2016/17 MBPs - Positive Experiences and User Recommendations...

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

What with all the threads about what is wrong with the 2016/17 MBPS, it seems that development/user ideas are running low and so I thought I would start this thread to encourage positive conversation about people's experiences and recommendations, particularly how TB is utilised in day to day use.

Personally, my 2016 MBP has been a sheer joy to use. I did not have to exchange my model as it was perfect out of the box. I am a lawyer and I use my MBP every day pretty much from the crack of dawn until the early hours - on trains, planes and automobiles! It gets yanked about a fair bit but treated with respect and so I am happy to report that it remains blemish free. I tend to have multiple Word, Excel, PP sheets open, with many internet tabs and various billing software open. It's all a breeze for the MBP - runs cool and quietly.

Regarding the TB, I love using the shortcuts for font changes, tab switching and auto-payment details - the latter is particularly useful. Touch ID is very convenient although Apple needs to integrate it more into their eco-system.

My only frustration to date is the pitiful range of protective sleeves available for the MBP which is incredible given the gap in the market right now.

What do you fine folks think?

WWHG.

 

[unashamedgeek]

My 2016 15" has been treating me well. It hasn't given me any problems while running 1-2 virtual machines along with some rather memory hogging Java apps and the full suite of Office program. I can't complain about it and I'd buy it again, no question. I missed the physical esc key (vim user), but after re-mapping the esc key to CapsLock, I'm much happier and now do that to all my systems. For the TB, it has become more useful overtime and now I love it and use it regularly, especially in Office.

My frustration is the lack of TB3 docks. I'm waiting for the Henge tethered dock, but it is taking a long time to come to market.

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

Hmm. I guess the silence proves that people mainly come here to complain huh...!

 

[No. 44]

Hmm. I guess the silence proves that people mainly come here to complain huh...!

Well, that's one way of looking at it.

Or one could conclude that the pesky issues covered in countless threads and reviews (speaker problems, keyboard problems, battery life problems, connectivity problems, scratches from the production process, etc.) have made it difficult for owners to "recommend" this new model.

Start a thread about the 2015 MBP, and I'll be happy to relate my "positive experiences".

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

Well, that's one way of looking at it.

Or one could conclude that the pesky issues covered in countless threads and reviews (speaker problems, keyboard problems, battery life problems, connectivity problems, scratches from the production process, etc.) have made it difficult for owners to "recommend" this new model.

Start a thread about the 2015 MBP, and I'll be happy to relate my "positive experiences".

The problems are magnified on this forum so they seem widespread - if you look at the numbers we are still talking about handfuls of people who repeat post about their issues. Those who are happy will just crack on without comment on here.

I'm content with my MBP but enjoy sharing experiences and discussing development etc.

 

[rmg13]

I came from a 15" MBP 2015 and got the new base model 15 MBP 2017. I thought the lack of I/O will be a problem but it was solved by a $35 usb hub. Aside from that small issue, I can say I'm very much satisfied with the updates on the new MBP. I use a surface pro in our office and i can say appreciate the screen of the new MBP now more than ever. I can see myself using this laptop for another 3-4 years since my usage only comprises of light FCP editing, some Photoshop and very light gaming.

 

[tarsins]

Bought the 2016 15" MacBook Pro and have had zero issues with it. I can honestly say it's the best notebook I have ever had, and I have had many. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

 

[plexdk]

I have bought the 2016 model, and have no regrets. It's the best laptop I've ever owned - perfect piece of design, machinery and stability. I mainly use it for music production/performing, and software development - and now I actually think the 15" is not bulky and heavy to transport around, as I did before.

I had to get used not to rest my fingers (which I wasn't aware of I did) on the touchbar, but now everything is great - And I even find great use for the touchbar, when it comes to writing docs, using it in Logic, and so on.

About the USB-C ports, I just bought one USB adapter, and then changed my usb cables, to usb-c. No big deal, and I now I dont even need an adapter for my own devices anymore.
It's just like when they removed the CD drive, or firewire 400 and replaced it with the firewire 800 port.
Adapt in the start, and then forget all about it

Oh and that keyboard - I was fast at typing before, (I never look at the keys), but now its even faster.. The new wireless apple keyboard is almost in the same league, but when I get back to my work's 2014 MacBook Pro, it feels super mushy, and my type rate decreases - didn't expect that.

I have had no issues with it, but I do hear a click sometimes from the chassis, dont know what it is?

 

[leman]

Best all-purpose laptop I've ever used, period. I am very puzzled by all the described issues — we have at least 15 2016+ MBP laptops in operation now and I've never had a single complaint. If the problems were as widespread as some suggest, surely at least some of our units would be defective.

