2018 MBP 13"

[Harlowgold1]

Next week, I should receive my new 2018 13" MBP, 500GB HD, & 16gig's of RAM. I'm so excited to downsize from my hefty 15" MBP. Although, I'm terrified as to what my experience will be like with the Touchbar. I love the idea of the fingerprint reader, but apprehensive as to it's functionality. It seems more like an aesthetic than anything else . Keeping my fingers crossed! Hugs to all! Jenny

 

[TinaBelcher]

Congrats

 

[Harlowgold1]

Just expressing joy/apprehension. If you would like Tina I will remove my post. I didn't mean to bother anyone.

 

[mcpix]

I'm sure you'll love your new 13" MBP! I have a 15" 2015 MBP that I use for a lot of my work, but my preferred laptop is my 2017 13" tbMBP (I'm using it now!). The touchbar is a little gimmicky, but there isn't anything I don't like about it and Touch ID is great. Now that the 13" has a quad core processor, I'm tempted to sell my 2017 and buy a new 2018 13" (same specs as yours). Although I initially missed MagSafe, I really like the fact that I can plug my power cord into either side. Enjoy your new computer!

 

[SaddleSC]

Next week, I should receive my new 2018 13" MBP, 500GB HD, & 16gig's of RAM. I'm so excited to downsize from my hefty 15" MBP. Although, I'm terrified as to what my experience will be like with the Touchbar. I love the idea of the fingerprint reader, but apprehensive as to it's functionality. It seems more like an aesthetic than anything else . Keeping my fingers crossed! Hugs to all! Jenny

Congrats! I just ordered the same configuration to replace my 2016 13" with 8/256. I am a person that really loves the Touch Bar. My wife has the base model without it and whenever I am on her machine I really miss it. I like the slider for the volume and the quick access to custom shortcuts in a lot of the apps I use (like Ulysses for example). It takes about a week to get used to it and then you will love it!

 

[TinaBelcher]

Just expressing joy/apprehension. If you would like Tina I will remove my post. I didn't mean to bother anyone.

Don’t feel bad. You’re allowed to be happy, I’m excited for mine, too. I just thought thought you were unsure of something that you needed an answer to.

 

[Harlowgold1]

Well, would love to get reassurance about the touchbar. But, I guess it's all in personal preference. Excited/Nervous
[doublepost=1532016873][/doublepost]That's so good to hear! Thanks for sharing!

Congrats! I just ordered the same configuration to replace my 2016 13" with 8/256. I am a person that really loves the Touch Bar. My wife has the base model without it and whenever I am on her machine I really miss it. I like the slider for the volume and the quick access to custom shortcuts in a lot of the apps I use (like Ulysses for example). It takes about a week to get used to it and then you will love it!

 

[macintoshmac]

Don’t feel bad. You’re allowed to be happy, I’m excited for mine, too. I just thought thought you were unsure of something that you needed an answer to.

Nah, for a change, we have a genuinely excited and *only* happy user who has nothing to be sad about, nothing to complain about, just looking forward to a very good computing device. It's the Apple honeymoon phase for her.

 

[Nozuka]

Well, would love to get reassurance about the touchbar. But, I guess it's all in personal preference. Excited/Nervous

I get the feeling.
But then i remember that i don't use the F-Keys alot... so it should be fine for me

 

[macintoshmac]

Well, would love to get reassurance about the touchbar. But, I guess it's all in personal preference. Excited/Nervous
[doublepost=1532016873][/doublepost]That's so good to hear! Thanks for sharing!

The Touch Bar is a fantastic addition to a user's workflow if they are not way too set in their workflows and can accommodate a slight shift in the workflow. It allows new levels of interactivity with software that utilises the Touch Bar and it works great.

 

[Painter2002]

The Touch Bar is a fantastic addition to a user's workflow if they are not way too set in their workflows and can accommodate a slight shift in the workflow. It allows new levels of interactivity with software that utilises the Touch Bar and it works great.

