Key Takeaways of 2018 MacBook Pro vs. 2017 MacBook Pro

[MrGuder]

I agree with some of the other comments about the USB C connector on my 2017 MBP is not as tight as it use to be. It seems the more you use it the loose r it gets. When I first got the laptop in 2017 it was tight and would take some pull to get it out but now without much movement it will come out pretty easy. I ended up using all of them instead of just one but none of them are really tight fitting anymore. That’s the one thing I liked about the MagSafe was the magnetic click and it wouldn’t fall out.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Perspective:

Intel's first 10nm 'Cannon Lake' processor with 32GB LPDDR4 RAM support ships
Thursday, May 17, 2018, 06:53 am PT (09:53 am ET)


Apple Still lagging behind. PC industry moves to new chips fast, you’ll see new intel architectures in a matter of months.

Tolerance for your hyperbole has also reached a limit. Blah blah blah blah blah. Whatever. At least use some facts. The 8th Gen, 6 core Intel i9 chip was just introduced April 3. Apple is one of the very first manufacturers to feature the newest chip. The specs of the leaked benchmarks already show this computer is not just a marginal gain in performance. Find another similarly “slightly souped-up” computer with the Apple’s specs. And post it here so we can see what kind of a “joke” it is by comparison.

For comparison Microsoft’s Top of the line “Powerhouse” - (their word) :

15” Intel® Core™ i7 processor with quad-core power**
1TB
16GB
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 discrete GPU w/6GB GDDR5 graphics memory

$3,299

Below are the ONLY other i9 laptops I can even find, correct me if I missed one:

• 
  
  
  • Alienware 17: Core i9, GTX 1080, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD with a 1TB 7200RPM HDD, 1440p 120Hz G-Sync display - $3,699 on Dell.com
  • Asus ROG G703: Core i9, GTX 1080, 32GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD with a 2TB hybrid drive, 1080p 144Hz G-Sync display - $3,699 on Amazon.com
  • Gigabyte Aorus X9: Core i9, GTX 1080, 32GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD with a 1TB HDD, 1080p 144Hz G-Sync display - $3,899 on Amazon.com
  • MSI G75 Titan: Core i9, GTX 1080, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD with a 1TB HDD - $3,999 on Newegg.com with a 1080p 120Hz G-Sync display, or $4,499 on Newegg.com with a 4K 60Hz display

If people would stop posting hyperbolic rubish on here and try to base opinions at least somewhat in fact, we may actually learn something about the value of the new updates and if they are worthwhile. Yes, worth - that is a personal opion. We are all entitled. Many miss the MagSafe - that’s valid, and it is a fact that it is missing. Others don’t want to deal with dongles because of the 4 USB-C, good opinion based on facts of the hardware. But the false statements regarding price versus last year’s line - read from the Verge - the pricing is the same per step of upgrade -fact. Or to say that these are not real upgrades is just patently wrong (and shows technical ignorance) They may not be worth it for you, but these are significant changes to the CPU and GPU, as well as RAM among other updates. I guess some people have nothing better to do than troll.

The really bad thing about that $3299 SurfaceBook is that it uses a Core i7-8650U (15w U-Series) CPU. So you are literally paying more and getting WAY less, because for $3199, I can get a 15" MacBook Pro 2.6Ghz Core i7-8750H (45w H-Series) w/ 6-cores, 16GB of DDR4 and 1TB Flash Storage and literally run rings around the SurfaceBook 2 all day long. People can slobber all over NVIDIA all they want, since that seems to be the sticking point when you really press people about it, but NVIDIA is not the holy anointed GPU for all time...so tired of hearing about NVIDIA this and NVIDIA that. Go away people.

Another thing, don't mention the fact that Dell is quoting July 31st - August 2nd delivery dates for the Dell XPS 15 with an 8750H, but everyone keeps saying Apple is late to the party. LOL!

The same thing goes for the Surface Studio which sells for $4,199, which gets you a Core i7-6700HQ (laptop CPU) and what is basically a 2TB Fusion Drive. Imagine if Apple did that with the 27" iMac.

But Apple is lagging behind...yeah, right, whatever.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

When is Apple going to release something people can actually afford?

Agreed! I'm still using a 2014 13" MBP cause Apple products are so damn expensive. With the iPhone I get one gen behind when I upgrade as it's cheaper. Tim Cook and his cronies are way too greedy.

