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Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

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91–100 of 108 posts

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#91
post #5

This will sound trite, but I'm completely serious. The number one thing I want to see in the next MacBook Pro is the abandonment of the Touch Bar. Make it a row on the keyboard again. I didn't think that the Touch Bar was useful when I first saw it, and now, six months later, I haven't found one more reason that I'd want ever want it. I don't want haptic feedback or any other kind of improvement. Apple made a mistake…

I bought the version without Touch Bar because I hated it so much (after trying one at the store) and desperately need a new Macbook Pro to replace my old 8 year old one. So I agree even though I won't be buying another computer for a few years. I do like the new keyboard though. Shame about it having worse specs but it's more than enough for my dev needs. Apple's continuing with the bizarre / bad design decisions, t…

I ended up buying a second hand MacBook Pro instead of a new one because Apple have stupidly for some reason decided that if you want a more powerful configuration, you have to have a shitty touch bar. It makes no sense, a touch bar and a high spec are orthogonal.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#92
A real function key row on the high end models. I'm very hesitant to buy at all without one.

That and the aforementioned 32GB. Other than that I'm more than happy with my 2012 model.

Edited to add: oh and bring MagSafe back. I forgot about that. Can't count the number of times it's saved my computer. On the lookout for third party adapters....

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#93

I know you say "apart from the obvious 32 GB ram", but I'm gonna say it anyway. On the off chance anyone from Apple reads this, I want to signal boost that as much as I can. It gets in the way daily, and as more places adopt docker (and Mac not having a native docker layer worth using), the RAM limit is stifling . A keyboard nobody complains about again. Better battery life. A return to Magsafe.

Rant to Intel. It’s an Intel limitation, not a specific choice Apple made. If you use LP DDR ram, which all power efficient laptops do (aka not just Apple), you can’t have more than 16gb ram.

Or they could go with a slightly higher powered chipset in the already insanely thin and lightweight form factor of last year's MBPs to leave space for a bigger battery.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#94
post #57

The one thing I want from any mac is ALL SSD. And >512GB. This is the thing that make me consider using a hackintosh. I totally will not buy a mac without a decently sized SSD disk, hopefully starting at 1TB. I can live with the rest.... and for the keyboard? I have never like the modern mac keyboard (never used the old ALPS) so I use a external one. However, how about put a mechanical at least for the iMac/MacPro?

The iMac and Mac Pro you're going to be using with an external keyboard regardless, so you can just swap in whatever keyboard suits you. I for one don't mind shallow travel keyboards but people who complain about the keyboards on laptops do so because most of us don't lug an external keyboard with us to the proverbial coffee shop.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#95
post #74

With all of this kvetching over the keyboard, what I'd like to see in the next version of the Macbook Pro is no keyboard at all. Go the way of Microsoft Surface Pro and make it a tablet with a full OS, great screen, battery life and let everybody use the keyboard of their choice.

Ugh, no. Do that with the MacBook ultraportable, which is basically a glorified tablet anyway. But not with a workhorse machine for keyboard-driven occupations like programming.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#96
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can see the value in having programmable buttons...but why they put that bar there instead of little OLED screens on all the Function keys amazes me.

Because a touch screen can support inputs other than just keydown/keyup?

Well I'm sure every bad decision ever made had some kind of rationale that made sense to someone at the time.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#97
post #57

The one thing I want from any mac is ALL SSD. And >512GB. This is the thing that make me consider using a hackintosh. I totally will not buy a mac without a decently sized SSD disk, hopefully starting at 1TB. I can live with the rest.... and for the keyboard? I have never like the modern mac keyboard (never used the old ALPS) so I use a external one. However, how about put a mechanical at least for the iMac/MacPro?

The iMac and Mac Pro you're going to be using with an external keyboard regardless, so you can just swap in whatever keyboard suits you. I for one don't mind shallow travel keyboards but people who complain about the keyboards on laptops do so because most of us don't lug an external keyboard with us to the proverbial coffee shop.

Thats clear, and I agree. But if that is the common case why not build a better keyboard? Apple take a lot of pride in the interfacing of the technology, and certainly keyboards and mouses is not part of that vision, sadly...

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#98
post #74

With all of this kvetching over the keyboard, what I'd like to see in the next version of the Macbook Pro is no keyboard at all. Go the way of Microsoft Surface Pro and make it a tablet with a full OS, great screen, battery life and let everybody use the keyboard of their choice.

Ugh, no. Do that with the MacBook ultraportable, which is basically a glorified tablet anyway. But not with a workhorse machine for keyboard-driven occupations like programming.

Nope.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#99
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh, no. Do that with the MacBook ultraportable, which is basically a glorified tablet anyway. But not with a workhorse machine for keyboard-driven occupations like programming.

Nope.

You never take your laptop away from your desk? Why not just use a desktop computer, then?

And as a programmer, what the heck would you use a touch screen for?

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to see most in the next iteration of the Macbook Pro?

#100
post #38

The MacBook Pro should be Apple's tank. It should be able to handle the most arduous, demanding tasks and still go 8-10 hours on its battery. Sorry if that's adds a little more weight, it's a pro machine - if you want something ultraportable, svelte and light then you should get a MacBook Air. As far as ports are concerned USB-C is great, however a USB 3.0 port and an SD card reader would be super handy for a pro mac…

people are making a living using these machines

I think that cuts to the heart of the matter. They have forgotten who the customers are. Everything is designed for sleekness and entertainment.

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