How happy are you with you Macbook Pro 2016?

[tryrtryrtryrt]

I strongly considered the Dell XPS 15 for the better specs and much lower price (over $1000), but I can't do it. I don't like Windows, and as good as the XPS is, it's not as good to me as the new MBP. The build quality, display, speakers, support, and OS of the new MBP is just unbeatable to me. I know if I got any other computer, I'd regret it and wouldn't enjoy using it as much on a day-to-day basis. This is entirely subjective though. If you like Windows or prefer value more, I can totally see the appeal to the XPS. But, unfortunately for my wallet, I can't buy a computer just based on specs and value. The heart wants what it wants.

You could always try running a Hackintosh on it. Just saying.
Of course this is not as seamless experience as on a Mac but still it's possible.
Hackintosh will be fully out of the question, IMHO, only if you're in Apple's ecosystem with other devices - like iPhone and use iMessage - I've heard there are bigger problems to make it work flawlessly with Hackintosh.

 

[MrGuder]

Here's my update, as previously promised:

Well, after a full month of using the 15" TouchBar MacBook Pro as my main computer, I'm returning it.

I was just curious how you were able to return it after 1 month and who accepted a return that late? I know Apple gives you 2 weeks but in reality they really give you a little over 2 weeks but not a month.

 

[tryrtryrtryrt]

I was just curious how you were able to return it after 1 month and who accepted a return that late? I know Apple gives you 2 weeks but in reality they really give you a little over 2 weeks but not a month.

For example in EU if you bought it online you could claim you're returning it within 14 days and then return it within 14 more days. If you don't return it eventually - no repercussions. So essentially 28 days return window.
I'm not sure this is the case of @john123 though.

 

[john123]

I was just curious how you were able to return it after 1 month and who accepted a return that late? I know Apple gives you 2 weeks but in reality they really give you a little over 2 weeks but not a month.

Apple's system gave me about 17 days (not sure why their system didn't count 14 calendar days, despite the stated policy), and then as long as you initiate a return by that time, you have 2 weeks to ship it back.

I feel it necessary to add that I really wasn't trying to take advantage of anything, in case anyone thinks that's the case. I was trying to give the machine an honest shot, hoping I'd grow to love it despite the things I disliked. I simply couldn't, even with the extra time.

 

[nylon]

I wish there was a 15" model without touch bar but with Touch ID. That would've been perfect.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I wish there was a 15" model without touch bar but with Touch ID. That would've been perfect.

Me too -
The Touch Bar really seems to have been change for the sake of change and/or a solution looking for a problem.

My main hope is that they will indeed find a way to separate out touch ID or at the bare minimum offer 15 inch full spec versions with the Touch Bar being fully optional with no real performance penalty for going that route.

 

[ascender]

Very happy with the MBP although after trying different models I've ended up back with a 13" nTB model (with 16GB RAM) which seems to give the best battery performance for my use by a long way. I'm guessing that's partially because of the lack of the TouchBar. I like the TB but its not a must-have feature and I agree, it seems like an Apple way of doing something different with the form factor and seeing how it pans out and how developers use it.

TouchID was a nice feature but not very widely implemented and the unlock-with-Watch works well for me.

One thing I do miss from the other models is having USb-C ports on either side, but that's a minor quibble.

Build quality, performance and form factor are perfect for me - so far it deals with anything I throw at it including 4K footage from my GoPro.

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I wish there was a 15" model without touch bar but with Touch ID. That would've been perfect.

Agree. TouchID across all models, with or without TB would have been much better IMO. Although I suspect sales of TB models would be small by comparison with non-TB.

 

[tangfish]

Another MBPTB15 owner here, and I agree completely. Touch Bar is completely worthless. TouchID is invaluable. Wish I could have the latter without the former.

 

[aevan]

Another MBPTB15 owner here, and I agree completely. I haven't found a way to incorporate the Touch Bar in my workflow. TouchID is invaluable. Wish I could have the latter without the former.

I fixed it for you. I find the Touch Bar very useful in Photoshop, after I set up the things I need, and with BTT - it's even more useful. I don't use it everywhere but it's far from worthless, if you find a way to put it to good use.

It's certainly better than having the F keys.

