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Apple’s Top 5 Current Design Travesties

macenstein.com — Sure we all love Apple, but it doesn ’t mean we have to turn a blind eye when they occasionally make the odd design decision. Below is our list of the top 5 most glaringly bad design decisions the company has recently (and is still currently) incorporating into its hardware. Feel free to add your own favorites in the comments.

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  • dominoman44, on 11/08/2007, -40/+9An interesting article with relevant information pertaining to the subject matter.
    • akkibaba, on 11/08/2007, -3/+31I have read your comment.
    • kevinmotel, on 11/08/2007, -2/+15Generic Comment Man to the rescue!
    • MrSlumberjack, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2umm... um... uhh....

      i... uhh... nevermind.
    • PathDaemon, on 11/06/2007, -3/+4Actually, despite the appearance of a Generic Comment, this is actually an Extreme Misunderstanding comment.

      You seem to not have noticed that NONE of the "travesties" listed do pertain to the subject matter (design). While there is actually a pool of stuff to choose from (ex. the iPhone headphone port) the author instead chose engineering failures (plastic cracking, failing, bad volume...) and product team (or whatever it's called) failures (not updating the hard and optical drives in the tv and MacBook, respectively).
    • lharrod, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1LOL. Try this in real life, too. It will get you the same response. Go into a convenience store, for example, put a six-pack of beer on the counter and tell the clerk, "I would like to purchase these six bottles of beer." He'll look at you like you're insane, all because you used a generic and complete sentence.
  • charlesray, on 11/06/2007, -44/+5I don't understand why their touchpads don't have the vertical/horizontal scrolling sections. I know Jobs hates buttons...but it's not even a button. Just draw some arrows on there and you've got TWO new features; well, you can scroll both UP and DOWN on each, so FOUR NEW FEATURES!
    • matt0r, on 11/06/2007, -3/+55put two fingers on the touchpad and get back to me
      • SnowBladerX, on 11/06/2007, -4/+12Yeah not only do that have touch pad scrolling but its much better then most PC touch pads scrolling solutions
        • potp, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1***** mouse is and will always be superior.
    • kinseyincanada, on 11/06/2007, -13/+2he might be refering to the old models.
    • Protoss, on 11/06/2007, -3/+14Uhm, yeah they do have scrolling features, two fingers, up and down or side to side.
    • PathDaemon, on 11/06/2007, -2/+6MacBook (Pro)-style scrolling is so much better than that alternative you're describing. You'd have to lift your finger, go to the scrolling area, and attempt to scroll — and you'd be restricted to one direction. Apple's way is to just add a finger to the trackpad and go. You can go horizontally, vertically, even diagonally (OMG), and if you seem to be sticking to a specific direction, the driver'll ignore small variations in movement!
      • graphicoutput, on 11/06/2007, -0/+0While I agree that the MacBook scroll style is pretty neat, that sounded ridiculous. God forbid you have to lift a finger.
        • lharrod, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1True, but isn't that always the argument? Some petty little difference is blown up by fanboys. For example, on Windows, you right-click for a contextual menu, on Mac you can click and hold for 2 seconds for the same effect, yet people complain about that 2-second pause. It's like, "Hey, I'm in a hurry! None of this click-and-hold crap!"
      • ripdog, on 11/06/2007, -1/+1No, you cant scroll vertically. I've tried.
        • MtheoryX, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2System Preferences > Keyboard and Mouse > Trackpad > Check "Use two fingers to scroll"
          Now try it.
        • lharrod, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1You can scroll 360. It's easy.
  • scooterbaga, on 11/06/2007, -2/+40I like how on my 2G iPod, you could skip track while in "seek" mode. (with the little diamond in the progress bar and you can scroll through the song)

    In the 5.5G and Classic you can't skip to the next track while in seek mode. The prev/next buttons aren't re-purposed, mind you, they simply don't do anything. Someone please tell me how a bug like this makes it through several generations, or what the freakin' purpose.
    • Neoanarchist, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2I hate this too. It took me quite a while to even notice it but it is rather infuriating.
      • scooterbaga, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2Report it as a bug to apple every time it pisses you off. I send one in about twice a week.
  • neolycan, on 11/06/2007, -20/+6Very good post about recent information about the issues with recent Apple computers
  • vertinox, on 11/06/2007, -11/+3The fact that iPods don't tracked when a song is skipped or played and sync with iTunes.
  • brentinkc, on 11/09/2007, -16/+66We don't ALL love Apple...
    • FoxOrian, on 11/06/2007, -10/+4I love apple and even I found that opening statement to be a little ignorant.
    • huskerdude, on 11/06/2007, -1/+7Yay for mindless literalism!
    • wilhoitm, on 11/09/2007, -1/+4I bet you though it read transvestite!
    • DarkDx, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2Tasteful, sane, available everywhere, I love apples!
    • Hobbes24, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2amen i say to thee!
    • worthbak, on 11/07/2007, -0/+6i think its fair to say that most, if not all, regular visitors to a site called "macenstein" probably do love apple. just saying.
  • TimmyGUNZ, on 11/06/2007, -5/+46The biggest thing missing from this list is a REAL headphone jack on the iPhone. Why we are stuck with that recessed crap is beyond me. The limitations on headphones that can be used on it is ridiculous and that adapter you can buy is the most hideous thing around.
    • noeljohnhoward, on 11/06/2007, -2/+3yeah wtf is up that.

