Mac Pro design (2013) - Thanks Jony!

[11201ny]

Say what you will... creating a piece of $4k - $8k computer equipment (now much less) that can be destroyed from an accidental spill (or cat puke!) is simply bad design. It might make sense from a technical viewpoint, but that doesn't change the sentiment.

Apple's design team has made has made a slew of head scratching product designs in the last 4-5 years, possibly starting with the 2013 Mac Pro.

...and while my situation is admittedly absurd, the fact that is was able to happen is the issue.

 

[11201ny]

And yet somehow avoided by thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of others, cat vomit is now a Jony Ive problem.

When I stub my toe, I don’t curse my sofa manufacturer, nor do I curse Apple when my cat chews my MacBook charger cable.

Terrible comparison. Try again.

 

[A Hobo]

Say what you will... creating a piece of $4k - $8k computer equipment (now much less) that can be destroyed from an accidental spill (or cat puke!) is simply bad design. It might make sense from a technical viewpoint, but that doesn't change the sentiment.

Apple's design team has made has made a slew of head scratching product designs in the last 4-5 years, possibly starting with the 2013 Mac Pro.

...and while my situation is admittedly absurd, the fact that is was able to happen is the issue.

I’d wager that almost every single piece of electronic kit built in the last 40 years can be damaged by a spill, cat vomit or otherwise,
This is no more unique a problem then it would be if your cat had vomited on a inspiron laptop or if you’d spilt a drink on a speaker or amplifier.

You're passing blame.

 

[11201ny]

I’d wager that almost every single piece of electronic kit built in the last 40 years can be damaged by a spill, cat vomit or otherwise,
This is no more unique a problem then it would be if your cat had vomited on a inspiron laptop or if you’d spilt a drink on a speaker or amplifier.

You're passing blame.

Passing it from where to where? Is it my fault that the 2013 MP was designed like a race car with no hood?
...Stubbing your toe on furniture is like bumping into a wall, it's a condition of life. Electronic equipment that is diametrically opposed to liquid, should not be designed to become it's receptacle. Say what you will about responsibility, it's bad design, plain and simple. From the day it was announced it was referred to as the "trash can". There's a reason why.

Most all computers (except the 2103 MP) are designed to protect their motherboards, e.i. delicate inner workings from accidental damage. That doesn't mean they are indestructible.

Go to any Apple store, and listen to the stories Apple Geniuses tell about their experiences with the Mac Pro, and it's owners. You won't be able to put fourth an argument. A cat puking into, and destroying a 2013 Mac Pro is not the same thing as having sex without a rubber - and getting a woman pregnant. It's terrible industrial design.

 

[pl1984]

I’d wager that almost every single piece of electronic kit built in the last 40 years can be damaged by a spill, cat vomit or otherwise,
This is no more unique a problem then it would be if your cat had vomited on a inspiron laptop or if you’d spilt a drink on a speaker or amplifier.

You're passing blame.

No one is advocating electrical equipment isn't susceptible to damage due to spills or cat vomit. However some designs are more resilient than others. I doubt a cat puking on a cMP would render it inoperable. A similar statement can be said of spills. IMO the design of the cMP is much more resilient to spills than the nMP. The nMP has open an top and any liquid (or semi liquid in the case of cat puke) is almost funneled into the system, almost every drop of it. Contrast this to the cMP where liquid is likely to flow off the top. Some might get inside the cMP but the majority of it is likely to flow off thus significantly reducing the likelihood of damage to the electronics themselves.

 

[Acronyc]

Bad design or not, blaming Apple for your nMP getting broke because your cat puked in it is, in my opinion, ridiculous.

You knowingly purchased a computer which you state has a bad design. You have cats. It is your responsibility to keep your cats from ruining your nMP, not Apple's, regardless of the design of the nMP.

They are your cats and even though you know the nMP has a bad design you let your cats sit on top of your nMP - right in the area that is most susceptible to liquid damage - because you didn't want to take the time to change your setup or wanted your cats to enjoy the hot air coming from the nMP (or both).

It seems you knowingly took a risk when you let them sit on top of your nMP. When disaster struck, you are blaming the nMP design instead of what could be described as carelessness.

It seems there is a general consensus that the nMP design isn't very good. But no matter how poor it is, it's not Apple's fault - nor the fault of the design of the nMP - that your nMP broke because cat puke destroyed the logic board.

That is the fault of the person who let cats sit on top of their nMP.

 

[pl1984]

Bad design or not, blaming Apple for your nMP getting broke because your cat puked in it is, in my opinion, ridiculous.

