Mobile Tech Review of 15" Pro

[cmanbrazil]

Nonsense. Windows machines are fine. Apple's market share has been shrinking too. There just isn't enough reason for people to upgrade as frequently as before.


In the meantime Windows and Linux are far more used for business compared to OSX. More software. OSX isn't even on the map when it comes to servers. It's just niche.


Just because Apple is doing business the only way they know - i.e. in a greedy, unethical manner - means only their users are being taken advantage of. Unless you're into that kind of thing, I'm not sure what you're happy about.


Nonsense. Most Apple customers buy the pretentious, mediocre, overpriced fashion tech made by this company to signal superiority. It's no wonder it's Apple hardware you see on display at any Starbuck's. It goes with the pretentious, mediocre, overpriced but fashionable coffee.

Your post is more cliche than you claim of apple MacBook Pro users.

Over a year and half of professional use globally (heavy engineering) with a Retina MacBook, have yet to see a single peripheral that can natively connect to the rMB. We are still several years, if not more from serious adoption of USB C, dongles & adapters are simply more to manage, more to loose, if we were all brutally honest nobody wants them.

If you control your "computing" environment USB C will bring benefit, if not it can be more trouble than it`s worth unless you can take advantage of TB-3`s bandwidth. This is exactly why many of do not want a computing solution that relies solely on dongles etc. for connectivity.

As a consultant in general the expectation is that you are self sufficient, needing to ask for dongles/adaptors most definitely is not the way to go.

Q-6

I agree with your post. I bought two multi port dongles and still couldn't hook up to my lightening port apple display. Really frustrating and while the machine is elegant, thin, etc, adding the dongles makes it bigger again and cumbersome.

The bigger question is, why would anyone coming from a 2012 or earlier machine need to upgrade to 2016? When 2015 would do at a much lower cost?

Because I looked at the refurbished 15 inch 512 model and their was a 650 dollar difference from the comparable 2016 version. Then I got a roughly 200 dollar non profit discount on 2799 512 machine which brought the difference to around 450. Half a pound and all of the other upgrades are worth it when the machine is bought to last around 4 years.

With all of that said I went on apples refurbished site and many of the MacBook pros that were on their a few days ago have been sold so there are many people who agree with you!

 

[jackoatmon]

not exactly true. I consider myself a "Pro" user and love to buy new tech HOWEVER I think apple is innovating with a very strong arm on this one. The removal of ports (i know the dongles!) magsafe was AMAZING! And the slight backseat in performance to the 2015 15 doesnt help. I do however like the new color and the thinner design and the screen though!

backseat in performance? it's like 8 million times faster in every way except processor which who cares about processors it's 2016 they've all been the same speed for 5 years

magsafe is one of the only annoying things about apple products

put a cord on that stays in! (and hopefully doesnt fray so damn much)

thank you apple the magsafe nightmare is finally over

dongles: get over it it has always been thus I/O has been in constant flux for decades never has there been a time when you didn't need adapters welcome to owning computers i heard youre new around here

and for the record magsafe is only for dirty people who have dogs and children dirting up their grimy hovels that part was a joke

kinda

 

[Queen6]

I agree with your post. I bought two multi port dongles and still couldn't hook up to my lightening port apple display. Really frustrating and while the machine is elegant, thin, etc, adding the dongles makes it bigger again and cumbersome.

Another aspect is dongles with onboard logic are not necessarily compatible, I have two USB C systems, neither ones multi-port adaptor works on the other. USB C is complex enough without manufacturers tacking on their own additional protocols. Unfortunately adapters are pretty much mandatory for most ultraportable, 2016 MBP just takes it to extremes.

Q-6

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Seriously I added one extra dongle/ adapter to the whole system I did not have before. A SD card reader

Reality is I got rid of a whole big block of USB hub for a smaller one with Ethernet built in. The only cable that might be nice to have is the male side of a USB to a USB -C

 

[Pootmatoot]

Apple happen to have THE fastest SSD in laptops available - I have noTouch 13" in test now and it is more than impressive in real life (huge files - e.g. 1 GB csv).