      it would look just as good with a normal jack, too
    • starf, on 11/06/2007, -2/+7Most likely because they wanted to make more money on new products designed specifically for the iphone.
      Check out helium digital. They have a cheap and decent looking adapter that also passes through the microphone.
    • eclipxe, on 11/06/2007, -3/+2There are better adapters (flexible, small). Check iSkin's page for a really good adapter.
    • phoomp, on 11/06/2007, -2/+4Please. Everybody knows that there are no better earphones made than the ones made by Apple. [/sarcasm]
    • jwaycuilis, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Make one yourself. I did, and it works great and doesn't look bad.
      http://digg.com/mods/Building_an_Adapter_for_the_i ...
    • aduzik, on 11/07/2007, -0/+1True. I'm sure they wanted the recessed jack because it looks better. If that's the case, then they should have included a $0.10 adapter in the box so you can plug in any headphones you like.
  • ronintetsuro, on 11/07/2007, -2/+30Finally, some objective product criticism. No fanboyism on either side. Dugg.
  • digitallysick, on 11/13/2007, -23/+111 button mouse, Why not just accept 2 buttons apple , it will not make my mouse less cool to have 2 buttons i assure you.
    • scooterbaga, on 11/06/2007, -5/+15The mighty mouse is two button. Which as far as I can tell is the only mouse they ship. OSX has supported two buttons from the start.

      Welcome to today.
      • ricksite, on 11/08/2007, -2/+12Mac OS 9 also supported two buttons.
      • Terr01, on 11/06/2007, -1/+13The "mighty mouse" is crap after you've used it a while. The ball is far too susceptible to dirt and dust getting in there, there's no obvious safe way to open and fix it, and I personally detest the default control scheme were you can't lift it off the desk while holding the button down unless you also want to trigger eposé...

        I've replaced it with a plain OEM mouse from a dell with no regrets.
        • MacParrot, on 11/06/2007, -2/+4The last two Macs I've bought have had Mighty Mouse(s) which I immediately sneered at and discarded for a Kensington Trackball. The Mighty Mouse is probably (IMO) the designed product Apple has made in the last ten years...well the Flower Power iMac comes close.
          • MacParrot, on 11/06/2007, -1/+5Crap, I meant to say the Mighty Mouse is probably the worst designed product Apple has made in the last ten years.
        • MacParrot, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1damn double comments
        • yarukizero, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1I'll give Apple their due, they made some great products, but they've come up with two of the worst designs for mice (the Mighty Mouse and that stupid hockey puck) I've ever seen.
          • Terr01, on 11/06/2007, -0/+3I think this is a place where the Linux/Microsoft world has an advantage, since there are more manufacturers competing and coming out with products. Apple, on the other hand, is so invested in "a single look" that what happens is that their peripherals end up with more focus on style rather than functionality even-if-the-looks-clash. (I'd wager you can fit the word "micromanage" in there too.) Remember the one-button hockey-puck mouse for the original "berry" iMacs? Ick.

