Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Would you return this 13" rMBP?

I also found out something neat about my new purchase that I could just link to, but i'll put it here whilst there's a lull in the thread - i am stickler for keeping batteries in peak condition. One thing I like about modern windows laptops vs macbooks is the ability to put the battery into "conservation mode" which will keep the battery at 70% -- when you keep the laptop plugged in all the time with a full charge, well, think of it like a rubber balloon - kept fully inflated it will eventually lose it's elasticity.

It turns out there is a super simple way to have your macbook plugged in without it charging, and it's not software! You just put a very thin piece of scotch tape covering only and just the middle charging pin on the magsafe2 adapter. Then the electronics can't determine what size adapter it's plugged into anymore (but still gets power) so while it will power the laptop, it wont charge the battery since powering and charging simultaneously could conceivably overtax whatever adapter is in use.

I've been using it the past few days keeping the battery at 85%. neat-o.
 
Would you return this 13" rMBP?

objectiveseeker said:
I also found out something neat about my new purchase that I could just link to, but i'll put it here whilst there's a lull in the thread - i am stickler for keeping batteries in peak condition. One thing I like about modern windows laptops vs macbooks is the ability to put the battery into "conservation mode" which will keep the battery at 70% -- when you keep the laptop plugged in all the time with a full charge, well, think of it like a rubber balloon - kept fully inflated it will eventually lose it's elasticity.

It turns out there is a super simple way to have your macbook plugged in without it charging, and it's not software! You just put a very thin piece of scotch tape covering only and just the middle charging pin on the magsafe2 adapter. Then the electronics can't determine what size adapter it's plugged into anymore (but still gets power) so while it will power the laptop, it wont charge the battery since powering and charging simultaneously could conceivably overtax whatever adapter is in use.

I've been using it the past few days keeping the battery at 85%. neat-o.
Click to expand...




Why are you overthinking everything? Just use the laptop as is but exercise common sense like don't eat a greasy burger than go type on the laptop or drink coffee around it. But especially the battery charger thing, completely unnecessary.......

I can't imagine you with a electrical car........
 
thadoggfather said:
Yeah I don't follow the logic on that one, sorry :)
Click to expand...

So you think conservation mode on many high end laptops is there for no reason (hint they want their floor models to survive and be sellable afterwards)? I worked for the Apple battery engineering group on a contract for graphing battery characteristics in bulk testing to validate potential suppliers and stock. Saw lots and lots of hard data (which I had to analyze and display as a client to the database of results)

But you don't have to do it on your non-replaceable battery, I won't mind. Truly, they will happily replace your battery for 200$ anytime you ask. And I'm not saying they are not great batteries ;)

----------

Batteries are chemistry. They aren't solid state devices. It helps to remember you're actually moving chemicals from one side of the battery to another and lipo and lion batteries are very sensitive to conditions that can interrupt or impede that motion. That's why they "taper" at the end, quick charging to 80% and slow down, because you can literally eat away the anodes and cathodes doing it too quickly. that's why you must never ever fully discharge a lion (the protection circuitry kicks in at 40% left when you see 0%, in fact) and I won't even get into temperature and how charging slower is better than faster if you could control it.

It's not good to leave your battery fully charged if you, like me, almost always have it plugged in. Being able to use it while leaving the battery at 70-80% is way, way better for capacity at the end of two years, so it's not abstract or meaningless at all. It's why apple suggests you store a mac long term at 60%.. Leaving it plugged in all the time is the same as storing it from the batteries perspective. They just presume most people use the battery constantly so they don't cover it. Even when I go car camping, I have a deep cycle marine battery so it really is almost always plugged in.

And of course, I'll think as much as I like. It's actually good for you. Hedonism in computing (just enjoy it without considering it) never really crossed my mind. I'm far from obsessive.. The analogy would be gunning your car to 90mph the split second you start it on freezing winter mornings for a few years.. Well, it's your car to "enjoy"
 
Last edited:
I'm just curious how you discovered the scotch tape trick?

seems like it might be a bad idea having plastic next to something that heats up, no?
 
thadoggfather said:
I'm just curious how you discovered the scotch tape trick?

seems like it might be a bad idea having plastic next to something that heats up, no?
Click to expand...

That's a good question to ask.. No I've never seen it get hot except on defective units and the Middle plug is just data of course.. It's such a small piece of tape that even if it did melt it wouldn't matter, though.

I discovered it on another forum where someone had the same question.. I wish I was that clever haha. It makes sense.. If you plug a 45w adapter into a macbook that is supposed to have an 60w one, it should handle it the best it can, and does.. Which means powering the laptop but not charging. Ever wonder why the adapters are rated for so much more than the system takes? It's so it can charge and work, both at the same time.

