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cMBP Power Cord ---> Yuck!

MikesGravity said:
How is the new cMBP only "OK" and not as good as your 2009 MB is what I'd like to know?
Click to expand...

1.) Half the reason I switch to Mac was because it was ALL WHITE. About time!! (I *hate* black and silver isn't much better.)

2.) I don't like rubbing up against metal all day. (Some studies show that people with Alzheimer's have higher levels of aluminum in their blood...)

3.) Related to #1, I prefer WHITE keys, and a WHITE border around my screen, and a WHITE case.

4.) And obviously I'm not crazy about the new power cord design... 🙄


In defense of my new 13" cMBP, though, one thing that I that is a welcome change is the much better lit and higher-resolution display. (Although other than at night, the overly reflective glass (?) display gives me a headache as it is like looking at documents in a mirror... That is any quirk I need to work out...)

Great display for reading long documents if the lighting is right. But a real pain in a lot of lighting conditions - especially out on the road...

Sincerely,


Debbie
 
doubledee said:
1.) Half the reason I switch to Mac was because it was ALL WHITE. About time!! (I *hate* black and silver isn't much better.)

2.) I don't like rubbing up against metal all day. (Some studies show that people with Alzheimer's have higher levels of aluminum in their blood...)

3.) Related to #1, I prefer WHITE keys, and a WHITE border around my screen, and a WHITE case.

4.) And obviously I'm not crazy about the new power cord design... 🙄


In defense of my new 13" cMBP, though, one thing that I that is a welcome change is the much better lit and higher-resolution display. (Although other than at night, the overly reflective glass (?) display gives me a headache as it is like looking at documents in a mirror... That is any quirk I need to work out...)

Great display for reading long documents if the lighting is right. But a real pain in a lot of lighting conditions - especially out on the road...

Sincerely,


Debbie
Click to expand...

Are you sure the resolution is higher?
 
MikesGravity said:
Interesting reasons. I really can't think that the white was less glossy than the cMBP?
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My 2009 13" white MacBook's display...

- Is plastic
- May (?) have a lower resolution
- Is definitely not as bright (It has a dull yellowish white color and look dim at maximum illumination)


My new 2012 13" cMBP's display...

- Is supposedly glass
- Has a high-gloss finish
- Is *definitely* brighter and has a nice, cool white look to it
- It seems to have truer color (i.e. Blacks are a crisp black, and whites are a snow white)


I'm not sure that I like the glossy thing, because most of the time it is a PITA and looks like looking into an illuminated glass store front. (I end up seeing me more than what is on the display?!)

But they do may films to handle that issue.


Back to my OP, now I just need to see if I can beat my new power cord into submission and get it to coil properly and not spring out straight and put out my eye?! 😎

Worst case scenario, I'll just use my old power supply which is fine.

Sincerely,


Debbie
 
Both screens are the same resolution, but the changes you noted are mostly due to the change in display suppliers over time (Apple has switched between Samsung, LG, and Philips - maybe others, even within the same model line).

Unlike your old display, which was quite similar to the other matte notebooks for sale at the time, the new(er) models have a piece of glass over the actual display panel (much like the iMac and Thunderbolt Display).

The other possible reason why your display "looks" better on your new machine is probably due to the use of LED backlighting vs. the CCFL - the plastic MacBooks didn't get LED backlighting until the end of 2009 when they were redesigned. If your white MacBook is newer than October 2009, then disregard this.

As for dealing with the glare, you might want to give the iVisor a try (it's removable/washable, and only the edges stick, so you don't run the risk of bubbles or dust spots like an iPhone screen protector): http://www.moshimonde.com/product/ivisor-pro.aspx

I haven't used it personally, but I am using another from the same company and have been quite happy - the PalmGuard - it puts a protector on the palm rests (I was more concerned about wear and tear from sweat, but this may also help in your case of avoiding metal contact): http://www.moshimonde.com/product/palmguard-13-unibody.aspx

Hope this helps, and good luck with the power cord! 🙂
 
ecschwarz said:
Both screens are the same resolution, but the changes you noted are mostly due to the change in display suppliers over time (Apple has switched between Samsung, LG, and Philips - maybe others, even within the same model line).

