Macbook Pro is not a professional machine

[AdamA9]

I'm a professional. I have a MacBook Pro. It's fine for me.

Maybe the statement should be it's not a desktop-grade machine so professionals who need the extra grunt should buy a bloody desktop.

 

[dspdoc]

The focus of Apple is making thin and light laptops for people in Starbucks rather than making laptops that actually performs good.

That is why Apple puts a more than 2 year old GPU that you find in $750 PC laptops because the machine has to look good rather than performing good.

Oh boy...

 

[MBX]

I've done complex 3D animations for high end clients on a fkin MacBook Air with a crappy GPU and 1.2ghz CPU, 8GB Ram.

And you're telling me these MBP's are not pro?

Get a grip. The only reason why they're not pro is because you're not pro.

 

[maflynn]

I'm using my MBP for work, and while that is not FCPX or anything like that, I consider it a professional task on a machine for professional.

 

[UBS28]

These posts are funny, that people actually believe Apple is really making a professional machine rather than simply using the Pro term as a marketing gimick.

If this was a Pro machine, Apple would not have ditch the regular USB port as I cannot even use my Access Virus TI for music production straight out of the box. How is this helping really?

Making the laptop almost not repairable is also a feature that is very high on a professional his list *coughs*

If people think that a $3000 laptop with a 560m GPU onboard is high-end performance, then I don’t know what to say. The GPU is weak and it is weak because thinness has the highest priority for Apple rather than actual performance.

Also the thin keyboard also is really high on the priority list of professionals.

 

[ofarlig]

These posts are funny, that people actually believe Apple is really making a professional machine rather than simply using the Pro term as a marketing gimick.

If this was a Pro machine, Apple would not have ditch the regular USB port as I cannot even use my Access Virus TI for music production straight out of the box. How is this helping really?

Making the laptop almost not repairable is also a feature that is very high on a professional his list *coughs*

If people think that a $3000 laptop with a 560m GPU onboard is high-end performance, then I don’t know what to say. The GPU is weak and it is weak because thinness has the highest priority for Apple rather than actual performance.

Also the thin keyboard also really is high on the priority list of professionals.

I guess my $3000 Lenovo I have for work isn't a pro device either because it has a weak GPU? Weird that I can do work on it no problem.

Also fun that you mention repairability, I know of no professional user that cares one bit about that.

 

[Newtons Apple]

The focus of Apple is making thin and light laptops for people in Starbucks rather than making laptops that actually performs good.

That is why Apple puts a more than 2 year old GPU that you find in $750 PC laptops because the machine has to look good rather than performing good.

If you do not like it move on. Apple is not going to change it for you. I personally like my new 2018 MBPro 15 a LOT! Doing every thing I ask of it and more.

Do not waste your life hating, just move on to what make you happy.

 

[haydn!]

These posts are funny, that people actually believe Apple is really making a professional machine rather than simply using the Pro term as a marketing gimick.

If this was a Pro machine, Apple would not have ditch the regular USB port as I cannot even use my Access Virus TI for music production straight out of the box. How is this helping really?

Making the laptop almost not repairable is also a feature that is very high on a professional his list *coughs*

If people think that a $3000 laptop with a 560m GPU onboard is high-end performance, then I don’t know what to say. The GPU is weak and it is weak because thinness has the highest priority for Apple rather than actual performance.

Also the thin keyboard also is really high on the priority list of professionals.

There you go again. Confusing high-end with professionalism.

Not all professionals need high-end specs. The MacBook Pro meets the needs of many many many professionals incredibly well. All professions? No. Those that demand the highest specifications? Possibly not. But then I wouldn't expect those professionals to be working from a mobile device either.

But make no mistake, the MacBook Pro is a professional device, despite your elitist perception of professionals.

 

[AdamA9]

If you do not like it move on. Apple is not going to change it for you. I personally like my new 2018 MBPro 15 a LOT! Doing every thing I ask of it and more.

