“A new buyer of Apple’s uninbody notebooks emailed Steve Jobs about issues he was having with the unit’s new glass trackpad and hinge, and reports getting a prompt reply via the telephone addressing his problems,” Prince McLean reports for AppleInsider.
“The main issue he reported was the new trackpad’s failure to register every physical click… The Apple representative that called back reported that the company is looking into the complaints, but has no immediate resolution,” McLean reports.
“The user also complained about the display hinge on the new model, which now has a more precise feel but less friction, allowing the lid to fall shut by gravity when held at an angle,” McLean reports.
Full article here.
The hinge is quite usable, feels very nice and smooth – but it is certainly not as stiff as the previous model MBP. The heavier glass covered display is a factor too. If, in a year or two’s time, one finds that the display “flops” open or closed, this would be covered under Apple Care.
The glass track pad is pure luxury. Love it!
And this folks is why you don’t buy first gen anything.
@jonathon —
Amen. I’ve given up on first-gen Apple products a while ago, with the iPhone being the only exception. Their diminished quality control seems to be the problem.
You expect better from such a high-end computer company.
And I love Apple. But been burned a few times too many.
So, do we believe a single report from an anonymous “new buyer”, and accept it as evidence that new Apple products are bad? Emphatically, I do not.
The MacBook Pro upon which I type this is one week old today, and it is far and away the most incredible computer I’ve ever owned. Hinge, glass track pad, and – dare I say it – glossy display included.
I love everything about it, therefor all first-gen Apple products are absolutely top-notch.
A lot of new MB owners are unhappy about the screens (washout, lack of contrast with blacks and dark colors), and in some cases, slanted keyboards.
I’ve experienced both myself.
The track pad/button was immediately noticeable to me as a bit cumbersome and not a fully realized design. I thought I would get used to it, but I’m continually reminded that it’s just not right. Other then that I love my new MacBook Pro.
I bought my first gen IPhone two months after it came out. I havent had a problem with it. I also bought a Honda Accord around the same time. Two months after they started production on the new model. No problems there either. I did bought a 2006 Pontiac G6 convertible(first year of production) that was a piece of crap. But I sold it for the Honda after nine months. Not all first gen products are bad, except perhaps for GM products.
javier, you are so right!
New trackpad works brilliantly in Mac OS, another story for boot camp users though. I have figured out to right click, do a three finger click. Wierd but hey. Tapping chooses when it wants to work. But like I said no problems in Mac OS and that’s what counts to me, when i’m in Windows i’m only using my gamepad lol.
Nothing to add to the Macbook quality discussion, I’ve yet to buy one being in the “lusting after” category. However, I can say I also love my first generation iPhone. And I can also claim a cool experience emailing the Steve out of the blue.
It was a desperate thing to do, and I ended up solving the issue myself that night. I was surprised to get a voicemail from Apple Executive Relations the following day, the most sublime customer service I’ve ever had. Woman was totally patient and friendly, and she told me if I ever have any issues, whether similar to this or different, keep her number and call her back. “Senior Technicians” are on staff and available.
I know I need to buy some new Apple products and should buy more stock
Damn socialists.
I have no doubt that the new MacBooks will be great machines. But, any new product is never completely tested until it is in the hands of the ultimate users. It is not unusual for a manufacturer to slip-stream a few improvements into a product without making any announcement.
Too much FUD being dispensed.
I just went to http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/.
Nothing on hindges or glass track pads.
“a bit cumbersome and not a fully realized design”
Agreed, the click button is sub-par compared to the previous models, however, i now use tap gestures for mouse clicks and avoid the button completely. It’s a light learning curve but rewarding. I suggest people to try.
My MacBook Pro is ten days old and everything works perfectly. The hinge friction is perfect. The seam between the screen and the unibody is perfect. The seam on my old MacBook Pro never fit together quite right. The glossy, glass screen is flat out beautiful.
The glass trackpad is a dream. I love the two, three, and four finger gestures. I’ve programmed the track pad to respond to light one and two finger taps so I don’t have to depress it until it clicks. I don’t understand “slanted keyboards.” How can that be with the unibody construction?
This is the best designed laptop I’ve ever used. I haven’t seen anything this elegant since my old PowerBook 145, except for my iphone of course.
I had the same problem with my MacBook Pro. The physical click on the trackpad would not always register. It would happen usually every minute or two (except for the 15 minutes I was a the genius bar in NYC). Sometimes it would take 3 to 15 clicks before it woke up. During that period I could tap the pad and it would respond. My local Apple Store here in Portland, OR did experience my problem and swapped out my notebook for a new one. This one has not had the same problem.
Had 1st gen MBA in July and. Exchanged within 10 days of purchase due to screen flopping over…. Recently exchanged MBA is doing it now too! This gets annoying since I travel alot and damn thing flops back or forth will little movement!!! Anyone have steves email??
MacBook track pad problems:
1. Smudging when clicking: the cursor moves off target if you don’t press down precisely vertically, i.e. slightly dragging – smudging – your clicking finger as you press down.
2. The cursor sticks and doesn’t move. This seems to happen after clicking with one finger and immediately trying to move the cursor with the same finger. Changing finger solves this. I don’t think you should have to do this.
3. Lost pointer. Rapid movement of a finger on the track pad brings it back after a short delay.
4. Sometimes the text cursor appears not to move and change to the arrow cursor when moving to a different target. This may be related to point 2 above.
These issues are beginning to become annoying.
Everything else about the new MB is excellent.
The screen on my MacBook has just a tad too much friction. When I open it, it will sometimes slide the laptop away from me if it’s on a smooth surface. It’s not even enough of an annoyance to mention it but I wanted to chime in and report on my hinge, since that is the topic.
I set up my trackpad to use gestures and seldom if ever use the button. Since the button is hinged along the far edge it’s hard to make a button press if you’re close to the hinge when you push.
All in all, I’d give the glass trackpad a 9 out of 10. Much better than the previous.
You can count me as one very satisfied early adopter. I have absolutely no complaints about my new MacBook Pro, and can only glow over how awesome it is. The trackpad in particular is just amazing. My wife isn’t so fond of the glossy display. Me… I don’t mind it, especially since it’s supposed to be easier on the battery.
Doesn’t Steve Jobs have anything better to do than to response to some schmuck’s email?
As usual, an isolated incident turned into ‘problemS’ with an ‘S’ without further evidence to the claim, over at Appleinsider. At least MDN gets it right again.
@Cutbert:
Why the focus on this schmuck by anybody? Not meaning Apple, I mean how do we even know one person sent an email to Apple? Leaks to the press is how, this is none of our business, or the journalists, unless we see a trend.
I always fear fahrenheit 351 coming true –
“special interest groups changing society as a whole for the worse”, and when the news dwells on 1 personal problem, out of societies multitude, and chooses to make an example out of it, it’s steering public opinion and just plain irresponsible. Actually, MDN probably shouldn’t have even repeated this b@$%#sht.
Rev.A, stay away.
There are too many completely new technologies and physical components in the new MacBook/Pro line to have them come out trouble free. It’s just the reality of such complex products.
I’ve bought Rev.A Macs and while it was great getting, having and using the newest thing, often there were lots of hassles involved. To me it was a world of diminished returns.
I don’t mind beta testing software, but hardware is a different story.
Rev.A = Beta