Apple October event, new iPad/Mac Mini/ MacBook Air/iMac

[krunchkin]

I've been waiting to see what they'd with the Mini for ages - and am equally disgusted at their rip off prices. I'm going to get one of the new ones but do it the smart way to avoid a ludicrous cost. Max out on the processor, but only order it with 8gb RAM, as this is easily user replacable, and fit 32gb of reasonably priced RAM myself. Similarly - just order it with 256gb SSD - there are plenty of USB C ports to attach extra drives. This brings the price down to a more reasonable 1300 or so

[alock]

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

Don't get me wrong, I dislike Windows 10 as much as the next guy and I agree that the inconsistency is shocking (in majority cases it's caused by legacy crap that they can't or don't want to fix) but the vanilla iOS on such a big device that is aimed at productivity minded market is mind boggling. I have had two iPads and I can't find any serious use for them. It's a great toy for kids though! Surface Pro on the other hand does the tablet and the laptop thing as well and offers connectivity you'd expect from a device that Pro's would use (minus USB-C).

I agree with you, even if no one else does!

As an android user who has a couple of widgets running on my home screen, the simplicity of the iPhone home screen instantly puts me off buying one. I can however forgive the UI on a phone, it's just not for me.

On a large screen 'pro' tablet it is inexcusable and reminds me of this:

[ecsrobin]

alock said:

I agree with you, even if no one else does!

As an android user who has a couple of widgets running on my home screen, the simplicity of the iPhone home screen instantly puts me off buying one. I can however forgive the UI on a phone, it's just not for me.

On a large screen 'pro' tablet it is inexcusable and reminds me of this:

But that’s what apple has always been good at. Keeping things simple for all users the downside is for a lot of pro users they don’t like it being inflexible.

[RammyMP]

I’m now hoping the old MBA will come down in price now the new ones out. Cheapest at the moment is £799 at curry’s.

[300bhp/ton]

alock said:

On a large screen 'pro' tablet it is inexcusable and reminds me of this:

Isn’t it the exact opposite of this?

[Murph7355]

kev1974 said:

what's so bad about the MBA keyboard? I've never used one so don't know.

I had a Touchbar MBP for a while before it failed twice and was returned. Until that point, aside from a brief period with a Dell XPS, I had been an Apple laptop user for 15yrs or so.

The new "butterfly" keyboards are a massive retrograde step to Apple's earlier keyboards. To me it felt like typing on a block of wood - little travel, very poor feel and noisy in use. The reliability as noted above is also suspect. One plus side - the backlighting is still industry leading.

If you're used to typing on an iPad or similar, it'll feel fine.

If you've spent time on any laptop with a decent keyboard (earlier Macbooks/Powerbooks; Thinkpads) you'll know it isn't.

(I haven't tried the very latest version - I believe they changed them again recently?)

[TameRacingDriver]

I dont see the big issue with the iPad home screen really. Most Windows users I see just use it for storing files in some haphazard fashion. It’s just a different way of working. Personally I just use the spotlight search on mine, either swipe down on home screen and type or press CMD+SPACE on the keyboard in any app. I hardly even ever bother looking at it!

[leglessAlex]

Murph7355 said:

(I haven't tried the very latest version - I believe they changed them again recently?)

Yes, but as far as I know only really to add a latex membrane that has a dual purpose. It makes the keys slightly quieter, and supposedly helps prevent the ingress of debris. The jury is still out on how effective it is and how reliable the third generation keyboards are though.

On the iPad home screen issue, I've never seen the problem with it. Sure, at first it seems a little odd, but the way iOS works it would be pointless to have them much more compressed wouldn't it? You're never going to be able to put widgets and other items on the home screen.

[Bullitt Five-Oh]

leglessAlex said:

Yes, but as far as I know only really to add a latex membrane that has a dual purpose. It makes the keys slightly quieter, and supposedly helps prevent the ingress of debris. The jury is still out on how effective it is and how reliable the third generation keyboards are though.

On the iPad home screen issue, I've never seen the problem with it. Sure, at first it seems a little odd, but the way iOS works it would be pointless to have them much more compressed wouldn't it? You're never going to be able to put widgets and other items on the home screen.

It would? I'm looking at the launchpad on my 15 inch Mac and I'm trying to understand why it wouldn't make sense - unlike on an iPad here the icons are spaced out as the logic suggests not too close not too far away, just the right amount of balance between both, and there is no reason why OSX shouldn't be designed in a similar fashion. Not to mention in macOS you can also change the grid settings manually, as you'd expect since it's not a system designed to be run primarily on phones http://osxdaily.com/2016/03/09/change-launchpad-ic...

