New Macbook in 2018?

[Dave245]

I went to the Leicester's HighCross Apple Store yesterday to try out new MacBook Pro's, imo the difference between keyboards is very minimal from 2017/2018. I tried out the 13' Touch Bar and the 13' nTB 2017 Pro's. I was really surprised how the touch bar doesn't make me fancy it anymore over the nTB, infact I prefer the physical keys. Also nTB has a lot better battery compared to the TB version. I ran the only available benchmark test I could and it was the Octane 2.0, the 2018 Pro scored 39989 compared to the nTB 2017 37072. The result surprised me so much, in fact I was so into the nTB model I went home and ordered the 256GB 2017 nTB from ebay for £939, condition: like new with only 30 battery cycles. Also it has 9 months Apple Warranty left. What a bargain.

Anyways, they also had the Surface Books there, I don't know it just doesn't appeal to me at all, the best windows laptop is still the XPS line for me. But windows doesn't come close to the macOS, so these machines aren't even an option. MacBook's design is still by far the best out there, when you put it next to the Surface Book, Microsoft's machine just looks ugly.

I have to check out the Birmingham's store, I have actually never been there since they moved out of the Bullring

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I think the Touch Bar is helpful in certain situations like editing in Final Cut. I’m very much leaning towards the 12” MacBook so I’m going to wait until Apple announce the updates later this year and then buy one. As for the Surface I ride out the Surface Pro in Curry’s PC World and I was pleasantly surprised by the hardware, I do still love MacOS and Mojave looks to make that even better later this year, however I do think Microsoft have a great product on their hands with the Surface Pro, if the App Store got better and they focused on making Windows also better then it could be on par with Mac’s.

I’m an Apple fan and have multiple Apple Devices BUT i have to give credit where it’s due and it’s definitely due with Panos Panay and the Surface team.

The Birmingham Apple store is great much better than when it was in the Bullring, a lot lore room now to walk around and look at the different products. The simplicity and brilliant design of the Apple store is great, I love it.

 

[waquzy]

I think the Touch Bar is helpful in certain situations like editing in Final Cut. I’m very much leaning towards the 12” MacBook so I’m going to wait until Apple announce the updates later this year and then buy one. As for the Surface I ride out the Surface Pro in Curry’s PC World and I was pleasantly surprised by the hardware, I do still love MacOS and Mojave looks to make that even better later this year, however I do think Microsoft have a great product on their hands with the Surface Pro, if the App Store got better and they focused on making Windows also better then it could be on par with Mac’s.

I’m an Apple fan and have multiple Apple Devices BUT i have to give credit where it’s due and it’s definitely due with Panos Panay and the Surface team.

The Birmingham Apple store is great much better than when it was in the Bullring, a lot lore room now to walk around and look at the different products. The simplicity and brilliant design of the Apple store is great, I love it.

You definitely can't go wrong with the 12" MacBook, it is an awesome machine.

The thing with the Touch Bar is that while it looks useful(especially the Touch ID) I think after awhile(when honeymoon period ends) you will most likely forget about it, that's the idea I am getting from most of the tech youtubers, its only interesting in the beginning, but in the end its kinda pointless/gimmick, apart from the Touch ID of course. And that goes for the Final Cut usage as well, in fact it actually slows things down... also it has a big impact on the battery.

 

[0186279]

portability and mobility really trumps over everything else. 900 grams laptop is way better on your back and shoulder on a daily basis compared to 1.4 KGs. In addition

Do people really believe this stuff? That your back would ever notice the difference in weight there?

 

[Dave245]

You definitely can't go wrong with the 12" MacBook, it is an awesome machine.

The thing with the Touch Bar is that while it looks useful(especially the Touch ID) I think after awhile(when honeymoon period ends) you will most likely forget about it, that's the idea I am getting from most of the tech youtubers, its only interesting in the beginning, but in the end its kinda pointless/gimmick, apart from the Touch ID of course. And that goes for the Final Cut usage as well, in fact it actually slows things down... also it has a big impact on the battery.

