Professional Mac Users' Complaints List Grows After 'Disappointing' Apple Event

[The Mercurian]

The MacBook Pro is just too expensive for what you get from a "Pro"-perspective...

The MBP is too expensive from any perspective unless you have more money than sense.

Might sound silly of me, but I really hope this Macbook Pro flops, it would be a great lesson for Apple.

Yup me too. I suspect it will too at least until they drop the price (6 months at least).

For the ram issue, it's becoming increasingly clear that intel has to share some of the blame. The processors that will allow for 32 gb of lpddr4 ram simply aren't available yet, and Apple made a conscious decision to limit us to lpddr3 ram instead of the more power-hungry ddr4 ram. Not everyone is going to agree with the choices that Apple has made here, but at least it's clear this wasn't done to cut costs or some other cynical reason. After all, if Apple was as mercenary as people made it out to be, why would Apple pass up the chance to charge people for more ram?

Because Dell XPS15 with 32GB exists.

Yeah people who haven't spent one second with these machines throwing a temper tantrum saying they're not going to buy. As far as I know Apple has never offered 32GB RAM option with the MBP before, when the machine was thicker and heavier than it is now. Why are we getting these temper tantrums now?

Because Dell XPS15 with 32GB exists.

Yes, yes yes, dell suck etc etc. But here is the point -> in the past there was no option for a 32GB machine. Now there is. And for those that matters to, the relative weaknesses of the Dell are much less important than being limited to 16GB. Dell XPS is the spiritual successor to the MBP of old.

 

[Rogifan]

Its 2016. People edit in 4K now. A pro laptop should be upgradable to 64 GB. In reality that price for 64 GB is than an iPad Pro.

So I guess Pros aren't using the Surface Book then either? Has anyone actually used these new MBPs and determined it's not capable to do what they need it to it are they saying based on a spec sheet they know with certainty it can't do what they need?

 

[AfroAbel]

So you have no need for 32gb so you call it a temper tantrum? :-/

The reason for people getting upset: The need for 32gb is growing evermore. People actually need the option for 32gb.

2012 - not so much.

IF there was 32gb of ram you'd be complaining about how expensive it was and how **** the battery life was.

 

[ironpony]

16 gb? There were two houses in the neighborhood handing that out for Halloween. Trick or Treat!


Treat for me ... upgrade much cheaper.

 

[Exile714]

Everyone keeps talking about these mythical "Pro" users who are disappointed in the new MacBook Pros. But let's break down who those people are:

1) People whose software development practices require "multiple virtual machines" and remote servers.

2) People who edit "intensive" 4K videos.

For the first group, I would say they should use a desktop. Seriously, a portable form factor is absolutely stupid for this type of work. They could use the Mac Pro, but that hasn't been updated in a while. Why? Because these people are such a small niche that it's not in Apple's best interests to update it.

For the second group, I don't know what to say. I don't get them, because people edit 4K videos just fine on far inferior laptops. Yeah, it's slower and a little laggy but, again, the MacBook Pro is a MOBILE solution. Here again the Mac Pro would suit this niche better, but it's too small a niche to justify that machine.

But let's be perfectly honest here, 99% of the complaints aren't coming from people in either category. Some just look for any excuse to put Apple down because it's fashionable these days, some can't afford Apple's prices and they're angry about that, others are just repeating things they know little about (like how Skylake is outdated, good lord people are ignorant sometimes), while tech pundits write and say these things because it gets clicks/views.

When the benchmarks and personal use stories come out, the narrative always changes to a more positive spin. Apple stocks go back up, people start impatiently waiting for the next product and bash Apple for not churning things out faster and eventually bash those products when they emerge again. It's a stupid cycle but hey, it gets the clicks, right?

 

[apolloa]

A lot of these people are living in the past. We are where Steve Jobs predicted we'd be, living in a post-PC era where the market for high-end traditional computer products is a niche within an already tiny niche.

What Tim and Apple are doing is absolutely right for the company. Those complaining and hating on Apple and Tim are broadly speaking living in the dark ages.

Your comment makes absolutely no sense, last time I checked the world was pretty much still run by COMPUTERS! Their are far far far more computers then tablets in this world and possibly smart phones too. Hardly a niche market...
I think you believe your living in a world where computers don't exist because you've been feeding on the iPhone and iPad for too long.

 

[kis]

The 16gb of RAM probably aren't the main issue. The graphics performance and the insane port decision are.