            I was surprised when I saw some magazines touting the new iMac thin keyboard as "innovative"... It's neat, but hardly innovative, and while it looks better I'm not sure I prefer it for typing-intensive work.
      • BlackAle, on 11/08/2007, -9/+5the mighty mouse is a one button mouse, pretending to be a two button mouse. BIG difference.
        • KSUdesigner, on 11/08/2007, -0/+6You mean a two button mouose pretending to be a one button mouse. BIG difference there too.
    • laplacian, on 11/06/2007, -8/+11new macbooks only have a 1 button mouse. it's a horrible design decision and clearly should be on the list.
      • ShadowPt2, on 11/06/2007, -2/+14Two fingers on the touch-pad, and click. It's not rocket science and it works exactly the same, folks.
        • Elranzer, on 11/08/2007, -1/+1Except two-finger tap doesn't work in Windows XP/Vista or Linux, if you install them on the MacBook. Yay for proprietary drivers!
          • ripdog, on 11/08/2007, -3/+1Guess what? The computer is designed for Mac OS X, not Linux. Windows support is just bolted on. This is Apple, if you use their products how they want you to, they work better then anything else, but buck the trend, and you're on your own.
          • rspeed, on 11/08/2007, -0/+2It does on mine.
      • rspeed, on 11/06/2007, -1/+6Protip: enable two finger alternate clicking in System Preferences.
        • digitallysick, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2i actually had no idea that i could do that, thanks
        • TheSpook, on 11/06/2007, -3/+4Why not just include a second button? When non-Apple folks rip on Macs, y'all reply with, "Mac OS has supported two buttons for years!!1". So why not give the users two buttons?! On a desktop, I can buy a new mouse. Not as convenient with a laptop touchpad. I just don't get it. Two buttons are nice!
          • lepton, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Apple's mice have two buttons (4 actually) and for the trackpad, you do a two-finger tap for a right click, which is actually better than having a second trackpad button.
      • MacParrot, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2It's been a few years since I bought an Apple laptop, but since when did they come with a mouse?
    • Topslakr, on 11/06/2007, -2/+3I prefer the two finger click to the right click button. I mis-click on my HP laptop all the time, hitting left instead of right, but two finger click is very natural for me. It's like the difference between having the designated scroll area to allowing the whole touch pad to scroll when you use two fingers. Once you do it one time you'll wonder why no one else is doing that way. The 'side of the trackpad' thing has annoyed me since they day it was introduced.
      • mayara13, on 11/06/2007, -0/+0Whereas I get annoyed that my laptop has only two, not three "mouse" buttons. I miss my middle button.
  • plaxx, on 11/06/2007, -14/+2I dont exactly agree with the Macbook argument presented. We all know anything white will get dirt fast, which is why most producers take the easy way out and keep making a black laptop (ahem thinkpad) over and over again. This is an important lesson, wash your hands, and keep your Macbook in good shape virtually and physically. If you get dirt on ur white shirt, do you wash it or complain to the maker about bad design? The Macbook is ahead of its time, the design isn't old by any means.

    One thing to keep in mind is that in the long run, everything Apple does is for a reason. Go ahead, digg me down.
    • DeviantDragon, on 11/06/2007, -1/+9You're missing the point. Keep it white and change the material so it stays white longer. Keeping with your analogy, I'd complain to the t-shirt maker about how they should look into making their shirt stain-resistant like Dockers did with their pants. The design may appear sleek, but the materials are being critiqued here. And doing something for a reason is not an excuse. In fact, it's absolutely inane to say that having a reason justifies any action. It has to be a GOOD reason and Apple is not the infallible entity with perfect reason as you seem to be implying.
    • Topslakr, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2They did change the material. The current white Macbook's don't have this problem.. it's already been fixed. It's was an early snafu and if you show/showed it to Apple the replaced it. As an IT person I have seen countless PC laptops with much more serious discolorations then the 'Macbook Fiasco' but no one seems to bat an eye. Ever seen an alienware laptop? I have seen at least a half dozen of those with the finish worn right off of plastic below keyboard.. where is the outcry? THAT looks like hell :)
    • hotdamn, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1my gf's rev a macbook sports no signs of discoloration despite heavy use.
  • Error601, on 11/06/2007, -10/+12Do they still only have one button on their notebook touchpad? I've had to exclude them in the past because of that. I'm sure it works fine for their software but a lot of us use notebook computers to interface with Unix applications that need at least two buttons. They're really designed for three but you can simulate the third by pushing both.
    • noeljohnhoward, on 11/06/2007, -2/+3yeah its one button, but pressing one or the other side of it will have a different function (with the newest ones anyways)

    • Mono1ith, on 11/07/2007, -1/+15Two finger tap = right click. Two finger drag = scroll.
    • deadbaby, on 11/06/2007, -9/+5Double tap for right click is fine with me. I actually prefer it to two physical buttons now. Anytime I use a PC laptop I try double tapping and it doesn't work and I'm sad.
    • alexmarchuk13, on 11/06/2007, -1/+6This is brought up a lot, and I don't know why.

      On my Macbook Pro, I use two fingers and click to right click. Put 2 fingers on the trackpad and click, not that hard. Scrolling dragging your fingers is the feature every laptop should have,
      • arcticblue, on 11/06/2007, -0/+5It's just too bad the two finger right click isn't enabled by default.
    • astrosmash, on 11/07/2007, -1/+4The giant trackpad (with giant button) on the iBooks, MacBooks, and Powerbooks is without question the finest trackpad available on any laptop.