 

[JMacHack]

Another MBPTB15 owner here, and I agree completely. Touch Bar is completely worthless. TouchID is invaluable. Wish I could have the latter without the former.

I just want to throw my 2c in, but have you tried using BetterTouchTool with scripts? I've been using that lately and I've found it invaluable for saving time with Photoshop and Illustrator. I can imagine it coming in handy with other apps as well.

 

[aevan]

I wonder how many people who claim it's worthless really put the effort in to make it an useful addition to their workflow? It's an honest question - did you really try to set it up the way you like in your favorite apps and in settings, did you try the BTT and similar apps - or did you just press it a few times and decided it's worthless? I have a feeling that people who don't like it didn't really put some time to make it work - because it is, I have to agree, a bit unintuitive the first time you try it. It's not as straightforward as touch on touchscreens, but after some time it, actually, becomes more useful (to me) than touchscreens on PCs - for example, I ended turning off touch on my old Cintiq, but now I kind of miss TB when I work on computers that don't have it.

 

[JMacHack]

I wonder how many people who claim it's worthless really put the effort in to make it an useful addition to their workflow? It's an honest question - did you really try to set it up the way you like in your favorite apps and in settings, did you try the BTT and similar apps - or did you just press it a few times and decided it's worthless? I have a feeling that people who don't like it didn't really put some time to make it work - because it is, I have to agree, a bit unintuitive the first time you try it. It's not as straightforward as touch on touchscreens, but after some time it, actually, becomes more useful (to me) than touchscreens on PCs - for example, I ended turning off touch on my old Cintiq, but now I kind of miss TB when I work on computers that don't have it.

I agree that the Touchbar is worth it after you use BetterTouchTool, but considering that Apple is selling a high-end laptop (and probably plans to bring it into their other devices as well) I shouldn't have to make it work. I think BetterTouchTool functionality should've been something the TouchBar came with.

 

[aevan]

I just want to throw my 2c in, but have you tried using BetterTouchTool with scripts? I've been using that lately and I've found it invaluable for saving time with Photoshop and Illustrator. I can imagine it coming in handy with other apps as well.

Exactly. I actually use both BTT and "built in" TB controls. I like the layer opacity slider and the swatches/color options - so I made the BTT TB buttons appear when I press the ' key (the one next to "1" key) - and I set it up so they return to standard PS TB options when I press a button (by adding an additional action to invoke the BTT TB again - which closes it).

It works great for me. For example, I keep forgetting which keyboard shortcut is for 100% zoom, which for fit-to-page zoom, so I added those, also the option to zoom 200%. I'm looking for some other shortcuts - what do you use in PS, if you don't mind me asking?
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I agree that the Touchbar is worth it after you use BetterTouchTool, but considering that Apple is selling a high-end laptop (and probably plans to bring it into their other devices as well) I shouldn't have to make it work. I think BetterTouchTool functionality should've been something the TouchBar came with.

I agree. But this is classic Apple - they just give the tools to developers and expect them to come up with new and exciting ways to use those tools. I agree BTT falls a bit in the "advanced user" category, but I guess it's only a matter of time before someone finds a real good use for it in their app.

Even without BTT it's not bad. As I mentioned earlier - I like to quickly lower the opacity of a layer with it - something I can't do with keyboard shortcuts - and it's a quick way to access my swatch colors without using the actual swatches panel (that just takes too much space when working on a laptop monitor). This is all "standard" Photoshop settings.

And even for certain built in Apple apps. For some reason I just love the favorites bar in Safari showing up on TB, and I like to scrub through the numerous tabs (don't tap, scrub! - people see little thumnbails and think it's worthless, but I actually prefer it to clicking). Also, the same goes to volume controls, I somehow prefer sliding the button now as opposed to tapping or pressing it.

I think that's where the TB power lies and I hope Apple and developers realise it. Pressing buttons is best left to keyboard shortcuts. But sliding and swiping - that's where the TB shines. Also for some multi-step actions - for example - it is actually faster to set up styles in Bear with the TB then to click the Pen icon. Sure, you can use the markup-like style of writing, if you know how, but for a casual user like me - TB is the way to go.

All in all - I like the TB. I just had to figure out what I prefer to use on it and how. And I think Apple and developers need to do that too - but it's still early. I wonder if the next macOS will bring some improvements.

Still - it's far from worthless as some people say it is.

 

[jcmendes]

Very happy, I have a macbook 12, and now a MacBook Pro 15 with 512 SSD (I change because first I bought with 256 SSD). For portability no ones beats the 12".

 

[jackoatmon]

I have a feeling that people who don't like it didn't really put some time to make it work.

I have a feeling people who don't like it don't even own the device and are full of baloney. They just screwed with it for 15 seconds in a store, and puked out an opinion.

 

[doitdada]

I have a feeling people who don't like it don't even own the device and are full of baloney. They just screwed with it for 15 seconds in a store, and puked out an opinion.

yes, three months later and five macbook pros 2016, both 13" and 15", i still see it as worthless. it was in fact the 15 seconds playing with it in store that made me buy it, but it was the amount of frustration I brought back home that made me give it up.

i really like to play with the touch bar, but since i am already accustomed to keyboard shortcuts, i don't have to look down or scrub. it is useful in applications with timelines like Final Cut and Logic though. you don't build prosumer computer arounds specific apps, but sell peripherals to cover power users.

i wanted to love the computer, but i am better off without it. the sad part is that i am no longer such a die hard apple fan. lacking product updates, but soaring stock price, I guess I should just buy a Windows machine and a license for eSignals and buy shares instead of actual products.

 

[jerryk]

i wanted to love the computer, but i am better off without it. the sad part is that i am no longer such a die hard apple fan. lacking product updates, but soaring stock price, I guess I should just buy a Windows machine and a license for eSignals and buy shares instead of actual products.

Definitely buy the stock. I have had APPL in my portfolio since the 90s. Big returns!

 

[happyslayer]

I have been very happy with mine--13" with Touch Bar i5, 8GB, 256. I did have an issue--just died and no longer booted--but Apple sent it away for a few days and fixed it. Since then, all has been good. I use it to surf, Office apps, network ding tools, Parallels 12 with Win 10 and Scrivener for writing (what I should be doing at this moment and it works great! Best Mac Laptop I've owned and I have had a lot of them over the years. Expensive but worth it to me.

 

[csurfr]

Definitely buy the stock. I have had APPL in my portfolio since the 90s. Big returns!

My man! What that was back at nearly 8.00-11.00 a share I believe. I bought some in 95 and

Other note: I'm very happy with the touch bar the way it comes from Apple. At some point I'll pick all your brains for assigning shortcuts in Illustrator with btt.

 

[JamesMay82]

Interesting to read all these posts. I must admit that We have a 2010 & 2012 retina and both have SSD which I think has made these last so well.

On Apple's website it says SSD are XXX times faster etc but I just can't imagine this as my comps aren't sluggish at all for video editing etc.. Im sure export times improve but not that drastically?

Growing up in the 90's though every year Brought drastic changes in computers and just doesn't feel like that anymore.. feels like we've plateaued in terms of computer tech etc

 

[aevan]

Like everything Apple, the new MBP is polarizing. This one is even more polarizing because of certain factors - like the fact that the competition is catching up, that Apple made a few mistakes in recent past and didn't seem to care about certain Mac lines and made everyone doubt their willingness to support professionals, that we entered an era of clickbait and false news, etc.

As with every Mac product, some people don't agree with Apple's decisions. A lot of people think that this is a first in Apple's history, that "for the first time they cannot recommed a Mac to friends & family" but, actually, this was always the case. I remember when the first MacBook Air came out - people went nuts. Some praised it as the future of computing, others claimed Apple lost their way and made a slow, underpowered computer that is way overpriced. A similar thing happened with first Retina MBPs with all those "they made it too thin" comments. Of course, some people will say that it's somehow different this time, but it's really not.

Just as before - Apple doesn't make computers for everyone. Personally - I think the MacBook Pro 2016 is one of the best computers I've ever used. Others think it's one of the worst. The important thing here is that this has always been the case, this is Apple being Apple - but for the first time there are some worthy competitors (I am talking about the Surface line mostly) so there are some good alternatives to those who don't like it.

 

[Daeve]

I don't regret buying it, I returned it at the two week limit as I wasn;t fully "happy". Apple currently don't make a non-touch bar top end model that I need (Half decent OpenCL GPU like the 460 and fastest CPU possible). Awesome laptop, fast, everything I wanted except.. no esc key (had to hit it twice if touch bar was asleep), hard to touch type with the F-keys which our software uses a lot. I also realised I rest my fingers a lot on that top row which caused issues.
Here's hoping they bring a non-tb top end model out next month, or a hybrid (no chance!). On my 2012 model there's plenty of room for a touch bar above the F-key row.

 

[royghaya]

Thank you, I'm just trying to get a feel for what people are using their new MacBook Pro's for as I can't decide between getting the 13" or 15"

Hello , I'm new here and I need a bit of help choosing the right macbook pro for me, im a interior design student , a current lenovo Y50 user , I lost my final project files due to a virus that hit my laptop.
the first question is
macs dont get viruses right ?

and the second question which is the hardest part
I mostly use autocad 2014 and vray witth 3ds max
which macbook will suit me well?
im not wiling to pay a lot 1990$ is my budget
im looking into the mbp 2016 non touch bar model 13"
do u think it will do ?
my current laptop
is 4th gen intel i7 HQ
gtx 960 m ddr4

would the iris do the job ? and so does the i5 dual core with the 8gb ram
i dont think its upgradeable , is there a 16 gb model ntb ?

 

[Pangalactic]

macs dont get viruses right ?

Dude, of course they do! It's one of the biggest misconceptions there are. True, it's harder to get a virus on a Mac, but it's still totally possible.
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/15/expert-apple-users-are-vulnerable-to-wannacry-type-cyberattacks.html
Seriously, spend $20 and get an antivirus no matter if it is windows or mac (like Kaspersky or Bitdefender), it will definitely pay off in the long run.

Now to the question, if I were you, I would actually get instead a Dell XPS 15'' with 512 SSD, GTX 1050, DDR4 memory and maybe touch/nontouch depending on what you want, both are excellent.

Just to five you an idea, the graphics card the Mac has is approximately on the level of GTX 930m or 940m, it will be quite a drop from your current laptop's performance. So definitely don't go for it.

 

[aevan]

Hello , I'm new here and I need a bit of help choosing the right macbook pro for me, im a interior design student , a current lenovo Y50 user , I lost my final project files due to a virus that hit my laptop.
the first question is
macs dont get viruses right ?

and the second question which is the hardest part
I mostly use autocad 2014 and vray witth 3ds max
which macbook will suit me well?
im not wiling to pay a lot 1990$ is my budget
im looking into the mbp 2016 non touch bar model 13"
do u think it will do ?
my current laptop
is 4th gen intel i7 HQ
gtx 960 m ddr4

would the iris do the job ? and so does the i5 dual core with the 8gb ram
i dont think its upgradeable , is there a 16 gb model ntb ?

Macs don't generally get viruses. There are a few, but you're much safer on a Mac compared to Windows.

Second question: max is a Windows-only app. In order to use 3ds max you need either bootcamp (installing Windows on a separate partition) or Parallels (VM software). While max works quite fine in Parallalels, bootcamp is a better option, so you're back at Windows, and Windows on a Mac is prone to viruses like Windows on any other computer. You still get a great build quality and your macOS data will be safe, but you'll be working in Windows whenever you need max.

You can run AutoCAD on macOS natively. Also, all other big 3D software is available on macOS and works great, it's just max that is Windows-only (Maya, Blender, Modo, etc. work in macOS)

If you do choose a Mac laptop, your best choice is the 2017 15" MacBook Pro. Second best choice is 2016 15" MacBook Pro. Third best choice is the 2015 15" MacBook Pro You need 15" because they are the only ones with quad-core i7 CPUs.


It pains me to say it, because I love Macs and prefer them to Windows laptops 100%, but if your main apps are 3ds max and AutoCAD - a PC laptop is probably a better choice for you: more hardware options at a cheaper price - but worse build quality. And since you'll be using 3ds max, you'll be working in Windows while you use it so that negates one of the biggest advantages of a Mac: macOS.

Still, if you like Macs, you'll have no problem running either software on them. I run 3ds max on my iMac 5K for example - in bootcamp. It works great and when I'm done rendering for the day, I switch back to macOS with a sigh of relief