2016 MacBook Pro Denied Recommendation From Consumer Reports Due to Battery Life Inconsistencies

[kwikdeth]

No, no, no. They do not need to ditch thin. Thin works for some, maybe even a lot of people.

Apple just needs to respect diversity and also make a thicker laptop. Exactly what both America and Apple needs right now, respect for different opinions and respect for different types of computer users. Apple has turned into a biased single minded organization and screw everyone that does not share their single view of society. This is a rot that is at the core of Apple.

which is funny when you think about it, a company that loves to go on and on about diversity, and inclusion, and all that stuff... but when it comes to the design and operation of their products its one-size-fits-all, take it or leave it, or my personal favorite ive been seeing lately... "then its not for you" - so inclusive. do things our way or GTFO. toys, not tools.
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He must be good at something if he joined Apple when they were in the gutter and it is now one of the top handful of companies in the world!

no that just means he dug in like a tick and is riding the cash cow off into the sunset eventually. Steve Ballmer was a Microsoft employee the entire time they were the #1 company in the world, look how that turned out.

 

[Felix01]

My retina tb Macbook 13" lasts less than 3 hours!

Yet mine is consistently running between 9 and 9 1/2 hours using Safari.

 

[Martyimac]

I loved the 8210. My favourite phone, I think. pre iPhone.

Motorola Razr for me. Wish I still had one.

 

[steve333]

I just ordered one for free at work so I can sell it on eBay.
Maybe I'll have to lower the price! darn it

 

[deany]

He must be good at something if he joined Apple when they were in the gutter and it is now one of the top handful of companies in the world!

I think he worked well with Steve as this video shows he seems genuine and pleasant with his 'hands on' demo-

After Steve's passing he appears to have changed its almost like he thinks he owns the company.

The success of apple may have gone to his head. IMHO

 

[tentales]

Yes, exactly.
My first Apple computer was an Apple II in ninth grade. I've watched Apple at their worst, and at their best. These are not good times. Luckily with the obscene amount of cash they have in the bank, they will be able to recover at some point, but leadership needs replacement, or serious self evaluation.

Apple was more innovative and feisty when they had less cash in the bank.
Nothing like the survival mode of '96-'97 to push the do or die mantra.

Now, with too much cash, boondoggles like the car projects suck up resources with little to show for.
Meanwhile, the "Pro" computer business is being neglected by producing fashion accessory laptops for execs.
The vision used to be clear in ascending price order:
0)Mac Mini -> PC switchers, minimalists, home users, HTPC market.
1)MacBooks -> entry level users, students, etc.
2)Macbook Air -> execs, coffee shop users, etc.
3)MBP - techies, creative pros, and anyone needing CPU power and connectivity options

Now it's all muddled up. Kinda like the '96 offerings of confusing Macintosh models.

Like you, I started with the Apple II in 10th grade and except for having to work with UNIX & Windows in my professional life, I've always stayed loyal to Apple as my personal choice. Now I'm in wait-and-see mode and looking for alternatives.

 

[mackinmike]

At least Apple made headlines.

 

[robeddie]

Most people TL/DR when someone needs to use "crippled" or "tool" to validate a fantasy

When your pretty macbook 'pro' runs out of battery a couple hours into that cross country flight, using it will be a fantasy.
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That is just your opinion. I would've definitely chosen the Macbook 12 if I wasn't a bit weary about the processor being too slow for some stuff. For me the Macbook Pro is still a bit heavy and big if you're on the road all the time..

And this, folks, is the kind of customer that Apple is apparently catering to, and it's ruining the Mac line.

 

[lcseds]

Windows doesn't have a viable phone platform. Because many people own iPhones they can take advantage of iCloud & Continuity. That is priceless.

Jeez, that the best you got? I don't even use these features. Because you do doesn't mean the features are universally used and considered valuable.

