Returned my 2016 nTB for a Chromebook

[think_wrong]

I did it...

First, I returned my tb model for a nTB because I didn't like the touchbar. But the battery life! I keep getting blindsided with low battery notifications after like 2.5-3 hours. I'm not a particularly heavy computer user either. I mostly use it for web browsing, and sometimes for web development. I simply can't use this machine for the basic things I need it for.

So yesterday I did the unthinkable and ordered a Dell Chromebook 11 for $219. I haven't used Linux since I was in college. I'm actually pretty excited. Hopefully Apple will release a better computer next year and I'll come back. For now though, Farewell Apple!

 

[blackberrycubed]

cool story bro.

 

[cj31016]

Enjoy, shrug.

 

[lambertjohn]

read somewhere that Intel just released 7th gen Kaby Lake processors with future Macs and MacBooks in mind. So hopefully, the second iteration of the Macbook Pro will have most of the kinks worked out, including the battery life issue.

 

[jksu]

I did it...

First, I returned my tb model for a nTB because I didn't like the touchbar. But the battery life! I keep getting blindsided with low battery notifications after like 2.5-3 hours. I'm not a particularly heavy computer user either. I mostly use it for web browsing, and sometimes for web development. I simply can't use this machine for the basic things I need it for.

So yesterday I did the unthinkable and ordered a Dell Chromebook 11 for $219. I haven't used Linux since I was in college. I'm actually pretty excited. Hopefully Apple will release a better computer next year and I'll come back. For now though, Farewell Apple!

good for you buddy! i'm not brave enough.

the comfort of having ms office apps, citrix for work etc. i'm sure there are workarounds but i'm too old (and too rich- have to be with apple stuff) to hack a solution these days

 

[raqball]

I had a Chromebook Pixel and loved it! It does most of what people need / want and if ChromeOS can't handle the task you can always put Linux on it...

I don't hate on Chromebook, some are very nice machines...

 

[skids929]

I did it...

First, I returned my tb model for a nTB because I didn't like the touchbar. But the battery life! I keep getting blindsided with low battery notifications after like 2.5-3 hours. I'm not a particularly heavy computer user either. I mostly use it for web browsing, and sometimes for web development. I simply can't use this machine for the basic things I need it for.

So yesterday I did the unthinkable and ordered a Dell Chromebook 11 for $219. I haven't used Linux since I was in college. I'm actually pretty excited. Hopefully Apple will release a better computer next year and I'll come back. For now though, Farewell Apple!

Good luck! My five year old is jealous!!!

 

[leman]

Its like saying "I returned my sports car and got a three-wheel bicycle!". If you don't need a fast laptop, why did you consider the MBP in the first place?

 

[GCMD]

This story made absolutely no sense.

If you're happy with a Chromebook, you REALLY didn't need or want ANY Apple product. You could have bought an iPad Pro with more computing power AND better battery life than a ChromeBook...add in a case with a Bluetooth Keyboard built in and you wouldn't realize it's not a laptop.

Seriously...this board is infected with Apple Haters or Trolls. Some of the complaints and stories seem so frivolous and ridiculous.

 

[jjjoseph]

I did it...

First, I returned my tb model for a nTB because I didn't like the touchbar. But the battery life! I keep getting blindsided with low battery notifications after like 2.5-3 hours. I'm not a particularly heavy computer user either. I mostly use it for web browsing, and sometimes for web development. I simply can't use this machine for the basic things I need it for.

So yesterday I did the unthinkable and ordered a Dell Chromebook 11 for $219. I haven't used Linux since I was in college. I'm actually pretty excited. Hopefully Apple will release a better computer next year and I'll come back. For now though, Farewell Apple!

I just returned my 2016 MacBook Pro because of the battery. Gonna wait and see what Apple does, but in the meantime I was looking at the Cheomebook, just for email and writing.

I have a 5,1 Mac Pro work station at home and I'll use that more now. If the MacBook Pro doesn't replace a desktop then in a lot of ways it's overkill for just email and the convience of working remotely.

I heard Linux is kinda a bitch to deal with because the ROM or PRAM will always force a boot to ChromeOS. Is that true? Is debian or something else a clean install on these?

Linux with Netflix other Microsoft Silverlight stuff seems like a great go between while the MacBook Pros figure themselves out.

 

[brookter1]

I heard Linux is kinda a bitch to deal with because the ROM or PRAM will always force a boot to ChromeOS. Is that true? Is debian or something else a clean install on these?

Linux with Netflix other Microsoft Silverlight stuff seems like a great go between while the MacBook Pros figure themselves out.

