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marinersaptcomplex

macrumors 6502
Sep 20, 2021
428
556
Prompted by my discussion with @m1mavrerick, I did a screen grab of Apple's renders of the old vs. new 16" MBPs and cropped to align the top of the cases and cut off the feet from the newer model.

To me, the flatter edge + feet seems to add to the thickness illusion.

View attachment 1870603
And the flatter top lid. There’s a slight curve to the old one that creates the illusion of thinness—whereas this one is completely flat it seems.
 
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LonestarOne

macrumors 65816
Sep 13, 2019
1,074
1,426
McKinney, TX
Oh yeah, I do like the Touch Bar as well.

It’s still available on the M1 Air/Pro 13, which are still fine machines, even if they aren’t *quite* as fast as the 14 and 16” Pro’s.

I’ve just started getting used to the Touch Bar, but I’m starting to like it more and more. The maverick in me likes the idea of using something that inspires so much irrational hatred in so many people.
 
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tonie walker

macrumors 6502a
Sep 25, 2020
598
1,018
worldwide
I am glad for now Face ID! I travel a lot always have mask and that's not going away anytime soon. I wasn't not planning getting one, but caved into the base 14! Whose getting the 14 vs 16? I don't do very tough task.. like the brightness and old school feel, speed and better screen over my Air!
same, caved into the base 14. Traded the intel version. XDR and Promotion is already a worthy upgrade.
 

Riffbear

macrumors member
Jun 28, 2013
52
8
I just purchased
  • Apple M1 Max chip with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine
  • 32GB unified memory
  • 2TB of SSD storage
  • 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Now to get the LG Ultrafine or an LG Oled instead. Shall see.
 
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code-m

macrumors 68040
Apr 13, 2006
3,686
3,460
I think this industrial design is gonna be around for a few generations, so FaceID can be put in later without redesigning the case.

It also seems that the price increase is to condition present buyers into potential future upgraders when FaceID is included to not have a price increase. Apple can claim that FaceID is now included more secure and the price stays the same while in actuality the cost has been paid for to some degree with this release.

I have nothing against the notch on a MacBook, what I am curious about is if a pinhole camera was not possible with the mic near the top bezel and case like we see on iPhone 13 and the light indicator not digital like in iOS or maybe put that near the mic too. The notch could have definitely been smaller like iPhone 13 smaller. I suspect this will eventually occur however this design was probably finalized before iPhone 13 advancements.
 

senttoschool

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 2, 2017
2,626
5,482
And the flatter top lid. There’s a slight curve to the old one that creates the illusion of thinness—whereas this one is completely flat it seems.
It's thicker and heavier no matter how you look at it. But it honestly doesn't matter to me because I'd trade the extra size for something much more pro.
 

code-m

macrumors 68040
Apr 13, 2006
3,686
3,460
same, caved into the base 14. Traded the intel version. XDR and Promotion is already a worthy upgrade.
Those are all wonderful upgrades but my M1 MBA is working very well, at present. For me it would be icing on the cake nothing something I would pay for but nice to have if already included. The big draw for me when I purchased the M1 MBA was no fan, battery life and lightweight and its been serving me well going on close to a year.
 
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code-m

macrumors 68040
Apr 13, 2006
3,686
3,460
It's thicker and heavier no matter how you look at it. But it honestly doesn't matter to me because I'd trade the extra size for something much more pro.
You do realize that "Pros" have heavier equipment they lug around. They have developed the muscle strength capable to handle the new weight requirement.
 
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code-m

macrumors 68040
Apr 13, 2006
3,686
3,460
Don't get me wrong. The machines themselves are absolutely PHENOMENAL.

I just know I'd be kicking myself if I buy something with a potential future feature quite literally staring me in my face, that I know I am voluntarily giving up on.

Especially since this is a device I'll be using for a good 7-8 years.
I suspect AppleSilicon Macs will probably be upgraded every 18 months to 2 years, so unless you plan on waiting that long the decision is yours. Its not an iPhone to be updated every year as Apple is trying to push for a greener checklist. If we look at any MBA rumours it all points to one in mid to late 2022 that would make it approximately 18 months out at the least.
 

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
It is a pro machine alright. To notch performance in an package that completely lacks "I must have that machine because it is beautiful". No 10 Gb Ethernet in a Pro machine but a consumer SD card reader? Who has Apple been listening to?
 
