Unlike some people on this forum, I do not like to post kneejerk reactions, and instead take a few days to use a product before deciding what's good and what isn't so good. I am also not 110% adverse to change (seriously, I wonder why some of you even ordered one). However, I also like to think I am not a fanboy who would let Apple off the hook for anything.
For a bit of background, I'm coming from a completely maxed out 2012 15-inch rMBP (2.7GHz i7, 16GB RAM, 768GB, 650M) to a not so maxed out configuration (2.6GHz i7, 512GB, 460). The 2012 was an Apple refurb, otherwise I probably wouldn't have needed the maxed out CPU or more than 512GB of storage.
So after a few days, here are my thoughts:
Keyboard
As someone who types in the realm of 100-130wpm depending on the keyboard, the decrease in travel was jarring initially. I had hoped for something more similar to the Magic Keyboard, which would have been a less significant decrease. I kept making errors during the setup phase, and I wasn't sure if I would like it. The noise was noticeable too. After a day or two, I started to adjust. The key is to realise you don't have to press the keys as hard as you think you do, which brings the noise down and reduces the potential for fatigue. Now about a week later, I am absolutely flying over this thing. The short travel actually helps me type faster, and the key stability means if I don't quite strike a key cleanly, I don't get thrown off. I had the 2012 out today to migrate some more of my stuff over to the new MacBook, and the key wobble and smaller key caps made the keyboard seem "cheap" in comparison. Don't subscribe to the myth that more travel equals a better keyboard. I should add that I thought the difference in feel from the 12-inch MacBook is noticeable, so if you are iffy on that, this one might alleviate some of your issues with it. I can see why someone might prefer the softer feel of the old keyboard (I thought I did for the first day or two), but to act like it is terrible is quite the overreaction. If you cannot get used to it, then I don't see how you manage with most laptop keyboards.
Trackpad
The larger trackpad makes four finger gestures a lot more comfortable. I don't know how it compares to the Force Touch trackpad in the 2015 models, but compared to the mechanical trackpad in my old Pro, the click is a lot "tighter" and quieter. I had tap to click enabled on my old Pro because the click seemed to take a lot of effort and was loud, but on the new one, I have it off with the click set to medium. I have had some minor issues with three finger drag, usually if trying to do it right from one of the corners of the trackpad, but I still instinctively start my gestures based on the old trackpad dimensions, so its only an occasional thing. I assume the fact that its only an issue from the edges means its a software bug with the new palm rejection required. The palm rejection seems to work consistently so far, by the way. Hopefully they can push out an update for the three finger issues, then as far as I'm concerned, the new trackpad is excellent.
Touch Bar and Touch ID
Touch ID is an easy one. It's a second gen sensor, quick as hell, exactly what we're used to from iOS. But no one was arguing about that.
The Touch Bar is interesting. I think calling it a gimmick is unfair. I also think calling it revolutionary or a must-have (at this stage, at least) is overselling it. I think the contempt some people have for it is a result of it likely being a key factor in the price increase for the new models. To say that you'd rather the computer be cheaper and have regular function keys is a fair opinion. To say that you would rather have the function keys regardless of price is a bit moronic. I think having visible toggles and buttons that can adapt to each application is a much better thing to have going forward than continually mapping things to the same old keys forever and ever. My most used pro app is Logic Pro X, so until they update that, I don't feel like I can give a complete verdict on the difference it makes to my daily workflow. From using it so far though, I am more than happy to ditch the keyboard shortcuts I've learned for something a bit more visual.
As a side note, I don't understand why people have this whole bent about how having to look down at the Touch Bar is stupid. I don't feel like averting my gaze to the bar is clunky or unnatural, which is helped by the fact that the bar has fantastic viewing angle. I think Apple is pushing towards a point where perhaps the entire keyboard is a single 3D Touch surface (hence why they are also getting us accustomed to lower travel keyboards), and frankly, I think that's a better future for the Mac than simply giving us touch on the vertical display. As an example, being able to have scrubbers, a MIDI keyboard, etc. down on the lower display would give me far more capability using Logic Pro X on the go than just giving me the same old form factor with a vertical touch screen.
Ports
Not much to be said really. If you have a lot of peripherals using traditional connectors, then its #donglelife for you. Annoying? Yes, but I'm willing to accept it if it accelerates the transition to USB-C. You don't get a fast transition by including legacy ports, because there's less incentive for accessory makers to favour newer standards. Anyone who thinks Apple is doing this to try and make money off adapters makes me laugh, their adapter revenue is probably about as much as an accounting error for them.
Performance vs Size/Weight/Battery Life
Apple has never had top-tier GPUs in the MacBook Pro, so I don't know why people were expecting much more than what's in there. I knew before ordering that I was going to go for the best graphics possible, because I find the GPU makes the biggest difference to longevity (the GPU was the only thing holding me back on my 2012 that made me feel the need to upgrade). However, I don't do anything particularly graphically intensive, so unless they really gimped it, it wasn't going to be a major factor in my decision admittedly.
Personally, I think their choice to use a 35W GPU is a good one. If I needed serious graphics horsepower, I would have bought the next refresh of the 5K iMac and got better performance at a lower price, and then got a 12-inch MacBook or 13-inch MacBook Pro (assuming I still went with Mac) for not much more money (which probably would've made me ditch my 12.9-inch iPad Pro). Unless I really needed that kind of graphics horsepower wherever I went, I wouldn't want a thicker, heavier laptop with less battery life, and I think a lot of people are on that boat and just get drowned out by the cries of the smaller group who want a mobile workstation. Even if they had maintained the same dimensions as the previous chassis, you're not going to get particularly great battery life with the dedicated GPU running if they'd gone with something high-end. Based on that, if I were in Apple's position, I would have found a 35W GPU with near double the 370X's performance difficult to pass up.
I also don't think Apple should have compromised the design now to squeeze in 32GB of RAM when they'll probably be able to put it in this enclosure by the first refresh. Apple wants this design to be at or near the top of the class in terms of portability and battery life for the next three to four years.
I think much of the frustration over the mid-range graphics in the MacBook Pro stems from the fact that Apple seem to be neglecting their desktop Macs recently. Hopefully the rumour mill is right, and we can expect iMac and Mac Pro refreshes by mid next-year. But as far as I can tell, the new MacBook Pro isn't going to be a less suitable product for you than it was before (unless you're going to need a crapton of dongles, but that will sort itself out for most people over time). People seem to think that it should be capable of being anything to anyone, but if Apple wanted a MacBook for every use case, they'd need several more notebook lines.
In conclusion, I would say that this is not the radical departure some very vocal people are making out that it is. To me, it just seems like another evolution of the same ideals Apple pushed with the first unibody MacBook Pro in 2008, and became a bit more aggressive with in 2012. Everything about it just feels like a more refined version of what we had before, with a more premium keyboard and trackpad, a better display with a smaller bezel, a more seamless design (no more plastic hinge, and the stainless steel logo is classier in my opinion, but I was never that hung up on the glowing logo), and general all-around performance bumps (except in CPU, thanks Intel). Yes, its pricey. Yes, they nuked more ports. But we went through all this in 2012, remember? If the new model isn't right for you today, Apple is banking on the fact that in one or two refreshes, it will be. This is exactly what happened with the last design. Apple hasn't changed as much as people like to think it has. As someone who has been following along for over a decade, I'm not panicking.
If you're upgrading from a 2015 and it seems underwhelming, no s#@*. The Touch Bar isn't a must have yet, so unless you really value improvements to portability, there isn't a whole lot here for you. This is an upgrade that's going to be more captivating for those on a 2013 model or earlier.
