Is newest 15" MBP the right choice for EDC (Every Day Carry) as the ONLY computer you have?

[smallcoffee]

The fact that Apple continues to sell the mid 2015 15" model is all the proof that they know that the current 13/15 models are not actually "pro".

I have a 2016 13". I keep it in cases, don't use it outdoors. Ive had 2 keys get stuck, and when it gets hot the #8 key gets clicky.

Full on design issue. Worst part - people who've had their MacBooks repaired end up having returning issues which also means there is a wear component at work.

Currently shopping for a mid 15 atm.

Why wouldn’t you sell it when people are buying it? If I could sell you an old computer with old parts for a **** load of money you better bet I’d do that in a heartbeat.

I have both a 2015” and 2016” - much prefer the 2016. My car knocked beer onto the 2016 keyboard and it’s still fine. I eat around it too. There could be problems but they aren’t universal.

 

[BenTrovato]

If you use it everyday, then it has to be a quad core model and you deal with the situations where 15" is sometimes too big like a tight plane seat or train.

 

[Anarchy99]

If you use it everyday, then it has to be a quad core model and you deal with the situations where 15" is sometimes too big like a tight plane seat or train.

I agree, unless you're on the plane or that train situation daily and that's the primary place you use it there's pretty much no good reason to get a 13 because they're not a quad core

 

[jlc1978]

I have used a 15" MBP daily as my sole PC since 2010, most recently a top of the line 2015 model, and it has been fine as my EDC and sole computer. I've added an iPad pro last year as a second display when I travel as well. My advice would be to get as loaded a model as you can afford so you can use it for a while without running out of HD space or processor power.

While I generally avoid extra warranties, I added AppleCare since my machine is my go to work machine and I want date piece of mind should something break.
[doublepost=1526128043][/doublepost]

My opinion only, but...

... you're probably going to get tired of lugging a 15" MBP around everywhere.

Better solution:
Get a 13" MBP for portability. Basic model will do fine.
Get an iMac 27" for home usage.

There's nothing that beats having both a good desktop AND a good laptop.
Nothing.

I disagree. I've carried my MBP everywhere, including internationally, and it's weight was never an issue. While I agree having a desktop machine is nice the issue is then keeping everything in sync. I find my MBP with a nice monitor at home is fine. YMMV

 

[smallcoffee]

I have used a 15" MBP daily as my sole PC since 2010, most recently a top of the line 2015 model, and it has been fine as my EDC and sole computer. I've added an iPad pro last year as a second display when I travel as well. My advice would be to get as loaded a model as you can afford so you can use it for a while without running out of HD space or processor power.

While I generally avoid extra warranties, I added AppleCare since my machine is my go to work machine and I want date piece of mind should something break.
[doublepost=1526128043][/doublepost]

I disagree. I've carried my MBP everywhere, including internationally, and it's weight was never an issue. While I agree having a desktop machine is nice the issue is then keeping everything in sync. I find my MBP with a nice monitor at home is fine. YMMV

Same here.

 

[Closingracer]

I find the 13" size to be fantastic. I find its inability to do heavy CPU grinding/supporting multiple monitors well annoying. Many of the programs I used benefit heavily from 4+ cores - BUT the form factor is really pleasant.

Quad core, better keyboard, bring back the ports or make a 1st party charger+dock.

"Better keyboard" is purely subjective

 

[Falhófnir]

"Better keyboard" is purely subjective

Unless they specifically state they have addressed reliability issues - which is a tangible improvement for some...

 

[Anarchy99]

"Better keyboard" is purely subjective

Incorrect my good sir.

Better is quantifiably measurable.
The retina MacBook Pro's keyboard is better
Because The butterfly switches have statistically significant reliability issues.
the rMBP's also has more keys (r.i.p escape key, i'm indifferent about funtion keys)
Most importantly more travel, inverted T shape for the arrow keys
(to allow your hand is home for the correct position without looking or error)

"preferred keyboard" is purely subjective

 

[Closingracer]

Better =preferred is the same thing at this point. Beside the so called issues people me included had called the older keyboard "better" which is subjective. The new butterfly ones can also be viewed as "better" then the older ones.