Do not waste your life hating, just move on to what make you happy.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few who frequent these forums. Just waiting around to post hate about the products rather than enjoying their alternative brands and getting some fresh air.

I don't understand why...

 

[e1me5]

I use a 2012 MBP. Considering the specs neither my computer is Pro. But still prints me money. I guess when my new 2018 MBP comes it will do the same as well. So I guess you are just wrong.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The "Pro" monicker means nothing. It is just a marketing ploy. What matters, is whether or not the computer meets the needs of the individual purchaser.

No need for some logical fallacy pretzel logic thread, as the OP has posted. o

 

[UBS28]

I remember that time when Steve Jobs motto was that it “just works”. And machines like the Macbook Pro back then really worked with minimal fuss and no effort at all.

Nowadays it’s rushing out the thinnest and lightest machines they can get away with that doesn’t really need to work. The result of that is that I am waiting since 2016 to spend $3000 - $4000 on a machine that works. (Yeah yeah ... i could have used a cover for the keyboard and / or an external keyboard to mitigate the problem, but that is not acceptable for me)

But reading this thread, I can see why they do this. Apple seems to have a fanbase that will defend Apple no matter what and buys their products no matter what. So this new “Apple” will probably produce a faulty 2019 machine again while making it look good with awesome design and thiness.

 

[Howard2k]

I remember that time when Steve Jobs motto was that it “just works”. And machines like the Macbook Pro back then really worked with minimal fuss and no effort at all.

Nowadays it’s rushing out the thinnest and lightest machines they can get away with that doesn’t really need to work. The result of that is that I am waiting since 2016 to spend $3000 - $4000 on a machine that works.

But reading this thread, I can see why they do this. Apple seems to have a fanbase that will defend Apple no matter and buys their products no matter what. So this new “Apple” will probably produce a faulty 2019 machine again while making it look good with awesome design and thiness.

Very nice attempt to rebut your argument with a totally different track. Total fail though.

It’s abundantly clear that you don’t understand what the word “professional” means. You did a great job demonstrating that.

Trying to bridge that to Apple apologists is well beyond you though. The two issues are not related.

 

[MacStu09]

Friend, you’d be surprised, but everyone uses two year old GPU simply because nothing newer is available. Of course, you can go NVIDIA which are 2.5 years atm. And you’d be rather troubled to find a $750 or even a $5000 laptop with those GPUs simply because they are Apple-exclusive. What you find in other laptops is garbage, lower-quality chips that have been rejected by Apple.

For what it's worth, it sounds like you don't know anything about other computers...It's okay to be a fan of Apple, their design, and their build quality. But Apple is definitely mid-range as far as components go. The majority of $750-1,500 laptops have a far better GPU than the new Macbook Pro. In fact, a $500 XPS with a 1050ti outperforms the 555 in the macbook by about 40-60%.

The truth is, what you find in Apple laptops are just rebranded mid range chips that fit their design. Luckily, most people don't need anything more than tech from 5 years ago for most tasks, so it doesn't make a difference to them. But to even try to compare any Macbook to a high-end laptop, GPU-wise, is just silly.

 

[Feenician]

These posts are funny, that people actually believe Apple is really making a professional machine rather than simply using the Pro term as a marketing gimick.

If this was a Pro machine, Apple would not have ditch the regular USB port as I cannot even use my Access Virus TI for music production straight out of the box. How is this helping really?

It seems like a professional, making a several thousand dollar purchase for professional use, and who is already clearly aware that they require a different cable(as you have made clear that you are) would be able to purchase said cable for a few dollars in advance. That kind of foresight seems like a very minimal definition of professional.

 

[Te0SX]

Oh damn it again, it amazed me every single time.... I'll pass.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Unfortunately, there are quite a few who frequent these forums. Just waiting around to post hate about the products rather than enjoying their alternative brands and getting some fresh air.

I don't understand why...

There are some who just got to hate.

