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MacBook Pro Lineup Set For 'Most Significant Overhaul in Over 4 Years'
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LOL @ laptop grade GPUs in a desktop. Why does NOBODY call out Apple for this crap?
It'd better be after this wait! I've been so close to giving up and getting a Dell XPS, but I don't really want to face Windows's awful handling of HiDPI displays, and TouchID and the display row idea would be wonderful. If it's not just on the top end model, I certainly wouldn't complain at a gaming GPU either - though from what I've seen lately they do only tend to offer those on the top end version.
If however it was just another basic speed bump, I'd probably be gone.
I'm assuming, like when Steve Jobs made the same comment, that he's counting Macs as "PCs" (even though previously PC meant Windows computer) and so will use the term in the same way...
But he says many people, not everyone.
I'm thinking the comment (much like when Steve Jobs made it) was probably in the context of your average Joe who only uses it for Facebook and light web browsing. And indeed, why would you want a PC for that? Most people don't need one, and it's needless complication - the average person dreads PCs, even (in some cases especially) those running macOS. They're not natural to use, things pop up with nags to update this and that while you're trying to work, and everyone has a story of that time they ended up with malware (Mackeeper being an example) and didn't know how to get rid of it. Speaking from experience: almost every Mac user has 15 DMGs of their printer driver or Flash or something sat in the Downloads folder from when they were figuring out how downloaded software works. On Windows they probably have a routine for opening and saving files via say MS Word, but no idea where to find them via the file manager and think they're "lost" if they accidentally default to a different directory in the load/save dialog (leading to tears and frustration)
Basically, PC OSes are way overcomplicated for modern consumer use cases (and because they're "overcomplicated" for something that "should be simple", no one wants to learn how to use them). People haven't the foggiest how to use them beyond the basics and pretty much hate the things. They're the overcomplicated barrier to getting stuff done that makes them feel frustrated and helpless. At work they have the office techie or IT department to call upon, but at home either they have kids/grandkids who can help or they're SOL.
iPad though? A 2 year old can use one. They don't usually go wrong, and if they do, a factory reset and restore from iCloud Backup and it's back exactly where they left it.
However, you still have this breed of people - such as the vast majority of those posting on forums - called power users. Those who aren't so afraid of PC OSes and can get by with them. Those who need levels of productivity at home that are still much easier to achieve with a PC OS, keyboard and mouse (e.g. word processing which I still think is way easier on a PC), or like to have many tabs and windows visible at once, or like to play PC games, or their photography and video editing expertise is such that "Photos" and "iMovie" won't quite cut it. Or like me they write textwalls and can't type as efficiently on a touchscreen (and the centre of gravity is much more manageable on a laptop than the top-heavy scenario of an iPad sat in a keyboard dock). Or perhaps they're a creative type and iPads just don't have the graphical or musical production facilities they're looking for. There are all sorts of reasons to still use PCs and many people will still prefer to do so. They're just more of a niche market now, and for the "many, many" average people who just want to do Facebook, watch a couple of movies and buy something from Amazon, indeed, there's no need for them to get one now.
If however it was just another basic speed bump, I'd probably be gone.
What about tim cooks pc replacement comment
“I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?”
Yes, the iPad Pro is a replacement for a notebook or a desktop for many, many people
. -Tim Cook
I'm assuming, like when Steve Jobs made the same comment, that he's counting Macs as "PCs" (even though previously PC meant Windows computer) and so will use the term in the same way...
But he says many people, not everyone.