      And, yes, Apple's trackpads have always been able to Left, Right, and Middle click in X11 applications.
    • omaryak, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1I like having only one button so that I can rest my wrist against the right pad and click using the back of my thumb. Makes it easier on the wrists for me.
    • diggimator, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Most Unix apps that I use require a terminal only. However, why not try a USB mouse? Or even better, a 3-button USB Unix mouse for that matter.
  • NoNamesLeft, on 11/06/2007, -4/+21They need to make their products more robust. I have one of the new gen iPod nano's and the silver side is scratched to oblivion, and it is only a few weeks old. Why don't they coat it in something? I also have a new keyboard, the thin one. I spilt some beer on it. Yep, stupid I know but the darn thing doesn't have any protection against spills at all. This was just a minor spill, but because you can't open it up I wasn't able to mop up the spillage, so the beer made the keys sticky and some not operate correctly. Again, it was just a month old. I also bought a Mighty Mouse. I have had to prise it apart and perform surgery on it in order to get the scroll working again, and now after about 2 months it needs to be done again. Their products tend to beautiful, aesthetic but unfortunately very short lived. The only thing I truly love is OS X, and Leopard is not gonna be on my machine until it is at least 10.5.1.
    • Refrag, on 11/07/2007, -0/+15I've never understood why Apple doesn't simply use adamantium to make their iPods.
    • tmslak, on 11/06/2007, -12/+4It's too bad everything you complained about has a solution:
      1. Get a case for your nano if you care about scratches...you can probably get a silicone case on e-bay for about 3 cents. Or, be more careful with your belongings.
      2. Computers and their peripherals are not made for use in an aquatic environment. If you spill on your keyboard, you're an idiot. Seriously. Electricity + conductive liquids = really bad combination.
      3. Wash your hands from time to time, and maybe the scroll ball would stay clean. Don't touch your mouse directly after a session with your pr0n of choice...that's a recipe for disaster.

      And, of course, the best solution to your problems: Don't be a fanboy. Buy peripherals based on functionality, not brand name. Plenty of other companies make keyboards and mice that work just fine with Apple computers. It's your own fault for buying stupid products.
      • vinecrawler, on 11/06/2007, -1/+4you're a dick.
      • redmaxx, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2#1) Cases help somewhat but only mitigate the underlying problem. Dust and stuff still gets into the case and the thing scatches.
        #2) The designers are the idiots. Seriously. IBM and Dell have spill proof and drainable keyboards, so it's not too hard to do. A small spill should not be difficult to handle, unless you're a company that places form over function.
        #3) Regular hand washing will not prevent the natural oils from clogging up the mouse.
        #4) Your last statement is contradictory. If the products are stupid, why did you spend the time defending them like a fanboy?
    • deadbaby, on 11/06/2007, -0/+9According to the book, A Perfect Thing, Steve Jobs, when confronted on the metal scratching issue, said he thinks the iPod looks beautiful when the metal surface is scratched. I'm not sure I agree with him but apparently that is his perspective on it. He also mentioned something about how he's 50+ now and isn't in pristine condition anymore either. Something about wear & tear adding character to a device
      • bmunichman, on 11/06/2007, -0/+4I can understand this, the brushed aluminum look is very nice looking. I'll admit the back of my old 4G iPod, now scratched to oblivion, doesn't look nearly as bad as one might think. On the other hand, though, there are some mildly OCD people (like me!) that feel compelled to preserve the shiny reflective-ness of the metal. It really does hurt to see it slowly getting scratched up. New and shiny: looks great. Older and with the look of brushed aluminum: looks good too. Its having to go in between those that I hate
    • BlackAle, on 11/06/2007, -0/+5but, but, if they were more robust... they couldn't sell you a new one every year or so... :)
    • joel8x, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Dip the whole thing in distilled water and let it completely dry to clean out a beer spill (do it very soon after it happens - before the beer has a chance to dry).
  • Raider007, on 11/06/2007, -1/+28agreed on the combo drive... that's gotta go.
    • omaryak, on 11/06/2007, -3/+1Why? I can understand wanting Apple to offer it as an option on the lowest end, but if you can afford the extra for a SuperDrive you can probably pay extra for the 2.2 GHz as well. I'm thinking the main reason Apple knocked the lowest model down to combo drive was to have a starting price point somewhere near $1k even with the webcam and stuff they added on to it from earlier models that cost the same.
      • TheSpook, on 11/06/2007, -0/+4You can get a 20x DL DVD burner on NewEgg for ~$30. I'm sure Apple can get them a lot cheaper. On a $1000 dollar machine, anything less would be embarrassing.
        • omaryak, on 11/15/2007, -0/+1But this $1000 machine has a built-in Webcam. To keep the price down, I'm thinking Apple thought low-end users would go more for video chats than burning movies. But a future update may be able to take advantage of the price drop you're talking about. Apple chooses a price point then what technology will be included, not the other way around.
  • dontencourageme, on 11/06/2007, -3/+3seriously apple, go see a psychiatrist about the seperation anxiety with the combo drive
  • smurf22, on 11/07/2007, -1/+31I read travesties as transvestites.
    • timjim31, on 11/06/2007, -2/+3Yo tambien.
      • fr34k5h0w, on 11/06/2007, -3/+1No hablo español, lo siento. But o-de ou-ye eak-spe ig-pe atin-le?
    • Tahiri, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1I was looking for someone to say this to digg
    • celeste, on 11/07/2007, -0/+0Ditto. Twice actually - when I read the headline yesterday, and when I read it again today.
  • SOS84, on 11/06/2007, -4/+13Here are two more, the Mighty Mouse (Apple mice has sucked for years and they still do) and the new keyboard. The old keyboard was just plain bad, the new one is one dimensional, and that dimension is eye candy. But at least it looks nice, useless, but nice. My keeps a logitech keyboard in the desk drawer for when she needs to type rather than using the new one.
    • aussieNickuss, on 11/06/2007, -7/+5The mighty mouse it probably the most comfortable mouse I've ever used. More so than the contoured mice you get from logitech or microsoft. And the little scroll ball feels cool beneath my finger. The new keyboard, although taking a couple minutes to get used to is also very good. It makes my typing quicker and less prone to mistakes, and your hands don't tire as quickly because they sit flat on the desk, I don't have to raise my hands. Just my own opinions.
      • joel8x, on 11/06/2007, -0/+4My hand hates the mighty mouse - it invokes instant carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Not a huge problem, as any USB or Bluetooth mouse will work anyway. As far as the keyboard, I'm better at typing on a laptop style keyboard, so the new keyboards are great for me. Like the mouse, any keyboard will work, so it really is not a huge issue since both items are relatively inexpensive.
    • betobeto, on 11/06/2007, -1/+7I had been typing on my macbook for so long that when I finally needed a new keyboard, the new one by Apple just felt natural. The other keyboards now look to me clunky and unrefined in comparison. Not to mention that my typing speed has skyrocketed with these.
      • redmaxx, on 11/06/2007, -2/+1You get back to us in a year or so, after you've got carpal tunnel syndrome.
        • omaryak, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2The new Apple keyboards feel better on my wrists than the old ones, which required more force to press the key down.
    • antitab, on 11/06/2007, -0/+4"Useless"? Hardly. The design is impeccable from both the functional and the form perspectives, and it's almost necessary after being used to the MacBook keyboard. And the wealth of function keys and specialized Mac keys across the top is fantastic. My only complaint? It makes me hate not having the playback function keys on my MacBook now.
    • Quix, on 11/06/2007, -0/+6I have to go all the way back to the mouse that came with my Mac Classic to find an Apple mouse I actually liked.

