what's to understand? Apple getting desperate for something to sell and the new crappy MacBooks were rushed in time for the holidays without considering new processors.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Phil Schiller: Apple Working With Consumer Reports to Understand MacBook Pro Battery Test
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The previous news story about the inability to use a sculpted battery seems telling. Would be nice for iFixit to review the unusual empty spaces they found around the battery components, and estimate lost volume if the empty spaces and holders were replaced with battery. We can use 99 wH as the theoretical max Apple would have put in (airlines travel limit make this the max for most mfgs). If the lost volume is enough to account for the difference between 99wH and the 76 (?) Apple put in, then there is real hope the current situation is because of the sculpted battery issue. Perhaps with the Kaby Lake upgrade we would see the solution Apple intended re: battery life. As long as Apple continues with an approximate $200 battery replacement program, I could see the a Kaby, 32meg, 99 wH, 1T SSD mac being a very long term solution (I'd like six year minimum like my previous 17 inch MBP). I will want to replace any battery after about 3-4 years of cycles, so the replacement program is pretty important for a long, functional portable life imho.
What an offensive load of horsesh_t.
From an article yesterday on the MR front page:
But the ultimate source of battery issues is Apple's inane focus on Thinner to the exclusion of all other features. This is supposed to be the "Pro" laptop from Apple. They already have two other laptop lines devoted to ultra-thin wisps of aluminum with a paucity of ports and features. So why is the Pro laptop simply a more expensive version of the Air? What the MBP should be is Apple's one laptop offering for those who prioritize performance and versatility over maximum-portability. Thicker, longer battery life, user serviceable/upgradable storage and memory, and a cornucopia of ports.
Professionals often have invested in gear and accessories that last longer than a laptop. They don't necessarily buy all new equipment with every laptop purchase. So why no USB A ports so they can jack in to their laptop? Why no SD card reader for professional photographers? Why no minidisplay port for all the high end displays currently in use? It sure as hell isn't so Apple can offer a cheaper laptop, which would at least be a rational offering. Instead Apple expect Pros to pay substantially more for the privilege of juggling dongles all day long.
This MBP is in it's own repugnant way every bit as offensive as the Mac Tube Pro. Apple served their own needs and treated professional needs with contempt. They are on thin ice and Microsoft, MICROSOFT, are about to eat Apple's lunch! Never did I think I'd live to see the day when Dell and Microsoft products are more elegant and user friendly than Macs.
From an article yesterday on the MR front page:
"Battery life issues...ultimately led Apple to remove the "Time Remaining" battery life estimate in the macOS Sierra 10.12.2 update."
Obviously Apple are well aware of the MBP's inadequate battery life, or they wouldn't have removed the battery life estimate feature. Now maybe it really is a software glitch and Apple will have a patch out before the end of year. Apple under Jobs would have, but under Cook I wouldn't bet any money on it.
But the ultimate source of battery issues is Apple's inane focus on Thinner to the exclusion of all other features. This is supposed to be the "Pro" laptop from Apple. They already have two other laptop lines devoted to ultra-thin wisps of aluminum with a paucity of ports and features. So why is the Pro laptop simply a more expensive version of the Air? What the MBP should be is Apple's one laptop offering for those who prioritize performance and versatility over maximum-portability. Thicker, longer battery life, user serviceable/upgradable storage and memory, and a cornucopia of ports.
Professionals often have invested in gear and accessories that last longer than a laptop. They don't necessarily buy all new equipment with every laptop purchase. So why no USB A ports so they can jack in to their laptop? Why no SD card reader for professional photographers? Why no minidisplay port for all the high end displays currently in use? It sure as hell isn't so Apple can offer a cheaper laptop, which would at least be a rational offering. Instead Apple expect Pros to pay substantially more for the privilege of juggling dongles all day long.
This MBP is in it's own repugnant way every bit as offensive as the Mac Tube Pro. Apple served their own needs and treated professional needs with contempt. They are on thin ice and Microsoft, MICROSOFT, are about to eat Apple's lunch! Never did I think I'd live to see the day when Dell and Microsoft products are more elegant and user friendly than Macs.
I understand there has been some speculation about it being a software issue/fix (safari/chrome).
But what I don't understand is why folks have taken an all or nothing approach to whether the problem exists or not.
Perhaps there is a QC issue where some batteries either consistently perform well while others don't, or perhaps that the batteries themselves are performing inconsistently.
IOW, it could be happening, even if it isn't happening to you, or happening to everyone.
Or is it fun to argue?
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Oh brother. You might want to look into how CR works. Their reviews are NOT highest bidder wins. One does not buy favorable or unfavorable reviews from them. Objectivity is what make their reviews special.
But even if you want to believe that, does that then mean that Apple dropped the ball on (winning the bribe contest on) this ONE review because CR has rated most everything else by Apple very highly for many years?
And where is all this CR review fault-finding when they issue positive reviews for Apple products? Why are they only wrong or why are there only these conspiracy theories when they have something negative to say?
