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Haptic Feedback Gone.

M

maryunani

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 9, 2015
56
22
It just suddenly went.

The last time I used my rMB was four days ago, everything was fine. But then, when I used it again now the haptic feedback in the trackpad is suddenly missing. Funnily enough it's still sounding like a click when I disable "Silent clicking", and force touch still works. Is it in anyway related to El Cap? (Me uses a beta version 15A278b).

Any help appreciated. Am backing up in Time Machine now, in case a clean install might help.
 
maryunani said:
It just suddenly went.

The last time I used my rMB was four days ago, everything was fine. But then, when I used it again now the haptic feedback in the trackpad is suddenly missing. Funnily enough it's still sounding like a click when I disable "Silent clicking", and force touch still works. Is it in anyway related to El Cap? (Me uses a beta version 15A278b).

Any help appreciated. Am backing up in Time Machine now, in case a clean install might help.
Click to expand...

I haven't had this myself, but I did notice when I was in an Apple Store that there was a MacBook with the same issue which you're describing. I asked one of the specialists and they said it was broken. You should take it in to the Genius Bar!
 
JD92 said:
I haven't had this myself, but I did notice when I was in an Apple Store that there was a MacBook with the same issue which you're describing. I asked one of the specialists and they said it was broken. You should take it in to the Genius Bar!
Click to expand...

I'm on my second 12" MacBook for this exact same problem... and today it died again. It was a slow death - i started to notice it a little weaker, and now it's entirely non-vibrating. Still functions as a trackpad, but with no click feedback, etc it's incredibly difficult to use.

Back to the Genius bar yet again - there is definitely a reliability issue here. The keyboard and trackpad are both very unreliable on this machine. It's too bad I love the form factor so much or I'd be right back to the pro...
 
If the haptic is gone there is no sense of click. No sound. Nothing. The OP reports a sound...which is impossible. So something else may be wrong. To ask if its an EL Cap issue is to imply you just upgraded..true?
 
Queen6 said:
As much as I like the new trackpad, I do rather feel it`s a very complex solution for a simple requirement, and to some extents completely unnecessary...
Click to expand...

That's my thinking, its an overly complex solution to a problem that really doesn't exist and being so complex may have a propensity to fail
 
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maflynn said:
That's my thinking, its an overly complex solution to a problem that really doesn't exist and being so complex may have a propensity to fail
Click to expand...

I really like the "Force Touch" trackpad, equally I tend to agree it`s likely to bring more issue due to the additional complexity, and Apple being Apple will likely just want to replace the entire top case in the event of failure.

It`s rather like someone sat down and decided to come up with the most complex possible mechanism for a trackpad, this being said it does work, nor do we see an abundance of issues on the forums, time will tell no doubt.

Q-6
 
Queen6 said:
I really like the "Force Touch" trackpad, equally I tend to agree it`s likely to bring more issue due to the additional complexity,
Click to expand...
For me it seems like a solution in search of a problem. Yes, Apple probably needed to do something because traditional trackpads may not work with the thinness of the rMB, but I think instead of making computers wafer thin and then creating complex components to account for that thinness, make the computer a but thicker and the traditional (virtually bulletproof) components. Just my $.02 :)
 
maflynn said:
For me it seems like a solution in search of a problem. Yes, Apple probably needed to do something because traditional trackpads may not work with the thinness of the rMB, but I think instead of making computers wafer thin and then creating complex components to account for that thinness, make the computer a but thicker and the traditional (virtually bulletproof) components. Just my $.02 :)
Click to expand...

I can't agree, when you set out to make the most portable laptop then thinness and lightness is at the heart of it, developing new technology to allow this has pushed the envelope for interaction with this and other devices (force touch screens in the iPhone etc).

There is no logic in berating Apple for not using the latest chips and not staying up to date and then bashing them for developing and using new technology (and on the whole getting it right first time).

They had a problem and they solved it and developed a top bit of technology at the same time can't ask for more than that.
 
I disagree, because mostly I see apple's obsession with thinness more form over function. At some point a product is too thin, its thinness actually impacts how well it works the consumer. I'd say that the Retina MacBook has approached that point, where the touchpad and keyboard are seeming having some issues due to the new design of both, when they could gone with something a bit more substantial and perhaps less likely to fail and the only shortfall would have been the laptop being only a few centimeters thicker.
 
Considering that all owners of the rMB are beta testing the tech, I expected to see these issues in the product and know they will be resolved for the benefit of future owners.

My only complaints, other than price, are that the keyboard is too cramped and there needs to be 1 additional USB-C port.
 
maflynn said:
I disagree, because mostly I see apple's obsession with thinness more form over function. At some point a product is too thin, its thinness actually impacts how well it works the consumer. I'd say that the Retina MacBook has approached that point, where the touchpad and keyboard are seeming having some issues due to the new design of both, when they could gone with something a bit more substantial and perhaps less likely to fail and the only shortfall would have been the laptop being only a few centimeters thicker.
Click to expand...

Time will tell on the reliability side; the new trackpad is unequivocally more complex. Personally I thinks it`s a little too soon to make a call on reliability, however the complexity implies greater potential. Apple are undoubtedly looking at form over function, to some extents they always have done, however Apple has clearly learnt that the marriage of technology, design and kudos sells in volume, even at the expense of functionality.

