For me:
Looks (without taking hardware problems into consideration): 2016+
Functionality: Pre-2016
Looks (without taking hardware problems into consideration): 2016+
Functionality: Pre-2016
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Which MacBook Pro design is your favorite?
- Thread starter retta283
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Its a tough question. If I could take the design of the 2016+ with the keyboard of the 2015 and below it would be a dream laptop. But as its stands because I HATE the butterfly keyboard with a passion I had to vote for the 2015 and below model.
The 2008-2012 was superseded in every way by the 2013-2015. I cannot imagine why someone would choose the 2008--2012 over the 2013-2015. To be honest, if it weren't for the keyboard, the 2016+ would be the same way in relation to the earlier models.
Main reasons for me are the fact they moved the MacBook Pro branding to the bottom, and IMO the latch looks really weird on everything since 2012. But in terms of hardware, the Retinas in no doubt are better besides lack of DVD drive (If that matters to you)
I see what you are saying. If it is purely aesthetics, then the 2016+ is hands down the best generation in my opinion, but obviously that is subjective. Functionality-wise is really hard to quantify since things like having a DVD drive or DVI connection are super situational. From a performance/hardware standpoint, it would be hard to argue against the 2016+ being the best since its I/O, processor, GPU, SSD, etc are all far faster than anything before. I mean the 2018 13" outperforms the 2017 15"!
Aesthetically? Current (touchbar) design. Functionally? Probably the retina (2012-15) machines, though I do really admire the unibody's (2008-12) too.
2008 - 2012 because they were true workhorses, very upgradable and were the last series to have a 17" desktop replacement, like what you'd expect from a "Pro".
The new ones are rubbish, the Air is a better laptop.
I don't get why people are saying "oh the newer ones were such an upgrade from the 2012 models" - I don't think they understand what "design" means. You could easily shove a Retina screen and all of the fast modern processors in the 2012 MBP design. That's not the point of this thread.
Having 16GB of RAM in a laptop in the 2010 model was HUGE. If the 2018 MacBook Pro was designed like the 2010 model, it would be like having a MacBook Pro running an i9 with 128GB of RAM, 4 NVMe slots, 4 USB-C/Lightning3 ports, 10GBPs ethernet, etc etc no dongles required... you get the point
Oh yeah, and MagSafe!
The new ones are rubbish, the Air is a better laptop.
I don't get why people are saying "oh the newer ones were such an upgrade from the 2012 models" - I don't think they understand what "design" means. You could easily shove a Retina screen and all of the fast modern processors in the 2012 MBP design. That's not the point of this thread.
Having 16GB of RAM in a laptop in the 2010 model was HUGE. If the 2018 MacBook Pro was designed like the 2010 model, it would be like having a MacBook Pro running an i9 with 128GB of RAM, 4 NVMe slots, 4 USB-C/Lightning3 ports, 10GBPs ethernet, etc etc no dongles required... you get the point
Oh yeah, and MagSafe!
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I would actually say that really all aluminum body MacBook Pros were works of art in their own rights, in regards to aesthetics. I personally like the newest generation looks wise.
I find it funny that it seems a lot of people commenting here are basing their choice off of functionality, not just aesthetics. I'd be curious to know what peoples favorite choices are off of aesthetics alone, even though it would seem the survey is based off aesthetic design (at least the way I read it).
And I'd even challenge some who say the 2012-2015 generation were more functional by the reality that with a single hub you can have the same functionality on the 2016-current MBPs as you do on the 2012-2015 models. And before everyone screams that they didn't need a hub on an older gen MBP, how many of you used a hub for extra USB-A ports, eh?? I'll bet a lot of you (like myself included) did, which makes it no different than buying a USB-C hub for the new gen of MBPs.
If everything had been correctly executed by Apple (i.e. there had been no keyboard, flexgate, spoakergate, and whatever other issues you want to name), I'd argue that the 2016 and later MBPs could easily have won the best design award in BOTH aesthetics and functionality.
I'm in the 2012 - 2015 camp, and purchased one when both the 2015 and 2016 were available. My choice did come down to functionality. Actually a bit broader than functionality. For me it's a combination of the following.
I don't want to use dongles or hubs.
I like having the safety of MagSafe, and for good reason, it's already saved my laptop a nasty fall one time.
I write, so the keyboard is of paramount importance to me. At the time of purchase, I greatly preferred the 2015 keyboard, and now that I know the reliability problems of the butterfly keyboard, it feels like dodging a bullet.
The built in SD slot is a big plus. I use it for Time Machine backups and other things I want to keep near-line. I also use Carbon Copy Cloner for offline backups, but having near-line TM for individual file recoveries if needed. I've found its faster and more reliable via SD than when I was doing it over my in-house network, and it's always there.
The ESC and function keys! To me the touch bar is a gimmick that I don't like.
I didn't know at the time of purchase, but seem apparent now, that the 2015 is more reliable overall. I don't know if this is accurate, but my perception from reading tends to make be believe that. Certainly for the keyboard it is.
