The MacBook can be unlocked using the Apple Watch (if you have one of course). I don’t think a fingerprint reader is needed on the MacBook.
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Who actually is the 12" MacBook for?
- Thread starter Dave245
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The MacBook can be unlocked using the Apple Watch (if you have one of course). I don’t think a fingerprint reader is needed on the MacBook.
Why is a finger print reader less needed on a MacBook than any other Mac? OK I suppose there is a tendency for MacBooks to do less than MacBook Pros, so maybe light MacBook users would see less benefit. I use my current MacBook Pro the same way I used the MacBook which it replaced, and would love to have had fingerprint on the MacBook.
As I said in post#823, watch unlocking is not as reliable and only covers the times you are waking the machine up, not all the other times you have to enter your user ID, or 1P master password (mine is 13 characters).
IMHO, Fingerprint ID is one of those things you dont fully appreciate until you have used it.
Because Pro users typically have more to protect (documents, secretive and so on) the MacBook is aimed more at the typical consumer, also after using Face ID on my iPhone X I feel like it would be a step back to put Youch ID on other Mac’s now, Face ID is the future and so much better.
I don’t mind having to type in a password on my Mac at least until they can bring Face ID.
Its not about protecting documents more securely but about speed and convenience.
As I said until you've tried it you won't appreciate it.
Not true Dave my friend. A LOT of bloggers use the MacBook solely for their business. Myself included. It travels with me around the world for 8 months of the year - i'd LOVE fingerprint ID or Face ID for it! My MacBook is my ONLY Mac. I have an iPhone X and that's it for me - NO iPad, NO iMac etc. NO STRESS & TIME WASTED updating software
Basically EVERYTHING is on my MacBook from the last 20 years - ALL my business along with photos, videos, film, music. Having used the Touch Bar on my best buddies MBKP for a length time, I'm a huge fan of it. It also makes the laptop look more modern in design too.
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100% TIMES A MILLION Agree with you on this!!!!!!! Passwords are a pain in the ass for busy guys like me and i'm always forgetting them!
Not true Dave my friend. A LOT of bloggers use the MacBook solely for their business. Myself included. It travels with me around the world for 8 months of the year - i'd LOVE fingerprint ID or Face ID for it! My MacBook is my ONLY Mac. I have an iPhone X and that's it for me - NO iPad, NO iMac etc. NO STRESS & TIME WASTED updating software
Basically EVERYTHING is on my MacBook from the last 20 years - ALL my business along with photos, videos, film, music. Having used the Touch Bar on my best buddies MBKP for a length time, I'm a huge fan of it. It also makes the laptop look more modern in design too.
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100% TIMES A MILLION Agree with you on this!!!!!!! Passwords are a pain in the ass for busy guys like me and i'm always forgetting them!
See I’m the opposite I have an iMac and did have a 2011 MacBook Pro until it died, my plan is to get the MacBook once it’s updated (or the new Air if it’s a good enough update). I’ve played with the MacBook Pro Touch Bar and I think it’s Apples way of trying to appease those who want touch screen, accept it’s not a touch screen, it’s useful in Final Cut Pro, for anything else I’ve found it to be a waste of time since you can already use the mouse/trackpad to do most of the actions, sometimes even quicker.
In my opinion Apple should just do a hybrid device for those that want one, the Surface Pro is actually a great machine accept for Windows, MacOS is better.
The fingerprint reader/Touch ID is mostly for security but for those of us that type pretty fast it’s not faster than putting in a password anyway. Face ID would be much better I think, plus the MacBook is small and tiny where would they put the Touch Bar and Touch ID?
Just my opinion having recently tried the MacBook Pro, MacBook and Surface Pro
See I’m the opposite I have an iMac and did have a 2011 MacBook Pro until it died, my plan is to get the MacBook once it’s updated (or the new Air if it’s a good enough update). I’ve played with the MacBook Pro Touch Bar and I think it’s Apples way of trying to appease those who want touch screen, accept it’s not a touch screen, it’s useful in Final Cut Pro, for anything else I’ve found it to be a waste of time since you can already use the mouse/trackpad to do most of the actions, sometimes even quicker.
In my opinion Apple should just do a hybrid device for those that want one, the Surface Pro is actually a great machine accept for Windows, MacOS is better.
The fingerprint reader/Touch ID is mostly for security but for those of us that type pretty fast it’s not faster than putting in a password anyway. Face ID would be much better I think, plus the MacBook is small and tiny where would they put the Touch Bar and Touch ID?