I second this. Unless you are used to using the functions keys on a daily basis (like say, programming for example), then you won't miss them that much. It's largely been a sticking point for people who use function keys for productivity needs and are used to having commands and macros attached to specific function keys.

Enjoy your new MacBook Pro!

 

[DeepIn2U]

I second this. Unless you are used to using the functions keys on a daily basis (like say, programming for example), then you won't miss them that much. It's largely been a sticking point for people who use function keys for productivity needs and are used to having commands and macros attached to specific function keys.

Enjoy your new MacBook Pro!

And those that require Function keys can quickly and easily switch and hold or switch and temporary switch back

 

[macintoshmac]

The fn keys still behave exactly like they did, only, they lost tactile feedback. When you hit the fn key, Touch Bar shows all fn keys. What the devs (mostly) are not liking is the fact that there is no feel to it and consequently they are hitting the Touch Bar often and with different results depending on where they hit it.

Somehow, they haven't yet gotten accustomed to it.

 

[DeepIn2U]

The fn keys still behave exactly like they did, only, they lost tactile feedback. When you hit the fn key, Touch Bar shows all fn keys. What the devs (mostly) are not liking is the fact that there is no feel to it and consequently they are hitting the Touch Bar often and with different results depending on where they hit it.

Somehow, they haven't yet gotten accustomed to it.

I still argue anyone my age or older 1973 kid, was ever taught to type or touch type on the Fn keys. Most people with small to averse age size hands have to lift up to reach. Function keys are not extensively used - in the corporate setting as often to require touch typing. Programmers I don’t know but I’m willing to wager still not required for touch typing. Then again maybe you’re referring to the physical mission of the keys. Didn’t we all get over this back in 2007? Hehe.

Either way TouchBar is supplement to the end user going to be using it.

 

[Painter2002]

I still argue anyone my age or older 1973 kid, was ever taught to type or touch type on the Fn keys. Most people with small to averse age size hands have to lift up to reach. Function keys are not extensively used - in the corporate setting as often to require touch typing. Programmers I don’t know but I’m willing to wager still not required for touch typing. Then again maybe you’re referring to the physical mission of the keys. Didn’t we all get over this back in 2007? Hehe.

Either way TouchBar is supplement to the end user going to be using it.

I will agree with the learning part, however as a business analyst, I use the function keys extensively on my Windows work machine, and I have learned where they are by feel through constant (and I mean constant) use. I can say that if I lost that "touch" feel of the function keys, I would take a bit to get accustomed to touching a single flat surface.

On my MacBook though, I mostly do photo editing or word processing, so I never really learned to use the function bar on a comprehensive level. For me personally, I find the "adaptive" nature of the Touch Bar to be useful in the apps that I use on my Mac.

In any case I can see where some complain about the Touch Bar on a business application level, but in the end, we all know technology never stays the same and is ever evolving. You have to learn to adapt as it changes, and as a rule, us humans don't like change, and aren't always that willing to learn new ways of doing things. I personally have adapted and love it, as I am sure many others do as well.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I will agree with the learning part, however as a business analyst, I use the function keys extensively on my Windows work machine, and I have learned where they are by feel through constant (and I mean constant) use. I can say that if I lost that "touch" feel of the function keys, I would take a bit to get accustomed to touching a single flat surface.

On my MacBook though, I mostly do photo editing or word processing, so I never really learned to use the function bar on a comprehensive level. For me personally, I find the "adaptive" nature of the Touch Bar to be useful in the apps that I use on my Mac.

In any case I can see where some complain about the Touch Bar on a business application level, but in the end, we all know technology never stays the same and is ever evolving. You have to learn to adapt as it changes, and as a rule, us humans don't like change, and aren't always that willing to learn new ways of doing things. I personally have adapted and love it, as I am sure many others do as well.

Ah ... you must be a Bloomberg or Reuters One terminal user (software or the full out Bloomberg keyboard).

