Notch on MBP

[AssassuN]

I was just thinking about this. The reason why most people don’t like the notch on the X is because in landscape mode, it cuts into usable screen space.
On a Mac, the top is reserved for the menu bar and orientation remains landscape.
So essentially, a notch on the MacBook wouldn’t be cutting into any usable space and could line up with the menu bar. This would reduce the bezel size and footprint of their computers considerably, while still retaining the webcam on the top of the screen vs. On the bottom like Dell did to compromise for short bezels.

Edit: of course the ideal scenario would be for Apple to have the webcam under the display which I hope is implemented sooner rather than later.

 

[HerbertDerb]

If Apple would implement notch to the Macbook/Pro -lineup. That would be the stupidest thing i would have ever seen in my life and i would switch to Windows-machines ASAP.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

The only reason for the notch is so people can tell from 3-5 people away that you have an Apple product. It used to be the rectangular screen with circular home button, while most other phones had rectangular home buttons.

Now it’s the notch so the X doesn’t get confused for Samsung or LG’s latest edge-to-edge display phone.

No need to do this to a laptop screen, there are plenty of other ways Apple’s laptops differentiate themselves from the competition.

 

[AssassuN]

The only reason for the notch is so people can tell from 3-5 people away that you have an Apple product. It used to be the rectangular screen with circular home button, while most other phones had rectangular home buttons.

Now it’s the notch so the X doesn’t get confused for Samsung or LG’s latest edge-to-edge display phone.

No need to do this to a laptop screen, there are plenty of other ways Apple’s laptops differentiate themselves from the competition.

That’s not the only reason
There’s a functional aspect to it (to reduce bezel size)
And IMO the notch would be better implemented on the MacBook than the iPhone. Not as a means of differentiation but aesthetic.
I appreciate you not resorting to calling my opinion stupid like the previous poster but I think there’s some validity to my post.

 

[Falhófnir]

I don't see how reducing the bezel to the degree a notch is necessary is beneficial on a laptop?

 

[Loge]

On a Mac, the top is reserved for the menu bar and orientation remains landscape.
So essentially, a notch on the MacBook wouldn’t be cutting into any usable space and could line up with the menu bar. .

Apps can be run full-screen; the last thing you want in that case is an ugly notch.

 

[kadify]

I don't know that a bezel-less notebook is really any more useful than a regular one? It's nice having the black surround so that you can sort of isolate what you're seeing on the screen from what's around the computer. I don't see reducing the bezel being all that beneficial but knowing apple they'll probably do it someday lol.

 

[macdudesir]

Apps can be run full-screen; the last thing you want in that case is an ugly notch.

This ^^. It's not a bad thought...but I definitely do not need an edge to edge display on a laptop...the current bezel is plenty small enough...It's already kind of hard to open the lid without getting my fingerprints on the screen as it is.

 

[AssassuN]

Apps can be run full-screen; the last thing you want in that case is an ugly notch.

You're right
I haven't been using apps full screen recently so this escaped my mind
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I don't know that a bezel-less notebook is really any more useful than a regular one? It's nice having the black surround so that you can sort of isolate what you're seeing on the screen from what's around the computer. I don't see reducing the bezel being all that beneficial but knowing apple they'll probably do it someday lol.

Yeah I didn't think this through. I used an XPS 13 recently and liked the bezeless design and was thinking of a way to have that without placing the webcam on the bottom

This ^^. It's not a bad thought...but I definitely do not need an edge to edge display on a laptop...the current bezel is plenty small enough...It's already kind of hard to open the lid without getting my fingerprints on the screen as it is.

yeah to be honest I just want a 14" mbp. Knowing that won't happen, I thought maybe Apple would compromise and give the smallest footprint possible on the 15". My current 15" isn't that big but for me 14" is the sweet spot for portability and real estate

 

[raqball]

The only reason for the notch is so people can tell from 3-5 people away that you have an Apple product. It used to be the rectangular screen with circular home button, while most other phones had rectangular home buttons.

Now it’s the notch so the X doesn’t get confused for Samsung or LG’s latest edge-to-edge display phone.

Not really... The Essential PH1 had a notch 6 months before the iPhone X even came out. I had the PH1 and it was funny because people were asking me if it was a prototype iPhone X..

 

[ThisBougieLife]

But what is the benefit to reducing the bezel further? Is it purely aesthetic? Why is bezel reduction an unquestioned goal of computer design? I understand that particularly large bezels are unappealing aesthetically. But past a certain point I'm wondering why it's necessary.

 

[TechZeke]

Not really... The Essential PH1 had a notch 6 months before the iPhone X even came out. I had the PH1 and it was funny because people were asking me if it was a prototype iPhone X..

View attachment 750485

1) How many people are actually going to own the PH1, and 2) I’d imagine the design(at least, overall) of the X would have been finalized more 6 months before release.

 

[raqball]

1) How many people are actually going to own the PH1, and 2) I’d imagine the design(at least, overall) of the X would have been finalized more 6 months before release.