Just my opinion having recently tried the MacBook Pro, MacBook and Surface Pro
You can't lump the fingerprint ID in with the Touch Bar in this discussion, they are separate features which Apple markets together. I agree the Touch bar is personal and I can understand touch typists not liking it, but can't understand anyone not liking Fingerprint ID. Lots of folk rail against the Touch Bar, but I don't recall seeing anyone complain about Fingerprint ID, the opposite in fact. Guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one!
I was quoting Paul’s opinion on the Touch Bar. I’m not saying that Touch ID is useless but since last year with my iPhone X Face ID has been much better and easier to use, on the Mac it would be great just lift the lid and look at the screen, Microsoft have it with Windows Hello. Personally I’d prefer Face ID on the MacBook rather than Touch ID, just my opinion tho.
Face vs Fingerprint is another subject. I also prefer Face to Finger on the phone, and maybe it would be better on the computer as well, maybe not, would depend on implementation. On the phone it was a big part of achieving full screen which doesn't apply on the computer. Also I will use my phone how ever mucky my hands if I have to, and fingerprint on the phone sometimes doesn't work. I only use the computer with clean hands..
That seems a very strange decision! You would rather keep typing in your user password (and 1P) than touch a key, even though the key is there.
Not saying I wouldn't prefer Face to Finger but Finger is much much better than nothing.
Do yourself a favour and at least try it for a few days when you get your new machine.
That seems a very strange decision! You would rather keep typing in your user password (and 1P) than touch a key, even though the key is there.
Not saying I wouldn't prefer Face to Finger but Finger is much much better than nothing.
Do yourself a favour and at least try it for a few days when you get your new machine.
I really don't care much about Face ID or Touch ID on a laptops. What people really want on the MacBook is a second USB-C port.
Can't speak for anyone else, but when I fire up my machine I don't have to "keep typing in my user password...." My current machine is set up so that when I turn it on it's ready to go. That said, I do have it set up so that there is an admin account that is separate from my everyday user account. Any time I add new software that has been downloaded from the web, for instance, I do have to go ahead and authorize it with the admin account.
This is not a work machine, it is my personal computer at home and so there is less need for ensuring that no one else can access it, etc. if I have stepped away from it. I am not especially concerned about any sort of security on it, whether it be Touch ID or Face ID. However, yes, I realize that many users are, especially when traveling or in a workplace setting.
As for Touch ID on my iPhones, I found that it didn't work all that well and that life was much simpler and more convenient without that hassle, as quickly typing in a passcode on iPhone or iPads isn't that big of a deal for me. With the iPhone X and Face ID, I do enjoy the ease of it -- a mere glance at the device unlocks it and that's the end of that. No hassles with trying to position a finger correctly or making sure a finger isn't wet or cold or hot......
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Amen to that!! Yes, As much as I love my current 2017 MacBook, I would be over the moon if the next iteration of that machine provided a second USB-C port. I've managed nicely without, but having that would be really, really nice.
As I said to Dave, we will just have to agree to differ, but would love to hear how you feel after using it.
Just one small further point ....you and Dave give the impression you think Fingerprint is partly about added security. It doesn't add any security at all. Fingerprint is an always-on alternative to the user password; you always have the option to type in the password instead of touching the Fingerprint key....so anyone who has your password can bypass Fingerprint. It is only about speed and convenience and in my experience is better than phone fingerprint, needing only a lighter, quicker touch.
Went into an Apple Store yesterday (to look at iPhone Cases) and whilst there had a look at the MacBook pro's and the new Air's. After looking at them I saw a lovely gold MacBook and thought "Wow!" The 12" MacBook's are defiantly the nicest looking laptop's ever! I am so glad (with the help of you guy's) that I opted to go for the 12" MacBook. Since I bought it I've used it every day and find I hardly use my 10.5" iPad Pro. What a stunning piece of engineering the 12" MacBook is.
Nice machine, but at this point I'm surprised you didn't wait one more month.
I really hope we see new Mac's this month it's about time Apple put some love into the Mac. I don't expect anything huge for the Macbook but at least a spec bump and the introduction of a new 13" Macbook or Macbook Air, i'd like to also see updated iMac's since it was introduced 20 years ago (anniversary was earlier this year).
Cool, congrats. Keep us up to date on your longer-term impressions. The Surface Pro is very nice looking to my eyes.
p.s. However, I still love my MacBook!
WOW Dave ! ...I have been following your purchasing dilemmas for all 21 months and 34 pages, and I didn't expect that conclusion!.....must have been a really bad customer service experience.
