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Apple Is Listening

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Re: Apple Is Listening

#261

Post by coldtea »

Well, I'm not so sold on this.

1) Pro users wanted a replacement for the Mac Pro of yore. Instead they got something suitable only for high end pro studios, willing to pay $6k starting price for the new Pro (or are in need of a very-cheap-for-what-it-does (even-with-the-stand-included) but still very expensive reference quality monitor).

Where's my $3K-$5K Mac Pro (basically a headless iMac Pro grade machine) for regular videographers, graphic designers, etc, that don't make more than $100K/year and don't work for Nike or Hollywood? We used to have several options from Apple back in the day, now it's either the iMac Pro or, I dunno, the mini. Still no extensibility.

2) Where's a redesigned keyboard as a first priority? Why do they wait for a "new redesign" of the whole laptop? Meanwhile forcing people to keep buying the same broken design, even for the 2019 model? Just release the same current design with a decent 2015 style keyboard and the minimal tweaks needed to make it fit.

3) Where's a pro apple monitor that people who don't need /can't afford a $6K reference beast can buy? Where's the iMac / iMac Pro monitor in standalone form?

Re: Apple Is Listening

#262

Post by coldtea »

Angostura wrote: post #182
linguae wrote: post #28

I’m glad that Apple is finally updating their Macs again, but at the same time Apple has doubled-down on its refusal to sell user-serviceable, upgradeable, and expandable hardware at prices that are within reach for most customers. The laptops have soldered RAM and soldered storage. The Mac Mini and iMac Pro thankfully have DIMMs, but in order to keep the warranty, you have to visit an Apple-approved repair center to…

Actually, I'm in the middle of writing an e-mail to the Tim address at Apple, saying that if it takes the environment seriously (and I commend them on what they have done so far) they really need to take the next step, be truly 'courageous' and prioritise repairability and expandability in their forthcoming products. Apple in the last 20 pushed the boundaries in terms of sleek and slim, but I argue those are last cen…

>Actually, I'm in the middle of writing an e-mail to the Tim address at Apple, saying that if it takes the environment seriously (and I commend them on what they have done so far) they really need to take the next step, be truly 'courageous' and prioritise repairability and expandability in their forthcoming products.

That's not how capitalism works.

Between green and more profit, it will always pick more profit.

The green "recycling" etc is just ecology theater. Recycling = tons of parts just ending up in China (under "recycle" programs where they're paid to get western trash), where most of it is discarded and thrown away anyway.

Re: Apple Is Listening

#263

Post by coldtea »

empath75 wrote: post #247
linguae wrote: post #28

I’m glad that Apple is finally updating their Macs again, but at the same time Apple has doubled-down on its refusal to sell user-serviceable, upgradeable, and expandable hardware at prices that are within reach for most customers. The laptops have soldered RAM and soldered storage. The Mac Mini and iMac Pro thankfully have DIMMs, but in order to keep the warranty, you have to visit an Apple-approved repair center to…

> Apple has doubled-down on its refusal to sell user-serviceable, upgradeable, and expandable hardware at prices that are within reach for most customers. This is like saying Ferrari has doubled down on its refusal to sell a budget hatchback for families.

No, it's saying like a company building "computers for the rest of us", that had traditionally had lines affordable by common pros, now only sells stuff suitable high end pro studios and cheaper mass market stuff, with no in-between regular pro tier.

They already have models in the "regular hatchback for families" range (and had since forever).

It's the mid-tier that suffers.

Re: Apple Is Listening

#264

Post by auggierose »

psnosignaluk wrote: post #204
kjhughes wrote: post #4

I'll believe it when they produce a MacBook Pro that developers love again or a Mac Pro that (not yet independently wealthy) developers can afford again.

As I sit here looking at the stupid TouchBar, the hunk of aftermarket plastic that contains an HDMI port, Thunderbolt port and USB ports hanging off the side of my MacBook Pro so that I can connect my peripherals, the TouchPad I never use and the keyboard I hate, I can't help but wonder if I'm just an idiot for buying Mac after Mac after Mac. I've run Apple products since 2007 and this is the feeling I'm left with. W…

If you never use the TouchPad you are probably not the typical MacBook Pro user ...

Re: Apple Is Listening

#265

Post by nl »

linguae wrote: post #162
dewey wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the Mac Pro is too expensive and a Hackintosh is the alternative you are not the target audience. Then you are probably better served with a iMac Pro or a upgraded Mac Mini.

