I'm sure there will be a long of people out there thinking is now the time to move do I really want to take the leap now maybe I will wait.
I've just moved from a 2012 min NON retina MBP so the last of the classic Mac where you could change the HD and memory with just a screwdriver. It still runs strong, has never missed a beat but it is starting to be a little tardy doing some task.
So roll onto 2018 and Apple have released a new MBP with 6 core processors and for the first time 32Gb of memory as an option so I decided now is the time to jump. I decided in the end as they case / processor seems to be so thermally limited to go for the base 2.2 i7, 32GB of memory and the 560X graphics processor oh and 512Gb of storage.
Speed
Firstly its been an amazing jump. Everything and I mean everything is blink fast, the storage performance is incredible, wifi speeds are faster you name it and anything that needs any power just happens in a fraction of the time it took in the old model. Cinebench I get 1050-1063 and it never drops below 1000 even on repeated runs its a blunt benchmark I get that but its a benchmark none the less.
Screen
It goes without saying that the old models screen wasn't retina but the updated HD version and whilst it was good this is incredible, its easily a match for the 5K screen on the iMac and the colour changing works seamlessly. As for brightness, I'm sitting here in a fully lit lounge and the screen is on half brightness, if I turn it up its almost painful to look at. If anyone says its not bright enough then I'd be flabbergasted.
Ports and no magsafe
The loss of magsafe hasn't been an issue but I did buy a longer power cable to help with that issue, why they changed something that just works sooooo well is beyond me.
Also the loss of a network port, no SD card slot and I need to plug in a. dongle to a dongle to plug in most of my peripherals just doesn't sit well for me. I get it but I don't like it.
Keyboard and Touch Bar
Well hold the phone the keyboard is fantastic, light tactile quick and easy to type on all the concern is blown away when using it, its genuinely enjoyable to use. I think the rubber layer does nicely dampen the keys from prior complains but its really really good.
Touch Bar I like I really do, I can often have 30 tabs open and the ability to just hold my finger on the Touch Bar to flick through them is fantastic. Some things like the prediction it doing now whilst doing this is pointless that doesn't work. I can get that some don't see the advantage but in few occasions I've thought its pretty darn cool and really adds something unique.
Issues
None not one, no bridge issues, the speakers sound great and don't crackly. I did find it strange a couple of times it was warm when I first got it when I opened it from sleep that seemed weird. But that hasn't happened since and I find the area my hands sit even when gaming is far cooler and less warm than it was on the 2012 MBP.
Summary
Its rather expensive but considering the last MBP is now going to be used by the wife and has laster 6 years I hope for the same again with the new model. Everything is dialled up on the new model with the exception of the darn ports and power that I still think is a backward step.
If you are on the fence and not quite sure then go for it, its been a worthwhile upgrade.
I've just moved from a 2012 min NON retina MBP so the last of the classic Mac where you could change the HD and memory with just a screwdriver. It still runs strong, has never missed a beat but it is starting to be a little tardy doing some task.
So roll onto 2018 and Apple have released a new MBP with 6 core processors and for the first time 32Gb of memory as an option so I decided now is the time to jump. I decided in the end as they case / processor seems to be so thermally limited to go for the base 2.2 i7, 32GB of memory and the 560X graphics processor oh and 512Gb of storage.
Speed
Firstly its been an amazing jump. Everything and I mean everything is blink fast, the storage performance is incredible, wifi speeds are faster you name it and anything that needs any power just happens in a fraction of the time it took in the old model. Cinebench I get 1050-1063 and it never drops below 1000 even on repeated runs its a blunt benchmark I get that but its a benchmark none the less.
Screen
It goes without saying that the old models screen wasn't retina but the updated HD version and whilst it was good this is incredible, its easily a match for the 5K screen on the iMac and the colour changing works seamlessly. As for brightness, I'm sitting here in a fully lit lounge and the screen is on half brightness, if I turn it up its almost painful to look at. If anyone says its not bright enough then I'd be flabbergasted.
Ports and no magsafe
The loss of magsafe hasn't been an issue but I did buy a longer power cable to help with that issue, why they changed something that just works sooooo well is beyond me.
Also the loss of a network port, no SD card slot and I need to plug in a. dongle to a dongle to plug in most of my peripherals just doesn't sit well for me. I get it but I don't like it.
Keyboard and Touch Bar
Well hold the phone the keyboard is fantastic, light tactile quick and easy to type on all the concern is blown away when using it, its genuinely enjoyable to use. I think the rubber layer does nicely dampen the keys from prior complains but its really really good.
Touch Bar I like I really do, I can often have 30 tabs open and the ability to just hold my finger on the Touch Bar to flick through them is fantastic. Some things like the prediction it doing now whilst doing this is pointless that doesn't work. I can get that some don't see the advantage but in few occasions I've thought its pretty darn cool and really adds something unique.
Issues
None not one, no bridge issues, the speakers sound great and don't crackly. I did find it strange a couple of times it was warm when I first got it when I opened it from sleep that seemed weird. But that hasn't happened since and I find the area my hands sit even when gaming is far cooler and less warm than it was on the 2012 MBP.
Summary
Its rather expensive but considering the last MBP is now going to be used by the wife and has laster 6 years I hope for the same again with the new model. Everything is dialled up on the new model with the exception of the darn ports and power that I still think is a backward step.
If you are on the fence and not quite sure then go for it, its been a worthwhile upgrade.
