My MBP from work has the newer, software driven click (2015+). It's actually phenomenal, in my opinion.
I updated all my Macbooks to '15s last year, and as someone who's never bought into the massively-overhyped-by-fanbois trackpad since many of my Windows laptops are perfectly fine as well, and those of which aren't have redeeming features (like... ohh... a screen that's a trackpad for example) - but at the same time having never felt that the Macbook trackpad experience has been anything less than very decent overall, I have a real problem with the '15 models.
The lack of a physical click isn't a problem. You really don't notice the difference in terms of the actual haptic feedback. The problem is that it's actually now noticeably inferior to the majority of Windows laptops I use for detection of even one-finger clicks at times. Two finger clicks especially are egregiously often misinterpreted as one. According to Apple when I sent one 13" away repeatedly this is working normally.
Which is why I often carry a 1st-gen Magic trackpad or a mouse now with the MBPs, something that I'd never even contemplate with even e.g. the Surface Pros.
I'm pretty sure Apple is aware of the problem, and they'll stealth fix it eventually as usual, covered by a tech press that doesn't jump on every single problem a company's hardware has, when it's Apple.
My Topre is very quiet. Not all mechanical keyboards are clicky or loud. And "super long throw distance" c'mon. Don't make excuses for typing on al dente noodles. They key travel on the newer apple keyboards is too short, plain and simple. You bottom out instantly, it's bad for your fingers, touch typists are forced to type more slowly. To say that standard key travel is now suddenly "super long throw distance" because apple has decided excessively short distance is the new normal is apologizing at its worst. The keyboards suck and everyone knows it. It's OK to admit Apple doesn't do everything perfectly.
The keys are both the same size, so you can likely swap them and remap them with software.The biggest problem with the laptop keyboards has nothing to do with spacing or throw: the ctrl key is in the wrong position. Please, Apple, put it in the corner and move the FN key!
It's weird that I provide a reason for one audience (people who don't like longer throw distance keyboards) to appreciate the difference and you provide the argument that the entire populace should only agree with your viewpoint.
I don't see how it's bad for my fingers, maybe it is for someone else's? I don't type any slower on this keyboard than I do on any other ~90-100wpm. The mechanical keyboards people wax poetic about do indeed have long throw distances.
I think I prefer the chiclets, but I also am very happy with the keyboard on the Macbook.
Not a fan of the MacBook and not a fan of Core M. Is the future of small laptops to be fanless? I don't buy it.
Sorry, your post makes no sense and is contrary to technological evolution. As processors become more efficient they can make smaller and lower power devices that are powerful enough to drive modern apps. Look at the iPad Pro, it's a killer device and a TABLET. Look at the Microsoft devices they are coming out with. All thin and powerful enough.
I don't think the 12-inch MacBook's issue has been so much the the single USB port, or the Core M, but the price. For $999 or less? Sure... it'd still be expensive, but it'd be affordable enough that you wouldn't hurt too much. But for $1,299, or as much as a 13-inch MacBook Pro? It's a hard sell.
The tricky bit is that Apple has to balance that cost issue with desired upgrades, like the faster CPU and an extra USB port. I'll say this: if Apple can slash the price and upgrade the system in the next go-round, it'll probably have a ton of extra customers. I probably won't be one of them, since I need a beefy system for work, but I would be happy to jump on it otherwise.
You can be happy with it. But you are misleading people by saying it is good or fine or not a downgrade. It would be unfair to people since the vast majority of people upgrading to new Macbooks are complaining that the keyboard is awful.
Unfortunately they can't do that. They spent the Jobs era creating record profits by overpricing devices on the merits of innovation. Apple was in a bubble within which their stock peaked. Apple innovation has stagnated and now much rely on selling incremental upgrades in a market with ever increasing competition. Since the stock holders demand that profits must always meet or beat the year before, Apple is in a pickle. They can't really raise prices anymore because even loyal Apple users will start balking. The only real answer is to reduce capabilities which translate into lower production costs which translate to higher profits per unit. This is exactly what we are seeing lately. Less value for the consumer for every dollar spent.
Without Jobs, Apple is quickly becoming simply another tech company among a sea of tech companies...albeit with a ton of cash on hand. I think over the next few years we will see Apple reintroduce lower cost devices like the regular Macbook as well as try to recapture what it lost in the MacPro community. This means investing in high-end production software and getting away from this one size fits all mentality with the MacPro. The MacPro is a perfectly good device, but the price is ridiculous when you consider its scalability after purchase. I miss the old MacPro designs.
I never quite get why people say that Apple gear is overpriced while knowing how its competitors are faring. Sure, Apple is probably charging more than it needs to, but I'd rather have that than the situations its competitors face. Samsung's profits are sinking, and rivals like HTC, LG and Lenovo are taking losses. Why would Apple want to follow in their footsteps?
It's entirely feasible that Apple can drop the price on the MacBook, preferably while upgrading it. Remember the original MacBook Air, and how it was a $1,799 novelty? Now, the Air is Apple's entry-level model (starting at $899) and represents an improvement in every way. Manufacturing costs come down; Apple learns design lessons; the market changes. I'm not counting on Apple to solve every issue with the 12-inch MacBook in one year, but I wouldn't be surprised if the price and features are easier to swallow before long.
I'm only okay with "powerful enough" if the device is super cheap. No sense in spending the same amount of cash on a machine that is obsolete in less than a year.
And the iPad "Pro" is still just an oversized consumption device.
The iPad pro is definitely NOT just a consumption device. I've gotten the opportunity to use one for a day and was blown away by the pencil and how the entire system worked. I've got two colleagues who have switched to one for their day-to-day work simply because they live in the cloud and use Outlook. They swear by them and these are not simple folks simply using email, they are consultants who interact with customers all day long.
It doesn't have a real file system, you can't install your own software, you can't write software on it, you're forced to buy software from the Apple Apps Store and nowhere else, and the warranty service is horrible.
Yes, the warranty service IS horrible - you have to make an appointment, wait hours despite having an appointment, likely miss half a day of work, and hope that they're willing to replace or fix it, because if you actually read the warranty terms, you'd realize that almost nothing is actually covered. Most of the warranty repairs are as a "courtesy." Now think about all of that from the perspective of running a business. It's risky; that's why companies go with Dell, for example.
I think the MBP keyboard is decent, but it doesn't compare in feel to a full mechanical keyboard for example. But for a laptop, it's very good, and it's more suited for me, since the usual increased resistance of a mechanical keyboard gives me repetitive strain injury.i have a mid-2015 15" rMBP and i love both the keyboard and trackpad on the thing. the trackpad especially is incredible on it. i could never use an air as they are just way too small screen real estate wise.
i love being able to swap desktops with the flick of my fingers, i use it constantly. i typically have 3 desktops open and then 2-3 apps full screen which act as additional desktops to the right of the first 3.
i also LOVE the keyboard on this thing. i do development work at my day job on a mechanical keyboard and at home i do about 20-30 hours a week development as well on my laptop, as well as bs'ing on the computer. i've never once had any complaints about the keyboard on it.
i'm surprised to hear people complaining about the keyboards. it's the first i've ever heard that.
Our local school district just shipped thousands of laptops back to Dell because they were pieces of shit.
Your analogy fails.
Our local school district just shipped thousands of laptops back to Dell because they were pieces of shit.
Your analogy fails.
Sorry, your post makes no sense and is contrary to technological evolution. As processors become more efficient they can make smaller and lower power devices that are powerful enough to drive modern apps. Look at the iPad Pro, it's a killer device and a TABLET. Look at the Microsoft devices they are coming out with. All thin and powerful enough.