Good to have your input.

Now I have to figure out if it’s best to order mine here in Toronto for home delivery or store delivery??

 

[Gudd]

I think the touch bar is the best thing since sliced bread. I'm a developer and switch between different IDEs for different languages and stuff often enough that I can never remember which debug keys are mapped where in which IDE. If the IDE supports it (like Jetbrains now does) then it's great to actually have the 'Step Over', 'Step Into' etc., etc. actually change according to the situation. Not to mention stuff like 'Go to Declaration' 'Show Usages' etc. actually there in context without having to remember it.

The hardest part is to retrain my muscle memory to actually use the keys instead of the mouse given that I had given up on remembering which key was which and had just taken to clicking instead

The biggest shame is that Apple don't sell an external keyboard with a touch bar. I'd be all over that. Well, probably not as they'd probably want insane money for it.

To the OP: hopefully you'll love it - enjoy your new purchase.

 

[BayouTiger]

People forget that Macs didn’t even have F-keys until relatively recently. I think that the TB has nice potential. I wish they had kept the ESC key though.

 

[DougFNJ]

Congratulations! I look forward to reading about your thoughts. I feel this has been the MacBook Pro I have been wanting for years. Its like having the 15 inch specs in the size of a 13 inch. I personally like the Touch Bar. I dont use it constantly, but I do find it handy in Word for instance where I can just use the Touch Bar for Word docs changing fonts, bullet points, and color. I like it with web browsing where I can switch between pages. I like the slide for brightness and sound. It didnt change the way I compute, just made it a little more convenient.

 

[zshane1125]

Whats ur reasoning for going for the 13"? I travel quiet a bit and after using the 13 and 15, I actually prefer the 15. With the new design, it is so thin and light, with a small foot print, the portability is not an issue.

You get 2" more screen real estate
2 extra cores
discrete graphics card
better speakers.
option for 32ram
options for more storage.

 

[PeterJP]

People forget that Macs didn’t even have F-keys until relatively recently. I think that the TB has nice potential. I wish they had kept the ESC key though.

Are you sure? I just googled for the PowerBook G4 keyboard. The machine was launched in 2001 and had fn keys.

I'm also in the lucky position of not needing them, but I know plenty who do. I do need the ESC, however. On international keyboards, Apple has an extra key next to the left shift so I remapped that to what used to be the top left key (` accent). Now the top le#t is free to remap as ESC. I got used to that quickly, even after 20+ years of using my previous layout. Looking forward to using the touchbar now, because I think it's a brilliant thing.

 

[roland.g]

Next week, I should receive my new 2018 13" MBP, 500GB HD, & 16gig's of RAM. I'm so excited to downsize from my hefty 15" MBP. Although, I'm terrified as to what my experience will be like with the Touchbar. I love the idea of the fingerprint reader, but apprehensive as to it's functionality. It seems more like an aesthetic than anything else . Keeping my fingers crossed! Hugs to all! Jenny

There is a support group, FKA, that can help you with your anxiety.

Function Keys Anonymous meets here, post by post, second by second at MacRumors Forums.

 

[Harlowgold1]

OMG That's so me and so funny!!! I'm cool with the FKeys it's the ESC Key that worries me!

There is a support group, FKA, that can help you with your anxiety.

Function Keys Anonymous meets here, post by post, second by second at MacRumors Forums.

 

[maflynn]

Congrats on your new baby.

 

[Harlowgold1]

I hear what you're saying! I debated this, but my iMac is my powerhouse. I may very well regret the size difference. However, being in marketing and traveling, I look forward to portability and not having a laptop cover my lap and the person next to me : ) .

Whats ur reasoning for going for the 13"? I travel quiet a bit and after using the 13 and 15, I actually prefer the 15. With the new design, it is so thin and light, with a small foot print, the portability is not an issue.

You get 2" more screen real estate
2 extra cores
discrete graphics card
better speakers.
option for 32ram
options for more storage.