Issues with new Macs: Hardware makes them difficult for me to use. What options might be available in the future? [closed]

At home and at work I have a MacBook Pro (2015) which is the last one before the following hardware changes :

• Butterfly keyboard.
• Overly large trackpad that causes palm-clicks.
• Touchbar.

Each of those alone is a significant issue for me:

• The existing MacBook is already not a good keyboard for me: I do need the tactile aspect of keys with 'travel'. My typos on a MBPro keyboard are already much higher than on an external keyboard
• I do work on the move so an external keyboard only is an option a fraction of the time.
• I rest my palms on the laptop so the large trackpad will induce yet more typos
• My fingers look for the specific function keys: the Touchbar does not work
• I do not use smart phones more than just for typing (precariously) because of the lack of physical keyboard . This is after years of trying; it is not working for me. That carries over to the mac and its Touchbar.

If I could buy a non-Apple / non-Mac there would be no issue. But I must use a Mac: all teams that I have worked on for five years only use Macs: and we must use IT supported configurations. Pure linux would work fine (for home) but in the (larger) companies it is not supported (security apps, wifi, productivity apps etc)

I am also constantly in trouble with memory usage due to running heavy and large application codebases along with VMs, browsers, and productivity apps. The maximum 16GB on the older Macs will eventually simply not be sufficient.

The IT folks do not use new Macs and use the old ones. All co-workers that have been around long enough use the old Macs and also refuse to upgrade. So I have not run into anyone with solutions for this yet.

Does anyone have a plan for how to handle this?

Start a conversation with your IT department about using Linux (possibly alongside Macs, it doesn't have to be a replacement). Don't just assume they can't/won't support it: go and actually put your case to them. It sounds like you're not the only person in your company with these concerns.

(I know, this isn't likely to get a lot of votes on an Apple-centric site. And I used to like my iMac a lot, but haven't tried the new machines that are bothering you. But, given your constraints, I think this is the right answer to your question.)

...pure Linux would work fine (for home) but in the (larger) companies it is not supported (security apps, wifi, productivity apps etc)

Where do you get this idea from? It simply isn't true: plenty of large companies have been using Linux for many years.

This should probably be a comment, so I'll apologize in advance for posting it as an answer - I lack the required reputation. I'll try to make up for it by elaborating on the topic.

Using a desktop Mac through a remote desktop connection

It's a relatively difficult solution in practice (see below), but I'd like to suggest buying a newer Mac mini or the like, and connecting to it from any laptop of your choice, if at all possible. The benefits are relatively obvious.

There are several drawbacks, however - just to name a few:

• You will likely need to get permission from your employer to work in this way.
• There are security risks involved in creating a "door" to the computer from the outside, especially when connecting from untrusted locations.
• If the computer will be at your employer's buildings as opposed to your home, and no other employee is working in this way, your employer will need to set up their equipment to allow the incoming connections, which will take time and possibly bring in further technical issues.
• Your performance may suffer due to delays in the connection despite the processing power improvement from the new device.
• You will be subject to internet availability wherever you work, if that's not the case already.

Other than that, I think your best first course of action is negotiating with the IT department(s) you're involved with.

It's really imperative to observe a few things:

You want new hardware, and prefer Apple building it for you. That means choosing the right one for you, or influence Apple to cater to your needs, or make a compromise in needs, or look for workarounds and alternatives.

1. Voice your wants and demands. Not necessarily just here (if this community even tolerates something like this and doesn't qualify it as "just a rant").

   But do two other things:
   write it directly to Apple (Feedback), and write to news outlets, magazines, blogs, your own pages. It is absolutely superfluous to cry and whine in private only to go out and pay good money for things you do not really want or need or like. Chances that this succeeds are small, but then at least you have tried and if others chime in in significant enough numbers, then maybe…

   Apple can see the numbers of sales, but not the non-sales. It can count complaints written to them or analysing reviews and net trends. Writing to them and the public increases the likelihood to have that opinion registered and properly weighted. If buyers rip the boxes off the shelves, you are indeed in an insignificant demographic. If sales slow and negative press increases, any intelligent business will have to adapt, somehow.

   If you buy from an online retailer, write a review that list your likes and dislikes fairly. Only praising a product is common, but absolutely uselesss, unlesss you're interested primarily in stock-market shares.

   Well written and constructive criticism is the most helpful thing to do. It helps others form an opinion and make a decision. And that includes Apple.

   But you have to be patient and wait, for a thing that may never materialise.

2. Do not buy Apple products you are not and will not be satisfied with. New MacBook Pro is expensive and has a hated Touchbar? New MacBook Air will do performance wise or old MacBook Pro 2015? Then do not buy a 2016 MBP, but the one that does suite you, and write about your decision on a forum, blog etc.

3. Analyse really carefully your 'musts', mustn'ts' and needs.

   In the question it states: "I must use a Mac". And then it lists a few 'reasons' to which I would still ask further: "Why, really?" The specifics are missing, really. Because you might opt for a Hackintosh or a virtualisation solution for almost everything Mac-only in terms of software.

   If it's just about the software to be run, then the two alternatives are worth looking into. If there are other reasons like policy or support within a team or company, then you might ask for exceptions.

4. Try to look into workarounds. Hate the keyboard: try an external bluetooth. Hate the glossy screen… in general, try any hack you find.

5. Join groups that have a shared goal for this kind of action.

   To&From Apple: Want a "greener laptop": work with Greenpeace to exert pressure. Want a "right to repair": support proposals for such legislation. Want a usable keyboard as your last butterfly one failed for the third time: join law suits and write about it.

   To&From your work groups: join a union or smaller group that fights for your right to choose the hardware you want, as long as it doesn't hamper the workflow or other policies.

If you're using the Macbook for work, I don't understand why the keyboard and touch pad are a concern, if you're working on a Mac for 8 hours a day, you should use an external monitor, external mouse and external keyboard for ergonomic purposes.

There's no seating position where using the laptop keyboard and laptop screen won't cause permanent damage to your neck.

The external Apple keyboards are really good, specially the full length one with a numeric keypad. And if you prefer touch, Apple have a external touchpad as well, although I would highly recommend getting a proper mouse that suits your hands ergonomically (The Apple mouse is very small, so for many people's hands it won't be suited for full day usage)

As for the touch bar, it can be turned into a standard set of function keys (F1-F12) if you so desire (I did)

Basically you're saying that you do not like any of the computers in the current Mac lineup, and also that you do not like any non-Mac.

If you look at that logically, then you have three options:

1. Use only old Mac models, and live with slow performance.
2. Hope that Apple introduces a model you like
3. Build your own laptop that you actually like

As you state that (1) is "not sufficient", it's not an acceptable option for you. Option (3) is usually not viable, unless you happen to have very specific skills or a lot of money to spend.

That leaves you with (2) - hope that Apple comes up with new models that you actually like.

Or you could do something radical and change your own opinions over time.