Unlike your old display, which was quite similar to the other matte notebooks for sale at the time, the new(er) models have a piece of glass over the actual display panel (much like the iMac and Thunderbolt Display).

The other possible reason why your display "looks" better on your new machine is probably due to the use of LED backlighting vs. the CCFL - the plastic MacBooks didn't get LED backlighting until the end of 2009 when they were redesigned. If your white MacBook is newer than October 2009, then disregard this.
Click to expand...

Actually, I think I bought it in like March 2008, so what you are saying would apply, and makes sense with what I am seeing before and after.


ecschwarz said:
As for dealing with the glare, you might want to give the iVisor a try (it's removable/washable, and only the edges stick, so you don't run the risk of bubbles or dust spots like an iPhone screen protector): http://www.moshimonde.com/product/ivisor-pro.aspx
Click to expand...

Thanks!! That looks nifty, and something that would definitely help! :apple:


ecschwarz said:
I haven't used it personally, but I am using another from the same company and have been quite happy - the PalmGuard - it puts a protector on the palm rests (I was more concerned about wear and tear from sweat, but this may also help in your case of avoiding metal contact): http://www.moshimonde.com/product/palmguard-13-unibody.aspx
Click to expand...

I actually got a *leather* palm rest - forget who mentioned it in one of my other threads here - but I haven't installed it yet. 😎


ecschwarz said:
Hope this helps, and good luck with the power cord! 🙂
Click to expand...

Ha ha.

Yeah, I'm sure I'll get that - no pun intended - "straightened out" eventually!!

Sincerely,


Debbie

P.S. Thank you for your your help and doing so in a nice, pleasant way. (Too bad 3-4 people about couldn't act that way when they responded. I get "classiness" is a rare commodity these days online...)
 
GoCubsGo said:
Wait. You roll up a cord and it unwinds when you let go of it? Ever considered tying something around it?

For about $12 your major omgwtfbbq annoyance is solved.
http://www.amazon.com/Quirky-PowerC...qid=1373052733&sr=8-1&keywords=macbook+keeper

If only life were really as easy as yours.
Click to expand...

I go for this pretty high tech solution myself, but also took some classes in college that prepared me for the complexities of it.

twist%20tie%20hank.JPG
 
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ecschwarz said:
Unlike your old display, which was quite similar to the other matte notebooks for sale at the time, the new(er) models have a piece of glass over the actual display panel (much like the iMac and Thunderbolt Display).
Click to expand...

Mmmmmm, the Macbooks didn't ship with matte displays. The Macbooks shipped with high gloss displays.

Yeah, they were plastic displays, but they had a high gloss treatment.

The rMBP displays are probably lower gloss than the Macbook, but with the cMBP it's probably a toss up.
 
I'll admit that the super springy power cord for the cMBP annoy me as well when packing a computer bag. But not enough to start a thread, or at least state it to anyone else up to this point.
 
goMac said:
Mmmmmm, the Macbooks didn't ship with matte displays. The Macbooks shipped with high gloss displays.

Yeah, they were plastic displays, but they had a high gloss treatment.
Click to expand...

Exactly - that's what I really meant - not the best choice of words now that I re-read it. 🙂
 
Count Blah said:
I'll admit that the super springy power cord for the cMBP annoy me as well when packing a computer bag. But not enough to start a thread, or at least state it to anyone else up to this point.
Click to expand...

I wound my new Power Cord up last night, put a twist tie on the thick cord and another one on the thin cord, placed it into my Slim Soft Case, and as I was trying to put my cMBP in the bag, the power cord flipped out and went 3-D and ended up looking like a bird's nest!! 🙄

(I don't think you guys appreciate what I'm talking about without seeing things in person.)

Today after work I am going to go over to the hardware store and possibly invest in so LOGGING CHAINS and PAD LOCKS to keep things under control...

(Or maybe I'll be a used - and *flexible* - cord on eBay and be done with it?!)

