Apple Jumps the Shark with New Design: MB/MBP Next in Line?

[DMC-12]

OK, I was eagerly anticipating the new iMacs simply for the sake having some more computer breathed into Apple, but I'm more in the MB/MBP market.

I don't think the new iMac design is "ugly" necessarily, I just think that it certainly could be better, at least compared to what we have seen in the past. This all actually makes me sad because I think it marks the end of the Apple design era that most of us have grown to love. The era known by ultra-minimalistic white/aluminum is, at least for me, what really ignited passion for Apple and made me fall in love with Apple design, especially the MB/MBP design.

The iPhone has changed everything. The iPod was the first "big thing," and I feel like Apple are now trying to transform the novelty/appeal/feel of the iPhone into its future products for fear of missing out on the second wave in design and innovation. I think the largely monochromatic design of the old iMac and current MB and MBP represent the high-water mark for Apple's design. So in this case, I think that change in terms of design is a bad thing.

The point of my fears here is that the MB/MBP will fall victim to all the bright ideas Apple has been getting as shown by the iMac. I am in love with the current minimalist design of the notebooks, and I'm afraid we have already seen the finest hour in Apple design. I feel like the next MacBooks will have some sort of two-tone design like the new iMac, and it will probably spread.

I know this jumps around in topics, but my point is that I'm afraid for Apple's future notebook design.

 

[theman]

Meh, as long as it runs Mac OS....


Seriously, don't judge a book by its cover. Didn't you pay attention in 1st grade?

 

[Jeremy Gray]

I was wondering about this myself...

But I think the 'Pro' line from Apple will remain industrialist minimalist, if that makes sense. But I don't see Mac Pros or MacBook Pros going two-tone anytime soon, if ever. I can see the MacBook going the same route as the iPod, iPhone, and iMac. Apple treats the design of their 'consumer' products differently than their 'Professional' lines, and they always will I think, I hope.

 

[mchank]

I personally think the macbook pros are in bad need of a complete redesign. Apple has been pushing that same aluminum design for about 6 years now which is ancient in computer time. I think its a token to Apple that they still look classy compared to other notebooks but I think that mainly due to how bad Dells and HPs look than Apple's design prowess.
They based the new iMac off the iPhone because they're pushing the new iMac as a high end consumer product. You can tell by how Jobs compared it to their professional line of products (Mac Pro, Macbook Pro) in the presentation. The iPhone is also a high end consumer product, not a "professional" users product because its geared toward video, music, and web surfing, unlike business phones which have superior email, third party apps, and removable batteries.

 

[Dizzee]

i love the 2 tone design of the new imac.
i would love to see my mbp with some black highlights and a black apple on the back.

 

[-kritter-]

the new design is just as minimalistic and beautiful as ever...tis time to move on... white is out, in with the iphone esc designs...

 

[technicolor]

Exactly which industrial/product design school did you receive your degree from?

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I can't agree.

I think that the new iMac is very modern and attractive. The white imacs had grown pretty old, and they looked way to cuddly. These have a more mature look, more sophisticated.

 

[EvilDoc]

Exactly which industrial/product design school did you receive your degree from?

lol

 

[DMC-12]

Meh, as long as it runs Mac OS....


Seriously, don't judge a book by its cover. Didn't you pay attention in 1st grade?

I'm only afraid of Apple's cover being judged by its 'book. Painfully, not every design is insanely great just because its a Mac under the hood.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Exactly which industrial/product design school did you receive your degree from?

Wow calm down tiger. I think the person was simply posting an opinion.

I agree the pro line will or should remain the same, but then again, who cares in the end as long as it's not fugly grey plastic.

 

[antibact1]

I personally think the macbook pros are in bad need of a complete redesign. Apple has been pushing that same aluminum design for about 6 years now which is ancient in computer time. I think its a token to Apple that they still look classy compared to other notebooks but I think that mainly due to how bad Dells and HPs look than Apple's design prowess.
They based the new iMac off the iPhone because they're pushing the new iMac as a high end consumer product. You can tell by how Jobs compared it to their professional line of products (Mac Pro, Macbook Pro) in the presentation. The iPhone is also a high end consumer product, not a "professional" users product because its geared toward video, music, and web surfing, unlike business phones which have superior email, third party apps, and removable batteries.

I agree that the casing of the MacBook Pro systems is dated. However, it seems senseless to criticize it without offering some suggestions as to how it can be improved or enhanced. Like you stated, the case looks classy compared to another notebook systems. The design process is typically one of redesign and evolution, and the current design is anomalous in the sense that it peaked extremely early and does not easily identify the next step in improving the design.

 

[synth3tik]

They better not replace the MBP keyboard with the MB keyboard like they did with the iMacs. I can't use those things, they feel awful.

 

[iPhil]

I'll repeat One of the sayings that's being said lately around here..

IF you (Consumer/Buyer) of  products or any electronic item for the matter: If it's needed Now then buy it now,if not wait........ The concept is very,very simple ..

 

[vicious7]

I don't see too much wrong with the new iMac design with one exception -- the chin. I was hoping that they would have gotten rid of that and given the iMac an even sleeker look. Plus, if they were gonna push the "thin" look, I think Apple failed in that one regard.

+1 vote in keeping the industrial look of the pro line.

 

[mchank]

I agree that the casing of the MacBook Pro systems is dated. However, it seems senseless to criticize it without offering some suggestions as to how it can be improved or enhanced. Like you stated, the case looks classy compared to another notebook systems. The design process is typically one of redesign and evolution, and the current design is anomalous in the sense that it peaked extremely early and does not easily identify the next step in improving the design.