 

[Sterkenburg]

Here are my impressions as an owner of a maxed-out 2016 15” MBP. Aside from a few minor hiccups, they are very positive.

My usage is generally the following. Heavy tasks: scientific computing, machine learning, numerical simulations (in Matlab, Python or C). Medium tasks: amateur photo and video editing. Light tasks: browsing, mail, watching movies, playing music, writing documents, coding. Performance is blazing fast on anything I throw at it.

Design and build quality are great, easily the most beautiful and well-crafted machine I have ever owned, perfect balance of size and weight. It has the most gorgeous screen I have ever seen in a laptop. The lack of 4K resolution is not a real issue for the current screen sizes, the excellent brightness, contrast and color accuracy are in my opinion far more important. Speakers are also the best I have ever heard on a portable machine.

About the Touch Bar: although I am generally quicker using trackpad+keys, I don’t hate it and I found it to be quite useful as a slider. Software support needs to improve, though, and the lack of haptic feedback is mildly annoying.

Keyboard: once you adapt to a lighter typing style and stop hammering the keys, it’s a good keyboard, and after a few months of use I’m finding it to be even more precise than the one in my old MBP. the trackpad is also great, no problems with the big size. There’s still nothing in the non-Apple world that comes even close to a MBP trackpad.

Connectivity is the best of any laptop on the market, once you realize how to turn USB-C to your advantage. Buy a few cables and make the switch to the new standard right away, you will quickly forget about it and realize how great it is to have a single port that can do anything. The SD slot could have stayed but it’s not a deal breaker.

Regarding QC issues: I was generally lucky, but my keyboard is admittedly not perfect. The keys are prone to getting sticky, one of them has malfunctioned intermittently (now it seems ok…), and they tend to mark the screen easily. This is the only objective complaint I have about my Mac, everything else has been working perfectly so far.

Verdict: great combination of power, flexibility and design, and one of the best machines I have ever used. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who can afford it.

 

[Patcell]

I have been extremely happy with my 2017 15". Although I have only had it for about two and a half weeks... I upgraded from a 2014 15", and there is a performance increase (particularly with the GPU). There is no contest between the GT 750M and the Radeon Pro 560. I very much enjoy the new form factor - there is an appreciable difference between the two in a backpack for messenger bag.

Again, only two weeks in, but no issues so far. I really hope it stays that way! I bought the AppleCare+ just in case...

As som have said, I do think that issues tend to get a bit overblown on forums like these - the primary reason people start a thread is to get help or advice with an issue that has arisen. Not saying people are complainers at all, there just isn't much of a reason to post unless there is a problem.

I love my 2017 15" and I would easily recommend to anyone how can make use of it. Great machine!

 

[jerryk]

I am holding off on upgrading from my 2015 15" until the CoffeeLake chips are available in 2018. If Intel is to be believed, they will have a 30% performance increase. And 6 cores is nice for my multi-threaded applications.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Love mine (15"), no issues. Love being able to just pick up a USB-C to whatever cable whenever I need it, not faffing with TB to HDMI, or HDMI to DVI, or this to that; essentially having dozens of specific use cables sucks, so that's nice.

Love the power and portability, able to carry it around just as easily as my 13" 2011, easily did some work whilst in a queue for some dim sum the other day. The screen is great, the keyboard is great, the trackpad is great, the TB is ... in need of work ... but vaguely useful, more useful for me than functionless F keys (Shortcuts are not F based in apps I use). Battery life has been incredible, I'm so used to having to keep it on charge and when I take it into the bedroom to hook up to the TV to watch a film on Netflix, I'm still rushing to plug it back in only to see it still has 90% life. Really like being able to plug the power cable in wherever I want and just easily plug stuff around.

Love it, best laptop I've had. People will complain/hate, people will always complain/hate, people either need a new computer or they want to hate something to justify holding onto something. 2015 MacBook was also a great machine, but it's bulky and lacks modern IO so I passed and am very glad I did. No issues that a clean hasn't fixed, and otherwise has been very stable with zero problems.

For some people the 2015 is a better buy, but a lot of the complaints I see have been instances of defects (All things experience this, Apple are known to have the best service structure at least), or just bizarre complaints such as lacking a glowing apple logo, or putting "MacBook Pro" on the front... It's fair if you don't like the aesthetics, but I brought the computer to work, I think it looks good but that's a secondary issue surely?
[doublepost=1500475571][/doublepost]

I am holding off on upgrading from my 2015 15" until the CoffeeLake chips are available in 2018. If Intel is to be believed, they will have a 30% performance increase. And 6 cores is nice for my multi-threaded applications.

I fear you'll get trapped by a rumour mill with that one. Just hold onto the 2015 and upgrade when you need to. They will likely have a 20-30% performance increase over previous generation (As they usually do), but I wouldn't hold my breath for much else.