Finally, a message to those still waiting for their orders. If you're typically a Mac user, don't need high-end graphics, and you're not anal about keyboard travel, STOP WORRYING. You will be largely happy with the new MacBook Pro.
For a bit of background, I'm coming from a completely maxed out 2012 15-inch rMBP (2.7GHz i7, 16GB RAM, 768GB, 650M) to a not so maxed out configuration (2.6GHz i7, 512GB, 460). The 2012 was an Apple refurb, otherwise I probably wouldn't have needed the maxed out CPU or more than 512GB of storage.
So after a few days, here are my thoughts:
Keyboard
As someone who types in the realm of 100-130wpm depending on the keyboard, the decrease in travel was jarring initially. I had hoped for something more similar to the Magic Keyboard, which would have been a less significant decrease. I kept making errors during the setup phase, and I wasn't sure if I would like it. The noise was noticeable too. After a day or two, I started to adjust. The key is to realise you don't have to press the keys as hard as you think you do, which brings the noise down and reduces the potential for fatigue. Now about a week later, I am absolutely flying over this thing. The short travel actually helps me type faster, and the key stability means if I don't quite strike a key cleanly, I don't get thrown off. I had the 2012 out today to migrate some more of my stuff over to the new MacBook, and the key wobble and smaller key caps made the keyboard seem "cheap" in comparison. Don't subscribe to the myth that more travel equals a better keyboard. I should add that I thought the difference in feel from the 12-inch MacBook is noticeable, so if you are iffy on that, this one might alleviate some of your issues with it. I can see why someone might prefer the softer feel of the old keyboard (I thought I did for the first day or two), but to act like it is terrible is quite the overreaction. If you cannot get used to it, then I don't see how you manage with most laptop keyboards.
Trackpad
The larger trackpad makes four finger gestures a lot more comfortable. I don't know how it compares to the Force Touch trackpad in the 2015 models, but compared to the mechanical trackpad in my old Pro, the click is a lot "tighter" and quieter. I had tap to click enabled on my old Pro because the click seemed to take a lot of effort and was loud, but on the new one, I have it off with the click set to medium. I have had some minor issues with three finger drag, usually if trying to do it right from one of the corners of the trackpad, but I still instinctively start my gestures based on the old trackpad dimensions, so its only an occasional thing. I assume the fact that its only an issue from the edges means its a software bug with the new palm rejection required. The palm rejection seems to work consistently so far, by the way. Hopefully they can push out an update for the three finger issues, then as far as I'm concerned, the new trackpad is excellent.
Touch Bar and Touch ID
Touch ID is an easy one. It's a second gen sensor, quick as hell, exactly what we're used to from iOS. But no one was arguing about that.
The Touch Bar is interesting. I think calling it a gimmick is unfair. I also think calling it revolutionary or a must-have (at this stage, at least) is overselling it. I think the contempt some people have for it is a result of it likely being a key factor in the price increase for the new models. To say that you'd rather the computer be cheaper and have regular function keys is a fair opinion. To say that you would rather have the function keys regardless of price is a bit moronic. I think having visible toggles and buttons that can adapt to each application is a much better thing to have going forward than continually mapping things to the same old keys forever and ever. My most used pro app is Logic Pro X, so until they update that, I don't feel like I can give a complete verdict on the difference it makes to my daily workflow. From using it so far though, I am more than happy to ditch the keyboard shortcuts I've learned for something a bit more visual.
As a side note, I don't understand why people have this whole bent about how having to look down at the Touch Bar is stupid. I don't feel like averting my gaze to the bar is clunky or unnatural, which is helped by the fact that the bar has fantastic viewing angle. I think Apple is pushing towards a point where perhaps the entire keyboard is a single 3D Touch surface (hence why they are also getting us accustomed to lower travel keyboards), and frankly, I think that's a better future for the Mac than simply giving us touch on the vertical display. As an example, being able to have scrubbers, a MIDI keyboard, etc. down on the lower display would give me far more capability using Logic Pro X on the go than just giving me the same old form factor with a vertical touch screen.