I find the Surface Pro quite interesting but I am very heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem so very unlikely to jump, but would still like to hear your ongoing thoughts.
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WOW Dave ! ...I have been following your purchasing dilemmas for all 21 months and 34 pages, and I didn't expect that conclusion!.....must have been a really bad customer service experience.
I find the Surface Pro quite interesting but I am very heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem so very unlikely to jump, but would still like to hear your ongoing thoughts.
It's been a LOOOONG ride! i was going to buy the Macbook Air however i started having issues with my 12.9" iPad Pro 2017, it would randomly restart itself, the first time i was like ok it was probably just a glitch or something. The next day in the evening time turned on the iPad, used it for a few hours and it did exactly the same again, turned itself off and back on to the Apple log with white background, came back on to the lock screen, i started using it again, then within about a minute it repeated the issue, this happened 5 times in one night!
The next day after i had finished up some work, i contact Apple who then ran me through the process of restoring my iPad Pro back to factory settings, i was told the issue could be a software one and that a restore would fix it. Later that evening the same thing happened again, around 3 or more times, so the next day i contact Apple again, different person this time who took a look at the case number i quoted, they told me to once again restore from factory settings and this time set up the iPad Pro as new which i did. Yet again a few hours later the issue reoccured, again i contacted Apple, they took a look at the case number i again quoted.
The person i was in contact with informed me it was a hardware issue and that i needed to bring my iPad Pro to an Apple store, i told them my nearest one was a fair few miles away, they insisted i bring it in for a technician to look at it, since it was out of warranty there would be a charge, that charge was going to be £566.44!! I was not happy! they want to charge me that much for an iPad Pro that is only 15 months old, i tried to make this point and the response i got was that because it was out of warranty i was not entitled to a free repair, i could either bring it in OR buy a new iPad Pro
I understand that issue can occur, Apple sell LOTS of devices but to charge a customer that amount of money for something that is only 15 months old is an insult in my eyes.
So over the Black Friday weekend i saw that the Surface Pro 6 was on sale, i could try it out for 35 days if i don't like it i can return it for a full refund no questions asked, it also came with a 2 year warranty! the deal was £899.95 for the Surface Pro 6 with the Alcantara type cover! having been told how good they are and with nothing to loose (since i can return it within 35 days) i brought one.
So far it's been a great device, as a writer i need a good keyboard and the type cover for the Surface Pro is great, full key travel and works without issue, the trackpad is also great, it's smaller than the one on the Macbook's but it works really well. I will be keeping the Surface Pro 6 if i have no issues with it between now and when the 35 days are up.
Pro's:
Screen is great with fast and responsive touch screen
Windows Hello is really fast and works every time so far
It works really well as a computer
typing documents in Word, split screening and multitasking are great
It has FULL computer specs - quad core i5, 8GB Ram, 256GB SSD are my specs but they do go higher (i7, 16GB, up to 1TB SSD)
It can play Windows games
VERY portable
Battery life is so far great, i get a full day on mine
Kickstand is way better than the Smart Keyboard on the iPad Pro, the Surface kickstand can be positioned at any angle which is great for using on my lap.
The Surface Pen is great, no lag, i can make notes on web pages and save them (handy for when doing research) also i don't have to worry about charging it
Windows is a LOT faster than i remember it pre-2011
Cons:
Windows 10 isn't as refined as MacOS
Windows can get in the way but after tweaking the settings it's great
Not a great tablet - it's good for watching Netflix and drawing BUT it doesn't have the Apps that the iPad has.
In closing i would say if you just want a tablet get the iPad, BUT if you want a great computer that you can use in tablet mode to watch Netflix, iTunes and other content, get the Surface Pro! it's a great device that can be more than an iPad can in its current state.
It's been a LOOOONG ride! i was going to buy the Macbook Air however i started having issues with my 12.9" iPad Pro 2017, it would randomly restart itself, the first time i was like ok it was probably just a glitch or something. The next day in the evening time turned on the iPad, used it for a few hours and it did exactly the same again, turned itself off and back on to the Apple log with white background, came back on to the lock screen, i started using it again, then within about a minute it repeated the issue, this happened 5 times in one night!
The next day after i had finished up some work, i contact Apple who then ran me through the process of restoring my iPad Pro back to factory settings, i was told the issue could be a software one and that a restore would fix it. Later that evening the same thing happened again, around 3 or more times, so the next day i contact Apple again, different person this time who took a look at the case number i quoted, they told me to once again restore from factory settings and this time set up the iPad Pro as new which i did. Yet again a few hours later the issue reoccured, again i contacted Apple, they took a look at the case number i again quoted.
