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golden_zap · May 6, 2006, 08:46 PM

Hi. I'm deciding on which laptop to purchase and I was considering between a Sony laptop or the Apple Macbook Pro.

Sonys have a magnetic screen (which closes using magnet), and my question is: which would you prefer?

If there was a choice between magnet or latching the Macbook pro, which would you go with?

For me, I would go with the magnet because I wouldn't have to worry about breaking off a latch like I did with my old laptop.

Thanks.

Salty · May 6, 2006, 08:50 PM

Dude the MacBook pro has two latches that are pulled down by magnets. In other words you can't break the latch off without taking a hammer to your laptop. This is even better than the Sony way because there's a physical latch, but it's not in the way, it's only pulled down when it's needed to latch. It's quite a cool design.

golden_zap · May 6, 2006, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Salty

Dude the MacBook pro has two latches that are pulled down by magnets. In other words you can't break the latch off without taking a hammer to your laptop. This is even better than the Sony way because there's a physical latch, but it's not in the way, it's only pulled down when it's needed to latch. It's quite a cool design.

Oh, the MacBook uses magnets AND latches? Hmm, last time I went to the Apple Store I didn't notice this...

Salty · May 7, 2006, 01:25 AM

It's not the sort of thing you notice... that's the good thing about Apple. You only notice their best stuff when you don't have it.

ibook_steve · May 8, 2006, 01:32 PM

Umm...would you really choose a machine based on the latch design?

In any case, as stated, a magnet in the bottom case pulls the concealed latch out of the top case as you close the lid. Simple. Nothing to catch on and nothing to break.

Steve

explosivpotato · May 9, 2006, 12:50 AM

thats really interesting, as my current 17 inch g4 seems to have a fluid motion of the hooks coming out of the top of the clamshell as the screen gets close to the rest of the machine, indicating a mechanical linkage between the angle of the screen and the position of the hooks. was this a change made for the MPB's?

ibook_steve · May 9, 2006, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by explosivpotato

thats really interesting, as my current 17 inch g4 seems to have a fluid motion of the hooks coming out of the top of the clamshell as the screen gets close to the rest of the machine, indicating a mechanical linkage between the angle of the screen and the position of the hooks. was this a change made for the MPB's?

The angle has nothing to do with it and never has. The strength of the magnets and the elasticity of the springs that attach to the latches is all that matters. These are measured values to determine at point the latches should come out.

Steve

TheoCryst · May 9, 2006, 01:43 AM

Yep, iBooks too! It's really nifty!

I honestly have never played with the pure-magnet design, but it seems cool too.

golden_zap · May 9, 2006, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by ibook_steve

Umm...would you really choose a machine based on the latch design?
Steve

Well, I was just curious since i own an extremely old Sony laptop with the latch design and it snapped off.

but sony has turned to the magnetic design now. so...