You knowingly purchased a computer which you state has a bad design. You have cats. It is your responsibility to keep your cats from ruining your nMP, not Apple's, regardless of the design of the nMP.

They are your cats and even though you know the nMP has a bad design you let your cats sit on top of your nMP - right in the area that is most susceptible to liquid damage - because you didn't want to take the time to change your setup or wanted your cats to enjoy the hot air coming from the nMP (or both).

It seems you knowingly took a risk when you let them sit on top of your nMP. When disaster struck, you are blaming the nMP design instead of what could be described as carelessness.

It seems there is a general consensus that the nMP design isn't very good. But no matter how poor it is, it's not Apple's fault - nor the fault of the design of the nMP - that your nMP broke because cat puke destroyed the logic board.

That is the fault of the person who let cats sit on top of their nMP.

Is anyone doing that?

 

[11201ny]

Bad design or not, blaming Apple for your nMP getting broke because your cat puked in it is, in my opinion, ridiculous.

You knowingly purchased a computer which you state has a bad design. You have cats. It is your responsibility to keep your cats from ruining your nMP, not Apple's, regardless of the design of the nMP.

They are your cats and even though you know the nMP has a bad design you let your cats sit on top of your nMP - right in the area that is most susceptible to liquid damage - because you didn't want to take the time to change your setup or wanted your cats to enjoy the hot air coming from the nMP (or both).

It seems you knowingly took a risk when you let them sit on top of your nMP. When disaster struck, you are blaming the nMP design instead of what could be described as carelessness.

It seems there is a general consensus that the nMP design isn't very good. But no matter how poor it is, it's not Apple's fault - nor the fault of the design of the nMP - that your nMP broke because cat puke destroyed the logic board.

That is the fault of the person who let cats sit on top of their nMP.

Shouldn't a computer "enclosure" keep the inside of a computer safe?
Forget about the cat.
The laws of gravity would suggest that a huge opening on the top of a piece of delicate electronic equipment is not a viable solution.

...I'm not blaming Apple for this absurd (cat puke) situation, I am underscoring one (in a multitude) of bad design decisions Apple has made. Not to start a debate on iMac vs. Mac Pro - as far as choice goes, I needed a new Mac Pro. The 2013 model was my only choice (in 2017). And furthermore, Jony knows it was an awful design, and released it anyway - hence this thread.

 

[chrono1081]

as the Apple Pencil (that needs to be jammed into the iPad to charge)/QUOTE]

No it doesn't, that's an option for a quick on the go charge. It comes with an adapter that connects it to a standard lightning cable.

 

[11201ny]

It seems you knowingly took a risk when you let them sit on top of your nMP. When disaster struck, you are blaming the nMP design instead of what could be described as carelessness.

I blame the cat. Regardless, this is not a logical argument. Should I have manufactured a special enclosure to enclose the nMP in? I can assure you that if I did, the fan vents would not be on the top.

It seems there is a general consensus that the nMP design isn't very good. But no matter how poor it is, it's not Apple's fault - nor the fault of the design of the nMP - that your nMP broke because cat puke destroyed the logic board.

Actually, the design was admittedly worse than bad, it was a complete failure - and sets up a world were this absurd situation can exist.

That is the fault of the person who let cats sit on top of their nMP.

"let" is the operative word here. I "let" the cat.
[doublepost=1516809837][/doublepost]

as the Apple Pencil (that needs to be jammed into the iPad to charge)/QUOTE]

No it doesn't, that's an option for a quick on the go charge. It comes with an adapter that connects it to a standard lightning cable.

It still renders it useless while charging, as with the Magic Mouse.

 

[chrono1081]

It still renders it useless while charging, as with the Magic Mouse.

No it doesn't. First, the thing charges extremely fast, 15 seconds of charging = 30 minutes of use. Second, if you really can't wait 15 seconds it'll work with the cable attached.

I understand your frustration with the cats but at this point you're just lashing out.

 

[11201ny]

No it doesn't. First, the thing charges extremely fast, 15 seconds of charging = 30 minutes of use. Second, if you really can't wait 15 seconds it'll work with the cable attached.

I understand your frustration with the cats but at this point you're just lashing out.

It does.
It also sets up a situation prone to breakage.

Not exactly lashing... again, just underscoring. Despite the above comments, it's still considered by the majority to be bad design... but then again, the majority is always wrong.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-pencil-a-charging-design-abomination.2092303/

 

[Acronyc]

This is not a logical argument. Should I have manufactured a special case to enclose the nMP in? I can assure you that if I did, the vents would not be on the top.