I'm thinking the comment (much like when Steve Jobs made it) was probably in the context of your average Joe who only uses it for Facebook and light web browsing. And indeed, why would you want a PC for that? Most people don't need one, and it's needless complication - the average person dreads PCs, even (in some cases especially) those running macOS. They're not natural to use, things pop up with nags to update this and that while you're trying to work, and everyone has a story of that time they ended up with malware (Mackeeper being an example) and didn't know how to get rid of it. Speaking from experience: almost every Mac user has 15 DMGs of their printer driver or Flash or something sat in the Downloads folder from when they were figuring out how downloaded software works. On Windows they probably have a routine for opening and saving files via say MS Word, but no idea where to find them via the file manager and think they're "lost" if they accidentally default to a different directory in the load/save dialog (leading to tears and frustration)
Basically, PC OSes are way overcomplicated for modern consumer use cases (and because they're "overcomplicated" for something that "should be simple", no one wants to learn how to use them). People haven't the foggiest how to use them beyond the basics and pretty much hate the things. They're the overcomplicated barrier to getting stuff done that makes them feel frustrated and helpless. At work they have the office techie or IT department to call upon, but at home either they have kids/grandkids who can help or they're SOL.
iPad though? A 2 year old can use one. They don't usually go wrong, and if they do, a factory reset and restore from iCloud Backup and it's back exactly where they left it.
However, you still have this breed of people - such as the vast majority of those posting on forums - called power users. Those who aren't so afraid of PC OSes and can get by with them. Those who need levels of productivity at home that are still much easier to achieve with a PC OS, keyboard and mouse (e.g. word processing which I still think is way easier on a PC), or like to have many tabs and windows visible at once, or like to play PC games, or their photography and video editing expertise is such that "Photos" and "iMovie" won't quite cut it. Or like me they write textwalls and can't type as efficiently on a touchscreen (and the centre of gravity is much more manageable on a laptop than the top-heavy scenario of an iPad sat in a keyboard dock). Or perhaps they're a creative type and iPads just don't have the graphical or musical production facilities they're looking for. There are all sorts of reasons to still use PCs and many people will still prefer to do so. They're just more of a niche market now, and for the "many, many" average people who just want to do Facebook, watch a couple of movies and buy something from Amazon, indeed, there's no need for them to get one now.
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I wonder what Apple's going to do about the keyboard. Include that torture device from the rMB that will cripple the utility the MBP, or use the keyboard from the existing MBP, or an entirely new design. The first option will ruin the MBP, the other 2 will admit they screwed up on the MB keyboard. For how many hours a day i spend touch typing on my laptop, a bad keyboard makes the whole machine crappy to me.
I've been primed for a new MBP for years, all I want is solid cpu/gpu performance, good battery life, plenty of ports, plenty of internal storage space, and a good keyboard and screen. I know the new MBP will lose on storage and screen. Let's hope they get the other ones.
Toys like the touch strip don't matter to me one way or another. Thinner is bad. Switching to a port that nobody uses yet is worse.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Apple comes up with.
I've been primed for a new MBP for years, all I want is solid cpu/gpu performance, good battery life, plenty of ports, plenty of internal storage space, and a good keyboard and screen. I know the new MBP will lose on storage and screen. Let's hope they get the other ones.
Toys like the touch strip don't matter to me one way or another. Thinner is bad. Switching to a port that nobody uses yet is worse.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Apple comes up with.
That new, rumored, touch strip is interesting. I'm not sure how well I'd like it though. If and when it becomes a thing I'll have to go to the store to experience it before I pass judgment on it. I'm a fan of having physical buttons due to always having them forever. But I can see how it could be a very useful feature.
Integrating Touch ID into the Mac will be welcomed without judgment. That is something I would really like to have.
Integrating Touch ID into the Mac will be welcomed without judgment. That is something I would really like to have.
Hope it's true. I'll believe it when it ships. But if it is then "most significant overhaul in over 4 years" better not be synonymous with "biggest price increase in over 4 years."
Also it better not be code for "we are completely gutting the pro features of the MBP but keeping the name and price."
Also it better not be code for "we are completely gutting the pro features of the MBP but keeping the name and price."
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When people do, they just get flamed and called trolls. They get told people who need performance are a tiny niche that doesn't matter and if it's that important they should leave Apple. So most have left Apple and aren't here to call out Apple for this crap. I've long since gone windows for my desktop. I'm still clinging to Apple for my laptop and really looking forward to the new MBP, but I'm not expecting much given Timmy's iPad comments.