      Why Apple, why must your mice suck so much??? Tragic.
      • MacParrot, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1I would have to go back to the Mac Plus to find an Apple mouse that wasn't TOO bad. Of course since Apple used a proprietary port for KB and mice back then (good ol Apple Desktop Buss FTL) there weren't exactly a lot of other choices.
    • shadowpr0ph3t, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1I actually like the new keyboard better then the fat ugly ones. But I do agree that the mighty mouse sucks.
    • EricPeters, on 11/06/2007, -0/+5The Mighty Mouse is the ***** mouse I've ever used. I just recently bought a $15 Logitech 2 button mouse to use with my MacBook Pro. Best mouse I've ever had. So simple yet to perfect.
  • boiboi, on 11/06/2007, -6/+6Please don't upset Mr Jobs. I'm keeping a blind eye like the rest.
  • djpants428, on 11/06/2007, -5/+9The hard drive post regarding the AppleTV was a little misguided. Yes, they should be putting an 80GB or 120GB drive in there, but to claim that you can get a 250GB for $100 is stupid. 250GB 3.5" drives are $100, but the AppleTV uses 2.5" drives. A 2.5" 250GB drive will run you a lot more than $100. Yes, they could switch to 3.5" drives but that would require a redesign and form factor change. A 3.5" drive is close to 3 times taller than a 2.5" drive, and half again as big in the other directions.
    • BlackAle, on 11/06/2007, -0/+440GB is still pathetic, they probably just use them as they're the cheapest they can find. 160GB - 200GB is around $100, so really, there's no excuse for using a pithy 40GB.
      • djpants428, on 11/13/2007, -2/+2I didn't claim that 40GB was not too small, just that the article which claims that you can get a 250GB 2.5" drive for $100 is exaggerating by about $60-70 (based on what i can find on newegg) $170 is half of what the AppleTV costs, yes manufacturers would get a discount, but increasing a single component to a 40% cost of the unit is not feasible. The 250GB 2.5" drive is currently the top of the line, the price is disproportionately large.
    • BlackAle, on 11/06/2007, -2/+140GB is still pathetic, they probably just use them as they're the cheapest they can find. 160GB - 200GB is around $100, so really, there's no excuse for using a pithy 40GB.
    • redmaxx, on 11/06/2007, -1/+4Where are you shopping that 250GB 3.5" drives are $100? You're being ripped off.
  • digitalrainman, on 11/07/2007, -9/+5I love how 90% of people that like apple are only concerned with their looks. They have absolutely nothing else keeping them alive, just imagine if apple lost its design how quick the company would go under. Sure there are a few things that people like about apples, but i guarantee that most only care about if they are pretty or not.
    • clak, on 11/06/2007, -2/+4You don't know what you're talking about. You obviously haven't used a Mac. Not only do they look better, but they work better too. I was a Windows user for ten years so I think I'm qualified enough to say that. Even Steve Jobs once said that "Design is not how it looks, it how it works." The nice design is just icing on a very delicious cake.
      • redmaxx, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1You don't know what you're talking about. I've been a Windows user for 15 years, so I think I'm qualified enough to say that.