 

[dragje]

In another widely shared article titled "How Apple could have avoided much of the controversy", developer Chuq Von Rospach wrote that while much of the criticism ignores "a lot of the positives" in Apple's latest announcements, the company should have at least mentioned upcoming updates to the rest of its product line, which would "have muted a lot of the anger".
​

I agree, I'm waiting for a new MacPro & a new MacbookPro, but a new MacbookPro, the one I could use, in Holland, will cost me about €3000,- which is quite a lot for a "pro" machine that even doesn't support 32 GB of ram.... And even I understand, in a way, that more memory consumes more battery I don't understand why Apple leave this "issue" for the user themselves. I can decide to plugin the computer using the standard powerline and decide for myself if I need up to 10, or less, hours of battery life when I'm not using the powerline.

And now rumors goes that in about 7 to 8 months time new Macbook Pro will bring 32 gig of ram, the newest Intel chips and even prizedrops for the newer models it's, once again, tempting to wait.....

 

[eebrown]

Just post this under every news article until everyone gets it

Wow, I certainly know nothing about Steve jobs and have not seen too many interviews that he has done and did not look to see when this one was done but seems like he then is discribing what is now going on with Apple today.

 

[Stella]

IF there was 32gb of ram you'd be complaining about how expensive it was and how **** the battery life was.

No, I would not.

Additionally I very much doubt the battery would significantly suffer.

EDIT:
If I was doing something that required 32gb - the laptop would be plugged into a power supply - and battery would drain at a faster rate anyway...

 

[Mrjynx]

Been using mac laptops(PowerBook + MacBook pros) since 2001 and I'm actually disappointed with the refresh. It's really the ports that is going to drive me crazy. I fully agree USB-c is the future and this is apples way of pushing the standard forward but forgoing all USB-a and the sd slot? Urgh that's annoying.

Plus Kaby lake laptops are already being delivered from other manufacture with significant performance increase on 4K and gaming. They should have waited just a little bit longer and released with 7th gen.

This is actually the first time I'm conflicted about what laptop to purchase, it's been so easy the past 15yrs!

 

[FreshBoy]

As if there aren't enough threads for "Pros" to reminisce about an Apple that existed only in their minds.

The CPU and GPU in the new models are of the same class as the predecessors, but they are the latest versions. If the current version is underpowered, so were the last ones. Where were the complaints at the last refresh dates in early 2015?

Apple should hire them all. They're computer genius' making mountains out of molehills. The 15" should have a 32GB ram option though. I don't think anyone can argue with that.

 

[Rogifan]

This logic doesn't make any sense to me. Everyone keeps fantasizing about what it would be like if Steve was alive and how he would NEVER do some/all of the things that Cook is doing.

NewsFlash: Steve wasn't perfect. He always talked of a Post-PC Era. Steve was also a businessman (as evidenced by the price of Apple products and adapters). Thunderbolt 3/USB-C is just where the tech industry is headed. When Steve was a live the MBA was released. Several ports were removed to make way for a thinner computer.

Same thing is happening now. New ports and technology mean thinner computers for Apple. There's no way you can say that Steve WOULDN'T have done the same thing...

People seem to forget the original one port MBA and its starting price of $1800.

 

[The Mercurian]

Those of you who don't see the need for 32GB RAM need to read this....slowly....:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...y-life-concerns.2010291/page-24#post-23820850

This guy is talking about thousands of users who need it from a business point of view. This does not affect a handful of users - it affects many thousands of users.

 

[Ntran]

So I guess Microsoft's Surface Book isn't a pro machine either since it doesn't offer 32GB RAM option? Is that the defining criteria on what makes a laptop "pro"? How did all these "pros" survive before? How are they surviving now? It's not like the market is flooded with laptops that offer 32GB and 64GB RAM.

As if there aren't enough threads for "Pros" to reminisce about an Apple that existed only in their minds.

The CPU and GPU in the new models are of the same class as the predecessors, but they are the latest versions. If the current version is underpowered, so were the last ones. Where were the complaints at the last refresh dates in early 2015?

Then why they allowed people to condigure upto 32gb ram in the last model?

 

[SuprUsrStan]

Doesn't it seem equally arrogant to assume that only the needs of the "power user" matter and no one else's?

Yeah, maybe some people don't mind short battery life in exchange for 32 gb of ram because their laptops will be plugged in at their desks 24/7. But not everyone is going to be using their laptops in this manner. To make this group of "power users" happy, other people are going to have to put up with a thicker and heavier laptop with worse battery life.

Does it seem right for Apple to focus on the needs of the 20% at the expense of the other 80%?

