Just brought an 18 MBP

[windowstomac]

Read my signature - yes I had a backup, so you assumed wrong. My advice to the OP remains sensible.

And regardless, all of the following things take time:

- Calling Apple, dealing with Apple online chat, dealing with Apple's Executive Liaison.
- Copying data from the faulty machine.
- Restoring the backup to an older Mac (400gb of data from a USB-C drive through a dongle to USB-A takes a LONG time).
- Installing patches and updates.
- Wiping the MBP ready for replacement.
- Arranging the courier collection of the faulty machine (this was a complete farce and took a long time today).
- Waiting two weeks for the machine to be replaced because it's a custom spec.
- Setting the replacement machine up when it arrives.
- Restoring the data to the replacement.

All of that was disruptive, yes. Even with a failover Mac waiting in the drawer.

My advice:

if you depend on a 2016 or later MBP for your income to have a backup machine you can quickly switch to.

Your advice:

If your livelihood depends on having a functional system in whatever form that is, as does mine, then having a backup is business 101.

You've managed to make the wrong assumptions, be argumentative when you agree with me, and gone on to make the same point I made in the first place.

 

[LeeW]

Read my signature

I have all signatures blocked, so no idea what it says.

be argumentative

Not at all, when it comes to business, I just have no tolerance for stories where someone enters into a critical purchase with a well known inherent risk without a prepared strategy to mitigate or transfer the residual risk.

 

[PVDHell]

Wow, I didn’t mean to set off such a firestorm. I’m stoked for my laptop, truth be told I don’t mind getting it repaired if it comes to that. I’ve owned windows machines and apple machines and the Apples have traditionally been the far better products.

I have plenty of funds to replace with something else if needed too. This is a hobby purchase for me. No big deal.

So if we can kindly get back on topic it would be appreciated.

 

[LeeW]

Wow, I didn’t mean to set off such a firestorm

Welcome to MacRumors and the effect of being happy with your purchase.

Enjoy your machine, and as you have alluded, if it breaks, deal with it then, don't be consumed by waiting for it to happen as so many others appear to do (as well as posting about it).

 

[SDColorado]

Sorry but I have to call out obvious BS here. I have one for work and they're great machines. I get that it's trendy to hate Apple but calling it "the worst laptop you've ever owned" is nonsense and you know it.

The worst laptop I have ever owned was an HP circa 2007 and why I still won't buy another one

If there is anything you can be sure of on MacRumors these days, it's that you will not be able to have the opportunity to create a thread about your new MBP without having it polluted with other peoples woes.

Sure we all know there are issues, but if someone buys it and is happy knowing the risks, let them enjoy their moment. Believe it or not, there are plenty of people out there that bought the 2016 unit on launch and never had an issue.

Actually, I bought 2016 at launch and never had an issue. Passed it on to my wife and she has yet to have an issue. The 2018's on the other hand, have been a battle but so far I am still in the ring. Round 5!

 

[Seand442]

Same boat. Just ordered one, should be here Thursday. Looking forward to it. I did get AC, you know, just in case.

 

[Howard2k]

Did you heed your own advice?



I assume not if it was disrupted and your comment regarding slow aftercare. If your livelihood depends on having a functional system in whatever form that is, as does mine, then having a backup is business 101. You never gamble on a system not breaking, nor do you rely on or assume aftercare at any company will be speedy enough for your needs.

But the thing is that you shouldn't really have to. I've never had a laptop fail. In decades. And I have never been particularly careful with them when supplied by work, although I am with my own personal one. My employer doesn't keep a hot spare and I don't keep a hot spare. I just haven't needed to. I keep many copies of data, but I don't keep two phones, or two laptops. Or two cars.

I'm not totally disagreeing with you though. I am risk averse too. It's just shame that the risks appear to be far higher in this particular generation.

 

[Painter2002]

Wow, I didn’t mean to set off such a firestorm. I’m stoked for my laptop, truth be told I don’t mind getting it repaired if it comes to that. I’ve owned windows machines and apple machines and the Apples have traditionally been the far better products.

I have plenty of funds to replace with something else if needed too. This is a hobby purchase for me. No big deal.

So if we can kindly get back on topic it would be appreciated.

Welcome to the forums on Macrumors. You’ll find a mix of people on both sides of the fence, some more strongly opinionated than others, but that’s what makes it interesting here.

Most importantly, enjoy your new machine! Odds are you’ll have a machine that is just fine, so enjoy it!

 

[BuCkDoG]

I picked up a 15” top spec (baseline, no extras, so i7, 512GB, 16GB RAM, and the 560x graphics card. Plan on dabbling in video editing.

Any accessories I should be looking at? Case recommendations etc?

I’m super excited about this computer.

Most likely a dongle of some sort. I would recommend the HooToo Shuttle as that has the best bang for your dollar.

 

[seeforyourself]

It BS because you don't have a problem but so many others do?

It's great that you have a functioning machine, and I mean that, but for many people, that's not the case.


