Jony Ive "hears" your macbook criticism

[ChrisA]

If there's a silver lining for Mac users, it's that Jony Ive, Apple's chief design officer and one of the most powerful people at the company, says he's listening to user complaints.

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Listening is not quite enough. What matters i the products.

I suspect what it really boils down to is money. Thinner computers with no ports must be cheaper to make. Seriously, a machine with larger internal volume is filled with more "stuff" and that "stuff" costs money. OK you cn fit the larger computer is air but that is not going to happen.

Think about it. You have a 1/2" thick computer. To make it 3/4" thick you have to do things like make the battery larger and add a bunch of ports and electronics for the ports. So given the same level of technology the thicker machine costs more to make. Conversely to make a computer smaller you remove parts and save on the cost of the parts.

Apple is only doing themselves a favor, it is certainly NOT users who are asking for smaller notebooks.

Listening is free, doing something about it would cost Apple some money, What do you think they will do?
[doublepost=1512756437][/doublepost]

My only issue with magsafe as a must is that yes its a great idea and I can see exactly why they had it. But if it is a really really really big must have then every laptop out there would have it, there are way more windows laptops in the world then MacBooks and none of them have magsafe and while I know it happens you dont see windows laptops flying around day in and day out from not having magsafe.

They lack the magsafe because it costs more to make than a round coaxial plug.

Also PC Windows machines have plastic cases and really poor quality trackpads. It is just MONEY. The only reason people buy them is because of the low price.

Consumers who buy computers really care about price. That is like the first thing they care about. For this reason Apple will never have a large market share

 

[Jg75]

If you look at alot of the reviews, alot of people initially dislike the keyboard, but grows to love them over a week or two. Maybe people are being too judgmental before they try it?

I have a 2016 macbook 12 inch. I could get used to the keyboard, although i guess the v2 keyboard is better. The problem is that it isn´t reliable enough to fit the price tag.
Imagine buying a new car and it´s worthless after 3 years.

 

[William Payne]

Actually it probably takes way more effort to shrink things in size then anything.

 

[Jg75]

Listening is not quite enough. What matters i the products.

I suspect what it really boils down to is money. Thinner computers with no ports must be cheaper to make. Seriously, a machine with larger internal volume is filled with more "stuff" and that "stuff" costs money. OK you cn fit the larger computer is air but that is not going to happen.

Think about it. You have a 1/2" thick computer. To make it 3/4" thick you have to do things like make the battery larger and add a bunch of ports and electronics for the ports. So given the same level of technology the thicker machine costs more to make. Conversely to make a computer smaller you remove parts and save on the cost of the parts.

Apple is only doing themselves a favor, it is certainly NOT users who are asking for smaller notebooks.

Listening is free, doing something about it would cost Apple some money, What do you think they will do?
[doublepost=1512756437][/doublepost]

They lack the magsafe because it costs more to make than a round coaxial plug.

Also PC Windows machines have plastic cases and really poor quality trackpads. It is just MONEY. The only reason people buy them is because of the low price.

Consumers who buy computers really care about price. That is like the first thing they care about. For this reason Apple will never have a large market share

Apple has a niche, very good OS. Very good hardware (until now with the keyboards). If they don´t fix the keyboards, they will lose the niche, people will migrate to windows surface products. Simple.
[doublepost=1512757488][/doublepost]Oh, i forgot to mention the price increasing junk called touch bar..

 

[turbineseaplane]

Oh, i forgot to mention the price increasing junk called touch bar..

That thing needs to "go away" or at least become optional.

It's the weirdest feature. To me it belongs as "forced" on the rMB 12" only and optional across the Pro lines, which is the opposite of what they did.

 

[Jg75]

That thing need to "go away" or at least become optional.

It's the weirdest feature. To me it belongs as "forced" on the rMB 12" only and optional across the Pro lines, which is the opposite of what they did.

I will keep my 2014 mbp 15 inch for as long as possible. If apple hasn´t got its **** together by then, byebye.
Already got the galaxy s8 over the iphone 8. Too bad.

