Live Coverage of Apple's 'Hello Again' Mac Event

[kodos]

Why so pessimistic? I'm not a fan of Cook but they are moving in the right direction this time. Central TV app, and that touch bar seems to be a nice working idea, really improving the workflow, although it could be presented better. I could almost tell Cook is thinking about what Microsoft presented yesterday, he was kind of pensive today. Speaking of Macs the key thing they'll need to do now is to add touch support to Macs, that seems to be the future. They'll definitely need to do something with iMac and MacBook as well. I'll give them 1-2 more years, and see what they'll do with the iPhone 8.

Ironically, these 3D features, which Microsoft presented yesterday, Apple had years ago. QuickTime had support for 3D and VR since 90s, but it was dropped with transition to OS X.

Quicktime "VR" is to Windows 10 Creator Edition what the original Microsoft "Tablet" PCs are to iPads. They were right to dump that stuff. I cannot say that the Windows 10 3D stuff that I saw was much beyond a gimmick though. I almost fell asleep during that part of the keynote. We'll see what develops but I remain skeptical that anyone cares about 3D emails.

As for the touchbar, I think that app developers will ignore it and it will just become a defacto Function Bar key as usual. If this is what they thought the Macbook Pro needed, they really are out of touch.

 

[TheRainKing]

You honestly believe that? If there's one thing we know about Apple it's that they are perfectly happy to make products or dump products regardless of how well they sell. Apple doesn't care about the public. They make the products they want to make and they expect the public to just accept whatever they feel like releasing.

Apple's sole purpose is to make money. Why put time and effort into a niche product that doesn't sell anymore?

 

[Mactendo]

Quicktime "VR" is to Windows 10 Creator Edition what the original Microsoft "Tablet" PCs are to iPads. They were right to dump that stuff. I cannot say that the Windows 10 3D stuff that I saw was much beyond a gimmick though. I almost fell asleep during that part of the keynote. We'll see what develops but I remain skeptical that anyone cares about 3D emails.

As for the touchbar, I think that app developers will ignore it and it will just become a defacto Function Bar key as usual. If this is what they thought the Macbook Pro needed, they really are out of touch.

No, they were not right to drop it. What Google does with its street view feature in 2016 is still just a weak shadow of what QTVR was capable of in 1998.

Of course you can't compare that technology directly to Windows 10, it's a bit different in its roots but at least with QT you also could embed 3D objects into documents. It was great and ahead of time back then, and if they didn't drop it then it could have matured into much more advanced thing. Now Apple have to start from scratch.

Regarding touchbar it was just shown with Photoshop how powerful it can be and how it can improve your workflow. Developers will love it.

 

[kodos]

No, they were not right to drop it. What Google does with its street view feature in 2016 is still just a weak shadow of what QTVR was capable of in 1998.

Of course you can't compare that technology directly to Windows 10, it's a bit different in its roots but at least with QT you also could embed 3D objects into documents. It was great and ahead of time back then, and if they didn't drop it then it could have matured into much more advanced thing. Now Apple have to start from scratch.

Regarding touchbar it was just shown with Photoshop how powerful it can be and how it can improve your workflow. Developers will love it.

I asked my art department what makes Photoshop more powerful - they said to be able to draw on the screen. Developers like Function Keys btw. We don't like fake buttons. If Apple wants to retain developers, I'd suggest a different strategy from whatever they thought they were doing today.

Microsoft gutted them yesterday. I think that five years from now - people will point to this keynote as the definitive moment in time when Apple lost its mojo (and its mind).

 

[Mactendo]

I asked my art department what makes Photoshop more powerful - they said to be able to draw on the screen. Developers like Function Keys btw. We don't like fake buttons. If Apple wants to retain developers, I'd suggest a different strategy from whatever they thought they were doing today.

Touchbar doesn't replace drawing on the screen. We were talking about app developers and they'll love to add support for touch bar. People are blind if they don't see the potential of it.

I think that five years from now.

My words yesterday.

But I'm surprised of all the negativity when Apple finally does something right. No one expected them to design a competitor to Surface Studio overnight. It was an event for MBP and they delivered MBP. Pretty everyone here knew what to expect.

 

[apolloa]

Yet Apple owns 90% of PC profits because premium is where all the money is made. That's what Microsoft + OEMs are after. The profits. As long as Apple dominates the profits they're sitting pretty.

I'd love to see you find a link to prove Apple makes 90% of the global PC markets profits.

 

[arggg14]

And the price is....

Got kicked in the ***** on that one.

 

[6836838]

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0X2AM/A/usb-c-to-lightning-cable-1-m

$25!

 

[kahkityoong]

Well that TB port can be replaced with USB-C because you have TB over USB-C. They both use the same port.

So two USB-C is the same as one USB-C and one TB port.

I meant a single thunderbolt 2 port so my current thunderbolt drives can be connected.

 

[Peace]

I meant a single thunderbolt 2 port so my current thunderbolt drives can be connected.

I'm confused. You want a separate thunderbolt 2 port to connect a thunderbolt 2 device.

The new MBP has 4 TB3 ports.

Apple sells a TB3 to TB2 dongle.

