Phil Schiller: Apple Working With Consumer Reports to Understand MacBook Pro Battery Test

[wozmatic]

Bottom line, this is a garbage MacBook Pro release

Had so much potential but they blew it.

Can't even connect your iPhone to it without an adapter.

also, removing the magsafe.....

 

[JustinRP37]

Bottom line, this is a garbage MacBook Pro release

Had so much potential but they blew it.

Can't even connect your iPhone to it without an adapter.

also, removing the magsafe.....

You can connect it using an USB C to lightning cord. Not an adapter just a cord. Same way it is done now only data transfer is far faster.

 

[Wackery]

You can connect it using an USB C to lightning cord. Not an adapter just a cord. Same way it is done now only data transfer is far faster.

explain to me why apple doesn't include a usbc to lightning cable for their 'forward looking' headphone jackless phone, and includes the 'legacy' usb instead?

 

[drumcat]

Imore does have a point. CR got 3 widely different battery life test results. Won't that suggest that something might be amiss with their battery testing methodology? Instead of ascertaining the reason behind this inconsistency, CR is opting to write it off as the MBP's problem.

Some people here are suggesting that the MBP was rushed. Seems the report by CR was rushed as well to meet a certain deadline and fit a certain narrative as well.

No... just no. It's not on CR to figure out why they are a mess. That's Apple's issue. Besides, if the test is widely known, they simply had to use that test to know what they are "getting into". "Help them understand" is so ignorant...

 

[MadeMyDay]

Let's hope the Apple fix doesn't turn into a Safari scandal.
http://fortune.com/2016/11/07/vw-dieselgate-more-bad-news/

 

[simonmet]

I think the MBP is going in the wrong direction. I purchased the entry level 13", sans touch bar, and I'm satisfied with it but man is it way overpriced. I got it through B&H in NY so there was no sales tax which took a bit of the sting out, but still. I was coming from a mid 2009 MBP so it was a significant upgrade for me. If I had last year's MBP, I wouldn't have upgraded. I am glad I passed on the touch bar model. It's useless and gimmicky. After seeing it in person, the colors look really cloudy/ faded too - I'm guessing because of that matte finish they put over it. OLED colors are supposed to pop, but not the touch bar's colors. Fail.

That's what I thought too. It was also less responsive and less sensitive than I was expecting (and less than it should've been).

Also, it should've been a little higher and at the level of keys it replaced.

 

[TurboPGT!]

What are the odds that Consumer Reports is just reading the joke that passes for "Tech Journalism" these days and using that as their basis, and not actually doing any real testing anymore?

I'd say pretty effing high.

 

[Abazigal]

No... just no. It's not on CR to figure out why they are a mess. That's Apple's issue. Besides, if the test is widely known, they simply had to use that test to know what they are "getting into". "Help them understand" is so ignorant...

So going by your statement, CR could have used an inappropriate or flawed testing methodology and it's Apple's fault, not theirs?

 

[hardflaco]

Too bad...... I had to buy two laptops and i just ordered a MacPro ......... thanks that i did not order the second one before i read this.....
Now just hoping that Apple can solve this..... in the mean time second laptop is on hold ....

I guess that for the second one that ineed i will go to original idea and jut get the Macbook Air with an i7, cheaper and apparently more reliable......

 

[simonmet]

Boy if these kind of bad reports keep coming, MR should consider removing this model from it's buyers guide and replace it with "Don't buy"

Or at least "Exercise caution"!
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Phil needs to go

But Phil doesn't really have anything to do with Apple's product development or direction. He's just a marketing guy. It's his job to spruik whatever Apple puts out, be they awesome or otherwise (cough: AirPods). He's not the cause of Apple's problems and getting rid of him won't be the solution.

It's poor management under TC that's the problem.