The non touch bar has a 15w CPU and a somewhat okay battery capacity of 54wh. This model isn't the one which has been problematic - it was mainly the touch bar models with much more power hungry CPU and low battery capacities relative to 2015 model.
Yeah if the report about them developing two different machines is correct, they chose the wrong one to go with. I very much appreciate a lighter machine, but not at the expense of all of these drawbacks! Had they even went with a little more plastic in it they could have kept the weight reductions too. Despite all their fanfare, these new designs aren't even the thinnest nor the lightest out there for their size.
luckily I didn't pick one of these lemon up !
my 2015 macbook air is still going strong !!!
thank you Steve Jobs, you were the only one who cared
my 2015 macbook air is still going strong !!!
thank you Steve Jobs, you were the only one who cared
I am not a fan of Consumer Reports. To give them some credit, they test products more along the lines of how users would interact with the devices tested. Looking at their webpage, Consumer Reports test a good number of laptops using the same processes. Apple MacBook Pro scored poorly compared to the others tested for battery life. At this point and time, "the do not buy", has very high credibility. Instead of challenging their testing Apple needs to rethink how their products are actually used. Example, Pro users are in need of long battery life, and will gladly sacrifice some thinness and weight. Additionally, adding Pro name to the product, Apple may want too actually deliver a Pro system.
Last edited:
You expect Consumer Reports to figure out what was causing the issue? They test products and publish the results.
The only thing I'll give Ritchie credit for is that as bad as he is he's nowhere NEAR the level of blind fanboyism that Daniel Eran Dilger over at Apple Insider is. That guy makes Ritchie look bipartisan. The guy's got at least three different aliases that he posts under over there.
I found the solution to all our MBP woes: just chuck this in your dongle satchel. Problem solved, lol.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I was troubled until they showed Chrome using the battery less. That's just ********.
Phil is wasting his time here. He's dealing with a bunch of half-wit bozos who are hardly qualified to review toilet paper or deodorant, let alone computers. Best to leave the idiots alone. Nobody care about CR anyway, their test methods (if they even have methods) are probably so bizarre and unrepeatable that they have no value.
CR has always been out to destroy Apple, ever since their iPhone 4 fake news stories. IGNORE them, they are worthless. If you want to know if the MBP is any good, check the MacRumors IBP forum, or wait for Anand's review. Anand has been reviewing PCs + HW for 20+ years (ever since he was in high school). CR has been reviewing chocolate bars and pizza slices for the past 50 (?) years. Who do you trust?
CR has always been out to destroy Apple, ever since their iPhone 4 fake news stories. IGNORE them, they are worthless. If you want to know if the MBP is any good, check the MacRumors IBP forum, or wait for Anand's review. Anand has been reviewing PCs + HW for 20+ years (ever since he was in high school). CR has been reviewing chocolate bars and pizza slices for the past 50 (?) years. Who do you trust?
Something negative about Apple and now it has to be some bankrolled conspiracy by Google.
.Considering so many user complaints about battery life, is this report really that surprising?
Consumer reports = bad guys! They do not understand the importance of new emojis!
Unless I am reading it wrong the article says that when they ran the tests in Safari they experienced poor battery life -- conversely when they re-ran the tests in Chrome they experienced consistently high battery life. So I don't think your point stands.
I charged my MacBook fully, and yesterday it lasted only 2 hours and 34 minutes. I was watching Netflix on Safari. That's it. So... is there a software fix, or how do I return it?
I think apple wants to dumb down the laptops by removing ports so that they can make money off accessories. They also want to increase how frequently people upgrade their laptops. This will all bring in more revenue from a market segment (laptops) that has been stagnant for the last 10 years.
[doublepost=1482599662][/doublepost]As sales continue to drop Apple will realize that people don't consider their products to be premium.
[doublepost=1482599662][/doublepost]As sales continue to drop Apple will realize that people don't consider their products to be premium.
Last edited:
Apple has been treating its Mac hardware like an bastard Stepchild. Time to get 2 new product design teams, one for mobile and one for desktop,
Actually spend money in design r&d on mac's again Apple.
This pursuit of laptops glued together is ridiculous.
Actually spend money in design r&d on mac's again Apple.
This pursuit of laptops glued together is ridiculous.
You must be mistaken Consumer Reports made the whole thing up for clicks
I have been accused of being an Apple fanboy, and also an Apple basher in the same thread.
Does Consumer Reports *really* have enough credibility/electronics influence to get Schiller spun up? Personally, I'd believe what they had to say about washing machines, irons, crock pots, etc. but not on computers, cars and other highly technical gadgets.
I don't get this, a day after CR publishes a negative report, an Apple Executive VP gets involved; yet, on other things after hundreds of customers complain about something on Apple's own forums, we don't hear a peep from anyone at Apple. In fact the Genius Bar folks claim Apple troubleshooters have never heard of the problem.
I don't get this, a day after CR publishes a negative report, an Apple Executive VP gets involved; yet, on other things after hundreds of customers complain about something on Apple's own forums, we don't hear a peep from anyone at Apple. In fact the Genius Bar folks claim Apple troubleshooters have never heard of the problem.