The person i was in contact with informed me it was a hardware issue and that i needed to bring my iPad Pro to an Apple store, i told them my nearest one was a fair few miles away, they insisted i bring it in for a technician to look at it, since it was out of warranty there would be a charge, that charge was going to be £566.44!! I was not happy! they want to charge me that much for an iPad Pro that is only 15 months old, i tried to make this point and the response i got was that because it was out of warranty i was not entitled to a free repair, i could either bring it in OR buy a new iPad Pro
I understand that issue can occur, Apple sell LOTS of devices but to charge a customer that amount of money for something that is only 15 months old is an insult in my eyes.
So over the Black Friday weekend i saw that the Surface Pro 6 was on sale, i could try it out for 35 days if i don't like it i can return it for a full refund no questions asked, it also came with a 2 year warranty! the deal was £899.95 for the Surface Pro 6 with the Alcantara type cover! having been told how good they are and with nothing to loose (since i can return it within 35 days) i brought one.
So far it's been a great device, as a writer i need a good keyboard and the type cover for the Surface Pro is great, full key travel and works without issue, the trackpad is also great, it's smaller than the one on the Macbook's but it works really well. I will be keeping the Surface Pro 6 if i have no issues with it between now and when the 35 days are up.
Pro's:
Screen is great with fast and responsive touch screen
Windows Hello is really fast and works every time so far
It works really well as a computer
typing documents in Word, split screening and multitasking are great
It has FULL computer specs - quad core i5, 8GB Ram, 256GB SSD are my specs but they do go higher (i7, 16GB, up to 1TB SSD)
It can play Windows games
VERY portable
Battery life is so far great, i get a full day on mine
Kickstand is way better than the Smart Keyboard on the iPad Pro, the Surface kickstand can be positioned at any angle which is great for using on my lap.
The Surface Pen is great, no lag, i can make notes on web pages and save them (handy for when doing research) also i don't have to worry about charging it
Windows is a LOT faster than i remember it pre-2011
Cons:
Windows 10 isn't as refined as MacOS
Windows can get in the way but after tweaking the settings it's great
Not a great tablet - it's good for watching Netflix and drawing BUT it doesn't have the Apps that the iPad has.
In closing i would say if you just want a tablet get the iPad, BUT if you want a great computer that you can use in tablet mode to watch Netflix, iTunes and other content, get the Surface Pro! it's a great device that can be more than an iPad can in its current state.
As you are in the UK, I would try to use EU/UK Consumer laws to get a free repair on your iPad: https://www.apple.com/uk/legal/statutory-warranty/
Not guaranteed to work (although high chance of success), but I think if you press hard enough and throw a couple of e-mails around to some senior Apple folk, I would be surprised they wouldn't fix it for free (unless there is some user fault, eg accidental damage).
I'd get the quote/diagnostic done - it should show a fault that isn't down to you - and fight your case for a free repair.
After 6 months, it is deemed that the burden of proof is for you - but as you already have had cases pointing to them saying "software issue" and I doubt the diagnostic check will find any hardware defect that could have been caused for you - Apple will have no choice but to reimburse you. They won't have a leg to stand on to be able to make you pay for a repair 15 months in when they can't diagnose the fault
...
As you are in the UK, I would try to use EU/UK Consumer laws to get a free repair on your iPad: https://www.apple.com/uk/legal/statutory-warranty/
Not guaranteed to work (although high chance of success), but I think if you press hard enough and throw a couple of e-mails around to some senior Apple folk, I would be surprised they wouldn't fix it for free (unless there is some user fault, eg accidental damage).
I'd get the quote/diagnostic done - it should show a fault that isn't down to you - and fight your case for a free repair.
After 6 months, it is deemed that the burden of proof is for you - but as you already have had cases pointing to them saying "software issue" and I doubt the diagnostic check will find any hardware defect that could have been caused for you - Apple will have no choice but to reimburse you. They won't have a leg to stand on to be able to make you pay for a repair 15 months in when they can't diagnose the fault
Yes i'm in the UK, when i phoned them they did ask me to do a diagnostic test where i had to go into settings, they said it had passed before telling me to restore the iPad to factory settings. Who can i send an email to that would make a difference? I do think it's bad customer service on Apple's part, a 2017 iPad Pro that i brought last August isn't even 2 years old. As someone who has spent many thousands of pounds over the years with Apple i thought it would count for something, but it clearly doesn't.