Incorrect my good sir.

Better is quantifiably measurable.
The retina MacBook Pro's keyboard is better
Because The butterfly switches statistically significant reliability issues.
the rMBP's also has more keys (r.i.p escape key, i'm indifferent about funtion keys)
Most importantly more travel, inverted T shape for the arrow keys
(to allow your hand is home for the correct position without looking or error)

"preferred keyboard" is purely subjective

 

[jlc1978]

Incorrect my good sir.

Better is quantifiably measurable.
The retina MacBook Pro's keyboard is better
Because The butterfly switches have statistically significant reliability issues.
the rMBP's also has more keys (r.i.p escape key, i'm indifferent about funtion keys)
Most importantly more travel, inverted T shape for the arrow keys
(to allow your hand is home for the correct position without looking or error)

"preferred keyboard" is purely subjective

Except everything you mentioned, except perhaps "The butterfly switches have statistically significant reliability issues." is a preference, not necessarily better.

Is there reliable data on the failure rate of one design versus the other?

 

[Anarchy99]

Except everything you mentioned, except perhaps "The butterfly switches have statistically significant reliability issues." is a preference, not necessarily better.

Is there reliable data on the failure rate of one design versus the other?

Once again not true, everything I mentioned above is quantifiable in some manner that is not subjective/opinion


Remember physical keyboards are meant to be tactile so you do not need to look at them.
the inverted T shape of the arrow keys aids in that goal as does more key travel

Now if the new features of a specific device in this case a keyboard are antithetical to its sole function compared to the previous model
then saying the previous model is better is not opinion it's fact based on measurable tangible real world reasoning.


As for the comment on missing function & the escape keys

Previously if I spent $2000 on a MacBook Pro I got 78 keys on my keyboard, and now for the same amount of money I'm getting 64
One might say I'm getting less value for my money
More value was better than less value

So once again putting subjective preferences the side you could still use better in the context of the old keyboard without it being opinion


Are you basically trying to argue that a keyboard should not be tactile and doesn't need moving buttons? Also how many keys can I take away from it before you start considering it worse versus better?

 

[MC6800]

I remember my first EDC: a Mac Plus, external HD, keyboard, and mouse, in a tall bag. Had the nice side effect of extending my mouse range due to one longer arm.

 

[aevan]

I carry my MBP 2016 around a lot, and I used to carry my MBP 2013 around a lot. The 2016 is lighter and fits in my Booq Boa Squeeze much better. It may not seem like a big difference, and a lot of people will tell you it isn't, but it's there. Carry it around for hours and you will feel it.

The new 13", however, is so small it's even better. It's really great, it almost looks like a thicker iPad Pro and it's really manageable. And they'll probably come in quad-core variants soon. However, for the work I do, I really prefer the 15" screen to 13".

 

[Anarchy99]

I carry my MBP 2016 around a lot, and I used to carry my MBP 2013 around a lot. The 2016 is lighter and fits in my Booq Boa Squeeze much better. It may not seem like a big difference, and a lot of people will tell you it isn't, but it's there. Carry it around for hours and you will feel it.

The new 13", however, is so small it's even better. It's really great, it almost looks like a thicker iPad Pro and it's really manageable. And they'll probably come in quad-core variants soon. However, for the work I do, I really prefer the 15" screen to 13".

The 15 inch is less than 7 1/2 ounces heavier, if thats a dealbreaker then any laptop is too heavy.
Also I don't think Apple will come out with a quadcore 13 inch, It has always been one of the few differentiating features between the 13" and the 15" outside of size and weight

 

[Altis]

The 15 inch is less than 7 1/2 ounces heavier, if thats a dealbreaker then any laptop is too heavy.
Also I don't think Apple will come out with a quadcore 13 inch, It has always been one of the few differentiating features between the 13" and the 15" outside of size and weight

I think all the new Intel chips are quad-core or more. Most likely the 13" will be quad while the 15" moves to six cores.

