They added more screen real estate, but that screen real estate has an obstruction
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The notch is great
- Thread starter Kylo83
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I was presenting other possible directions they could have gone. Obviously, putting the webcam in the bezel was not feasible for some reason, otherwise they would have done it— unless they want you to get used to it because they will include Face ID in the future and they’re thinking forward.
Who knows? It may have to do with the structural integrity of the display lid (having the webcams that close to the edge of the display may have been a problem) or the room needed to contain support for the mini-LED.
One thing is for sure— Apple wouldn’t have built a notch in if they didn’t have a good reason.
It is what it is - but calling it "great" is a stretch. When Apple finally gets rid of the notches I don't think anybody will miss them. Kinda says everything...
MacOS =/= iOS, to both points. With the latter, MacBooks are not using the same hardware for the cameras as iOS, unless you can prove otherwise, then your point is invalid.
The 'obstruction' is in a menu bar that's always there, but the notch is in the space that's not used by anything currently. So, how is that obstructing?
It’s a standard 16:10 screen below the notch, except most of the time you gain the 74 pixels that the menu bar normally occupies. It’s literally a win/win situation given the capabilities of current tech (sorry, they weren’t going to hide a 1080p camera behind the screen just yet). The faux outrage here speaks volumes regarding the current state of this site.
The problem I guess is two fold. The Notch without the inevitable FaceID on a 2000+ laptop is to be polite dumb. The Laptop has many great new features but looking at it objectively it is half assed because of the lack of FaceID which everyone knows is coming. The second issue is that while the bezels are smaller they are not that much smaller. Look at Samsung TV with an infinity screen, that what i consider a thin bezel and something i could see Apple eventually incorporating. Not counting the lack of FaceID or HDMI 2.1 its a very good long overdue update. So close yet so far.
The way I see it, is that the notch effectively kills the full screen option. Every application will be in full screen by default: all that selecting "full screen" on the new MBP's will do, is hide the menu bar that was never going to be within the boundaries of the 16:10 "full screen" real estate.
Well... "hide the menu bar": render it invisible by not utilising the screen left and right of the notch.
Well... "hide the menu bar": render it invisible by not utilising the screen left and right of the notch.
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The notch isn’t the end of the world, but let’s be honest here—it’s bad design. If you could have the new MBPs with or without the notch, we all know what you’d take.
Option 1. I get a 16:10 screen without a notch but lose 74 pixels to the menu bar.
Option 2. I get a 16:10 screen plus 74 pixels of extra vertical height dedicated to the menu bar.
Yeah, I’ll take option 2.
The only other possible options are no camera, a camera located in a different location that has its own trade offs, or some not yet fully baked tech like a camera hidden behind the screen.
You presented a classic false dilemma, conveniently dodging the fact that the perfect alternative you suggest doesn’t exist.
Probably b/c FaceID is next year's upgrade, and they need to maintain continuity of the base design for the next ~ 5 years.
Other manufacturers have put a camera in a smaller bezel. Are you suggesting that Apple’s teams aren’t as competent as Dell’s?
They could have done it, this is just a placeholder for when they finally put in FaceID.
Dell relocated their camera to the bottom of the screen on one of their laptops. It did’t work out very well.
Keep in mind the notch also contains the green light indicator and presumable one of the microphones. Having it any smaller could have been impossible with the constraints of that. We won't know until a teardown happens.
I also agree with some here. While not the most attractive part of the design, it definitely was implemented well and having the extra screen space at the top of the MacBook is nice. Looking at my MacBook Air's screen, I wouldn't even have anything "obstructed" by where the notch would be most of the time.
You can always use it in full screen mode if the notch bothers you. Then you can have a fat bezel instead, if you'd prefer. 🤷♂️
I was originally upset by the notch. Actually, I thought the rumor was definitely just trolling.
I've warmed up to it as an extension of the menu bar, but am hoping there will be a black mode option so that I don't have to see it.
Will be interested to see how the "hiding" menu bar (revealed when mouse is moved up) is implemented. I might prefer just having the appearance of a wider "forehead" when the menu is hidden. It would be low clutter.
I've warmed up to it as an extension of the menu bar, but am hoping there will be a black mode option so that I don't have to see it.
Will be interested to see how the "hiding" menu bar (revealed when mouse is moved up) is implemented. I might prefer just having the appearance of a wider "forehead" when the menu is hidden. It would be low clutter.
First, more than likely the camera in these new MBP’s is of higher quality than Dell’s, and thus larger.
Second, even if it was only 40 pixels gained rather than 74, I’ll still take the free space.
It’s convenient for Apple that their UI happens to include a menu bar that lends itself to exactly this design and Windows does not.
Is this where I login to complain that the price of Regular Gas went up three cents today?
I don't mind the notch. I was disappointed that the display wasn't standard 4K though.
However, if it WAS standard 4K and it had a notch that would have been even an even bigger issue because then it will use up standard production real estate.
I suppose it also answers the question if the MacBook is ever going to use a standard 4K or 8K resolution in the next decade.
I guess I should start hoping for 4K + ~100 pixels which scales to exactly 4K in full-screen mode?
However, if it WAS standard 4K and it had a notch that would have been even an even bigger issue because then it will use up standard production real estate.
I suppose it also answers the question if the MacBook is ever going to use a standard 4K or 8K resolution in the next decade.
I guess I should start hoping for 4K + ~100 pixels which scales to exactly 4K in full-screen mode?