The one thing I like better in the 2016 - current, is the larger touch pad. That would be nice.
Aethetics is also something that is debatable, as not every design was all that groundbreaking. Older MBP's spawned a trend that set the precedent of what newer laptops would look lik - First by Apple, then other manufacturers, then taken to extremes by other manufacturers, X1 Carbon, Surface Book etc - Laptops which, when compared to new MBP's, make the MBP look a little boring.
If we go back to 2003, we're looking at the laptop which started the trend of what modern MacBooks look like - The Aluminium PowerBook. the AlBook, although fat and bulky compared to what we're used to these days, was, aesthetically much more important and groundbreaking than what the new ones are. At the time it was a departure from the plastic plastic plastic box box box that laptops were made from back then. Could debate the TiBook helped too I guess, especially with the screen!
Performance wise though (for the time), the AlBook... eh.
Just another way to look at it... there are many differing facets to this debate...
If we go back to 2003, we're looking at the laptop which started the trend of what modern MacBooks look like - The Aluminium PowerBook. the AlBook, although fat and bulky compared to what we're used to these days, was, aesthetically much more important and groundbreaking than what the new ones are. At the time it was a departure from the plastic plastic plastic box box box that laptops were made from back then. Could debate the TiBook helped too I guess, especially with the screen!
Performance wise though (for the time), the AlBook... eh.
Just another way to look at it... there are many differing facets to this debate...
I would highly recommend not using an SD card as a backup device. SD cards are not designed for that kind of use and would be prone to failure.
As for reliability, the only real data I have seen shows that while the keyboard in the 2016+ is less reliable the overall machine is more reliable than previous generations.
No issues for 2 years. Everything on the SD it is backed up to HDD RAID arrays kept in multiple offsite locations, and/or in the cloud. I'm only using it for near-line storage and quick file recover. (technically, it is online storage, but I think of it as near-line as I don't use it for day to day stuff)
Yep. I got the 2015 with the dual graphics off the refurb store last year. At least you can get a 4TB upgrade for less than 1TB Apple prices, and you still have MagSafe. Still can't believe they ditched that for symmetry or whatever stupid compromise.I was just about to write what 2tallyAwesome said...
Best Mac-buying decision I've EVER made (getting the 2015 instead of the 2016).
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Yep. They sure are nice to look at if you don't want to replace almost all of it when stuff breaks.
My favourite Mac ever is my mid-2012 MacBook Pro, even though I've now passed it on to my children it still runs like a dream. More ports than you could shake a stick at and upgradable, what's not to like?
I maxed out the memory to 16GB, replaced the main drive with a 1TB SSD and swapped that drive into the space where the DVD was, placing the DVD into an external caddy.
The only downside was that version wasn't retina, but I'm not sure it ever really bothered me.
I've now replaced it with a new Mac Mini, something with similar graphics power even though it's six years newer. And it's OK, just OK. It doesn't feel to me like it has a, strange word for a computer - soul, and it doesn't go 'Bong!' when I turn it on. I really miss the startup chime.
They just don't make MacBook Pros that I want to buy any more.
I maxed out the memory to 16GB, replaced the main drive with a 1TB SSD and swapped that drive into the space where the DVD was, placing the DVD into an external caddy.
The only downside was that version wasn't retina, but I'm not sure it ever really bothered me.
I've now replaced it with a new Mac Mini, something with similar graphics power even though it's six years newer. And it's OK, just OK. It doesn't feel to me like it has a, strange word for a computer - soul, and it doesn't go 'Bong!' when I turn it on. I really miss the startup chime.
They just don't make MacBook Pros that I want to buy any more.
Looking it in an objective way, I think the current 2016-present design looks the nicest, especially the 13-inch. It has the most efficient design and I love the minimalism of the USB-C ports.
However, subjectively, I have always liked the 2006-2008 models. It wasn't unibody but you can tell it was a Mac from the iSight camera, the hard silver keycaps, and the aluminium power button.
However, subjectively, I have always liked the 2006-2008 models. It wasn't unibody but you can tell it was a Mac from the iSight camera, the hard silver keycaps, and the aluminium power button.
Several responses to this.
Design is always a balance between aesthetics and functionality. You can't evaluate one independent of the other. Apple could make a really beautiful paperweight, but it wouldn't function very well as a work station.
The hub argument is faulty, because there are TONS of issues with compatibility with USB C. Some protocols don't transfer over easily (like firewire, or thunderbolt 2), and require a separate adaptor completely. Some USB devices (like audio interfaces), don't work with USB C/TB3 hubs and require an additional USB 1.0 hub in between the two to function correctly. Getting all of my professional audio gear to work has been a major investment of both money and time to figure out the quirks of each individual device (and before someone says "stop using legacy equipment" there is a lot of very expensive quality audio equipment that were designed to last or many years, and firewire was a standard protocol until VERY recently. Why should I have to replace EVERYTHING in my signal chain because Apple pulled the trigger too soon on USB C?).
