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Can you elaborate on that last bit, please? What happens when you press underneath, exactly..?
The metal isnt as strong as it was with the older Macbook Pro. It flexes and makes some noise, but this wont happen when you dont press it down.
 
The metal isnt as strong as it was with the older Macbook Pro. It flexes and makes some noise, but this wont happen when you dont press it down.

Oh, great... my old rMBp had that exact problem – creaking and clicking from the bottom panel when you picked it up or pressed it near the centre. I hoped the more dense internal layout of the new model might have fixed that.
 
I didn't like the trackpad at the very first. I downloaded 'Better touch tool' and made a few tweaks. It's fine.

It's just really large and it takes some getting used to. Apple obviously tested the hell out of it and decided it was better. They DID NOT use a cheap $15 Chinese trackpad, as a poster intimated (kidding).

So, i'm thinking in the long run better, with a little learning curve. Don't know.

(actually, on second thought, it probably did cost them around $15, and it is made in China :oops: )

BTW, I've used Carbon Copy Cloner about 50 times with no issues. This time I tried migration tool, and ended up with a non-functioning piece of junk.
 
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I currently have a mid 2015 MBP 15" fully maxed out and really to be honest don't need all this horse power.

But got carried away and the Apple Shiny product won me over....I ended up ordering the 2016 MBP 15" nearly maxed out and was going to cost me 3,500 UK pounds...The whole weekend it felt wrong to pay that much for a single Laptop.

So I decided I could buy a refurb 5K iMac and 13" non touch-bar 2016 MBP for the same money

So bought the 13" tonight.....in Space Grey....looks stunning and is very small :cool:

Got it home and yes I have tested the keyboard in the Apple store.....but oh my god its horrible. Yes I can type just as fast, maybe faster on the new keyboard, but the feel and noise. It just doesn't feel right, feels cheap, light and hollow. The keys don't move and i'm sure it will not fall apart but doesn't feel good.

Plus they don't light up....I don't need to see the keys to type I don't really look at the keyboard but I do sometimes when using the shift and number keys to see the characters above the numbers, makes it harder when it doesn't light up....trust me

Then the track pad.....its far to big. Yes it doesn't click stuff when you rest you hand/s on it, but you feel it move underneath....horrible

Then there is the noise of the click, again it feels and sounds cheap.

This laptop doesn't feel PRO to me, it looks STUNNING in space grey and looks PRO, but doesn't feel PRO

One plus....the speakers are loud, louder than my 15", maybe not as much bass much loud and clear

This isn't a mini review or even a review but might help folks out there sitting on the fence currently

It might well be going back and the quickest Apple return i've done.

what? the keys are not backlit on the new pros? is it the same with the touchbar models?
I had the macbook air which had no key backlight and it was bugging, very handy in low light. Firsu macbook air was backlit, second they removed it, then they brought it back
 
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The keys on the new MBP are certainly backlight. To the OP, see F5 and F6? Those are the keys to turn the backlighting up and down. And if you are in bright light, yes they don't turn on because it's not needed. Go into a dark room and hold down F6.
 
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You can read (and watch) my impressions here (longest review I've ever written in 15 years, but the video is a reasonable length LOL): http://www.mobiletechreview.com/notebooks/13-inch-Apple-MacBook-Pro-Late-2016.htm

Have already watched your video review, excellent and and unbiased as ever :) similar to many I am disappointed with the 2016 update of the MBP. Pricing simply is not reflective of the specifications, with Apple moving the MBP to a more consumer based paradigm. I was in the market for two MBP`s 13" will now be a Surface Book, 15" remains to be seen 2015 MBP is not out the running, however interest has certainly diminished.

Q-6
 
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How can a trackpad can be too big? I mean, what's the downside??

The downside is when the keyboard is too small, and the keyboards on the new macbooks are way too small. I went from a 2012 retina MacBook pro to this alienware 13 r2 oled, and the keyboard is absolutely perfect, big keys, rgb lighting, and there's nothing technically wrong with the trackpad, it's fluid and as fast as my old MacBook pros, but... it's too small lol

At least this thing has an oled touch screen, which definitely helps. But nothing is perfect and it sucks
 
What does that even mean to "feel pro"? That kind of language sounds like bro-talk. I tried out the 13" MacBook Pro without the TouchBar for myself and it was so wonderful I almost walked out of the store with one.
 
What does that even mean to "feel pro"? That kind of language sounds like bro-talk. I tried out the 13" MacBook Pro without the TouchBar for myself and it was so wonderful I almost walked out of the store with one.

This is a pretty common sentiment with Lenovo taking over the hardware side from IBM over the past decade or so the 'feel' of the devices, little things like creaks and rattles or additional noise and flex denote the perceived lack of quality. The feel of a keyboard and trackpad, the weight of the keyboard switches and the actuation force required as well, accuracy and speed of typing, etc.. all intangible things that are really personal impressions.
 
