Unshaky – Tries to address double key press issue on Apple's butterfly keyboard

What people are used to seems a valid enough argument to me...

> This isn't self-evident as you make it out to be. Depends on keyboard layout and the typist. For me it's usually faster to press a combo than reach for that far-flung dedicated key.

I don't have references of course, but it really does seem self-evident to me. Take FN-Backspace vs Delete as an example - I need to use keys on opposite sides of the keyboard, vs a single Delete key that's next to the Backspace key, so I don't buy your "far flung" keys argument. Also, I don't know what kind of massive keyboard you're using if keys are "far flung" ;)

> Maybe Mac users honor their traditions?

I was being sarcastic with that final quip, but that seems fair enough to me.

Nope, see: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20621436

And besides, of course the newer device is going to have a lower failure rate so far (unless they've screwed up even harder than Apple normally does). You have to compare the failure rate at the same point into the product's lifecycle.

> unless people hate Apple.

It's hard not to, when they are so eager to give people more reasons.

That's exactly what it means if you start to think about what laptop interfaces really are. On a form factor that already has one touch surface and plenty of display area -- and where the overwhelming form of interaction that isn't through the keyboard is manipulating on-display objects using the traditional touch surface -- the specific value of adding additional touch surface with additional display is necessarily going to be marginal. Occupying the same space is mildly novel, but it's never going to be the same value-add that bringing touch surface to a mobile device was. There's literally nothing that can be done with it that can't be done without it.

Now, maybe there's some specific marginal utility gains, but notably, you didn't even pick one to put up against living w/o the touchbar, so it appears you can't even make your own argument. Whether you use it every day is no more a point in its favor than the fact that people use/used escape, function, and utility keys every day.

> There are lots of people that believe the lighter weight is worth the unswappable SSD/RAM.

There aren't even lots of people that can reliably distinguish the a difference of 4 ounces between two ~4lb objects by feel. I'd bet there aren't even that many people who know what that weight difference is. Which makes idea that the prospective market actually thought through that and concluded "oh, yeah, this is a fair tradeoff" is pretty tenuous.

If you want a semi-plausible argument, go for the idea that expandability/maintenance isn't something the "target market" thinks about. That's still odd for a pro model, but it's plausible for prosumer/luxury consumers.

> the butterfly switches boost my productivity; they have numerous advantages

Again, none of which you listed.

> It’s a fixed problem, unless people hate Apple.

Stats? Because there's enough anecdotal evidence to suggest it's not entirely fixed.

And the idea that people complaining about the recent features is an audience of people who just hate apple is provably false, as evidenced by the fact that many of those complaining loudest prefer earlier Apple models.

I'd bet that things like having or not having a car dictate a lot of our everyday carry choices - it has for me. Now I'm wondering if an iPad Mini is too small...

Of course, one is sometimes a proxy for the other, but it's not a given.

I also travel a lot, and want a thin, lightweight laptop - but it must be functional, reliable and have excellent battery life; I don't care a jot if the next generation is 1mm thinner than the last if it means sacrificing keyboard usability and reliability, battery life and cooling.

We past the point where thinness was an issue a long time ago. Now it's just a pissing contest.