a laptop and insert batteries into the frame to extend overall runtime.

The idea of the frames being that if one replace the laptop one only need to replace the frame but continue to use the batteries.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#192

I love the new 2016 MBP, and after using it think most of the purported issues are BS. That said, there is one very real issue that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere: because of how thin they are, many of the minor issues that could previously be fixed in the Apple Store now require sending it out. I had an intermittently working key on my keyboard and took it in for something I assumed would take half an hour to fix…

Three fingers drag is buggy on the new trackpad. Control strip is buggy, especially when using external monitors. The software is not able to adequately deal with external monitors being connected and disconnected throughout the day.

I've noticed this too with the control strip. Eventually the whole thing goes black except for maybe one "button" worth of area, like it missed a redraw or something. Tapping on a black area where you know a button is will redraw that button but you have to close and reopen the lid to get the whole thing normal again.

It also had a kernel panic displayed on the control strip (which is a separate OS) the moment I turned it on for the first time. It was kinda hilarious, the panic text was written sideways on the control strip, and since it's so thin there was a line break every 4-5 characters.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#193
post #183

> Reducing mA (power draw) rather than increasing mAh (power storage) is the most effective way to increase battery life, which would go a long way to explain manufacturers’ obsession with thinness (which, in electrical terms often directly translates efficiency (i.e., smallness)) in their devices rather than just giving us something that endures. I think it goes the other way; the manufacturers' obsession with thinn…

I do care about that extra 1mm, when it comes to a latptop. I think most people who buy a laptop to use it on the go care about that. To be entirely fair I care more about the weight reduction than the 1mm. For instance the new MacBook Pro 13" is my first MacBook Pro, simply because it's the first that is thin/light enough for me to carry around. Before that I had a MacBook Air from 2011. The MacBook Pro is vastly mo…

Counter anecdote: I've been carrying around laptops since my 17", 13# Alienware "laptop". Ever since the release of the 13" MBP (the one with the CD drive), a decent backpack or messenger bag has effectively negated every thickness and weight gains from that point on.

Frankly, I'm more annoyed by the bulk and weight of the power adapter than I am about 1mm or 1# off the laptop.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't speak for laptops but I can speak for the utility of having a thin phone and a battery pack that makes it thicker and heavier than it would be if Apple just included a bigger battery: I've only used my battery pack four or five times in the year and a half I've had my 6s. Most of the time I'm not far away from a plug - either at home, in my car, at work, etc. But when I travel, a slightly bigger battery would…

Now that the MacBook Pro has USB-C is there any reason Apple couldn't implement some type of fast-charging technology like you find in smartphones? The OnePlus 3/3T in particular are amazingly fast. [1][2] Since getting my Pixel XL I have a noticed I rely on external battery packs less as I often have access to a power socket for at least an hour or two when I travel. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbELsT1hfnA […

iPad Pros fast charge from the USB-C adaptors.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Three fingers drag is buggy on the new trackpad. Control strip is buggy, especially when using external monitors. The software is not able to adequately deal with external monitors being connected and disconnected throughout the day.

I've found this too - connecting an external monitor messes up some of my Touchbar functionality until I restart the whole laptop.

another solution is to run this command in terminal: killall ControlStrip

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Three fingers drag is buggy on the new trackpad. Control strip is buggy, especially when using external monitors. The software is not able to adequately deal with external monitors being connected and disconnected throughout the day.

Another anecdote: I have two LG monitors on my desk, and frequently connect and disconnect the laptop during the day. I've had no issues with this, the touch bar, or with the trackpad.

really? You've never had 3 finger drag being registered as a two finger scroll?

Compared to my MBA, i can 100% reliability input 3 fingers vs 2. on the new MBP, that reliability rate is about 80%

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#197
post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a writer, and I consider myself a "pro" in that field. I don't really need the power of the Macbook Pro, but I do need a larger retina screen. The Macbook Pro is really the only laptop Apple makes at the moment that fits my needs. I'm not sure why people who need high performance are so sniffy and condescending about those who don't. A requirement for massive computer resources doesn't make the work more valuable…

I don't mind that Apple offers very thin laptops that limit battery life, and make it impossible to change harddisks or add memory. The Macbook Air was the first, and it was great as it was. If there is a market for this, whether for professionals or not, they should sell them as much as then can. I do mind that they don't offer at least one good alternative that is "programmer pro": harddisk can be changed, RAM can…

Programmer pro does not need HD replacement and ram replacement. I would say in this day and age, decent keyboard, awesome screen, and fast wifi makes the most impact... I think what you mean is "computer enthusiast" because a pro will get the right tool for the job and get to work. MacBook pros have not been upgradable for a while and I would bet a significant number of "programmer pros" still use them without complaint.

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does -- I travel with a 12" Macbook and the Google 15W USB-C charger. Take about 3 hours to charge from <10% to full.

Where would one buy this charger? Would be great as a travel charger if it works well, I currently use my iPad charger but a 50% power boost would come greatly appreciated.

18w version is here https://store.google.com/product/usb_type_c_18w_power_adapte...

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mac laptops these days are built with backlights strong enough to compete with daylight. In typical working conditions, 100% is way overkill. For max long term comfort, your display should be no brighter than the ambient light levels. Otherwise--if the display is way brighter--your pupils will have to contract when you look at the screen, and dilate when you look away. Your pupils are controlled by muscles and like a…

In a dark room I find the minimum brightness much too bright. Weird feature to wish for, but I think they need to crank the minimum brightness down by at least 25%.

Flux should help in those dark situations :-)

Re: New Macbook Pro power efficiency and time remaining

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mac laptops these days are built with backlights strong enough to compete with daylight. In typical working conditions, 100% is way overkill. For max long term comfort, your display should be no brighter than the ambient light levels. Otherwise--if the display is way brighter--your pupils will have to contract when you look at the screen, and dilate when you look away. Your pupils are controlled by muscles and like a…

In a dark room I find the minimum brightness much too bright. Weird feature to wish for, but I think they need to crank the minimum brightness down by at least 25%.

Flux should help in those dark situations :-)
Post reply on HN