Probably because a lot people use their iMac for iMessage/Safari/Photos/Facebook and don't need the extra GPU sucking power.
Edit: Before you chime and rail me for whatever it is you'll have a problem with; I have a 5820k/GTX1070/32GB/950 Pro setup that I built. Yes, I see the benefit of good hardware. At the same time, I worked at the Genius Bar years ago, and most customers were not doing anything that necessitated a graphics card more powerful than Intel Iris.
Same. My only option would be to go 'backwards' to a 2015 refurbished. I don't want to drop $250 on 4 usb-c adapters to run my peripherals, and my TB display...
The 15" bezel was okay. Less bezel is still better, but it's more of a necessity on the 13".
The iPhone on the other hand is just shameful. Welcome to 2010.
Don't laugh yet, there have been rumors that the upgraded MBPs will do away with the headphone jack and have a lighting port on them, which is part of the reason why they haven't been updated yet (can't ship a computer without a headphone jack if that is a big feature on the iPhone).
So iPhone first then guess what, our new Macs support those nice lighting earbuds you just got with your iPhone.
Because it's an all-in-one desktop. Have a look at other OEM offerings for all-in-ones. The desktop GPUs are frequently underclocked; if they're using desktop GPUs at all (or even dedicated GPUs).
And if you point me in the direction of some HP/Lenovo all-in-one with a Titan -- well, I'd bet my bottom tooth that'd be a lemon within 6 months' worth of heavy usage.
The question for me, assuming it's real, is does it provide a true benefit or it is just eye candy. I guess it depends on how customizable it is. If you can put any command and any icon on it then it's a big plus. If Apple is going to limit what you can do with it -- as they often do -- then I'd rather have the current tactile buttons.
If we're not thinking "too crazy" here, hopefully this will be solved by a nice (inexpensive, third party) Thunderbolt 3 case and desktop GPU. Most of the time a VR setup is going to be stationary at your home anyway (especially with the Vive).
My 2012 rMBP that has problems to last longer than about two hours on battery tells a different story. Initially, the battery lasted more than six hours. Aside from the first 2006 MacBook Pro (which had problematic batteries that even were recalled), no other of my Apple laptops had such a decline in battery lifetime as this one.
…and that's not even mentioning that such a touchscreen is an ergonomic nightmare.
It's interesting that "Apple people" will applaud all the things Apple did first in the past to transform how we use computers today (drop the floppy, CDROM, etc.). But Apple's refusal to switch to a touch-screen interface for their OS, you dismiss the feature as "gimmicky". Maybe, just maybe, if Apple embraced touch-screen use (and swallowed some crow for being LAST to the party), it would become mainstream, just like the demise of the floppy.
Which still raises the question: how does that differ from the standard F-keys.
(Granted, OSX and OSX software is horrible at properly using them)
I program a lot (it's my day job + often something I do by moonlight) and I think I can safely say that the only function key I use is F5, for refreshing in various programs.
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The biggest thing, to me, in this article, is VR. That appears to be the future of games, so I definitely don't want to sink thousands of dollars into a computer that can't support VR.
I had been contemplating the possibility of switching to Windows or Linux since Apple seemed so disinterested in making their computers VR capable, but if Apple is going to support VR, then I'll stick with Apple for my next (final?) computer.
But the question is, how much memory, I can't deal with anything less than 16Gb. Hard drive / SSD? How limited will that be and will it be soldered on chips? I have a 1tb SSD in my MBP and I took out the cd and put in another hybrid 1tb.
Absolutely agree with you and have been saying the same thing for a long time. But I think we seem to be in the minority. I would take a 2012 style mbp with upgraded internals any day of the week over what is offered now. Heck even removing the ethernet port and offering a half arsed unreliable thunderbolt dongle is an insult.