Unfortunately Apple has no direct options for users of pre-2019 Mac Pros who were able to afford them at the previous entry level price of $2999 but not at the $5999 price point, which is the price of the new base model Mac Pro. Apple no longer sells any user-serviceable computers under $5999. And even if the iMac Pro met their needs, the iMac Pro would still be too expensive at $4999. These users will either have to…

The Mac Mini is a great substitute for the old Mac Pro is they really want user serviceability. You can configure it up to a 3.2GHz i7 with 64G RAM and 2TB SSD for around that $2999 price (I'm in Australia so I can't check, but it's AUD$3500 which is less than US$2999).

The (non-Pro) iMac is a great substitute if they don't want user serviceability.

Re: Apple Is Listening

#266

Post by mantap »

simonh wrote: post #191
earthnail wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Used my 2010 MBP through uni life, startup life and acquisition. After which I allowed it to retire. But it served me a solid seven years. I'm actually one of these few people who's also happy with the new MBP.

Outside HN and other techie watering holes, happiness with the new MBPs is absolutely fine[1]. I'm not saying there aren't problems, I passed on getting a new MBP due to the keyboard issues myself[2], though I'm ok with the touch bar. There are real weaknesses in the current designs, but for the vast majority of users none of this is much of an issue. [1] https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/25/apple-devices-earn-high..…

I'm sorry but I don't believe that a product that is added to the keyboard repair program on release day is absolutely fine. Apple doesn't have confidence in the new MBP and neither should anybody else.

The new MBP is basically gambling. You take your money to the Apple Store. They give you a computer, and a year down the line you see if that computer still works.

Apple products used to last an age, that is what justified the price. There are many people in this thread using old MBPs, including myself.

The more expensive a computer, the longer it is expected to last. It is quite normal to expect 5 years of use out of these things. I see plenty of evidence that this keyboard design is not capable of that.

Re: Apple Is Listening

#267

Post by giancarlostoro »

BozeWolf wrote: post #192
giancarlostoro wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dunno nowadays with all the Electron apps, the RAM jacked up by open JIRA browser tabs, needing Outlook open plus JVM based IDEs from JetBrains having 16GB of RAM is not enough. I need at least 32GB and even then I would feel better with 64GB cause I fear it will only get worse. I am partially hoping JetBrains makes their IDEs fully Kotlin based and compile them natively to much lower memory footprints. I am also ash…

Doing all this, right now, with 16gb and works fine! Memory left. Three pycharm instances (=yay microservices) 9 docker containers (=hyperkit =vm =yay for microservices with dependencies) Slack, ms teams, no outlook though. It all runs smooth. The thing which makes my workflow slow is the switching between code of and keeping shared code in sync of those goddamn microservices.

Heh I am running out of RAM cause of Microservices plus Docker plus all I listed above.

I was surprised Firefox tells me Jira uses half a gig of RAM and its not even a proper SPA. I hope they optimize their frontend to be less memory hungry.

It runs smooth till I need 3 of my own services plus 8 plus vendor services running then the 16GB MBP runs out of RAM.

Re: Apple Is Listening

#268

Post by gurkendoktor »

atemerev wrote: post #80
leoc wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The lack of function keys is not unprecedented, though. Well into the '90s Macs generally didn't have any. What do you use them for?

Quite a lot of shortcuts in IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and many others depend on them.

I avoid the TouchBar like the plague, but I think JetBrains is to blame for that particular problem. macOS apps don't typically use the F keys for shortcuts, and I wish JetBrains would offer an optional, more Mac-like set of hotkeys out of the box. (Their "OS X" scheme is basically just the Windows one with ctrl and cmd exchanged.)

Re: Apple Is Listening

#269

Post by unicornfinder »

djmobley wrote: post #118
thevardanian wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or... they can just kill the Hackintosh by preventing the OS from running on unsanctioned hardware.

And yet, they haven’t...

Indeed. I could be wrong but I genuinely suspect that Apple just aren't that bothered about hackintosh users.

Re: Apple Is Listening

#270

Post by Angostura »

coldtea wrote: post #262
Angostura wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, I'm in the middle of writing an e-mail to the Tim address at Apple, saying that if it takes the environment seriously (and I commend them on what they have done so far) they really need to take the next step, be truly 'courageous' and prioritise repairability and expandability in their forthcoming products. Apple in the last 20 pushed the boundaries in terms of sleek and slim, but I argue those are last cen…

> Actually, I'm in the middle of writing an e-mail to the Tim address at Apple, saying that if it takes the environment seriously (and I commend them on what they have done so far) they really need to take the next step, be truly 'courageous' and prioritise repairability and expandability in their forthcoming products. That's not how capitalism works. Between green and more profit, it will always pick more profit. Th…

> Between green and more profit, it will always pick more profit.

Absolutely. If your customers start choosing you rather than your competitors due to your green credentials, then in can lead to more profit.

In exactly the same way that Apple is gambling that security will lead to more profit, despite the fact that selling customer data is clearly a profitable short term opportunity.

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