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Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

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Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#21
post #7

Classic case of why business managers shouldn't be directing design of a product. Business managers sees .2mm shaved off the thickness of macbook pro to 'justify' the premium cost of it over other laptops while a developer/pro user of the laptop would increase the thickness to gain battery and maybe mechanical/mesh hybrid keys... I would be more than happy to pay for a pro version of the current macbook pro. EDIT----…

Does anyone know who made the decision? Is there evidence that it was "Business managers"?

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#22

I picked up my repaired late-2016 15” mbp this morning from warranty repair (replacement). The keyboard feels 100% better. Apple replaced my top case, logic board, and display system for free, out of warranty. I was very concerned about this computer’s longevity, I’ve even ordered a Razer mx cherry keyboard to use when at my desk to take some workload off apple’s questionable design decision, but the replacement keyb…

Have you researched Stockholm syndrome?

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#23

Realistically, I just can't really see Apple fixing this by introducing a new keyboard design that's any thicker. As much as I would love to hear "We've heard your feedback on the keyboards and we've made some drastic changes to address them in our new Macbook Pro", it just doesn't seem like their style. What do others think they're going to do for their next release of laptops?

Replace the entire keyboard with an oversized touchbar? ;)

I personally suspect one day they'll marry the touch bar and the taptic engine to make a keyboard surface. That way they could have emoji keyboards and such. And they would only have to manufacture one top case, no matter what country they were shipped to.

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#24

Realistically, I just can't really see Apple fixing this by introducing a new keyboard design that's any thicker. As much as I would love to hear "We've heard your feedback on the keyboards and we've made some drastic changes to address them in our new Macbook Pro", it just doesn't seem like their style. What do others think they're going to do for their next release of laptops?

Replace the entire keyboard with an oversized touchbar? ;)

That’s not too far fetched.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FingerWorks

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#25
post #5
post #2

The entire Apple universe is bizarre. I've not used an Apple product except for the first gen iPhone but I did love it when I did. Since then, Apple has been behind the curve on every thing. I want to go back to using Apple since I really like their stance on privacy and security but feature wise they're usually 2-3 years behind a Samsung or a Microsoft. And now, this...

In terms of their computers, there has absolutely been a decline in quality, but in terms of their other product lines (and you specifically mention phones), I don't really think this is correct. I mean in terms of phones, the iPhone X is pretty much top of the line -- are there other phones that exceed it in a meaningful capacity? Bezel-free design, face recognition, fake-DLSR like camera effects, etc.

None of those features on the X are what I’d call flagship, and is likely what is contributing to their lackluster sales numbers at that price point.

Just provide a decent battery and screen, TouchID, and the best camera you can with the remaining space.

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#26
post #17
post #7

Classic case of why business managers shouldn't be directing design of a product. Business managers sees .2mm shaved off the thickness of macbook pro to 'justify' the premium cost of it over other laptops while a developer/pro user of the laptop would increase the thickness to gain battery and maybe mechanical/mesh hybrid keys... I would be more than happy to pay for a pro version of the current macbook pro. EDIT----…

No. Absolutely wrong assessment. This is a design team running amok after their own goals

Thinner for the sake of being thin has been an Apple problem for a while now.

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#28

Is the title meant to be a joke? - Apple as a company does not have a single point of failure. - Arguably the iPhone could be called that; if they stopped selling MacBooks next year it still wouldn’t be their “downfall” (not that I like this state of affairs as I like MacBooks). I don’t really hate the butterfly keys either. I’ve been using it for over a year now on the pro, and I don’t know if it’s the second iterat…

From what I can tell, the newer iteration of the keyboard fails just as often as the old one. My sample size isn't huge (mid-high single digits on both iterations), but the result is consistent.

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#29
post #17
post #7

Classic case of why business managers shouldn't be directing design of a product. Business managers sees .2mm shaved off the thickness of macbook pro to 'justify' the premium cost of it over other laptops while a developer/pro user of the laptop would increase the thickness to gain battery and maybe mechanical/mesh hybrid keys... I would be more than happy to pay for a pro version of the current macbook pro. EDIT----…

No. Absolutely wrong assessment. This is a design team running amok after their own goals

I mean, I agree but that's a rude way to tell the above poster you disagree

Re: Apple Engineers Its Own Downfall with the Macbook Pro Keyboard

#30
post #5
post #2

The entire Apple universe is bizarre. I've not used an Apple product except for the first gen iPhone but I did love it when I did. Since then, Apple has been behind the curve on every thing. I want to go back to using Apple since I really like their stance on privacy and security but feature wise they're usually 2-3 years behind a Samsung or a Microsoft. And now, this...

In terms of their computers, there has absolutely been a decline in quality, but in terms of their other product lines (and you specifically mention phones), I don't really think this is correct. I mean in terms of phones, the iPhone X is pretty much top of the line -- are there other phones that exceed it in a meaningful capacity? Bezel-free design, face recognition, fake-DLSR like camera effects, etc.

There's plenty of phones on par with the iPhone that blow it away in the cost department. Android hardware has had good screens, good cameras, good specs, and plenty of screen unlock gimmicks (face recognition unlock was introduced ~3 years ago if my memory is correct), and all of that usually well before an iPhone ever did; the iPhone's only compelling feature is that the stock software is kept pretty slim (but even that is slowly slipping away as Apple loses focus).

What Android hardware severely lacks is manufacturers that aren't bound and determined to destroy their products with shitware. It doesn't help that the platform isn't obnoxiously marketed as a social/economic statement, either.

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