Am I the only one choosing now to get their first Mac?

[ahoydecoy]

I've been slowly becoming more of an Apple guy - first the phone, then the watch, then the ipad - but I've stuck with Dell and Windows over Mac, mostly due to the price rather than any bias.

I decided I wanted a Macbook and waited until last week for the latest model to come out, and now I'm sort of over the shock of the price increase in the UK, I'm still going to get it. I probably would have gone for the 12" Macbook, but it's just too low spec and I don't want to spend all that money on something and then regret it, so I'm going for the 13" Pro.

However, all I see on this forum are people bemoaning the new line, saying they're boycotting them or that it's forcing them, begrudgingly, over to Windows and to Dell or similar.

I can't be the only one choosing now to go the other way?

I do understand the perspective of those who are disappointed, but for me even an insignificant update will just come across as an impressive machine. I don't plug a lot of things in, so the ports don't bother me. I would have liked an SD card reader and sure, one USB would have been great. Magsafe was a good idea, but I've never had it before and still haven't manage to trash my laptop by walking into the cable. And I don't need 32gb RAM.

Anyone think I'm making a huge mistake?

 

[keysofanxiety]

I don't think you're making a mistake. MacBook Pros are incredible machines. Even the 2015s are preposterously good.

I'd stick with a 2015 model personally and buy from a retailer rather than directly from Apple (to save some money). Historically the new models will plummet in price with the next revision, just as the Retina model did when first introduced. Either that or wait it out for as long as you can.

 

[Barnfather]

I think there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. The new 13", especially with touch-bar, looks an amazing bit of kit and once you get over the huff and bluster of price complaints or people griping because its not bleeding-edge tech inside (which Apple seldom ever use anyway), it's a great laptop and should see you right for years.

If you read these forums it's very easy to become hypnotised. It's full of people either slagging the latest release off, or maxing out the spec's at eye-wateringly high cost.

Simple thing is - very few people actually *need* the top spec, and very few people actually *need* Apple MacBook Pro's. Just like people don't need high-end Surface Books, or high end gaming laptops in order to do what most people use laptops for on a day-to-day basis. People generally gravitate towards these machines due to emotion, and that's why there is such an emotional reaction (both good and bad) when a new model is released.

Apple have always been a high end choice when it comes to computing. The price rises are not great, but will be happening over time across all tech, and it's worth remembering that this forum only represents a tiny fraction of overall Apple users.

I own a Windows laptop but rarely switch it on (I have one very rare use-case where I need to boot Windows) - my day-to-day machine is a now-vintage Macbook from 2008, and I have an iMac which is rigged up to various music kit. The base-model MBP (with Touch Bar) will be absolutely sufficient for what I need it for. I really don't care if such-and-such a component is technically 'last years revision'....in 12 months, it will all be outdated again, and again the next year and so on.

If you want absolute cutting edge latest revisions, which will be barely noticeable for the average user, then hunt out a Dell or HP or Razer laptop instead. The choices are out there.

Where you will find the biggest difference, hardware aside, is the OS. MacOS is so superior to Windows it's funny. It's not perfect, but it does what you need an OS to do - it's quick, looks good, allows quick access to what you need to run, is stable and due in part to the platform it is built on (UNIX) and in part due to the smaller market share, much more secure from attack. Also, as you have an iPhone/iPad/Watch you will love the integration with IOS - being able to take calls or send SMS from the laptop, Use iDrop to move photo's around and - I believe - being able to unlock MacOS using proximity to your Watch.

Given you are already in the Apple Ecosystem then it should be a good fit, assuming you are not married to any very Windows-specific software app.

The big hurdle is the prices - as it is for everyone. But if you can get over that, I think you are making a great choice.

 

[ahoydecoy]

I don't think you're making a mistake. MacBook Pros are incredible machines. Even the 2015s are preposterously good.

I'd stick with a 2015 model personally and buy from a retailer rather than directly from Apple (to save some money). Historically the new models will plummet in price with the next revision, just as the Retina model did when first introduced. Either that or wait it out for as long as you can.

Thanks. Yeah, unfortunately that's where my trail of logic stops. My Dell laptop is dying quickly (part of the reason I'm now keen to switch is that I buy high-spec Windows laptops for £800 thinking they're so much cheaper than Mac, but the build quality has not been as good and they just don't last very long...) so I can't really afford to wait for another cycle.

