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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

#251

Post by berti »

seabird wrote: post #30
FreakyT wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I thought the "face recognition" on Android 3 years ago was 2D and easily fooled with a likeness printed on a piece of paper? Not exactly equivalent, like a lot of "specs" that don't stand up to deeper inspection.

> What Android hardware severely lacks is manufacturers that aren't bound and determined to destroy their products with shitware.

This, plus lack of/severely delayed software updates in the face of critical security bugs.

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

#252

Post by dleslie »

I like machines that are built to take a beating.

My penultimate laptop was an HP Mini 101; I only replaced it on a whim, and still use it from time to time. The keys have been worn to be smooth, concave and most are missing the printed text. When I last opened it up to add an SSD a suprising amount of sand came pouring out; having been taken to many beaches, tossed in bags, and generally used outdoors it had accumulated a huge amount of extra material.

I now use a Thinkpad X140e; it's got a rubberized shock-protected shell and a reinforced body. The keys are in a similar state, the body is cracked and taped together from wear, and it's fallen down several flights of stairs and fallen from great heights. (Thanks, kids!) Too many liquids have spilled on it.

The combined cost of both these machines and the replacement batteries, new RAM, larger disks that I've added to them is less than that of any mac; and they've taken a hell of a beating.

Running Linux, of course.

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

#253

Post by tedmiston »

ken_m wrote: post #198

In my org, within 1 year, we have found 4 faulty Macbook Pro laptop keyboards (2016 15 inch Model). Cost of replacement - $750 per keyboard. Just ridiculous.

We have no idea if your org is 4 people or 4 million people to draw any conclusions from the absolute numbers ;)

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

#254

Post by majidazimi »

aroman wrote: post #116
yesimahuman wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not mentioned in this article is how many people also dislike the feel of the keyboard. Add that to risking an out of commission work machine and it’s a big deal for consumers.

> Not mentioned in this article is how many people also dislike the feel of the keyboard Do you have any statistics on that? Anecdotally, almost everyone I've spoken to prefers the new keyboard over the old one, ignoring the key stuck issue.

I didn't have problem with MacBook Pro 2017 keyboard regarding dust. My major problem is, it is noisy. Using it in library is a huge hassle. It totally disturbs everyone around me.

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

#255

Post by vincnetas »

Arn_Thor wrote: post #211
acomjean wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they'll gradually improve the keyboard. It won't be great but it will be good enough. like the "don't hold it that way" antenna gate problem and the phone bending problems.. They'll fix.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_4#Antenna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_6#Chassis_bending Honestly, its hard to get off the mac ecosystem though. I have a macbook pro, and am starting to look at linux laptops. Th…

As someone who'd been in the Mac ecosystem and paid the price in time and expense of leaving for a PC a few years back, I'm starting to lean back toward the Mac side. The amount of fiddling and headaches I'm dealing with on Windows is just a huge waste of time. Had to reinstall all my programs after a recent Windows update ruined the OS.

Have mac book air from 2013. Went through all OS upgrades with no reinstalls. Even upgraded SSD from 128 to 512 with flawless backup from timecapsule. Can't even image this happening on windows...

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

#256

Post by berti »

solomatov wrote: post #40
saagarjha wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article was referring to the 2012 Retina MacBook Pro.

IMO, 2012 Retina and its updates were masterpieces of hardware design. I wish they continue producing them with more up to date hardware.

Mine is still going strong. Second Apple product I ever bought (first was an iPod many, many years back), and since I've been a bit of a convert! The battery only lasts about 2-3 hours now, so I replaced it with a new model last year. It did have issues with one of the keys but it seems to have come right. I much prefer the 4 USB-C ports over the array of various different ports on the 2012 rMBP, especially because I can plug the charger into either side, but I do miss magsafe a little.

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

#257

Post by adrianN »

derefr wrote: post #13
phnofive wrote: post #4

Who is Apple engaging in design anorexia for? Does it drive sales? Couldn’t some other stat be used to pad their presentations? Any thickness less than an inch is fine with me. I’m not concerned with whether my laptop fits in an envelope.

I don't know why so many people are under the impression that they do thinness for thinness sake. They do thinness for lightness sake. The lighter your laptop (or tablet, or phone), the more you'll choose to not leave it behind but rather to just lug it around with you, and so the more places you'll have it and the more it'll be there to aid your productivity in random situations. [Also, for phones and tablets specif…

I don't think that having the keyboard be a millimeter thicker would add a lot of weight.

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

#258

Post by blub »

stcredzero wrote: post #222
djsumdog wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I knew CS graduates who loved parsing theory and could implement some basic C compilers, and I knew some who didn't know what a SCSI controller was. You get out of your education what you put into it. I had someone in an interview in Berlin ask me to write a garbage collector. In CSC 202, our professor talked about using reference counts. Reference counts can get leaks if you have two objects referencing each other w…

I had someone in an interview in Berlin ask me to write a garbage collector. In CSC 202, our professor talked about using reference counts. Jeez. I think my profs covered ref counting as an introduction, then also went on to cover mark/sweep and generational collectors. We also covered compaction, copying and bump allocation. I don't think it took that long. If I were running a shop that focused on, say Java, I would…

You're trying really hard to find a connection between implementing a GC and debugging memory leaks... and failing.

The whole freaking point of a GC like say Java's is that an average programmer can use it without having to understand how exactly it's implemented. Of course it won't hurt to know that, but it's not at all mandatory knowledge.

One just has to know which situations the GC can't cope with and avoid them. For Java there's at least one open source dedicated tool for finding leaks, it nicely explains what one needs to know.

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

#260

Post by tluyben2 »

DavideNL wrote: post #234
rmrfrmrf wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows is so terrible, though. I could never go back.

I feel the same. Especially the endless Update-hell in Windows which regularly and spontaneously brakes things and consumes hours and hours of your time. Never experienced this on my Macs. (Of course nothing is 100% perfect, but the difference is huge in my experience.)

Yeah, updates is why I really dislike Windows. The rest I can live with. I prefer Ubuntu + i3 or Mac OS X, but if I have to use Windows, then it’s mostly doable besides the updates. Be it updates to the OS or Visual Studio (which is why I do use it; Xamarin); random breakage and it takes far too long and happens far too often.
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