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The 2016-2019 macbooks feel much more modern. They're lighter, thinner, the touchpad is nicer, more uniform, and though the touch bar isn't terribly useful it l

The 2016-2019 macbooks feel much more modern. They're lighter, thinner, the touchpad is nicer, more uniform, and though the touch bar isn't terribly useful it looks quite nice. It's overall just a much sleeker and more modern machine. I'm not a design expert by any means so I probably can't give as good of a detailed account as others could, but I know when I use my 2015 macbook pro after using my 2018, or after using an XPS or pixelbook, it feels much older than 3 years.

acdha 8y ago
The new touchpad and touchbar could also be used on a new design which allows enough for a high-quality keyboard. I've never been struck by the weight or size reductions but the low-end keyboard feel is constantly noticeable.
- chronofar 8y ago
  > The new touchpad and touchbar could also be used on a new design which allows enough for a high-quality keyboard. For sure, as noted I'm all for that. I don't think we need to move back to 2015 to accomplish that though.
  - acdha 8y ago
    I don't think anyone is saying there's no room for improvement but I would really like it if the requirement was that they fit a high-quality keyboard in even if it meant being 10% thicker. My home laptop is still a 2010 MBA because, even after almost a decade of heavy use, it still feels better than the brand new keyboards — that's completely ridiculous.
    - chronofar 8y ago
      Well, unfortunately this will probably never be the case. I actually don't mind the new keyboard at all. It's not my favorite, but I actually would rather have the extra thinness than extra action, and believe it or not I prefer it over the 2015 macbook keys (overall I mostly use desktop keyboard though). And it seems the market is mostly in agreement. High action keyboards will continue to be phased out by thinner devices and more touch. Many will lament it, but I don't see moving back.
- fanf2 8y ago
  The touch bar is not a selling point. I like my escape key!
asdff 8y ago
We are talking about less than a half pound difference of weight between the 2015 and 2016. Whether or not you relieved yourself this afternoon would be a greater delta. Difference in thinness is 0.12" between the two. The bezels are slightly tighter on the 2016 machine but unless you are looking for it with both machines in front of you, I don't think you will notice this. I don't think these changes in geometry make the 2015 chassis "horribly outclassed" today.
- chronofar 8y ago
  I do notice it though. Half a pound isn't trivial when talking about a 3 pound device. Maybe it's just in my head, as I noted I'm not a design expert, I mostly just know how it "feels." And to me the 2015 design does feel outclassed by most any ultrabook around this year, including modern macbooks.

acdha 8y ago

The new touchpad and touchbar could also be used on a new design which allows enough for a high-quality keyboard. I've never been struck by the weight or size reductions but the low-end keyboard feel is constantly noticeable.

chronofar 8y ago
> The new touchpad and touchbar could also be used on a new design which allows enough for a high-quality keyboard. For sure, as noted I'm all for that. I don't think we need to move back to 2015 to accomplish that though.
- acdha 8y ago
  I don't think anyone is saying there's no room for improvement but I would really like it if the requirement was that they fit a high-quality keyboard in even if it meant being 10% thicker. My home laptop is still a 2010 MBA because, even after almost a decade of heavy use, it still feels better than the brand new keyboards — that's completely ridiculous.
  - chronofar 8y ago
    Well, unfortunately this will probably never be the case. I actually don't mind the new keyboard at all. It's not my favorite, but I actually would rather have the extra thinness than extra action, and believe it or not I prefer it over the 2015 macbook keys (overall I mostly use desktop keyboard though). And it seems the market is mostly in agreement. High action keyboards will continue to be phased out by thinner devices and more touch. Many will lament it, but I don't see moving back.
fanf2 8y ago
The touch bar is not a selling point. I like my escape key!

asdff 8y ago

We are talking about less than a half pound difference of weight between the 2015 and 2016. Whether or not you relieved yourself this afternoon would be a greater delta. Difference in thinness is 0.12" between the two. The bezels are slightly tighter on the 2016 machine but unless you are looking for it with both machines in front of you, I don't think you will notice this. I don't think these changes in geometry make the 2015 chassis "horribly outclassed" today.

chronofar 8y ago
I do notice it though. Half a pound isn't trivial when talking about a 3 pound device. Maybe it's just in my head, as I noted I'm not a design expert, I mostly just know how it "feels." And to me the 2015 design does feel outclassed by most any ultrabook around this year, including modern macbooks.