this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2024
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[–] GhostlyPixel@lemmy.world 97 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (4 children)

Remember these are the same engineers who put the Magic Mouse charging port on the bottom, making the mouse unusable while you charge it

[–] VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world 22 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Honestly, the mouse charger screams marketing or management. Apple's brand is partially form over function.

[–] ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

It was very likely a designers decision. It forces the use the use case they wanted; wireless mice should be used wirelessly. I would bet they fought marketing and management to get this on the final product.

Marketing would want the mouse they can advertise as being useable with and wireless. Female ports are easier to mount and manufacture with they have depth to set the socket. So a plug on the front is much cheaper and easier to manufacture.

The fact the charging cable doesn’t get used in motion means it will last longer and you wouldn’t have people useing fraying cables on the front of their mouse.

[–] TunaLobster@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

PARTIALLY!? The Vision shipped without a lens cover. It did ship with a cover for the outside face.

[–] _edge@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What marketing genius uses a mouse upside down.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It’s better for display

Users aren’t trying before they buy so the display is the most important aspect

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Users aren’t trying before they buy so the display is the most important aspect

Trying before you buy is literally the entire point of the apple store

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

How often have you tried charging while there?

What software do they let you load?

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world -4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

When I check out a device in the store I definitely pick it up, hold it, turn it over, and generally look at every part of it. Things like a charging port on the bottom would probably stick out...

Or like in this case, with the power button on the bottom, I'd definitely notice that as annoying.

What software do they let you load?

Basically anything you want, they don't tend to watch you at the apple store, unless you seem like you actually want to buy something. They want you to mess around with the machines, so I've never seen them password protected in any way, you have admin access.

[–] demesisx@infosec.pub 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've never seen them password protected in any way, you have admin access.

This is 100% untrue.

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world -4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] demesisx@infosec.pub 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

It has been this way since the first Apple Store opened…

I’m confused about why you felt the need to make it up. Such a weird lie.

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world -4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Is not a lie, that's just what I remember. I remember messing around with computers, doing whatever I wanted with them, but that was back in high school when we'd just hang out at the mall; I haven't been to an apple store in a long time.

What's really weird is to make such a big thing about this. Why get all passive aggressive? I mean look, even when you're sure someone is wrong about something, that doesn't mean they're maliciously lying, it just means they're wrong... You can tell them that.

[–] demesisx@infosec.pub 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Maybe you’re just in a bad mood because I really didn’t make a big thing about it. Just thought it was odd that you’d lie about it. You’d have to have either lied (or misremembered if your panties are still bunched up) because this has been company policy since the first Apple Store opened in like 2001.

I’ve been going to Apple stores since they opened. In fact, in a brand new Apple Store back in like 2007, I wanted to demo the software “Shake” for my company. I distinctly remember an employee installing it for me (since they wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave admin access open).

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Ok, now I see what's going on. You're a bot or a troll.

This is a thread over two weeks old, nobody is reading this thread... You just posted this response less than an hour ago and it already has a lot of upvotes, more than all the posts nested above it (which have been there for two weeks).

Nobody is reading this, so there's basically only one way to get any response that strong that quickly (negative or positive). A network of accounts supporting some posts and suppressing others.

[–] demesisx@infosec.pub 11 points 2 weeks ago

😂 Someone doesn’t understand what followers are. Have a great day. Blocking you now.

[–] million@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

People treat it like a mistake but not be able to use the mouse while it’s plugged in is the entire point of the design. Right or wrong the Apple designers thought a cord drag was a bad experience and designed to prevent it.

They probably looked at their target audience and realized there was a certain percentage of folks that would just leave the mouse on the cord 24/7 and wanted to prevent that.

[–] RecluseRamble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 3 weeks ago

They also know their target audience has plenty of people who gobble up every bad design decision and even defend it online years later.

[–] Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 9 points 3 weeks ago

People treat it like a mistake, but the Emperor has no clothes and people are catching on.