 

[mikefla]

Another (former) 15" MBP TouchBar customer chiming in. I opted for the Radeon Pro 460 discrete card. After indexing was complete, I could not eek out more than 4.5 hours of battery, no matter what I tried. On the low side, I experienced a little over one hour while playing Civ VI and I maxed out at 4.5 hours while using Safari, Mail, iTunes. Typical battery life was right between 3-3.5 hours. It went back this week and I went back to my late '13 15" rMBP. I'll give the late '17 revision a look when it is released. It really stinks because I loved the laptop. It was beautiful. However, we cannot permit Apple to continue to advertise outrageous battery life numbers. We must speak with our wallets.

EDIT: Although I was disappointed with the new MBP, I'm loving my AirPods - one of the most amazing products they have released in past years.

 

[dilbert99]

So going by your statement, CR could have used an inappropriate or flawed testing methodology and it's Apple's fault, not theirs?

You could look at what we've heard. The tests are giving wildly varying results. What do I take from this? The amount of time you get with the MBP varies a great deal from really good to really poor.

A test that uses a MBP can't be that flawed, during the tests the device is being "used".

I used my 2012 rMBP when it was new and initially got through a whole work day with gaps in between. I got 2-3 hours after 4 years and 600 cycles.

Others have said they are getting poor life, others saying they are getting good life. What do I take from that? People using their MBP are having issues.

Phil has not dismissed the results of the test as far as I know, so I guess there could actually be some issue.

You cannot blindly reject all of what we have heard.

 

[Wackery]

Or at least "Exercise caution"!
[doublepost=1482635084][/doublepost]

But Phil doesn't really have anything to do with Apple's product development or direction. He's just a marketing guy. It's his job to spruik whatever Apple puts out, be they awesome or otherwise (cough: EarPods). He's not the cause of Apple's problems and getting rid of him won't be the solution.

It's poor management under TC that's the problem.

he should still be fired for being a boldfaced liar, ie macpro "innovation presentation

 

[mikefla]

Well I hope my MacbookPro order has been delayed almost two months because Apple has indeed identified issues and they are working to address them. Like many although I make a living supporting Microsoft products I dislike Microsoft and have been an user of Apple products for my own use for a few years now. One thing Apple does differently compared to the Dell's and the HP's of the World is that they just don't mass produce things which in a way benefits both consumers and Apple as this allows them to correct major issues on the fly as new machines are being produced. So my hope is that the long wait will be worth it and I won't receive a laptop with crippled battery life.

-Mike

 

[cire1244]

Let's hope the Apple fix doesn't turn into a Safari scandal.
http://fortune.com/2016/11/07/vw-dieselgate-more-bad-news/

I own both a VW TDI and a touch bar MBP...

 

[JustinRP37]

explain to me why apple doesn't include a usbc to lightning cable for their 'forward looking' headphone jackless phone, and includes the 'legacy' usb instead?

Because the vast majority of people still have USB A on their computers and would be upset if it only came with USB C. And those who have the new MacBook Pros probably bought a USB C to lightning or just use it with their USB C to USB A adapter and still receive great transfers speeds.

 

[macTW]

Thank you. You just summarized exactly why the Macbook Pro is poorly received: Apple isn't aligning their plan with the customers' desire anymore.

Not really. Do you work with Apple corporate and know their plans? Clearly they don't make laptops for small majorities, those who want (which is fine) everything they dream of in a laptop and sometimes expect (where they are wrong) it and get mad when Apple doesn't ship devices like that.
[doublepost=1482637434][/doublepost]

I agree, i.e. The MB Air, all we asked for was a retina screen, and they could laugh all the way to the bank for another 10 years

That's the problem. When Apple is still selling laptops, why sell ones that make them lose a consumer for a decade? Combine that with the rapid advances in technology that occur every two or four years...

 

[SusanK]

Fire Cook

 

[rawweb]

Or at least "Exercise caution"!
[doublepost=1482635084][/doublepost]

But Phil doesn't really have anything to do with Apple's product development or direction. He's just a marketing guy. It's his job to spruik whatever Apple puts out, be they awesome or otherwise (cough: EarPods). He's not the cause of Apple's problems and getting rid of him won't be the solution.

It's poor management under TC that's the problem.

