How happy are you with you Macbook Pro 2016?

[whodean]

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?
[doublepost=1494438789][/doublepost]

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.

If I had the patience, I would type this response each of the hundreds of times I've read complaints about the "worthless" touchbar. Especially with BTT the touchbar is a very useful tool.

 

[SteveJUAE]

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.

I'm not sure where this catching up bit you seem to think is coming from. If your referring to some generic once lesser OEM's that avoided the upper tier premium devices then maybe yes but there was always others.

Whilst there is no doubt Apple popularised Ali shells and were renown for track pad and battery endurance probably for the last decade along with thinness claims there were others pushing forward way in advance of Apple and alias some like Sony are no more

Apple were never at the forefront of cutting edge IMO and certainly Sony for all there faults were pushing out some amazing high tier Z laptops that are only just being surpassed now for resolution, colour accuracy and weight or never to be seen again like their dual SSD and switching dGPU’s and fingerprint logons that have almost been and gone for many 7 years back. Even the standalone Vaio design team showed with the Vaio Canvas what was possible 2 years back with quad cores at the time

It’s a shame that Sony laptops died as they would of easily shown how middle ground Mac’s are in opting for so called balance in premium tier laptops and likewise it’s good that MS have taken up the baton and making some exciting devices that inspire others to do more

Sorry but for me I expect more out a flagship device than just offering balanced mediocracy other than on a few dedicated apps for a couple of professions I don't want to be part of Apples average user at $3k however it remains an expensive pleasant device for many

 

[royghaya]

Thank you for your generous reply, the thing i'm starting to hate on windows, especially when it comes to lenovo, I had tons of problems with the y50 model, from lags , screen shutters , overheating , the case felt like its popping out etc, and for the viruses it was a major problem, even when installing an antivirus
so i'd prefer switching to mac
im considering the 2015 15'' model
or the 2016 13'' model with 16gb of ram

but i guess the 15'' will suit me best
a few questions tho

I went to Autodesk's official site they noted that
" Although 3ds Max users may still be able to install and run their software successfully on the Apple Macintosh today, Autodesk no longer supports this configuration."

is it true ? there wont be any future upgrades ?
nor support for it ??
and how's ur experience with 3ds on mac via bootcamp?
noting that ill be using the mac for around 4-5 years
thank u mate ! appreciate ur support

 

[SteveJUAE]

Thank you for your generous reply, the thing i'm starting to hate on windows, especially when it comes to lenovo, I had tons of problems with the y50 model, from lags , screen shutters , overheating , the case felt like its popping out etc, and for the viruses it was a major problem, even when installing an antivirus
so i'd prefer switching to mac
im considering the 2015 15'' model
or the 2016 13'' model with 16gb of ram

but i guess the 15'' will suit me best
a few questions tho

I went to Autodesk's official site they noted that
" Although 3ds Max users may still be able to install and run their software successfully on the Apple Macintosh today, Autodesk no longer supports this configuration."

is it true ? there wont be any future upgrades ?
nor support for it ??
and how's ur experience with 3ds on mac via bootcamp?
noting that ill be using the mac for around 4-5 years
thank u mate ! appreciate ur support

As others have noted mailware and other problems are not limited to Windows and you find problems anywhere if venture in to more dubious areas of the net or just carelessness


However given your budget you may struggle with to get a Mac to meet your requirements for the next 4 years (16gb ram min IMO) also as you know Apple support in the middle east is not on the same level as US as too in finding addons etc


The advantage for you is a Mac will also run windows (at an additional cost of licence and additional partition space) and given most aspects of CAD run quite happily on modest systems unless you have put 1000's of hours in or are running multiple renders in truth there is no need to over spec especially as a student if you have access to Autodesk cloud rendering


Whilst I appreciate the 15" screen is a big lure for you other aspects that you also pay for like TB and even the oversize TP are only nice to haves for personal use


Any premium laptop will meet your needs but Apple or MS may strain your budget more than others, 2 in 1's like the MS SB may also offer greater functionality and value if you additionally have use for tablet modes, pen, dial etc

The MBP is equally likely to sove some issues you had with Lenovo and yet complicate others given your software and working pattern but should not be excluded from your prefered device list

 

[aevan]

Thank you for your generous reply, the thing i'm starting to hate on windows, especially when it comes to lenovo, I had tons of problems with the y50 model, from lags , screen shutters , overheating , the case felt like its popping out etc, and for the viruses it was a major problem, even when installing an antivirus
so i'd prefer switching to mac
im considering the 2015 15'' model
or the 2016 13'' model with 16gb of ram

but i guess the 15'' will suit me best
a few questions tho

I went to Autodesk's official site they noted that
" Although 3ds Max users may still be able to install and run their software successfully on the Apple Macintosh today, Autodesk no longer supports this configuration."

is it true ? there wont be any future upgrades ?
nor support for it ??
and how's ur experience with 3ds on mac via bootcamp?
noting that ill be using the mac for around 4-5 years
thank u mate ! appreciate ur support

Not sure where you got that from, but bootcamp on Macs is just as any Windows PC meaning it can run 3ds max fine. I know, because I worked on a 2017 max on iMac and on MacBook pro 2013. No issues there.

 

[0388279]

It’s a shame that Sony laptops died as they would of easily shown how middle ground Mac’s are in opting for so called balance in premium tier laptops and likewise it’s good that MS have taken up the baton and making some exciting devices that inspire others to do more

Not sure those "good ole days" of Sony VIAO Z laptops were so good. I had three VAIO Z's: 2007, 2009, and 2010. What I remember most was that the batteries only lasted about a year. Then, when I tried to buy a new battery from Sony they were no longer available and had to resort to cheap Chinese knock-offs that were marginal.

On my 2009 Sony Z I inadvertently spilled a little Coke-a-Cola on the keyboard in 2010 and required a replacement keyboard. Do you think I could get a replacement keyboard for a 1 year old Sony VIAO Z? No way. Sony no longer supplied them. A year old laptop was scrap. Had to buy a new 2010.

At least with Apple, you can get repairs and spare parts. Sony VIAO Z------RIP.

Don Barar

 

[SteveJUAE]

Not sure those "good ole days" of Sony VIAO Z laptops were so good. I had three VAIO Z's: 2007, 2009, and 2010. What I remember most was that the batteries only lasted about a year. Then, when I tried to buy a new battery from Sony they were no longer available and had to resort to cheap Chinese knock-offs that were marginal.

On my 2009 Sony Z I inadvertently spilled a little Coke-a-Cola on the keyboard in 2010 and required a replacement keyboard. Do you think I could get a replacement keyboard for a 1 year old Sony VIAO Z? No way. Sony no longer supplied them. A year old laptop was scrap. Had to buy a new 2010.

At least with Apple, you can get repairs and spare parts. Sony VIAO Z------RIP.

Don Barar

I never said they were without fault

I have an old 2007 Sony entertainment (biscuit tin) PC I use just for streaming in our holiday home it lost the mains adapter in a move about 2 years back I had no problems getting a replacement OEM on then an 8 year old device and my sons girlfriend still uses my 4 year old Sony Z I bought after no retena upgrades on MBA's with no issues so YMMV

One of our oldish (6 years) MBA dies repair bill quote $800 ..... not

However these are side issues/stories to the point I was making

 

[Christian 5G]

I do not like the touch bar on mine but been adjusting to it and actually been finding it useful in cases, also interesting people at coffee shops find it really cool and compliment it because its just different.

Overall I am so looking forward to capabilities what the touch bar will bring as OS improves and developers create cool new features for the touch bar

 

[BoxsterRS]

Very happy with my MacBook Pro

 

[dpgx81]

Happy so far, I've had it a week now. Picked up the 2016 15" as they had a deal for 100 off, another 100 in the form of a college student voucher, and I had another 125 in reward zone coupons I had accumulated.

 

[tangfish]

I've got a 15" with TB, two of my keys are sticky (don't respond like the others). I've been putting off taking it in, does the integrated design mean I'll have to get a new SSD to fix those couple keys? I think I read that the battery is glued to the part the keyboard is part of so that will have to be swapped out.