Q-6
 
Queen6 said:
As much as I like the new trackpad, I do rather feel it`s a very complex solution for a simple requirement, and to some extents completely unnecessary...

Q-6
Click to expand...
Apple has MUCH more in the pipeline for Haptics, which requires the taptic engine.
 
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NT1440 said:
Apple has MUCH more in the pipeline for Haptics, which requires the taptic engine.
Click to expand...
I am going to agree with this. It seems overly complicated at the moment because it is still bridging the newer ideas for the software with the users older perceptions of how exactly the tech should work. This is seeming to me more of a breadcrumb than a whole slice type of feature, and I expect for there to be a larger collection of crumbs as OS X continues to develop.
 
jgelin said:
I am going to agree with this. It seems overly complicated at the moment because it is still bridging the newer ideas for the software with the users older perceptions of how exactly the tech should work. This is seeming to me more of a breadcrumb than a whole slice type of feature, and I expect for there to be a larger collection of crumbs as OS X continues to develop.
Click to expand...
It's going to be a VERY interesting WWDC this year ;)
 
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maflynn said:
For me it seems like a solution in search of a problem. Yes, Apple probably needed to do something because traditional trackpads may not work with the thinness of the rMB, but I think instead of making computers wafer thin and then creating complex components to account for that thinness, make the computer a but thicker and the traditional (virtually bulletproof) components. Just my $.02 :)
Click to expand...

Queen6 said:
Time will tell on the reliability side; the new trackpad is unequivocally more complex. Personally I thinks it`s a little too soon to make a call on reliability, however the complexity implies greater potential. Apple are undoubtedly looking at form over function, to some extents they always have done, however Apple has clearly learnt that the marriage of technology, design and kudos sells in volume, even at the expense of functionality.

Q-6
Click to expand...


I agree with you both 1000%…. they took the wrong (Jonny Ive´s "Form over function" thin-gimmick-philosophy) way already since 2011/2012… (Steve Jobs died in october 2011) and it´s getting worse and worse since then…
 
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Queen6 said:
Personally I thinks it`s a little too soon to make a call on reliability,
Click to expand...

Agreed, but by the same token what we do see can be construed as troubling, i.e., a number of members here have reported a lot of issues with the keyboard.
 
MrAverigeUser said:
I agree with you both 1000%…. they took the wrong (Jonny Ive´s "Form over function" thin-gimmick-philosophy) way already since 2011/2012… (Steve Jobs died in october 2011) and it´s getting worse and worse since then…
Click to expand...

This now is Apple`s design philosophy, we have simple choices as consumers; buy or disregard. Apple will continue deeper on this path as it will appeal to ever more average users, who mostly focus on Apple`s kudos. Those of us needing more will need to look elsewhere.

I find myself now considering Windows based hardware for the first time in decades, not that I think Apple is designing & producing substandard computers, rather the systems are not working for me as well as I would like. Should the 2016 13" & 15" rMBP fail to impress, my current Retina MacBook`s will remain or more likely be replaced with Windows based hardware.

Q-6
[doublepost=1453222136][/doublepost]
maflynn said:
Agreed, but by the same token what we do see can be construed as troubling, i.e., a number of members here have reported a lot of issues with the keyboard.
Click to expand...

It`s a very small sample, and my mind is open, so far I have not personally incurred issue. I do think that "thin & light" has literally become an obsession with Apple, and sadly the industry as a whole. Phones are a great example thiner & lighter than ever, however a power bank is now almost mandatory as a result :rolleyes:

I like my rMB for what it is, equally I don't want the rMBP to be just a bigger version. I would far rather prefer to see more utility, than millimetres & grams shaves off here & there, equally it is what it is; consumer product for the masses, nor do you require too much "utility" for FaceBook...

Q-6
 
Queen6 said:
This now is Apple`s design philosophy, we have simple choices as consumers; buy or disregard. Apple will continue deeper on this path as it will appeal to ever more average users, who mostly focus on Apple`s kudos. Those of us needing more will need to look elsewhere.

I find myself now considering Windows based hardware for the first time in decades, not that I think Apple is designing & producing substandard computers, rather the systems are not working for me as well as I would like. Should the 2016 13" & 15" rMBP fail to impress, my current Retina MacBook`s will remain or more likely be replaced with Windows based hardware.

Q-6
Click to expand...


For my part,
the "old" MBP of 2011/12 are far enough performing for my needs - the newer MBPs are not really performing significantly more (just +10-20%) - so I´d prefer to buy another 2012 MBP second-hand one day - just to be shure I can use one for years… the one I write here got all I need because I upgraded already with 1 TB SSD and 16GB RAM.
For heavier performance I can use and/or upgrade my classic MacPro 4,1 8-core to a fast 12 Core with some hundred EUR… 3rd party GPU is already purchased as also SSD on PCIe… :)

CPU/GPU Performance, storage place/RAM: for 99% of people no longer a barrier or real-world problem no more.
 
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MrAverigeUser said:
A really very good article about "classic" and "new" apple-philosophy, read it from "
"Misguided Chutzpah"
on….

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/new-macbook-type-c-apple-hubris,news-49896.html
Click to expand...

Love that article. So true.
But then I am reminded of the Macbook Air stupidity when it first released.

In truth this is really an Apple business plan to Extract the most $ from your customers.
So why not release an inferior rMB.
Then in a year another.
And in a year, another.

Revenue streams baby.
 
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