I agree, Schiller is just doing his job trying to market products and spin Apple in a positive light. It's literally what they pay him to do...even if sometimes face palm worthy (think new Mac Pro keynote). Time will tell if this MacBook is a complete failure or not. More than likely, a refined version will enhance this design down the road.

Back in the Jobs era, Steve himself took on a lot of this kind of responsibility. Even at the keynote, Steve was doing almost everything himself. Hard to imagine Cook showing us around a new Mac, application or talking tech specs. Federighi and Schiller are really filling in for that part during keynote presentations. But again, Steve was a different kind of CEO. Unique really.

 

[dogslobber]

OK I see the problem...

Consumer Reports is, well, for consumers who buy consumer products and the new MacBook "pro" is for "pros" as per Apples definition

So looks like CR was wrong for testing "pro" computers that are obviously not targeted towards "consumers"

I suppose Apple will work with Consumer Reports by issuing another new system update that blocks the CR website
Sheesh imagine the battery life if Apple went full touch screen instead of just the touch bar

There is no 'wrong' for CR nor are there boundaries to which they can review anything. They did what they usually do, went into a store and bought off the shelf units any member of the public may have. These were not fiddled with units that are sent to the usual Apple apologist websites for review.

They were brand new units which did not function as advertised. CR did the right thing to expose these flaws. What's more worrying is the prevalence of other so called 'journalists' who are simply unwilling to write without bias.

 

[TigerWoodsIV]

Going from a 2008 MBP to a 2016 MBP would be a fantastic upgrade! When I upgraded my maxed-out MBP Pro 2008 15" to a maxed-out rMBP 2012 15" (with SSD) it was also a nice jump in performance. But I don't see that happening moving from my 2012 rMBP to the new MBP 2016. I think you're hearing a lot of pent up frustration more than anything from the community. For people invested in the Apple ecosystem we'd like to think that after a 4 year wait for the next big thing that Apple would actually produce a next big thing level product. Instead, for my needs, we got a not so big thing product.

The only thing that's really up for debate imo is the fact that they could've made it a bit thicker and had a larger battery with either better battery life or a better graphics card option, or some combo of the two. I'm happy with everything else, and considering the battery life will be fine for me on my 15", I'm happy with everything. I fall in that category of power users, but not necessarily "pros". That group that loves Macs, but doesn't need Razer Blade Pro specs. It's expensive, but considering my last $3k laptop from Apple lasted 8.5 years with minimal problems that were all covered under my warranty, I didn't mind spending the money. If this one performs differently over time, I'll move to a different company next time. I've never had a laptop from a different manufacturer last so long and be legitimately usable for so long.

 

[slitherjef]

There is no 'wrong' for CR nor are there boundaries to which they can review anything. They did what they usually do, went into a store and bought off the shelf units any member of the public may have. These were not fiddled with units that are sent to the usual Apple apologist websites for review.

They were brand new units which did not function as advertised. CR did the right thing to expose these flaws. What's more worrying is the prevalence of other so called 'journalists' who are simply unwilling to write without bias.

The top part of my post was intended as sarcasm or joke (albeit in possible bad taste) I guess it didn't quite come across as such.

 

[Tech198]

More tests could be done by Consumer Reports, and Apple will always backup their tests more over any one elses as "we have build out machines, therefore we also know what's it capable of" and single out anyone else's tests..

I blame CR for this,, since not all Macbook Pro (2016) were affected, therefore the problem does not lie with Apple.

If Apple says the new 'Pro' lasts 10 hours, i'm incline to believe that. But can also be the individual machines only..

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

A true power user, I'm having zero battery issues with my new fully loaded MBP. Feel bad for those that are.

 

[IG88]

How can someone like Scott Forstall get fired for Maps not being up to par on release and not the same happen to whoever messed up this release of the 2016 Macbooo Pro?

I agree in principle, but I don't think Forstall was fired for Maps sucking. I think he was fired for petulance, and also as a result of some post Jobs power struggles / not playing nice with others.