Fundamental differences I'd like to see in future MBP gens.

Firstly, I'm just over a week now with my first ever notebook, Apple or otherwise. To say infatuated as a descriptor for my enthusiasm would be akin to saying 'pedestrian' when describing a Ferrari. I adore this machine and really do wish it included an Apple-branded finger upon which I could anoint a wedding ring. All this, however, is not savoured without challange: There all, shall we say, design 'choices' that I would prefer had been made differently.

Firstly, and most principally, I'm developing a real contempt for the hinge design Apple has so long favoured. For as much as this spectacular design gets right (namely simplicity, structural integrity and beauty), the limitations of the hinge to position the display back farther than, say, a 65 degree angle, is simply absurd. I find myself having to prop the base of the laptop on atop my belt rather than my lap in order to get an idea viewing angle. The cause for my having to do that? Perhaps my second largest complaint. The display's backlighting is remarkably uneven. As spectacularly bright as they've managed to make the display, it could definitely use a new means of backlighting, as well.

Secondly, there seems to be a structural goof made by Apple where the back of the display is concerned. In fairness, I should preface this criticism with the concession that most, if not all laptops currently have this flaw. Compression upon the top of the laptop when closed permits a surprising depression of the surface, and therefore the screen into the keypad. This may be less consequential than it seems, but it's a regrettable demonstration of potential frailty for such an otherwise solid-feeling machine.

Thirdly, it seems my dog loved my MacBook Pro too. Now, you might ask, "How couldn't she?" which I'd hardly have an argument for. The trouble, really, is less to do with her doe-eyed awe and more to do with my sweaters having equal adoration, and contributing just as much fluff and fiber. It seems as though my machine is a hair magnet, conjuring all sorts of dog hair, fluff, fibers and otherwise indiscernible nuisances to all of its pretty surfaces. I'm in constant battle with this perpetually-appearing bits, which cling everywhere from my quite-plastic keyboard to (and perhaps most infuriatingly) the little crevasse between my display and it's hinge.

My other complaints are quite minor. For instance, the latch can be quite frustrating to get it, and requires (sometimes) the use of my pinky finger to open. Replacing it with a magnetic latch seems obviously, as most people love to suggest, a very, very good idea. Also, the plastic (protective) ring that runs around the inside of the laptop is quite uneven and almost loose in places, leaving whatever metal edges are exposed to look quite jagged. The touch pad is (amazingly) too large for my liking. I find myself unable to rest my hands over the keyboard for fear of tripping up the pad with my thumb, and although I know the reasons for the increase in size and of the potential means to eliminate this problem, the pad still seems inordinately large.
Finally, the eject key is simply too sensitive. I find myself constantly hitting it when reaching for my delete key, and although that could be remedied by improved typing accuracy on my part (to an extent), it still seems silly that they didn't implement a simple 'hold' code to require, as I remember Macs requiring in the past, that the user hold the key for a few seconds in order for it to work.

Please add your criticisms and suggestions as well. Thank you for your patience in reading all of that, if anyone actually did.

Sincerely,



Ryan

The hinge design (internal) that Apple's laptops use is a big advantage for them - internal hinges are MUCH more durable overall - ask any network admit who's been burned by field units where the plastic-covered external hinges just snap.

I do prefer the MacBook Pro keys to the MacBook's and would not want them changed. Having said this, concerns regarding the tightness of a magnetic seal could be solved by placing a simply 1-2mm rim around the display.

I disagree with everyone who considers the tray drives entirely superior, but absolutely agree that a pin eject needs to be returned. I nearly got burned with my Mini over an unejectable disc.

I just wanted to point out that, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that the PS3 has a slot-loading drive.
I figure Sony might've gone this route to keep UMDs out, but I'm not sure if I'd witnessed that or not. Seemed like an odd choice to me.

I'm less concerned over-all with the type of optical drive in my machines, and much more concerned with the performance and longevity. The slot-loaders are certainly more impressive to witness (the sight of one working nearly blew my poor grandmother away, for instance), but I second the motion of whoever complimented tray drives on the ability to they have to be opened manually.
Frankly, it seems like Apple's move to slot-loaders on all but their Pro line is another move to centralize repairs to their products and encourage more AppleCare sales. A fuck-up with my Mini, for example, was the only reason I bought AppleCare for that product.

As for the point someone made about having a cover for the MacBook line's iSights (and presumably that of the iMac as well), do you say that because you want the device protected, or because you're camera shy and get bugged out by it?
I've heard some people are using stickies to cover theirs up which, to me, seems a touch absurd. To each their own, I suppose.

Personally, I'd like the option to order a MacBook WITHOUT an iSight, seeing as I work for the Government. No Government building will permit my laptop in as a result. Thankfully I don't have a need to bring my own laptop to work, but if I did? It'd keep me from buying this product.