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So many people referring to using the button to turn the computer off, but more than 95% of the time, you use the OS to turn a computer off. It’s only when there’s a malfunction you would need to turn it off with a hardware button.
This button is primarily for turning the computer on.
Sure but you still need to turn it on though?
Not even 0.5% of the time you're interacting with the computer would you even think about the power button. Maybe in the first week because "lawl it's on the bottom, Apple so stoopid." Then you'd just get used to poking under the bottom of the computer and it turns on.
IMO this is infinitely better than on the back like the old Mac mini. My mini is behind my headphone amp, and under a monitor so any time I need to hit the power button it's a LONG awkward reach.
That's assuming there's sufficient space. Even then if you look at the picture, you can see that the power button is on the bottom of the back side of the device. This makes it even harder to reach than if it were simply on the back since you'd need to contort your finger on top of a long awkward reach.
This button is primarily for turning the computer on.
Sure but you still need to turn it on though?
?
I'm trying to say that it's still a useful button to have in an accessible spot because, exactly as you said, it is still used to turn it on.
I turn off my computer everyday maybe I'm one of those crazy ones. I think they did that so people would be discouraged to turn it off. They want the users to use their new AI feature. My other thinking is marketing if people talk about your product that's probably a good thing.
Can't listen in if the computer is turned off!
Well like a lover you must reach behind and underneath to turn them on!
...I seriously do not like Apples design language that basically requires me to fondle unseeable parts of the computer to find the power button. Too much risk of spiders back there!
Too much risk of spiders back there!
Found the Australian.
I assume there will be a power button on the keyboard or mouse. This is just sort of a backup.
You assume everyone uses Apple keyboards
I don't, but apple does. This is why the touch ID is in the keyboard. To be fair it does come as a unit if you buy the mac new.
A short press of the power button shuts down almost any computer in existence, why would you use the OS?
It's still the OS doing it, it's just reacting to the power button press like any other input device.
You are unbelievably pedantic.
I was going to downvote you when I realized
Yeah, that isn't a important distinction in a discussion about power button locations
He really is pedantic
Not if you hold the power button. Yeah if you single press a power button, the os can divert that, but long press, the SMC will cut power. Similarly how, pressing and holding the power and the volume down button on a phone, cuts power, even if the OS is hard frozen. Sometimes you just need an emergency exit.
True but that's extremely rare for people to do.
True but if you can't do it, you are pretty screwed.
Someone who isn't a pedant would interpret "using the OS" as going through the start menu, or equivalent.
You raise a good point
Honestly for me it's muscle memory from the Windows 95 days of "it is now safe to turn off your computer" but I also don't trust the OS to correctly interpret the ACPI signal sent by the power button 100% of the time. Obviously I'm not an average user, but I could see where an average user might consistently single press the power button to turn off a computer