I also know I'll always be second-guessing my decision if I get an "outdated" model, so I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a new one. Question is whether to go touchbar or no touchbar. I know it's not vital or a huge improvement, but I'm a sucker for a gadget and like the idea of Touch ID (although, does my having a watch defeat the need for TouchID?). Also, as I say, I don't want to feel my laptop's outdated as soon as I've bought it.

I feel like if I'm spending the money, I might as well spend the money this time and make it last.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I feel like if I'm spending the money, I might as well spend the money this time and make it last.

That's a good mentality to have. Yeah I'd go full blooded and pony up for the 15" with 4GB dGPU (and AppleCare!)

 

[Fishrrman]

If the touchbar doesn't impress you (it doesn't impress me), the entry-level fkey MacBookPro seems to be a fair alternative.

Also consider that if the 2016 models seem overpriced, the 2015 model (at least at this time) seems to be "continued" in the product lineup.
It doesn't have the "wow" features of the 2016, but it DOES have a full complement of "legacy ports", and remains a very modern MacBook at a more reasonable price.

 

[Howard2k]

I would consider waiting 3 months for a refurb to be honest. I like the new MBPros, I think a lot of the whining is preposterous, but if your current laptop will love on for another few months the savings might be worthwhile.

Even the 2015 refurb is a great device.

 

[ahoydecoy]

That's a good mentality to have. Yeah I'd go full blooded and pony up for the 15" with 4GB dGPU (and AppleCare!)

Hmm, my idea of going all out is to go for the cheapest 13" with touchbar... I don't need the MBP for all it can do, just a decent, reliable laptop that's fairly portable and won't struggle when I'm manically working on a couple of things at once.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Hmm, my idea of going all out is to go for the cheapest 13" with touchbar... I don't need the MBP for all it can do, just a decent, reliable laptop that's fairly portable and won't struggle when I'm manically working on a couple of things at once.

Ah, you'll be fine with that then!

 

[Goatllama]

I feel like if I'm spending the money, I might as well spend the money this time and make it last.

Mine has lasted 7 years now, so I'm all for the Macbook. I'd even say get a refurbished one if you can, save some money!

 

[Dydegu]

This'll be my first Mac as well and I couldn't be more excited! Got the 15" with 1TB SSD and the better GPU.

 

[BondFancy]

First Mac here, got the base 15" switching from a 5 year old HP Pavilion. Refreshing MacRumors and order page every 10 minutes, couldn't be more excited!

 

[Barnfather]

I understand people saying 'buy the old model - it's cheaper' but that would apply to just about anything in life.

The new model may have fewer ports and be a few hundred more expensive, but has advantages too. It is the latest design so will arguably hold it's value longer (should you wish to ever sell it), the new keyboard splits opinion but many who have used it say it's easy enough to adapt to, USB-C *will* become the standard so clinging to legacy ports is fine but you'll need to move over sometime anyway, the display is better, some of the components are (marginally) quicker and, of course, it has the touch-bar - a thing where people are quick to say 'it's pointless' but where anyone who has actually used it raves about how great it is. It could be a gimmicky white-elephant or could become a standard feature over the years and looking back you may kick yourself for not ponying up for it.

If you plan on keeping the laptop for a number of years, then Apple do have a habit of slowly disabling features of new OS's for older hardware as the new versions are released (they do the same with iPhones). It may be marginal, but the latest model staves this off for at least 1yr over the 2015 model.

Ultimately I think the OP has decided to get a MBP, so it all comes down to cost.

If you can afford it, get the new 2016 MBP 13" with touch-bar.
If you can't afford that, get the 2015 MBP or the 2016 13" MBP without touch-bar.

 

[lobo1978]

probably would have gone for the 12" Macbook, but it's just too low spec and I don't want to spend all that money on something and then regret it, so I'm going for the 13" Pro

Tell us what do you need laptop for. It will be much easier to recommend you setup.

I will personally go for touchbar 13" base version as my first mac. Don't start at lower level. I made this mistake when I was switching to Mac - bought 11" MacBook Air with OSX Lion as a "plaything" and testing (950$ + dollar was dirty cheap). I had a full spec 14" Lenovo T410s with 128 SSD, 16GB RAM and Win7 beautiful and reliable machine (2000 €)*.

In a frickin week MacBook was my MAIN work machine - even with this tiny screen I was doing so much better + I get amazing apps which were not available for PC. This tiny thing was flying (even with inferior specs to lenovo thinkpad) + screen was soooo much better + battery life was twice what I was getting from thinkpad I dumped Lenovo in a corner - bought 13 MacBook Air next year and that is how my journey with macs started.