I'm not sure how much longer that will be true given all the other manufacturers have waited for the Intel and Nvidia cycles to turn (bar Microsoft) and will update in January.

Most comparable laptops are 9-18 months old. But only for another month.

 

[Awjvail]

I have such admiration for Lisa. Lisa is a veteran of the tech world and has always provided quality, non-biased feedback in every one of her reviews. Not to mention that she's really paved the way and become an inspiration to a lot of females in a male-dominated tech world.

 

[Pootmatoot]

I have such admiration for Lisa. Lisa is a veteran of the tech world and has always provided quality, non-biased feedback in every one of her reviews. Not to mention that she's really paved the way and become an inspiration to a lot of females in a male-dominated tech world.

I've never seen anyone on Youtube - or anywhere outside a really good IT department or engineering school - who clearly knows the gritty detail: she'll casually throw in a reference to chip pin configurations in 1998.

 

[Altis]

I have such admiration for Lisa. Lisa is a veteran of the tech world and has always provided quality, non-biased feedback in every one of her reviews. Not to mention that she's really paved the way and become an inspiration to a lot of females in a male-dominated tech world.

She really is among the best. She makes note of lots of important details that many reviewers seem to neglect, and gives great buying advice. Top it off with her charisma and presentation style and it's a winning formula.

 

[kwandrews]

Actually I did cover battery life, including a comparison with the last gen's battery life.

Yes, you did cover that

 

[Rkuda]

Here is Lisa from Mobile Tech Reviews review of the 15" 2016 MacBook Pro. She is keeping her 2015 Pro for her Pro use....

Do you agree with her views?

No. and quite frankly she isn't half as informed as she thinks she is.

Not knowing basics about how the touch bar controls work. Not understanding why she needed to input a password to install uniengine. Lame rehashed port complaining. Complaining about the low end gpu she chose (she could have gone with the 460 and it would have been much faster) while pining for an nvidia gpu that had no chance of hell of being in the MBP - even if it was the same thickness as the previous model.

I found exactly nothing informative from her video.

 

[Pootmatoot]

No. and quite frankly she isn't half as informed as she thinks she is.

Not knowing basics about how the touch bar controls work. Not understanding why she needed to input a password to install uniengine. Lame rehashed port complaining. Complaining about the low end gpu she chose (she could have gone with the 460 and it would have been much faster) while pining for an nvidia gpu that had no chance of hell of being in the MBP - even if it was the same thickness as the previous model.

I found exactly nothing informative from her video.

It's unlikely she "chose" anything: she's a professional reviewer, she will have been sent a loaner.

She's "pining" for an Nvidia because she's placing the MBP in the current broader marketplace. Exactly as she should: it's a complaint echoed here a thousand times. She's not reviewing it in a bubble.

 

[apolloa]

The bigger question is, why would anyone coming from a 2012 or earlier machine need to upgrade to 2016? When 2015 would do at a much lower cost?

I agree with this, but the only place it seems to reliably buy them is the return store, and they don't have many currently. I would personally buy the previous model, kinda wish I had done. But my 2010 is holding on in there.
[doublepost=1479931463][/doublepost]

I have used Mac laptops and desktops since the mid-80's. If anything, that would lead some folks to believe I'm biased toward Macs. My main machine is a MacBook Pro 15". But honestly, that's not important.

This is important:

I have NEVER and will NEVER do a sponsored review of a laptop, that's not how I roll and I believe it's unethical. In this age of misinformation and blatant lies passed off so casually, I won't let that lie pass for the truth.

Wow!!! Lisa has commented in my thread

I liked your honest review, I haven't seen anyone else mention the sharp edges on the slots on the sides for instance.
Perhaps you should do a smack down with another computer and some Pro apps like Photoshop?
[doublepost=1479931977][/doublepost]

Except it doesn't show that does it? Did you hear at any point Apple (Tim Cook or otherwise) touting the MBP for gaming? No. You heard about its application for design software or editing because that is what the system was designed for. You can complain all day about this but it's simply not the machine for your gaming needs. Square peg round hole my friend?

