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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

#751

Post by DoofusOfDeath »

luag wrote: post #543
e_proxus wrote: post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my opinion Apple has a very mixed track record when it comes to "jumping the gun." Some things they did exactly when needed (removing the CD drive, Retina displays, ...can't think of any others right now). Other things they did way too early (butterfly keycaps, trackpad size, touch bar, USB C, removing the headphone jack on iPhone).

I think adopting USB-C is fine, but going USB-C only was too early.

My problem with USB-C on MBP is that, at least 6 months ago, I couldn't find a good, fully compatible port expander.

In particular, my 2017 13" MBP gets pretty confused sometimes when talking to two external monitors connected via my Elegato expander. Even just one monitor sometimes gets confused after sleeping.

It was annoying enough that now I typically use just one external monitor. And when I need two, I conmect the second directly to my MBP's 2nd USB-C port, not to my expander.

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

#752

Post by PKop »

driverdan wrote: post #662
plaidfuji wrote: post #641

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In addition to all of these valid complaints, it's also loud!

It's louder than their past keyboards but it's not loud. Compare it to a mechanical keyboard.

Compared to a typewriter, it's even quieter

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

#753

Post by coryfklein »

acdha wrote: post #665
mamon wrote: post #574

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically, it was Steve Jobs' pep talk to new executives that went something like: "The difference between a janitor and executive is that VPs are not allowed to have excuses". So trying to share the blame with Intel is just silly. Every single Apple's competitor delivers laptops with 32+ GB of RAM, and MacBooks are stuck at 16GB and there's no one to blame for it but Apple.

> Every single Apple's competitor delivers laptops with 32+ GB of RAM, and MacBooks are stuck at 16GB and there's no one to blame for it but Apple. This is only partially correct: those are separate models which are bigger and have worse power and heat characteristics. Every laptop which is similar to Apple's shares the 16GB limit for the same reason; the difference is that Apple has decided not to offer that second…

> Apple has decided not to offer that second tier

MacBook Pro, a first-tier plaything. If they do finally release a "second tier", what the hell are they going to call it? MacBook Super Pro?

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

#754

Post by philjohn »

apexe wrote: post #651
roystonvassey wrote: post #586

I am a huge fan of Apple's products and never understood the fuss when the new Pro Keyboard attracted bad press, reading it on my old, robust pre-2015 era Macbook. Until now. I got the new one at my job three months back. And, here I am, still struggling with and super annoyed with the missed keystrokes (the buttons are so thin/don't press properly), the almost non-existent 'Enter' keys (seriously, who messes with th…

I am in the same boat. Received one at work and can not stand the keyboard. I requested an older model, but they are no longer providing them. It might seem dramatic, but I spend my days typing and I need my keyboard to not get in my way. I have resorted to bringing a USB keyboard into work with me.

To be fair, when you're actually in work, do you not find a less cramped keyboard, proper magic mouse (or magic trackpad) and dual monitors make you more productive? I know they do me.

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

#755

Post by nixpulvis »

ashishb wrote: post #187
nixpulvis wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My thinkpad x1 carbon running Linux feels like a pretty sexy developer machine.

You installed Linux yourself, right? How's the battery life? And Wi-Fi connectivity when SNR is high?

Yep, I'm running Arch. Battery is great. On my work laptop (the 6th gen) I easily get >7 hours if I'm not doing things in the browser too much. Yes I know there are a million factors, and my general use case isn't the same as everyone elses. Let's put it this way, the way I use my previous mac and my new thinkpad, the thinkpad lasts around 1.5x as long (sometimes more).

In terms of WiFi. I haven't noticed it being worse than my mac, but I also don't think I've ever dug deep enough into this kind of thing on either platform to really say. Every time I've spent any energy looking into WiFi it's been on Linux.

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

#756

Post by mehrdadn »

monktastic1 wrote: post #741
mehrdadn wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, but what I'm asking is: if your real question is "why mention X's gender?" then why instead ask "why mention X's gender but not mention Y's gender?" ?

To put it another way: suppose I ask someone "why did you forget my birthday but not his?" It's not that I want them to forget his, too (though that is one literal interpretation). It's to suggest that the answer isn't merely "I forget birthdays in general."

That would be weird in this situation since "I mention every gender in general" would be quite a bizarre response (and behavior)... and arguably even more fuel for subsequently accuse the speaker of sexism if that's the intention.

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

#757

Post by bad_good_guy »

Symbiote wrote: post #315
dleslie wrote: post #252

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 accumul…

> Running Linux, of course. I wish more people would. That's the best way to get any issues fixed, whether by filing bug reports, writing up a workaround on a wiki or Stackoverflow to help others, or fixing the bug. It's important for us to own our own tools, and keep the right to do with them as we wish. We expect this for our servers, but ignore it for laptops and desktops. If developers continue like this, then us…

I dual boot Linux and Windows.

I wish I could just use Linux, but any program that is likely to need to use my Nvidia graphics card just needs to be on Windows.

I don't want my laptop to be constantly using a hot gpu just for displaying the screen, as I need to have EITHER the gpu or integrated graphics selected for use - swapping requires a restart.

Windows has the capability to swap between the integrated graphics for simple display tasks, and GPU for more intensive tasks.

Linux has bumbleebee but it hasn't been actively developed in years. I know the main cause is Nvidia's attitude but it is still disappointing.

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

#758

Post by JadeNB »

fnordsensei wrote: post #456
narag wrote: post #383

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure Apple covers those two years? Over here it's the seller that adds the second year.

Same in Sweden. Warranty is 3 years by law, but the seller in responsible for whatever period that's not covered by the manufacturer. This sometimes results in customers being ping-ponged between seller and manufacturer a few times before the seller gives in.

> This sometimes results in customers being ping-ponged between seller and manufacturer a few times before the seller gives in.

Why would the seller give in, if it can always just ping the buyer back to the manufacturer one more time?

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

#759

Post by hliyan »

roystonvassey wrote: post #586

I am a huge fan of Apple's products and never understood the fuss when the new Pro Keyboard attracted bad press, reading it on my old, robust pre-2015 era Macbook. Until now. I got the new one at my job three months back. And, here I am, still struggling with and super annoyed with the missed keystrokes (the buttons are so thin/don't press properly), the almost non-existent 'Enter' keys (seriously, who messes with th…

Earlier this year, I returned my brand new MacBook Pro and asked for my old 2016 MacBook Pro back. I'm a touch typist and I just don't get enough feedback from the new keyboard to be sure I pressed a key. It actually slowed down my typing. And the lack of and ESC and function keys means that I just can't develop on it anymore. I'm still happily using my 2.5 year-old MacBook Pro.
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