One of the things I would like to see changed is the aluminum to a more durable material like carbon fiber. The aluminum isn't durable enough for people who do a lot of traveling and dents/scratches too easily for a premium notebook. The fact that Speck's SeeThru has a market can attest to this, and they should get rid of the mechanical latch and switch to a magnetic latch like the macbook. Also they should upgrade the keyboard to offer some kind of spill proof protection like the new Lenovo's. Better heat management would be welcome too as this is one of the biggest complaints against Apple notebooks.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I agree with the original poster. I really think the new iMac is ... blah. Not great and not bad, it's just a bit luke warm. They added a black border (nice) and left the chin ... bad move. A much better and more obvious design would have been to chop off the chin while keeping the black border and getting rid of the hideous black back. Right now it looks like a cheap LCD HDTV TV and that isn't good.

Love the keyboard though, although if it's anything like typing on a MacBook keyboard I'll won't like it.

Yeah, I'm certainly not impressed with the new direction. The iPhone looks great and is completely fresh. Not so in the iMac. Boo Apple.

 

[erikistired]

One of the things I would like to see changed is the aluminum to a more durable material like carbon fiber. The aluminum isn't durable enough for people who do a lot of traveling and dents/scratches too easily for a premium notebook. The fact that Speck's SeeThru has a market can attest to this, and they should get rid of the mechanical latch and switch to a magnetic latch like the macbook. Also they should upgrade the keyboard to offer some kind of spill proof protection like the new Lenovo's. Better heat management would be welcome too as this is one of the biggest complaints against Apple notebooks.

wouldn't carbon fiber be like a heat vault? to keep them so thin it seems the aluminum is necessary to help disperse the heat. not sure another material would do as well.

 

[technicolor]

Wow calm down tiger. I think the person was simply posting an opinion.

I agree the pro line will or should remain the same, but then again, who cares in the end as long as it's not fugly grey plastic.

I just get so sick of people complaining about Apple's design when they are just offering their uninformed opinion. Apple is better at doing product design than about 99% of this board. Everyone wont like it of course, but they pretty much know what they are doing and will capture a majority of their audience because they are skilled.

I feel the same way about people making those lame mockups and missing a lot of the essentials that makes a design elegant because they arent good at it.

Call me picky

 

[DMC-12]

This...

is what I thought of when I saw this...

 

[QuarterSwede]

I just get so sick of people complaining about Apple's design when they are just offering their uninformed opinion. Apple is better at doing product design than about 99% of this board. Everyone wont like it of course, but they pretty much know what they are doing and will capture a majority of their audience because they are skilled.

I feel the same way about people making those lame mockups and missing a lot of the essentials that makes a design elegant because they arent good at it.

Call me picky

At least the OP is asking a good question instead of just complaining that they don't like it. Personally I think it's a valid thread.

You know what I'm sick of? people eating up any design that Apple comes out with. Jonathan Ive isn't God.

 

[mchank]

At least the OP is asking a good question instead of just complaining that they don't like it. Personally I think it's a valid thread.

You know what I'm sick of? people eating up any design that Apple comes out with. Jonathan Ive isn't God.

Exactly; just because someone doesn't work for Apple doesn't mean that they can't have valid opinions. Lots of great ideas have come from outside of Apple.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Personally, I think the design of the MacBook Pro is so classy it transends aging. It's still as sharp as the day it came out, and it still looks head and shoulders better than any of the competition.

If Apple go down the glass/metal route with the laptop line they'll start to blend in with the Sony/Toshiba/HP brands with knobbly cases, kinks on the side, metal (look only - plastic - yuck!) outside, piano black insides, and lose that all important market differentiator.

Someone above said that Jonny Ive isn't God and that's true, but don't think his designs have any less impact or appeal just because we, as a community, have become rather blasé about the visual wow factor of the MBPs. There are plenty of people out there still only just entering this market and the MBP still knocks you dead when it's on a display alongside all the other brands in a department store. All the other designs look over-engineered, fussy, plasticky and festooned with useless lights, and it becomes very apparent when alongside, you see the clean, minimalist comparison of the MBP.

 

[PDE]

I agree that the casing of the MacBook Pro systems is dated. However, it seems senseless to criticize it without offering some suggestions as to how it can be improved or enhanced. Like you stated, the case looks classy compared to another notebook systems. The design process is typically one of redesign and evolution, and the current design is anomalous in the sense that it peaked extremely early and does not easily identify the next step in improving the design.

I can offer some suggestions for design improvements that could be implemented:

- a display bezel that can be pushed back further. Revolutionary!

- a wireless detachable keyboard that can be lifted out and put back according to work circumstances. These existed on some old Siemens laptops and were simply fantastic for comfort.

- a more comfortable trackpad button with even less resistance while maintaining a firm click. Given the thousands of times per day/week people click, it's important that there is almost no resistance at all. If there is, it will eventually strain the thumb and cause RSI. There's a reason most PC notebooks have less rigid clickers.

- a better closing system - like the macbook or at least something that holds down the entire display rather than just the middle (with the corners pulling up). Also, the button is just not comfortable to press and you have to squeeze the tip of your finger in there to push it properly. My hands are quite small so I can't imagine how it would be for those with big hands.

I agree that the current design is really nice and it will be hard to improve. Given Apple's problems with first generation products, I'm in favour of a gradual development and refinement, rather than constant major design changes.

 

[kolax]

I was really disappointed with the design.

It certainly isn't a new design either - they've just slapped on aluminum, thinned it down a little and added a stupid black border.

I personally hate the chin - it is one thing that puts me off iMac's. It makes the display look like a 4:3 standard rather than a 16:10 widescreen display.

I'm only going by pictures though, my opinion could possibly change when I get hands on one of them.