 

[Feenician]

The really bad thing about that $3299 SurfaceBook is that it uses a Core i7-8650U (15w U-Series) CPU. So you are literally paying more and getting WAY less, because for $3199, I can get a 15" MacBook Pro 2.6Ghz Core i7-8750H (45w H-Series) w/ 6-cores, 16GB of DDR4 and 1TB Flash Storage and literally run rings around the SurfaceBook 2 all day long. People can slobber all over NVIDIA all they want, since that seems to be the sticking point when you really press people about it, but NVIDIA is not the holy anointed GPU for all time...so tired of hearing about NVIDIA this and NVIDIA that. Go away people.

Another thing, don't mention the fact that Dell is quoting July 31st - August 2nd delivery dates for the Dell XPS 15 with an 8750H, but everyone keeps saying Apple is late to the party. LOL!

The same thing goes for the Surface Studio which sells for $4,199, which gets you a Core i7-6700HQ (laptop CPU) and what is basically a 2TB Fusion Drive. Imagine if Apple did that with the 27" iMac.

But Apple is lagging behind...yeah, right, whatever.

It’s the same every year here. Intel announce (not even release) a single, completely innappropriate SKU of whatever generation of chips and people immediately go into full meltdown mode about Apple neglecting the MBP. Then Intel finally does announce (but not release) an appropriate SKU and the OEM’s immediately announce (but not release) whatever they’re going to put it in but by that point the meltdown has been going on for months and people’s perception is that Apple is slow/doesn’t care about the Mac etc.

 

[Zdigital2015]

I only have one question:
Where is Harvey Den... Uh no: just two questions:

Is the RAM soldered on?
Can the SSD be upgraded?

RAM: Yes
SSD: No

 

[KPandian1]

75 comments in and I feel a lot of you need to go hang out at the Thinkpad forums or get some mental health treatment.

Much longer and more passionate thread just earlier this month; people really love to discuss things here.

 

[Peperino]

How Apple dares to ship a 15 inch Macbook so called "Pro" with a 256 internal drive??
Specially for the money they are charging...

 

[jjjoseph]

I am really trying to understand what people have against the Touch Bar so maybe you can help. By default, the Touch Bar essentially emulates the additional controls that Function Keys provided (volume, brightness, etc) except that the Touch Bar is context sensitive and thus can do a lot more. If, in the default set-up, you want to use the Touch Bar as Function Keys just hold the Function button (fn bottom left of the keyboard). If, however, you always want to access to the Function Keys you can change the default setting in System Preferences > Keyboard (check out this Apple Document). Then to access the Touch Bar instead of the now default Function Keys you use the Function button (fn).

This is EXACTLY how a Mac without a Touch Bar behaves. By default the Function Keys act as volume, brightness, etc, unless you hold down the Function key (fn) or you change the default behaviour in System Preferences. Except that the Touch Bar is capable of so much more than the Function Key Macs given it is context sensitive in different Apps. As well, you can set up your Mac to use Touch Bar in some apps but Function Keys in others which I don't believe you can do on a standard keyboard.

So why do I care? Because I am a keyboard junkie in the apps that I use everyday (mostly NLEs like Media Composer, FCP X, Premiere Pro, etc) and for those apps I like having the Function Keys up. But for apps I do not use often and therefore don't know the keyboard shortcuts as well I use the Touch Bar because, well, then it is helpful having context sensitive functions right there in front of me that I don't have to search a menu for.

Conclusion: the Touch Bar / Function Key switching is exactly the same as the standard function key keyboard but offers far more versatility. So what is there to hate?

I for one have never found the Touch Bar a better replacement for keystrokes and shortcuts. I work mostly in Davinci Resolve for Color Grading, but I do use Nuke and Fusion, and I use Premiere Pro and After Effects at times. The elure of the Touch Bar seemed to be a GUI based hotkey or quick key, but somehow neither the fact that it can have a graphic or the fact the it is above my number keys made it Better than just doing a keyboard shortcut.. It actually made it worse and more cumbersome to do color and vfx because you actually have to LOOK DOWN at the keyboard, something your NECK and HEAD should not be doing all day... If I log a 12 hour post production day, it is very damaging to the body to look at your keyboard all day like that... ESP on something as small as a MacBook Pro.

I don't really care that Apple has it in their product line, a lot of people Instagram all day, I just wish Apple offered a MacBook Pro without it..

