An Open Letter to Apple

[Glockworkorange]

Dear Apple,

Over the past week I have tried three of Apple's MacBook's from the MacBook Air to a MacBook, ending with a MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar. As of today they have all been returned because of one simple reason, confusion. Let me start off by saying that every model had the capability to do what I needed, I was never without enough performance even on the MacBook's Core M3. The issue stems more from the fact that each MacBook simply left something to be desired. The MacBook Air has a woefully dull display. The MacBook while gorgeous left me wanting more ports and affirmed my need of a 13" screen. The MacBook Pro was seemingly excellent, aside from the knowledge that the keyboard could fail mere months down the road and on a $1800 computer I knew I wouldn't be able mentally let that go. Not to mention at that point I knew I'd simply overbought as I had no real need for the Pro to begin with. At this point I am confused because I have tried Apple's entire range of 13" notebooks and none left me truly satisfied with my purchase, something Apple usually is able to do in spades. I know certain issues that I have expressed are subjective and not everyone will agree, but I do think Apple's notebook lineup has become unnecessarily convoluted and even dare I say lacking with the recent quality control issues. I really hope Apple is able to simplify the lineup for 2018 and I will say the rumored refresh of the MacBook Air is certainty shaping up to be a great start.

Sincerely,
Concerned Consumer

P.S. I am well aware for the money, there is a plethora of Windows options available to me. However none seem to quite match the MacBook's level of build quality or battery life and I do not want to deal with Windows 10 anymore then I already have to on my personal desktop.

If that adapter was limited to 30hz HDMI out at all resolutions it wouldn't be worth the $70 Apple charges

13 inch non-TB sounds like the machine for you.

 

[idunn]

The MacBook Air has a woefully dull display. The MacBook while gorgeous left me wanting more ports and affirmed my need of a 13" screen. The MacBook Pro was seemingly excellent, aside from the knowledge that the keyboard could fail mere months down the road and on a $1800 computer I knew I wouldn't be able mentally let that go. Not to mention at that point I knew I'd simply overbought as I had no real need for the Pro to begin with.

Sounds like what you want and need is a revised MacBook Air. With luck Apple may release one with a decent screen soon—although I wouldn't get your hopes up on that, or as well in expecting any reply from Apple.

Shame, as a revised MacBook Air with relevant screen and a few upgrades (explicitly meaning maybe adding a USB-C port, BUT otherwise leaving all other ports AS IS and alone) would be a great option for many potential customers. So much so in fact that it would likely significantly impact sales across the rest of Apple's laptop line, and thus one reason why they'll probably never do this.

The MacBook is a fine little thing, and expensive, if one values size and weight advantages over computing power.

My opinion you didn't heap near enough opprobrium upon the new MacBook Pro. Yes, the keyboard is unreliable and otherwise sucks, but one could also add their adventurous pricing for what is in many respects less. Less weight, okay, but far less useful ports too. In that category we have Apple having lost the plot entirely in needlessly eliminating its excellent MagSafe power port (if some few inexplicably agree with Apple on this one). One could go on; I'll desist.

Anyway, we might all be pleased if you end up with the MacBook Air of your dreams. Especially if by some miracle the rest of the laptop line and indeed all Macintosh's were revised in similar fashion, as in something one could properly use and love.

 

[csurfr]

Sounds like what you want and need is a revised MacBook Air. With luck Apple may release one with a decent screen soon—although I wouldn't get your hopes up on that, or as well in expecting any reply from Apple.

Shame, as a revised MacBook Air with relevant screen and a few upgrades (explicitly meaning maybe adding a USB-C port, BUT otherwise leaving all other ports AS IS) would be a great option for many potential customers. So much so in fact that it would likely significantly impact sales across the rest of Apple's laptop line, and thus one reason why they'll probably never do this.

The MacBook is a fine little thing, and expensive, if one values size and weight advantages over computing power.

My opinion you didn't heap near enough opprobrium upon the new MacBook Pro. Yes, the keyboard is unreliable and otherwise sucks, but one could also add their adventurous pricing for what is in many respects less. Less weight, okay, but far less useful ports too. In that category we have Apple having lost the plot entirely in needlessly eliminating its excellent MagSafe power port (if some few inexplicably agree with Apple on this one). One could go on; I'll desist.

Anyway, we might all be pleased if you end up with the MacBook Air of your dreams. Especially if by some miracle the rest of the laptop line and indeed all Macintosh's were revised in similar fashion, as in something one could properly use and love.

I actually haven’t looked at the Air in a very very long time. Doesn’t it just have one usb-a port and a headphone jack?

Edit: well look at that. Seems they have added a few things since I last took a peek at it. Had no clue. Since the display isn’t Retina I had written it off.

 

[gobikerider]

Sounds like what you want and need is a revised MacBook Air. With luck Apple may release one with a decent screen soon—although I wouldn't get your hopes up on that, or as well in expecting any reply from Apple.

Shame, as a revised MacBook Air with relevant screen and a few upgrades (explicitly meaning maybe adding a USB-C port, BUT otherwise leaving all other ports AS IS and alone) would be a great option for many potential customers. So much so in fact that it would likely significantly impact sales across the rest of Apple's laptop line, and thus one reason why they'll probably never do this.

The MacBook is a fine little thing, and expensive, if one values size and weight advantages over computing power.

My opinion you didn't heap near enough opprobrium upon the new MacBook Pro. Yes, the keyboard is unreliable and otherwise sucks, but one could also add their adventurous pricing for what is in many respects less. Less weight, okay, but far less useful ports too. In that category we have Apple having lost the plot entirely in needlessly eliminating its excellent MagSafe power port (if some few inexplicably agree with Apple on this one). One could go on; I'll desist.

Anyway, we might all be pleased if you end up with the MacBook Air of your dreams. Especially if by some miracle the rest of the laptop line and indeed all Macintosh's were revised in similar fashion, as in something one could properly use and love.

Hoping the education event isn’t just software

 

[nnoble]

Dear Apple,

Over the past week I have tried three of Apple's MacBook's from the MacBook Air to a MacBook, ending with a MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar. As of today they have all been returned because of one simple reason, confusion.

This sounds like time wasting gratuitous abuse of the returns policy and if mimicked by significant other customers would result in higher prices or less generous implementation of the policy for genuine cases of dissatisfaction. Some of the issues, such as ports for example, you knew about before you even entered the store. Still, hope you find what you need and I recognise some of the points you make are genuine concerns. As for concerns over other peoples concerns; buy what you need then stay off of Macrumors until you know enough to ignore minority concerns.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

I think the OP has a point. The MacBook is a great computer for those of us who do not need much computing power. But Apple is wrong to assume that because we don’t need much computing power, we must be happy with a 12” Display. I am a “pro” in the sense that I use my computer for my work all day, even though my cpu nad gpu needs are minimal. I need a 14-15” Display (ideally) or at least 13.3” - but I do not want the extra power that the MBP offers (and I especially do not want the extra weight and cost that come with it).

Appe should go back to the grid:

2 MacBooks: 12” and 14”
(Focused on portability)

2 MacBook Pros: 13” and 15”
(Focused on sheer power - and maybe a bit thicker than the current ones if needed)

Then I’d know what I’d buy in a heartbeat

Fully agree, just like to see the MBP with 14“ and 16“ with no bezels so same outside dimensions.