I loved the 2017 MBPro except the keyboard, the 2018 is much improved. I am still “slapping myself on the back” for getting Win10 installed without a single glitch.

 

[leman]

For what it's worth, it sounds like you don't know anything about other computers...

Now, thats a statement

But Apple is definitely mid-range as far as components go.

Can you quote me on where I am claiming that the GPU in the MBP is anything but mid-range? Of course its mid-range.

The majority of $750-1,500 laptops have a far better GPU than the new Macbook Pro. In fact, a $500 XPS with a 1050ti outperforms the 555 in the macbook by about 40-60%.

- there is no such thing as a $500 XPS. The cheapest XPS with a 1050ti is $1449 as of now

- yes, are a lot of low-quality cheap gaming laptops that cram a 1050 or 1050 ti under $1000, which will have similar CPU/GPU performance to the 15" MBP, as long as raw performance is the only thing you care about. It has always been the case

- I was replying specifically to the original poster who claimed that one can buy a $750 laptop with the same GPU as the MBP. I was talking about the GPU itself, not the performance class. I don't know if my writing style is so cryptic or whether you people simply don't bother to read what you are quoting

The truth is, what you find in Apple laptops are just rebranded mid range chips that fit their design

Since 2016, its a bit more complex than that. The Radeon GPUs currently found in the MBP are custom, Apple-exclusive chips. They are highly binned Polaris 11/21 chips with all 16 cores functional (In case of 460/560/560X) that undergo additional manufacturing steps in order to make them smaller and more energy efficient. This is why you won't find that particular chip anywhere else. The "regular" 460/560 cards (be it laptop or desktop) are lower-quality units that do not meet Apple's requirements. They are typically partially defective (2 cores disabled) and they don't have the power-efficiency of the chips you find in the MBP.

All this doesn't make the 460/560/560X a high-end GPU of course (and anybody who claims it definitely has no overview of the industry), but it makes them premium GPUs at least. In terms of performance per watt, these chips are some of the best on the market.

 

[smirking]

It seems like a professional, making a several thousand dollar purchase for professional use, and who is already clearly aware that they require a different cable(as you have made clear that you are) would be able to purchase said cable for a few dollars in advance. That kind of foresight seems like a very minimal definition of professional.

Even better, it costs barely more than $1 to get a USB-A to USB-C endcap adapter.

I keep finding the "a pro machine has legacy ports" argument a little odd. If you're a pro, stuff is changing around you all the time. You don't have to like it and quite possibly your habits are even more ingrained than the average person, but pros should be balancing out their personal irritation with the desire to be always doing things a better way.

USB-C is a better way. It may not be there yet, but I can't for the life of me understand why a Pro wouldn't want to start moving toward a future where you only need to stock one cable in your kit and zero adapters and dongles. Yes, I said zero dongles even if right now it means having to pack one or two that you wouldn't have otherwise needed. If we can get to the point where most everything works out of just one port, all of your devices become far more powerful and exchangeable. Want to link up your phone and your laptop? Simple, just grab a USB-C cable. Want to connect your phone to the projector? A USB-C cable will be all you need. Let's network two laptops on the fly? Uhhh, how about a USB-C cable?

Yeah, that sounds pretty Pro to me. In the meantime, sorry about the inconvenience.

 

[leman]

but I can't for the life of me understand why a Pro wouldn't want to start moving toward a future where you only need to stock one cable in your kit and zero adapters and dongles.

Because unfortunately, most professionals, just as most people, value convenience and instant gratification over the chance of improvement, especially if that requires sacrifice on their part. If it was for people like these, we'd never progress and just stay where we are since "right now its good enough". Its a ridiculous way of thinking and Apple is doing the right thing by using its influence to push these changes.

 

[maflynn]

These posts are funny, that people actually believe Apple is really making a professional machine rather than simply using the Pro term as a marketing gimick.

I think you're missing a point, many of us use the laptop for work, i.e., professional usage. If we can do that, then its a professional machine. You may have a very narrow definition of what a professional is, but I can't help that. You don't think its professional machine, that's your opinion. No one is forcing you to buy the MBP. I'm actually very happy with my purchase.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

It is a professional machine if you're a photographer, designer, illustrator, editor, architect, coder, author, journalist, office worker.

It is not a gaming machine. Only 2 inch thick laptops should be used for this.

It is not a workstation or server farm for rendering. No laptops should be used for this.

 

[Strider64]

I'm an old timer and I still can kick myself for giving my Commodore 64 (my first computer) to my cousin. However. that is a different topic, but my cousin used the computer to do genealogy with it. She passed the computer on to a person who wrote a book on it after she was done with the computer. My point is a computer is just a tool no matter the computer and a person can still be considered a professional if they work on a $500 computer or a $20,000 computer.

Most of today's computers are powerful enough to get the job done, it just depends on if you want the job done in 10 minutes or an hour. Today's computers have GUI (Graphical User Interface) that even a simpleton can use with no problem. I like to see most young people (I didn't say all) sit in front a computer and all you see is the c:\ prompt.

With that said the MacBook Pro probably does have a serious issue with throttling, but while a lot of the blame falls on Apple - They are NOT totally at fault. People for awhile now have been bellyaching and whining that Apple hasn't been updating their MacBook Pro lineup for some time now. Maybe a top bean-counter in Apple's marketing department (I even heard a rumor it was Tim Cook himself) demanded that Apple come up with an update of the MacBook Pro? Apple probably knew there was going to be a throttling issue with some "professionals" or even hardcore "normal" computer users, but thought it was risk worth taking in order to calm down the mob with hopes of them putting down their pitch forks. Just because a computer is geared towards professionals doesn't mean a professional is the only one who can use it.

I'm kind of old school, for I would never use a laptop as my main computer to do video rendering and that is why I use an iMac Pro. Yes, I know that the iMac Pro has knocks against that also, but that is a different topic (thread) and personally I have not had any of these serious issues using my iMac Pro (knocking on wood as I type this). When I used an older computer to do video work and when it came to rendering I would simply have the computer render while I took a nice break away from the computer. Though now it's nice to have the rendering done almost instantaneously and other aspects of what was not such a great graphical experience in the past. Just my .02 cents.

 

[limo79]

Strider64: The role of Apple is to explanate a situation and educate customers. If they decide do not limit TDP because they feel that cooling system is powerful like in Alienware and they see a bigger benefit from it because most of typical scenario use a short bursts load and average is higher so time to present arguments. Without talking to people they make a situation worse. No dialog. No reaction. Knock knock... Who is there? Ignorance. There is no any person at Apple incl. Tim who can explanate people that in fact new keyboard foil not only protect key mechanism but also make it slightly less noisy? Possibly this was a real and untold truth about added silicone membrane. Why it is so hard to make a correct statements? Is it relation with Apple customers less valuable than fear against keyboard lawsuit?

 

[BayouTiger]

The whole “pro” argument is silly. The me, a “pro” computer is a dedicated business machine designed to operate in a business environment. They are rarely built to the maximum spec and favor manageability and stability over all else. For individuals, it’s a silly distinction that some feel they need for validation.

For workstations, parallel processing, stability, and I/O trump flat out speed.

For the internet keyboard warriors, benchmarks and video are the ways to gain bragging rights. No one generates clicks by pronouncing “my new computer is awesome!”

Many of us in the real business world value the MacBook Pro because it gives us the best combination of speed, portability, and the ability to live in MacOS when we want and jump into Windows when we need. The Mac side handles much of my work in a more satisfactory manner for me, but I have many programs that must be run in Windows. It’s not important that I have the absolutely fastest machine, it’s more important that I can pop out and still get stuff done while waiting on something to run. For me the Mac handles this better than any PC I’ve used (and I’ve tried a bunch of them, as I am responsible for all IT buys in my company).