*I still have Lenovo t410s - man this machine was so expensive -> fresh copy of Win7 + SSD + 16 GB RAM and this thing is so frickin slowwwww. Hardware wise thinkpads are close to perfection IMHO but windows is a definite deal breaker for me. Moreover PCs devaluate so quickly, this Lenovo I bought for 2000 euro, after one year was worth less then 300 Euro -> from 2000€ to 300€ in a YEAR!!

BTW I see people complaining about apple prices look at the whole life cycle of the product.

You want to see expensive device - See what is a price of one year M$ Surface thing (same price range as MacBook Pro) - if it has any resell value at all.

 

[lobo1978]

You can clearly see that this kind of positive posts are not popular at Mac users forum - everybody is busy criticizing new MacBook

This is ridiculous, nobody else is interested in helping new user at Macrumors forum...

 

[Karnicopia]

I'm almost there with you. I actually picked up a mac mini as my first real mac last year but this will be my first mac book pro and I have no qualms about picking it up. Most of the problems seem to be with the price, the ports and the ram. I guess on price I was already prepared to go into this knowing it was more than a typical windows PC and the reason I was willing to pay it was because of the balance Apple seems to strike, there are PC's out there that can beat it at particular things but I like the balance they seem to strike. I also tend to keep my laptops for a long time so I'd rather pay for quality up front and keep it a while.

I'm fine with the ports, there's an adapter on amazon that replaces them all which just plugs into the side and matches the color if I need but long term I'd rather have usb c ports on a thinner laptop and just deal with that adapter for now. The gripe to me that really carries water is the RAM but I always do have a desktop PC if I need for that kind of thing so if it seems like that would kill the battery life, I'd rather have the battery life. They clearly have to make some compromises but this is a laptop so if they have to go in one direction I understand it and I'd prefer they made it a better laptop first which I think is what this particular decision is about. I guess you could say well why not keep the old form factor, pack in more RAM and a bigger battery but you could keep going down that path till you are carting around a workstation is what I'm trying to avoid. So I get that argument but I also get why they are going in a different direction. You could have probably made that argument last time they updated the form factor too so I understand why they want to progress there instead of packing more stuff into the same form factor. It's basically what makes them different in the first place. Packing more stuff into the same form factor is why my work laptop sucks so much. So I get why apple isn't going that route because of where it ends up.

So I guess overall to me it does everything I'd need it to do and should keep well into the future. I guess it isn't a radical upgrade in power from the prior generation but that seemed fine to people last year and it seems like this one does have improvements in speed internally GPU and processor so it is an upgrade internally. I guess you could say they haven't upgraded it enough but it is still improvements across the board I think. Every PC that is supposedly better is just compromised in a different way either by size, heat or battery power. All of those I think are important in a laptop and apple seems to balance them well.

 

[motime]

There is no reason to get the new machines. They are marginally better in some ways but quite a bit worse in others. They keyboard and the lack of ports are major drawbacks. Why not save a few hundred bucks and get last years models which are tried and tested? It will still make a huge difference for you. The only people buying the new machines are generally ones obsessed with buying new things for the sake of it.

 

[torana355]

Thanks. Yeah, unfortunately that's where my trail of logic stops. My Dell laptop is dying quickly (part of the reason I'm now keen to switch is that I buy high-spec Windows laptops for £800 thinking they're so much cheaper than Mac, but the build quality has not been as good and they just don't last very long...) so I can't really afford to wait for another cycle.

The reliability of the Windows Laptops is the main reason i just payed the extra for the 2016 rMBP, at least i know in 5 years time it will still run like new, that cant be said for many windows based Laptops. Also i know it will keep its value, so if i sell it in 5 years i will probably get the extra money i payed for it back. Also don't listen to people whinging about the keyboard, i think its fantastic, and if you read my post history im by no means an Apple Fanboy.

 

[myscrnnm]

I've been slowly becoming more of an Apple guy - first the phone, then the watch, then the ipad - but I've stuck with Dell and Windows over Mac, mostly due to the price rather than any bias.

I decided I wanted a Macbook and waited until last week for the latest model to come out, and now I'm sort of over the shock of the price increase in the UK, I'm still going to get it. I probably would have gone for the 12" Macbook, but it's just too low spec and I don't want to spend all that money on something and then regret it, so I'm going for the 13" Pro.

