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Did Macbook pro announcement yesterday solidify a rMB for anyone?

Just ordered a rMB. I have an early 2011 15"-MBP it is battle worn and due to its size and weight seldom off the desk. When I do take it, I'm lucky to get 2 hours of battery time.

I WAITED patiently for the recent announcement, only to be underwhelmed by the new MBP line.

I no longer needed the 15" screen. So, literally just 30 min ago, after a week of research and forum surfing, took the plunge. I'll update you later today with initial thoughts.
 
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Zazoh said:
Just ordered a rMB. I have an early 2011 15"-MBP it is battle worn and due to its size and weight seldom off the desk. When I do take it, I'm lucky to get 2 hours of battery time.

I WAITED patiently for the recent announcement, only to be underwhelmed by the new MBP line.

I no longer needed the 15" screen. So, literally just 30 min ago, after a week of research and forum surfing, took the plunge. I'll update you later today with initial thoughts.
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I am literally in the exact same boat as you. I have the Early 2011 and it's nearly done. I am trying to decide between the 512 gb m5 rMB and the base 13" MBP. They are basically the same price, but the rMP has double the storage and the MBP is better in all other specs but is less portable. My needs are right on the cusp of needing a MBP and I'm just not sure if the rMP can handle it since I've never used one.

They're so close it's mind boggling for me haha.
 
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Just placed an order for a BTO m7, 256GB model - very excited!

The new non touch 13" MBP can be had for essentially the same price here in the UK. Seems mad to go for the 12" Macbook on paper as the MBP has a better CPU, better screen, faster SSD and extra port. But it's the 12" form factor and sheer portability that has won me over - I remember seeing the 2015 version in person and was amazed with it. From what I've read, it should be able to handle my uses of mainstream multitasking and occasional 1080p video editing with ease. Plus it will serve as an "iPad alternative", of which the bulk of a 13" MBP wouldn't have been able to do! :)
 
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supajam said:
Just placed an order for a BTO m7, 256GB model - very excited!

The new non touch 13" MBP can be had for essentially the same price here in the UK. Seems mad to go for the 12" Macbook on paper as the MBP has a better CPU, better screen, faster SSD and extra port. But it's the 12" form factor and sheer portability that has won me over - I remember seeing the 2015 version in person and was amazed with it. From what I've read, it should be able to handle my uses of mainstream multitasking and occasional 1080p video editing with ease. Plus it will serve as an "iPad alternative", of which the bulk of a 13" MBP wouldn't have been able to do! :)
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you will love it...enjoy! :)
 
macintoshmac said:
Because there is something called "overkill". Also, because there is the matter of judicial use of resources as well.
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And who gets to decide how others may spend their own money under the guise of "judicial use of resources"?
Should we salute as you walk by?
 
Zazoh said:
Just ordered a rMB. I have an early 2011 15"-MBP it is battle worn and due to its size and weight seldom off the desk. When I do take it, I'm lucky to get 2 hours of battery time.

I'll update you later today with initial thoughts.
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First Impressions:

1. I don't find the keyboard odd at all. There is significantly less movement in the keys when pressed, but tactile enough to not feel like I'm typing on a non-moving iPad screen.
2. Size and weight are amazing. My wife has a previous model rMBP 13" and we pulled up the same programs and websites and the slightly smaller screen was not a human performance differentiator from what I can tell.
3. Editing photos no problem and was able to Airdrop 44 photos from my iPhone in just a few seconds.
4. While the CPU and Memory specs looked less on paper than my 5 year old MBP the snappiness of this system impressed me. I have not had time to edit a short video yet, but I will do a side by side and see how that goes. Trying to find a task that will light up the Fans on the MPB and do same task on this.

I am definitely impressed with the 12" rMB so far.
 
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burgman said:
And who gets to decide how others may spend their own money under the guise of "judicial use of resources"?
Should we salute as you walk by?
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You got it wrong. I never said about controlling how people spend their money. I said in favour of selecting the right resource and the right amount of resource for the job. Wasting resources is wasting resources, whether it be computing resources or financial resources. It has got nothing to do with the other aspect of telling people what to do with their money, which was out of the purview of the discussion.

Buying a Mac Pro to watch Netflix will be called overkill. Because someone has the money he can and might do it, but was the question about doing it or was the question about choosing the apt device for the need?

Lastly, on a public forum, it is expected of you to be dignified. Of course, It is you who gets to decide if you wish to be or not. I am actually surprised at your crankiness.
 
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Zazoh said:
2. Size and weight are amazing. My wife has a previous model rMBP 13" and we pulled up the same programs and websites and the slightly smaller screen was not a human performance differentiator from what I can tell.
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That's comforting to know as the size is the only thing I'm worried about. It's perfect for using on the sofa/bed/outdoors but I'm not too sure for daily use at the office yet. I've used a 13" Thinkpad for the last 4 years so it should be okay, but time will tell.

Looking forward to your views on video editing performance!
 
supajam said:
That's comforting to know as the size is the only thing I'm worried about. It's perfect for using on the sofa/bed/outdoors but I'm not too sure for daily use at the office yet. I've used a 13" Thinkpad for the last 4 years so it should be okay, but time will tell.