 

[Burger Thing]

When your pretty macbook 'pro' runs out of battery a few hours into that cross country flight, using it will be a fantasy.
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And this, folks, is the kind of customer that Apple is apparently catering to, and it's ruining the Mac line.

And of course, robeddie, the infamous guy with a cup in his face.

He should have chosen a hand, not a cup.

Actually I was finding it too heavy and clunky and opted to take the 12" MacBook for working on location mostly. I'm really happy with the new form factor.

Now it doesn't really matter what Apple laptop you chose. They are essentially the same. Just don't forget the dongles.

By the time you won't require dongles, you will be throttled because of lack of RAM eventually. Too bad...

For Starbucks and light browsing it's perfectly fine, though.

 

[robeddie]

On another note, now Macworld is getting some licks in on the ridiculous lack of updates of apple's desktop line:

http://www.macworld.com/article/3153256/macs/apples-desktop-macs-need-some-innovation-in-2017.html

"As the Mac shifts more and more to a power machine, the truck to the iPad’s car, it may be time for Apple to take a step back and reconsider those design decisions. Does the iMac really have to be that thin to look good? Could some width be traded for performance? And while hiding away all the cables on the most recent Mac Pro made good aesthetic sense, accessing them by rotating the machine—when it’s already plugged in to a bunch of cables—isn’t necessarily a usability coup."

And ...

"At this late stage in the game, it seems likely this cry will fall on deaf ears. But when it comes to Mac desktops, there’s really no reason that Apple shouldn’t be designing its desktops with upgradeability and modularity in mind."

 

[Naimfan]

On another note, now Macworld is getting some licks in on the ridiculous lack of updates of apple's desktop line:

http://www.macworld.com/article/3153256/macs/apples-desktop-macs-need-some-innovation-in-2017.html

"As the Mac shifts more and more to a power machine, the truck to the iPad’s car, it may be time for Apple to take a step back and reconsider those design decisions. Does the iMac really have to be that thin to look good? Could some width be traded for performance? And while hiding away all the cables on the most recent Mac Pro made good aesthetic sense, accessing them by rotating the machine—when it’s already plugged in to a bunch of cables—isn’t necessarily a usability coup.

You know it's bad when Macworld questions Apple's computers . . .

 

[deany]

[I generally do the opposite of what Consumer Reports recommends as I've had horrible experience with their recommendations in the past, but I had already passed on the new MBP. Looks like I might have to reconsider it. As for the testing, the results from Consumer Reports seems very odd and I suspect that something is flawed in their testing methodology]

I've been a CU fan and subscriber for 30+ years and I'm curious what reason or evidence you have that CU has flawed testing methods. They've been EXTREMELY accurate with my tests. Their labs and methodologies are renown as the premier testing authority in the entire world. No, they aren't perfect, but I've never seen them totally drop the ball. Trust the tests-they aren't that complicated. MBP runs until the battery depletes. Next test, ditto.
Batteries are the bottleneck of technology, no big surprise that we're seeing battery issues in the mobile industry. We'll get through it.
You are disingenuous, Sir.

What puzzles me is they got better results with Chrome v Safari.
Chrome being a notorious energy hog, the results do seem odd to say the least.

 

[robeddie]

I've been complaining about how think the MacBook Pro for years. I've been waiting for it to get thinner and now I'm happy with it.

Um, I think I've said this to you before, but what on earth did you think the macbook air was for? People like YOU ... who value portability and thinness over power and expanability. Not sure why destroying the line of powerful laptops was necessary also. But whatever, enjoy your thermally throttled, battery limited laptop.

For those of us who wanted an apple laptop with something to offer other than 'thin and light', well, we're screwed now.

 

[PizzaBoxStyle]

The problem is that people naturally expected a significant update to the existing systems. And waited for the new and significantly updated version of the MacBook Pro.

Unfortunately, what Apple released was a problematic and underwhelming machine. It isn't a successor to the MacBook Pro of years past. It's an enhanced MacBook Air with the Pro name attached to it.

