I'm three days in with my studio's new 15" MacBook Pro (3.1Ghz, 16GB, 1TB SSD). My background is as a professional Apple user, these machines form an integral component of our business and studio, where these machines are worked on at least 10 hours per day and invariably run 24/7. We don't put skins on, we don't sugarcoat things and we certainly don't buy expensive equipment unless we've considered all of our options and have made the decision because we require it. Everyone one of us at my studio is a huge fan of Apple design and have been Apple users for anywhere between 10-20 years. I'd like to think of us as experienced, non-judgemental and fairly impartial users.
My thoughts so far are (and accompanying necessary purchases):
- OWC 10-port USB-C dock (initially for Mac Pro 5,1 with USB-C PCie card, now being used interim until TB3 dock arrives)
- OWC 13-port Thunderbolt 3 dock (pending)
- CharJenPro Premium MacStick Adapter (pending)
- 1x Apple USB-C to USB-A adapter
- 1x Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapter
- 1x Apple USB-C to Lightning cable
Pros
- Beautiful design, slim and noticeably lighter than the 2014 and 2015 MBP 15s we have in the studio.
- Has a slightly stronger aluminium feel to it than the 2014 model at least. It feels more rigid and less brittle.
- Gorgeous screen, bright and vivid.
- My first space grey Apple product and I'm in love.
- Hardware design is brilliant, as always.
- Touch Bar: novel and interesting look at touch screen hybrid implementation for the future.
Cons
- Hardware design restricts hardware port selection.
- The Touch Bar promises much for the future but in its current state is sadly underwhelming. To those who don't know their keyboard shortcuts, it may prove some use but for the rest of us, it feels like a wasted opportunity.
- Negotiating the pitfalls and complexities of Active / Passive (data / charging? lol) USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 and the adapter / cable minefield is literally a minefield. I'm not the biggest tech expert but I am very far away from the average consumer and there are moments where if I put myself into the shoes of someone whose company didn't pay for this machine and all its cables, docks and adapters, I would be pissed at the situation.
- The necessity of either purchasing a third party (!) US$300 Thunderbolt 3 dock (for maximum speed / throughput); US$160 USB-C dock (some limitations) or US$80 USB-C plugin hub OR going down the 'Let's purchase a new cable for every device I own' is putting the average consumer in a tight corner. It's not ideal. As a working professional who is used to (my) company paying for an almost constant stream of small-medium-large tech upgrades every week or so, this is acceptable (with one eye on the long term) but for everyone else but hardcore Apple geeks, this leaves an unpleasant taste in one's mouth. The current state of third party USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 solutions (external SSD, hubs, docks, cables) is far from mature as well.
- Removing MagSafe and putting it on the unreliable third party industry was an error I feel. I would like to think Apple would have implemented this much more successfully than the options on the market right now. Right now, I'm in fear of someone walking past and accidentally tripping over the cable and snapping or bending something. MagSafe has saved me at least 10 times off the top of my head with my 2014 MBP, either on location, in studio or overseas.
- Cables, cables, cables. And bloody adapters and docks. Grr.
I'm 75% overjoyed, 15% pissed at seeming missteps and 10% wishing Apple would change tack and overhaul its strategy towards its 'Pro' line.
