Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

macrumors.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 33 posts

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#21

Post by rainbowmverse »

kevin_b_er wrote: post #16
thestepafter wrote: post #8

Here is hoping they fix the keyboard, add more ports, get rid of the touchbar, and add magsafe back for the Macbook Pro. I've been holding on as long as I can with my mid-2012 model and if it dies before the above is done I'll be switching. Apple needs to get back to being a hardware company because being locked to mediocre hardware because of an OS isn't going to cut it. Apple needs a consumer model and a developer…

Apple has fully adopted the philosophy of form over function. It looks pretty and thus gets people to buy it. The "Pro" line is now more MacBook Plus than Pro(fessional), where the screen is bigger and its got a few more toys, but the same reduced reliability and usability in favor of looks. You are no longer their target market. They are targeting people who still want a laptop but want an Apple Fashion Statement.

That worked right up until Microsoft started taking pro hardware seriously. I keep seeing long-time Apple fans say Windows 10 is a few major revisions from being tolerable on top of some kind of Surface.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#22

Post by thestepafter »

kevin_b_er wrote: post #16
thestepafter wrote: post #8

Here is hoping they fix the keyboard, add more ports, get rid of the touchbar, and add magsafe back for the Macbook Pro. I've been holding on as long as I can with my mid-2012 model and if it dies before the above is done I'll be switching. Apple needs to get back to being a hardware company because being locked to mediocre hardware because of an OS isn't going to cut it. Apple needs a consumer model and a developer…

Apple has fully adopted the philosophy of form over function. It looks pretty and thus gets people to buy it. The "Pro" line is now more MacBook Plus than Pro(fessional), where the screen is bigger and its got a few more toys, but the same reduced reliability and usability in favor of looks. You are no longer their target market. They are targeting people who still want a laptop but want an Apple Fashion Statement.

I completely agree with you but I would counter with why not have both? This appeared to be the approach that Apple was taking with their pro line for years (Jobs-era). Either buy a macbook / air which is cool and hip or if you need to get real work done, get a pro model that has everything you need. Slap new hardware in the pro model every year and you have a winner.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#23

Post by snarf21 »

mr_custard wrote: post #19

I'm using the first Retina Macbook Pro from 2012. I'm ready to drop thousands of dollars for you Apple, if you would just make a couple of sensible design choices. Please Apple, bring out another model like the Macbook Pro I already have: * No Touch-bar. It's pointless & irritating & I'd prefer my money to be spent elsewhere, where it matters. * A decent keyboard that will last 6 years like this one * Magsafe I use t…

It is surely not too much to ask for. The problem is that the number of software engineers that will buy a MBP every six years is a relatively small market compared to the general public buying MBP every three years that are more gadgety with crap like the touch bar. Apple wants growth and expanding TAM is the easiest path forward.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#24

Post by mr_custard »

snarf21 wrote: post #23
mr_custard wrote: post #19

I'm using the first Retina Macbook Pro from 2012. I'm ready to drop thousands of dollars for you Apple, if you would just make a couple of sensible design choices. Please Apple, bring out another model like the Macbook Pro I already have: * No Touch-bar. It's pointless & irritating & I'd prefer my money to be spent elsewhere, where it matters. * A decent keyboard that will last 6 years like this one * Magsafe I use t…

It is surely not too much to ask for. The problem is that the number of software engineers that will buy a MBP every six years is a relatively small market compared to the general public buying MBP every three years that are more gadgety with crap like the touch bar. Apple wants growth and expanding TAM is the easiest path forward.

That's an excellent point snarf21, and I don't disagree with you. I know that you're right, really.

Another take on this, though, in terms of our value to Apple though is the concept of "developer mindshare" (as well as power users). A small percentage of customers can have a massive network effect in terms of sales. This whole cycle of history seems to be repeating itself all over again. Right now when I go to developer conferences, I still see MacBooks everywhere, but of course this was't always the case. It only takes a few years for things to flip.

This whole cycle of tech history seems to be repeating itself all over again. Which is a shame, because, on the whole I've benefited greatly from the combination of macos, the hardware and "it just works"; it's allowed me to simply get on with my work, unencumbered by faulty drivers, weird library interactions and whatnot, and to earn a living without unwelcome distractions.