 

[William Payne]

I will keep my 2014 mbp 15 inch for as long as possible. If apple hasn´t got its **** together by then, byebye.
Already got the galaxy s8 over the iphone 8. Too bad.

Buy what you are happy to use and what works for you, who cares who makes it.

 

[btownguy]

At the minimum I’d would like:
-SD card slot
-add mag safe back
-keep touchbar but make regular escape key
-make one of the C ports an A

This would make it 100% perfect for me. I kind of like the new keyboard (I know), and the Touch Bar is growing on me, but no ESC button is killing me. But SD card, mag safe, ESC key, and one USB-A port would make me LOVE LOVE LOVE this 2017 MBP.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This would make it 100% perfect for me. I kind of like the new keyboard (I know), and the Touch Bar is growing on me, but no ESC button is killing me. But SD card, mag safe, ESC key, and one USB-A port would make me LOVE LOVE LOVE this 2017 MBP.

I would tweak it to "Make the TouchBar optional" personally.

 

[Jg75]

I would tweak it to "Make the TouchBar optional" personally.

Touchbar = ergonomical nightmare.
I can´t understand why they did it. Apple has lost it´s touch of simplicity.

 

[PhoneI]

I kind of like it too. The problem is that it isn´t reliable enough for the premium price. The main argument for paying a premium price is that you get a premium product that will last for years.

Not reliable? In what way? Data to back that up please?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not reliable? In what way? Data to back that up please?

He's talking about the new keyboards which are widely known to be less reliable than basically any notebook keyboard Apple has ever released.

Just poke around on the threads here from the last 1.5 years and you'll see.
Alternatively, ask an Apple Store employee (if you can find a long time one who'll be honest).

The keyboards were always "just fine" (some would say great). Apple created a new problem for themselves by insisting they go even thinner thus necessitating a new switch mechanism (the butterfly) which has tolerances so tight that they are getting stuck and failing and if any of the delicate parts below break, the entire top case of the laptop has to be replaced ($$$$)

 

[Jg75]

Not reliable? In what way? Data to back that up please?

My space key has sticking issues. so does everyone else. seriously. apple has to redesign the line before I buy. so says a lot of companies. and private citizens..
[doublepost=1512762568][/doublepost]i´ve said it all the time, the only thing the morons should do, take a MacBook Air and improve the screen and of course keep the internals up to date. battery would improve even further because of technology. they know it, it would cannibalize the laptop market. but hey, is today´s situation any better for apple?

 

[ryannel2003]

I have owned various Apple laptops going back to 2007 with my first iBook G4 and I can safely say my current 2016 15" MacBook Pro is by far the best Apple laptop I have ever owned. Bar none. I know the latest models have been very hit or miss with the media and some of the public but I really love mine. The display is absolutely gorgeous, the design is so beautiful and clean (though I do kinda miss the lit Apple logo). The keyboard did take some initial adjustment as the previous models were very mushy and this is way more direct and hard feeling but I type faster on this and don't mind it at all.

The computer hasn't suffered any hardware issues in the 6 months I've owned it. I do plan on purchasing AppleCare though as protection on such an expensive device.

 

[Jg75]

I have owned various Apple laptops going back to 2007 with my first iBook G4 and I can safely say my current 2016 15" MacBook Pro is by far the best Apple laptop I have ever owned. Bar none. I know the latest models have been very hit or miss with the media and some of the public but I really love mine. The display is absolutely gorgeous, the design is so beautiful and clean (though I do kinda miss the lit Apple logo). The keyboard did take some initial adjustment as the previous models were very mushy and this is way more direct and hard feeling but I type faster on this and don't mind it at all.

The computer hasn't suffered any hardware issues in the 6 months I've owned it. I do plan on purchasing AppleCare though as protection on such an expensive device.

Do that. God bless you.

 

[leman]

I suspect what it really boils down to is money. Thinner computers with no ports must be cheaper to make. Seriously, a machine with larger internal volume is filled with more "stuff" and that "stuff" costs money. OK you cn fit the larger computer is air but that is not going to happen.

Think about it. You have a 1/2" thick computer. To make it 3/4" thick you have to do things like make the battery larger and add a bunch of ports and electronics for the ports. So given the same level of technology the thicker machine costs more to make. Conversely to make a computer smaller you remove parts and save on the cost of the parts.

