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Fixing the MacBook Pro

marco.org

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Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#81

Post by Gaelan »

MarkMc wrote: post #53

Yes, the keyboard is so disappointing. The plastic of the keys is so thin and harsh it feels so cheap. Yes, I really miss the inverted T arrow keys - my right hand can't orientate itself any more. Yes, touch pad was a mistake - a single tap should change the volume!

This isn’t as discoverable as it should be, but you can put your finger on the volume “key” and slide without pressing the button, waiting for slider, then sliding. I think I actually like adjusting volume on the Touch bar better than the old way.

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#82

Post by eitland »

spronkey wrote: post #80
chrisbennet wrote: post #22

I think they should show some courage and make a Pro quality laptop again - one that doesn’t require dongles. Make it thicker, maybe even make it black. Developers don’t want the thinnest , we want the best . It’s probably never gonna happen because they are a mobile device company now and that is where the money is.

This. Make it upgradable. RAM and multiple M.2 please. And make it shut the hell up, or let me offload compute to something that has big fans.

> or let me offload compute to something that has big fans.

This one puzzles me. Back when I used a MacBook the fact that it was mostly silent was one of the biggest advantages.

Also, somewhat honestly: I don’t see any reason why Mac users can't offload to AWS, Azure or Google Cloud?

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#83

Post by pfg »

on_and_off wrote: post #41

I got the last mac book pro at work, coming from a 2015 model I use at home. Pro : - it is lighter. I don't really find it is a very relevant pro, the previous one is already a light device so this isn't really relevant but it would not be fair to do not list it. - touch id is very convenient. It has one huge caveat : it is very capricious. For example each time the mbp crashes, fingerprints are automatically deleted…

I agree with most of this. I switched from a 13" MBP of the previous design to a 15" 2016 MBP. I do appreciate the size and weight reduction - the new one barely feels larger or heavier than my previous 13" MBP. I like the feel of the keyboard, but the keys are very unreliable - I've had a couple of keys fail to register or start to register twice for every key press (which I was luckily able to fix on my own with some gas duster and by tapping the key fast for a while.) I haven't found any use for the TouchBar.

> For example each time the mbp crashes, fingerprints are automatically deleted.

What kind of crash are you referring to? I've had my 2016 MBP for about a year now, with a couple of freezes/black screens, but I haven't had to re-register my fingerprints at all. I assume you're not just referring to the mandatory password entry after reboot?

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#84

Post by pfg »

brandonmenc wrote: post #36
iscoelho wrote: post #12

I've owned a Macbook Pro 2015. I've also owned about 3 different Cherry Blue MX mechanical keyboards. I pre-ordered the new Macbook Pro 2016 when it originally came out. Here's my take after using it for more than 6-7? months (no clue, time goes by): 1) I am extremely happy with the butterfly keyboard. There is absolutely no issues with it for me and it's my ideal keyboard. I honestly do not understand people who say…

> I am extremely happy with the butterfly keyboard Agree. So much so, that I ordered the new Magic Keyboard for desktop use (which uses similar switches) to replace the previous-generation Apple Wireless Keyboard. The new MacBook Pro keyboard is the best I've ever used. My fingers feel like they're flying over the keys. And I've owned all sorts of mechanical keyboards, ThinkPads, and odd devices like the DataHand. I…

It's a great keyboard! Except for the reliability. Even small bits of dust or other dirt can easily prevent a key from working, and if you're not able to clean it from the outside, you're SOL and need a $400 keyboard replacement because individual keys cannot be removed without breaking them (unlike previous generations).

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#85

Post by g09980 »

Nothing is has been more frustrating than constantly accidentally touching the TouchBar while my hands are resting or while typing. I had no idea previously how many interfaces handle the Esc key.

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#86

Post by dsego »

pfg wrote: post #83
on_and_off wrote: post #41

I got the last mac book pro at work, coming from a 2015 model I use at home. Pro : - it is lighter. I don't really find it is a very relevant pro, the previous one is already a light device so this isn't really relevant but it would not be fair to do not list it. - touch id is very convenient. It has one huge caveat : it is very capricious. For example each time the mbp crashes, fingerprints are automatically deleted…

I agree with most of this. I switched from a 13" MBP of the previous design to a 15" 2016 MBP. I do appreciate the size and weight reduction - the new one barely feels larger or heavier than my previous 13" MBP. I like the feel of the keyboard, but the keys are very unreliable - I've had a couple of keys fail to register or start to register twice for every key press (which I was luckily able to fix on my own with so…

I also have the issue of some keys repeating letters. Also, had to replace several keycaps, the tiny clamps are too weak and get loose, so the keycaps start to wobble and pop out.

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#87

Post by dsego »

pfg wrote: post #84
brandonmenc wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I am extremely happy with the butterfly keyboard Agree. So much so, that I ordered the new Magic Keyboard for desktop use (which uses similar switches) to replace the previous-generation Apple Wireless Keyboard. The new MacBook Pro keyboard is the best I've ever used. My fingers feel like they're flying over the keys. And I've owned all sorts of mechanical keyboards, ThinkPads, and odd devices like the DataHand. I…

It's a great keyboard! Except for the reliability. Even small bits of dust or other dirt can easily prevent a key from working, and if you're not able to clean it from the outside, you're SOL and need a $400 keyboard replacement because individual keys cannot be removed without breaking them (unlike previous generations).

They can be removed, but with the hooks and clamps you need to be careful and know the right technique.

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#88

Post by StringyBob »

g09980 wrote: post #85

Nothing is has been more frustrating than constantly accidentally touching the TouchBar while my hands are resting or while typing. I had no idea previously how many interfaces handle the Esc key.

I remapped caps lock to be esc, and things work fine.

The touch bar is just now a volume and brightness slider control!

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#89

Post by g09980 »

StringyBob wrote: post #88
g09980 wrote: post #85

Nothing is has been more frustrating than constantly accidentally touching the TouchBar while my hands are resting or while typing. I had no idea previously how many interfaces handle the Esc key.

I remapped caps lock to be esc, and things work fine. The touch bar is just now a volume and brightness slider control!

The problem is unfortunately not being able to remove Esc from the TouchBar, and so I accidentally keep pressing it

Re: Fixing the MacBook Pro

#90

Post by dsego »

dsr_ wrote: post #35
Chernobog wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cables are known to break too easily, but I'd rather want them to solve that by having proper strain relief on the cable than remove the flaps on the charger.

Redesigning the charger? Might as well do it properly. Have the thin cable plug in to an L projection, so it naturally wraps right around the brick body. Put an L projection on the other side, rotationally symmetric, for the wall cable plug. Now they both wrap with large radius curves, and can be replaced independently of the charger itself. You'd think that a company that theoretically charges higher prices for supe…

It's planned obsolescence, simple as that. There's no other reason to not have a detachable cable on the old magsafe chargers when the new one has it. I think apple feel the pulse of the industry and choose what they can get away with, wwhat (my macbook w-key double pressing again) people will tolerate, until the competition catches up. Then they change the game a bit and produce the next "best iphone/imac/macbook" ever.
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