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owidhh

macrumors regular
Jun 12, 2021
170
219
It is a pro machine alright. Top notch performance in an package that completely lacks "I must have that machine because it is beautiful". No 10 Gb Ethernet in a Pro machine but a consumer SD card reader? Who has Apple been listening to?

I'm sure that pun was unintentional but made me laugh (after my mind added a 'p' which I assumed was intended to be there)
 

zzzachi

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2012
231
111
the problem with the notch is that when the menu bar is on this level, at some point before the middle of the screen we run into a problem. there are a lot of apps using >50% of the screen width for their menu, so how does that work there? will their menu be partly unusable, hidden under the notch? does the system automatically handle that and move hidden menu items to the right side of the notch? how does that look? do apps need to be re-built to support this? nobody seems to think about it. the menu is a pretty important thing... if this is done in an odd way, working with wide menus gets awkward and i'm not very convinced this conflict can be solved in a good way. in the end you might prefer to change the resolution and give up that space / move the menu under the notch level. (if that's possible!) then we're back at the same point like with the touchbar which needs to be emptied / disabled because otherwise working with the present macbooks is impossible. (unwanted touches when using the number keys)
 
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Royksöpp

macrumors 68020
Nov 4, 2013
2,409
4,024
I still can’t fathom how people simply do not understand that the Face ID module is too thick to put into a laptop lid. Apple will have to seriously reengineer the entire module. I would expect a loss in camera quality which some people will no doubt complain about. If it was a priority for them then we would have had it with this upgrade. Personally I don’t care. I’m happy with Touch ID on a Mac.
 

addamas

macrumors 65816
Apr 20, 2016
1,314
1,342
An Ethernet port would make these laptops unnecessarily thicker. You can just use an adapter. It’s not complicated.
Doubt, please find for instance HP laptops I use at work - HP Elitebook 840 G3 - these are tiny but holds full sized Ethernet port which expands when plugged in
 
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Janichsan

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2006
3,127
11,942
  • I didn't even know it but I wanted the freaking notch in exchange for more screen space
I have a hard time believing that you are so strapped for space on your screen that these 74 pixels extra make a significant difference.

And I have an even harder time believing that these few pixels are worth the aesthetic nightmare that is the notch.
 

Bandaman

Cancelled
Aug 28, 2019
2,005
4,091
Doubt, please find for instance HP laptops I use at work - HP Elitebook 840 G3 - these are tiny but holds full sized Ethernet port which expands when plugged in
Who cares? There's no place for an Ethernet port with everything they crammed into these laptops. Get an adapter. It's not complicated.
 

senttoschool

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 2, 2017
2,626
5,482
I have a hard time believing that you are so strapped for space on your screen that these 74 pixels extra make a significant difference.

And I have an even harder time believing that these few pixels are worth the aesthetic nightmare that is the notch.
I'm.

I'm a developer and every single pixel counts.
 

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
An Ethernet port would make these laptops unnecessarily thicker. You can just use an adapter. It’s not complicated.
Like an adapter for HDMI and SD cards? This is not logical. I would guess that more people need an ethernet port than an HDMI and SD card.
 
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Bandaman

Cancelled
Aug 28, 2019
2,005
4,091
Like an adapter for HDMI and SD cards? This is not logical. I would guess that more people need an ethernet port than an HDMI and SD card.
They have hubs with everything you need and it can go to one port. There are unlimited options with USB-C/Thunderbolt 4. It is literally a non-issue. I have an adapter right now for my M1 Air with several USB 3 ports, Ethernet, and HDMI. Acting like these laptops are somehow trash because they don’t have an Ethernet port is silly. Your mindset is not logical.
 

TopToffee

macrumors 65816
Jul 9, 2008
1,070
992
It’s still available on the M1 Air/Pro 13, which are still fine machines, even if they aren’t *quite* as fast as the 14 and 16” Pro’s.

I’ve just started getting used to the Touch Bar, but I’m starting to like it more and more. The maverick in me likes the idea of using something that inspires so much irrational hatred in so many people.
It’s not on the Air fwiw
 

ursbraem

macrumors newbie
Jun 20, 2011
17
6
Seems there's no macbook for developers who don't need the full blown m1 pro power, but the large screen.
As ever, if you want the large screen, you have to take the top performance and now ports as well. I'd just like a 15" macbook air with the m1.
 
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