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Apple hardware design flaws

I

icetraxxg5

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 7, 2002
305
0
Commerce Township
I was thinking about how innovative a lot of apples designs are and how functional my nice 17" iMac is; then I thought about, is there any major flaws in Apple designs?

I have found 3 design flaws in my iMac, the only ones I could find after using it for many months:

1. If the keyboard is too close the base of the iMac, the optical disc drive wont open properly.
2. The screen isn't totally level, there is no way to adjust (even very slightly) the tilt of the LCD in case its off a little bit.
3. The paint on the inside the of the base of the iMac isn't high temp. paint and may get bubbly from the heat of the processor if your computer gets a little too hot (but not overheated)

Flaws I found in my 15gb iPod (had it for 2 days so far)
1. The plastic front scratches (very little) from coming in and out of the case.
2. The stainless steel polished back gets scratched too easy.

What flaws have you found in apple products? :D
 
...

I used to have a iBook (one of the first models of the new iBook, the second generation seems to be stronger), I think that on the portable series the biggest flaw is its acrylic or plastic body which gets really scratched... too easily...(ironically even nails scratch it!)



but even that I loved my iBook...
 
Although I know about the keyboard think on my 17in iMac, I havent noticed, since I don't keep they keyboard that close to the base. I hadn't noticed any bubbling of any paint or anything.

As far as the iPod goes, I agree, it scratches WAY to easily. I know I am not the most careful person, but it looks like I went over the thing with sandpaper or something. That said, I like it so much, I overlook its tiny flaws...
 
The Ibook Ports are on the wrong side

The ports for the ibook are one wrong side, you cant even use an apple mouse with it if u right handed, its kinda a pain having wires run off u right becuase if u right handed you like things to me on ur right hand side, but i guess if u bulding computers for that 5 percent, you mise well build them for the small percept of people who are left handed to....to bad im not

Also, the god damn power adapters keep breaking a the end (where the wire meats the thing that plug into ur computer) i know of over 10 adapters that have done this (3 of them have been mine)

one more thing, the keys leave imprints of the screen that wont come off (not really noticeable but its there)

and of corse the good old scrach problem, but thats not really noticeable to me eather, my old 600mhz ibook scrached alot easer, even the magnesium inside has alotof been scraches and places where the paint pelled off, the 800 is no where near this bad......

thats all i can think of (with the ibook) except (not a design problem) you can only mirror the display:(....

Imac never used one...but they look like a oversized desklamp...

Powerbook(Ti), that little door on the back that covers the point is a pain, ports are kinda squeezed, its allmost impossible to get an ethernet plug outa there.......Slot loading cdrom wont play smaller cds or odd shaped ones......Paint scraches really easy, Thet get hotter than my frying pan when the stove is on high, Screen is very fragile.(New 12inchers are the best looking computers i have even seen)(17 not that bad but its kinda goffy looking i think(leght and width dont seem right), its huge and kinda awarkward

Quicksilver powermacs, No usb/firewire in front...CD drives can kinda be fininky to open...

Old Ipod-Scrach to easy, I dont like particlly like how they look(its not bad but its not great new ones are alot better, Buttons are played in weird places, (new ipod fixes this)

Emacs- There Ugly

Original Imacs- There really Ugly

Thats it
 
lots of flaws in G4 PB's

keep getting electrical shocks from my PB550 when working with bare feet. The case looks completely abused and has lost lots of paint even in areas that are not in contact with hands, skin or "other abrasive" tools. The Bottom case has dents and from time to time I have difficulties gettin cd's into or out of the machine because the slot is narrowed by a dent underneath. It is very hard to remove an ethernet cable without breaking finger nails or risking to damage the mobo by "excessive wiggling". Thank God it doesnt rust.

my hopes are high for the next generation PB.
 
The iBook and PB lid latches are magnetic so they conly come out when it is closed.
Sometimes they just don't work.

Also, you can click the button when the lid is closed.

There can sometimes be design flaws but you generally get distracted by the positives of the computer.
 
Well you guys pretty much covered everything except...

My iPod doesn't bounce!:D

But seriously, isn't the biggest fault the lack of a right mouse button and scroll mechanism? (Wheel or button thingy) :confused:

Huked on Fonik is right about the mouse cable on the iBook being too short for right handers. I don't think you can call that a fault with the iBook though (if you plug in in the other side it's too short for left handers) but rather with the Pro Mouse cable being too short.