Its trendy, because of the keyboard failures, coil whine, speaker crackle, T2 Bridge OS crashes, and now Flexgate. I think people are frustrated at spending a boatload of money only have these issues.


That's someone's opinion and I hold that opinion. You may disagree but there's no denying that this laptop seems to have problem after problem

I agree with this. I had problem after problem that I had to get the keyboard replaced 4 times along with the display and internal parts due to loose USB c ports. Its currently in for the USB and Display along with the keyboard.

 

[PVDHell]

Computer arrived today, quick turnaround from the order on Friday. Got $300 off through Costco, extra year of warranty, and enough cash saved to buy AppleCare.

We’ll see how it looks after work, if my patients permit me leaving at a reasonable hour.

 

[Howard2k]

Computer arrived today, quick turnaround from the order on Friday. Got $300 off through Costco, extra year of warranty, and enough cash saved to buy AppleCare.

We’ll see how it looks after work, if my patients permit me leaving at a reasonable hour.

Good luck, hopefully it’s a good one.

 

[BuCkDoG]

Computer arrived today, quick turnaround from the order on Friday. Got $300 off through Costco, extra year of warranty, and enough cash saved to buy AppleCare.

We’ll see how it looks after work, if my patients permit me leaving at a reasonable hour.

Report back to us on how your machine has been working!

 

[H2SO4]

Sorry but I have to call out obvious BS here. I have one for work and they're great machines. I get that it's trendy to hate Apple but calling it "the worst laptop you've ever owned" is nonsense and you know it.

That's a pretty stupid post. You have no idea what the experience of the OP is. So what if yours works well, theirs doesn't. Period.

 

[PVDHell]

First impression: pretty awesome computer. Trackpad feels a little flimsy compared to my last MBP (I had a late 2011 top spec 15” model back in the day) but this thing flies.

Question: when I open the “about this Mac” thing from the finder menu, it only lists the intel integrated graphics, not the Radeon 560x; is that normal? The computer definitely has one.

 

[SDColorado]

First impression: pretty awesome computer. Trackpad feels a little flimsy compared to my last MBP (I had an early 2011 back in the day) but this thing flies.

Question: when I open the “about this Mac” thing from the finder menu, it only lists the intel integrated graphics, not the Radeon 560x; is that normal? The computer definitely has one.

Perfectly normal. Go a step further and click System Report -->Graphics/Displays and you will see them both listed under Video Card

 

[Painter2002]

First impression: pretty awesome computer. Trackpad feels a little flimsy compared to my last MBP (I had an early 2011 back in the day) but this thing flies.

Question: when I open the “about this Mac” thing from the finder menu, it only lists the intel integrated graphics, not the Radeon 560x; is that normal? The computer definitely has one.

If memory serves me correctly (its been a while since I've had a 15" MBP), there is a setting under "Energy Saving" on 15" MBP that turns the dedicated GPU off when running off battery power to help prolong the battery life. When you are on battery and look at the "About this Mac", the GPU will not show up as it has been shut off due to that Energy Saving setting. It should pop back up once you plug the computer in, or if you decide to uncheck the setting that shuts off the dedicated GPU while on battery.

 

[dotzero123]

I got the 13" a few months ago. Fits my needs perfectly and am not experiencing any issues. Best of luck w/ your new Mac! There are probably some that don't work as well as others, but for many it's an awesome deal.

 

[Spudlicious]

I picked up a 15” top spec (baseline, no extras, so i7, 512GB, 16GB RAM, and the 560x graphics card. Plan on dabbling in video editing.

Any accessories I should be looking at? Case recommendations etc?

I’m super excited about this computer.

I wish you a long and happy relationship with your new computer, there's nothing like the (possibly slightly guilty) buzz you getting from buying some new tech.

 

[windowstomac]

Question: when I open the “about this Mac” thing from the finder menu, it only lists the intel integrated graphics, not the Radeon 560x; is that normal? The computer definitely has one.

Unless you select that you want to dedicated GPU in use all the time it will only show on that screen when it IS in use.

 

[rayriceroni00]

So many haters in here LOL. I'm on like 45 days of my new 15" MBP and I love it just like I loved my 2013.

Just remember, the internet always brings a disproportionate amount of people with negative feedback than positive. Whether it's a forum on here, online reviews for restaurants, whatever. Negative experiences are far more inclined to reach out for help or post their anger.

 

[LeeW]

the internet always brings a disproportionate amount of people with negative feedback than positive.

Apparently, that is not how it works on this forum, you iSheep.

 

[rayriceroni00]

Apparently, that is not how it works on this forum, you iSheep.

I prefer iLemming

 

[LeeW]

I prefer iLemming

You will get called worse on here for revealing you enjoy Apple products.

 

[dotzero123]

Maybe I'm mistaken but I thought that MRF was here to, you know, talk about products we enjoy. Personally, I don't get as much joy from insulting people or ridiculing things. I just avoid them or return them. My $.02 YMMV.