 

[Trolle]

Love mine (15"), no issues. Love being able to just pick up a USB-C to whatever cable whenever I need it, not faffing with TB to HDMI, or HDMI to DVI, or this to that; essentially having dozens of specific use cables sucks, so that's nice.

Love the power and portability, able to carry it around just as easily as my 13" 2011, easily did some work whilst in a queue for some dim sum the other day. The screen is great, the keyboard is great, the trackpad is great, the TB is ... in need of work ... but vaguely useful, more useful for me than functionless F keys (Shortcuts are not F based in apps I use). Battery life has been incredible, I'm so used to having to keep it on charge and when I take it into the bedroom to hook up to the TV to watch a film on Netflix, I'm still rushing to plug it back in only to see it still has 90% life. Really like being able to plug the power cable in wherever I want and just easily plug stuff around.

Love it, best laptop I've had. People will complain/hate, people will always complain/hate, people either need a new computer or they want to hate something to justify holding onto something. 2015 MacBook was also a great machine, but it's bulky and lacks modern IO so I passed and am very glad I did. No issues that a clean hasn't fixed, and otherwise has been very stable with zero problems.

For some people the 2015 is a better buy, but a lot of the complaints I see have been instances of defects (All things experience this, Apple are known to have the best service structure at least), or just bizarre complaints such as lacking a glowing apple logo, or putting "MacBook Pro" on the front... It's fair if you don't like the aesthetics, but I brought the computer to work, I think it looks good but that's a secondary issue surely?
[doublepost=1500475571][/doublepost]

I fear you'll get trapped by a rumour mill with that one. Just hold onto the 2015 and upgrade when you need to. They will likely have a 20-30% performance increase over previous generation (As they usually do), but I wouldn't hold my breath for much else.

We're actually conditioned to find problems.

 

[malikkamran]

6 hours is battery life 2017 13 touchbar mbp

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Picked up my 2017 15" MBP last month and am loving it. Had to adjust to the shallower keyboard, but I've had to adjust to shallower keyboards ever since I switched from manual to electric typewriter.

My heaviest use at the moment is Xcoding, which I have zero issues with. Other than coding I just do web surfing and other light activities. Play with GarageBand / Mainstage a bit as well.

Battery life seems good, though I haven't been away from power outlets long enough to go below 80% yet. Estimates are just that, so until I actually run the battery dry I'm not going to speculate about battery times.

Screen is amazing. This is my first retina laptop, and the screen is gorgeous. Seems like the High Sierra beta makes better use of this screen as well, maybe Metal 2: Electric Boogaloo paints prettier pictures than Metal 1. *shrug*

I'm digging the touch bar. Makes working with Photos more efficient for me, especially when combined with keyboard shortcuts and touchpad gestures. Really felt like a warm welcome into touchbar land. Starting to use touch bar shortcuts more often and will probably snag Better Touch Tool at some point because everywhere people like their touch bar it seems that BTT is one of the reasons why people are happy.

Other than installing software/updates and activating FileVault encryption, I haven't heard the fans on this machine. I've done zero gaming yet so I'm sure that has helped.

I will say, the expense of the new 15" MBP gave me pause. I haven't paid this much for an Apple product since I snagged the 3,499 Titanium PBG4 back in 2001. The late 2008 MBP this laptop replaced I picked up for $650 off on Apple's refurb store the day after the 2009 models came out, so 1,349 for a 15" MBP with dGPU. My new MBP cost double that.

 

[negativzero]

Love my 2017. Sold off my 2012 non-retina for this. The 2012 performed decently, but it was a real furnace and the fans would spin even on some light web browsing.

My 2017 on the other hand, will take whatever I throw at it and not break a sweat. Haven't heard the fans crank up even once in the 2 weeks I've had it. The touch ID and ApplePay is real convenient, and the touchbar is more useful than people give it credit for. Scrolling and switching tabs is easier and with BetterTouchTool, it becomes a real game changer.

As for USB-C. It was pretty easy to swap out all the old cables for USB-C versions. Now, I just plug in whatever cable I want to for any device. I have a dongle for some HDMI stuff and SD cards but thats about it. I was going to buy a $300 dock/dongle but swapping out the old cables is cheaper and has a smaller footprint.

Loving my 2017 15" thats for sure.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

^^ See!?! There it is again! Better Touch Tool, LOL!

Forgot to mention, USB-C just caused me to get a dongle for the cables I can't upgrade and a new cable to use with my external USB-3 HDD. I don't understand all the spleen-venting over this. It's forward looking, yet can also emulate any prior port. How awesome is that? Anything (including power) can be plugged into any port.

My last MBP required a single for HDMI out, so needing the same for this model is nothing new for me. Just missed out on all the models where it was built in, LOL.