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I’m not a fan of Apple’s new design language direction
- Thread starter Makisupa Policeman
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I've only used the M1 MBP 14 and 16 in a store, but I liked what I saw. They look like serious tools with almost an industrial/military edge to them.
There was far too much of an emphasis on form over function since the MB and the 2016 MB and this is a much needed rebalancing so we have a near perfect balance of function - and form. Just how the Bauhaus design school would've liked it.
There was far too much of an emphasis on form over function since the MB and the 2016 MB and this is a much needed rebalancing so we have a near perfect balance of function - and form. Just how the Bauhaus design school would've liked it.
Good point. The pictures worried me a bit. My M1 Pro 16 in hand is excellent. I love the design.
The notch disappears with dark wallpaper. That’s what I do.
I've been using Macs since Tiger (10.4) and have had no earth-shattering issues with any successive release of macOS up through now Monterey (which I'm running on all 3 of my Macs). It sounds like you're completely focused on the aesthetics. While I understand we all have our preferences, and I also was a bigger fan of the "Aqua" theme than the current themes, the current themes are not bad at all and I can't imagine drawing a line in the sand over that.
At first when I watched the keynote, i was kind of disappointed about the design. After witnessing it in the shop it felt really sturdy and it was definitely function over form. It shows in every aspect! In the end it’s a new level of quality Apple delivers with their Macbook Pro line.
I would guess that the wedge design isn't used for the Pros because it would eat away at space that could be used for battery. One of the reasons why it took a while for the Air to get the Retina display was battery life. It's more difficult to squeeze more cells into a wedge than a slab.
Running M1P and M1M saps more juice, plus the cooling fans, plus the fancy display. The Air doesn't currently have those, so it can still get excellent battery life with the wedge shape.
I thought the new M1 Pro was almost 100% solid, kinda wish the bottom of the devices was more squared off to match the top cover and look more like the iMac/Mac mini in that regard. But that's minimal compared to the notch and no amount of copium will make me accept it.
But turns out you can get rid of it completely by setting it to a 16:10 resolution via SwitchResX or similar app. Looks like Apple baked in appropriate 16:10 Retina resolutions and it scales below the notch. Seems like some people internally wanted a way out as well
But turns out you can get rid of it completely by setting it to a 16:10 resolution via SwitchResX or similar app. Looks like Apple baked in appropriate 16:10 Retina resolutions and it scales below the notch. Seems like some people internally wanted a way out as well
The 2021 MacBook Pro design is a mix of modern with retro. It's appealing to those of us that were dismayed at the trend of form over function. There was no excuse for creating such a thin MacBook Pro enclosure at the expense of performance in the form of throttling, heat, and degraded battery life. It seems Apple has listened — while slow to course-correct — they did take to heart the feedback we gave them.
My first wish is that the whole computer was double anodized black — and not just the keyboard well. A completely black, stealth looking MacBook Pro would be AWESOME.
I wish they slightly rounded the top case instead of chamfering it. That edge can be uncomfortable in certain situations. Who knows how much bead blasting is done to each top case, so perhaps some feel rougher than others?
The notch is the nature of the beast. It's annoying at times. Not a deal breaker when you understand you're actually getting MORE space. It wouldn't surprise me if Apple isn't already actively developing a smaller camera housing that eliminates the need for a notch. It maybe distinctive for Apple but it's most assuredly not ideal for them either.
Considering the pressure that was mounting from pros on Apple for their design regressions & apparent lack of attention on pros, Apple made the rare move in April 2017 of publicly acknowledging they made some bad design decisions with the Mac Pro. It wasn't a leap to read between the lines of the press coverage that this also applied to the 2016 MacBook Pro. Apple took the unusual step of committing that every effort was being made to make lasting amends.
Therefore this 2021 MacBook Pro design was likely conceived before Apple fully committed to switching to its own silicon or perhaps was intended to have been used before the switch came, like they did with the Mac Pro. It's my contention that this design was originally intended for future Intel processors & was kept as a fall-back plan if Apple's silicon plans were delayed. Apple didn't realize its own silicon would be as good as it turned out to be.