Your analysis is very naive. Sure, thinner computer save you some of the materials. But they also require you to use higher-quality components (that don't get as got and also endure the heat better/are better insulated), expensive miniaturised parts (keyboards, displays etc.), more expensive and involved production lines (its very difficult to manufacture stuff to such tight tolerances), more intricate (and expensive) cooling systems etc. etc. And about ports... Apple's solution is probably one of the most expensive on the market, since they are using symmetric ports that rely on the two TB3 controllers, and these controllers are not cheap. Everyone else is using a single TB3 controller, and a cut-down one at the same time, in order to save money.

Don't get me wrong, Apple's margins are still more then healthy. But they are certainly not skipping on manufacturing expenses as well. There is a reason why cheap laptops are often large — because you don't need much engineering or sophisticated cooler design to make one.

P.S. The bottom line is, if all they cared about was saving money, they wouldn't bother with a redesign that extensive and would just put some newer components into the old chassis. They certainly wouldn't bother with the Touch Bar, new keyboard, thinner displays or 4 TB3 ports. They could probably also use cheaper DDR4 RAM (instead of the expensive LPDDR3) and go down a tier with their WiFi chips. And why bother with die-thinning of the GPUs if you can just use the regular chip?

 

[Naimfan]

The computer hasn't suffered any hardware issues in the 6 months I've owned it. I do plan on purchasing AppleCare though as protection on such an expensive device.

Good luck with that . . . you were limited to 60 days post-purchase by Apple to add AppleCare+, the original Applecare no longer being offered.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Good luck with that . . . you were limited to 60 days post-purchase by Apple to add AppleCare+, the original Applecare no longer being offered.

Is that true?
I thought it was iOS devices only with that restriction, no?

 

[Naimfan]

Is that true?
I thought it was iOS devices only with that restriction, no?

According to the Applecare+ page, you must either buy it with the Mac or within 60 days of Mac purchase.

 

[webbuzz]

Is that true?
I thought it was iOS devices only with that restriction, no?

Near bottom of page on the right.

Important notes
Purchase AppleCare+ with your new Mac. Or buy it within 60 days of your Mac purchase:

• Online (requires you to verify your serial number and run a remote diagnostic)
• At an Apple Store (inspection of Mac and proof of purchase are required)
• By calling 800-275-2273 (requires you to run a remote diagnostic and provide proof of purchase)

For Mac computers running macOS Server, the plan covers server administration and network management issues using the graphical user interface of macOS Server. For advanced server operation and integration issues, purchase AppleCare OS Support.

See AppleCare+ Terms and Conditions for complete product details.

 

[turbineseaplane]

According to the Applecare+ page, you must either buy it with the Mac or within 60 days of Mac purchase.

Wow - That sucks..
I thought there was still a "non plus" old style AppleCare you could still buy in the whole first year?

Total bummer

 

[polbit]

I would tweak it to "Make the TouchBar optional" personally.

I've mapped the Esc key to caps lock, and I've gotten used to it enough that it doesn't bother me as much as it did initially. Highly recommended.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I've mapped the Esc key to caps lock, and I've gotten used to it enough that it doesn't bother me as much as it did initially. Highly recommended.

Good tip (although I have CTRL on my Caps Lock) - Still rather just have the option to do away with the TB altogether.

 

[The Mercurian]

My only issue with magsafe as a must is that yes its a great idea and I can see exactly why they had it. But if it is a really really really big must have then every laptop out there would have it, there are way more windows laptops in the world then MacBooks and none of them have magsafe and while I know it happens you dont see windows laptops flying around day in and day out from not having magsafe.

I suspect it is a cost thing. It was probably just too expensive for others to bother copying and, since Apple seem to be in penny pinching mode of late, it was a way to shave some cost off the latest macs. ALOT of their recent design choice come down to cost I suspect.

 

[ryannel2003]

According to the Applecare+ page, you must either buy it with the Mac or within 60 days of Mac purchase.

You can still buy regular AppleCare as long as you're within your year warranty period.