a question about the design of the macbook

why are the I/O ports located on the left side? I have to direct all of the cables around the front or back of the macbook.

It makes it cleaner having all the ports on the same side, compaired to a PC laptop with ports on every side.

The screen's hinge design simply won't allow for ports in the back.
When it is open, it covers the back of the computer and cuts off access.
This leaves the only option being the sides and front of the case for ports.

Plus, it adds to the aesthetic of the design. It keeps the lines of the case design smooth and doesn't leave all of those junky-looking protrusions like some notebooks have.

I'm right handed. mounting an external mouse and dealing with the cable is a pain in the butt. I have to mount my iPod on the left side of my Macbook.

it seems like a design flaw to me.

actually, i'm right handed too, and the few times i have had a mouse on the macbook or any other notebook, i'm either cursing the cable or dongle getting in my way on the right, or thanking the designers for the usb ports on the left that keep that stuff out of my way.

so there's more than one way to look at it for sure.

eric said:

actually, i'm right handed too, and the few times i have had a mouse on the macbook or any other notebook, i'm either cursing the cable or dongle getting in my way on the right, or thanking the designers for the usb ports on the left that keep that stuff out of my way.

so there's more than one way to look at it for sure.

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Ditto
If the power cord were on the right side or the usb port for the mouse were on the right side, I'd be constantly battling to get them out of the way of my mouse and mouse hand.

I love the design, just one small thing I would change if possible, is the sharp top edge, its just under your wrists and would be nice if it was it was rounded off.

Chris

Have you seen the size and location of the internals of a Macbook?
The harddrive and battery take up the front, leaving only a small space further back from these, although enough to squeeze in a dvd drive.
I'm right handed and see no problem with plugging in or unplugging anything from the ports.

If it really such a big hassle why not get USB hub and put that on the right of your machine.

I am right handed, and I think the port placement is perfect. I like how my mouse cord wraps around the back of the laptop and plugs in on the other side. Just my 2 cents.

Personally I like the MacBook port locations. But then when using a mouse I use a Bluetooth mouse.

I like to have my iPod dock to the left of the MacBook - I'm right handed and the few times I do use my external mouse rather than the touchpad - I'm fairly sure I'd keep knocking the iPod if it were on the same side as the mouse anyway. I might have drifted from the point here... Oh yeah get a bluetooth mouse

chrisiw said:

I love the design, just one small thing I would change if possible, is the sharp top edge, its just under your wrists and would be nice if it was it was rounded off.

Chris

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I agree! I have a bit of the "Princess & the Pea" issues, so I thought it was just me...

im left handed.

now that I think of it, it would be a bigger pain if the protrusions were on the right. a new bluetooth mouse is a smart move.

Maybe they put the ports on the left because if they put them on the right, the optical drive would have to go on the left. So being as how most people are right handed, it would be awkward to have to put a disk in using your left hand. And besides, where would I put my ashtray? My left hand smokes!

rcronin said:

I agree! I have a bit of the "Princess & the Pea" issues, so I thought it was just me...

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Thirded! The edges are a wee bit sharp, but I figure if that's my only critique then I'm doing ok!:black: