Waiting for Skylake MBP thread

[kevinkyoo]

If Apple seriously releases the 13" revamped MBA, I will laugh at anyone who bought the retina MacBook and defended that product to no end (With benchmarks by saying that it is on par with the MacBook Pro's). That computer is a testament of Apple nowadays - compromises. Compromise to the keyboard, battery life (Subpar with actual usage), power, port. The only things it has going for it are the screen, trackpad, and the speakers.

It still astounds me that people are willing to drop $1700-2000 on this piece of **** computer that can't run competent programs when you can buy an equally priced 13" MacBook Pro that barely weighs more and outclasses the computer in every category.

If you bought the computer and enjoy it, fine. But I've seen way too many posts and comments of people trying to defend this computer by saying how "powerful" it is, when really it's an overpriced compromised machine that spits out Apple kool aid to convince you that it's worth its price tag.

- ends rant -

 

[tofagerl]

It's a sexy computer with no brains.

 

[kevinkyoo]

It's a sexy computer with no brains.

And it describes perfectly how Apple is reacting to the market: All to the common denominator consumers, and not to the "pro" market. The pro market now consists of edgy college students who think they will need the power of the MacBook Pro to write out their edgy college essays.

 

[ssong]

So any guesses on what the three key points could be?

https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/09/siri-wwdc-2016-responses/

Hello big ideas. Hello anything. Hello everything...

There will be some cool stuff, and then some more cool stuff, and then some more really cool stuff...

Am I reading too much in to this..?

So 'big idea' is a direct quote from the last line of their initial WWDC poem... the only line that doesn't directly connect to any particular app... So perhaps a massive app store revamp? (crazy idea... maybe something similar to the Universal App idea by MS? i.e. tvOS, watchOS, iOS, macOS all run on pretty much the same idea)

Hello anything... perhaps a revamped Siri with more intelligent features that can do 'anything'

and... Hello everything... perhaps a release of Siri on macOS along with H/W announcements?

One can only dream...

 

[Uni Grad]

I actually like the idea of fitting a dGPU in a external display, and having a notebook contain just an eGPU. I think that is a brilliant way forward, and from the rumors, I think Apple is heading in the right direction, in terms of that implementation. A dGPU in a notebook, especially when they're this thin, light and portable, is asking for thermal issues.

 

[zhenya]

If Apple seriously releases the 13" revamped MBA, I will laugh at anyone who bought the retina MacBook and defended that product to no end (With benchmarks by saying that it is on par with the MacBook Pro's). That computer is a testament of Apple nowadays - compromises. Compromise to the keyboard, battery life (Subpar with actual usage), power, port. The only things it has going for it are the screen, trackpad, and the speakers.

It still astounds me that people are willing to drop $1700-2000 on this piece of **** computer that can't run competent programs when you can buy an equally priced 13" MacBook Pro that barely weighs more and outclasses the computer in every category.

If you bought the computer and enjoy it, fine. But I've seen way too many posts and comments of people trying to defend this computer by saying how "powerful" it is, when really it's an overpriced compromised machine that spits out Apple kool aid to convince you that it's worth its price tag.

- ends rant -

Spoken by someone who clearly doesn't own one. The 'compromise' is that the rMB is nearly HALF the weight and overall volume of a MBP when you include the power adapters in the equation. It's not even close. A rMB can slip into my backpack and nearly disappears into the weight of the bag itself. If one has a workflow where sustained CPU power is never required (which accounts for a huge proportion of users, whether they realize it or not) a rMB will have the same exact performance for them. Why would I want to carry around the weight and bulk of 2 computers I don't need when 1 will do the job perfectly??

 

[WRONG]

So any guesses on what the three key points could be?

https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/09/siri-wwdc-2016-responses/

One of the three points is surely Watch Bands.

 

[navaira]

One of the three points is surely Watch Bands.

I hope everybody realises that those new hinges we read about are preparation for Macbook Bands.

 

[snc]

I actually like the idea of fitting a dGPU in a external display, and having a notebook contain just an eGPU. I think that is a brilliant way forward, and from the rumors, I think Apple is heading in the right direction, in terms of that implementation. A dGPU in a notebook, especially when they're this thin, light and portable, is asking for thermal issues.

And how often do you change monitor?

 

[Uni Grad]

And how often do you change monitor?

Once in every 5 years. If the GPU within the display is adequate, I think it should last that duration.

 

[kevinkyoo]

Spoken by someone who clearly doesn't own one. The 'compromise' is that the rMB is nearly HALF the weight and overall volume of a MBP when you include the power adapters in the equation. It's not even close. A rMB can slip into my backpack and nearly disappears into the weight of the bag itself. If one has a workflow where sustained CPU power is never required (which accounts for a huge proportion of users, whether they realize it or not) a rMB will have the same exact performance for them. Why would I want to carry around the weight and bulk of 2 computers I don't need when 1 will do the job perfectly??

Incorrect. I've tried the m7 for a week and a half before I returned mine. Read what I said - I am targeting people who praise the new Macbook as the end-all-be-all, the best computer to have replaced the MacBook Air, and one whose powers are equivalent to the MacBook Pro (By just throwing up benchmarks and not using enough intensive apps).

Yes, for your case where CPU requirements aren't as high, it's a great computer, but for me, it's lackluster.

Here's my quote:

I will laugh at anyone who bought the retina MacBook and defended that product to no end (With benchmarks by saying that it is on par with the MacBook Pro's).

 

[akkotaire]

Interesting had to look up what you meant... Apple is replacing the entire logic board (for free)... so no need to try to reflow - if they had refused I would have baked my apple to see if it came out any better Thanks for teaching me something today!

Great ! Using a heat gun I usually get better results, Sometimes one reflow will get you through a year, but sometimes you will have to do it frequently. Yet it is a good way to stretch your machine life while waiting for an update.

 

[snc]

Once in every 5 years. If the GPU within the display is adequate, I think it should last that duration.

4-5 years gpu in this monitor(it probably be some midrange gpu when new because of tdp constaints) will be useless, not mention how much will apple want for such monitor

 

[george999]

And it describes perfectly how Apple is reacting to the market: All to the common denominator consumers, and not to the "pro" market. The pro market now consists of edgy college students who think they will need the power of the MacBook Pro to write out their edgy college essays.

I don't understand why people say college students don't need the power that the Macbook Pro offers. Most are buying a 13" i5 with 8GB of ram. This is too much power for them? I would not even classify that configuration as "powerful." It's a capable, middle of the road computer in 2016. Personally, I don't think anyone should be buying a comuter with anything less than an i5 today soley for the longevity. Buying an i5 over an m7 will ensure your computer lasts longer with future software updates.

 

[justin216]

4-5 years gpu in this monitor(it probably be some midrange gpu when new because of tdp constaints) will be useless

The best-case solution would be to allow the monitor's internal GPU to be disabled if you're connecting a machine with a more powerful GPU, or allow some kind of hybrid crossfire/SLI-type arrangement where it can augment the computer's primary GPU.

That said, it does add another failure point depending on how it's implemented. Would suck for another "nVidia GPU recall"-type issue where the monitor goes dead because of the built-in GPU failing.

 

[Erdbeertorte]

Strange the screen of the Air looks best on the photo but worst in reality. I sadly have no drive in the white MacBook at the moment to compare the screen quality.

17-inch matte Late 2011 Pro, 13-inch Retina Mid-2014 Pro, 13-inch Mid-2013 Air, 13-inch Mid-2010:

 

[j1104638]

Interesting had to look up what you meant... Apple is replacing the entire logic board (for free)... so no need to try to reflow - if they had refused I would have baked my apple to see if it came out any better Thanks for teaching me something today!

Unfortunately they're replacing to the similar, wrongly designed logic board. So it might fail again and after December 2016 they won't fix it for free (if they don't extend the period again).

 

[dallegre]

Strange the screen of the Air looks best on the photo but worst in reality. I sadly have no drive in the white MacBook at the moment to compare the screen quality.

That's mainly due to relative screen brightness (setting) and camera exposure.

 

[Erdbeertorte]

That's mainly due to relative screen brightness (setting) and camera exposure.

The brightness was set to maximum on all of them. I think Retina is just reflecting more and as you said the camera exposure/perspective.

The 13-inch Pro is really much smaller than the Air. I only wanted to compare the sizes and then saw the screen quality on the photo.

 

[Letup]

Strange the screen of the Air looks best on the photo but worst in reality. I sadly have no drive in the white MacBook at the moment to compare the screen quality.

17-inch matte Late 2011 Pro, 13-inch Retina Mid-2014 Pro, 13-inch Mid-2013 Air, 13-inch Mid-2010:

View attachment 635055

I'm still rocking the white MacBook at the moment. SSD and 4gb of RAM makes it pretty much never slow down. Battery life only lasts a good 30mins though...

 

[Erdbeertorte]

I'm still rocking the white MacBook at the moment. SSD and 4gb of RAM makes it pretty much never slow down. Battery life only lasts a good 30mins though...

I really love my white MacBook too, it even has 16 GB RAM. I think there is an SSD in it and I just formatted it lately because Snow Leopard was on it and I wanted to reinstall El Capitan again. But I am mostly at home at the moment and don't need anything portable. So I always use the 17-inch Pro.

The other ones are only lying around and I want to sell them.

 

[ConnorMcJeebus]

Spoken by someone who clearly doesn't own one. The 'compromise' is that the rMB is nearly HALF the weight and overall volume of a MBP when you include the power adapters in the equation. It's not even close. A rMB can slip into my backpack and nearly disappears into the weight of the bag itself. If one has a workflow where sustained CPU power is never required (which accounts for a huge proportion of users, whether they realize it or not) a rMB will have the same exact performance for them. Why would I want to carry around the weight and bulk of 2 computers I don't need when 1 will do the job perfectly??

If your criteria are lightweight and capable of handling workflow that doesn't require sustained CPU power, Chromebooks (running Linux) offer a solution for about 8 times less the price of a rMB. I know you'll say "but I can't live without OSX, etc..." but really...8 TIMES THE PRICE.

I have nothing against the rMB, but I don't like the price point for what it offers.

 

[zhenya]

If your criteria are lightweight and capable of handling workflow that doesn't require sustained CPU power, Chromebooks (running Linux) offer a solution for about 8 times less the price of a rMB. I know you'll say "but I can't live without OSX, etc..." but really...8 TIMES THE PRICE.

I have nothing against the rMB, but I don't like the price point for what it offers.

Chromebooks don't offer anywhere near the experience of a full MacBook. There are plenty of programs and connectivity that people need regularly that Chromebooks don't offer - and most of it doesn't require an especially fast CPU. I can't believe I even have to explain this to people. Would you suggest that someone still using a 2011 MBP replace it with a Chromebook? Because the rMB is going to be faster than such a machine in almost every way. And this is entirely ignoring the plastic construction, crap screens, crap touchpads, and crap keyboards of a $200 Chromebook. The fact is that the bulk of the laptop using world has not been CPU bound for years now. Core-M is Intel finally admitting that, and the MacBook is a laptop built around that realization with the focus instead on things that actually do affect the user every day.

 

[ConnorMcJeebus]

Chromebooks don't offer anywhere near the experience of a full MacBook. There are plenty of programs and connectivity that people need regularly that Chromebooks don't offer - and most of it doesn't require an especially fast CPU. I can't believe I even have to explain this to people. Would you suggest that someone still using a 2011 MBP replace it with a Chromebook? Because the rMB is going to be faster than such a machine in almost every way. And this is entirely ignoring the plastic construction, crap screens, crap touchpads, and crap keyboards of a $200 Chromebook. The fact is that the bulk of the laptop using world has not been CPU bound for years now. Core-M is Intel finally admitting that, and the MacBook is a laptop built around that realization with the focus instead on things that actually do affect the user every day.

You kind of just ignored everything in my post. Why bother even quoting it?

I said if you have the specific criteria of light weight and low power requirements then a chromebook would meet those criteria for a much lower price. Linux could even help you run full programs.

Like Warren Buffet would say, it's all about value. If you think the rMB offers enough value for the price, fine. I don't.

Edit: btw not all Chromebooks are plastic. Many look and feel like MBAs these days. Just FYI.

 

[zhenya]

You kind of just ignored everything in my post. Why bother even quoting it?

I said if you have the specific criteria of light weight and low power requirements then a chromebook would meet those criteria for a much lower price. Linux could even help you run full programs.

Like Warren Buffet would say, it's all about value. If you think the rMB offers enough value for the price, fine. I don't.

And as someone who has used one every day for an entire year, I think you are making the common mistake of thinking that the CPU means much of anything for the vast majority of users anymore. If the rMB had the 15w processor instead, you wouldn't be making these inane arguments, when the reality is that the inclusion of such a processor would be of near zero value for the vast majority of users. (I know, everyone is special and needs a bunch of power, but the reality is that for the bulk of the curve of owners, it's not true.). Core-M is a fully modern CPU built for today's needs. I realize it's going to take a while before some people can wrap their head around that.