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Lisa,

Does his impression of the keyboard match with yours?
I tried the new 13" MBP today. I really like the keyboard. I did not like the MacBook keyboard. This one does feel like it has more travel. Despite my familiarity with the keys on my mid-2010 MBP, I could get used to the new ones (whereas I strongly disliked those on the MacBook). Try it for yourself.
 
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This is a pretty common sentiment with Lenovo taking over the hardware side from IBM over the past decade or so the 'feel' of the devices, little things like creaks and rattles or additional noise and flex denote the perceived lack of quality. The feel of a keyboard and trackpad, the weight of the keyboard switches and the actuation force required as well, accuracy and speed of typing, etc.. all intangible things that are really personal impressions.
Those are tangible things though. They're all the result of how good the fit and finish of these products are, and a reflection of the quality of materials used in them. That being said, the 2016 MacBook Pros I have handled at the Apple Store so far don't seem to be any worse than those from the previous generation, and still ahead of most PC notebooks.
 
Those are tangible things though. They're all the result of how good the fit and finish of these products are, and a reflection of the quality of materials used in them. That being said, the 2016 MacBook Pros I have handled at the Apple Store so far don't seem to be any worse than those from the previous generation, and still ahead of most PC notebooks.

Had my hands on one today, looked and felt top notch. Display is stunning, everything felt tight. New trackpad is quality. Can't wait for my 15 to arrive now.
 
I patiently waited for the 2016 rMPBs and was going to splurge on a 15" until I saw the prices (and the specs, ports). My mid-2010 MBP is getting balky and wonky, even after a $300+ repair two years ago.

Now I am thinking of using (while I still can) my mid-2010 MBP for certain apps (Scrivener, iStudio, a couple of Mac games), but buying a Windows computer for most tasks. I'm looking at the 15" Lenovo Yoga 710. I hate Microsoft, after suffering through their 1990s software, but Apple's 2016 eMBP prices are just too high.
 
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Hey Lisa. I dig your reviews. They always seem well balanced.
So this freak out over apple is more unusual than usual...does apple's direction worry you?

Thanks- glad you enjoy the reviews :) I'm not happy with Apple's current direction for "Pro" laptops. It think it's just fine and dandy if they want to make a really high end Ultrabook that's not Pro in terms of features but suits a certain segment's needs. If they called this the 13" MacBook, I'd be down with that (err, maybe not the prices though). But I like my Pro Mac laptops to have currently still in use ports, a very good (normal) keyboard, good dedicated graphics for the 15", and to not be priced 50% to twice as high as the competition for the similar hardware. I've paid the Mac tax for years at 20 to even 30 percent at times, but these prices are just not good. They're in danger of losing all those Windows switchers who came on board with the more affordable (though still expensive) 13" MacBook Air, and veteran Mac users who don't have that kind of money to spend. I already own a 2015 15" Retina MacBook Pro, so I'll personally wait to see what Apple does in the future.
 
They're in danger of losing all those Windows switchers who came on board with the more affordable (though still expensive) 13" MacBook Air, and veteran Mac users who don't have that kind of money to spend. I already own a 2015 15" Retina MacBook Pro, so I'll personally wait to see what Apple does in the future.

Though I like your review, I'm not sure I agree with any of this. Anyone going down from a Macbook to a cheaper windows machine will instantly understand why the Macs cost more, and go back as fast as they can. And your own statement that you have a 2015 MBP suggests veteran Mac users do have that kind of money to spend. In fact, those are exactly the people who have that kind of money to spend. Apple's just trying to get more of it.

The prices are high, but I'm certain the laptop will stand or fall on the quality. If it stands the test of time, and years from now many are saying (as they are now) "I'm still rocking my 4 year old MBP so I don't need to upgrade," then Apple will have continued to prove their prices reflect value.

If it is plagued by problems, this flagship will become a major iceberg.
 
Those are tangible things though. They're all the result of how good the fit and finish of these products are, and a reflection of the quality of materials used in them. That being said, the 2016 MacBook Pros I have handled at the Apple Store so far don't seem to be any worse than those from the previous generation, and still ahead of most PC notebooks.

I agree that the feel is top notch.
I also feel that my opinion of an what is essentially a personal opinion based on prior experience with other manufacturers machines isn't effectively tangible, you can poll/survey for it, but you can't measure it like you could a benchmark % increase.

@OP; did you ever check the backlight? Did the machine go back already? I got the chance to use a 13 no-touchbar MBP in the store today and spent the whole 30 minutes typing... on the backlit keyboard...
 
The downside is when the keyboard is too small, and the keyboards on the new macbooks are way too small. I went from a 2012 retina MacBook pro to this alienware 13 r2 oled, and the keyboard is absolutely perfect, big keys, rgb lighting, and there's nothing technically wrong with the trackpad, it's fluid and as fast as my old MacBook pros, but... it's too small lol

At least this thing has an oled touch screen, which definitely helps. But nothing is perfect and it sucks
If anything the new macbook and macbook pro keyboards are technically bigger. The keys are bigger and its the same overall size as the standard macbook keyboards over the years. I tested out the macbook pro yesterday and made less mistakes overall typing fast on it because of the larger keys. I like it more
 
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