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Apple Quietly Bumps 15" MacBook Pro, 256GB SD Option, New Keyboard
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While I completely understand why some people want a numerical pad, after recently getting a MBP and using it almost 95% of the time while I'm at home now (I was a desktop user 95% of the time before this), I've grown to love the notebook's keyboard layout. I don't miss the pgup/pgdn/home/end (using the Emacs-style shortcuts helps) and I don't miss having a numerical pad either. I am definitely faster at punching numbers on it, but I can live without it.
After realizing how much I liked this layout, I thought the bluetooth keyboard might be a good idea, as it reduces the distance my hand has to move to get to the mouse (which is considered a "cache miss" if you're a heavy keyboard user as I am).
So I spent a good amount of time really trying out the bluetooth keyboard in the store and the keyswitches are terrible (it does not feel good to type on the keyboard). The notebook keyboards are a *lot* better (even on the unibody notebooks). I just don't understand why they would make their desktop keyboards so much worse than the notebook keyboards which are pretty much the same. (Disclosure: I use and love Model M keyboards, so I am picky)
Also, the trackpad factors into this as well. The multi-touch is great. And for me, having the trackpad so close to the keyboard is great as my hands have to travel less (though I think IBM's trackpoint is the superior input device in this regard). Why would they make a wireless keyboard that is potentially going to be sitting in peoples' laps and not include some sort of pointing device on it?
In my opinion, they should have two Bluetooth models:
- One with the notebook-style layout like the current one, but with a trackpad somewhere (I think below the keyboard is the best location, exactly the same as their notebooks)
- One with the full layout with numerical pad and everything
And they need to make the keyswitches not suck. In my dreams Apple would license buckling-spring technology
After realizing how much I liked this layout, I thought the bluetooth keyboard might be a good idea, as it reduces the distance my hand has to move to get to the mouse (which is considered a "cache miss" if you're a heavy keyboard user as I am).
So I spent a good amount of time really trying out the bluetooth keyboard in the store and the keyswitches are terrible (it does not feel good to type on the keyboard). The notebook keyboards are a *lot* better (even on the unibody notebooks). I just don't understand why they would make their desktop keyboards so much worse than the notebook keyboards which are pretty much the same. (Disclosure: I use and love Model M keyboards, so I am picky)
Also, the trackpad factors into this as well. The multi-touch is great. And for me, having the trackpad so close to the keyboard is great as my hands have to travel less (though I think IBM's trackpoint is the superior input device in this regard). Why would they make a wireless keyboard that is potentially going to be sitting in peoples' laps and not include some sort of pointing device on it?
In my opinion, they should have two Bluetooth models:
- One with the notebook-style layout like the current one, but with a trackpad somewhere (I think below the keyboard is the best location, exactly the same as their notebooks)
- One with the full layout with numerical pad and everything
And they need to make the keyswitches not suck. In my dreams Apple would license buckling-spring technology
Was it a Saturday Night Live sketch where they had someone show the new Apple laptop, and it only had one button? Then the host explains that it's so much simpler that way, you just press that button 26 times for the letter Z.
That was the onion.
, you saved me from a sudden crash diet" 
Track Pad!
I absolutely agree with you on this... A separate glass track pad to replace the mighty mouse must be on the cards. Integration of touch to the desk top products is only a matter of time, and I doubt Apple will go HP's route and make a touch screen desk top... It's just stupid... At least it is too me. In my humble opinion Apple will launch this glass track pad at the same time as Snow Leopard....
I absolutely agree with you on this... A separate glass track pad to replace the mighty mouse must be on the cards. Integration of touch to the desk top products is only a matter of time, and I doubt Apple will go HP's route and make a touch screen desk top... It's just stupid... At least it is too me. In my humble opinion Apple will launch this glass track pad at the same time as Snow Leopard.... Was it a Saturday Night Live sketch where they had someone show the new Apple laptop, and it only had one button? Then the host explains that it's so much simpler that way, you just press that button 26 times for the letter Z.
It was Peter Serafinowicz from UK, not SNL or the onion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk8k2fzCVY4
PS for anyone wondering where all the negatives are coming from, its cuz of the MBP speed bumps not the keyboard thing
Fail!
Wireless means it's not going to be used on a table? Um, no. Wireless means it has no wires. My wireless keyboard and mouse sit on a keyboard tray more than 99 percent of the time. My MBP with a wireless network connection, not to mention an iMac and Dell PC with wireless network connections, sit on desks. My Apple TV with WiFi sits on top of a Blu-ray Disc player. My Wii with WiFi sits on a desk.
Dude, wireless means we don't want some wire getting in the way. Once I find some good bluetooth speakers and some way to charge wirelessly, NO WIRES!
I don't get fudging around with the default keyboard. It's not OPTIONAL. It's standard. The old keyboard is optional at no charge. This is about the only disappointment I see today, but it's still a major move backward. I don't like having to use a function key to do normal crap that has been on every keyboard since forever just so Apple can "save" us 3 inches of desk space.