How is this not logical? Knowing the design faults of the machine you were careless enough to let cats sit on top of your nMP. How did you think this was a good idea? If you were going to let your cats sit on top of your nMP, maybe you should have done something to make the nMP less susceptible to disaster caused by your cats.

Maybe put it out of reach of the cats. Or if you really want them to enjoy the heat from the nMP, you could have drilled holes in a piece of wood/metal (or purchase a grated piece of metal) and place this over the nMP in some way so the air could still warm your cats while stopping them from sitting right on top of the machine.

Letting cats sit on top of an expensive, poorly designed computer without any protection is just asking for disaster, IMHO.

Actually, the design was admittedly worse than bad, it was a complete failure - and sets up a world were this absurd situation can exist.

Exactly. You knew it was a failed design and allowed cats to sit on top of it. If you knew an absurd accident like this could happen, why did you allow your cats to sit on top of your nMP in the first place? If it were me, I would make sure my nMP was in a location out of reach of the cats or protected in some way.

"let" is the operative word here. I "let" the cat.

You allowed/let your cats sit on top of your computer which is the reason this unfortunate accident occurred. You could have stopped your cats from sitting on top of your nMP. If you did, you wouldn't have had this problem.

 

[11201ny]

How is this not logical? Knowing the design faults of the machine you were careless enough to let cats sit on top of your nMP. How did you think this was a good idea? If you were going to let your cats sit on top of your nMP, maybe you should have done something to make the nMP less susceptible to disaster caused by your cats.

Maybe put it out of reach of the cats. Or if you really want them to enjoy the heat from the nMP, you could have drilled holes in a piece of wood/metal (or purchase a grated piece of metal) and place this over the nMP in some way so the air could still warm your cats while stopping them from sitting right on top of the machine.

Letting cats sit on top of an expensive, poorly designed computer without any protection is just asking for disaster, IMHO.



Exactly. You knew it was a failed design and allowed cats to sit on top of it. If you knew an absurd accident like this could happen, why did you allow your cats to sit on top of your nMP in the first place? If it were me, I would make sure my nMP was in a location out of reach of the cats or protected in some way.



You allowed/let your cats sit on top of your computer which is the reason this unfortunate accident occurred. You could have stopped your cats from sitting on top of your nMP. If you did, you wouldn't have had this problem.

Okay, let me get this right...

Maybe put it out of reach of the cats.

- So pretty much suspended from the ceiling.

This is great too:

Or if you really want them to enjoy the heat from the nMP, you could have drilled holes in a piece of wood/metal (or purchase a grated piece of metal) and place this over the nMP in some way so the air could still warm your cats while stopping them from sitting right on top of the machine.

You have obviously never lived with cats! Their choice to use my nMP as their personal heater was not my choice, & i never thought it would land me here, writing this!

...Let's just admit that Jony does have a responsibility for one of Apples worse designs ever, and that he deserves to be thanked by all of the people who have wasted countless hours dealing with issues that have arose out of it. Apple design team is accountable - not for my situation, but for the fact that bad design has made my situation possible. Period.

 

[Acronyc]

Okay, let me get this right...

- So pretty much suspended from the ceiling.

This is great too:


You have obviously never lived with cats! Their choice to use my nMP as their personal heater was not my choice, & i never thought it would land me here, writing this!

...Let's just admit that Jony does have a responsibility for one of Apples worse designs ever, and that he deserves to be thanked by all of the people who have wasted countless hours dealing with issues that have arose out of it. Apple design team is accountable - not for my situation, but for the fact that bad design has made my situation possible. Period.

I have lived with cats before, along with all sorts of animals in the past inside (dogs, birds, rabbits) and outside (horses). I no longer have pets, but when I did I never let them dictate aspects of my life. If I want to put my computer out of reach of cats, I will, and it isn't hard (well ventilated closet, cabinet, drawer, etc). You say it was their choice to use your nMP as their heater, but it was your choice to let them continue to use it in this way, even after you knew it posed a risk to your nMP.

If you live near a hardware store it should be easy to buy a small piece of wood with holes or grated metal. If they don't have one, just buy a cheap piece of your preferred material and ask them to do it for you. I've done this in the past and it is fast and cheap. I don't think this recommendation is unreasonable if you want to have a nMP, live with cats, and allow your cats to sit on top of the nMP. A little effort will be required to protect the computer.

Personally I've never been a huge fan of the nMP and completely agree there are design flaws. My biggest complaint was the lack of modularity in a desktop. I also honestly feel bad that this rather bizarre situation happened to you and that it was such an expensive fix. But I disagree with who you hold accountable. IMHO the situation was made possible simply because you allowed your cats to use your nMP as a personal heater. The nMP was not designed to be a cat heater.

