MacBook Pro flex cable problem...

[amyk]

https://ifixit.org/blog/12903/flexgate/ (warning: ridiculously high resolution images)

Do you think it is the bending radius being too tight, or whatever material they're using for the cables being unusually prone to cracking? I wonder if they tested it, found a high failure rate, and then decided to go with it anyway...

[timelessbeing]

I am a long time Apple user. Not because of any kind of brand loyalty or trendy status, but because I just enjoy using MacOS much more than Windows. But after repeated hardware failure after failure, I am really frustrated with their products (and their attitude). I believe they used to make really good stuff. There are probably Apple II's kicking around that still work, which are a testament. Now they are no better than the competition.

At the same time, I know that Apple is not alone when it comes to hardware problems (they just get more hate from the media). I worked at HP for a while and I would never buy their stuff. So are there any good brands left? I suspect that to get the same performance specs in a Windows machine I would be paying close to the same money, but if it meant getting something reliable that lasts, I might be willing to try Windows again. Or are all computers just shit now and I should just expect to buy a new one every year?

[Halcyon]

I am really frustrated with their products (and their attitude). I believe they used to make really good stuff. There are probably Apple II's kicking around that still work, which are a testament. Now they are no better than the competition.

Without turning this into an Apple bashing thread, I am a long-term Windows user (recently converted to Linux). I've also used (and repaired) my fair share of Apple products over the years. I actually have an Apple IIe in the cupboard, still working, no dramas. I also have a few Mac Classics and PowerPCs in my collection (they required some work, but mostly due to old, failing capacitors).

Apple hasn't "innovated" anything original for many years. The first iPhone was leaps and bounds ahead of its competition, but a few versions later, they were struggling to keep up with other offerings. Android was already released before Apple's IOS. Over the last 10 years or so, quality and reliability has slipped, significantly. I can appreciate what people see in the Apple operating system, but not their hardware. You would be bonkers to buy an Apple machine compared to what you can get in the Intel/AMD market.

That being said, Windows 10 is the pits and I hate what Microsoft have done to a perfectly functional OS (Windows 7). This is now why I exclusively run Linux at home.

[LapTop006]

Android was already released before Apple's IOS.

Not in any practical sense. The first widely available Android device was the HTC G1, which was released a few months after the *second* iPhone model (the iPhone 3G).

Yes it was under development prior to the iPhone announcement, but it certainly didn't make it to market first.

[Halcyon]

Android was already released before Apple's IOS.

Not in any practical sense. The first widely available Android device was the HTC G1, which was released a few months after the *second* iPhone model (the iPhone 3G).

Yes it was under development prior to the iPhone announcement, but it certainly didn't make it to market first.

Ahh yes you are quite right.

[NiHaoMike]

Or are all computers just shit now and I should just expect to buy a new one every year?

Build your own and it's not difficult to end up with something that lasts at least 5 years, maybe even 10.

[timelessbeing]

Unfortunately building laptops isn't a reality.

[Halcyon]

Unfortunately building laptops isn't a reality.

No, but most manufacturers have already worked out how to design their laptops so that repeated opening and closing of the screen doesn't fracture the chassis or not running data right next to high voltage pins or how to implement proper thermal design into their products.

These are all areas where Apple needs to improve. There are many more failings in Apple's laptop design, but those are just a few examples.

[timelessbeing]

most manufacturers have already worked out how to design their laptops so that repeated opening and closing of the screen doesn't fracture the chassis

You could say that in any situation. "Oh, most manufacturers have figured out how to do X". And yet, they all have problems. I don't think it's fair to pretend that Apple is alone. All it takes is a quick look on the internet.

(Jan 25, 2019) Microsoft AC power cord recall for original Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, and certain Surface Pro 3 devices

"In January 2019, HP announced an expansion to its ongoing worldwide voluntary safety recall and replacement program for certain notebook computer and mobile workstation batteries ..."

[amyk]

The difference is that those companies are actually recalling their product, while Apple remains insistent that it's right (and the users are wrong.)

[timelessbeing]

Exactly, and that's what I meant when I mentioned Apple's attitude.

"You're holding it wrong"

[james_s]

I am a long time Apple user. Not because of any kind of brand loyalty or trendy status, but because I just enjoy using MacOS much more than Windows. But after repeated hardware failure after failure, I am really frustrated with their products (and their attitude). I believe they used to make really good stuff. There are probably Apple II's kicking around that still work, which are a testament. Now they are no better than the competition.

At the same time, I know that Apple is not alone when it comes to hardware problems (they just get more hate from the media). I worked at HP for a while and I would never buy their stuff. So are there any good brands left? I suspect that to get the same performance specs in a Windows machine I would be paying close to the same money, but if it meant getting something reliable that lasts, I might be willing to try Windows again. Or are all computers just shit now and I should just expect to buy a new one every year?

I have a IIe that still works perfectly, I've never had to repair it, nor the original color monitor that goes with it. Not that it gets used a whole lot.

My work laptop is a Macbook Pro and in some ways it is beautifully made but it has some serious design flaws that would prevent me from ever buying one myself. It has no ports except for USB-C meaning I need dongles for everything, I hate dongles. It's thinner than it needs to be, so thin that it feels awkward to carry, and they made many compromises to achieve this unnecessary thin-ness. The keyboard is noisy and the keys have too little travel, the battery life is shorter than would be ideal, the battery is not (easily) replaceable. The trackpad is absurdly huge, so big that it gets in the way and judging by the smudges on mine I only use a small patch in the lower-right corner, about 1/4 the total area or less. RAM and SSD are soldered to the motherboard and non-upgradeable, absolutely no internal expansion, to call it a "Pro" machine is a joke.

On the other hand the fit & finish is fantastic, the screen is gorgeous, it's fast and reliable, the OS is beautiful, Win10 looks like crusty 20 year old open source stuff in comparison. My Macbook has not been rebooted in 5 months, it goes to sleep when I close the lid and wakes up almost instantly when I open it, my Windows machines all start to get very slow and need to be rebooted every couple months, and if update is enabled they continuously want to reboot to install updates.

[timelessbeing]

Agreed.

I think we're going to see more and more soldered in and glued stuff.

[james_s]

My wish is that physical buttons under the trackpad would come back into style. My personal laptop is a Lenovo X250 and it's a very nice machine overall except it has one of those damned clickpads which is nearly unusable. If you actually click the thing it makes a loud *click-clack* noise and it takes a lot more finger pressure than a button. As if that wasn't bad enough, it often misreads right-click. I'm forced to awkwardly use the buttons for the nub mouse which are above the trackpad, if only they were below it that would be great. The problem is I can't just buy a different brand because *everybody* has jumped on this idiotic button-less trackpad bandwagon. Form over function.