Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Marco Arment Argues the 2012—2015 MacBook Pro is 'Best Laptop That Has Ever Existed'

Although I've never owned an Apple laptop, I can appreciate their tenancy to just move forward. I wouldn't call it "courage" but I think there's something said for taking the lay of the landscape and designing your products around where the industry and markets are heading, not where they are now.

IMO, the only thing Apple should have kept was magsafe (it being proprietary and all). It always seemed like a great feature. Couldn't Apple have just slimmed down the connector a little?
 
  • Like
Reactions: pianophile
I have both:
1. Mid 2015 MBP
2. 2017 MPB

Without a shadow of a doubt the 2015 version is a better version. There is no performance difference between the two, however the comfort of using the 2015 is so much greater: keyboard is better, there all the important ports. Totally agree, it is an amazing laptop. I
am so happy I purchased a maxed out version of it. 2017 is a step backwards.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SteveW928, philip_t, Predef and 20 others
iPhone_X said:
You may have a single port, but you need an adapter for the iPhone, an adapter for the networking, an adapter for the monitor, a power port that will send your mac flying if you trip over it, an adapter for your external hard drive, an adapter for RAID, etc.

I'm glad that I'm using the "best laptop that has ever existed," lol.
Click to expand...
My monitor connects via USB-C to provide power and a USB hub. So at my desk I plug in one cable, and that is it - display, keyboard, mouse, phone, power and speakers all through one cable. When I leave I unplug one thing, and there is only one wire on my desk. With the older model you would need cables for at least MagSafe, HDMI, USB and 3.5mm to do the same (Maybe not 3.5mm if your monitor had a port.) And you would have cables running out of both sides of the laptop.

Granted, they could have just replaced TB2 with TB3 on the 2015 chassis and we could have enjoyed the same benefits with no drawbacks, but hey, this is Apple.

Also, you can buy a USB-C -> Lightning cable, no dongle required. Apple really should have included it and the USB-C power brick for fast charging in the box for the X, but that is a whole different discussion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPhone_X, ex0dus1985, J.Dillinger and 2 others
rti92391 said:
He’s an idiot...I’ve listened to their ATP podcast and it’s just non-stop complaining.

Sure, some people don’t like the new MacBook Pro models for various reasons and that’s fine. My advise would be, move on. Either buy a $1700-2000 computer or not. Feel lucky you have the ability to do so. We’re living in the greatest era in humankind and he’s complaining about a keyboard, ports and minutiae.
Click to expand...

I could write an essay about how incorrect of a mindset I think you show here, but to keep it as short and simple as I can: humans will find flaws in products or services no matter where they are, what they have or which year it is. And that’s a good thing. We find flaws and make choices based on that, enabling hopefully more improved products the next time we buy or use something. The notion of «Look at how well/bad the world is doing, don’t complain» only encourages mindless drones because somehow the state of world affairs should supposedly have any effect on personal opinions of individual persons in their daily lives. But let’s say if *every owner* of new MacBook Pro’s silently hated new changes, but nobody knew of the displeasure, and the Windows market suddenly grows, then Apple can potentially use such feedback to reverse decisions. But it all requires voicing your opinion. I’m not sure I properly explained myself, but hopefully it was understandable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BGS, dm07, Menneisyys2 and 5 others
eatrains said:
So much whitewashing of history. People were making the same complaints about the 2012 that they are about the 2016: "Where's my I/O? I don't need a thinner laptop. The keyboard's shallower! Why'd they change the power port?"
Click to expand...

I think part of this is that people have gotten accustomed to what was taken away from them years ago. No one is going to keep beating the dead horse for five+ years. Not unless they are crazy.

As for Marco, sometimes he's spot-on, but yeah, like other people says, he seems to complain a lot. After listening to ATP for a few months (in 2015), I had to give it up because they would just argue and complain and whine until it felt like oppressive brainwashing.
 
I have the late 2013 retina 13" and I have to say I agree. It's such a great machine and continues to be amazing even though it's four years old at this point.

The only issue I have with it is that the lid has become slightly mis-aligned with the base; it sticks out a tiny bit over the base when the laptop is closed. I'm not sure how this happened or how to fix it, but it doesn't affect functionality at all so I can ignore it. You only really notice it when you feel the bottom edge with the display closed.
 
What I find amazing is that you purchase a new 2017 MBP, you purchase magic mouse 2. There is a cable included to charge the mouse. But, wait....! You cannot connect! You cannot connect the magic mouse 2 to the new 2017 MBP. Do you know why?
 
  • Like
Reactions: daveheinzel, willgreene99 and fairuz
Kulfon said:
What I find amazing is that you purchase a new 2017 MBP, you purchase magic mouse 2. There is a cable included to charge the mouse. But, wait....! You cannot connect! You cannot connect the magic mouse 2 to the new 2017 MBP. Do you know why?
Click to expand...

I'm still surprised Apple didn't include at least one USB-C to USB dongle with the new machines. They are cheap to make and would lead to less "I can't plug my **** in!" out of the box experiences.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlyMackle, ex0dus1985, daveheinzel and 2 others
Blizzardman said:
I love all these "professionals" complaining about Apple providing 4 versatile standard ports in a laptop. I love having the option to do whichever I want within all the ports.
Click to expand...
I've been asking these "professionals": "Show me the device you cannot connect, a professional one". Still waiting for an answer...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blizzardman
eatrains said:
So much whitewashing of history. People were making the same complaints about the 2012 that they are about the 2016: "Where's my I/O? I don't need a thinner laptop. The keyboard's shallower! Why'd they change the power port?"
Click to expand...

At least the keys didn’t have to be cleaned every day and didn’t break. I was also able to use all my usb peripherals without dongles. Oh, it was also nice to be able to connect my monitor directly to the hdmi port and read my sd cards without dongles
 
  • Like
Reactions: daveheinzel
I have a 2013 model and I love it... The only thing I don't like is that it flexes just enough when I pick it up that the trackpad can be depressed, but that issue was fixed in the 2014/2015 models that have force touch.

I have family that has the 2016 MBP and it is ridiculous how many adapters we have to use on any given day, not to mention the lack of magsafe... apple really had something special with magsafe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dm07
This piece will not age well, as it’s common for this kind of pieces.

Only thing I’ll concede is Magsafe but there are third party solutions. And 5-10 years down the road we could have room-wide wireless (like, really wireless, not just close distance) charging.

Oled 120Hz FaceID fanless macbooks will also beg to differ in 2-3 years..
 
  • Like
Reactions: ex0dus1985 and Matt T
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back