Whether I like Apple products or not, they're very innovative

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
There needs to be a middle ground between Microsoft software and Apple software, but when it comes to hardware, elegance, and simplicity outside of software, I have to say that Apple has it perfected.

It's called Boot Camp/Parallels/Fusion.

And those points sound good in theory, but in practice aren't so wonderful.
Magsafe is nice, but it's convenience is also its downfall -- the cord comes out fairly easily when adjusting the laptop on your lap.

The autocrossover....useful on a switch, not so useful on a laptop. Ok, maybe I'll use it very ocassionally when connecting directly to a Cisco router, but how many people can say that. And as said, a pretty standard thing.

The 2 finger scrolling is OK, I prefer "edge scrolling" though, because I use 2 finger tapping for right-click. I accidentally right click all the time when scrolling.

The autodim is nice for battery savings, but as said, other laptops do it as well.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
I've always held Apple as being the company to come up with new products and in a way, change the industry because others follow.

I'm probably a little late to this, and I'm sure it's a repost, but their laptops for example, are amazing.

1. The power cord is magnetic and so if someone trips on it, it's not as big of a deal.
2. The network connection can convert to a crossover cable - such a simple thing that no one had done before.
3. To scroll on a page, rather than using the edge of the trackpad, you use two fingers instead of one along the edge.
4. The screen's brightness level automatically adjusts to the lighting conditions - not really a big thing because Dell has it on a lot of their products, but still nice

If you pick up a Dell laptop, you won't find points 1-3 at all.

What else has Apple done that I haven't noticed yet or are these the biggest hardware points?

1. Is a nice idea.

2. As others have said, this has been pretty standard for the past 4-5 years. That's why nobody makes a big deal about it.

3. Personal preference, not innovation.

4. If Dell uses it, how can it be "innovative"?

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: chuckywang

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
2. The network connection can convert to a crossover cable - such a simple thing that no one had done before.

What does this mean?

If you use a network cable, but plug it into another computer instead of a router/switch, it will logically switch those two lines around making it identical to a crossover cable. You need a crossover cable to connect two computers directly to each other.

I've been doing that with Windows XP for a long time.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
1. The power cord is magnetic and so if someone trips on it, it's not as big of a deal.
2. The network connection can convert to a crossover cable - such a simple thing that no one had done before.
3. To scroll on a page, rather than using the edge of the trackpad, you use two fingers instead of one along the edge.
4. The screen's brightness level automatically adjusts to the lighting conditions - not really a big thing because Dell has it on a lot of their products, but still nice

Just as a counterpoint:
1) Inductive charging (I assume that's how they pull it off) is VERY inefficient. If it actually has proper electrical contacts, ignore this point.

2) That's part of the standard for any gigabit network adapter.

3) Yeah, they do better things with touchpads than most people seem to

4) Also nifty, but as you point out Dell does it too.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
1. The power cord is magnetic and so if someone trips on it, it's not as big of a deal.
2. The network connection can convert to a crossover cable - such a simple thing that no one had done before.
3. To scroll on a page, rather than using the edge of the trackpad, you use two fingers instead of one along the edge.
4. The screen's brightness level automatically adjusts to the lighting conditions - not really a big thing because Dell has it on a lot of their products, but still nice

Just as a counterpoint:
1) Inductive charging (I assume that's how they pull it off) is VERY inefficient. If it actually has proper electrical contacts, ignore this point.

2) That's part of the standard for any gigabit network adapter.

3) Yeah, they do better things with touchpads than most people seem to

4) Also nifty, but as you point out Dell does it too.

Yeah, it's not inductive, just a magnet around the contacts...one nice thing is that it's rectangular but works either way (upside down, right side up) and has a charging indicator led on either side.