Don’t get me wrong, the MacBook Pro is the current pinnacle of laptop computing performance and elegance, but the latch sucks.
The MacBook is so much better because it closes with a magnet. I’m not sure if Apple can’t get the magnet closure on the MacBook Pro because of the aluminum casing or what, but the old school latch has got to go.
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You have to push it at the right side (opposite of the led light). It always pops open like a charm at my MBP C2D. Try it.
P.S. The lock on the MBP also uses magentic hatches…
Trat on May 23rd, 2007 at 7:54 am | Link
Trat said:
[quote]The lock on the MBP also uses magentic hatches…[/quote]
I think you might be talking about the interior mechanism being magnetic. The MacBook has no visible latch system other than the magnetic closures and honestly, you can’t even tell they are there.
Does the MacBook Pro have to have the magnets on the inside released by a latch because of the aluminum casing? It doesn’t make any sense, the MacBook is plastic and they’ve integrated the magnetic closure, so do it on the Pro, too.
Trat said:
[quote]You have to push it at the right side (opposite of the led light). It always pops open like a charm at my MBP C2D.[/quote]
Pushing the button at a particular spot to open the latch is the very point of this complaint. You almost have to be like Fonzie hitting a jukebox.
[…] never caused me any problems opening or closing, but my old iBook G4 does have one of those “push to release” latches and it can be a pain in the butt trying to open or close it after a certain period […]
More Macbook Pro Latch Troubles | BobmeetsMac.com on May 23rd, 2007 at 8:27 am | Link
I have never had any problems with mine opening. My complaint would be that the button is so slender, the average person’s fingers are too thick to easily push it.
Derek on June 1st, 2007 at 5:44 am | Link
Derek said:
[quote]I have never had any problems with mine opening. My complaint would be that the button is so slender, the average person’s fingers are too thick to easily push it.[/quote]
I completely agree with you, Derek. Fat fingers and you might have trouble. The Pros need the magnet latch just like the MacBook.
Another issue with the latch is it has too much play. When the laptop is closed, there’s a noticeable gap which you can squeeze shut and watch pop back when you let go. The MacBook’s magnetic latch doesn’t exhibit this problem.
It’s not the end of the world, just a matter of fit-and-finish. If you”re spending Apple bucks for the ultimate in design, your aluminum slab should feel solid when it’s closed.
David on June 13th, 2007 at 1:43 pm | Link
I think the reason it has latches is so that there IS a gap between the two halves. This way there is better ventilation when you run with the lid shut. Also, without that gap I think the keyboard would touch the screen.
I have no problems with mine.
Michael on January 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm | Link