It's likely the new MacBook Air will be thinner than the 2018 Google Pixelbook. If you never saw one in person, it was impressive.
Whereas the 2021 MacBook Pro is a mix of modern & retro, the design language of the MacBook Air will just be modern. And thin.
So with improvements to the Apple SoC, I fully expect future MacBook Pro models to retain the same overall aesthetic, but for it to thin out a little bit. This might change the perception of the feet. I know this sounds scary given all we've been through over the last 5 years, but I don't think we're going back to putting a MacBook Pro in a freezer to keep it from throttling.
My first wish is that the whole computer was double anodized black — and not just the keyboard well. A completely black, stealth looking MacBook Pro would be AWESOME.
I wish they slightly rounded the top case instead of chamfering it. That edge can be uncomfortable in certain situations. Who knows how much bead blasting is done to each top case, so perhaps some feel rougher than others?
The notch is the nature of the beast. It's annoying at times. Not a deal breaker when you understand you're actually getting MORE space. It wouldn't surprise me if Apple isn't already actively developing a smaller camera housing that eliminates the need for a notch. It maybe distinctive for Apple but it's most assuredly not ideal for them either.
Considering the pressure that was mounting from pros on Apple for their design regressions & apparent lack of attention on pros, Apple made the rare move in April 2017 of publicly acknowledging they made some bad design decisions with the Mac Pro. It wasn't a leap to read between the lines of the press coverage that this also applied to the 2016 MacBook Pro. Apple took the unusual step of committing that every effort was being made to make lasting amends.
Therefore this 2021 MacBook Pro design was likely conceived before Apple fully committed to switching to its own silicon or perhaps was intended to have been used before the switch came, like they did with the Mac Pro. It's my contention that this design was originally intended for future Intel processors & was kept as a fall-back plan if Apple's silicon plans were delayed. Apple didn't realize its own silicon would be as good as it turned out to be.
It's likely the new MacBook Air will be thinner than the 2018 Google Pixelbook. If you never saw one in person, it was impressive.
So with improvements to the Apple SoC, I fully expect future MacBook Pro models to retain the same overall aesthetic, but for it to thin out a little bit. This might change the perception of the feet. I know this sounds scary given all we've been through over the last 5 years, but I don't think we're going back to putting a MacBook Pro in a freezer to keep it from throttling.
So you are now not using the top of your screen and losing real estate. What a waste!!!!I thought the new M1 Pro was almost 100% solid, kinda wish the bottom of the devices was more squared off to match the top cover and look more like the iMac/Mac mini in that regard. But that's minimal compared to the notch and no amount of copium will make me accept it.
But turns out you can get rid of it completely by setting it to a 16:10 resolution via SwitchResX or similar app. Looks like Apple baked in appropriate 16:10 Retina resolutions and it scales below the notch. Seems like some people internally wanted a way out as well
View attachment 1950938
Will be interesting to see how this 'newer' design will affect the larger iMac.
I much hope for a more pro and/or industrial design over the look the smaller 24" had.
But I have less concern over that then the functionality of it. Soon, I hope, we know ?
I much hope for a more pro and/or industrial design over the look the smaller 24" had.
But I have less concern over that then the functionality of it. Soon, I hope, we know ?
I'm still waiting on my base 14" to arrive (3+ weeks..) but I am planning to experiment with an app called TopNotch, which I assume is not new to most people here. Thanks to the better blacks of MiniLED it seems to hide the Notch quite well but also gives effectively 90 degree corners.
I guess in fullscreen it reverts back to rounded but I use fullscreen rarely.
But the notch does not really bother me so I might not use it. First I actually have to receive my new laptop..
A slanted keyboard is worse ergonomically than a flat keyboard. The slant causes your wrists to bend and that contributes to carpel tunnel syndrome.