There are a few possible pitfalls (none insurmountable, but you need to be aware of them), and there are various solutions, not all of which are applicable to every Chromebook and processor.

Basically, you can run linux as a chroot inside ChromeOS (crouton), or as a dual boot, or as linux-only. On some chromebooks there are ways of turning off the default boot so it's not overwritten, but to make this permanent you have to open the machine. On others, you don't...

There are websites with Linux distributions specifically tailored for various chromebooks. I haven't tried it for a couple of years so I won't link to any. There's plenty of info on the net.

In other words: don't try to switch to linux until you've done your research about your combination of machine and linux distribution -- it's perfectly possible to brick your machine permanently.

Having said all that, it's not a difficult process if you find the right instructions for your machine and are prepared to do the research and it's great to have linux working natively on a Chromebook.

 

[luminouslight]

In before OP returns the Chromebook and buys a nTB again.

 

[mcnallym]

This story made absolutely no sense.

If you're happy with a Chromebook, you REALLY didn't need or want ANY Apple product. You could have bought an iPad Pro with more computing power AND better battery life than a ChromeBook...add in a case with a Bluetooth Keyboard built in and you wouldn't realize it's not a laptop.

Seriously...this board is infected with Apple Haters or Trolls. Some of the complaints and stories seem so frivolous and ridiculous.

Am about to order the logi create keyboard for my iPad Pro 9.7. my 2008mbpro starting to show it's age however for what I want then the iPad Pro will do me fine. Will still have my 2009 mini for iTunes an the 5,1 Mac Pro for real work

 

[bjet767]

On the battery life issue, I am a developer and with build 10.12.3 Beta (16D17a) of OSX it seems to be fixed. I too had 3-4 hours of life and now, even using FCP and multiple programs I'm now getting 8 hours normally and can get over 10.

My computer:

2016 13" MBPTB 8 Gig 5 500 gig SSD i5 2.9

I'm now very pleased with the overall performance of the device.

I think the problem is the older OSX version keeps the CPU humming at a high speed, that is until heat slows it down, and therefore a higher wattage. They seemed to have tweaked some low level machine code.

 

[No. 44]

This story made absolutely no sense. [...]

What do you expect from a person whose user-name is "think_wrong"?

I can understand someone being frustrated by this new MacBook Pro, but the 2015 model is flawless.

 

[think_wrong]

What do you expect from a person whose user-name is "think_wrong"?

I can understand someone being frustrated by this new MacBook Pro, but the 2015 model is flawless.

Mostly I just want to save the money for next years model. With all this negative PR, I figure there's no way Apple will let this happen again. It's not going to feel good when everyone is raving about the 2017 MBP and I'm stuck with a crappy 2016 model.

I just hope they still release a nTB model next year. Not a fan of the touchbar.

 

[maflynn]

It's not going to feel good when everyone is raving about the 2017 MBP and I'm stuck with a crappy 2016 model.

What's crappy about the 2016 model?

Who cares what others say about the MBP, if it fits your needs then it doesn't matter what others say.

As for the 2017 model, I don't expect much change, other then the CPU and maybe a slightly larger battery.

 

[bjet767]

Not a fan of the touchbar.

Why?

I got it, not because of what I think it does but because what developers may come up with in the future for its use.

 

[No. 44]

Mostly I just want to save the money for next years model. With all this negative PR, I figure there's no way Apple will let this happen again. It's not going to feel good when everyone is raving about the 2017 MBP and I'm stuck with a crappy 2016 model.

I just hope they still release a nTB model next year. Not a fan of the touchbar.

That, on the other hand, sounds very rational.

I think you're probably right about the 2017 model being a big improvement. It will definitely have better battery life and hopefully a better keyboard as well. An included power cord would also be a huge improvement over this year's offerings, but I'm probably dreaming...

 

[raqball]

People who hate on ChromeBooks either don't understand how to use them or the power of Linux...

There are some very nice ChromeBook out there.. The Pixel (discontinued by Google) rivaled the MacBook Pro in build quality, KB, trackpad, screen, sound ect....

Anywho, this thread and some of the responses are classic misconceptions..

 

[think_wrong]

What's crappy about the 2016 model?

Who cares what others say about the MBP, if it fits your needs then it doesn't matter what others say.

As for the 2017 model, I don't expect much change, other then the CPU and maybe a slightly larger battery.

Even if they don't change the form factor, I figure they'll at least have the tiered battery that the Macbook has. I've seen some reports that they were planning for that in this years model, but were having manufacturing issues so they ditched it last minute.

Also, I think there's a reasonable chance they'll come to their senses and release a thicker computer with more ports next year. They can't ignore the backlash on this.