And the notch on the PH1 was designed the second it was released? I assume it also had at least a 6 month finalization time frame. Maybe more in their case as it's a small startup.

The point is Apple was not the 1st to do it and I agree not many own or purchased the PH1 but that was mainly because the price was high and the camera was terrible. I don't think it had much to do with the notch.

 

[rafark]

Look at this thing, it looks really nice.

 

[826317]

How big is the notch on the iPhone X even? Like, how how many millimeters is it from top to bottom of the notch? Some image on google says it's only 1.27cm tall. As of right now there is more than enough space on top of the MBP screen to put the camera/sensor array on and would even leave enough space for a bezel reduction!

 

[Falhófnir]

Look at this thing, it looks really nice.

Honestly prefer their way of putting the camera under the screen to having a notch. The larger bottom bezel has to be there anyway so it’s a reasonable solution.

 

[AssassuN]

Honestly prefer their way of putting the camera under the screen to having a notch. The larger bottom bezel has to be there anyway so it’s a reasonable solution.

But how big is the trade off from a traditionally placed webcam? I haven’t used the XPS webcam so I’m unsure if it faces you at an awkward angle or not.
Obviously like I stated in the OP, the ideal scenario is for the camera to be under the display.
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But what is the benefit to reducing the bezel further? Is it purely aesthetic? Why is bezel reduction an unquestioned goal of computer design? I understand that particularly large bezels are unappealing aesthetically. But past a certain point I'm wondering why it's necessary.

It’s not so much a necessity for function or design, more so a way of maximizing the display size and reducing the foot print. Imagine having a 15” MBP in a shell that’s just a little bit bigger than what the 13” rMBP was.

 

[Falhófnir]

But how big is the trade off from a traditionally placed webcam? I haven’t used the XPS webcam so I’m unsure if it faces you at an awkward angle or not.
Obviously like I stated in the OP, the ideal scenario is for the camera to be under the display.

I would dare to say not big enough that it would be a deal breaker for a minor feature like a FaceTime camera... it’ll do the job just as well in reality, the XPS camera seems to do alright. If you are using the computer at a normal height and distance then it’s probably fine, it would only be if it’s on your lap or you have your eyeballs 3/4 inch away from the screen that it’ll be ‘looking up’ at you excessively.

 

[AssassuN]

I would dare to say not big enough that it would be a deal breaker for a minor feature like a FaceTime camera... it’ll do the job just as well in reality, the XPS camera seems to do alright. If you are using the computer at a normal height and distance then it’s probably fine, it would only be if it’s on your lap or you have your eyeballs 3/4 inch away from the screen that it’ll be ‘looking up’ at you excessively.

Ah that doesn’t sound too bad then

 

[Beau10]

IME this is a lot closer to reality than it might seem.

1) One of the reasons for the bezel right now is the packaging constraint of the panel against the back taper of the screen casing. OLED will remove that constraint.

2) Despite the webcam, Apple could be keen to standardize the Face ID and the IR camera in its product-line. I was an engineer working at a company which developed a kinect-based telemedicine product when Apple acquired PrimeSense - we all thought they were going to add 3d gestures to laptops. I think that may still be in the cards.

Agreed that the notch makes more sense in a laptop form factor. Heck, if you think about it, the screen already is 'phantom-notched' in a functional sense - the menus on the left, toolbar on the right. A 16:10 has no impact on full-screen media. Full-screen apps take a minimal hit, an order of magnitude less than phones.

 

[BenTrovato]

Guys stop with the notch. The notch is the best Apple could do because they can’t hide the camera under the screen yet. It’s not a feature and they don’t need it to distinguish from other phones. As innovation gets better, the notch will disappear. Nobody wants a notch on their laptop display.

 

[groove-agent]

A notch on a MBP would be interesting but would interfere with the menu items on the menu bar. I've been using a dell XPS 15 for a couple months. The small bezel is really nice. After working on a machine with minimal bezel, going back to my MBP is like going from an LCD TV back to an old CRT.. if that makes any sense.

[doublepost=1518151557][/doublepost]The 2019 Notchbook Pro... I don't think I like it.

 

[raqball]

The Notchbook Pro looks a-ok to me.. I wouldn't mind it..

 

[groove-agent]

Actually, after seeing the notch in place makes me think that it might not interfere with the menu as much as I thought: menu on the left of the notch, and notifications on the right of the notch. Since the menu can be hidden, it might not matter as much.

Buenos notches.

 

[cambookpro]

Honestly prefer their way of putting the camera under the screen to having a notch. The larger bottom bezel has to be there anyway so it’s a reasonable solution.

...a reasonable solution until you try and Skype someone on one. They're off to the side, if they ever use the keyboard their hand will almost always cover most of the picture, and there's a slightly unflattering emphasis on their chin.

The couple of people with an XPS that I know both never use the webcam because it's so inconvenient. I'd take a notch any day of the week compared to that (not that I think either are likely on an MBP).