I used to think like many of you about having ports on the front of the PMac, but at the moment I'm not so sure. Couln't do any harm, but doesn't everyone use hubs anyway? I don't have that many devices and I do. ;)
 
Re: Well you guys pretty much covered everything except...

Originally posted by The Shadow
My iPod doesn't bounce!:D


I used to think like many of you about having ports on the front of the PMac, but at the moment I'm not so sure. Couln't do any harm, but doesn't everyone use hubs anyway? I don't have that many devices and I do. ;)
Click to expand...

I hate hubs. More wires. Front ports are nice, as long as there are more in the rear. The latest shuttle XPCs have it right with 2 usb and 1 firewire up front and 4 USB and 2 firewire in the back. My XPC only has two usb in the back and I wish it had more.
 
speaking of cd drives and keyboards, ALL the dells at my school of various models have that issue. They're computers where the monitor is on top of the "box" and the keyboard *has* to be flat to have it go over, otherwise the tray will hit. Maybe theyre designed for keyboards that are on a different level on those slideout desk thingies.
 
The 17 powerBook solved a lot of the design problems of the ports on the Ti, it balances really easily now, but sadly, when using a Kensington laptop security cable, it's almost impossible to get the PSU plug in the socket:(

The 17 has a really tough finish as well, it doesn't scratch easliy at all, plus I think it's a stunning looking piece of hardware, but it's a bu**er to get a bag for it in the UK.
 
Ipod scratches..

I don't own an Ipod... but I am wondering if anyone has tried using metal polish on the steel part? You would probably end up buffing off Mac symbol and other stuff etched on there or printed on there but otherwise it should keep it looking like new.

If you polished your Ipod once a week or so would this solve the problem? Or would the thing literally get totally scratched up again the day after you polished it?
 
not really flaws

as it is i really wanted an imac g4, but i made a requirement that at least one of these be upgradable like in the original imac and the later dv models.
1.Graphics card
2. Cpu
as i believe processor speeds and type will soon change for the imac (970 and G4 with L3 cache) and much better video cards are now available (8500, 9000, Ti, 9700-9800)
If Apple will allow either one of these to be upgraded that will help sales i believe without stealing any from the soon to be much more powerful 970 powermacs
i agree with the screen tilt and the lack of a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Also i have (yikes) a microsoft intellipoint optical 5 button mouse and it has increase my productivity quite a bit , i gather apple keeps the one button design to help 3rd parties mice sales, but the time for a upgrade has passed, maybe something similar to apple's ipod, but single button is dead in osx and os9 in 2003.
The heatsink fan in the mdd towers
the buttons on the ipod (must be set to hold) i prefer the real analouge click and feel of the original
 
17"

Originally posted by WinterMute
The 17 powerBook solved a lot of the design problems of the ports on the Ti, it balances really easily now, but sadly, when using a Kensington laptop security cable, it's almost impossible to get the PSU plug in the socket:(

The 17 has a really tough finish as well, it doesn't scratch easliy at all, plus I think it's a stunning looking piece of hardware, but it's a bu**er to get a bag for it in the UK.
Click to expand...
I liked the 17" too looked great in person, but i have a problem with all the exposed ports on the side, maybe someone can make a clear or aluminum cover to protect these from dust liquid and bumps. I also hear that the aluminum dents easily, maybe the dent dialer as seen on tv will help. or some type of padding inside.
also the trackpad button on the 17" is the largest single button ever. it is time for apple to slit this in two esp with OSX (no excuse with all that space) and include a scroll wheel or scroll pad, cause the reach to the arrow keys is quite fas. but then u can buy a mouse.
 
The main problem I have with Apple besides the lack of speed which should be solved shortly, is Apples use of paint.

I have had both a PB G3 and G4 and with both having problems of the paint easily coming off. My PC laptop may not look as good as the PB, but at least it is made out of plastic so there is no paint pealling.
 
Re hubs... We should not need USB hubs. My Cube has a two ports, plus two ports on the display. This ends up being one open port on the keyboard. I plugged an extender cable into the cube and brought it out near the keyboard.

By contrast, I am building a cheap PC for gaming (not so cheap BTW). It has 8 (eight) USB ports on the motherboard.
 