 

[maflynn]

I figure they'll at least have the tiered battery that the Macbook has

Yes, I probably read the same stories that you did that Apple was plannign on using a shaped battery like the Macbook but ran into problems and with the deadline fast approaching they opted for a smaller non-tiered battery. I agree, its reasonable to expect a larger battery to be included in the 2017 model.

Also, I think there's a reasonable chance they'll come to their senses and release a thicker computer with more ports next year. They can't ignore the backlash on this.

I don't think the backlash has been related to the thinner design, true, many of us have stated that they're too obsessed with making things thinner but the issues that have raised people's ire, is the battery (which we presume will be resolved in the short term with a software fix and perhaps a larger battery in subsequent models), lack of legacy ports, TB being gimmicky and performance (not being much faster then the 2015 model.

 

[thesaint024]

Nothing wrong with OP using chromebook to "tide over" until a new MBP revision. I think the jabs were due to comparing the two as if they were equals. Probably not the intent, but it read that way.

I don't think the backlash has been related to the thinner design, true, many of us have stated that they're too obsessed with making things thinner but the issues that have raised people's ire, is the battery (which we presume will be resolved in the short term with a software fix and perhaps a larger battery in subsequent models), lack of legacy ports, TB being gimmicky and performance (not being much faster then the 2015 model.

This is what non-owners/non-fans don't get, not you specifically. Many of the things you mention are either non-issues or welcome changes to those that bought. It's not fanboyism, it's a tool that works for our "professional" needs. Battery - works as claimed which is better than 2015 for most of my uses, legacy ports - thank god they're gone, TB - who cares but touchID is niiice, performance - faster SSD, cooler chips, prior speeds were already more than enough. More importantly, mind-blowing faster chips just don't exist in a laptop today. For those that bought, this is CLEARLY the best laptop available today. For people who don't agree, they have voted with their wallets, which is the way the free market works.

 

[raqball]

I don't think the backlash has been related to the thinner design, true, many of us have stated that they're too obsessed with making things thinner but the issues that have raised people's ire, is the battery (which we presume will be resolved in the short term with a software fix and perhaps a larger battery in subsequent models), lack of legacy ports, TB being gimmicky and performance (not being much faster then the 2015 model.

This is what non-owners/non-fans don't get, not you specifically. Many of the things you mention are either non-issues or welcome changes to those that bought. It's not fanboyism, it's a tool that works for our "professional" needs. Battery - works as claimed which is better than 2015 for most of my uses, legacy ports - thank god they're gone, TB - who cares but touchID is niiice, performance - faster SSD, cooler chips, prior speeds were already more than enough. More importantly, mind-blowing faster chips just don't exist in a laptop today. For those that bought, this is CLEARLY the best laptop available today. For people who don't agree, they have voted with their wallets, which is the way the free market works.

Everything he / she mentioned is spot on... And yes I do own a 2016 nTB MacBook ProAir....

1. Battery life on my TB was 6 1/2 hours MAX.. That's working as claimed? I think not. Now my nTB is getting 10+
2. I personally do not care about touchID on a PC..
3. Legacy ports and thank god they are gone? WOW and LOL
4. Apple is overly obsessed with thinner and lighter. The funny, or sad part depending on how you view it, is that I never heard a single person saying they wanted a thinner and lighter Pro... Maybe there has been outrage over the Pro's size and weight and I just missed it.
5. The best laptop available today? If you want / need / desire to use MacOS then yup, I agree. It is nowhere even close to being so if you do not care about MacOS..

Many of the posts I read here are either extreme fanboyism or flat out hate from people who have never used the machine. There are very, very, very few rational thinking type posts..

 

[skids929]

Nothing wrong with OP using chromebook to "tide over" until a new MBP revision. I think the jabs were due to comparing the two as if they were equals. Probably not the intent, but it read that way.


This is what non-owners/non-fans don't get, not you specifically. Many of the things you mention are either non-issues or welcome changes to those that bought. It's not fanboyism, it's a tool that works for our "professional" needs. Battery - works as claimed which is better than 2015 for most of my uses, legacy ports - thank god they're gone, TB - who cares but touchID is niiice, performance - faster SSD, cooler chips, prior speeds were already more than enough. More importantly, mind-blowing faster chips just don't exist in a laptop today. For those that bought, this is CLEARLY the best laptop available today. For people who don't agree, they have voted with their wallets, which is the way the free market works.

Agreed..If the Chromebook is just a stop gap to fill a need then it's actually a good idea. Cutting your losses on something like that will be easier than investing in a regular PC laptop or older MBP.


I really struggle with how folks can pick on this laptop at all for ANYTHING other than battery life. Everything else about in fact makes it the best laptop on the market today.