Living as a laptop reviewer, I find myself pondering the difficulty in powering these devices down regularly.
In the world of technology, where sleek design and instant connectivity are prioritised, a simple yet essential feature is often overlooked - a clear and accessible power-off button on laptops. This omission has been a source of frustration for many users, including seasoned reviewer Tom May, who has been reviewing laptops for over two decades and has worked for a wide range of publications such as Professional Photography magazine, Creative Bloq, and net magazine.
Modern laptop design tends to favour quick wake/sleep states over full shutdowns. Manufacturers focus on instant-on functionality, maintaining network connectivity for syncing and updates, aligning with the "always-on" device philosophy many follow. As a result, power buttons typically trigger Sleep mode by default, leaving users seeking a straightforward way to power off completely.
The Honor Magicbook Pro 14, for instance, requires a minute to explain its power-down process, while on Windows 11, turning off a laptop often involves navigating complex menus. This lack of a clear power-down button has led to thousands of instructional videos on YouTube for various laptop models, making it difficult for even the most tech-savvy users.
The reviewer, Tom May, expects a clearly marked 'Off' button and a physical button to come as standard on laptops. He suggests that the absence of such a button may be due to an oversight or a deliberate design choice to keep laptops always-on and syncing. He also calls for laptops to include clearly labeled shutdown buttons or at least make the shutdown option easier to find in the interface.
The industry's focus on aesthetics and connectivity seems to have deprioritized such straightforward controls, possibly as an intentional design choice to keep laptops constantly connected to services and ecosystems. However, the convenience of a clearly labeled power button that shuts the laptop down completely in two seconds, as seen on the Honor Magicbook Pro 14, cannot be overstated.
In conclusion, while laptops are designed for mobility and instant connectivity, the absence of a simple power-off button remains a significant inconvenience for many users. The call for a clear, physical shutdown button or at least more accessible shutdown options in the interface continues to grow louder, as users seek a quick, unambiguous way to power off their devices completely.
- Tom May, a seasoned reviewer with two decades of experience, often finds himself advocating for a clearly marked 'Off' button on laptops, even when working with various publications like Professional Photography magazine, Creative Bloq, and net magazine.
- In his reviews of cameras, news, travel, photography, and gadgets, May emphasizes the importance of a physical power-off button on laptops, arguing that its absence could be an oversight or a deliberate design choice promoting the "always-on" device philosophy in the technology industry.
- Modern laptops, such as the Honor Magicbook Pro 14, require lengthy explanations for power-down procedures, and even complex menus on Windows 11, which has led to numerous instructional videos on YouTube for various models.
- In line with this, May suggests that manufacturers should focus on providing users with more accessible shutdown options, either by including a clearly labeled shutdown button or by making the shutdown option more straightforward in the laptop's interface, especially when it comes to video editing and reviewing purposes.
- As technology advances and design trends shift towards sleek aesthetics and instant connectivity, May argues that the convenience of a simple power-off button should not be overlooked, highlighting the two-second shutdown process seen on the Honor Magicbook Pro 14 as a desirable feature in the world of gadgets, photography, and travel.