[Zod]

TameRacingDriver said:

I dont see the big issue with the iPad home screen really. Most Windows users I see just use it for storing files in some haphazard fashion. It’s just a different way of working. Personally I just use the spotlight search on mine, either swipe down on home screen and type or press CMD+SPACE on the keyboard in any app. I hardly even ever bother looking at it!

I hate desktop icons on Windows and MacOS! People who store things on their desktop annoy me. I once had a PA in Germany, who was in her 60s. She had all the usual training and came in with high expectations because she'd been a board director's PA at DuPont. I won't bother recounting any of the many incidents, other than the morning she came in to me in tears to tell me all the work she'd done for me had disappeared. I consoled her and told her she must have a defective link to the DMS. She didn't. She had stored everything on her desktop. Her PC had an issue and was replaced overnight. She hadn't understood the concept of a document management system. These days she'd have been fine, with a roaming profile, but not fifteen years ago.

[300bhp/ton]

Zod said:

TameRacingDriver said:

I dont see the big issue with the iPad home screen really. Most Windows users I see just use it for storing files in some haphazard fashion. It’s just a different way of working. Personally I just use the spotlight search on mine, either swipe down on home screen and type or press CMD+SPACE on the keyboard in any app. I hardly even ever bother looking at it!

I hate desktop icons on Windows and MacOS! People who store things on their desktop annoy me. I once had a PA in Germany, who was in her 60s. She had all the usual training and came in with high expectations because she'd been a board director's PA at DuPont. I won't bother recounting any of the many incidents, other than the morning she came in to me in tears to tell me all the work she'd done for me had disappeared. I consoled her and told her she must have a defective link to the DMS. She didn't. She had stored everything on her desktop. Her PC had an issue and was replaced overnight. She hadn't understood the concept of a document management system. These days she'd have been fine, with a roaming profile, but not fifteen years ago.

That isn't really "desktop" related though. If she had created a directory C: she would have had the same issue.

[Zod]

300bhp/ton said:

Zod said:

TameRacingDriver said:

I dont see the big issue with the iPad home screen really. Most Windows users I see just use it for storing files in some haphazard fashion. It’s just a different way of working. Personally I just use the spotlight search on mine, either swipe down on home screen and type or press CMD+SPACE on the keyboard in any app. I hardly even ever bother looking at it!

I hate desktop icons on Windows and MacOS! People who store things on their desktop annoy me. I once had a PA in Germany, who was in her 60s. She had all the usual training and came in with high expectations because she'd been a board director's PA at DuPont. I won't bother recounting any of the many incidents, other than the morning she came in to me in tears to tell me all the work she'd done for me had disappeared. I consoled her and told her she must have a defective link to the DMS. She didn't. She had stored everything on her desktop. Her PC had an issue and was replaced overnight. She hadn't understood the concept of a document management system. These days she'd have been fine, with a roaming profile, but not fifteen years ago.

That isn't really "desktop" related though. If she had created a directory C: she would have had the same issue.

No, agreed. I was just triggered by the desktop mention.

[Bullitt Five-Oh]

Zod said:

300bhp/ton said:

Zod said:

TameRacingDriver said:

I dont see the big issue with the iPad home screen really. Most Windows users I see just use it for storing files in some haphazard fashion. It’s just a different way of working. Personally I just use the spotlight search on mine, either swipe down on home screen and type or press CMD+SPACE on the keyboard in any app. I hardly even ever bother looking at it!

I hate desktop icons on Windows and MacOS! People who store things on their desktop annoy me. I once had a PA in Germany, who was in her 60s. She had all the usual training and came in with high expectations because she'd been a board director's PA at DuPont. I won't bother recounting any of the many incidents, other than the morning she came in to me in tears to tell me all the work she'd done for me had disappeared. I consoled her and told her she must have a defective link to the DMS. She didn't. She had stored everything on her desktop. Her PC had an issue and was replaced overnight. She hadn't understood the concept of a document management system. These days she'd have been fine, with a roaming profile, but not fifteen years ago.

That isn't really "desktop" related though. If she had created a directory C: she would have had the same issue.

No, agreed. I was just triggered by the desktop mention.

[13aines]

AB said:

Power block has the USB-C to USB-C coming out of it, would just like to have the flexibility of either sticking my phone on it or using it from laptop to phone/iPad, I know I'm being picky.