Agreed which is why i'm waiting until this years update and then i'm going to buy one, i've just got to decide if the 16GB Ram upgrade is worth it.

The Touch Bar usage depends on what you do and which apps you use as it can be customised for each app, one of my friends who is a video editor and uses Final Cut Pro X swears that his workflow is a lot faster after he brought the 2016 MacBook Pro and he still swears to that now (in 2018). I have seen him use it and tools such as blade, trim and so on are much easier to use with a single touch than they are too remember all of the shortcuts.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Agreed which is why i'm waiting until this years update and then i'm going to buy one, i've just got to decide if the 16GB Ram upgrade is worth it.

If I were planning on keeping it more than two or three years—or even if I weren’t—I’d absolutely upgrade from 8 to 16GB... it might be the best $200 you’ll ever spend.

The Touch Bar usage depends on what you do and which apps you use as it can be customised for each app, one of my friends who is a video editor and uses Final Cut Pro X swears that his workflow is a lot faster after he brought the 2016 MacBook Pro and he still swears to that now (in 2018). I have seen him use it and tools such as blade, trim and so on are much easier to use with a single touch than they are too remember all of the shortcuts.

No amount of evidence to the contrary will ever convince the naysayers to discard their preferred version of reality that claims the TouchBar can’t make certain tasks faster. Many times they don’t have a TB MBP, yet they’re sure it’ll just slow things down.

 

[waquzy]

If I were planning on keeping it more than two or three years—or even if I weren’t—I’d absolutely upgrade from 8 to 16GB... it might be the best $200 you’ll ever spend.


No amount of evidence to the contrary will ever convince the naysayers to discard their preferred version of reality that claims the TouchBar can’t make certain tasks faster. Many times they don’t have a TB MBP, yet they’re sure it’ll just slow things down.

Just one out of many examples...

 

[EugW]

If I were planning on keeping it more than two or three years—or even if I weren’t—I’d absolutely upgrade from 8 to 16GB... it might be the best $200 you’ll ever spend.

8 GB is fine for me on the road 95% of the time, but I got 16 anyway, since I tend to keep my laptops 5+ years.

If memory usage goes up on average just 10% per year, that's a 60% increase in 5 years. So, if you need 6-8 GB now, that's 10-13 GB in 5 years. If 12 GB were an option, I might have considered that, but since the only other option is 16 GB, that's what I got.

Also, macOS uses the extra memory for application caching, which can make the machine feel faster. No need to reload applications that are already in memory. Even if you quit the apps, they remain in memory if there is excess memory available.

No amount of evidence to the contrary will ever convince the naysayers to discard their preferred version of reality that claims the TouchBar can’t make certain tasks faster. Many times they don’t have a TB MBP, yet they’re sure it’ll just slow things down.

It really depends on the person and the application, but there are lots and lots of people out there (and on YouTube, etc.) who have had the Touch Bar for over a year now who hate the Touch Bar.

And there are some that love it.

 

[waquzy]

8 GB is fine for me on the road 95% of the time, but I got 16 anyway, since I tend to keep my laptops 5+ years.

If memory usage goes up on average just 10% per year, that's a 60% increase in 5 years. So, if you need 6-8 GB now, that's 10-13 GB in 5 years. If 12 GB were an option, I might have considered that, but since the only other option is 16 GB, that's what I got.

Also, macOS uses the extra memory for application caching, which can make the machine feel faster. No need to reload applications that are already in memory. Even if you quit the apps, they remain in memory if there is excess memory available.


It really depends on the person and the application, but there are lots and lots of people out there (and on YouTube, etc.) who have had the Touch Bar for over a year now who hate the Touch Bar.

And there are some that love it.