Looking forward to your views on video editing performance!
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I use my 2016 rMB (m3 version) as my development device in Xcode. Got a 1440p screen that I use while at the desk (1 cable docking is awesome) but much coding has been done while on the sofa with just the 12" screen so I would say the screen works for it, can't really have 3 programs open side by side and see too much but just doing one program at a time is no problem.

I am surprised every day at the capabilities of this machine. I sit with a lot of programs open and switching between them while on the big screen and I rarely seen any sort of slow down. Xcode, Photoshop and whatnot at the same time is no problem at all.
 
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the new MBP makes the macbook look pretty good...which shows just how bad the MBP is because before it was released I thought that the macbook was a joke. If it had two ports and macbook air level battery life I would buy it. In its current version it could sure use a price decrease up here in Canada
 
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newdeal said:
the new MBP makes the macbook look pretty good...which shows just how bad the MBP is because before it was released I thought that the macbook was a joke. If it had two ports and macbook air level battery life I would buy it. In its current version it could sure use a price decrease up here in Canada
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Yea the new MBP isn't "bad" at all. Especially if you're in the market for a laptop like the rMB. I don't understand that sentiment whatsoever.
 
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just purchased a refurb 12"rMB 2015 with 1.2, 8GB and 512GB, and could not be happier, spend performance and just overall use is simply amazing, keyboard takes some getting used to after using a 13" 2012 MBP 2.5, 4GB, 512GB but I love the new MB wasn't sure about the slower ram and cpu but it performs very well, so happy I did what I did....
 
After a week I'm still struggling a little with the keyboard, but it's getting better. I'm also coming to terms with the jerky switching between desktops in Mission Control, as for the rest of the time performance is great. No issues with the single USB-C port (although Magsafe for power was better) and the screen is stunning compared with my old MBA. For it's size it really is an incredible machine, and kind of takes me back to 2008 and the original MBA.
 
Regarding the current noise about dongles, a cheap-ish Dell monitor and the Apple av adapter has reduced my connectors to two - one for my speakers and one for everything else.

I'm having problems with the MacBook though, it shipped with El Capitan - is that normal for refurbs not to have the latest OS installed?

Anyway, have done a clean rebuild as I'm getting occasional screen artefacts when moving windows; lots of spinning beachballs and some apps like iTunes just bounce in the dock and won't launch, or launch and then hang.
 
People can gripe about this spec and that benchmark. But go pick up a rMB and then even the newest MBP. The lightness and thinness, depending on usage, is a very strong selling point. The feel is worlds apart.
 
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ascender said:
Regarding the current noise about dongles, a cheap-ish Dell monitor and the Apple av adapter has reduced my connectors to two - one for my speakers and one for everything else.

I'm having problems with the MacBook though, it shipped with El Capitan - is that normal for refurbs not to have the latest OS installed?

Anyway, have done a clean rebuild as I'm getting occasional screen artefacts when moving windows; lots of spinning beachballs and some apps like iTunes just bounce in the dock and won't launch, or launch and then hang.
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Interesting mine came with El Capitan and I did the immediate upgrade have not had any issues although I had a strange problem with the battery until I did a full charge.

When I got mine, it was not charged so when I first plugged it in, it registered 0%, then up to 4%, then shutoff, so let it charge for 15 then battery started charging and working, figured I was too eager to use it and I was better off letting it get a bit of a charge before doing update to OS and installing apps. Other then the little quirk with the battery, I am loving this machine, just trying to get used to the keyboard, which will take some time.
 
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Its been a busy week of laptop swapping in the household....

Spoke with Apple and they think there's a hardware fault so I need to return it. But I can't be without a laptop this week and its a BTO refurb with the m7 chip. So options weren't great. Only one which could sort me out was to pop to the local Store and get a refund on a gift card then buy something else.

Long story short I've ended up with a 13" non-touchbar Pro which came in at £10 more expensive than the refurb I had.
 
Well after 2 days of having my m7 rMB I am regrettably returning it. For the most part I absolutely loved the machine, especially with it being fanless and ultra portable - definitely the future of computing imo. However it's just a tad short performance wise for me. Don't get me wrong, it blazes through everyday tasks and that is arguably what this machine is designed for. But I was left a bit underwhelmed when it came to using imovie or a CPU intensive game like Football Manager. I was hoping the performance increase would be substantial over my 4 year Thinkpad, particularly with the £££/$$$ I paid for the m7, so I could use it as my primary computer for years to come. Looks like I'll have to go with something more bulky to meet that requirement. :(
 
People need to be realistic about their expectations of the rMB, even the m7 version! I love mine, have loved her since the day I got her and for traveling, she's absolutely terrific. When I went on my last (very recent) trip I took both the rMB and my 9.7 iPad. Never even touched the iPad during the entire trip, didn't need to -- the rMB did everything I wanted and needed. On the trip I used it for basic tasks such as email and checking out the various forums to which I belong, but I also downloaded a couple of (short) videos and ordered something through iTunes and also through Amazon.....everything worked smoothly and quickly. Even at home I don't use my rMB for iMovie or any sort of games, so this machine really works to fulfill my needs more than satisfactorily for basic online tasks. That said, no, I do not depend upon my rMB m7 to be my primary computer; I have something else at home (15" rMBP 2015) to take care of the heavy-duty stuff.
 
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