 

[Peperino]

I am really trying to understand what people have against the Touch Bar so maybe you can help. By default, the Touch Bar essentially emulates the additional controls that

Conclusion: the Touch Bar / Function Key switching is exactly the same as the standard function key keyboard but offers far more versatility. So what is there to hate?

What is there to hate?... The price. I am a shortcut freak too, and I know what a touchbar can do. Still it does not justify at all whatsoever the overprice they are trying to impose on us. A touchbar, is NOT worth it an extra $500.00

 

[Feenician]

How Apple dares to ship a 15 inch Macbook so called "Pro" with a 256 internal drive??
Specially for the money they are charging...

Copying and pasting the same faux outrage in multiple threads isn’t really the done thing.

 

[HVDynamo]

I do, 1920x1200 makes everything too small. I prefer native 2x than more screen space.

I agree, 1920x1200 on a 15" is pretty tiny. But they could at least boost it to 1680x1050 (3360x2100). To me that is the absolute minimum usable resolution these days.

 

[OC40]

Copying and pasting the same faux outrage in multiple threads isn’t really the done thing.

I was just about to state the same thing.

 

[wood1208]

The 13" laptop still starts at $1,300, they just didn't update that one today (which I assume means they have other plans for the entry level 13" laptop).

Apple's plan for not upgrading 13" function keys MBP is to push buyers to expensive version and than get rid of it. Shame on you Apple. You suppose to accept touchbar was mistake and revert back to function keys MBP and lower the price by atleast $200.
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[doublepost=1531526365][/doublepost]

What you mean? It’s cheaper in price/performance than your laptop. And it’s even cheaper considering inflation.

People complain about price is because when you compare similar spec Windows laptop than MBP costing more than twice. By offering affordable MBP, Apple expands it's bottom base(casual users, highschoo/college students,small businesses,etc) of MBP users who eventually will migrate to higher price when there need and affordability increases. Apple should have upgraded 13" function keys MBP(8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) like touchbar and offered at $1299. That is affordability. Apple should get rid of pathetic 128GB SSD configuration like it did for iPhone 16GB storage.

 

[TimmeyCook]

People complain about price is because when you compare similar spec Windows laptop than MBP costing more than twice

NO!

There are no Windows laptops that cost less and are the same or better.

 

[fpsBeaTt]

This is fact.



This is opinion.



This is a silly strawman. Nobody is asking for anything approaching a Razer Blade. Keeping a few extra ports around doesn't require anything approaching a Razer Blade. This is silly. You're not debating in good faith.



No. This isn't a professional product, it's essentially a MacBook Air with a Pro label slapped on it. I'm glad you're happy with it, but that's just as subjective as my own opinion (and I've never claimed I wasn't subjective).

You’re confusing opinion with factual, substantiated assertions. Your baseless ad hominem aside, your MacBook Air comment disqualifies you from any sane discourse.
Try to have a nice life.
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It is an issue precisely because you need an adapter.

Are you always carrying one (or more) of those in your pocket?

I've seen it countless times. An impromptu meeting starts, people bring their laptops in a hurry, and then there is always the one that has forgotten to bring the adapter. The ones that have the port always make a joke or two.
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There is a plateau, but sales aren't going down as a lot of people complaining would expect.

Also, the PC market has been going down for the past 6-7 years so plateauing is actually better than the rest.

Not an issue, and your hypothetical atrociously organised worker rushing to a meeting, while inexplicably not having the single, inoffensively small multi adapter already connected (or even more bizarrely disconnecting it) is specious and vapid, and is taken as seriously as it deserves to be.

 

[pbasmadj]

I guess I have yet another year with the 2103 Air. Such a shame, but there is no way I would pay an extra $300 for a touch bar I don't want. I might pay maybe $100 to not have it.

Agree completely, have never liked those ridiculous touch bars and still don't. Awful

 

[macintoshmac]

You mean hardware support, i.e. repairs and replacements, right?

Because software support will be probably more like 10 years..

6 years in case of my Late 2011 MBP. I have to run High Sierra launched in 2017 at best because 2018's Mojave will not be supported.
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If these numbers for the i7 is true I’ll be floored. The 13” unicorn has finally arrived and it got me to upgrade my 2016.

As for the touchbar, it works great with BetterTouchTool. Making custom shortcut buttons for Adobe CC is awesome.

