Key Takeaways of 2018 MacBook Pro vs. 2017 MacBook Pro

[Jethro!]

Does nobody remember the Mighty Mouse?

Oh yeah, forgot about that even though I have one and use it every day. ha. That was Apple (Computers) responding to actual persistent customer criticism. Which is why there is a glimmer of hope they'll listen now. But then... that was then (Jobs), this is now (Cook). blech
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I mean, I'm not gonna argue with you that they're not screwing the pro desktop line right now, total agreement there, they really screwed the pooch on that end of things. I honestly think they didn't realize how much the trash can mac pro painted them into a corner, and they overestimated thunderbolt adoption and bet the farm on it there. Hopefully they'll actually give us decent desktop options again when their new "modular" Mac Pro is released.

Yes, hopefully. But honestly not very hopeful. Apple is overthinking and over-engineering everything nowadays; throw in a dash of Apple hubris. The solution is simple and cheap: bring back the MP Tower -- already a near flawless design -- update it with the latest everything, and they'll sell a zillion of them (including me). But... they won't do that. See Apple hubris above.

I think the growth of cloud office suites + better wifi standards

Not everyone uses the cloud (used to be called mainframe computing), including me and many others. Lots and lots and lots of good reasons not to go back to mainframe computing, I mean "the cloud".

And again, they're not doing anything anyone else isnt doing on the optical drive, they really are following the market there. I don't know many people who would trade the size savings for an internal optical drive, even people who actually *use* it like those on your end of things generally prefer externals.

On the PC side I've seen a healthy number of options for laptop optical drives, including those supporting the latest BDXL format. With Apple's obsession over thinness, by putting 1% of that obsession into making the "thinnest ever" optical drive they could have slimmed it down to something even those who say they don't use it would appreciate.
(*The real reasons Apple hasn't is because they don't control the optical market).

 

[seek3r]

Oh yeah, forgot about that even though I have one and use it every day. ha. That was Apple (Computers) responding to actual persistent customer criticism. Which is why there is a glimmer of hope they'll listen now. But then... that was then (Jobs), this is now (Cook). blech
[doublepost=1531830554][/doublepost]
Yes, hopefully. But honestly not very hopeful. Apple is overthinking and over-engineering everything nowadays; throw in a dash of Apple hubris. The solution is simple and cheap: bring back the MP Tower -- already a near flawless design -- update it with the latest everything, and they'll sell a zillion of them (including me). But... they won't do that. See Apple hubris above.

I would love them bringing back the old tower, I still have a 2010 that's been upgraded and is a solid machine still to this day, but I don't think we're getting that, not so much for hubris about being wrong but because (maybe hubris) that apple thinks they can still make it better, or different. My bet is the modular mac pro is going to look a lot like the mini but stackable somehow, with the base model without any extra modules *replacing* the mini.

Not everyone uses the cloud (used to be called mainframe computing), including me and many others. Lots and lots and lots of good reasons not to go back to mainframe computing, I mean "the cloud".

I agree, and it's not very different from the HPC end of things for that matter in a lot of ways, but it *is* the primary way, like it or not, that people are going to be accessing services for a long time now, until local computing maybe once again supplants it. If you cna't beat 'em, join 'em?

On the PC side I've seen a healthy number of options for laptop optical drives, including those supporting the latest BDXL format. With Apple's obsession over thinness, by putting 1% of that obsession into making the "thinnest ever" optical drive they could have slimmed it down to something even those who say they don't use it would appreciate.
(*The real reasons Apple hasn't is because they don't control the optical market).

Maybe, but they're not where the market is going, and they're typically the chunky "desktop replacement" machines, or gaming machines, the closest apple has come to that in a long, long time was the 17" MBP. They're not going to release a machine like that (even if they released another 17" MBP it wouldnt look like that), and most manufacturers are keeping one model on for niche users but moving away from it for everyone else. The flagship laptops from most manufacturers ditched it years ago, and they're not going back.

 

[Jethro!]

I would love them bringing back the old tower, I still have a 2010 that's been upgraded and is a solid machine still to this day, but I don't think we're getting that, not so much for hubris about being wrong but because (maybe hubris) that apple thinks they can still make it better, or different. My bet is the modular mac pro is going to look a lot like the mini but stackable somehow, with the base model without any extra modules *replacing* the mini.

This is the hubris: Apple has the resources to do both -- make a 'traditional' tower available, AND a new "Can't innovate any more my ass" machine whatever it may be. Then let us decide if the "ass" machine is that much more assome, I mean awesome.

I agree, and it's not very different from the HPC end of things for that matter in a lot of ways, but it *is* the primary way, like it or not, that people are going to be accessing services for a long time now, until local computing maybe once again supplants it. If you cna't beat 'em, join 'em?

