Apple Says Notch is a 'Smart Way' to Give Users More Space for Content on New MacBook Pros

[bkendig]

At first I hated the notch, but now I think I'm okay with it.

The problem was in the way they presented it. If they'd said 'we used to need a thick top bezel because of the webcam ... but then we figured, why not let you expand upward around the webcam if you want, like on an iPhone? And if you'd rather have the same old top bezel instead of a notch, you can have that too." then I would have been, like, cool.

Presenting it instead as "Look at all this display real estate ... and a notch!" was kind of dumb.

 

[bkendig]

So, I’m writing a Unity app for Windows 11.

Do I buy this MacBook Pro 2021 or a Dell?

This MacBook Pro will not run Windows 11. (Unless you run it under Parallels Desktop or similar, but that's a lot of added expense to be able to run Windows.)

 

[newbmacuser2021]

This MacBook Pro will not run Windows 11.

I’m making a Unity game, not running Windows 11.

 

[newbmacuser2021]

Right, Parallels! Good point!

I think they updated it for M1 and Windows 11?

 

[liberte1776]

Exactly, agree w/Apple. Should have come to Mac the same year as iPhone X, why is the Mac always sucking the hind tit?!

 

[newbmacuser2021]

Does M1 Pro run Steam?

 

[now i see it]

Bad design choice once again.

 

[turbineseaplane]

But not for notch lovers. They can rejoice with apple overlord.

Are there really people who "love the notch"?
This is amazing to me.. Why?

 

[newbmacuser2021]

So maybe my original question was, is Apple the best hardware maker for laptops?

Or are they a software company?

 

[nsayer]

This MacBook Pro will not run Windows 11. (Unless you run it under Parallels Desktop or similar, but that's a lot of added expense to be able to run Windows.)

Still cheaper than a 2nd machine and a lot more convenient than Boot Camp ever was.

 

[newbmacuser2021]

If this MacBook Pro 2021 can run Parallels, and Parallels can run Windows 11, and Windows 11 can run Android apps…

Then can this MacBook Pro 2021 run Android apps? In addition to iOS apps.

And if that’s true, is this MacBook Pro 2021 the best machine to run Android apps?

 

[x-evil-x]

I don’t think that will be compatible. Everyone will be looking for a dongle. If you don’t have a dongle… say no to the virtual meetings. You are pretty much screwed.

Imagine how much a dongle will cost. $99?

Magnetic connection on the top of the lid with pins that connect it. Would of much rather of seen this and no physical camera on the display at all.

 

[mikethemartian]

App stores for Palm Pilot and Windows CE/PocketPC existed since the late 90s/early 2000s. Places like Handango used to sell PocketPC apps. So we could see where things were going back then. Apple unified everything under their version of the appstore (no more serial numbers or activtion codes/servers needed anymore.) But the Apple appstore was actually just catching up to what already existed under PalmPilot and early Windows phones.

I remember before the iPhone came out that third parties sold software that ran on the click-wheel iPods.

 

[ErikGrim]

But now the menu bar is taller, which removes a lot of that extra space.

Doesn't matter. You gain the extra space taken up by the menu bar regardless.

 

[coolfactor]

They could have gone the ridiculous Lenovo way and put the webcam in the chin.

But one must wonder... is having the camera lower better? Presently, when you're in a video call and looking at something on the screen, it looks odd. For exampe, say you want to speak to a specific person, so you look directly at them, but they all see you looking away from the camera. If the camera was lower, it may look more natural.

 

[ErikGrim]

Yeah, but what about applications that run full screen... where the Apple Menu bar is not present, but now the notch intrudes into the applications space? Perhaps blocking features?

Full screen only includes the 16:10 space below the notch. There was even an article here addressing that very issue (not that many commenters on that article understood it)

 

[bkendig]

Does M1 Pro run Steam?

It'll run the macOS version of Steam under Rosetta, but of course it'll only be able to play games that have been ported to Mac. I don't believe that Steam (or any Mac games under Steam) have been ported to M1 yet.

 

[coolfactor]

The notch is big for no reasons.

It's big to allow for the future addition of Face ID.

Imagine if they started with a smaller notch and then made it bigger later. Sh*t would really hit the fan then. Having it a consistent size from day one is smarter.

 

[newbmacuser2021]

It'll run the macOS version of Steam under Rosetta, but of course it'll only be able to play games that have been ported to Mac. I don't believe that Steam (or any Mac games under Steam) have been ported to M1 yet.

So M1 ARM architecture isn’t compatible at the moment?

 

[tobybrut]

What I don't get is why not do a clear background behind the "notch" and/or make it more of a hole punch? Why not have FaceID in there??

Rene Ritchie hypothesizes that Apple is wary about putting Face ID in a Mac because of accidental purchases or authorizations. On an iPhone or iPad you have to double click a button to authorize Face ID but doing that on a Mac is awkward. If you have to double click a button you’re already putting a finger on a key so why not use Touch ID?

i don’t know if he’s right but it’s a logical explanation.

 

[ErikGrim]

So M1 ARM architecture isn’t compatible at the moment?

ROSETTA

 

[bkendig]

So M1 ARM architecture isn’t compatible at the moment?

M1-based Macs can run Steam and Steam-based games under Rosetta Intel emulation, just like other macOS Intel apps.

 

[newbmacuser2021]

M1-based Macs can run Steam and Steam-based games under Rosetta Intel emulation, just like other macOS Intel apps.

So if I use Sidecar on this MacBook Pro 2021, running Parallels, running Windows 11, running Android apps…

Can I run Android apps on my iPad using a USB-C cable?

 

[ErikGrim]

M1-based Macs can run Steam and Steam-based games under Rosetta Intel emulation, just like other macOS Intel apps.

Rosetta is notably NOT emulation. It's translation, and it only happens once on first launch.

 

[bkendig]

Rosetta is notably NOT emulation. It's translation, and it only happens once on first launch.

Right. I used the wrong word.