A few years from now I think this is what's going to matter the most. Yeah it sucks you have to buy a $2 usb c cable to replace a usb a cable here or there or to have to get a travel adapter with a bunch of ports for $40 but what would really suck is to not be able to buy a dongle to make your ports faster. If you update your laptop every couple years it probably doesn't matter but if you are planning to hold on to the machine this would likely be the biggest regret, the thing that makes the machine feel old the fastest would be the ports all being a generation behind. You started to see some of this when the 5k monitors came out and people were looking for a dongle that could get them 5k. That kind of thing is just going to happen more and more often as time goes on.
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Macbook Pro- What is your review?
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A few years from now I think this is what's going to matter the most. Yeah it sucks you have to buy a $2 usb c cable to replace a usb a cable here or there or to have to get a travel adapter with a bunch of ports for $40 but what would really suck is to not be able to buy a dongle to make your ports faster. If you update your laptop every couple years it probably doesn't matter but if you are planning to hold on to the machine this would likely be the biggest regret, the thing that makes the machine feel old the fastest would be the ports all being a generation behind. You started to see some of this when the 5k monitors came out and people were looking for a dongle that could get them 5k. That kind of thing is just going to happen more and more often as time goes on.
All is fine and dandy. `only thing I have to criticise is the battery which is not so good... `but that's the price you pay for slimming the body of the machine....
Nonsense. I gave many real-world 1st person objective reasons why the 2015 model is outdated and will be more so fast. I only mentioned the cool-factor because for this kind of money, why not have the nicer laptop? It's not a can opener.
There's no reason to have an ugly tool and the old MacBooks are already looking very dated by comparison. My 12 year old SMILED when he saw the new designs and touchbar. He can do his homework, make videos AND smile...nothing wrong with that!
R.
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This has been debunked. I own BOTH the 13" and 15" and both have great battery life. Side-by-side the new 15" beats last years model. The 13" typically will get 7 hours. Much id dependent on how you set it up and what you run of course, but both versions are solid for battery life now.
R.
I own the 13 inch I got it it up to TEN hours with 2% battery left but all I did was browsing and watching some yt videos... I don't wanna go and perform some real tasks since it'll have less than 3 hours life span...
Wanna bet?
For a second I thought you said your MacBook Pro was at 2% and you got 10 hours out of that but then I realized you meant it took 10 hours to get to 2%.I own the 13 inch I got it it up to TEN hours with 2% battery left but all I did was browsing and watching some yt videos... I don't wanna go and perform some real tasks since it'll have less than 3 hours life span...
Wanna bet?
When working in photoshop and also running tethered to my DSLR, the 13's touchbar lasts about 5 hours. That's an hour less than I'd get with my MacBook Air and on par with my 2015 15" MacBook.
But the 15" touchbar will actually clock in fairly close to the Air! Side-by-side with my year-old 15", the new machine always lasted longer.
Bottom line: Obviously I get far longer times when writing and browsing. Settings will be a big factor of course. My son was cutting his school project using FCP and the 15" touchbar barely got 4 hours, but that's what last years model usually managed only three. And before anyone gets silly, we used new Dell's on a shoot and they couldn't go more than 2 hours when tethered and running Lightroom. Then one of the Dells wouldn't turn back on and the other one started to flicker when tethered. The Macs ran flawlessly.
R.
But the 15" touchbar will actually clock in fairly close to the Air! Side-by-side with my year-old 15", the new machine always lasted longer.
Bottom line: Obviously I get far longer times when writing and browsing. Settings will be a big factor of course. My son was cutting his school project using FCP and the 15" touchbar barely got 4 hours, but that's what last years model usually managed only three. And before anyone gets silly, we used new Dell's on a shoot and they couldn't go more than 2 hours when tethered and running Lightroom. Then one of the Dells wouldn't turn back on and the other one started to flicker when tethered. The Macs ran flawlessly.
R.
Do you have other important expenses you need to spend some of your money on? If so, these three Macs may also be of interest...