I would say 90% of the tech youtubers find the Touch Bar pointless/gimmick after awhile.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

I think the Touch Bar is helpful in certain situations like editing in Final Cut. I’m very much leaning towards the 12” MacBook so I’m going to wait until Apple announce the updates later this year and then buy one. As for the Surface I ride out the Surface Pro in Curry’s PC World and I was pleasantly surprised by the hardware, I do still love MacOS and Mojave looks to make that even better later this year, however I do think Microsoft have a great product on their hands with the Surface Pro, if the App Store got better and they focused on making Windows also better then it could be on par with Mac’s.

I’m an Apple fan and have multiple Apple Devices BUT i have to give credit where it’s due and it’s definitely due with Panos Panay and the Surface team.

The Birmingham Apple store is great much better than when it was in the Bullring, a lot lore room now to walk around and look at the different products. The simplicity and brilliant design of the Apple store is great, I love it.

Really glad that you got to see the Macs Dave. PS I can't believe that you've just praised 'Windows'.
PS I've just today been playing on a MacBook Pro 13" TB but simply can't ever justify the price - £2000 + £330 for Apple Care. To me, that's just insane and I won't do it. LOVED the Touch Bar though when adjusted volume on a film that I saw in iTunes
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I would say 90% of the tech youtubers find the Touch Bar pointless/gimmick after awhile.

As with everything in life, make your own mind up from your use.
What i've realised with YouTubers for tech is how truly spoilt they are and they don't seem to appreciate anything - they toss it out the window as though things mean nothing to them. I find the whole thing shallow.

 

[Dave245]

Really glad that you got to see the Macs Dave. PS I can't believe that you've just praised 'Windows'.
PS I've just today been playing on a MacBook Pro 13" TB but simply can't ever justify the price - £2000 + £330 for Apple Care. To me, that's just insane and I won't do it. LOVED the Touch Bar though when adjusted volume on a film that I saw in iTunes.

Yea I was surprised myself, as unpopular as it may be I have to give Microsoft credit where it’s due. I’m not saying that it’s perfect but the Surface Pro was a great hands on device, I was very surprised myself! Windows was fast and responsive to touch and the build quality was great. Whether that’s a different matter when owning one I don’t know but in Curry’s PC World store it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Just one out of many examples...

Don’t believe everything you see on the internet. YouTube is a cesspool of clicks for cash craptastickness.

You can find the opposite opinion in a different video, which is correct? The one that supports and reinforces what you already think, of course.

 

[EugW]

Don’t believe everything you see on the internet. YouTube is a cesspool of clicks for cash craptasticness.

You can find the opposite opinion in a different video, which is correct? The one that supports and reinforces what you already think, of course.

It's not that either is correct. It's that a lot of people dislike Touch Bar and have good reasons to dislike it. Other people love it. The point is it's not a universally loved feature. This is in contrast to for example the Apple trackpads or the Retina screens. These are loved by most.

 

[waquzy]

It's not that either is correct. It's that a lot of people dislike Touch Bar and have good reasons to dislike it. Other people love it. The point is it's not a universally loved feature. This is in contrast to for example the Apple trackpads are the Retina screens. These are loved by most.

Very well said. Even the most diehard Apple fans do not like the Touch Bar. Anyways, it don't even matter what they say about the Touch Bar, I tried it out in the Apple Store myself many times before and I prefer the physical keys. The only good thing about it is the Touch ID.

 

[PickUrPoison]

It's not that either is correct. It's that a lot of people dislike Touch Bar and have good reasons to dislike it. Other people love it. The point is it's not a universally loved feature, like for example the Apple trackpads are or how Retina screens are.

Nothing about Apple is universally loved lol. I’ve heard people complain about how the trackpad is too big or they don’t like the haptic feedback. Retina screen isn’t good enough for some.. same resolution for 7 years, where’s my 4K, blah blah blah.

I can understand people not liking the TB, and some application software support it well and some not at all. And even if it could save them time, some people still don’t like using it, that’s fine.

But I don’t support the notion that the truth can be found with cash for clicks YouTubers. Don’t let someone else tell you what to think. Try it yourself, with your workflow.

Personally I wish Apple left the Esc/F keys and added the Touch Bar above it, at least on the 15” where there’s room.

