New 13-Inch MacBook Pro Sans Touch Bar is Marginally Faster But More Efficient Than Last Year's Base Model

[frankgrimes]

Well Apple decided to gimp the non touch bar MBP, it wasn't enough just to leave the touch bar out, no they needed to take away slots and power from a Pro machine.

I mean if people wanted thin, light they've had the Air and the slightly more powerful tablet known MacBook.

If Apple really wanted the non touch bar version to be something special how about 2 Thunderbolt slots, 2x USB 3.1, SD card slot and the old (better) keyboard? Then they could have still put all that fancy stuff into the touch bar versions ...

 

[fold]

Better screen, bigger touch pad, Thunderbolt 3 and a faster SSD too.

On the flip side, no USB A, MagSafe, HDMI or SD card reader.

I think this will be an excellent college computer and the ideal choice for those on a budget. Nowhere near as slow and limiting as the MacBook.

I can't see the logic in marketing this as a Pro laptop however. It should really be called the MacBook Plus or similar. It's basically the best of the MacBook and Air models combined.

Umm...

Those on a budget should look at the thinner, lighter, higher resolution, touchscreen, similary spec'd Dell XPS 13 for $500 less. Oh ya, and it has USB-A 3.0 ports, so you don't have to spend another $100 on adapters.

 

[manu chao]

But given the option between performance and thinness anorexic Apple will pick thinness, always.

On laptops, reducing the weight is equally important to Apple as making the device thinner and the two are very much correlated. Thinness is as much function (via the weight criteria) as it is form. Weight matters on laptops, much more so than on phones.

 

[pbasmadj]

L.
O.
L.

No more Macs for me, this was nothing worth waiting for. Windows-bound for me, I missed it. Half the cost, too.

I would recommend trying the new Macs for a few days prior to making that decision, I am quite impressed by this computer and have had Macs my whole life. I would say it makes the biggest impression on me that I have ever had in any computer I have owned. If money is an issue for people I could understand possibly looking at other options.

 

[Rogifan]

I personally find this to be a very weak argument.. Something you say when you dont have a legit point to make. Take a case of someone who has used Apple for 15 years.. And suddenly he finds an update that is as baffling as this one. He needs an upgrade but cannot do it because of whatever factors. I think he absolutely has a reason to get upset..

And his only upgrade options are this machine? How about people actually use this machine and we get real reviews (not just benchmark scores) on performance and battery life before everyone forms their opinion?

 

[2457248]

4. While some may say those are "old" machines, considering the fact that we no longer see double digit increases in CPU performance from "ticks" or "tocks" (yes I know they are on "process improvement now"), this is very impressive. This effectively means that someone upgrading from an older quad core iMac could replace there entire setup with the baseline 13" rMBP.

still, everyone is sure about the revolutionary performance gains with kaby lake. because skylake is so last year's.

i'm being sarcastic.

 

[Rogifan]

Anyone who doesn't want to use Windows.

This isn't the only laptop Apple offers.

 

[BigJohno]

You should be complaining to Intel not Apple...

 

[Hanzu Lao]

This isn't the only laptop Apple offers.

With further unjustified pricing.

 

[derboy]

Cook, Cue - they're emulating Jobs' style without developing their own and failing miserably. I'm betting Jobs could have sold these new systems without missing a beat, then again I doubt he would have approved some of the decisions.

They are making even more radical decisions because they think that's what SJ would have done. -and they are sticking with bad moves. His legacy is to be tough and uncompromising, and the current team is going too far. They need to get back to basics, and create machines for pro's and consumers listening to each groups needs.

 

[Rogifan]

With further unjustified pricing.

Well then I guess you learn to love Windows.

 

[pbasmadj]

With further unjustified pricing.

I found it to be a pretty good deal, honestly.

 

[scott911]

somewhat on topic.

The family's new 27" imac - with 5400 rpm drive - gives us NO joy every time we try launching anything. We sit wondering many times the little ball thing going to bounce this time?

disclosure - we're new to mac.

I knew it was a 5400 drive, but I didn't know apple would sell something soooooo bad. I believed some fan boy's hype that 5400 in a mac would be as bad as it was in a ten year old PC for this reason or that reason - he was wrong.

I had decided I'd avoid the ludicrousness cost of buying a built in SSD drive, and put my own in a year for dimes on the dollar. I'm fortunate the crap 5400 rpm drive isn't soldered in, but it sure isn't going to be any easy upgrade. If apple had made a car, they're probably weld the trunk shut and make you put groceries in through a hole under spare tire because that would look prettier.

more disclosure - my college room mate 30 years ago was a HUGEmac fan, always telling me to switch ; I FINALLY switched over. wow - what a letdown.

On the floor is our AMD dell desktop - maybe seven, eight years old.
It's waiting for a run to the dump because I know I couldn't get $50 on Craig's list for it,
Ironically - i seriously think it's faster than the mac.