I thought the new M1 Pro was almost 100% solid, kinda wish the bottom of the devices was more squared off to match the top cover and look more like the iMac/Mac mini in that regard. But that's minimal compared to the notch and no amount of copium will make me accept it.
But turns out you can get rid of it completely by setting it to a 16:10 resolution via SwitchResX or similar app. Looks like Apple baked in appropriate 16:10 Retina resolutions and it scales below the notch. Seems like some people internally wanted a way out as well
View attachment 1950938
Madebybelya,
If the corners bother you enough to remove the top part of the screen, you might look at one of the apps such as what Slowhand27 posted above. This hides the notch with a black background. You then have the full 16:10 space below for your app content. It also gives you rectangular corners. This approach may address your concerns and still let you use all of the screen and not throw the top part away.
As an older person, the small differences between different OS versions are just the changes that you come to expect. I’ve worked with a wide range of operating systems over the years and watched several of them evolve over time. In many cases, those changes can just be seen as an old friend who is wearing a shirt you don’t particularly care for. Noticeable at first but quickly forgotten as the two of you get on with your conversation. I know some people expect you to get more rigid and averse to change as you get older, but I find a bit of flexibility and perspective is more useful and less stressful than fretting over the details.
I like the new feet in that they are flat on the bottom, thus with a larger area to grip on the desk surface compared to the previous concave design. The raised aluminium 'ring' around the rubber feet really lends a high-quality feel to the design. The new feet are quite slippery when new, though, but works fine once 'broken in'. I find that the new MBP doesn't slide as easily when I am opening the lid with one finger.I had not thought of that (my newest MBP is only a 2017) but until now the unibody Macs all had the black plastic domes which barely raised it off the worksurface, but made it so the notebook could easily be slipped into a bag. I can only judge from pictures and a few anecdotes from owners, but I can see how the new MBP's sharp-edged feet could be an issue when on the go.
Technically they were convex, i.e. rounded "bumps" on the bottom of the case. They slid smoothly into bags etc, but on the other hand, when they broke or the adhesive failed (likely due to the Intel heating element inside) you were left with little to no elevation off the worksurface, and a nasty looking socket in the unibody. Pic is an older one, but it seems like it was basically the same part number on the MBP and MBA for over a decade:
I personally think this embossed "MacBook Pro' caption really feels premium, certainly more than the printed MacBook Pro caption on the 2019 and earlier MBPs. With the caption gone from underneath the display, I don't see any distraction; not even the notch. (Arguably they could have just removed the caption altogether from the chassis, but I personally really liked the embossed caption.)
Actually your allusion to a "generic laptop" gave me a thought. This might sound like a Jony Ive gospel or from an Apple apologist, and might even subject me to ridicule; nonetheless I'll give it a go.
I think Apple is still respecting the philosophy of removing the non-essentials and deferring the design features to what is truly essential, i.e. the display, the keyboard and the trackpad (and of course, the mix of chips, battery, speaker and ports). I feel that this design is more honest than the previous tapered design (of MBP, not MBA), because it does not try to be thinner than it really is [1]. The tapered design, while effective in giving the impression of a thinner laptop, reduces the usable volume within the dimension, and perhaps leaving the sides less usable space for ports.
If a more functional and honest design becomes the standard or 'generic', I will actually be quite happy. However, such a design appears simple but is hard to copy. Competitors will probably introduce other 'features' to differentiate themselves - some for good reason and others like what @Tozovac said, just for the sake of being different. It reminds me of a 'generic camera' - one comprised only four dials controlling ISO, aperture, shutter speed and focus. It is such a simple and effective design (in my humble opinion), but so few camera makers employed it, and fewer still had done it well.
However, if a less rigorous design - thoughtless design - becomes generic, I think we will all be worse for it.
[1] I have seen some reviews on YouTube mentioning "although the 14" is thicker than the 13", though the 14" is actually 0.01cm thinner.
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The issue I see is that a white bezel and without the mini-LED display, all the "hide notch" solutions applicable to the Pro will be less effective and kinda awkward on the Air.