Kind of like when Ford released the new Mustang in the 1980's. it had the Mustang name, but it was a 2 door Ford Escort with a small V8 and a spoiler.

You got the prestige of saying you had a Mustang. But when you showed it to your friends, suddenly you were the butt of every joke.

I did own one for about a week. Unfortunately, it proved to be exactly what it looked like. An econobox with a horse emblem and a spoiler. I especially loved the finger tap wimpy beeping horn that you activated by pressing a button on the turn signal lever. No road rage there... just let me find that button, there it is.

The only thing worse than the awkward horn button was the wimpy beep that made a LeCar seem fierce by comparison. Well, ok, actually... being left in the dust by a LeCar was slightly more embarrassing.

With Apple, we're seeing a similar parallel.

We should have expected this, after seeing how the downgraded 2014 Mac Mini suddenly made the 2012 Mini more attractive.

We can expect that the eventual release of the Updated Mac Pro will be more of the same. It'll be the equivalent of going from an aging and tiring Corvette, to a rebadged Chevy Sonic. But at least we'll have the Pro badge to save our pride.

That was beautiful! I wish actual MR stories/postings were as insightful and satisfying as what you wrote here is.

And I agree 100% with your rebadging observation. It'll be interesting to see if Apple wisens up and walks back from its "Pro" title after spoiling it, and what they eventually do about their userbases lack of trust about anything Apple labeled with "Pro."

I'm envisioning a new line of "Power" prefixed machines rolling out...

 

[robeddie]

That was beautiful! I wish actual MR stories/postings were as insightful and satisfying as what you wrote here is.

And I agree 100% with your rebadging observation. It'll be interesting to see if Apple wisens up and walks back from its "Pro" title after spoiling it, and what they eventually do about their userbases lack of trust about anything Apple labeled with "Pro."

I'm envisioning a new line of "Power" prefixed machines rolling out...

Hadn't seen that post, so thank you for re-quoting him. Very well said indeed.

 

[NY Guitarist]

I thought when Apple removed the headphone.. oh wait, Magsafe.. no, uh... 'battery remaining' display it was fixed, right?
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You know it's bad when Macworld questions Apple's computers . . .

Yup, we all know it's bad, but does Apple?

 

[nocturnum]

UH, my early 2015 13" rMBP (12,1) is hardware upgradeble, at least the hard drive is. You might want to revisit this statement. You haven't noticed that before now?

Blimey, what an amazing winner of arguments you are. Do you do this on every subject you're unfamiliar with?

 

[Trixs]

And this, folks, is the kind of customer that Apple is apparently catering to, and it's ruining the Mac line.

lucky me..

 

[robeddie]

lucky me..

Lucky for you? You already had the macbook air. That was apple's computer for people like you who value thinness and lightness over everything else. Now the rest of us who wanted a little more power, battery life, expandability in a mac laptops are left out in the cold.

So I don't really see how this is lucky for you, since you already had your mac, unless you define 'lucky' as no one else getting any options besides the thing you happen to like.

 

[Brookzy]

Schiller a few moments ago:



In other words: "Tim has cancelled my Christmas to go and clean up this shower of ****..."

 

[Martyimac]

Blimey, what an amazing winner of arguments you are. Do you do this on every subject you're unfamiliar with?

Nope, just the subjects on products I own and have researched for future upgrades.

 

[valanchan]

Has anyone tried to repeat these tests?
Is anybody else seeing that Chrome is far more efficient that Safari?

Since CR holds the webpages specifically for testing, they could state what they are or make the files downloadable so we could co-oberate their results.

 

[DblHelix]

Just bought one to replace my dead late 2011 17". Will post about the battery. On my way to pick it up now. Couldn't pass up my discount. Got the one with the 512b SSD for 2600

 

[Woodcrest64]

Anybody think Apple is working on battery life for next year's MacBook Pro update due this attention on this issue?