Re: The Ibook Ports are on the wrong side

Originally posted by Huked on Fonick
Also, the god damn power adapters keep breaking a the end (where the wire meats the thing that plug into ur computer) i know of over 10 adapters that have done this (3 of them have been mine)

one more thing, the keys leave imprints of the screen that wont come off (not really noticeable but its there)
Click to expand...

Power Adaptors break off??? What?! Ever tried a third-party adaptor? I would think it would be much more your fault than Apples, since this would take quite a hit to actually break the metal off.

Key imprints can be solved by buying one of these: http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_P...nt=542&Title=PowerBook Accessories&Template=1

(products for powerbooks and iBooks there)
 
The Apple Pro Mouse is just too weak at the point where the wire and the actual mouse meet. At my school we have at least 2 or 3 mice breaking every month because the wire just comes loose. I understand that it's because of daily K-12 use, but a $60 mouse should be able to endure that.




irmongoose
 
I have a 550 TiBook and I agree. The paint is coming off the right front part and makes it look awful. The heat coming off of it is moronic; I keep the heat off in winter and have to keep the AC on in summer. I can't even touch the metal without burning my fingers. Once the fan comes on it starts waking the neighbors (with nothing but the Finder and screen effects running :rolleyes: )Also all the ports in the back have paint chipped away from them, and it has lots of scratches and a few dents. I only bought it last year in August.
To me, the fact that paint can chip off a machine to this point is absolutely inexcusable ESPECIALLY for the price one has to pay. Apple must test for this type of thing BEFORE releasing them.
Pulling out an ethernet cable is a real pain in the rear, as is putting in an Airport card (lots of cut, bloody fingers from trying to unplug the antenna cable :mad: )
The iBook's case scratches WAY too easily. My 500Mhz iBook looks like I slid down a gravel hill on it. I've used my 14" for a total of maybe 4-5 hours and it's already scratched.
The 5gig iPod (scroll wheel) doesn't come with a FireWire cover- that's insulting. How much does that part cost? 2cents?? Give me a break, stop being cheap bastards and put a cover on it :mad:

Despite all this bi*ching, these are the best machines I've ever owned and I'd never go back to windows- not even if you paid me.
 
Re: Apple hardware design flaws

Originally posted by icetraxxg5


2. The screen isn't totally level, there is no way to adjust (even very slightly) the tilt of the LCD in case its off a little bit.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean:mad:

For this reason alone, I'll probably go with a low end PowerMac and the 20' flat panel. Although, the current Apple LCD design is not adjustable. What a dilema!!!!

Surely, there is a way to fix this problem!?:(
 
I wish that on the iPods the chrome wouldn't scratch as easily as it does. It also gets fingerprints really easily. If you just pick it up, then fingerprints get on the iPod.

But, I love my iPod. :D
 
You have to pay the price for style...

A satin finish on the exterior of the iPod would be more durable, and not show as much wear.

But if you're going to go with a more durable finish why not switch to more wear resistant and less expensive opaque plastics. ie, ugly...

A lot of these thing would probably be caught in focus group or by sending them to consumer report style torture tests. But that would lead to leaks and comprimises in Steve Job's vision.
 
Originally posted by Sun Baked
A satin finish on the exterior of the iPod would be more durable, and not show as much wear.

But if you're going to go with a more durable finish why not switch to more wear resistant and less expensive opaque plastics. ie, ugly...
Click to expand...

Actually, real brushed stainless steel would look good and not look so worn so quickly. Looking at the new PowerBooks, I don't know why they didn't go this route.
 
Re: Re: The Ibook Ports are on the wrong side

Originally posted by crazzyeddie
Power Adaptors break off??? What?! Ever tried a third-party adaptor? I would think it would be much more your fault than Apples, since this would take quite a hit to actually break the metal off.

Key imprints can be solved by buying one of these: http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_P...nt=542&Title=PowerBook Accessories&Template=1

(products for powerbooks and iBooks there)
Click to expand...

The end, the end that goes into the computer, the wire frays where it goes into that weird little plug thing, the news are stronger but the old ones break really easy, i know lots and lots of them that have broke, 3 mine 1 my friends 4 the schools......Hmmmm so no its not me, and the applecare told me that was a common problem
 
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