Q: 10.9.2: Behavior of power-button again changed?

Macs is all about usability and security, man

I have a mbp late 2012. I always used the power button to put it on sleep mode. This new setting is really frustating. Now I have to perform a couple actions to do the same thing.

Is there a workaround to bring the old action back? No I don't want to ga back to an older backup and yes I want to keep the last update. Someone an idea?

okusal wrote:

No I don't want to ga back to an older backup and yes I want to keep the last update. Someone an idea?

Sorry. You can't have both.

Pete

Okusal, hasn't your power button changed to just holding it for a brief moment, (about a second for me) then letting go? Rather than it being instant. That's what has happened on imac.

If I hold it for like 2 seconds a window will pop up and I can choose te restart, sleepdown and shutdown. That's the only thing that happens. I read in some forum that if you hold it for two seconds it will go to sleep but that didn't happen to me. If I hold it longer it will force shutdown.

Yes, the behavior changed because owners of newer notebooks compplained that a mere accidental tap of the power button (when intending to hit the delete key or last function key) turned off their computer. It was annoying and an implementation that was wrong headed. Holding and releasing for about a second will put it to sleep. A prolonged hold of about 2-3 seconds will bring up a dialog box and, as usually, a prolonged hold of about 10 seconds will force quit the computer.

It could be argued (and has been) that this new behavior is confusing. To me what is truly confusing is why Apple put the power button where it can be so easily pressed.

You will get a dialog box if you hold it too long. Push it in for half the time and let go. It should go to sleep when you let go. If the dialog box comes on you've held too long. It's the letting go that puts it to sleep. not you holding it till it does.

Yaay thanks! It's a little tricky though...

for me it works if it is just a tad longer than an actual press. Forget counting, it gets easier by feel.

okusal wrote:

 

I have a mbp late 2012. I always used the power button to put it on sleep mode. This new setting is really frustating. Now I have to perform a couple actions to do the same thing.

Apple menu > Sleep is just as easy.

Chris, I agree it is, and even though I've discussed the button, I actually use your method too. But I'm thinking its easy cos I always have a mouse in my hand, and I was thinking it might be more fiddly using the trackpad of a laptop. All that finger movement lol.

Power button behavior depends on the MacBook model.

On my mid-2009 MBP and late-2009 MBA (both with metal power buttons on the case) the behavior is unchanged from that for 10.9-10.9.1.  Specifically, press and release the power button and you enter sleep mode (press and release again to bring out of sleep), hold the button for 2 sec and the dialog box appears; hold it longer and the computer eventually powers off.

On my late-2013 MBP with the keyboard power button, under 10.9.2, I now have to press-and-release the button to invoke sleep (but only tap it to revive from sleep),  The rest is like I stated above.

The metal button can't be "tapped", obviously, so the "press and release" method remains changed for the older laptops.  I think the problem with the keypad power button is that normal typing is a "tap" action and just shifting that to a "press and release" action is enough to prevent an accidental sleep invocation.  Anything more than press and release but less than 2 seconds will do nothing.

Once you recognize this, it becomes second nature.  I think it's a good compromise.

My two cents.

Also if you want the dialogue box, press control + power

Thanks!  I didn't know that.

I figure this is to save some space.

I dont like neither, but I can see a logical move in this direction