Sincerely,


Debbie
 
doubledee said:
I wound my new Power Cord up last night, put a twist tie on the thick cord and another one on the thin cord, placed it into my Slim Soft Case, and as I was trying to put my cMBP in the bag, the power cord flipped out and went 3-D and ended up looking like a bird's nest!! 🙄

(I don't think you guys appreciate what I'm talking about without seeing things in person.)
Click to expand...

I get it. I usually just pick up the entire thing by the brick, such that both the thick and thin cords are dangling below. Then I take both ends and fold in half, and then half again. That goes in the bag. The folded up cords are big and bulky, given the springy thick cord. It's mildly annoying that the cord takes up a lot space volume.
 
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doubledee said:
I wound my new Power Cord up last night, put a twist tie on the thick cord and another one on the thin cord, placed it into my Slim Soft Case, and as I was trying to put my cMBP in the bag, the power cord flipped out and went 3-D and ended up looking like a bird's nest!! 🙄

(I don't think you guys appreciate what I'm talking about without seeing things in person.)

Today after work I am going to go over to the hardware store and possibly invest in so LOGGING CHAINS and PAD LOCKS to keep things under control...

(Or maybe I'll be a used - and *flexible* - cord on eBay and be done with it?!)

Sincerely,


Debbie
Click to expand...

Again, if you liked your old cord so much, why don't you just use it? The actual three prong extension cable isn't machine specific, so you can just pop it onto your new adapter.

Also, stop twist tying your thin cord. The power adaptor comes with built in wrap around storage. I'm not sure why you're trying to twist tie it. If you're not storing it how it's meant to be stored chances of strain damage get higher.
 
goMac said:
Again, if you liked your old cord so much, why don't you just use it? The actual three prong extension cable isn't machine specific, so you can just pop it onto your new adapter.
Click to expand...

Because I have two laptops and one power cord that I like... 😉



Also, stop twist tying your thin cord. The power adaptor comes with built in wrap around storage. I'm not sure why you're trying to twist tie it. If you're not storing it how it's meant to be stored chances of strain damage get higher.
Click to expand...

I don't use those tab things because they are a great way to chaf and wear out your thin cord.

On my old power adapter, I have coiled the large and small cables in a *natural* way that should ensure the longest life AND which fits in my slim soft case.

In over 5 years, my original power adapter and cable works like new, so whatever I am doing must be okay!

Once I finally get my new MBP set up, maybe I'll just swap the cables, since I won't be using my old MacBook as much.


Debbie
 
doubledee said:
I don't use those tab things because they are a great way to chaf and wear out your thin cord.
Click to expand...

I used to work in Mac IT. Those tab things are actually the best way to preserve the life of your adaptor. They wrap it nicely, prevent strain on the end of the cord, prevent tangling or tugging, and also prevent the cord from springing everywhere (which is your problem).

They're Apple recommended, and honestly, they're not going to chaf or wear out the thin cord. I saw a lot of damaged adaptors from people who didn't use the tabs, and out of thousands of machines, never saw a cord damaged because of the tabs.
 
goMac said:
I used to work in Mac IT. Those tab things are actually the best way to preserve the life of your adaptor. They wrap it nicely, prevent strain on the end of the cord, prevent tangling or tugging, and also prevent the cord from springing everywhere (which is your problem).

They're Apple recommended, and honestly, they're not going to chaf or wear out the thin cord. I saw a lot of damaged adaptors from people who didn't use the tabs, and out of thousands of machines, never saw a cord damaged because of the tabs.
Click to expand...

Fair enough.

When I tried them out this weekend, they just seemed to have sharp edges and I personally don't like making a 90 degree turn with any kind of "cord caddy". (In my experience, *that* is what does damage to cords.)

Again, I can't easily show you guys things here, but for both the thick and thin cords, I just make a gentle coil maybe 3-4 inches for the thick cord and maybe 2 1/2 - 3 inches for the small cord, and whatever I have done has served me well the last 5 years. (My old power adapter is probably good for another 5-8 years easily. The only issue being that I now have two MacBooks and only one adapter/cord that I really like.)

May have to find a similar one online.

Thanks,


Debbie
 
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