Apple Keyboards and Mice?
Personally, I swore off Apple keyboards and mice back when they introduced the puck mouse. I've tried the Mighty Mouse, and I just can't figure out for the life of me why Apple can design such great computers but can't put together a mouse that isn't completely worthless. The keyboards aren't as unusable, but they tend to feel soft and cheap.
I've used Microsoft mice in the past and have been using Logitech stuff for the last 5 years.
Personally, I swore off Apple keyboards and mice back when they introduced the puck mouse. I've tried the Mighty Mouse, and I just can't figure out for the life of me why Apple can design such great computers but can't put together a mouse that isn't completely worthless. The keyboards aren't as unusable, but they tend to feel soft and cheap.
I've used Microsoft mice in the past and have been using Logitech stuff for the last 5 years.
It was Peter Serafinowicz from UK, not SNL or the onion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk8k2fzCVY4
PS for anyone wondering where all the negatives are coming from, its cuz of the MBP speed bumps not the keyboard thing
Yup, that's the one. (Though I have to say, I did check out the Onion video, and it's great!)
And the SNL connection, if I remember correctly, involved the iPod (getting smaller and smaller). That's the one that, if memory serves, introduced the "and while all this was going on, we introduced a new one that makes this one obsolete" idea.
Was it a Saturday Night Live sketch where they had someone show the new Apple laptop, and it only had one button? Then the host explains that it's so much simpler that way, you just press that button 26 times for the letter Z.
Are you talking about the Macbook Wheel?
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary
It was just a joke.
Poor show Apple.
If Apple want to keep their place then they have to keep more up-to-date with processor speeds and ram amounts.
I was expecting an update along the lines of :
Macbook - base alu model 2.4, higher model 2.54
Macbook Pro - base model 2.66, mid model 2.94 (or whatever the number) and higher model 3.0. (I then thought they should move to quad core by the summer).
Only the base models macbook should be 2GB ram, the rest should be 3 or 4gb. Hard drives aren't really an issue.
I was waiting for the bottom line macbook pro update, but now they have given such a small speed bump to one or two then I don't think we will see a proper improvement for some time unfortunately
When I bought my white macbook (22months ago) it was better in spec than any normal laptop within that range of money. I wish I could say the same now about their line but the truth is that they have fallen behind in the specs for the prices they are demanding. Something needs to change otherwise, against all i've come to feel about using a mac, I will have to switch back to a normal laptop.
If Apple want to keep their place then they have to keep more up-to-date with processor speeds and ram amounts.
I was expecting an update along the lines of :
Macbook - base alu model 2.4, higher model 2.54
Macbook Pro - base model 2.66, mid model 2.94 (or whatever the number) and higher model 3.0. (I then thought they should move to quad core by the summer).
Only the base models macbook should be 2GB ram, the rest should be 3 or 4gb. Hard drives aren't really an issue.
I was waiting for the bottom line macbook pro update, but now they have given such a small speed bump to one or two then I don't think we will see a proper improvement for some time unfortunately
When I bought my white macbook (22months ago) it was better in spec than any normal laptop within that range of money. I wish I could say the same now about their line but the truth is that they have fallen behind in the specs for the prices they are demanding. Something needs to change otherwise, against all i've come to feel about using a mac, I will have to switch back to a normal laptop.
here is a mockup of the keyboard Apple should have come out with today... maybe we will get lucky and see this on the 3/24 with a black chicklet illuminated keyboard...
original thread on my keyboard mockups.
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=6842351
original thread on my keyboard mockups.
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=6842351
I still don't understand the logic behind Apple deciding to throw out the numeric keypad.
Yeah, it looks better, but its not very functional for most people. Personally I like it, but from a consumer standpoint, alot of people won't.
Yeah, it looks better, but its not very functional for most people. Personally I like it, but from a consumer standpoint, alot of people won't.
Space. Also, some people HATE HATE HATE the number pads. I feel so off centered when using a keyboard with a number pad.
Thats is a minor , a very minor issue to bring up, I just hope they are using decent panels for this abomination of form over function... All good though seeing as I'd bever buy an all in one and just laugh at people who did when the monitor breaks and they have more redundant junk sitting around the house.
Jesus, how many people use this argument against all in ones? How often does the SCREEN of all things really break?
you should fix up and realise that computers are nothing more than a big F***ing calculator...
you should fix up and realise that computers are nothing more than a big F***ing calculator...
Lol, I cant even remember the last time I had need for a number pad.
Well my current computer has got through 2x 23" ACD's and a lacie 21" CFT... The computer still works, dont get me started on how my slot A 700mhz has outlasted my old G3 blue and white...
- possibly the most under-rated element of a decent human interface, with what, as I pointed out in a previous post is a big f***ing calculator.