 

[KensaiMage]

I thought apple will release a redesigned macbook in 2019

 

[Falhófnir]

I thought apple will release a redesigned macbook in 2019

The MBPs are pretty like clockwork every 4 years, the MBA only received one redesign in 2010, after 2 years and then kept that design for the next 5 until they stopped refreshing it in 2016.

My guess would be we might see a 13” with the refreshed design cues this year, and the 12” will follow suit next?

 

[Dave245]

My guess would be we might see a 13” with the refreshed design cues this year, and the 12” will follow suit next?

We may see a 13” version of the MacBook this year, there are rumours with both Mark Gurman and Ming Chi Kuo saying that Apple will release a more budget friendly 13” MacBook later this year in order to replace the MacBook Air, it’s runoured to cost around $1000 from the report that Ming Chi Kuo released.

It could be why they haven’t announced spec updates for the 12” yet, if they are going to announce a 13” version as a side note in the September keynote then at the same time they can mention about the 12” updates.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

We may see a 13” version of the MacBook this year, there are rumours with both Mark Gurman and Ming Chi Kuo saying that Apple will release a more budget friendly 13” MacBook later this year in order to replace the MacBook Air, it’s runoured to cost around $1000 from the report that Ming Chi Kuo released.

It could be why they haven’t announced spec updates for the 12” yet, if they are going to announce a 13” version as a side note in the September keynote then at the same time they can mention about the 12” updates.

Exciting times Dave for Apple. Not too sure if we'll see the new 13" MacBook in September though as it's the iPhones announcement which is BIG and iTunes going Dolby Atmos.
Maybe there will be an October event as the new iPad Pro is due - surely that will not be revealed at the iPhone event as both are big news!

 

[Dave245]

Exciting times Dave for Apple. Not too sure if we'll see the new 13" MacBook in September though as it's the iPhones announcement which is BIG and iTunes going Dolby Atmos.
Maybe there will be an October event as the new iPad Pro is due - surely that will not be revealed at the iPhone event as both are big news!

An event in October for the iPad Pro redesign with Face ID and a 13” MacBook announcement would make sense for Apple. If they announce a 13” version of the MacBook i’m buying straight away

They could update the 12” drop the price and introduce a 13” version at the current price. Or it could be a completely different computer altogether, tho Ming Chi Kuo did say that he now expects Apple to introduce a 13” laptop that will replace the Air. Will it be the MacBook? It certainly makes sense to move it up the line a little.

 

[GadgetBen]

An event in October for the iPad Pro redesign with Face ID and a 13” MacBook announcement would make sense for Apple. If they announce a 13” version of the MacBook i’m buying straight away

They could update the 12” drop the price and introduce a 13” version at the current price. Or it could be a completely different computer altogether, tho Ming Chi Kuo did say that he now expects Apple to introduce a 13” laptop that will replace the Air. Will it be the MacBook? It certainly makes sense to move it up the line a little.

I would hope the new MacBook is released before October in line with the recent MacBook Pro silent launch. It doesn't need a song and a dance, just a quiet spec upgrade and a cheeky inch added on!

I'd imagine they will save the October event for the all-new design iPad and Apple Watch and of course the iPhone X (Series 2) in a variety of options.

 

[EugW]

I would hope the new MacBook is released before October in line with the recent MacBook Pro silent launch. It doesn't need a song and a dance, just a quiet spec upgrade and a cheeky inch added on!

I'd imagine they will save the October event for the all-new design iPad and Apple Watch and of course the iPhone X (Series 2) in a variety of options.

I'm not sure, if Ming Chi-Kuo is to be believed. While I might have guessed 6-core MacBook Pros might have warranted a mention somewhere, ultimately I'm not hugely surprised it was a silent update because the chassis is basically unchanged.

However, for the MacBook, Ming Chi-Kuo claims there will be a new 13" model, and it is not a Pro. Would Apple do that silently? Maybe, maybe not. Not sure. Mind you, if it's just a bigger version of the existing MacBook, with otherwise no big changes, then a silent update could make sense. However, if it's a form factor change other than size, then that would probably warrant a mention at an event I think.