 

[11201ny]

Personally I've never been a huge fan of the nMP and completely agree there are design flaws. My biggest complaint was the lack of modularity in a desktop. I also honestly feel bad that this rather bizarre situation happened to you and that it was such an expensive fix. But I disagree with who you hold accountable. IMHO the situation was made possible simply because you allowed your cats to use your nMP as a personal heater. The nMP was not designed to be a cat heater.

 

[pl1984]

I have lived with cats before, along with all sorts of animals in the past inside (dogs, birds, rabbits) and outside (horses). I no longer have pets, but when I did I never let them dictate aspects of my life. If I want to put my computer out of reach of cats, I will, and it isn't hard (well ventilated closet, cabinet, drawer, etc). You say it was their choice to use your nMP as their heater, but it was your choice to let them continue to use it in this way, even after you knew it posed a risk to your nMP.

If you live near a hardware store it should be easy to buy a small piece of wood with holes or grated metal. If they don't have one, just buy a cheap piece of your preferred material and ask them to do it for you. I've done this in the past and it is fast and cheap. I don't think this recommendation is unreasonable if you want to have a nMP, live with cats, and allow your cats to sit on top of the nMP. A little effort will be required to protect the computer.

Personally I've never been a huge fan of the nMP and completely agree there are design flaws. My biggest complaint was the lack of modularity in a desktop. I also honestly feel bad that this rather bizarre situation happened to you and that it was such an expensive fix. But I disagree with who you hold accountable. IMHO the situation was made possible simply because you allowed your cats to use your nMP as a personal heater. The nMP was not designed to be a cat heater.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on two different designs for something we are all very familiar with and use almost every day of our lives:

Design One: A power outlet which has the live side of the connection as a socket and the quiescent side to have prongs which insert into the socket.

Design Two: A power outlet which has the live side of the connection as prongs and the quiescent side to have sockets which slide over the prongs for the connection.

The two perform the same function and are therefore, according to the reasoning you've used here, equivalent with no benefit of one over the other. Do you agree with this statement? If not, why not?

 

[11201ny]

.

 

[Acronyc]

I don’t use YouTube. Care to elaborate on the meaning of the video?

I'd like to hear your thoughts on two different designs for something we are all very familiar with and use almost every day of our lives:

Design One: A power outlet which has the live side of the connection as a socket and the quiescent side to have prongs which insert into the socket.

Design Two: A power outlet which has the live side of the connection as prongs and the quiescent side to have sockets which slide over the prongs for the connection.

The two perform the same function and are therefore, according to the reasoning you've used here, equivalent with no benefit of one over the other. Do you agree with this statement? If not, why not?

In the words of the OP, “Terrible comparison. Try again.”

You are making a comparison of the nMP to something that could cause serious injury or death. It is hardly fair or logical to compare the heat management system of a computer to the management of live electrical current.

Additionally, I don’t believe OP provided an alternative design option for the nMP (as you are providing two design options), instead there were just complaints about the poor design of the computer.

I’m trying not to be an Apple apologist but I just believe this situation is a weak argument for poor design.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the facts are:

- OP is aware of the heat management/fan system of the nMP and thinks it is poor design.

- OP buys the nMP anyway.

- The nMP is not designed to have cats sit on top of it and use it as a heater.

- The OP lets cats sit on top of it.

- One cat vomits in the nMP.

- Apple and Jony Ive must now be held accountable for OP’s nMP breaking because the nMP wasn’t designed to handle cats sitting on it and vomiting inside it.

The above is an example of user error, not poor design. There are many other valid reasons to complain about the nMP design. Using it as a cat heater and then complaining that the nMP is susceptible to cat vomit when said vomit enters the nMP from the top isn’t one of those reasons.

If I spill a drink on the keyboard of my MacBook Pro, which then results in the logic board needing replacement, it is not a design fault of the computer. It is user error as I knew the computer was not designed to have drinks spilled on its keyboard.

 

[pl1984]

In the words of the OP, “Terrible comparison. Try again.”

You are making a comparison of the nMP to something that could cause serious injury or death. It is hardly fair or logical to compare the heat management system of a computer to the management of live electrical current.

Additionally, I don’t believe OP provided an alternative design option for the nMP (as you are providing two design options), instead there were just complaints about the poor design of the computer.

I’m trying not to be an Apple apologist but I just believe this situation is a weak argument for poor design.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the facts are:

- OP is aware of the heat management/fan system of the nMP and thinks it is poor design.

- OP buys the nMP anyway.

