Yes, it's real. Compromised in some way, of course (no optical audio out), but real.
From the teardown (emphasis mine):
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Teardown of 13-inch MacBook Pro With Touch Bar Reveals 'Cosmetic' Speaker Grilles [Updated]
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Do you HAVE to use all those facts instead of just bashing blindly? We don't like your kind around here.
Again everything is about profit. This design probably allows make them able to use the same plate for all MBPs. Plus speaker grills used to be only available in larger and more expensive MBPs, so this probably gives a fake sense of premium products.
I've owned a lot of Macs for a lot of years and the components that have been the most trouble: anything moving (hard drives and optical drives) and logic boards. The moving parts are all gone (thank goodness) and in the age of everything integrated, this is basically the reality of things.
The Air, the rMBP, and rMB put the writing on the wall a long time ago. These machines are getting smaller and more tightly integrated. For better or worse that's been Apple's march rather consistently for over a decade. Anyone surprised by this hasn't been paying attention and has ample time to jump ship if they wanted a user-serviceable laptop.
The problem that most people don't seem to get is that the population that works on/upgrades their own laptop is nonexistent in terms of affecting Apple's plans. If there was a "mass" revolt from that crowd today it would have something close to zero impact on financials. And I get the irritation, I used to buy near the bottom models and upgrade them myself over time (or the RAM immediately because Apple charges a pretty penny) but now I gotta BTO which costs more. Oh well.
Things are getting smaller and more integrated. You ever worked on a Microsoft Surface? How about a Razer Blade Stealth?
Can't wait to get my disposable computer
You mean like the above machines? As things get integrated, this is how it goes. And all computers are disposable anyway. They don't age like wine. You can only extend the life of a laptop so much. Not like my old G4 PowerBook is still very useful. It's no like a 57 Chevy that, if taken care of, would still be useful on the roads. Electronics are disposable and have a VERY limited shelf life.
If only... if only... some company out there at least put a lot of time and effort into making their computers as recyclable and environmentally friendly as possible to deal with this reality. Why, perhaps they would use a material like aluminum instead of plastic.
Excellent post and explains why the 2016 MBP sounds so good, and also speaks to the design of the grill - the machine looks great. Most everyone else getting so frothed up is really astonishing.
This is a good point, and I was not blaming MR for the news. Many things they report are the MBP are not necessarily bad news, but an objective view of the facts.
It was just my subjective view that there has been pretty much nothing by bad news about the new MBP, imo.
Those holes certainly don't help with cooling, something Apple puts a lot of work into with their designs.
It seems completely different to me given that people DO take their computers and their phones with them on the go. Also, the battery life of MacBooks are nowhere close to the battery life a simple device like the Magic Mouse.
Lastly, I'm not saying Apple's decision is right. But I find it amusing how people don't get that decision on the mouse. It's not bad design, it might be a horrible decision to dictate how you should use your mouse (wired or wireless), but the design DOES follow their objectives in this case.
They will and that's not the problem. Replacing a logic board on a glued up machine when a tech has to fix ump-teen iPhones is going to take a lot longer than five minutes.
They will be sending it out to the warehouse once their supply of boards runs dry.
Also, you bring up a good point about returned. There's no way Apple is going to resolder boards. They'll recycle them before pulling them apart.
Refurbished machines may be CTO returns and generic returns only.
This is exactly correct. The holes do go through. They're there to allow bass to resonate in that area and also for heat release.
Seems the majority of MR readers are completely missing this and as usual MR reports it in a way to cause controversy, rather than sharing the actual content of the article which doesn't in any way say these grills are cosmetic only.
As I've said before, Apple's service depot isn't going to be soldering anything. They replace the defective assembly (logic board) and send the defective assembly to china where it is repaired and refurbished, then sent back to use as a replacement component. They would put black tape over the serial number sticker on the ram slot on the 2009-2012 MacBook Pro. Carefully peel it off, look up the original serial number and see why it was replaced
Well I've looked over the ifixit photos and the grills really have only a small part exposed to the lower part of the case. Most of the grill's space appear to be covered by the keyboard edge mounts and the USB C ports.
Actually the holes, except for this small part, go no where.
So why put them there?
You all can decide.
Personally I'm thinking #1, Style and looks just like the rear spoiler on many of our cars
(and that old MB glowing Apple Logo on the case top)
Actually the holes, except for this small part, go no where.
So why put them there?
- Looks?
- Continuity with the 15" (I can't find the teardown)
- a little extra passive cooling, maybe for the USB controllers?
You all can decide.
Personally I'm thinking #1, Style and looks just like the rear spoiler on many of our cars
(and that old MB glowing Apple Logo on the case top)
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I cannot believe fake speaker grills..
it can't be real??
we can only assume the whole toucher was an after thought and the new MBP with function keys and removable SSD was the original and real new MBP,the toucher model was just an after thought..with not enough time to design in properly..hence the speaker grills, empty spaces etc..
it can't be real??
we can only assume the whole toucher was an after thought and the new MBP with function keys and removable SSD was the original and real new MBP,the toucher model was just an after thought..with not enough time to design in properly..hence the speaker grills, empty spaces etc..
Steve would have never supported this. AFAIK Steve never liked design without purpose in his products. Nothing in Steve's products was "Hey I'm this (But really I'm not)" I think these fake cosmetic vents (iPhone 7 and MacBook Pro) are coming from Johny Ives freedom from Steve Jobs.
The speaker grills—it seems to me they do serve a purpose.
I'm typing on a new 15" MBP right now, listening to some of my music at relatively high volume. If I cover or muffle the speaker grills it has a significant impact on the quality of music I'm listening to. Some tracks are muffled much more than others, but on a few it's the difference between delightful music and awful. I can pat my hands over the grills and hear audio being muffled and recovering in turn. As far as I can tell, they clearly are not cosmetic, and something seems to have been lost in translation by assuming as much by looking strictly at the teardown.
(It sounds fantastic for a laptop, by the way—and the highest volume level remains clear and louder than I've had any interest in using, which is something I've never been able to say for a previous MBP).
I'm typing on a new 15" MBP right now, listening to some of my music at relatively high volume. If I cover or muffle the speaker grills it has a significant impact on the quality of music I'm listening to. Some tracks are muffled much more than others, but on a few it's the difference between delightful music and awful. I can pat my hands over the grills and hear audio being muffled and recovering in turn. As far as I can tell, they clearly are not cosmetic, and something seems to have been lost in translation by assuming as much by looking strictly at the teardown.
(It sounds fantastic for a laptop, by the way—and the highest volume level remains clear and louder than I've had any interest in using, which is something I've never been able to say for a previous MBP).
If the MacRumor Forum members are a representative sample of the Apple audience, they will see a huuuuuge drop in MacBook Pro sales. Bigly!
While I assume that's not the case, it wouldn't be a bad thing to put Apple back on their place and show them there's a limit to how many dongles and unrepairable glue-designs they can sell us.
While I assume that's not the case, it wouldn't be a bad thing to put Apple back on their place and show them there's a limit to how many dongles and unrepairable glue-designs they can sell us.
Thank you for this. The pictures clearly show they are not cosmetic too, contrary to ifixit's report.
They are not fake lmao. Don't believe everything you read.
I am quoting you on this, but also apply to almost every one who is crying above and below you.
So, the speaker grill is fake? Ok, where does the sound comes from? And more importantly, doesn't the sound - sounds great? Yes, so we hear. So we have a good audio speakers but the speaker grills are fake? Big freaking issue. I can't believe things people find to moan about. Bunch of whiners!!