- 2015 MacBook Air - while not as powerful or having the retina screen, this is a capable computer with a long-lasting battery, a very portable form factor, and can often be purchased for less than $750 NEW - in some cases, open box models sell for less than $650. This is a very capable computer that is reliable, portable, and a very fine machine for college use. It is so inexpensive that it leaves enough money to buy a powerful used Windows gaming laptop or desktop and a twenty-something inch display.
- 2015 MacBook Pro 13-inch - while lacking several major advancements of the 2016, the older 2015 is a mature platform with proven reliability and plenty of power. You can often find these for under $1,000 in the base 2.7/8GB/128GB configuration, and open-box specials as low as $850 are not uncommon. For most education uses, this will completely meet your needs for the foreseeable future - in 3-5 years, you may need to use a Thunderbolt-to-USB-C adapter for some accessories.
- 2016 MacBook Pro 13-inch without the Touchbar - this is a great computer with an awesome industrial design, plenty of power in the base 2.0/8GB/256GB configuration, and incorporating numerous advancements over the previous model (especially in regards to graphics). You can often find these for $300 less than retail, and finding new ones for around $1,200 isn't had to do. For the next several years, you will likely need several adapters to use this with common devices - unlike the 2015, you can also use one cable to plug this system into a dock to power as many devices as you have and provide power, which can be a huge convenience for mobile users. It is a great system.
- Intermediate option - if the MBP you like the most is still a bit too pricy, a great intermediate IMO is a Chromebook. You can often find these for $150, they can meet virtually all educational needs and give you more flexibility in buying the MBP when it is right for you, and when you get the MBP you are left with a second system should the MBP ever need service, and a cheap system for traveling somewhere that computer damage is more likely (e.g., Spring Break, where you will likely lack fine motor coordination because you will be drunk.)
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Baunkjaer said:
As a professional video editor, I own and use both 2015 and 2016 15" MBP. I almost got a 2nd 2015, but the price on the Apple refurbished store for 2015 vs 2016 was exactly the same for the same config. The 2016 is definitely lighter, thinner and has a much brighter screen. The touch bar and USB-C require some adjustment, but I'm always using adapters and dongles anyway. Even the 2015 doesn't have a micro-SD or CF reader.
If the prices were significantly different that would be a more involved comparison but the prices of 2015 vs 2016 are often nearly the same.
Right now on the Apple refurbished store, there is a 2015 and 2016 13" MBP with identical config, and they are only $80 different -- $1189 vs $1269.
Yeah but then you're stuck with legacy ports and the old dongles. Better to get a modern computer I think.
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I would suggest going with 16gb ram, even if you purchase the windows machine. I'm not sure what you're definition of light to medium gaming, but don't expect to play whatever the latest games are with a reasonable frame rate, unfortunately Apple's laptops are not really designed toward video game players.
A 2016 MacBook Pro (or 2017 if they do a spec-bump tomorrow) is a great laptop and is the gold standard for laptops for people like college students.
I'm not against the USB-C, or at least I've grown used to the fact, but you are correct USB-C is the future and transitioning to the future can be at times somewhat jarring. What bothers me is Apple's inconsistent approach to ports.
They dropped the headphone jack in the iPhone because as Schiller put it, they had the courage to drop a port that was invented over a 100 years ago, yet regardless of how the phone jack is not the future, they kept it in the MBP.
On the flip side they dropped the HDMI and SD card slot, two ports imo that are not legacy and are used quite frequently buy a lot of users.
I'm not against the USB-C, or at least I've grown used to the fact, but you are correct USB-C is the future and transitioning to the future can be at times somewhat jarring. What bothers me is Apple's inconsistent approach to ports.
They dropped the headphone jack in the iPhone because as Schiller put it, they had the courage to drop a port that was invented over a 100 years ago, yet regardless of how the phone jack is not the future, they kept it in the MBP.
On the flip side they dropped the HDMI and SD card slot, two ports imo that are not legacy and are used quite frequently buy a lot of users.
Yeah I think some of these things just come down to "should we try it now? " kind of approach. It takes awhile to figure out exactly what ports should be on what devices. I was thinking about this the other day: although I would use the HDMI port for a presentation st work (and I do with my work Mac) I don't know very many people outside of photographers who use the SD card slot. People just use iCloud or Google Photos and if you have a camera you just plug that sucker in and transfer over USB.
But I largely agree with you. It's going to be a little annoying when they give us a new iPhone that doesn't have USB-C. Forum will be in an uproar over that.....
Some examples of this: Apple's USB-A ports can provide significantly more current than the USB-A spec. This allows a MacBook to charge an iPad at full rate with the display on. Likewise you can simultaneously run two 4TB portable USB hard drives off a MacBook Air.
There has always been a possible issue with non-powered USB hubs not providing the same current as a MacBook or iMac. But for a MacBook/iMac which already has USB-A ports, the hub is only a convenience.
For a 2016 MBP which does NOT have USB-A ports, a USB-C to USB-A dongle, hub or adapter is not a convenience -- it is a necessity. I have already tested two such hubs that will not support two 4TB portable USB-A hard drives, including the HyperDrive which is a $100 device: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hyperdr...ffcode=pg199075&ksdevice=c&lsft=ref:212,loc:2
So in the 2016 MBP case, using a hub can cost functionality, and most of these limitations are not documented. Certain USB drives will initially appear to work, then if they both seek simultaneously they drop off line which can hang the Finder and necessitate a forced shutdown.
Another problem is the current poor reliability of USB-C to HDMI adapters. Anyone can Google that and see all the problems. Just yesterday at a presentation I had such an adapter malfunction. Fortunately I also had my 2015 MBP which has HDMI output, so I just switched to that.
If all these USB-C hubs, dongles and adapters worked perfectly it would only be an issue of cost and ensuring you have the right ones. Unfortunately they do not work perfectly so that entails a time-consuming evaluation and test process.
I am still happy with my 2016 MBP, but there are definitely adjustment issues due to USB-C and it's not a simple matter of slapping on a hub or adapter.
Thanks everyone, sorry to say but I might be getting a desktop instead. There is a 25% I might still get a laptop but now my parents are saying they dont think a Mac is right for me. Then there saying a desktop might be better for college. Sadly I am starting to go with the desktop idea. Desktops are more powerful, in college if I do need a computer to take note or away while I am out then I might get a Chromebook instead.
I'm not against the USB-C, or at least I've grown used to the fact, but you are correct USB-C is the future and transitioning to the future can be at times somewhat jarring. What bothers me is Apple's inconsistent approach to ports.
They dropped the headphone jack in the iPhone because as Schiller put it, they had the courage to drop a port that was invented over a 100 years ago, yet regardless of how the phone jack is not the future, they kept it in the MBP.
On the flip side they dropped the HDMI and SD card slot, two ports imo that are not legacy and are used quite frequently buy a lot of users.
People walk & drive around with a iPhone listening to music, but they don't do that with laptops. Many laptop users have audio systems that connect to laptops or premium headphones, while this far less common for phones.
I myself have a nice audio system for my touchbar Mac, but not for my phones.
That all said...the lack of headphone jack is yet another reason why I continue to prefer Samsung over Apple for phones!
As for HDMI, it's and easy thing to get around. As you know, I tend to agree with you about SD slot...they should have kept it. No deal breakers, but annoying.
R.
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I think you're making a mistake. A laptop is far more useful for school. It can go everywhere and literally become a solid desktop by adding a monitor. It's a LOT more flexible. My son is only 12, but sometimes he wants to work at his desk and sometimes he hangs out in the living room reviewing homework. It de-stations his work without needing two devices.
Anyway...different strokes...good luck!
R.
My 09 is still going strong I just want a new laptop LOL so 8 years old
Your parents are still living in the 90s it seems. Better for them to talk your college first. Nowadays you can't do college/university on a desktop, you really need a notebook. Quite a lot of colleges/universities around the world have special notebook programs where you can buy one that is "certified".
Fit the computer to what college is requiring, don't do that for them.
FWIW, I teach at a local community college as an Adjunct Faculty member (i.e., part time, general-level courses). So I am NOT talking about fields involving advanced modeling, nuclear imaging, statistical analysis, computer-aided design, cryptography, fluid dynamics, etc. - instead, I'm talking about basic general education program requirements.
Instructors at even 100 level classes will often expect you to have computer proficiency skills, and access to a computer. This expected access sometimes requires mobility. Much of the work you will do in college will be in a team (especially in a 4 year university) - in many instances, you will be doing work over someone else's dorm/house/apartment/etc., and you may find yourself frequently at a campus hotspot where people meet to work together and study. A desktop will not work here. You may be able to rent a loaner laptop, but this is not very convenient (and may not be very secure). Ultimately, a desktop = limited mobility. Without a laptop, you may very well be at a disadvantage compared to those that have one. A laptop, especially a Mac, is an educational tool for success. Compared to the pricing of tuition/housing/food/travel/etc., it's a pretty small investment in the grand scheme of things, but one that can make a big difference in academic achievement!
Further, many teachers now speak/move at a pace that follows typing speed, and NOT writing speed. They may move faster than you can write. While you could record lectures, being able to type it on the spot is more time efficient.
Ultimately, if your parents are worried about financials, that $650 NIB MacBook Air is hard to beat - add on a 3-year accidental damage plan for 125-200 bucks and you are protected against hardware failure, drops, AND liquid damage! If they are worried about power, they should not worry about this because you likely have several years before you will need such power processing for school-related activities...and, when you do, you will have access to workstations (or even supercomputers, depending upon your field.) Power is really unimportant compared to mobility and reliability at this point IMO, and is a major reason I suggested a MacBook Air as a lower-cost option because it is extremely reliable, has great battery life, and is very mobile.
I cannot stress to your parents and yourself enough how pivotal a laptop is for success. Macs are great for this role (and, for that matter, so are many Chromebooks and Windows PCs, but IMO the Mac is better for this purpose.) The most important thing is realizing this tool has moved from a luxury to a necessity, and often many instructors are assuming you will have the mobility with this essential tool that only a laptop or tablet hybrid can provide.
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I wouldn't get a desktop cause it wouldn't work for college because a laptop is much more useful. If they won't let you get a Mac, I would get the Dell XPS laptop. I'm a little younger than you and have really strict parents. It took about a couple years but I was able to convince them to buy me a MacBook Pro with TouchBar by telling them how it would be important and help me in education.
Do not get a desktop for college, go laptop. Way too many benefits having it be portable.
Yeah if I don't like what I see tomorrow for WWDC I am going to get a XPS 15(lol back to point A) and wait for it to go on sale for the 16gb ram and 512 SSD.
Damn, I am so lost! Went from OMG gonna get a MBP w/touchbar(last year) to gonna get a HP OMEN(became more budget friendly) to going to get a chromebook instead for senior year to Dell XPS 15(16gb ram, 512 ssd-it was on sale but missed it due to unsureness) to OMG gonna actually get the MBP w/touchbar to gonna do a desktop build to gonna get the Alienware Aurora R6 and now to the XPS 15.
Guess its hard since this desktop/laptop will last me for 4-5 years!!! Never owned any technology for that long. I always bought/had the cheaper bluetooth speakers, computers, etc. I either broke it or it no long could keep up!
Damn, I am so lost! Went from OMG gonna get a MBP w/touchbar(last year) to gonna get a HP OMEN(became more budget friendly) to going to get a chromebook instead for senior year to Dell XPS 15(16gb ram, 512 ssd-it was on sale but missed it due to unsureness) to OMG gonna actually get the MBP w/touchbar to gonna do a desktop build to gonna get the Alienware Aurora R6 and now to the XPS 15.
Guess its hard since this desktop/laptop will last me for 4-5 years!!! Never owned any technology for that long. I always bought/had the cheaper bluetooth speakers, computers, etc. I either broke it or it no long could keep up!
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