 

[vvs14]

So when iPhones, iPads, displays, regular storage all switch to USB-C (which will happen within the next year and a half) you won't be needing any dongles/cables?

That does not make any sense... Whatever I own currently can be connected to each other without a dongle.. I dont need anything new in the next couple of years at least. Why would I care what happens to the newer stuff...? Also, I really dont see everything moving to USB-C in the next year and a half.

 

[Rogifan]

They are making even more radical decisions because they think that's what SJ would have done. -and they are sticking with bad moves. His legacy is to be tough and uncompromising, and the current team is going too far. They need to get back to basics, and create machines for pro's and consumers listening to each groups needs.

What about the original MBA? $1800 starting price and couldn't hold a candle to any of these machines.

 

[Hanzu Lao]

Well then I guess you learn to love Windows.

No, if others are thinking with head like i do they will do the only thing they can - vote with their wallets. Hopefully Apple realise the errors of their ways. I think my 2014 model will last me 2 more years at least.

 

[vvs14]

And his only upgrade options are this machine? How about people actually use this machine and we get real reviews (not just benchmark scores) on performance and battery life before everyone forms their opinion?

Performance and battery life are just a couple of issues.. I have no doubt the performance will be good enough for majority of users. There are other factors that may stop people from buying the machine (price, need for dongles, etc)..

 

[pat500000]

I get a feeling that this product is there to 'trick' people can't/don't want to afford the 'real' 13" pro to buy this machine instead, not realising that there are significant CPU/GPU differences. Basically, I believe that by calling it "Macbook Pro" as well, they are mislabelling the product.

Apple is deceptive indeed.

 

[manu chao]

I don't think it was? I remember buying it soon after launch. I got the 15 inch for $2200 and i think normally before that was it $1999

I said 13" MBP. The 2012 non-retina model started at $1199. The 2012 retina model started $1699.

 

[pbasmadj]

Better screen, bigger touch pad, Thunderbolt 3 and a faster SSD too.

On the flip side, no USB A, MagSafe, HDMI or SD card reader.

I think this will be an excellent college computer and the ideal choice for those on a budget. Nowhere near as slow and limiting as the MacBook.

I can't see the logic in marketing this as a Pro laptop however. It should really be called the MacBook Plus or similar. It's basically the best of the MacBook and Air models combined.

I am so done with people bringing up the idea of having USB A on the machines. SO Glad it is gone. Miss sitting there with that non reversible giant port that just looks horrible and has been around since the dawn of time? No. Don't really miss the glowing Apple logo, either. Also don't really miss magsafe. I prefer the computer not having an array of 7 different ugly ports on the side. USB C/Thunderbolt 3 is such a great option. I also don't get the commentary on needing a million dongles. Here, are a few ideas for you all that cost next to nothing and might help you out. Cables, not dongles. Of course you may have some propietary type accessories that might need the USB C - USB A adapter, but the VAST majority can be solved with a new cable. It is, after all. USB. Then you can get the adapter for while things transition. I thing it is such a great thing to finally have a single port that is being used for even more things than USB A was.

 

[Ghost31]

I said 13" MBP. The 2012 non-retina model started at $1199. The 2012 retina model started $1699.

Ah. Maybe my memories are just fuzzy. Why do you think there was a lack of freakout on price back then vs now?

 

[nt5672]

On laptops, reducing the weight is equally important to Apple as making the device thinner and the two are very much correlated. Thinness is as much function (via the weight criteria) as it is form. Weight matters on laptops, much more so than on phones.

To some people. That being people that don't need performance. The top end should be about performance, not weight. If lightweight and low performance works for you then buy the low end.

 

[now i see it]

The day's of bounding CPU speed improvements are over. Intel hit the wall (for the most part). So the new cool factor is power consumption at same speeds.
With that we get lower heat and therefore smaller battery requirement which allows for smaller, thinner computers with smaller fans & batteries.

& that's what we got.

 

[cerberusss]

Change triggers natural resistance and needs reasons to be accepted

With you, maybe. You sound like a sourpuss, and I mean this in a friendly, concerned way. Why live your life like that?

Personally, I like their new models, limitations included. It's something new and refreshing to leave old cruft behind, and I'm really curious what the USB-C restriction will bring.

I bet it'll spawn all sorts of cool stuff and I can't wait to see what's coming!

 

[pbasmadj]

With further unjustified pricing.

What about the original MBA? $1800 starting price and couldn't hold a candle to any of these machines.

This.

While it of course isn't Apples to Apples (pun intended?) and the times have changed a lot, the new notebook really is a pioneer design in a lot of senses, and is actually not that expensive. I think they did truly great with it. I challenge anyone to use this machine for a week and not be impressed. If you can't afford it, well... You just can't afford it I guess. Work harder?