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Where did I imply that? Did you even read what you quoted? You know, the first part where I say...

What I did call "silly" are people who are so blinded by their ideology of ports being "the devil" that they can't even comprehend the words that are right in front of them.

Your quote was "If you're arguing against that (extra USB-C ports), you're just being silly."

That isn't an ideological problem or a reading comprehension problem. If you don't want to be challenged on your exact words don't post so bombastically.

BJ
 

I should have articulated my point thusly:

No Retina user is feeling any 'penalty' for the single USB-C port because we either a) don't need any peripherals or b) purchased the adapter that gives us all the connectivity we need. And additionally, we are grateful to Apple for giving us the option to get a thinner/lighter machine than forcing us to carry around thick/heavy ports we don't use enough to justify their inclusion.

BJ
 
I can only speak to my laptop, but the trackpad does move down. Look at the sides of it when you press down on it and you'll see the glass moving. What it doesn't do is physically click, that is the illusion created by the magnet or whatever is under it. This avoids the diving board style of the old trackpads where the higher up on the trackpad you are, the harder it is to press down. Now the entire thing presses down with uniformity.
Then maybe yours is broken? Mine doesn't press down, nor is it suppose to. Yes, there's a micro-millimeter of "flex" - it's not made out of ubertonium or anything... and it's very thin... so if you press hard enough, there is some very slight deformation.

You can test this by turning it off. Which is what I did with both my MacBook and MBA. I even got out a magnify glass. There is no perceptible downward movement of the trackpad on the MacBook (the entire MB might rock a bit with enough downward pressure). With the MBA, I can easily see the trackpad moving down, particularly where it's easiest to click.

You can test this further by closing your eyes and just using your sense of touch to test each one (again, with both units turned off). On the MB, pressing gently downward, there is no perceptible give - the fingertip does not move downward. With the MBA, you can actually feel the tip of your finger engaging the button downward... not just the sound of the click.

But you don't have to take my word for it - just about every MacBook review, from ArsTechnica to Anandtech to MacWorld, explains how this works.

Hope that helps.
 
I always hated the rocking horse style of trackpad. Could not click if you were at the top of the pad. Sucked. The force touch is SO much better.
 
The new trackpad is the least exciting addition to the rmb. Maybe its fascinating to computer nerds who use magnifying glasses to see if ut actually moves or not (no offence) but at least to me its just another trackpad. And its not always precise in my use. I actually find the traditional one on my 2014 11" mba to be better. Otherwise, the mb is pretty nice. I really, REALLY love the tactile feel of the kb, and the screen is great for my eyes. Yesterday i used the dongle i bought on amzn for $30 for the first time. It has 2 usb 3 ports and one power port. I hooked up my little dvd drive to load office 2011. Little green led lit up, no other external power needed. The dongle is about 3 inches long, silver aluminum, very sleek. Much better and far less expensive than anything apple is offering. Since i have no intention of ever hooking it to an external monitor, i dont need hdmi. Other than possible attaching a thumb drive, i'll rarely ever use it.
 
Air people are so grumpy. They just need to sell their old notebooks on Craigslist for $300 before it's too late, just get a Retina, learn to smile again.

BJ

My god. It still hasn't sunk in that the Retina MB does not suit all MBA users. For some it doesn't have enough ports. For some it is simply not powerful enough. For some the display is too small. For some the keyboard isn't nice. For some the battery time is too short. The list goes on.

I think all that some MBA users want is an update that brings a retina display to the MBA, as to some people that is the only downside to the MBA. We're all really happy that the rMB appeals to you and many others, thats great, however you are not everyone. Your argument about selling laptops on craigslist just misses the point.

I say this as someone who doesn't own either a MBA or a rMB. Just someone who observes people's computer usage and supports quite a few users through tech consultancy, and enough to release that not everyone uses a computer the same way.
 
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Then maybe yours is broken? Mine doesn't press down, nor is it suppose to. Yes, there's a micro-millimeter of "flex" - it's not made out of ubertonium or anything... and it's very thin... so if you press hard enough, there is some very slight deformation.

You can test this by turning it off. Which is what I did with both my MacBook and MBA. I even got out a magnify glass. There is no perceptible downward movement of the trackpad on the MacBook (the entire MB might rock a bit with enough downward pressure). With the MBA, I can easily see the trackpad moving down, particularly where it's easiest to click.

You can test this further by closing your eyes and just using your sense of touch to test each one (again, with both units turned off). On the MB, pressing gently downward, there is no perceptible give - the fingertip does not move downward. With the MBA, you can actually feel the tip of your finger engaging the button downward... not just the sound of the click.

But you don't have to take my word for it - just about every MacBook review, from ArsTechnica to Anandtech to MacWorld, explains how this works.

Hope that helps.
I understand how it has been described in the media, but it definitely moves and every laptop I've tested visibly moves. If you press down for a force click it also moves a lot more. This is more visibly prominent in the corners.
 
My god. It still hasn't sunk in that the Retina MB does not suit all MBA users. For some it doesn't have enough ports. For some it is simply not powerful enough. For some the display is too small. For some the keyboard isn't nice. For some the battery time is too short. The list goes on.

I think all that some MBA users want is an update that brings a retina display to the MBA, as to some people that is the only downside to the MBA. We're all really happy that the rMB appeals to you and many others, thats great, however you are not everyone. Your argument about selling laptops on craigslist just misses the point.

I say this as someone who doesn't own either a MBA or a rMB. Just someone who observes people's computer usage and supports quite a few users through tech consultancy, and enough to release that not everyone uses a computer the same way.

Then go for the rMBP which is smaller and only half a pound heavier, has all the ports you could want better processors and graphics is just as portable and has almost as good battery. Along with the fantastic screen that makes it all worthwhile. It is about the same price as the 13 inch air at the same RAM and SSD size as well.
 
I understand how it has been described in the media, but it definitely moves and every laptop I've tested visibly moves. If you press down for a force click it also moves a lot more. This is more visibly prominent in the corners.
So, you're not speaking just for your laptop like you originally said, but all the rMB laptops you've "tested"? And all the media just got it wrong? Or are you being childishly pedantic about what constitutes "movement" and you just engaged my original comment for arguments sake?

Okay, that's enough for me - appears like Ruggles99 and co were really only interested in a flame war.
 
My god. It still hasn't sunk in that the Retina MB does not suit all MBA users. For some it doesn't have enough ports. For some it is simply not powerful enough. For some the display is too small. For some the keyboard isn't nice. For some the battery time is too short. The list goes on.

I think all that some MBA users want is an update that brings a retina display to the MBA, as to some people that is the only downside to the MBA. We're all really happy that the rMB appeals to you and many others, thats great, however you are not everyone. Your argument about selling laptops on craigslist just misses the point.

I say this as someone who doesn't own either a MBA or a rMB. Just someone who observes people's computer usage and supports quite a few users through tech consultancy, and enough to release that not everyone uses a computer the same way.

You're preaching to the converted, oldmacs. People use notebooks in different ways and need different notebooks to address those uses. Completely in agreement.

However, in these endless threads that crop up each week, it's the RMB owner whose intelligence is being challenged by MBA owners who run to the boilerplate and erroneous criticisms of the RMB without really knowing what they're talking about. As you have apparently experienced in our shoe-on-the-other-foot dialog, it can be frustrating, time for the RMB owners to push back and make it stop. To date, it's just been an endless months-long barrage of put-downs by uninformed Air owners.

BJ
 
Then go for the rMBP which is smaller and only half a pound heavier, has all the ports you could want better processors and graphics is just as portable and has almost as good battery. Along with the fantastic screen that makes it all worthwhile. It is about the same price as the 13 inch air at the same RAM and SSD size as well.

I guess there isn't that much difference between the MBA and the rMB, but then again, I'm not in the market, I'm just speaking from my observations of MBA owners who wanted a laptop with a retina display. I will never buy a rMB or a MBA :p
 
You're preaching to the converted, oldmacs. People use notebooks in different ways and need different notebooks to address those uses. Completely in agreement.

However, in these endless threads that crop up each week, it's the RMB owner whose intelligence is being challenged by MBA owners who run to the boilerplate and erroneous criticisms of the RMB without really knowing what they're talking about. As you have apparently experienced in our shoe-on-the-other-foot dialog, it can be frustrating, time for the RMB owners to push back and make it stop. To date, it's just been an endless months-long barrage of put-downs by uninformed Air owners.

BJ

Sorry for misreading you. If insults are being directed at rMB owners thats just stupid. I understand that MBA owners could be annoyed that the MBA didn't get a retina screen, due to Apple focusing on the rMB but thats no reason to insult!
 
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Sorry for misreading you. If insults are being directed at rMB owners thats just stupid. I understand that MBA owners could be annoyed that the MBA didn't get a retina screen, due to Apple focusing on the rMB but thats no reason to insult!

Agreed!

Air people are happy, Retina people are happy, we're all happy Apple elitists, let's enjoy our success and pick on the less fortunate.

BJ
 
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Yesterday i used the dongle i bought on amzn for $30 for the first time. It has 2 usb 3 ports and one power port. I hooked up my little dvd drive to load office 2011. Little green led lit up, no other external power needed. The dongle is about 3 inches long, silver aluminum, very sleek. Much better and far less expensive than anything apple is offering. Since i have no intention of ever hooking it to an external monitor, i dont need hdmi. Other than possible attaching a thumb drive, i'll rarely ever use it.
I bought that little POS dongle too. It worked great strictly as a USB hub, but when I tried to use it to charge my rMB and the iPhone 6 that I had connected everything went to hell. Neither device would charge (the iPhone just repeatedly made that "bloop" noise that it does when you hook it to power but never charged) and the hub functionality crapped out.

I'll wait until a proper dock or charging hub is finally released by a more reputable manufacturer. For now, my Apple multi-port dongle, expensive though it is, serves my needs fine.
 
Then go for the rMBP which is smaller and only half a pound heavier, has all the ports you could want better processors and graphics is just as portable and has almost as good battery. Along with the fantastic screen that makes it all worthwhile. It is about the same price as the 13 inch air at the same RAM and SSD size as well.

Yup.

Basically they're all complaining because the Macbook looks so awesome and thin that they don't want to settle for the aesthetically inferior regular macbook pro.
 
I bought that little POS dongle too. It worked great strictly as a USB hub, but when I tried to use it to charge my rMB and the iPhone 6 that I had connected everything went to hell. Neither device would charge (the iPhone just repeatedly made that "bloop" noise that it does when you hook it to power but never charged) and the hub functionality crapped out.

I'll wait until a proper dock or charging hub is finally released by a more reputable manufacturer. For now, my Apple multi-port dongle, expensive though it is, serves my needs fine.

piece of crap? not sure which one you're talking about. mine works perfectly. the piece of crap is that $79 ugly looking, overpriced apple pos.
 
piece of crap? not sure which one you're talking about. mine works perfectly. the piece of crap is that $79 ugly looking, overpriced apple pos.
The two pictured below are the two I had trouble with -- once I tried to charge through them, it was game over. The Apple adapter, ugly as it is, at least worked for me using the exact same devices that I tried with the two problematic adapters.

I could immediately tell when I received the second adapter that it was manufactured by the same company as the first -- the text and styling on the boxes was identical as was the not-quite-matching-my-Apple-computer aluminum finish. To give credit where it's due, I've had no issues with the Anker USB/ethernet adapter although I can't charge with that one.

I do find it telling that Anker hasn't released a charging hub/adapter yet. In fact, the two I bought and had problems with were the only two charging hub/adapters available on Amazon. There are several that are listed that appear as though they're from different companies but if you look at them all closely you can tell they're from the same OEM.

Anyway, I'm glad the adapter worked for you. I was frustrated because I was trying to get a working dongle before an out-of-town trip and the two I tried didn't cut the mustard.

61RuLpTSBVL._SL1500_.jpg

71zwezik-kL._SL1500_.jpg
 
[EDIT] The 13" RMBP weighs 3.48 pounds. The RMB weighs 2.03 pounds. That's not half a pound. That's a pound and a half. Some things that pound and a half are:

120 quarters
2 boxes of spaghetti
30 AA batteries
2 cans of beans
2 bags of hamburger buns

When I'm in an airport, on a train, walking around Manhattan, not interested in carrying around the equivalent of 120 quarters for no reason. Try it for a day, see if you can feel it.

BJ
 
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