Contrast this with the 2012-2015 design where a single $5 USB hub, and a Firewire/TB2 adaptor would handle everything you needed. The cost difference between the two isn't even in the same ballpark.
Oh ALSO, good luck finding a USB C hub that charges the 15'' under load without spending $300.
Also you mention that if there hadn't been any issues, they would be the most functional...except there are issues. The keyboard is a disaster both functionally and in terms of reliability. The T2 chip issues make the environment unstable, the issues with connecting peripherals make troubleshooting issues a full time commitment, and even when you get it all working, it could fail in 18 months because of a design flaw that requires a $600 repair for a $5 cable.
FAIL, on all counts.
As far as aesthetics vs function - I would say both are part of the 'design' of a machine, indeed to a large extent two sides of the same coin. The 2015 machines looked good in a clean functional way, The 2016 machines go for a bit of augmentation with the super thin gaps between the Trackpad and edge/ keyboard, the speaker grills that go right to the edge and what have you - these things definitely make the machine look really sleek and futuristic, but aren't strictly necessary design features. I suppose you could argue the speaker grills on the 2015 15" are also largely aesthetic in purpose given the small number of holes that actually go all the way through and serve a specific purpose. IMO purely by aesthetics the retina machines look good/ pleasing, but the touchbar machines actually go further, verging on being inherently 'beautiful' with their proportions.
I somewhat disagree as far as functionality between the two generations in question - firstly you do lose at least one thing with USB C, and that is SD support built in. Whichever way you look at it, USB C will never replace the functionality of SD directly in the way it can with USB A, HDMI, TB2, Display port (even Magsafe if you get a magnetic cable). Sure there's work arounds via an SD dongle, or by plugging the camera in, but I would still say this is a striking loss for machines whose target audience will be comprised in a large part of photo and video editors. One other area of functionality you could argue (and some do vociferously) is that the touchbar takes away some keyboard shortcuts which are useful for touch typists and replaces them with a new set of controls you have to look at.
On the whole I think this generation has spent most of it's life so far being the computer of the future, not of the now. Basically the touchbar machines were at least a few years ahead of their time, whereas the retinas quickly got past the loss of optical and came into their own by the second model in 2013. I do think this latest generation should have been a transitionary machine, retaining at least one USB A port and the SD card slot. I don't however think there is any point going back now with the next design (again, apart from adding back an SD card reader) as USB C is finally at the point (just in time for the final 2019 touchbar model!) where 'all USB C' is starting to make sense.
I was handling a friends 2011 15" (similar to one I had) and man, I can't believe I hauled that thing walking every day in my early years of college. It's what the kids would call an 'absolute unit'. I know it's only an extra pound and a half over the modern one but between that and the shockingly thicker chassis it really does feel comparably unwieldy. Really hit home that the modern 15" Pro is really just a super awesome ultrabook and not a workstation (I'm okay with this but I absolutely understand now why some of you aren't).
I think we can all agree the first gen retina might have been the best compromise.
Obviously, the design looks old, but I can't think of a non-unibody laptop that still matches how well built those things were. I loved the matching color keycaps (not to mention that I still think those had the best keyboards on any laptop ever) and there were just some real smart uses of space. They still have smaller bezels than a lot of modern laptops, the front loading drive bay was cool and easy to use and left tons of room for stuff to be put on the sides
I think we can all agree the first gen retina might have been the best compromise.
Obviously, the design looks old, but I can't think of a non-unibody laptop that still matches how well built those things were. I loved the matching color keycaps (not to mention that I still think those had the best keyboards on any laptop ever) and there were just some real smart uses of space. They still have smaller bezels than a lot of modern laptops, the front loading drive bay was cool and easy to use and left tons of room for stuff to be put on the sides
I vote for my current 2012 retina 15in MBP. For the last couple of years I have been trying to convince myself to get a new one. Besides the kybd issues, flexgate,etc. the bigger issues for me is the loss of magsafe, lack of ports and the addition of the touch bar.
You are forced to look for 3rd party solutions which have dubious quality ratings and high price tags.
Why didn't Apple come out with their own reliable dock?
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I would say you are right if the USB-C hubs were reliable. Many people give these devices one star reviews for everything from running super hot to many ports quit working after a month or so. None of these devices are cheap some as expensive as $300. I think a very expensive add on to a $2000 laptop, plus I have to keep track of it.
You are forced to look for 3rd party solutions which have dubious quality ratings and high price tags.
Why didn't Apple come out with their own reliable dock?
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I would say you are right if the USB-C hubs were reliable. Many people give these devices one star reviews for everything from running super hot to many ports quit working after a month or so. None of these devices are cheap some as expensive as $300. I think a very expensive add on to a $2000 laptop, plus I have to keep track of it.
2016-Present as the 2018 is a rock solid fantastic machine!
I also love that it is fully encrypted as rest thanks to the T2 chip.
I also love that it is fully encrypted as rest thanks to the T2 chip.