No they did not mention during the keynote I don't think, but it's advertised in Apples website on the new MacBook Pro section

http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook-pro/

You have to look at the performance section, there they feature gaming performance statistics and a write up on the new machines gaming performance, so they DO ADVERTISE IT despite what you think..

You are ill informed and really quite rude. Go chase your tail

Well if you can't win against facts I guess it's best YOU run along.

Why are you failing to understand that the MBPs have never had a focus on gaming or been about building in the most powerful GPUs available? Gaming doesn't highlight a system's overall power either, it highlights the power of the GPU first and foremost.

Anyone who's serious about gaming nowadays (and even in the past) shouldn't even consider buying a Mac and for good reason.

I fail to see where I stated ANY if that, apart from above where I mention how on Apples own website it promotes gaming. Games do highlight overall performance as they utilise the entire system, they are good benchmarks to go by. And their is a large Apple gaming community out there and many games available for the Mac, should people ignore those games from Apples very own Mac App Store then? You seem to be persistent that no one plays games on a Mac, despite so much evidence to the contrary.

 

[Macalway]

There's only 1 thing wrong with these really. One single thing: $$$$. Knock off $300 and your going to have better reception. This touch bar thing is what's causing it. They should have a non-touch bar 15.4" base.

 

[skids929]

backseat in performance? it's like 8 million times faster in every way except processor which who cares about processors it's 2016 they've all been the same speed for 5 years

magsafe is one of the only annoying things about apple products

put a cord on that stays in! (and hopefully doesnt fray so damn much)

thank you apple the magsafe nightmare is finally over

dongles: get over it it has always been thus I/O has been in constant flux for decades never has there been a time when you didn't need adapters welcome to owning computers i heard youre new around here

and for the record magsafe is only for dirty people who have dogs and children dirting up their grimy hovels that part was a joke

kinda

Ok I disagree on the dogs/children and the magsafe part, I thought it was a nice feature on the MB. Had it for 11 years and got used to the peace of mind I had, but I will get used to this as well.

I do agree, that these laptops are way faster than and just because processor speed is stagnant doesn't mean a thing. And when Mac OS is controlling even mediocre hardware (which these are NOT mediocre) everything is faster anyway.

 

[Meever]

Apple zealots are the worst. Just because someone has a different opinion or a use case they're suddenly total uniformed idiots or a shill?

The keyboard IS polarizing. It has no travel. For a lot of people who grew up on mechanical or membrane keyboards with deep travel it doesn't feel comfortable. All the keys are so recessed and flat that it's difficult to feel around for touch typing.

It is a little underpowered. It rocks a low tier GPU and a last gen CPU. No excuses for the premium price they're charging. If the components weren't available they should have waited.

The loss of all the ports for USB C is... fine. Ditching legacy ports and peripherals suck but at least you can get dongles for an interim solution. But it's still a total mess. Certain dongles and doxks won't play nice. There are weird compatibility issues.

Why get rid of the SD card slot and mag safe? Accidents happen in life, mag safe was great for piece of mind. USB drives might go away eventually but SD cards aren't going anywhere. It's a port that gets used dozens of times everyday by creative professionals.

Touch bar is a mess. The fact that a veteran tech journalist was "using it wrong" speaks credence. Apple held the reputation for making all their products intiuitive and obvious to use. This is a total fail in my eye.

Battery life is all over the place. Why? Apple always gives conservative estimates and overdelivers. People can't even hit their suggested estimates at quarter brightness with all wireless functions deactivated.

Am I jealous of your awesome new toy *insert name here*? Absolutely. I wish I had the expandable income to throw thousands of dollars on a fun new toy. But I'm a creative professsional who use my MacBook Pro as a tool. I can't justify the purchase when in short terms it will actually be detrimental to my work flow D: