Editorial

Have you already grown accustomed to the notch in the new MacBook Pro?

Apple's marketing image showing the notch along with the menu bar on the redesigned MacBook Pro from the year 2021

While the reality is that finding a product is a lot more difficult than it has been in the past, it appears to still be a good indication of how well something is selling if you can't find it at all. Which is why even though the brand new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro are probably just like every other piece of technology out there (including touchscreen in some vehicles), and hindered in supply by chip shortages, it would appear Apple's new professional laptops (or laptops for professionals) are selling quite well. Which also means that there are a lot of people out there with a brand new laptop that has a notch.

How is iOS 15 treating you so far?

Apple's marketing image showing a bunch of iPhone and iPod touch devices showcasing various iOS 15 features

Back in September, Apple released the next major update to its most popular operating system. With iOS 15, the company didn't attempt to change the wheel or make any other massive alterations. It refined the experience, improved some aspects of it, and added plenty of new features for good measure. But has it been a smooth experience for you?

Apple listened to the demands, so are you buying a new MacBook Pro?

Sometimes, Apple has some off years. It happens to every company, of course, but when it's Apple it typically resonates a bit more. There are some posts out there on social media that almost make it seem like Apple's doing it on purpose, like a personal attack on them. That's probably not the case. But there are definitely off years, a stretch when Apple tries to change something up, it doesn't work, but the company barrels down and tries to make it work anyway.

Does the MacBook need a touchscreen?

A still from Apple's event video showing software chief Craig Federighi opening the lid of a MacBook Air

One of the things Apple executives have been pretty consistent about, even as macOS and iOS blur some lines with each new iteration, is the idea that the company is not trying to merge the two platforms. Meaning, a Mac is going to remain a Mac, and the iPad will continue to be whatever iPadOS defines it as. Of course, that could very well change down the road, but, for now, it appears Apple doesn't have any plans to change that.

Is it time for iPadOS to add multiuser support?

The iPad is a great device. So is the iPad Air and the iPad mini and the iPad Pro. Which, when you look at it like that, shows us that Apple might have too many iPad models. Does Apple really need four different models, which even includes two variants with different screen sizes for the Pros? It does if it really, really wants to keep avoiding multiuser support!

Do you carry two primary devices with you all the time?

The iPad mini is a tablet that I've always wanted, ever since it was first unveiled. It was so cool looking, seemed super useful for certain situations, and that portability was top notch. And yet, over the years, I've picked one up here and there but I've never kept it. The same can be said for the newest variant of the long running small tablet lineup, too.

Are you waiting for the iPhone 14?

A still image taken from Apple's iPhone 13 Pro introduction video on YouTube, showing a closeup of the three cameras on the back.

It wasn't too long ago that, every other year, we'd get an "S" variant for Apple's iPhone. It was a very, very obvious way to tell the world that this was an "iterative" update. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. Not by any means. But, now, at a glance, it would appear that Apple's moved away from that plan of attack.

Even if Apple’s forced to change App Store rules, will you keep using it the same way you do now?

Some people believe it's a negative that Apple controls so much of the iPhone experience. Some of those people would point to the Mac and say, "See? They don't have to have such a heavy-handed approach" and maybe they're onto something. But a lot of folks out there don't see it the same way, calling Apple's "guiding hand" just one less thing they need to think about on a day-to-day basis.

What would you change about the iMac?

iMac 24-inch

It feels like forever ago now, but I once had a desktop. Something I'd use every single day by saddling up to a desk and typing away on a wired, less-than-great keyboard. A mouse and not a trackpad. Part of those years was as a kid, either with an early day Mac or early day PC, and most of that time was spent playing old computer games.

How has your desk changed over the last year?

Mail App on MacBook Screen

Over the last year and some change, what going to work looks like has changed quite a bit for a lot of people. What used to be a daily grind with traffic and public transport, or parking, or whatever else it might've been, now relies more on stable WiFi and kids not barging in on us during a Zoom call. But, what about our desks?