        Seriously, you're going to make an argument like that? What you mean is that it works for you.
      • mayara13, on 11/06/2007, -0/+0I have used a Mac. On many occasions. And I still have strong dislike for them. Just because it works for you does not mean that I'm wrong for not liking it myself.
    • joel8x, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2That's like saying if Neal Peart lost his talent then nobody would listen to Rush. Apple's design is important and part of what makes the company successful. It's not the only thing people like about Apple, it's just part of the equation. They have incredible software, an amazing support system for a computer/consumer electronics company, and use cutting edge technology in their computers (yes, I know the old saying - Apple Computers: yesterday's technology today - that does not apply since they now have some of the fastest laptops and desktops available).
    • ndonohue, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Apple's real strength actually lies not in its hardware design, but in its software design. If Apple does nothing else well, it does user interfaces. OSX, the iPhone, and all of apple's products have always been focused primarily on the end user experience. As a result, OSX, as well as its third party apps, have some of the most innovative user interfaces around. Making their hardware look nice is just an extension of that philosophy. It may not be appealing to a more technical user such as you or me, but you can't argue that Apple produces and ensures quality in all their products, if only you use them for a while.
  • huskerdude, on 11/06/2007, -11/+3Re: #4.
    Wash your hands, dude. That's gross.
  • colincornaby, on 11/06/2007, -4/+7The Macbook discoloration was a known issue that Apple was fixing for free. As far as I know, it was fixed in Macbooks that are the second revision and newer.
    • niviche, on 11/06/2007, -2/+1I bought a Macbook two months ago, and while there is no discoloration on the palm rest areas, there is definitely some on the keyboard, between the keys.
  • juztme, on 11/06/2007, -8/+9I love my MacBook Pro. But for the love of God, can I have a real right-click button? It's as useful in OS X as it is in Windows.
    • iEnigma, on 11/06/2007, -8/+3OS X is more keyboard-centric than Windows, so it only makes sense that you'd use "control click" instead of right click. Either way, I have a two-button mouse.
      • phoomp, on 11/06/2007, -1/+1How is OS X more keyboard-centric than Windows? There are many functions in it that are impossible without a mouse ... like selecting different buttons in a dialog box, for example. And, as for "control click" making more sense than a right-click ... how so?
        • hotdamn, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2System Preferences - Keyboard & Mouse - Keyboard Shortcuts - Full Keyboard Access: All Controls

          or the easy way, ctrl F7.


    • Rice, on 11/06/2007, -3/+20Two finger > Click.

      Best thing ever.
      • aussieNickuss, on 11/06/2007, -1/+8Which is actually quicker/easier than a physical right click button.
      • joel8x, on 11/06/2007, -1/+6I wish all laptops did this.
      • Quix, on 11/06/2007, -0/+4+1. I love two-button mice (sorry Mighty Mouse, you don't count) but I *love* the single button on Apple laptop trackpads. Multi-button trackpads on every PC laptop I've owned have royally sucked.

        Two-finger click > an extra physical button.
      • redmaxx, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2Tracking stick with real mouse buttons > Two finger anything.
    • ShadowPt2, on 11/06/2007, -4/+10Two fingers on the touch-pad, and click. It's not rocket science and it works exactly the same, folks.
      • xaxxon, on 11/06/2007, -1/+7I prefer it that way -- you don't have to worry about which part of the button you press. Just put down two fingers and click. The scrolling that way is fantastic, too.
        • redmaxx, on 11/06/2007, -4/+1Seriously, how hard is it to press a left button versus a right button? If you are 'worried' about it, you shouldn't be driving a car.
          • fr34k5h0w, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Because you have to figure out where the left button ends and the right button begins versus two fingers + click ANYWHERE on the button. Easier and way more efficient.
  • starf, on 11/06/2007, -0/+6The iphone speaker problem isn't going to go away with a software update.
    For some reason they decided to place the speaker right next to the mic for the phone, hence why the speaker is able to get a lot louder for non-phone applications.
  • Identity4, on 11/06/2007, -2/+5My macbook is falling apart...damn latching system and cheap plastic :(
    • aussieNickuss, on 11/06/2007, -1/+3Do you not look after your MacBook? Seriously, we have class sets at the school I work at, which get used ALL the time by rough, disgusting children, and with a bit of metho on a clean cloth, they look almost as good as the day they were taken out of their boxes (minus the normal scratching you get).
      • Identity4, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Its not so much the discoloration or scrathing that is my problem (actually, its still pretty whit and clean)... Its the cracking and splitting and chipping of the plastic. Upper left corner above the keyboard is cracked, screen hinge, the spots under the screen's magnetic latches...etc.
  • Lou3000, on 11/06/2007, -0/+91. The macbook discoloration has nothing to do with your hands being washed, the plastic was too porous or something and the natural oils in your skin were soaking into it. It was replaced for free.
    2. There are a lot more of these. Recessed headphones jacks on the iPhone, easily scratched chrome on the back of iPods, the entire mouse history at Apple, and many more smaller ones.
    • vagarach, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1The scratching chrome is on purpose, I mean unless you get a case for it, it will look far less cooler as time passes and it sees more wear. So after 6 months you buy a new one!