I continue to monitor the Linux options and don't want to use Windows. I like Unix. I've been comfortable here with macos, but I feel Apple are "this close" to blowing it with the hardware.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#25

Post by cpr »

All these wishlists are quite well known, and I agree with many of them. (I really like the butterfly keyboards on the latest 15" MBPs, and the fact that they now have a warrantee extension makes it less of a worry.)

But in the end, I'll never switch, because they're good enough as they are, and the quality/form factor is unbeatable. And macOS is fine and stable for me, with all its warts.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#26

Post by jhack »

holtalanm wrote: post #17
mrkstu wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Intel and Apple have gotten out of sync lately. I think this time is worse than usual due to the butterfly keyboard issue. Apple's size and the fact they are using the butterfly type keyboard throughout their laptop lines, means that inertia in deciding to make a change and then implementing it throughout their manufacturing chain is a fraught and time consuming process.

will i get burned at the stake if i say i actually like the butterfly keyboard?

Nah. I like it, too. Everything about it on paper says I should hate it, but there's something about it I really enjoy.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#27

Post by berberous »

kevin_b_er wrote: post #16
thestepafter wrote: post #8

Here is hoping they fix the keyboard, add more ports, get rid of the touchbar, and add magsafe back for the Macbook Pro. I've been holding on as long as I can with my mid-2012 model and if it dies before the above is done I'll be switching. Apple needs to get back to being a hardware company because being locked to mediocre hardware because of an OS isn't going to cut it. Apple needs a consumer model and a developer…

Apple has fully adopted the philosophy of form over function. It looks pretty and thus gets people to buy it. The "Pro" line is now more MacBook Plus than Pro(fessional), where the screen is bigger and its got a few more toys, but the same reduced reliability and usability in favor of looks. You are no longer their target market. They are targeting people who still want a laptop but want an Apple Fashion Statement.

Their philosophy of prioritizing form more than most is not really the issue IMO. OP's complaints are really just flat out mistakes Apple has made. For example:

1. The low-travel butterfly keys would be fine for most folks (even if the low-travel is less comfortable to some, thereby prioritizing form), if they didn't break.

2. The touch bar seems useless to basically everyone, not just the HN set. It's not driving sales the way other things to (such as the quest for thinness)

3. Only one port on the 12" Macbook is probably the right approach, but becomes silly on the "Pro" machines.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#28

Post by berberous »

snarf21 wrote: post #23
mr_custard wrote: post #19

I'm using the first Retina Macbook Pro from 2012. I'm ready to drop thousands of dollars for you Apple, if you would just make a couple of sensible design choices. Please Apple, bring out another model like the Macbook Pro I already have: * No Touch-bar. It's pointless & irritating & I'd prefer my money to be spent elsewhere, where it matters. * A decent keyboard that will last 6 years like this one * Magsafe I use t…

It is surely not too much to ask for. The problem is that the number of software engineers that will buy a MBP every six years is a relatively small market compared to the general public buying MBP every three years that are more gadgety with crap like the touch bar. Apple wants growth and expanding TAM is the easiest path forward.

I think there is a happy medium, though. I don't know anyone clamoring for the touch bar, but I think the general public loves MagSafe and a working keyboard. I also have a 2012 rMBP and think that if Apple released a new version with a working keyboard (even if with a bit lower travel), no touchbar, USB-C magsafe, and frankly, thinner than the 2012 without causing failures of some components, they'd have something that would please most.

Re: Apple Registers Several New Mac and iPad Models in Eurasia

#30

Post by thinkythought »

mr_custard wrote: post #19

I'm using the first Retina Macbook Pro from 2012. I'm ready to drop thousands of dollars for you Apple, if you would just make a couple of sensible design choices. Please Apple, bring out another model like the Macbook Pro I already have: * No Touch-bar. It's pointless & irritating & I'd prefer my money to be spent elsewhere, where it matters. * A decent keyboard that will last 6 years like this one * Magsafe I use t…

In the same boat, with the same machine. I would literally buy a new one of the 2012-15 model with updated specs right now if it was available. USB-C everything isn't even a dealbreaker for me, honestly, and i wouldn't even have yelled at them for a new type of magsafe port again.
Post reply on HN