I'm not joining 'em. Can't tell you how often friends who have joined the Borg complain of being unable to access their stuff in the cloud, or this/that/the other has gone down and can't get it back. I just shake my head and play faux sympathy. Because... If you stuff isn't on your stuff, it's not really your stuff.

Maybe, but they're not where the market is going, and they're typically the chunky "desktop replacement" machines, or gaming machines, the closest apple has come to that in a long, long time was the 17" MBP. They're not going to release a machine like that (even if they released another 17" MBP it wouldnt look like that), and most manufacturers are keeping one model on for niche users but moving away from it for everyone else. The flagship laptops from most manufacturers ditched it years ago, and they're not going back.

I specifically went with Apple back in the day because they were NOT going where the market was going. PC's/Microsoft ruled absolutely then and everyone told me to go PC because Apple was going out of biz (among other reasons). BUT, I saw the Apple was forging its own path particularly for creative pros, so I -- any enough others -- did as well, which kept them afloat. Now Apple is giving those of us those who kept them alive the middle finger. And we don't appreciate it.

As to not "going back", of course they will -- which is not really going back -- if enough noise is made about it. So I'm making noise.

 

[iLilana]

Hold on, are you seriously complaining because your phone might not get software updates for more than 6 years? Please show me any other phone that received updates for that long, or longer.

phone? no the MBP also I have never owned a phone. I still use my 1st gen LTE iPad mini for communication. Security updates would be nice. Was going to update that when they make another iPad mini.. but that never happened. The MBP is just overpriced. They could have easily reduced the costs. If something is going to cost as much as a small 3D printed concrete home it better last a long time.

 

[JimmyHook]

I think MKBHD did an explanation of this (for iPhones but it translates over to Macs).

Essentially Apple have changed their target market. They now cater to the rich only. They know that rich people aren’t going to have a problem upgrading to higher capacity, better graphics, more RAM etc. so they make those upgrades crazy prices and the base models come with so little that nobody wants. The base models aren’t intended to be bought by anyone but those who really want a Mac but don’t have the budget. Apple don’t care how many of those they sell anymore - we are not their target market. Rich people with boats, companies with massive IT budgets, etc. aren’t on these forums expressing their outrage; they’re out buying the Macs they want while the rest of us who unfortunately got caught up in the Apple “bubble” when prices were reasonable, are stuck with either saying goodbye to Apple or taking out dangerous credit lines to keep our computers relevant.

Most of the competition uses 256 GB as a starting point as well, so this fake argument collapses. If they were targeting the 1 percent, how are they hitting so many demographics?

 

[twistedpixel8]

Most of the competition uses 256 GB as a starting point as well, so this fake argument collapses. If they were targeting the 1 percent, how are they hitting so many demographics?

Most of the competition aren’t charging Apple prices.

Also, which demographics are you referring to?

 

[MrUNIMOG]

Most of the competition aren’t charging Apple prices.

Also, which demographics are you referring to?

Most of the competition aren't using flash that's over 3 GB/s fast.

 

[harriska2]

I find the touch bar extremely useful. I was a skeptic at first.

It might work great but it doesn’t help if it makes the thing unaffordable.

 

[FBT]

Don't waste a Pro label on a notebook with only integrated graphics, regardless of the tier.

Always amused me that perspective.

I presume you mean you are a "pro" if you do video editing on software which pushes its capability? Or are you an architect or engineer?

Do you even know what a profession (and therefore a professional) is? The five professions are:

1. medicine
2. law
3. clergy
4. architecture and
5. engineering. Law and medicine are traditionally considered to be the most elite of them.

As an actual professional and knowing many - in all of these disciplines - MacBook pros are indeed professional gear. For working away from a powerful desktop. They, like the tools we use, are professionally built and designed. They are professional in appearance and performance. And they cost an arm and a leg. Like years of medical or legal training does and many tools used by an engineer or architect. They are professionally targeted machines. And therefore professional. Of the disciplines which are professional, medicine (manipulation of high res MRIs or CT and rendering in realtime, video rendering, anatomic virtual dissection, operative planning etc) - I can tell you personally - the video capability is more than adequate for any of these. And then some. Professional radiologists use these computers to review and report MRIs, CTs etc. A professional engineer at a high level in a multinational company has used his MacBook Pro for years and years to generate and render CAD and related drawings -- highly demanding on video capability. Is a bigger or better graphics card and external video option good? Sure. But no upgrade since 2013 for him on a 13 inch MBP dual core. Professional architects I know in large firms have similar usage patterns and experiences...

Point is - learn. Understand. Its what makes us professionals - and everyone else someone to fix the machine when it needs it.