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter?fnode=4c

 

[MarvinHC]

I'm confused. You want a separate thunderbolt 2 port to connect a thunderbolt 2 device.

The new MBP has 4 TB3 ports.

Apple sells a TB3 to TB2 dongle.

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter?fnode=4c

$49 ?!?!?!?!? To solve a problem that wasn't there in the first place....

 

[Traverse]

Me too buddy hoping for a silent update on the Mac Pro.

Sorry for the late reply, been grading all day.

The new MacBook Pro is impressive sure, but they've priced it way too high especially considering they ditched the MacBook Air. Now you must pay what? $1200 to get an Apple Notebook? And they're selling last generation along side this one?

AND, two 13" Pros? What a mess.

 

[Bubba Satori]

I'd love to see you find a link to prove Apple makes 90% of the global PC markets profits.

It came from where the sun never shines.

 

[smoledman]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/8/6...-fifth-largest-pc-maker-in-the-world-says-idc

Ok Apple only makes 50% of PC industry profits. But that's one vendor! The rest of them have to divide up the other half.
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$25!

For someone spending $3000+ on a suped-out MBP what is $25 on a dongle? People who buy MBP are professionals and they don't worry about small expenses like that. They usually make $100K+ salaries, so these costs are nothing.

 

[MacPioneer]

Just ordered a fully maxed out $4299 15-inch MacBook Pro. Screw it, I want the best.

 

[duervo]

Just ordered a fully maxed out $4299 15-inch MacBook Pro. Screw it, I want the best.

So, fully ... Mac'd ... out?

?

.
.
.

Thank-you, thank-you ... I'm here all weekend. Try the steak. It's de-lish.

 

[smoledman]

Just ordered a fully maxed out $4299 15-inch MacBook Pro. Screw it, I want the best.

 

[b_scott]

$25!

or just get a $5 usb-c to a adapter.

 

[smoledman]

or just get a $5 usb-c to a adapter.

It's a bit dodgy going with non-Apple connectors/dongles these days. You never know what will catch on fire.

 

[b_scott]

I have been an ardent user of Mac since my white G5 iMac in 2005. I currently have a Mid 2010 iMac and 2011 MBA. I have had nearly every generation of iPhone and have owned two iPads. However, this was disappointing. Not necessarily from the design or the specs although I was somewhat underwhelmed. For me it's the new price points.
Apple is apparently reluctantly keeping the $999 13" MBA as an entry point for college students and first time Mac users but the $1499 price point for the non-touch bar MBP is crap particularly when it has only two USB-C ports (regardless of attaching a hub at and extra expense). The $1800 price point is absurd: 13"? 8GB RAM? That's just gouging.
I think there is a point where many every day consumers will just tell Apple to GFY. I am close to that point myself. However, I may consider buying a current generation iMac and customize it. The touch bar is gimmicky. Screw it.

Whatever the current thoughts on the current MBP are, they last a good 6-7 years while still being worth money afterwards. You can't say that for any PC laptop, even Alienware. They're sleek and hold up well, and OSX/MacOS supports them and their components for a long time. My 2010 is ready to upgrade but it's not on its last legs. There's a lot to say for that. Break up $2500 over 7 years. That's nothing. I've been very happy so far.

 

[mrhick01]

The Xeon E5-1650 v4 just came out recently, though. The E5-1650 is what they used in the 2013 Pro. They could've upgraded the CPU AND the GPUs in the trashcan, and made a lot of people happy.

That's a messed-up rock and a hard place.

That's why an iterative processor update between 6,1 and now would have mattered. I do believe that Cook should address the professional community with some kind of explanation. Going three years without an update of any kind along with never reducing the sticker price is problematic. Professional Mac users deserve better than this.

 

[duervo]

Whatever the current thoughts on the current MBP are, they last a good 6-7 years while still being worth money afterwards. You can't say that for any PC laptop, even Alienware. They're sleek and hold up well, and OSX/MacOS supports them and their components for a long time. My 2010 is ready to upgrade but it's not on its last legs. There's a lot to say for that. Break up $2500 over 7 years. That's nothing. I've been very happy so far.

Well, those older systems had more longevity in them in part because you could upgrade the storage and RAM on them fairly easily. (I know, I know ... I went "there" ... but it is still a valid point, and is one of the reasons why there is still a used market for them.)

 

[Srtlewis]

Also is it just me or does Touch Bar sound like a place one should avoid...
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Apple just had us waste 1.5hrs for a mediocre, expensive laptop in which the main feature is a replacement for Function keys.

It is OK I am writing up an invoice for 1.5 hours of time this morning.

 

[sober2ndthought]

Oh God, I just saw something else:

http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MJLQ2LL/A&step=config#

Apple is so courageous that they will sell a new computer with a 3 year old processor in it for $2449.00....That's the base price.

I am starting to wonder if they are jacking up the price of their computers to get people to buy iPads and iPad Pros as their primary computing device.

 

[oldwatery]

Wow, this place is full of cry babies.

The funny part is that almost all of you will still buy it.

That's not the feeling I'm getting here for a change. I really think Apple have blown it big time.
As for being cry babies. How about crying professionals that need to get a job done and have relied on Apple for years to deliver. Why are you being so insulting?