Ports
Not much to be said really. If you have a lot of peripherals using traditional connectors, then its #donglelife for you. Annoying? Yes, but I'm willing to accept it if it accelerates the transition to USB-C. You don't get a fast transition by including legacy ports, because there's less incentive for accessory makers to favour newer standards. Anyone who thinks Apple is doing this to try and make money off adapters makes me laugh, their adapter revenue is probably about as much as an accounting error for them.
Performance vs Size/Weight/Battery Life
Apple has never had top-tier GPUs in the MacBook Pro, so I don't know why people were expecting much more than what's in there. I knew before ordering that I was going to go for the best graphics possible, because I find the GPU makes the biggest difference to longevity (the GPU was the only thing holding me back on my 2012 that made me feel the need to upgrade). However, I don't do anything particularly graphically intensive, so unless they really gimped it, it wasn't going to be a major factor in my decision admittedly.
Personally, I think their choice to use a 35W GPU is a good one. If I needed serious graphics horsepower, I would have bought the next refresh of the 5K iMac and got better performance at a lower price, and then got a 12-inch MacBook or 13-inch MacBook Pro (assuming I still went with Mac) for not much more money (which probably would've made me ditch my 12.9-inch iPad Pro). Unless I really needed that kind of graphics horsepower wherever I went, I wouldn't want a thicker, heavier laptop with less battery life, and I think a lot of people are on that boat and just get drowned out by the cries of the smaller group who want a mobile workstation. Even if they had maintained the same dimensions as the previous chassis, you're not going to get particularly great battery life with the dedicated GPU running if they'd gone with something high-end. Based on that, if I were in Apple's position, I would have found a 35W GPU with near double the 370X's performance difficult to pass up.
I also don't think Apple should have compromised the design now to squeeze in 32GB of RAM when they'll probably be able to put it in this enclosure by the first refresh. Apple wants this design to be at or near the top of the class in terms of portability and battery life for the next three to four years.
I think much of the frustration over the mid-range graphics in the MacBook Pro stems from the fact that Apple seem to be neglecting their desktop Macs recently. Hopefully the rumour mill is right, and we can expect iMac and Mac Pro refreshes by mid next-year. But as far as I can tell, the new MacBook Pro isn't going to be a less suitable product for you than it was before (unless you're going to need a crapton of dongles, but that will sort itself out for most people over time). People seem to think that it should be capable of being anything to anyone, but if Apple wanted a MacBook for every use case, they'd need several more notebook lines.
In conclusion, I would say that this is not the radical departure some very vocal people are making out that it is. To me, it just seems like another evolution of the same ideals Apple pushed with the first unibody MacBook Pro in 2008, and became a bit more aggressive with in 2012. Everything about it just feels like a more refined version of what we had before, with a more premium keyboard and trackpad, a better display with a smaller bezel, a more seamless design (no more plastic hinge, and the stainless steel logo is classier in my opinion, but I was never that hung up on the glowing logo), and general all-around performance bumps (except in CPU, thanks Intel). Yes, its pricey. Yes, they nuked more ports. But we went through all this in 2012, remember? If the new model isn't right for you today, Apple is banking on the fact that in one or two refreshes, it will be. This is exactly what happened with the last design. Apple hasn't changed as much as people like to think it has. As someone who has been following along for over a decade, I'm not panicking.
If you're upgrading from a 2015 and it seems underwhelming, no s#@*. The Touch Bar isn't a must have yet, so unless you really value improvements to portability, there isn't a whole lot here for you. This is an upgrade that's going to be more captivating for those on a 2013 model or earlier.
Finally, a message to those still waiting for their orders. If you're typically a Mac user, don't need high-end graphics, and you're not anal about keyboard travel, STOP WORRYING. You will be largely happy with the new MacBook Pro.
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