Multi core performance is as expected double due to two more cores.

 

[val.kalinic]

OK, here’s a prediction, based on an idea of Gruber’s:
In a week or so, someone does a teardown/disassembles the new keyboard, and we find that it’s in some way sealed. That makes it “quieter”, as well as prevents the dust jams.

Now, Apple can report the quietness, but can’t say they fixed a keyboard problem, as that would mean they admit the issue exists - which could be used against them in the lawsuits.

Whoa, already?

 

[macintoshmac]

Whoa, already?

You da man! Your prediction rang true!

 

[val.kalinic]

You da man! Your prediction rang true!

Yup,
And a smart move on their part!

 

[dilbert99]

Someone who is willing to embrace the shift, perhaps out of enthusiasm, fandom, or maybe just because he doesn’t know any better. Compared to those who do know better, but just see the challenges in changing and use those challenges to anchor criticism.

You have my respect for that. Whatever it’s worth.

A much better design is to have 2 usb C and 2 usb A ports during a changeover period.
It helps no one who has a mix of devices to only have one type of port.

Having said that Apple is moving their laptop from the pro to the luxury marked which probably don't mind throwing out all their USB-A devices and replacing them with USB-C devices. Such a waste of resources.

 

[Abazigal]

A much better design is to have 2 usb C and 2 usb A ports during a changeover period.
It helps no one who has a mix of devices to only have one type of port.

Does it really help anything though, or would Apple just be delaying the inevitable? People would simply continue using their usb A accessories, and then still complain when Apple eventually gets round to removing all non-USB C ports.

Transitions are always messy. Might as well just get it over and done with. I see it as a classic case of short term pain for long term gain.

 

[dilbert99]

Does it really help anything though, or would Apple just be delaying the inevitable? People would simply continue using their usb A accessories, and then still complain when Apple eventually gets round to removing all non-USB C ports.

Transitions are always messy. Might as well just get it over and done with. I see it as a classic case of short term pain for long term gain.

What so wrong to keep using your old peripherals?
From a consumer point of view, always look at where the benefit is for users.
Does it benefit me for Apple to go all in on USB-C, no.
Does it benefit me for Apple to have half and half on USB-A/USB-C, yes.

Will manufacturers switch from USB-A to USB-C, yes if there is user benefit.
What is the benefit of USB-C - reversible - check, faster - check.

Hence manufacturers will switch over to get faster speeds. Users will switch over when they need faster speeds.

Apple should not be trying to dictate anything. Apple do not need to dictate anything

For example, I have a USB-A thumb drive attached to one of my laptops, can I do that with USB-C - no.
Hence in Apples wisdom, they have made things harder for me.

There is absolutely no need for short term pain.
This is one of these cases of having your cake and eating it.

 

[HVDynamo]

.. why would you expect or need more than 6 yrs support on a laptop? Does Dell or any other PC maker promise support longer ?

I'm not the original poster, but largely the reason why is because speed increases haven't been that big on PC's anymore. For many people that 8 year old machine they have is still plenty fast to check facebook/email/shop amazon/etc... Ending support is essentially forcing a machine into obsolesence. The support thing is a bit more important on Mac because when apple stops allowing OS updates on a machine, it is very close to losing software support for everything because they only support their OS's so many versions back. If you want your software to stay current, Apple needs to continue supporting the hardware longer. On the windows side of things, I have a personal example. My old gaming PC with a Core 2 Quad Extreme from late 2006 and 6GB of RAM is still chugging away with the latest update to Windows 10 issue free nearly 12 years later. It has been upgraded to an SSD, and has been making a great machine for my parents as it is still more than fast enough to serve their needs. I currently have my 2012 Classic MacBook pro that I swapped the HDD out for an SSD and while it will still get Mojave, I suspect that may be the end of the road for it despite the fact that I have zero need for increased performance other than what this machine offers. I understand that I will still get security updates for a couple years after that, but at that point I would like to give it to my parents(would still be an upgrade to them in performance and mobility) and have them be able to use it for a few more years before it really does become unusable. I could always just put Windows 10 on it since that would work...

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

What is the practical difference between the 6-core i7 and the 6-core i9? I've tried to identify what CPU Apple uses for the i7 in the Macbook Pro 15, but cannot find that info. Apart from a few hundred megahertz, what else makes the i9 more expensive?