New Images Offer Even Closer Look at New 14-Inch MacBook Pro

[Fred Zed]

There’s a lot of body shaming going on with this computer. Who hasn’t put in a few pounds during the last year? So, it’s got some love handles. It happens to the best of us.

No

Looks stupid 🤦‍♂️😂 what's the point of having a thick black bar cover the notch from end to end, it's like you're using the previous 16" model. 😤

It’s all good.

Looks stupid 🤦‍♂️😂 what's the point of having a thick black bar cover the notch from end to end, it's like you're using the previous 16" model. 😤

It’s personal preference, I’m sure it can be changed ?

Edit. Why is this forum easier to edit and quote on an android than when using an iPhone ?🤣

 

[alleggerita]

This is not a replacement for the Air. This replaces the MacBook Pros.

The notch is in a new expanded area of the screen where they are putting the menu.

These MBPs always has fans. The new ones are designed to use the fans less often.

These are at least twice as fast as the M1 and the GPU is multiple times as fast. The M1 is for Apples low end machines. These are the performance laptops for professional use. Definitely worth the small increase in price from the systems they replace.

If you want to you can continue to use USB-C for charging.

You are throwing shade at the designers but they have produced a phenomenal product that balances a range of needs in a form that don’t compromise functionality on the alter of sleekness the way the 2016 designs did

You’re absolutely right. His arguments makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[spotted_cougar]

That's exactly what this MBP design about.

Because the menu bar is whole (just like before), not half.

It already is “cut in half” by the notch. The added height doesn’t make it look any more whole, it just makes the notch even more out of place.

There are some apps that has very long menu column. Those will be split. Someone tweeted about it awhile ago you can search Twitter for it.

It’ll be split regardless of that added height of the menu bar. I don’t imagine a menu item extending to the right of the notch any better.

 

[tmoerel]

Mmm, all this talking about thickness. But thickness alone is irrelevant as it is a single dimension. The metric that really matters is volume. And by keeping the thickness as it was before (approximately) while at the same time removing the tapering towards the edges, what Apple has done is to create more volume.
More volume means more space for cooling, more space for batteries and this all without increasing the footprint on your desk or in your bag. I would call that a win win!
OK it looks chunkier to the eye, but it does not take more space in the 3d world (tapers waste space) and results in a better machine. And all this with barely any increase in weight.
So if you are a pro and want a better tool for your trade then this probably is it.

 

[Kvarkas]

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 - these laptops are too thin, come on Apple stop with the form over function, give us a slightly bigger machine with more power and better battery life

2021 - this is way to big, how chunky? Come on Apple this is far too big and heavy

Same with iPhone 13 Pro. It may look nice, but much harder to hold in the hand than the iPhone 11 Pro and it weights to much.

 

[ghanwani]

That is the part I miss from this, emotion.

Thanks for this.

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

Well, the 2001 PowerBook is still an iconic design. It’s just like saying why make macOS look like System 1 by having a menu bar or NeXTStep by having a Dock. The amazing thing about the Apple platform is it’s lineage and consistency. Taking some design cues from previous products is nothing bad. Look at the iPhone 12/13, they both share a similarity to the iPhone 4/5. Remember those old products were designed by Jony, too.

David Pogue explained some of the design reasons for the Notch:

View attachment 1876358

But, I think Apple is planning on other investments in the Notch on the Mac, obviously Face ID. They are a business too, which means, they are gonna make the second generation the same size with Face ID to get you to upgrade. In 2023, they will make it smaller like how they made the notch smaller on the iPhone 13 to get you to upgrade to each iteration.

I also think we are gonna see Touch come to the Mac in maybe a few generations, so the size is likely training the mind and slowly get app devs to mod their apps for when that happens. Apple knows so many of users are exposed to its platforms through its touch first devices (iPhone and iPad). And it someways puts the Mac at a disadvantage of not having some rudimentary touch capability built in even its just for the ported iPad apps that would still benefit from it. But what I suspect will happen is they are gonna radically change design of the Menu bar probably in the next version of macOS. Likely it will be split off into two different sections for file menus and status.

all true, continuity is key at apple, but this object just looks ugly!... the design is not refined, there are no lines, no curvature, no character... it's not interesting, looks old.

about the notch, i wonder what would have happened if other company implemented it like that, because it is apple it's acceptable...

I am a die hard apple fan, but ever since that 24' iMac things are getting weird with their designs.

 

[tmoerel]

all true, but it look ugly... the design is not refined, there are no lines, no curvature... it's not interesting, looks old.

about the notch, i wonder what would have happened if other company implemented it like that, because it is apple it's acceptable.

I am a die hard fan of apple, but ever since that 24' iMac things are getting weird with their designs.

If you do not appreciate the functional design optimising the volume of the computer without increasing the outside dimensions then you might not the professional this has been designed for. The extra volume will give better cooling, better battery life and thus will allow a pro to work faster and longer.
It is a better tool than the old tapered design. And professionals care more about the better functional tool than the better looking tool. It is about getting work done!

 

[Mr.PT]

This whole notch/oberall design thing has clearly showed the divide between those who just want a pretty laptop that will look good at Starbucks and those who are buying these to get real work done and make money using them.

Yeah, but there’s a minority that wants both- work and make money gracefully?

 

[aeternitas]

I want to see that notch with a lighter background.