However, all I see on this forum are people bemoaning the new line, saying they're boycotting them or that it's forcing them, begrudgingly, over to Windows and to Dell or similar.

I can't be the only one choosing now to go the other way?

I do understand the perspective of those who are disappointed, but for me even an insignificant update will just come across as an impressive machine. I don't plug a lot of things in, so the ports don't bother me. I would have liked an SD card reader and sure, one USB would have been great. Magsafe was a good idea, but I've never had it before and still haven't manage to trash my laptop by walking into the cable. And I don't need 32gb RAM.

Anyone think I'm making a huge mistake?

You are not alone. I have used Windows my entire life, and will be making the transition to Mac this year when my 2016 MacBook Pro arrives. I actually had the chance to switch to Mac eight years ago when I got my last computer, a Sony VAIO Z series. At the time, it was basically the closest PC you could get to a Mac in terms of engineering - 1080p display, Blu-ray drive, carbon fiber case and aluminium keyboard frame, full-power Intel Core CPU, switchable graphics, et cetera. Eight years on, the hardware is still as strong as ever - the screen is bright with no dead pixels, the keyboard has not faded, and the keyboard frame looks the same as the day I got it. It can still run HD video and anything else I throw at it. Unfortunately, the software support is not there - this year it stopped being able to run Windows Update, I get a reminder everytime I open Chrome that my OS is no longer supported, and I can't sync my iPhone with iTunes because new versions of iTunes do not run on Windows Vista. I also can't update to a newer version of Windows because VAIO computers rely so much on proprietary drivers.

I don't think you're making a huge mistake. Apple has always offered the best user experience with their computers because they make their software for their computers and vice versa. Everything works as it should, and when it doesn't, Apple has no excuse not to rectify it. Drivers don't have to be shoehorned in because the OS doesn't support it, and it's always clear what OS update will be able to run on whatever device you have.

I can't be more impressed with the the redesigned MacBook Pros. They really are the best laptops Apple has ever made - a refinement of an already great design. Handling the non-Touch Bar model at the Apple Store affirms their commitment to quality. The fit and finish is impeccable, and the computers feel dense and solid in your hands. I think you and I will be very happy with our new computers.

 

[Davefevs]

I've been slowly becoming more of an Apple guy - first the phone, then the watch, then the ipad - but I've stuck with Dell and Windows over Mac, mostly due to the price rather than any bias.

I decided I wanted a Macbook and waited until last week for the latest model to come out, and now I'm sort of over the shock of the price increase in the UK, I'm still going to get it. I probably would have gone for the 12" Macbook, but it's just too low spec and I don't want to spend all that money on something and then regret it, so I'm going for the 13" Pro.

However, all I see on this forum are people bemoaning the new line, saying they're boycotting them or that it's forcing them, begrudgingly, over to Windows and to Dell or similar.

I can't be the only one choosing now to go the other way?

I do understand the perspective of those who are disappointed, but for me even an insignificant update will just come across as an impressive machine. I don't plug a lot of things in, so the ports don't bother me. I would have liked an SD card reader and sure, one USB would have been great. Magsafe was a good idea, but I've never had it before and still haven't manage to trash my laptop by walking into the cable. And I don't need 32gb RAM.

Anyone think I'm making a huge mistake?

Pretty much the same as me. This is the first time in my life I've been in a position financially to buy something new, i.e. Close to release. I've always used Windows, but over time, like you, have moved to iPads, iPhones and also iPad Pro. I recycle these with my family, and they keep on going. I accept the software discontinuation, but the devices still work. My laptop and desktop (both Dell) run like dogs, and I rarely boot them up, because they take an age to switch on and become usable. I'm 1) excited to be getting a new piece of kit and 2) the ability to join up my iPhone 7 (yes, I've had a spending spree) and iPad Pro. Suspect the iPad Pro will go to one of the kids shortly.

I think there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. The new 13", especially with touch-bar, looks an amazing bit of kit and once you get over the huff and bluster of price complaints or people griping because its not bleeding-edge tech inside (which Apple seldom ever use anyway), it's a great laptop and should see you right for years.

If you read these forums it's very easy to become hypnotised. It's full of people either slagging the latest release off, or maxing out the spec's at eye-wateringly high cost.

Simple thing is - very few people actually *need* the top spec, and very few people actually *need* Apple MacBook Pro's. Just like people don't need high-end Surface Books, or high end gaming laptops in order to do what most people use laptops for on a day-to-day basis. People generally gravitate towards these machines due to emotion, and that's why there is such an emotional reaction (both good and bad) when a new model is released.

Apple have always been a high end choice when it comes to computing. The price rises are not great, but will be happening over time across all tech, and it's worth remembering that this forum only represents a tiny fraction of overall Apple users.

I own a Windows laptop but rarely switch it on (I have one very rare use-case where I need to boot Windows) - my day-to-day machine is a now-vintage Macbook from 2008, and I have an iMac which is rigged up to various music kit. The base-model MBP (with Touch Bar) will be absolutely sufficient for what I need it for. I really don't care if such-and-such a component is technically 'last years revision'....in 12 months, it will all be outdated again, and again the next year and so on.

If you want absolute cutting edge latest revisions, which will be barely noticeable for the average user, then hunt out a Dell or HP or Razer laptop instead. The choices are out there.

Where you will find the biggest difference, hardware aside, is the OS. MacOS is so superior to Windows it's funny. It's not perfect, but it does what you need an OS to do - it's quick, looks good, allows quick access to what you need to run, is stable and due in part to the platform it is built on (UNIX) and in part due to the smaller market share, much more secure from attack. Also, as you have an iPhone/iPad/Watch you will love the integration with IOS - being able to take calls or send SMS from the laptop, Use iDrop to move photo's around and - I believe - being able to unlock MacOS using proximity to your Watch.

Given you are already in the Apple Ecosystem then it should be a good fit, assuming you are not married to any very Windows-specific software app.

The big hurdle is the prices - as it is for everyone. But if you can get over that, I think you are making a great choice.

Think you sum up the overall views of this forum well.

Of course all of us would've like the MBPs to be cheaper, but they're not. We just have to get on with it. You either still buy it or you don't.

 

[motime]

The other thing is that cannon lake will possibly be a significant upgrade, so the new models that just came out will probably loose a lot more value than last years model which will probably retain good value due to legacy ports. The transition to USB C on a major scale is still a few years away, you can sell the older model and purchase a new one then.

 

[Barnfather]

I think this thing about ports is a fallacy. In a couple of years time it is far more likely people will consider a machine devalued if it doesn't have USB-C connectivity.

The 2015 MBP's will also look dated quickly. Nothing personal about them - I still love the look - but it happens with all tech.

Perfectly capable machines yes, but lets not keep kidding ourselves that they are so inherently superior to the new model that they will be lusted after for years, where the new model will become a hated machine. They won't.

As for future CPU's and suchlike. It will make a difference to some, but the vast majority of people are really not bothered - plus every revision of machine will devalue the prior model. It will happen next year with the next revision of the MBP, just as it will happen now compared to the 2015 model.

 

[motime]

I think this thing about ports is a fallacy. In a couple of years time it is far more likely people will consider a machine devalued if it doesn't have USB-C connectivity.

The 2015 MBP's will also look dated quickly. Nothing personal about them - I still love the look - but it happens with all tech.

Perfectly capable machines yes, but lets not keep kidding ourselves that they are so inherently superior to the new model that they will be lusted after for years, where the new model will become a hated machine. They won't.

As for future CPU's and suchlike. It will make a difference to some, but the vast majority of people are really not bothered - plus every revision of machine will devalue the prior model. It will happen next year with the next revision of the MBP, just as it will happen now compared to the 2015 model.

- No one said it is inherently superior, what people are saying is the cost does not justify the marginal upgrade. The ports and keyboards are issues but the new mbps will obviously perform better.
- Cannon Lake should be a significant upgrade, it isn't just about raw processing power.
- Yes previous models always go down in price, however the prices this time around are absurdly high, hence in some regions the previous models actually went up in price, it isn't like any other release. If you choose to invest in the newly released macbook pros (Apart from the non touch base 13 model), chances are very high that they will devalue a lot quicker than the last gen model due to the insane price inflation.

 

[moosington]

It's my first Macbook and I'm pretty excited. I think as long as it's a good financial decision, go for it. You can replace a lot of your cords with USBC versions to work with it if needed, or get a dock (my plan), or an adapter.

 

[thestrider]

When are the new mbp with kaby lake come out? Early 2017 or late 2017 I'm planning to get one but can't wait for too long.. or should I just on with Skylake as the CPU performance will be very unnoticeable? Please help me out.