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Comment by rayiner | Hacker News Reader

I've had Macbooks for about a decade, and I'm excited about these changes. The OLED bar is kind of gimmicky, but OS X apps (unlike Windows ones), don't really use the function keys much. The MB keyboard is good--what it lacks in key travel it more than makes up for in key stability. Also, good riddance to Magsafe. The worst part of the Macbook experience is Apple's incredibly fragile and shitty chargers/cables. Being able to use off-the-shelf braided USB-C cables is going to be awesome.

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> Being able to use off-the-shelf braided USB-C cables is going to be awesome

Sadly there are a shocking number of USB chargers/cables which will physically fit into a USB-C port but are not to spec, therefore prone to damage or destroy the device. A Google engineer has been testing these and listing "approved" ones here http://www.bensonapproved.com/

> Also, good riddance to Magsafe.

What's wrong with magsafe? Owner of a mid 2012 MBPr here and I loved it.

I've bought four 85 watt magsafe 2 chargers in the last couple of years (my wife and I both have rMBPs), and all but one has frayed: http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/magsafe-cable-frayed-any....

It'll be great to not have to use Apple's chargers/cables anymore.

Same. I travel extensively with my laptop which means it and the charging cable are in and out of the bag a lot. The adapter is unplugged and plugged in multiple times per day. I go through about two charging cables a year right now. If they don't physically start fraying, the pins in the magsafe start sticking and it no longer makes good contact.

Really odd. I had one of mine for four years through college, which meant constant plugging in/unplugging in classes, at the library, at the dorm/my apartment.

Other than being off-white from dirt/dust and whatever, that charger lasted all that time.

My 2010 MBP did 18 months backpacking (2014/15) and hasn't missed a beat. It's had constant use otherwise.

I can only assume some of got lucky with indestructible chargers.

I've been an Apple-laptop user for 10 years, and a month or two ago my charging cable started fraying. It's less than two years old, and hasn't been used anymore than I have previous ones (if anything it's probably been abused less).

I'd assume it's just Apple reducing quality and raising prices (€85 for a replacement?!?) - Lightning cables are notorious for the same issue.

Yeah, it's breaking my heart that my next laptop probably isn't going to be an Apple.

With specs and quality going downhill and prices going up it just doesn't make sense for me any more.

Not had that happen to me as yet.

Anyway, the register [0] mentions that a magsafe type C adaptor may be introduced either by Apple or 3rd Party.

Personally, I like the magsafe design. It has been useful the past 4 years.

[0] http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2475007/macbook-pro...

Every Macbook that's entered my house over the last ~6 years (4 work, 2 personal) has had its adapter abused horribly, and none of them have frayed. Meanwhile they've saved all of them from multiple rapidly-getting-friendly-with-the-floor events (kids).

One thing I don't do is wrap the Magsafe end around those little prongs when I pack it. I just bunch it up roughly and toss it in the bag. Maybe that's what frays it?

Yeah wrapping around those prongs seems like the worst thing you can do to that tiny cable. And I don't blame the users for this. I just don't understand why they would put those prongs there.

Apple has a guide to show you how to best wrap the cable without straining it...

i.e. Don't pull it tight. I still have power charges from my 2007 MacBook Pro that have not frayed and still look like new and with the adapter from MagSafe 1 to 2 still get used regularly.

Agreed. I have a late-2008 aluminum Macbook (non-pro, "collector's edition"). The Magsafe adapter was one of my favorite things about it. There were countless times when it saved that laptop from falling off of a table, or saved me from tripping. I've had the same charger since I bought the thing back in January of 2009, and it still works fine, no fraying or other injuries whatsoever.

Besides cables fraying, adapters dying (two of Apple original adapters died on me in last two years. As opposed to my Dell XPS M1330 7 year old adapter who's still not showing any damage to the cable even though I used it the same way) and it keeps falling out of the laptop as soon as you're on uneven surface.

I have to keep fiddling and moving it around in its socket, or else it either stops charging, or even worse gets into a "false charging" state, where the OS says it's charging, right up until it dies because the battery's drained. The only indication I get that this is happening is that the percentage stops changing.

Good riddance.

but OS X apps (unlike Windows ones), don't really use the function keys much.

What?

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