[–] LANIK2000@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

I don't understand what was wrong with the original version that just took 2 AA batteries. Reaching for the AA charger and swapping cells not awkward enough or something?

Smart and elegant design would be hiding a battery charger in the iMac it self (maybe even use something smaller than AA), not expect you to flip and plug in your mouse every time ya leave it. The Nintendo Switch, while a completely different form factor, is a great example of an elegant (you could even say "wireless") charging solution.

I'm getting really sick of the Apple esthetic of sticking out wires, be it the mouse or the dozen dongles for every portable device they now make. Uh! Can't forget the world's only pen that needs charging, for seemingly no reason.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

They can fit a bigger rechargeable battery in the same space as a battery bay for replaceable batteries. Plus it eliminates the waste of throwing away batteries, and has longer battery life than similarly sized alkalines.

[–] LANIK2000@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Honestly don't feel like a slight reduction on a month long battery life is of much concern. As for waste, I'd say being able to replace a dead battery should reduce waste if anything, also nobody said it must be a AA (on a side note, you seem to imply the use of non-rechargeable AA, which holy shit, if they're still a thing, must be purged, sweet jesus...who's dumb enough to waste money on em???). Personally, I'd much prefer having a second battery charging separately somewhere, ready to swap, as opposed to being forced to stop using my computer. Or like the Nintendo Switch I mentioned before, have some spot I can put it away for charing, that way the mouse is also cleaned up and not fucking dangling and wobbling around freely on the table.

[–] Anivia@feddit.org 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

(on a side note, you seem to imply the use of non-rechargeable AA, which holy shit, if they're still a thing, must be purged, sweet jesus...who's dumb enough to waste money on em???)

You should probably educate yourself on the advantages of rechargeable and single use AA batteries before calling other people dumb for still using Alkaline batteries.

Rechargeable NiMH batteries are great for most usecases, but even the ones that are designed to have a low self-discharge rate still are much worse in that regard than Alkaline batteries. There are simply use cases where rechargeable AA batteries make no sense and you are much better off with regular Alkaline batteries.

[–] LANIK2000@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks for not providing even a single example... I tried looking around and only found relatively niche use cases, like them being more reliable and resistant (while also being lighter) for extreme environments or infrequent use, for example emergency equipment. And then some people choosing em because they don't feel like investing more into it, when they have only a couple devices that drain the batteries slowly, let's say a clock that lasts a year. That could be easily fixed if you could exchange empty batteries for full ones like with gass tanks and similar, and the prior examples aren't a good enough reason to have such batteries in the convenience store.

[–] Anivia@feddit.org 1 points 3 weeks ago

Anything that has a very low power draw. You already listed one of the common examples: a clock. Due to rechargeable NiMH batteries having a high self-discharge rate you would have to replace the battery every year, whilst an Alkaline battery would last 5 to 10 years. Other common household items that are a good example would be TV remotes, smoke alarms, or smart home devices like light switches.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] LANIK2000@lemmy.world 0 points 3 weeks ago

Very insightful comment Mr. IT of lemmy.

[–] ThePantser@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Yeah and I hear they might bring that back lol. Why haven't there been any wireless mice that use wireless charging? They could include a super thin coil that you could place under any mouse pad. It doesn't even need to charge fast so heat shouldn't be an issue. Just trickle charge when it's not being used.

Edit: guess I should have searched first. Of course it was Logitech

[–] JWBananas@lemmy.world 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Even worse, that was done intentionally. They wanted to prevent retail stores from leaving them plugged in at all times.

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That's not true at all. Apple likes minimalism, and putting ports and buttons where you can't see them adds to the aesthetic.

[–] blackn1ght@feddit.uk 2 points 3 weeks ago

I get that, but it doesn't really make sense with a mouse as I pretty much never see the front of it as it's always ahead of me. The only person who would see it would be if someone were to be sat opposite.