After a first day of using the 14” I barely notice the notch anymore.
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Hands-On Video With the New 14-Inch MacBook Pro
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I actually don't mind the notch on the MacBook Pro since its a relatively small amount of the overall space and you can still use the menu bar around it. I hate it on the iPhone since it is a significantly larger portion of the screen and now I can't see as much information as I could before. I'd rather they have stuck with a notchless design even if it meant a small "forehead" on the iPhone. But for the MacBook Pro? No problem.
Everyone is repeating this claim that the new machine is "bigger", but a comparison of the overall dimensions of macbook machines will show that the size has barely changed at all over the years! Yes, the butterfly machines were a bit smaller, but the 16" was a return to almost the exact same size as the Retina machines. And this new one is again nearly exactly the same size.
The previous machines had a more "domed" profile. That may make them feel thinner. But the overall dimensions have barely changed. (It is slightly heavier than my semi-retired 2013 15" mbp retina, but overall dimensions are smaller)
I am thrilled about the new design. I'd be happy if it really was bigger than previous models. (But it isn't...) I don't need to upgrade from my 16"...but I probably will. It's literally what I asked for.
But I'm sure Apple is working on something like a super-thin macbook air refresh that will better suit your needs, so have patience!
Not sure you tried holding power down to force off, wait 5 seconds, then press and hold the power button until you see "loading startup options...". From there click "Options" and continue to get into the recovery menu.
GL!
Agree, mostly!
The reduced top bezel is a final nod to design over function. The drive to artifically slim down the top bezel in order to deliver a modern, thin bezel design resulted in the atrocious notch. In this case, the lost functionality is actually more of a usability issue in terms of distraction, but it was still driven by aesthetic goals. However, given the big wins on this model (MagSafe, no TouchBar, more ports), the notch is a small price to pay.
The notch does NOT blend in. It stands out in a very strange way, can't keep from looking at it. And the fact you can hide the pointer behind it is very, very strange.
Hiding the menubar in settings also make the space unusable but empty since Monterey does not allow you to put windows in the space between the notch and the edge of the screen, the window "pops" down to below where the menubar would be.
The bigger menubar means that if you click on a menu item, now there is a darker "box" around the text, not the entire menubar like on screens without a notch. Not pretty.
The keyboard LOOKS great, yes, in a well lit room. In a dimly lit, or dark room, it's impossible to even get a faint idea of where the keyboard is, should the backlighting turn off. And, even with the backlighting turned on, you cannot make out where the keys are, you just see the lit up symbols. User Interface FAIL.
Not this time: Functionality - Design = Apple Excellence DerailmentFunctionality + Design = Apple Excellence
Notch = Failure in All Three..
Pics are very much appreciated. These pics truly provide the view on how FUTUGLY is New MacBook Pro 14".
Well technically it is soldered, at least surface mounted. The RAM modules are separate chips on the SoC but are not part of the actual silicon die.
Yes, although I'd argue that there's quite a difference between "soldered" and "surface-mounted," especially in this case. From the comprehensive Anandtech writeup:
"Apple started off the presentation with a showcase of the packaging, there the M1 Pro is shown to continue to feature very custom packaging, including the still unique characteristic that Apple is packaging the SoC die along with the memory dies on a single organic PCB, which comes in contrast to other traditional chips such as from AMD or Intel which feature the DRAM dies either in DIMM slots, or soldered onto the motherboard. Apple’s approach here likely improves power efficiency by a notable amount."
If Apple support is lost, you can return it within the 14 days they offer, or you can try to have it repaired/replaced.
Usually they are not that difficult to deal with.
JUST GET TO WORK, STOP STARING AT THE NOTCH, START TYPING!!?
Joking aside, I really don't notice the notch at all. I'm almost always in dark mode, but even so the menu bar is now a light blue, so the notch is clearly visible, but it just doesn't bother me. YMMV as they say.
I have to say I like the upgrade from my 2017 13" butterfly horror a lot. I knew I disliked the butterfly keyboard, but now after using the 14" for a while I hate the butterfly with a vengeance. I really really hate it.
Also the speed upgrade is awesome. Word/excel opens instantly (took ages on my 13") teams doesn't turn it into a hovering helicopter with stuttering sound and pixelated video, everything is smooth.
And the sound is a welcome upgrade as well. I often used my xM3's and lately my APMax to block out a lot of noise, but it's a nice to have.
Oh and just scrolling a webpage is such a big difference between my 5k LG and the 14", but no way in hell am I going to buy a XDR. Then again, I just bought a €4000 laptop...?
Speed is not an issue, the machine has plenty, for sure.
I just find some of the decisions, hm, strange. The notch, the black around the keyboard...
Pricing was hard indeed, but this being my main production machine and my old 13" 2017 being so annoyingly slow...
I’m less concerned about the notch, though it is awful and the extra thickness of the menu bar looks like sh*t.Functionality + Design = Apple Excellence
Notch = Failure in All Three..
But the thickness of these ugly pieces of sh*t is really something.
I know I’m in the minority here as everyone is so happy with their SD slots and HDMI ports (neither of which will see much use by most users) and proprietary power connectors but…my gawd these machines are absolutely awful looking and all the various design compromises — the notch, those ugly feet, the boxy design which makes more space for internals — add up to a truly awful device.
I wish apple would’ve come up with a thinner version with a slimmer design and only USB-C ports for those of us who care about these things and then a “MacBook Pro: Homer Simpson Edition” for the denizens of this blog: put in every antiquated connection known to man, have them wrap all the way around the device, make the machine 4 inches thick and weigh 20 lbs with a full-size AND full depth keyboard. Make the camera a professional affair you could shoot a movie on and have the notch be correspondingly huge. Throw in a custom briefcase to carry the thing around.
I feel like that’s a much better product strategy given the overweening desire by ppl for antiquated connectors and thick laptops with dated design.
But again, I’m clearly the minority here.
I had a chuckle at “MacBook Pro: Homer Simpson Edition”, and remember the “super car” episode well.
As for being in the minority? Yes, I think you probably are. I like the looks, would definitely use HDMI and the SD slot regularly, and value function over form. Sure, I would like it be 10mm thick and weigh 1kg, but accept that it can’t be (yet)
The M2 Air will be more to your liking.
I guess this is the rub -- I value function and form. And lament the fact the Ive has left Apple; as these machines show his leaving was a real loss.
Re: MBA: If this is what the MBP redesign looks like, I have little hope for the Air redesign. I actually bought an M1 MBA to test out and ended up hating it -- the wedge design that seemed so amazing a decade ago looks and feels like a piece of sh*t today -- and gave it to one of the juniors at the company.
I guess I will be casting about for a new device for a while -- though the irritating part of all this is I will eventually have to break down and buy one of the 16-inch models as it's what our clients will expect.
Not happy about buying a machine that is distinct downgrade design-wise from previous devices which also carries a hefty price increase as well.
People keep mentioning screen flickering causing headaches and stuff,
did you notice any headache?
Isn‘t the 16” cheaper than the equivalent 2019 MBP16 was? Assuming the 32 core GPU is easily equal to the AMD5600M, you are getting a lot more computer for less money. The downside is that you can’t have an equivalent to the lower spec MBP16 models with 16GB RAM and 5300M or 5500M dGPU.
IIRC, a 2020 MBP16 with 32GB /1TB and 5600M GPU was about AU$5900. The new one is AU$5250.
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Thank you, great comparison shot, 14 is not going to work, hopefully they will release a 15" Macbook Air next year.