am i the only one wishing for a waterproof mba ?

[ian87w]

oh so it is possible !

well I mean why couldn't u keep the air form factor and weight...and just apply a waterproof seal where needed ? doesn't have to become bulky

not gonna swim with it indeed,but I'd like to go to univ by foot or with my bike .and since it rains sometimes ,I wouldn't want to kill my Mac whilst going to school...

I believe some Lenovo Thinkpad models have spill-proof keyboards, meaning there's a barrier between the keyboard and motherboard so the motherboard will be protected during accidental spills.

I don't think Apple would be bothered with something like this as consumers are not usually that picky about it (plus it brings revenue for repairs as Apple laptops tend to require replacing almost everything when something happens to the logic board). The ones that tend to demand this feature are enterprise segment, and Apple doesn't seem to be that interested.

 

[fisherking]

i was hoping for an idiotproof macbook air... but then realized how few of us would be able to use it. 🤔

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I don't think Apple would be bothered with something like this as consumers are not usually that picky about it (plus it brings revenue for repairs as Apple laptops tend to require replacing almost everything when something happens to the logic board). The ones that tend to demand this feature are enterprise segment, and Apple doesn't seem to be that interested.

While there is potential revenue from repair, once AppleCare+ with accidental damage coverage became available for Mac the incentives go in the other direction: fewer claims/cheaper repair costs = higher profit.

I wouldn't be surprised to see general improvements in water resistance (well, at least for laptops), but they'd likely follow cost/benefit curves. Not much chance of advertising an IP rating. For example, Apple started applying adhesive seals to iPhone with iPhone 6s, but didn't advertise an IP rating until iPhone 8.

Keyboards are the most typical affected area for spills, and I'd expect protections would be focused there. Since most such spills involve a sticky fluid - soda or coffee, it's not enough to make a keyboard/top case assembly that can defend against liquid intrusion; ideally it would have to be easily cleaned of sticky residues. Removing 70 or so keycaps and carefully cleaning what lies beneath is fairly labor intensive. A far simpler full immersion/rinse under running water... not likely to happen unless the keyboard/trackpad assembly can be easily removed from the rest of the top case. Ya never know, but it seems unlikely.

I'm reminded of a very, very old Saturday Night Live skit (Season 4, Episode 16, April 7, 1979) - "The Pepsi Syndrome."

 

[VaruLV]

Spill proof keyboard would be good.
Like on many business class notebooks.

 

[ian87w]

While there is potential revenue from repair, once AppleCare+ with accidental damage coverage became available for Mac the incentives go in the other direction: fewer claims/cheaper repair costs = higher profit.

I wouldn't be surprised to see general improvements in water resistance (well, at least for laptops), but they'd likely follow cost/benefit curves. Not much chance of advertising an IP rating. For example, Apple started applying adhesive seals to iPhone with iPhone 6s, but didn't advertise an IP rating until iPhone 8.

Keyboards are the most typical affected area for spills, and I'd expect protections would be focused there. Since most such spills involve a sticky fluid - soda or coffee, it's not enough to make a keyboard/top case assembly that can defend against liquid intrusion; ideally it would have to be easily cleaned of sticky residues. Removing 70 or so keycaps and carefully cleaning what lies beneath is fairly labor intensive. A far simpler full immersion/rinse under running water... not likely to happen unless the keyboard/trackpad assembly can be easily removed from the rest of the top case. Ya never know, but it seems unlikely.

I'm reminded of a very, very old Saturday Night Live skit (Season 4, Episode 16, April 7, 1979) - "The Pepsi Syndrome."

I’m guessing majority of Macbok buyers don’t get Applecare, so th revenue from repairs can still win for the bean counters.

 

[fisherking]

I’m guessing majority of Macbok buyers don’t get Applecare, so th revenue from repairs can still win for the bean counters.

yes, you're guessing.

 

[ian87w]

yes, you're guessing.

And...?

 

[fisherking]

And...?

a claim based on a guess does not make a point. we could spend forever guessing things, but the real world will still persevere....

 

[ApfelKuchen]

It doesn't really matter whether a majority or minority of Mac laptop owners buy coverage - the accidents will occur regardless - either way, Apple is doing the repair and Apple will make a profit on that repair. When Apple sells accidental damage insurance they will also make a profit on the insurance coverage.

What you have to look for is whether the cost of that insurance is low. When Apple added accidental damage coverage to AppleCare plans for Mac the price barely changed. That's a pretty good signal that the actual incidence of cracked screens and liquid damage in Macs is relatively low. We can reasonably infer that Mac accidental damage repairs are not a major profit center.

As soon as accidental damage insurance is available for a product, the insurer's loss prevention department will start finding ways of reducing the cost of paying claims. When the manufacturer and the insurer are the same company, you can bet that loss prevention will start to have an impact on the way the product is made. We've certainly seen that in iPhone.

Generally speaking, insurance is a game of probabilities. The insurer knows the actual probabilities, the consumer fears that they will be unlucky. When accident coverage is available, it's a safe bet that more people will buy it than will ever file a claim.

 

[Melbourne Park]

People here have spoken about "who needs it" (waterproofing). Well sailing boats need it. I've a Jeanneau short / singled handed Sunfast and it needs it. My friend has one too and has done Melbourne Osaka, two Fastnets, etc etc short handed (two people). He uses a Panasonic Toughbook. There is a market. The cheapest solution for me would be an iPad with a vacuum pump out clear bag. And charge it in good weather. A computer / ipad etc is essential for weather forecasting and navigation tactical issues, plus communicating with others.

In the early days of Macs, there was a company that removed the internals and put the computer into a ruggedised case. Doing so was legal too, as the components were all Apple, there were no copy write or legal issues back then.

Cooling would be no problem with the low end M architecture - just a bigger heat sink somewhere. Someone into 3D printing could make such a case, and add a third party keyboard that is waterproof.

 

[xnatex]

All of these "just keep liquids away from it" people clearly do not have kids.

"Why is this cup of water next to my laptop?"
Toddler thought he was being helpful bringing it over.

"Why is my laptop in an entirely different room than I left it?"
Toddler thought he was being helpful bringing it over.

"But how did he even reach where I left it?"
Toddlers are creative and determined.

"But when did he even do this? He hasn't left my sight."
Remember when you went to the bathroom for 30 seconds a while ago?


Where there's a will, there's a toddler.