I'm very excited to see there is a way to do it. No software to do it has ever existed on macs. Lenovo offers their Energy Manager (on my yoga 2 11) out of the box and I use that consistently.

Side note, if you use this trick and load the computer (very) heavily for long time you'll see the battery discharge over time anyway because what it can't get through the adapter it will take from the battery. The battery can deliver much higher instant current than the adapter so many designs (like tablets) actually rely on the battery for bursty processing where on average the device draws less than the adapter provides, but not instantaneously, treating the battery like a large capacitor.

I like random tips so there is no way I'm not sharing it, although I realize it's not the topic. This is the only public thread I've ever posted in about macbooks so pardon the enthusiasm.
 
Here's what it looks like.. I just take it off and make a new one if I am going out and want a full charge.. Oh.. And if you're using a smallish AC inverter to power your Mac in a car, this trick can keep the power requirements low enough to not trip the fuse, never mind making your car battery last longer when you didn't want to "waste" power on charging it!

Good night all. I doubt I'll find much else to comment on going forward (all been said) but, thanks-
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20150410_204331.jpg
    IMG_20150410_204331.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 123
  • Screen Shot 2015-04-14 at 4.44.51 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2015-04-14 at 4.44.51 PM.png
    96.1 KB · Views: 84
Last edited:
^^^ has disaster written all over it. I suppose I'm a "If Apple intended it to work that way..." Kind of guy. :shrug:
 
blaine07 said:
^^^ has disaster written all over it. I suppose I'm a "If Apple intended it to work that way..." Kind of guy. :shrug:
Click to expand...

You're wrong, of course. Being a member of a hacker space really opens your mind to "consumer" electronics and what they really are / can do. I have plenty of EE geniuses to ask about stuff like this (and I do, for the setup I take camping which is neat) and it's no problem. It's just a data pin, man up Nancy :)

Seriously tho, do as thou wilt. Ta-
 
Last edited:
jlp2979 said:
Same on mine, I like it. 4 out of the 5 I've gone through have had the good soft keyboard. One of them was very loud and click-clackity. So in addition to different screens, they are using different keyboards it seems. Smh.

----------



Hard to tell based on your photos. But from what I can see yours doesn't look all that bad.
Click to expand...

Is there any specific way in which I can take the pictures so that it's easier to notice the difference? It's really annoying because except for the grey colors everything else appears to be fine.

What could the possible remedy for this be?
Shall I try convincing Apple again for a screen replacement but I'm scared that I might end up with an uneven display considering the fact that their are so many circulating out there!

What would you do?
 
objectiveseeker said:
So you think conservation mode on many high end laptops is there for no reason (hint they want their floor models to survive and be sellable afterwards)? I worked for the Apple battery engineering group on a contract for graphing battery characteristics in bulk testing to validate potential suppliers and stock. Saw lots and lots of hard data (which I had to analyze and display as a client to the database of results)

But you don't have to do it on your non-replaceable battery, I won't mind. Truly, they will happily replace your battery for 200$ anytime you ask. And I'm not saying they are not great batteries ;)

----------

Batteries are chemistry. They aren't solid state devices. It helps to remember you're actually moving chemicals from one side of the battery to another and lipo and lion batteries are very sensitive to conditions that can interrupt or impede that motion. That's why they "taper" at the end, quick charging to 80% and slow down, because you can literally eat away the anodes and cathodes doing it too quickly. that's why you must never ever fully discharge a lion (the protection circuitry kicks in at 40% left when you see 0%, in fact) and I won't even get into temperature and how charging slower is better than faster if you could control it.

It's not good to leave your battery fully charged if you, like me, almost always have it plugged in. Being able to use it while leaving the battery at 70-80% is way, way better for capacity at the end of two years, so it's not abstract or meaningless at all. It's why apple suggests you store a mac long term at 60%.. Leaving it plugged in all the time is the same as storing it from the batteries perspective. They just presume most people use the battery constantly so they don't cover it. Even when I go car camping, I have a deep cycle marine battery so it really is almost always plugged in.

And of course, I'll think as much as I like. It's actually good for you. Hedonism in computing (just enjoy it without considering it) never really crossed my mind. I'm far from obsessive.. The analogy would be gunning your car to 90mph the split second you start it on freezing winter mornings for a few years.. Well, it's your car to "enjoy"
Click to expand...