 

[Dave245]

I would hope the new MacBook is released before October in line with the recent MacBook Pro silent launch. It doesn't need a song and a dance, just a quiet spec upgrade and a cheeky inch added on!

I'd imagine they will save the October event for the all-new design iPad and Apple Watch and of course the iPhone X (Series 2) in a variety of options.

The iPhones and iPads will be announced in September, iPhones haven’t been announced in October since the 4s back in 2011. My guess is a MacBook update either at the September event with the iPhones, iPad and Apple Watch OR MacBook and iPad refresh at a separate October event.
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I'm not sure, if Ming Chi-Kuo is to be believed. While I might have guessed 6-core MacBook Pros might have warranted a mention somewhere, ultimately I'm not hugely surprised it was a silent update because the chassis is basically unchanged.

However, for the MacBook, Ming Chi-Kuo claims there will be a new 13" model, and it is not a Pro. Would Apple do that silently? Maybe, maybe not. Not sure. Mind you, if it's just a bigger version of the existing MacBook, with otherwise no big changes, then a silent update could make sense. However, if it's a form factor change other than size, then that would probably warrant a mention at an event I think.

It’s not just Ming Chi Kuo who reported it, Mark Gurman also confirmed it with his “sources”

What’s interesting is that up until the last report Ming was referring to the 13” version as an Air update but then that changed in his last report when he confirmed that the Air will be replaced with this new 13” MacBook. It will be interesting to see if they introduce a 13” version of the existing MacBook, if so you are right they will probably just announce it as part of a silent update to the current MacBook line up, however if it’s a design change then an event will be more appropriate where Apple can talk about it.

Are there any new processors available that Apple could use in these Macbook’s? I’m just asking because it makes me wonder why Apple is waiting, the MacBook Pro got a silent update and if the processors are ready for the current 12” and a new 13” then what’s the hold up?

 

[dgdosen]

So, given this is a speculation and rumors site - what advantages would their be to a 13 inch vs a 12 inch macbook? Sure there's the screen size, but would the 13" for sure be the more expensive model? or are there some kind of economies/manufacturing savings that Apple could get using a slightly bigger frame?

I personally think they've got huge margins already, and Apple is just trying to come up with something that won't cannibalize MBP sales.

 

[Dave245]

So, given this is a speculation and rumors site - what advantages would their be to a 13 inch vs a 12 inch macbook? Sure there's the screen size, but would the 13" for sure be the more expensive model? or are there some kind of economies/manufacturing savings that Apple could get using a slightly bigger frame?

I personally think they've got huge margins already, and Apple is just trying to come up with something that won't cannibalize MBP sales.

I think they could be doing something similar to what they did with the MBA, the 12 may go cheaper while a 13.3” is introduced and comes in at the current MacBook pricing.

Maybe the 13” version will have better specs? it will then give Apple what they need in order to remove the Air. All rumours are pointing that the rumoured 13” version will in fact replace the Air.

 

[Falhófnir]

So, given this is a speculation and rumors site - what advantages would their be to a 13 inch vs a 12 inch macbook? Sure there's the screen size, but would the 13" for sure be the more expensive model? or are there some kind of economies/manufacturing savings that Apple could get using a slightly bigger frame?

I personally think they've got huge margins already, and Apple is just trying to come up with something that won't cannibalize MBP sales.

That extra 1.3” diagonal makes a huge amount of difference. The fact it will likely be a passively cooled machine means it won’t cannibalise the pro lineup in the same way the air started to with the 2014 and 2015 pros. They could adopt a similar pricing strategy as the 13” ntb MacBook Pro and start it equal to the 12” (cut to $999?) but with 128gb of storage rather than 256. Alternatively, they could go the +$100 for the larger model route like they did for the airs - pretty much equivalently specced the 13.3” was $100 more than the 11.6”.