When did Apple get rid of the illuminated Apple logo on their MBP line (last year model)

[SnoFlo]

Putting LED lighting in a laptop lid is quite routine in modern laptops. All Lenovo ThinkPads have red LED lights that light up solid red when the laptop is being used, and fade in and out when the laptop is sleeping. Asus, Alienware, Gigabyte, Razer etc. laptops have glowing lid logos and designs. The Asus ROG Zephrys's entire lid has hundreds of user-customisable LEDs. Users can write stuff, or have moving text / GIFs flow across the lid if they choose.

The arguments that Apple cannot return to some form of aesthetic glowing logo because of engineering obstacles to placing LEDs in the lid, or having LEDs bleed into the screen, or requiring a backlit screen to do so are not correct: other manufacturers have no issues doing so.

 

[theluggage]

The arguments that Apple cannot return to some form of aesthetic glowing logo because of engineering obstacles to placing LEDs in the lid, or having LEDs bleed into the screen, or requiring a backlit screen to do so are not correct: other manufacturers have no issues doing so.

It's not that it is impossible it's just that what was a simple matter of leaving a translucent window in the lid for the backlight to shine through now adds a bit of cost and complexity. It was a neat hack while it lasted because it was so simple and elegant, but if you're going to add a LED then who wants a power indicator that you can't see from the front of the machine and goes out if the screen is black? (...which is exactly when you need a power indicator.)

If they want to add a few cents to the BOM, they should add a front-visible power indicator that "breathes" in sleep mode and actually serves a useful purpose. (And add a proper, front-mounted power button to the Mini and studio while they're at it).

 

[dmccloud]

Putting LED lighting in a laptop lid is quite routine in modern laptops. All Lenovo ThinkPads have red LED lights that light up solid red when the laptop is being used, and fade in and out when the laptop is sleeping. Asus, Alienware, Gigabyte, Razer etc. laptops have glowing lid logos and designs. The Asus ROG Zephrys's entire lid has hundreds of user-customisable LEDs. Users can write stuff, or have moving text / GIFs flow across the lid if they choose.

The arguments that Apple cannot return to some form of aesthetic glowing logo because of engineering obstacles to placing LEDs in the lid, or having LEDs bleed into the screen, or requiring a backlit screen to do so are not correct: other manufacturers have no issues doing so.

Yet none of those are even remotely close to how Apple was doing it - which was by utilizing the existing backlight to light the translucent Apple logo from behind. Also, how thick are the displays on those laptops compared to the MacBook?

 

[weckart]

Yet none of those are even remotely close to how Apple was doing it - which was by utilizing the existing backlight to light the translucent Apple logo from behind. Also, how thick are the displays on those laptops compared to the MacBook?

No excuse for dropping it from the Mac Mini, especially since the light is still there but illuminated solidly whether on or sleeping, so I don't think engineering issues are the prime concern here. It seems to be an Apple cultural shift away from its legacy.

 

[normieevee]

I miss this so badly. It's part of the reason I was reluctant to get a new MacBook. My old MacBook had this, and it just felt like a downgrade—aethetically...

 

[spencer elliott]

a scene reminiscent of college classes across america not too long ago.View attachment 2505801

MIZ

 

[spencer elliott]

Couldn't care, I rather have the touch bar back. That was something I really found useful.

Agreed! Not sure why so many are laughing at this comment. I use the touch bar on my 2018mbp every day. It will be missed when I replace it.

 

[dmccloud]

Putting LED lighting in a laptop lid is quite routine in modern laptops. All Lenovo ThinkPads have red LED lights that light up solid red when the laptop is being used, and fade in and out when the laptop is sleeping. Asus, Alienware, Gigabyte, Razer etc. laptops have glowing lid logos and designs. The Asus ROG Zephrys's entire lid has hundreds of user-customisable LEDs. Users can write stuff, or have moving text / GIFs flow across the lid if they choose.

The arguments that Apple cannot return to some form of aesthetic glowing logo because of engineering obstacles to placing LEDs in the lid, or having LEDs bleed into the screen, or requiring a backlit screen to do so are not correct: other manufacturers have no issues doing so.

Looking at the X1 Carbon Gen 13, X1 2-In-1 Gen 10, X9, and E product lines on Lenovo's website, none of those have any LEDs in the lids. While there may be indicator lights on the keyboard deck, there are none on the displays themselves. The Asus, Alienware, Gigabyte and Razer laptops are gaming laptops, so they're not even comparable to the Mac in terms of use case, size, power efficiency or weight.

 

[StoneJack]

nice but not necessary. I don't really miss it and i am not looking forward to seeing it again. Current design is not flashy or cheap, quite elegant actually

 

[PotentPeas]

Asus, Alienware, Gigabyte, Razer etc. laptops have glowing lid logos and designs. The Asus ROG Zephrys's entire lid has hundreds of user-customisable LEDs.

I have a feeling that these systems don't quite hit the thinness that we see from the lid in current-gen MBP's...