And I still stand by my earlier assertion that I would take 4 USB C ports over 7 specialized ports any day. Think about it. Not everyone uses their ports evenly. Don't be surprised if some people have never plugged anything into their HDMI port since day 1. But these are ports which nevertheless take up space and that we are paying for. Now, with the right adaptors, those ports can be whatever port you want them to be, on whichever side you wish.

Still seems like a win in my book.

Hmmmm how about let me suggest another option.

Give us the option for 32GB with the fine print telling us that we'd get 8 hours of battery life instead of 9. Done.

Like I said, I can let SD and HDMI go but I can not accept not a single USB-A. Sure USB-C is the future but their approach is so hamfisted. Guess Apple had a little too much courage in pushing ahead with a standard that we're not ready for.

 

[Abazigal]

Because Dell XPS15 with 32GB exists.

Yes, yes yes, dell suck etc etc. But here is the point -> in the past there was no option for a 32GB machine. Now there is. And for those that matters to, the relative weaknesses of the Dell are much less important than being limited to 16GB. Dell XPS is the spiritual successor to the MBP of old.

Which uses more power intensive memory. Which Apple is unwilling to use because it will compromise battery life.

The point isn't that the option exists, but that it's not a good option in Apple's book, and so they made the call not to offer it.

 

[canny]

Tim Cook doesn't care about Mac people

 

[Kaibelf]

From what we've witnessed in these past few days, it's clearly not a minority. We're seeing die-hard Apple customers refusing to upgrade their machines, because they don't see any value in these new MBPs (at least, at their current price-point).

Sure, Apple can dismiss this as "whining", but I'm pretty sure the outrage we're seeing is going to be perfectly represented in the lackluster sales of these new models.

Guess what? Most people aren't on these forums complaining. They are buying. Six people in my office in the past week in fact and they don't upgrade constantly.

 

[dragje]

Question: what do you people think a Macbookpro 15 inch with 512SSD should cost and why?​

I'm curious about the answers from people who have more knowledge about hardware then I have..

 

[The Mercurian]

Which uses more power intensive memory. Which Apple is unwilling to use because it will compromise battery life.

The point isn't that the option exists, but that it's not a good option in Apple's book, and so they made the call not to offer it.

There was a really easy answer to this. Instead of making it 20% smaller by volume, make it 10% smaller by volume and put battery in the extra space. No-one would have minded or even noticed that it was less smaller than it is now. could have put a proper keyboard in too whilst at it.

Also I don't care that the XPS battery is only 5 hrs with 32GB.

 

[Kaibelf]

LETS BRING OUR APPLE BACK!!! TIM COOK STOP DESTROYING OUR APPLE !!! TIM COOK LEAVE!!!

Calm down, Donald.

 

[newyorksole]

As it's one of the most successful companies in the world, and has the money and resources to devote to whatever it wants to, i refuse to buy that. In a small company of four people, yes it is ok to put the focus on the most successful and most important project. But Apple could very easily devote an entire team to developing the Mac Mini alone and it would be a drop in the ocean when it came to their expenditure. Yet if a Mac Mini was loved and maintained and constantly innovated, heaven forfend it might actually be a successful product. They have no excuse. If it's the case that they really don't want to be developing these products anymore, then just drop it. As Apple is so secretive, it's insulting to their customer base to string them along for so long as people's jobs and livelihoods depend on these products. In the case of the Mac Pro especially, a 3 year gap between updates is pathetic really.

I totally agree. They have more than enough money and resources to release new Mac minis and Mac Pros more frequently. I definitely can't justify that at all and would be upset if they treated iMacs the same way they do Mac minis and Pros.

Mac mini hasn't been updated in 2 years so I would assume an update will come in 2017 or at least I hope so for the people that need those.

Again, you're right. I wish they weren't so secretive.

 

[MrGuder]

I see a 13" and 15" MacBook Pro Plus coming soon.

 

[drewsof07]

I'm pretty sure the sales numbers for these Macs will do nothing to change the downward tendency of Apple's Mac business. I hope they see this as a sign to seriously revamp their product line, creating computers that cater to the "professional creative" userbase that has been at the core of the Mac's success until now, instead of using the decline in sales to further gimp the Mac line or slowly kill it altogether.

I think we're getting to a catch 22 here. Adoption of Mac machines is down. There are two camps: Assume people have abandoned a traditional laptop/desktop for a mobile device OR Sales are stalled because folks are disappointed with the state of the Mac and are waiting for something worth buying. I think both are true to a degree.