In terms of the keyboard, if they've moved to the same keyboard as the latest Macbook Pro then I've had issues with the keyboard getting jammed and certain keys not working properly. It's due a trip to the Genius Bar at some point. My favourite keyboard is the wireless one that comes with the iMac.

https://www.hypershop.com/collections/usb-c-hubs-w...

These were announced recently. They look ideal - enabling you to charge your iPhone with the original MacBook power adaptor, and means you always have two USB-C to USB-A adaptors on you when you are carrying the charger. Hopefully shipping isn't killer, because I want one. Very clever solution...

Edit: Comes out at about £30 after shipping. Think I'll wait and hope there's some UK stock in the future.

Edited by 13aines on Thursday 1st November 10:47

[leglessAlex]

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

It would? I'm looking at the launchpad on my 15 inch Mac and I'm trying to understand why it wouldn't make sense - unlike on an iPad here the icons are spaced out as the logic suggests not too close not too far away, just the right amount of balance between both, and there is no reason why OSX shouldn't be designed in a similar fashion. Not to mention in macOS you can also change the grid settings manually, as you'd expect since it's not a system designed to be run primarily on phones http://osxdaily.com/2016/03/09/change-launchpad-ic...

Thats how you'd like it, and that's fine.

I don't much see how having a different icon layout is all that important. You might have to swipe to the next page more often than you would have, but I've never really found that too difficult.

I take iOS (and Apple products in general) as they are as I know Apple barely listens to it's customers. Why would I get bothered about something they're not going to change until they want to?

[Bullitt Five-Oh]

leglessAlex said:

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

It would? I'm looking at the launchpad on my 15 inch Mac and I'm trying to understand why it wouldn't make sense - unlike on an iPad here the icons are spaced out as the logic suggests not too close not too far away, just the right amount of balance between both, and there is no reason why OSX shouldn't be designed in a similar fashion. Not to mention in macOS you can also change the grid settings manually, as you'd expect since it's not a system designed to be run primarily on phones http://osxdaily.com/2016/03/09/change-launchpad-ic...

Thats how you'd like it, and that's fine.

I don't much see how having a different icon layout is all that important. You might have to swipe to the next page more often than you would have, but I've never really found that too difficult.

I take iOS (and Apple products in general) as they are as I know Apple barely listens to it's customers. Why would I get bothered about something they're not going to change until they want to?

Because it's funny how they claim to put insane amounts of effort to make everything look sexy and strive for perfection in every detail and then they leave the screen that 100% of users look at at least once every time they use the device looking like it was designed by Fisher Price for target groups between 2 to 6 years old. It's like Mercedes designing an AMG GT with interior in plastics that came from the Dacia factory. Only the most devoted sheep or people lacking sense of quality could claim that it doesn't bother them.

[TheJimi]

"Someone holds a different opinion from me, so I'll insult them and claim to know their thought processes"


Actually, it's worse than that. You're being a dick all because other folk like something you don't.

Get over yourself.

Edited by TheJimi on Thursday 1st November 11:31

[300bhp/ton]

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

leglessAlex said:

Bullitt Five-Oh said:

It would? I'm looking at the launchpad on my 15 inch Mac and I'm trying to understand why it wouldn't make sense - unlike on an iPad here the icons are spaced out as the logic suggests not too close not too far away, just the right amount of balance between both, and there is no reason why OSX shouldn't be designed in a similar fashion. Not to mention in macOS you can also change the grid settings manually, as you'd expect since it's not a system designed to be run primarily on phones http://osxdaily.com/2016/03/09/change-launchpad-ic...

Thats how you'd like it, and that's fine.

I don't much see how having a different icon layout is all that important. You might have to swipe to the next page more often than you would have, but I've never really found that too difficult.

I take iOS (and Apple products in general) as they are as I know Apple barely listens to it's customers. Why would I get bothered about something they're not going to change until they want to?

Because it's funny how they claim to put insane amounts of effort to make everything look sexy and strive for perfection in every detail and then they leave the screen that 100% of users look at at least once every time they use the device looking like it was designed by Fisher Price for target groups between 2 to 6 years old. It's like Mercedes designing an AMG GT with interior in plastics that came from the Dacia factory. Only the most devoted sheep or people lacking sense of quality could claim that it doesn't bother them.

The quality isn't lower, you just don't "personally" like the layout. Despite the fact it actually causes you no harm whatsoever.

[ashleyman]

Was interested in the new iPad Pro but it just looks like a but like an enlarged iPhone 5.

[K12beano]

ashleyman said:

Was interested in the new iPad Pro but it just looks like a but like an enlarged iPhone 5.

Funny that. I’d just been thinking that an iPhone 5 just looks like a smaller version of an iPad Pro.....