Steve Jobs' War on Buttons Claims Another Victim

**Lemur** · 10-16-2008, 19:29

Steve Jobs really, really hates buttons. Check out the new Macbook Pro:

Literally no buttons. You just tap on the trackpad. Freaky, eh? Maybe he was hurt by a button as a child and carries the grudge until the end of days. Maybe a button killed his brother. Who knows?

Why does he hate buttons so much?

**drone** · 10-16-2008, 19:42

What if you want to both jump and shoot?

**Whacker** · 10-16-2008, 20:32

And I positively LOVE buttons.

Big, shiny, happy buttons.

That keyboard is the exact opposite of what I prefer. Been using this Logitech G15 keyboard for the past.. 3-4 years or so, absolutely love it (I am a Logitech product whore, fwiw). Before that, I had an old IBM Model M with the spring loaded keys that I salvaged from the rubbish bin at work and refurbished. Actually I've got about 6 of them that I've saved and nursed back to health. When the G15 bites the dust or wears out on me, I'm going back to that clickety goodness.

**Xiahou** · 10-16-2008, 20:40

Originally Posted by Whacker

That keyboard is the exact opposite of what I prefer. Been using this Logitech G15 keyboard for the past.. 3-4 years or so, absolutely love it (I am a Logitech product whore, fwiw). Before that, I had an old IBM Model M with the spring loaded keys that I salvaged from the rubbish bin at work and refurbished. Actually I've got about 6 of them that I've saved and nursed back to health. When the G15 bites the dust or wears out on me, I'm going back to that clickety goodness.

I've got a couple of those IBM monstrosities in my closet gathering dust too. They just don't make keyboards like that anymore.

To the OP, every laptop that I've used in recent memory allows tapping the touchpad in place of clicks. But they also have normal buttons for people who prefer those (I find myself using both). That's one thing I never liked about Apple, they love taking away options- they know their way is best, so why on earth would you want to click a button... or right click.... or use a floppy disk....

So yeah, Steve Jobs hates freedom.

**drone** · 10-16-2008, 21:16

Originally Posted by Whacker

And I positively LOVE buttons.

Big, shiny, happy buttons.

That keyboard is the exact opposite of what I prefer. Been using this Logitech G15 keyboard for the past.. 3-4 years or so, absolutely love it (I am a Logitech product whore, fwiw). Before that, I had an old IBM Model M with the spring loaded keys that I salvaged from the rubbish bin at work and refurbished. Actually I've got about 6 of them that I've saved and nursed back to health. When the G15 bites the dust or wears out on me, I'm going back to that clickety goodness.

Refurbished IBM Model M keyboard? Is this yours?

I'm sure at some point, Jobs' wish is to make a Mac with no keyboard, just a touchscreen interface like the iPhone.

**Banquo's Ghost** · 10-16-2008, 21:36

Lemur, you might want to go and have a play with the new MacBooks. The trackpad is in fact, entirely a button.

The tap to click function is not a tap like most pads, but a press. It moves and clicks. You can configure the pad to perform other tasks - for example, the default is that pressing the lower right corner gives a right-click/contextual menu.

There's a whole range of finger gestures that bring real usuability to the trackpad. It's quite a technical feat. I'm one who has always liked an external mouse rather than the trackpad, but I can see myself using one of these on its own.

**Yoyoma1910** · 10-16-2008, 22:12

I still miss the machine lever action of typwriters. It was awesome. Bukowski said it was the sound of creation.

I used to have this sears suitcase typewriter when I was a kid... sort of the notebook version of those things. I swear it weighed 25 pounds easy. I bought it for like 3-5 bucks at a garage sale.

All these dag blasted monitors and new fangled things... like them thar ball point pens.

Of course, I actually had a computer before I had the typewriter.... but still, it was a TRS-80 that pluged into the TV, and how much basic does a kid really want to program?

**Fragony** · 10-17-2008, 12:23

Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost

Lemur, you might want to go and have a play with the new MacBooks. The trackpad is in fact, entirely a button.

The tap to click function is not a tap like most pads, but a press. It moves and clicks. You can configure the pad to perform other tasks - for example, the default is that pressing the lower right corner gives a right-click/contextual menu.

There's a whole range of finger gestures that bring real usuability to the trackpad. It's quite a technical feat. I'm one who has always liked an external mouse rather than the trackpad, but I can see myself using one of these on its own.

Say BG can you do a better job at talking sense into me next time? Gawd this thing is sexy.

Can someone please give me a reason why it's better to stick to the old model?

**Banquo's Ghost** · 10-17-2008, 13:15

Originally Posted by Fragony

Say BG can you do a better job at talking sense into me next time? Gawd this thing is sexy.

I really tried. I really, really tried. Just a couple of weeks' wait and see the goodness you were due for.

Originally Posted by Fragony

Can someone please give me a reason why it's better to stick to the old model?

Not me. The graphics upgrade alone is worth it, let alone the unibody looks. And that trackpad is just altogether necessary and delicious.

I'm upgrading my MacBook Air in November when the new ones are shipped. (And the great thing is, Steve is paying. Last week I bought AAPL when it nose-dived to 88 on unsubstantiated rumours and within a day it bounced back to 117. Happy days

).

**Fragony** · 10-17-2008, 13:41

DAMN. Fingerprints on glass sucks for example, poorer batterylife because of the 500% increase of graphical performance anything DAMN DAMN DAMN. I am really happy with my macbook but the best thing ever just became the second best thing ever now I will need the latest I-phone to prevent me from jumping. Which will only break my legs because I live on the second floor.

edit, ps, is there a way of increasing the amount of trackpad gestures, they be cool as ****

**Banquo's Ghost** · 10-17-2008, 13:58

Originally Posted by Fragony

DAMN. Fingerprints on glass sucks for example, poorer batterylife because of the 500% increase of graphical performance anything DAMN DAMN DAMN. I am really happy with my macbook but the best thing ever just became the second best thing ever now I will need the latest I-phone to prevent me from jumping. Which will only break my legs because I live on the second floor.

The trackpad is glass, but only to the feel. It looks like aluminium, feels like silk. No fingerprints to be left.

The battery life is still reported to be good - headlined at five hours, but reviewers are saying one gets four and half with careful use and three with heavy video etc use.

Originally Posted by Fragony

edit, ps, is there a way of increasing the amount of trackpad gestures, they be cool as ****

Not on your model, as far as I know.

**Fragony** · 10-17-2008, 14:09

Why do I get the feeling you are quite enjoying this, hope you break your airbook in a way your inssurance doesn't cover. A natural disaster for example.