The black on black keyboard I don't mind. I don't think they will "chonk" the Air that much, unless you count the iPad redesign as being chonk. I think it's fair for them to focus on different things with the Air vs Pro line.
What I do worry about is Apple maybe thinking that the current Air is just too good (I mean.. bar a massive long term manufacturing defect, it's hands down going down in history as one of the greatest deals ever from Apple I think..) and that they want to cripple the new one just a bit so that at least video professionals move off of that thing and pay more money for a Pro instead.
The black on black keyboard I don't mind. I don't think they will "chonk" the Air that much, unless you count the iPad redesign as being chonk. I think it's fair for them to focus on different things with the Air vs Pro line.
What I do worry about is Apple maybe thinking that the current Air is just too good (I mean.. bar a massive long term manufacturing defect, it's hands down going down in history as one of the greatest deals ever from Apple I think..) and that they want to cripple the new one just a bit so that at least video professionals move off of that thing and pay more money for a Pro instead.
Personally I missed MagSafe and I'm actually glad they're bringing it back. Sometimes I have to force the power cord out of the USB-C slot so hard it drags the whole damn computer across my desk!
And I might be in the minority on Touch Bar too, but I honestly really like it so far. Very smooth and responsive on my new 16" 2019 MBP.
I really would love to see a design more like the 2017” rMB. My first Mac was a 2011 11” MBA. Given the battery gains with M1, they could probably scale down the battery from the Air and give us a 12” rMB that is light weight and gets 8-10 hours
the problem with this is that it doesn't get rid of the issue of menu options skipping to the other side of the screen and eating into other menu bar items.
I dont feel bad about losing 40px when you get a non obstructed menubar.
It looks OK and less "heavy" design than the pictures suggest. It is however not futuristic or interesting in any sense.
The M1 Pro/max would have worked great in the previous MBP with tapered design and to be fair the size is not that different either. It looks ascetic and clean without the Touch Bar.
Who has time to stare at the notch when working?
The M1 Pro/max would have worked great in the previous MBP with tapered design and to be fair the size is not that different either. It looks ascetic and clean without the Touch Bar.
Who has time to stare at the notch when working?
Like others have said--you're entitled to your opinion. I don't LOVE the new design of the MBPs either, but I think Apple finally let form follow function and actually let these machines become real professional machines. I do prefer the previous design, but would have no problem trading that for the current models if I needed that much power (I don't).
These things evolve. Someday the current models are going to seem big, fat, and heavy. They'll get the thermals and efficiency so fine tuned on Apple Silicon that they'll eventually be able to take some of that bulk back out without losing any functionality or battery life. We're probably a few generations out from that though.
These things evolve. Someday the current models are going to seem big, fat, and heavy. They'll get the thermals and efficiency so fine tuned on Apple Silicon that they'll eventually be able to take some of that bulk back out without losing any functionality or battery life. We're probably a few generations out from that though.
They'll eventually be able to generate current levels of performance with a thinner chassis and less power, but by then the goalposts will have changed as to what performance is considered nominal. Imagine how efficient and energy-sipping an M1 processor would be if you only needed it to generate Pentium 1 levels of performance. You could power it for two days by shoving two probes into a lemon. Sadly we need exponentially more processing-power than that in 2022, and the performance expectation will just continue to escalate.
I disagree, other than the notch, I like everything about the new Mac aesthetic.
I really disliked the tapered MacBooks of the last few years that always looked like a device designed for high speed travel.
I also disliked the rounded iPhone design that started with the iPhone 6, and am glad they brought back the squarer aesthetics, which just feel so much easier to hold and more compact.
Can’t say you are wrong though. We are just talking aestetics here - not sure there is a right or wrong.
I really disliked the tapered MacBooks of the last few years that always looked like a device designed for high speed travel.
I also disliked the rounded iPhone design that started with the iPhone 6, and am glad they brought back the squarer aesthetics, which just feel so much easier to hold and more compact.
Can’t say you are wrong though. We are just talking aestetics here - not sure there is a right or wrong.