 

[Mr.PT]

I know I'm in the extreme minority here and most of you will consider this trolling but I absolutely love my 2018 mbp's design keyboard and Touch Bar included. I'm holding off from upgrading until I physically see one Monday.

Same. Love the specs, concerns about height, hate the keyboard look.

 

[aeternitas]

Generic vs. recognizable

View attachment 1876116

That’s such a lame way to justify it…

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

If you do not appreciate the functional design optimising the volume of the computer without increasing the outside dimensions then you might not the professional this has been designed for. The extra volume will give better cooling, better battery life and thus will allow a pro to work faster and longer.
It is a better tool than the old tapered design. And professionals care more about the better functional tool than the better looking tool. It is about getting work done!

I am a software engineer so I do need it actually and you missed the point by miles - apple entire philosophy is not about getting "work done".

3:05
what were about isn't making boxes to people to get their jobs done, although we do that well.

 

[Craigwilliam]

Seeing the images makes me really want to get my hands on the 16inch, people will continue to nitpick about the notch but it doesn't bother me and I've actually been mulling over the idea of a Macbook Pro notch for a while now.

One thing I've noticed about the design of these new Macbooks Pro though is that the rounded bottoms are very reminiscent of the pre-unibody design language.

 

[sledgehammer89]

I'm so used to this thin Keyboards like the Smart Keyboard for the iPad, Magic Keyboard and MacBook 12" Keyboard, that I'm not sure that I'd like to type on this thick MacBook Pro 2021.

Apple, please give us macOS for your best mobile device, the iPad Pro M1 especially with the Smart Keyboard. Dust on Keyboard? Pollen? Crumbs? No problem, just blow it away...

 

[JamesPet]

Guys this is a pro device, for pros not for showing off your laptop in Starbucks

Did you ever feel frustrated about not being able to work on your Mac due to the heat throttling issue?

This happened to me, far too many times on my i9 2019. As long the thickness comes with good thermal handling, speed and battery life - we should be happy

 

[yitwail]

That’s such a lame way to justify it…

Or a tongue-in-cheek way to put up with it. I don’t love the notch, but it’s probably the only thing I don’t love with the 14” MBP. And since it’s replacing an early 2015 13” MBP, it won’t be any clunkier than its predecessor.

 

[Mr.PT]

Has anyone confirmed what the material is between the keys?

Presumably aluminum as the presentation referred an” anodised black well”. Waiting for ifixit to see if it’s an extra piece insert in a cut of the chassis or if it remains a one piece chassis cut out. The black finish makes me suspect is the first and this is used to make the joint less perceived. Otherwise is just senseless and horrendously generic design.

 

[theorist9]

I prefer this tradeoff as well, but **** those are ugly laptops.

I don't understand why they couldn't have those edges from the previous Macbook Pros, they made the laptops look a lot slimmer, even though the actual thickness doesn't differ much.

Anyways, still looking forward to my base model 14" with 1 TB, but it's definitely more of a trade-off than a strict upgrade.

I assume they wanted to eke out the maximum volume for the given footprint, which is why they eliminated the taper. They said the new 16" has 50% better thermal dissipation than the old one, and the larger volume is probably part of what they needed to achieve it.

And since your laptop bag doesn't care about the taper, you have a laptop that is just as portable (size-wise) as one without the taper, and perfoms better, but at the cost of its looks.

Essentially, they replaced a supermodel with an athlete.

 

[Mr.PT]

Mmm, all this talking about thickness. But thickness alone is irrelevant as it is a single dimension. The metric that really matters is volume. And by keeping the thickness as it was before (approximately) while at the same time removing the tapering towards the edges, what Apple has done is to create more volume.
More volume means more space for cooling, more space for batteries and this all without increasing the footprint on your desk or in your bag. I would call that a win win!
OK it looks chunkier to the eye, but it does not take more space in the 3d world (tapers waste space) and results in a better machine. And all this with barely any increase in weight.
So if you are a pro and want a better tool for your trade then this probably is it.

Agree, just concerned about how suspected height increase due to non tampered design and higher feets feels ergonomically.

 

[wixedoh242]

Generic vs. recognizable

View attachment 1876116

nice vs ugly

 

[tmoerel]

Agree, just concerned about how suspected height increase due to non tampered design and higher feets feels ergonomically.

You probably won't notice at all. For work I use some pretty fat and chunky Lenovo machines. Never noticed the height.

 

[cbaca51]

notch talk is so 2017. This looks beautiful. If I wasn’t a PC guy, this would be an instant cop

 

[incoherent_1]

I haven’t been this excited for a machine since my PowerBook G4!

 

[Jeo_cz]

Let´s make some review. These notebooks are technically great but their design is a stepback. Here is why:

1) So big notch is there just for a marketing purpose, not technically needed. Apple hasn´t tried to find the best technical solution anymore, if yes the notch wouldn´t be there or be very tiny and almost unrecognizable.

2) Borders are not impressive. Probably the same as for 2019 16" version what I own. That means still bigger than on Dell notebooks.

3) The thickness is visually huge. And that´s not because of a few mm more in size. It´s because of changes in form. That means not even worse looking, it also means that it will be harder to take the notebook off the table. The cutouts around the bottom were fine and left still space for all the port, so no, the new design is not there for some additional ports.

But it still doesn´t mean that the notebooks are not great. If they are fast, quiet and power efficient, I can forget all these design flaws. Cross fingers to be so.