Of course, that's assuming Apple will update it in a reasonable time frame.

 

[Anarchy99]

I think all the new Intel chips are quad-core or more. Most likely the 13" will be quad while the 15" moves to six cores.

Of course, that's assuming Apple will update it in a reasonable time frame.

who knows


i'm just going off historical data and the fact apple has been slow and lackluster when it comes to mac upgrades
(see mac pro or mac mini theards if you dont believe.)

heck that reminds me the mac mini is a perfect example of apples current feelings toward Mac, the 2012 mac mini was quadcore and out performs the latest mac mini(2014) because its only dual core.

nothing makes me beleive they would take a product historically dualcore and quadcore it.

I think its more likely we see Apple have intel make a custom chip thats only dualcore if intel's standard lineup is infact all quadcore now

 

[Garage Battle]

"Better keyboard" is purely subjective

not having to worry about stuck keys, and being quieter (like the previous versions) would be considered better.

previous keyboard - not a petition being floated around and numerous complaints across the internet

new keyboard - louder, less reliable, with many users having keyboards replaced multiple times, stuck keys, keys changing audible volume depending on heat of the unit.

better means - top tier because paying $1300 for a dual core laptop means that everything else besides the processor better be tits.

 

[aevan]

The 15 inch is less than 7 1/2 ounces heavier, if thats a dealbreaker then any laptop is too heavy.
Also I don't think Apple will come out with a quadcore 13 inch, It has always been one of the few differentiating features between the 13" and the 15" outside of size and weight

It’s more than just weight difference, it’s size and weight distribution. The 13” is simply more manageable and wieldy. Not a deal-breaker if you need a larger screen like I do, but it is more portable.

As for the quad-core 13” they are coming - because Intel changed the U-series of CPUs from dual-core to quad core. 15” will still have faster processors, but the number of cores will be the same across all MBPs. Unless Apple puts an i9 mobile cpu into a 15” which would make it 6 core, but I doubt it, due to energy requirements. Either way, when MBPs get latest Intel CPUs, 13” will be quad core.

 

[jlc1978]

Are you basically trying to argue that a keyboard should not be tactile and doesn't need moving buttons? Also how many keys can I take away from it before you start considering it worse versus better?

No, I am saying you listed things you like about the rMBP keyboard and then stated that those are objective reasons why it is a better keyboard. Keyboard layout is very subjective and ultimately comes down to what you are used to using as being seen as the best; I know people who consider keyboards without a separate number pad as inferior, but again that is a subjective opinion based on their needs and experience. Others say the DVORK layout is better than QWERTY, but again that is a subjective preference not a fact. Every keyboard design is a compromise between usability, space, and user preferences, resulting in not better just different.

A chordic keyboard, eliminating most keys, would be better than today's design for a number of reasons, but it will never happen because too many people have become used to the current design that learning a whole new way to type would be an insurmountable barrier, IMHO.

As for tactile, I agree but then again no one has made a good tactile keyboard since the old IBM Electric days. Real keyboards have mechanical switches, long throws and replaceable caps.

 

[aevan]

not having to worry about stuck keys, and being quieter (like the previous versions) would be considered better.

previous keyboard - not a petition being floated around and numerous complaints across the internet

new keyboard - louder, less reliable, with many users having keyboards replaced multiple times, stuck keys, keys changing audible volume depending on heat of the unit.

better means - top tier because paying $1300 for a dual core laptop means that everything else besides the processor better be tits.

The only thing that is objectively worse is reliability. Everything else is highly subjective.

Other than reliability, I consider everything about the new keyboard better. I am aware, however, that this is a subjective thing: what one values, what one prefers.

For me:

- The stability of the keys is better.
- The size of the keys is better.
- The sound the keyboard makes is nicer to me and not too loud
- The feel of the keys is better
- With a nice feedback like this, I prefer the shorter travel of keys