      The aluminium cased ipods dont scratch easily unless you *really* take something sharp to it, and as a result looks perfect many months after its purchase.
    • ploke, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2I had a crack in the lower right hand corner of my macbook and I got it replaced for free.
    • aussieNickuss, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Metho cleans up the macbooks pretty well. I have got rid of 6 months of dirt and grime from the palm rests with some metho on a clean cloth.
      • betobeto, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1What's metho? (sorry, not hip to that kind of slang)
        • jeremyjudkins, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1sounds like some street drug... you know mac addicts and their crazy ways
        • aussieNickuss, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Methylated Spirits
  • CognitiveRes, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2Personally I've only ran into one thing in leopard that I consider a design mistake:

    Why can't I have a smart folder be a stack on my dock? It's totally non-intuitive that I can't.
    • nedaf7, on 11/06/2007, -0/+0Exactly, the first thing I tried to do with Stacks was to put a smart folder that contained recently modified documents in the dock as a stack, but I couldn't.
  • azntzouie, on 11/06/2007, -3/+1Notice how the other METAL-encased macs do not make the list. Hmm...
    • joel8x, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2I have to say, that my MacBook Pro has some very minor issues with the finish chipping off. One spot is the metal button that releases the screen - my thumbnail has chipped away the finish in one spot ,and the other is right under left command key where the case inclines - my thumbnail scratched a spot off of the finish there from doing various keyboard commands. It's a year old and everything else looks pristine, but it's not 100% perfect ;)
  • aahamedi, on 11/06/2007, -2/+2I think one thing over looked is the lack of external volume controls on the ipod touch its really a pain to do any adjustments to it in your pocket
  • dallvic, on 11/06/2007, -5/+2"Sure we all love Apple"??? How self-involved are you??!!! So many many many many many apple haters are out there.
    • ripdog, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Guess what kiddo? Read the URL. That's right, its MACenstein.
  • Morality, on 11/06/2007, -3/+1It was relatively unbias'd, this is true. But God DAMN the fanboys bickering in the comments below were hilarious. Almost like reading the comments on ...digg.
  • creutzfeldt, on 11/09/2007, -3/+71. No tactile volume control on the iPod Touch. Bad enough that you can't skip songs without looking at the screen, but adjust volume ? Please.
    2. No removable batteries on any of the iPods or iPhones. Why, oh, why ? Swapping batteries would make it 38.29% more useful.
  • ajb2015, on 11/06/2007, -1/+10How did the lack of a replaceable ipod battery get left out of this?
    Also, all of these are fair criticisms, I hate the discoloration on my macbook. I clean it daily with wipes and the damn thing still turns blue after an hour of use.
    • betobeto, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2I stopped caring about so-called discoloration on my Macbook some months ago. It's not like I'm going to use it forever anyway. Plus I'm kinda liking the worn look - proof of a computer that has been lived with :)
    • joel8x, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2In regards to the batteries - is that a design flaw or just a policy that sucks?
    • fr34k5h0w, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1They are replacing the discolored plastic for free, only takes about a day at a local Apple store. But I guess the nearest Apple store for me is three and a half hours away so I could see it either way.
  • colinbrady, on 11/06/2007, -0/+5I agree, but the combo drive is included hardware, not design.
  • petejonesrn, on 11/06/2007, -4/+2ok. so that was a joke.
  • fitzsimj, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1I can't believe he didn't mentioned the awful rattling/squealing noise of the 1st generation MacBooks. Their Core Duos design sucked and a "Genius" actually told me, "it's not uncommon for processors to make noise." Anybody want to buy a MacBook? It's a rattly, randomly rebooting P.O.S. but at least it has the non-discoloring plastic...
  • D4N747, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2To throw my two cents in, and because everyone else seems to be turning a blind eye to it: The black "area" around the screen on the new iMacs. Really.
    • reticulate, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2This and the fatty nano convinced me that Apple's designers are in the process of jumping the shark.

      It'll be interesting to see what the new notebook chassis redesigns look like when they show up.
  • phoomp, on 11/07/2007, -2/+8Best fanboy comment from the article:
    "Want to burn dvd’s? just spend more.
    Want to be cheap, buy a pc and complain about much more problems that you will ever encounter with a mac."
  • encognito, on 11/06/2007, -3/+2...
  • vinecrawler, on 11/06/2007, -0/+8how about the razor sharp edges where you rest your wrists on the macbooks...

