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Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

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Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#91

Post by isoskeles »

vardump wrote: post #42
stunt wrote: post #6

There are many examples of Apple never admitting design issues! Beside what they are doing with their reputation and customers loyalty, I’m wondering how is it going to affect their engineering culture within the company itself. They are very biased with their strategies in everything and they hardly change them. Same situation Microsoft was in some years ago.

I don't know about others, but I don't dare to buy Apple products anymore. My 2012 MacBook Pro is still going strong, but newer MacBooks don't have anywhere near the same build quality and durability. When you have an issue, and complain about it or even ask advice what to do, I've often encountered toxic behavior from Apple fans. Denying the problem's existence and such. The problem is of course what to heck to buy.…

I got a Dell XPS 13 last year and the touchpad is great. I use it both on Windows and Ubuntu.

I also remember having a Toshiba something-or-other 10 years ago and hating the touchpad in comparison to a Mac. So, just saying, I've seen how bad it can be. The XPS has given me no issues aside from having to make sure I change the click behavior (tap to click really annoys me).

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#92

Post by csomar »

skilled wrote: post #9

I have owned 3 Macbooks so far. And all 3 have had one of the speakers break. Am I just that unlucky? Oh and yeah, what a diarrhea of a keyboard in the 2016 edition.

I wonder about that too. My experience with Macbooks has been solid (vs. other laptops). I even spilled water (a full cup) on one of them and it only needed a Wifi card change.

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#93

Post by colordrops »

azinman2 wrote: post #75
sametmax wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It makes you wonder how much of the privacy features are a marketing act too.

I can assure you the message is consistent internally with action. It’s not just marketing. Disclosure: I work for Apple.

How could you possibly know this? Every company I've every worked at is compartmentalized, and my experience is that Apple is especially compartmentalized, with secrecy and measures similar to governmental security clearance around various projects.

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#94

Post by kilburn »

SyneRyder wrote: post #71
forgingahead wrote: post #3

I regret not buying a stash of 2012 Macbook Pros and hoarding them for my own use. Edit: And iPhone SEs as well

Careful on the mid-2012 MBPs... as much as I love that machine, they also have their own flexgate [1]. The internal SATA flex cables bend across the Superdrive and rub against the slightly abrasive back plate, so they have a high failure rate if you actually use your device as a laptop (eg travel with it, keep it in an backpack). Apple seems to have had a problem with flex cables for nearly a decade now. My MBP 2012…

I'm still on a late 2011 13". I hit the SATA cable issue once, and called in a lot of favors to get an official replacement (the quote was absurdly high).

The second time it happened, I ordered a couple more cables through ebay. That was 2 years ago, and the second one is still sitting in my drawer...

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#95

Post by marmaduke »

isoskeles wrote: post #91
vardump wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about others, but I don't dare to buy Apple products anymore. My 2012 MacBook Pro is still going strong, but newer MacBooks don't have anywhere near the same build quality and durability. When you have an issue, and complain about it or even ask advice what to do, I've often encountered toxic behavior from Apple fans. Denying the problem's existence and such. The problem is of course what to heck to buy.…

I got a Dell XPS 13 last year and the touchpad is great. I use it both on Windows and Ubuntu. I also remember having a Toshiba something-or-other 10 years ago and hating the touchpad in comparison to a Mac. So, just saying, I've seen how bad it can be. The XPS has given me no issues aside from having to make sure I change the click behavior (tap to click really annoys me).

I just got a precision 5530, an xps 15 clone. The touchpad is pretty good, but it takes some getting used to coming from a MacBook pro 15.

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#96

Post by marmaduke »

ioulian wrote: post #69
vardump wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about others, but I don't dare to buy Apple products anymore. My 2012 MacBook Pro is still going strong, but newer MacBooks don't have anywhere near the same build quality and durability. When you have an issue, and complain about it or even ask advice what to do, I've often encountered toxic behavior from Apple fans. Denying the problem's existence and such. The problem is of course what to heck to buy.…

I too was wondering how to "replace" my MacBook Pro, (I have one from work, but I want one machine to do my work on it). I've gone with Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13 inch) and I must say, if you can live with Windows, this is a good alternative: The touchpad is nice (except from right clicking with 2 fingers, but I think you can change it with software), the hardware is beautifully made, battery lasts 12 hours (maybe…

the dell xps machines are quite nice and higher spec'ed than the surface stuff

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#97

Post by kilburn »

saagarjha wrote: post #65
eecc wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What strain relief, the crappy flex neck that stiffens over time becoming itself a strain point making the cables fray on their discontinuity? (Note how normally strain releifs are graduated... but let’s not get function to prevail of form!) I haven’t had an Apple laptop without the darn thing breaking after a couple years... it’s a tax, as well as guaranteed landfill material. Just google “apple power supply cable f…

And I haven't had a power supply break yet. I still do not understand how people manage to ruin these things, unless they're yanking them from the cord itself or twisting it around. It seems like they stay together if you put just a bit of care into keeping them intact?

I'm guessing you don't use your laptop in your lap. It is impossible to avoid some strain on the cable while the computer is on your lap, because it must hang unsupported.

Use it this way for a while and I guarantee that no matter how much you care, the plastic will splinter exposing the inner cables and eventually shorting them.

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#98

Post by lbill »

Bad news: Apple takes us for fools, again. this sucks.

Good news: many businesses and influencers (iFixit, Louis Rossman, Linus Tech Tips ...) are talking about it. This is bad press for Apple. The more noise we make about these issues, the better the chances are that Apple improves on its flaws.

I'm not overly optimistic about it: spreading the word about Apple's bad habits might be useless. But trying and failing is in my opinion better than not trying at all : at best, Apple makes better product ; At worst, they just keep on doing what they're doing.

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#99

Post by saagarjha »

kilburn wrote: post #97
saagarjha wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And I haven't had a power supply break yet. I still do not understand how people manage to ruin these things, unless they're yanking them from the cord itself or twisting it around. It seems like they stay together if you put just a bit of care into keeping them intact?

I'm guessing you don't use your laptop in your lap. It is impossible to avoid some strain on the cable while the computer is on your lap, because it must hang unsupported. Use it this way for a while and I guarantee that no matter how much you care, the plastic will splinter exposing the inner cables and eventually shorting them.

I do use my computer in my lap; the strain is minimal and has no real effect on durability. That's like a couple of ounces of weight–there's no no way that will permanently damage the cable.

Re: Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pros Attempt to Solve Flexgate, Without Admitting It Exists

#100

Post by shinryuu »

azinman2 wrote: post #75
sametmax wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It makes you wonder how much of the privacy features are a marketing act too.

I can assure you the message is consistent internally with action. It’s not just marketing. Disclosure: I work for Apple.

Why is Apple so resistant to making repairable products? What is the obsessiveness with making ever thinner products?

I remember starting a job 2014 and choosing a macbook 2012, because of the macbook 2012 being more repairable. It seems to have served me well. Still using it, might consider upgrading to macbook 2015. But won't go beyond that before I hear from others that the current hardware issues have been resolved or the macbook turn more repairable.

Apple has definitely lost some of my trust.

I also wonder why Apple stick with their butterfly keyboard despite it having all of these issues. I would really appreciate any insight into this from you or any other Apple employee.

EDIT: To me having products that are not repairable goes quite counter to the narrative of doing your best for sustainability.

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