- The nMP is not designed to have cats sit on top of it and use it as a heater.

- The OP lets cats sit on top of it.

- One cat vomits in the nMP.

- Apple and Jony Ive must now be held accountable for OP’s nMP breaking because the nMP wasn’t designed to handle cats sitting on it and vomiting inside it.

The above is an example of user error, not poor design. There are many other valid reasons to complain about the nMP design. Using it as a cat heater and then complaining that the nMP is susceptible to cat vomit when said vomit enters the nMP from the top isn’t one of those reasons.

If I spill a drink on the keyboard of my MacBook Pro, which then results in the logic board needing replacement, it is not a design fault of the computer. It is user error as I knew the computer was not designed to have drinks spilled on its keyboard.

Yes, in either design I outlined one could be seriously injured or killed. Which one of the two designs do you think is more likely to result in either of those situations? The first or second one? Please feel free to explain your answer.

 

[leekil]

Though it is the case that the opening of the nMP makes it slightly more susceptible to cat vomit, I don't think that is a big issue. A web search reveals no other cats who pulled a Cupertino Steamer on another Mac Pro, though there are a few instances of cats and people puking on MacBooks. And while it could be more susceptible to a drink being spilled in it, you could also easily knock over a Big Gulp and ruin a cMP too, but I haven't found any stories of it happening to either machine.

 

[pl1984]

Though it is the case that the opening of the nMP makes it slightly more susceptible to cat vomit, I don't think that is a big issue. A web search reveals no other cats who pulled a Cupertino Steamer on another Mac Pro, though there are a few instances of cats and people puking on MacBooks. And while it could be more susceptible to a drink being spilled in it, you could also easily knock over a Big Gulp and ruin a cMP too, but I haven't found any stories of it happening to either machine.

How do you see this happening? Will horizontal gravity pull the liquid into the unit?

 

[11201ny]

Though it is the case that the opening of the nMP makes it slightly more susceptible to cat vomit, I don't think that is a big issue. A web search reveals no other cats who pulled a Cupertino Steamer on another Mac Pro, though there are a few instances of cats and people puking on MacBooks. And while it could be more susceptible to a drink being spilled in it, you could also easily knock over a Big Gulp and ruin a cMP too, but I haven't found any stories of it happening to either machine.

Talk to a Mac specialist @ an Apple Genius Bar. nMP's are more than "slightly more susceptible" to cat vomit. Joan would have been hard pressed to destroy my 2009 Mac Pro. On the 2013, she did the job in about 20 seconds. Literally - she did the business, and i had the machine unplugged & upside down in 20 seconds, but the damage was already done.

 

[ActionableMango]

Talk to a Mac specialist @ an Apple Genius Bar.

Did you get your Mac fixed up?

 

[11201ny]

Did you get your Mac fixed up?

I did. $1100 on the old beast.
[doublepost=1516835174][/doublepost]

I don’t use YouTube. Care to elaborate on the meaning of the video?



In the words of the OP, “Terrible comparison. Try again.”

You are making a comparison of the nMP to something that could cause serious injury or death. It is hardly fair or logical to compare the heat management system of a computer to the management of live electrical current.

Additionally, I don’t believe OP provided an alternative design option for the nMP (as you are providing two design options), instead there were just complaints about the poor design of the computer.

I’m trying not to be an Apple apologist but I just believe this situation is a weak argument for poor design.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the facts are:

- OP is aware of the heat management/fan system of the nMP and thinks it is poor design.

- OP buys the nMP anyway.

- The nMP is not designed to have cats sit on top of it and use it as a heater.

- The OP lets cats sit on top of it.

- One cat vomits in the nMP.

- Apple and Jony Ive must now be held accountable for OP’s nMP breaking because the nMP wasn’t designed to handle cats sitting on it and vomiting inside it.

The above is an example of user error, not poor design. There are many other valid reasons to complain about the nMP design. Using it as a cat heater and then complaining that the nMP is susceptible to cat vomit when said vomit enters the nMP from the top isn’t one of those reasons.

If I spill a drink on the keyboard of my MacBook Pro, which then results in the logic board needing replacement, it is not a design fault of the computer. It is user error as I knew the computer was not designed to have drinks spilled on its keyboard.

Life must be hard for you. Always fighting the fight, wrong or right. It seems like you haven't really read any of the preceding posts. I could correct every statement you make, but it wouldn't matter - your just here to fight the fight. Maybe try to be less cynical?

You win Acorn, it's good design to put a 5" hole on the top of a computer - leaving it completely exposed, with a direct path to it's logic board, etc. I mean, why even keep the outer cover on?