I have a Macbook Pro with well over 1000 charge cycles, over four years old, and battery is still over 80% (healthy). Apple knows how to manage their batteries. No need for taping pin connectors. :rolleyes:
 
turns out I've got a slight white spot at the bottom edge of the screen

dang near impossible to take a pic of but this is what someone else's looks like:

http://i.imgur.com/zUFkW.jpg

luckily its pretty close to the edge and not the center, not sure its worth playing exchange hell but a little bothered by it now.

Got it at best buy. also used 10% movers coupon and $50 edu off so exchanging would be only option. returning and trying from another retailer would not be good because i'd pay a lot more. also, returned my 13" 2014 refurb after getting this 2015 right with a02a. its not even in stock any more and that was screen lottery as well. Your thoughts? only sometihng i can see now that I noticed it, and in white/grey backdrops but not so much other colors. I Swear iPhone 6 had something similar going on.

couldn't even capture it in this photo where I can see it like one small line or two little dotted areas right above the cursor (and just to show how close it is to the bezel and not dead center like an iPhone 6 I had), when I try to focus on it it either doesn't appear or the dotted matrix becomes apparent and it gets knocked out in the pic.
http://imgur.com/8VHEvqX.jpg
 
Last edited:
salvator said:
Is there any specific way in which I can take the pictures so that it's easier to notice the difference? It's really annoying because except for the grey colors everything else appears to be fine.

What could the possible remedy for this be?
Shall I try convincing Apple again for a screen replacement but I'm scared that I might end up with an uneven display considering the fact that their are so many circulating out there!

What would you do?
Click to expand...
Honestly I'd be fine with that screen based on your photos. I don't really see anything wrong with it? Only thing you can do is keep asking for a replacement screen again and hope for the best. But, you never know what you'll get as a replacement.
 
thadoggfather said:
couldn't even capture it in this photo where I can see it like one small line or two little dotted areas right above the cursor (and just to show how close it is to the bezel and not dead center like an iPhone 6 I had), when I try to focus on it it either doesn't appear or the dotted matrix becomes apparent and it gets knocked out in the pic.
http://imgur.com/8VHEvqX.jpg
Click to expand...

Is it a bit above and to the left of your cursor? I can barely see anything at all but if I look away from it I notice a little white-ish area? Maybe? Don't know how badly it would bother me only you can judge.
 
jlp2979 said:
Is it a bit above and to the left of your cursor? I can barely see anything at all but if I look away from it I notice a little white-ish area? Maybe? Don't know how badly it would bother me only you can judge.
Click to expand...

its like the tip of the cursor is touching the middle of the line and its about as wide as the cursor itself maybe a bit more.

I don't think the pic reveals it i really tried to multiple times with different angles and exposures. I'm sure if i took out my SLR it would help but maybe not screen matrixes get caught in the focus all the time has been my experience
 
What is the problem with IR. I did the test on my iMac and after 5 minutes displaying the checkboard you already get huge IR. However it is reversible (so disappear after 30 sec.) and in real life IR is not a problem at all. All LCD displays have it, it is inherent to liquid crystals. Uneven lightning from left to right can however be disturbing.

So what is the conclusion on what brand/type of display is the best on the rMBpro 13 (version 2015) ??
 
arcite said:
I have a Macbook Pro with well over 1000 charge cycles, over four years old, and battery is still over 80% (healthy). Apple knows how to manage their batteries. No need for taping pin connectors. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

you obviously don't let it just sit, duh and ignored half the advantage (not charging batt. in cars) but it's internet arguing so...
 
http://imgur.com/6BrNd7z.jpg

faint and tough to see in the pic possibly but its the best i could do.

its also possible this has been here since i bought it a week ago and I'm now just noticing

also for OCD'ers like myself, the stuff above that is just crap on the screen/dust on glass surface I brushed away, not a dead pixel haha

What would you guys do? I think so many things could go wrong if i swap again.
 
Last edited:
thadoggfather said:
http://imgur.com/6BrNd7z.jpg

faint and tough to see in the pic possibly but its the best i could do.

its also possible this has been here since i bought it a week ago and I'm now just noticing

also for OCD'ers like myself, the stuff above that is just crap on the screen/dust on glass surface I brushed away, not a dead pixel haha

What would you guys do? I think so many things could go wrong if i swap again.
Click to expand...

If I had that similar issue on mine, I would have gone and gotten it exchanged. For me once I see it, it will always draw my attention to it and would be very distracting. Luckily, I'm still on my 1st one with no issues.
 
Man I'm not sure what to do.

I think with reward zone, I have at least 30 day return policy. Possibly 45, can't remember if our account is the top spender or not. Should be though.
 
If you are seriously that concerned with it go exchange it. It'll bother you forever

Maybe see if they have any more that are higher spec'd to try and get the same screen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back