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The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

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Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#331

Post by eropple »

jlcx wrote: post #147
cloverich wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree in part. But the cynical side of me see's this: The base device isn't wildly overpriced; their "upgrades" are. I upgraded my macbook Pro to 8gb Ram for 50 bucks. The same from Apple was 200. I think - at least in part - they see an opportunity to incentivize "upgrading" at time of purchase and boosting their profits. Not an unreasonable business move - just feels a bit scumbag.

That's one of my least favorite things about Apple as well. They have always been able to leverage the fact that they are the only maker of Macs, and now they additionally have these more closed designs with RAM, storage, and batteries that are difficult to impossible for users to replace. That said, Apple is not the only offender, nor are they the worst; I checked out the Lenovo online store, and they charge $160 ex…

Lenovo does gouge on that stuff, but it's weird: every Lenovo customer service person I've ever talked to (I order my machines over the phone, it tends to lead to some nice discounts) has straight-up said, "don't upgrade your RAM or disk from us". Three different people. Almost wonder if it's policy...

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#332

Post by msutherl »

pyre wrote: post #299
MartinCron wrote: post #287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use a Dell laptop every day. I really enjoy it. Competent and well-built machine. Good value, all that. If I put it next to my wife's MacBook Pro, well, the only word for it is "clunky". Put a reasonably handsome man next to George Clooney and he'll look clunky, too.

The idea that your choice is between a "clunky Dell" and an "elegant Apple" (a false dichotomy) shows an Apple bias to me. Sort of like the way that Free Software advocates have spent a decade or so referring to Microsoft as M$ (or Windows as WinBlows).

Some things can be judged to be better than other things.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#333

Post by mikeash »

spullara wrote: post #284
mikeash wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are Android phones with screen resolutions equal or superior to that of the iPhone. They may not do as well in less concrete terms like overall quality, but when it comes to common specs with numbers on them, you can do better on Android.

You cannot get an Android phone with the DPI of an iPhone 4 retina display. I'm sure you know that but you clouded the issue by referencing screen resolution.

Resolution is a vague word that can mean DPI, and it's how I was using it there. As other replies to you point out, Android phones with higher DPIs do exist. Can I expect an apology now?

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#334

Post by abalashov »

This ultra-thin laptop craze makes me wonder about durability. For instance, I usually type on an IBM Model M keyboard at my office desktop, or a similar Unicomp at home. Try as I might, I am accustomed to a fairly violent, intense, high-speed mode of typing and can't be as soft on laptop keyboards as their fragile design would like. It makes me wonder if I would totally destroy one of these Air devices in a month or so. It is one reason why I have tended to favour Lenovo's somewhat blandly traditional, but very durable designs.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#335

Post by spullara »

danboarder wrote: post #293
spullara wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You cannot get an Android phone with the DPI of an iPhone 4 retina display. I'm sure you know that but you clouded the issue by referencing screen resolution.

You're mistaken. There are several Android phones with comparable DPI, as well as others with higher DPI. Edit: For example, while the iPhone4 is 329 DPI, one LG display for thi years phones is 440 DPI.

The LG phone was a prototype, not a shipping phone.

http://www.macmyth.com/2012/06/touch-screens-5-440-dpi-at-lg...

But as others noted there are some with comparable displays, I was just unfamiliar with them.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#336

Post by abalashov »

lparry wrote: post #294
Evbn wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The average person doesn't run Chrome and Gmail?

There is something seriously wrong with your computer if you feel that 16GB is required to run Chrome and a webapp.

I would have thought so too, but with where "web 2.0" is going nowadays...

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#337

Post by ak217 »

jbellis wrote: post #89

I don't buy that thin-and-light requires glued batteries, soldered ram, and proprietary hdd connectors. As exhibits A, B and C I cite my Thinkpad 420s and the machines I almost got instead, the Samsung series 9 and Sony Vaio Z.

I agree with you on T420s vs. MBP. But it doesn't stand a chance against the 13" Macbook Air (my favorite, also because it's relatively inexpensive).

When I got a T420s, I was surprised by how little of an improvement it was in terms of screen, weight and thickness with respect to the T40 series. As the standard bearer for quality PC laptops, Lenovo has had years to come up with an answer to the Air, and I think it has failed.

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#338

Post by [deleted] »

wavephorm wrote: post #321
reneherse wrote: post #123

There is one thing that to me indicates Apple has really thought through the consequences of this new design: The fact that the SSD is socketed and thus user removable. The machine retains that most critical aspect of home or in-store servicability. Why this is important: the specific failure case where you have a faulty logic board, or any other failure that requires a full machine replacement. You still have the ab…

The hard drive is soldered to the chassis, it cannot be removed.

[deleted]

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#339

Post by nicw »

Karunamon wrote: post #227
falling wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How do they come off as sustainable and cool when their are responsible for all this trash production? How do they come off as sustainable and cool when Greenpeace was protesting in front of Infinite Loop a month ago?

Yeah but that's Greenpeace . As far as credibility goes, Greenpeace:environment::Sea Shepherds:marine life

To add a quasi-citation, here is a story where Greenpeace was fined for running into a coral reef - one that they had showed up to protect

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4395572.stm

Re: The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable

#340

Post by pyre »

msutherl wrote: post #332
pyre wrote: post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea that your choice is between a "clunky Dell" and an "elegant Apple" (a false dichotomy) shows an Apple bias to me. Sort of like the way that Free Software advocates have spent a decade or so referring to Microsoft as M$ (or Windows as WinBlows).

Some things can be judged to be better than other things.

Though 'clunky' may be an accurately descriptive adjective, I've heard/read the phrase "clunky [Dell | PC]" often enough that it seems to be a meme, similar to the usage of the term "beige box" to refer to PCs on Apple forums starting around the advent of colorful iMacs / clamshell iBooks (and falling off in recent years).
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