    This is my first mac and I love it, but wtf is up with that. Could they not curve the edge or something?
    • whatever01, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2Hear Hear!! For a little more in mold costs, they could have added a radius there and moved the parting line down the side of the case a smidge. I'm guessing it was a Industrial Design decision, and one I don't agree with.
    • itchytooth, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2Edge is crippling my iPhone and my wrist! Apple is getting too edgy - down with edges!
  • MrSlumberjack, on 11/06/2007, -5/+1Wah, wah, wah.
  • betobeto, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2Also notably absent from the list: The useless, proprietary connector of those globe-shaped iMac speakers (remember those?) They obviously made them that way so they couldn't be used with anything else. Not that they were the greatest thing in sound to begin with...
  • funkytaco, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1If you look at the "rainbow ball/busy cursor ball", the ball isn't a perfect circle. It's chopped on the right side.

    The things you notice when you have nothing better to do than wait.
  • wheresaldo, on 11/06/2007, -8/+31 - There is NO play/pause, buttons outside to control music without having to open the lid
    2 - There is no On/Off Wi-Fi button
    3 - There is no media card reader
    4 - There should be 2 USB ports in one side
    5 - Do we really need to waste a key for the eject? I would rather have a backspace

    Just bought my first Macbook Pro, the worse purchase ever!
    • Quix, on 11/06/2007, -1/+4"Just bought my first Macbook Pro, the worse purchase ever!"

      Well, I suppose there has to be *one* of you. Enjoy the craptastic PC laptop you replace the MBP with.

      Sincerely,

      A MacBook and HP/Compaq laptop owner. (Guess which one *I* prefer.)
    • lastinginfinity, on 11/06/2007, -0/+3Do you really need to activate/deactivate your wireless connection that frequently that you can't click the menu bar? And just to let you know, the key below eject (labeled "delete") is a "backspace".
    • daGUY, on 11/06/2007, -0/+32 - Why on earth would you need that? Just go to the Airport menu and disable it. Takes about 2 seconds
      4 - There's still two USB ports. What's the difference?
      5 - The backspace key is directly below the eject key...not sure what you're talking about

      By the way, if you disliked all these things, why did you buy it?
      • MacParrot, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2He didn't actually buy one. He's doing that oh so lame "Well I bought one and I think it sucks for non-specific irrational reasons". If you check his comments you find he's "yet another Apple hating troll on digg" (YAAHTOD)
    • CATSCEO, on 11/06/2007, -1/+3You would rather have something with annoying buttons and blue LEDs than a good looking computer?
    • deadbaby, on 11/06/2007, -0/+3"1 - There is NO play/pause, buttons outside to control music without having to open the lid"
      Do you actually own a MacBook Pro? I only ask because it comes with a remote control to do EXACTLY what you're saying it doesn't do. Makes me wonder if you're just trolling. (perhaps you threw it away with the packaging by mistake?)
  • ramaz, on 11/06/2007, -3/+1I'm hoping they fixed Spotlight in Leopard. As powerful as Spotlight is in Tiger, it's a constant annoyance because the default search mode is not what most people would want 90% of the time. That is to say that 90% of the time, when I want to search, I am looking for a filename, or some part of a filename, i.e., something that I named a file; I do NOT want the search tool to give me a flood of useless results from the interior of all the files on my Mac.

    Let the default search be for the file name, and let me change it if I want to. As it is, there are two or three extra steps to take almost every time I want to search for something, because ALL I WANT is a file name, most of the time. :)
  • whiteyMcBrown, on 11/06/2007, -1/+1I love Apple. I love my Macbook Pro. Not so big on the Mighty Mouse. I don't think it's even a matter of form over function, because it doesn't look that great. Apple should keep the squeeze on the sides... that's a neat idea and works well for exposé type stuff. They need to separate the 2 buttons physically on the mouse and add a regular ol' scrollwheel that feels nice. Forget about this tilting scrollwheel overkill that the other guys seem to be so fond of. I'd love to see them release them in 2 sizes (notebook size and comfort/more ergonomic size) but I realize with the wired and wireless options, that would make 4 mice – Apple's always done better with a smaller lineup.
  • CATSCEO, on 11/06/2007, -0/+2Get rid of the plastic and combo drive in the MacBook, add dedicated graphics to it too.
  • Greer70, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1Fear, Uncertainty, and Steve Job's Doobies!
  • TheMacThinker, on 11/06/2007, -1/+1By the way this MacBook crack is supported under warranty. So anyone who’s got this issue should go to the closest apple store and get service for a cosmetic replacement.
    ——–
    http://iphoneunlocked.mostofmymac.com
  • deadbaby, on 11/06/2007, -1/+2The discoloration of early MacBooks was a defect Apple will fix out of warranty.
  • sox11, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1i have always hated the combo drive in their lower priced macbook, kinda makes the line up look more than what there is.I do use a mac - and i really do agree with this! plus the fact that they charge Australian consumers more for the product....US base model $1,999 Australian base model in US $2,673.99 USD
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