Apple to Introduce New Macs at October 27 Event

[DeathStorm]

Well then you misunderstand my posts, I see the issues and I think the price especially is really pushing it. I certainly wouldn't spend my money on one of these although as a "pro" (some people are very misguided about what a pro is.. I don't photoshop or anything like that but I do need something that is rock solid, dependable, has a great battery, great screen and looks respectable) I would absolutely twist work's arm into buying one for me.

The point most people are trying to get across is a machine that compromises on existing features (battery life, ports, keyboard etc) is perhaps not doing its best to cater to a professional market. I'm in agreement with the view that the term Pro doesn't mean it's aimed at professionals but more that it just represents their high end model.

Not quite sure how even lower end models in the Apple range don't meet your "rock solid, dependable, has a great battery, great screen and looks respectable" requirements but that's neither here nor there I guess.

I'm just offering a counterpoint to the foaming at the mouth sky is falling in keyboard warriors. This will be absolutely fine, it might sting for a little while moving ports etc but that's progress... I'll accept totally that it's a ballsy and borderline arrogant move by Apple to not offer even a single USB-A but 1) don't buy it or 2) buy it along with the one dongle you might need.. it's really not the end of the world.

Of course it isn't but your argument basically means Apple can do anything no matter how idiotic and claim it's progress, I personally think it's rather cynical as by losing those ports they've hidden the cost of accessories you'll probably need (not to the same extent but in a similar fashion to the Surface keyboard).

It's a bit like the iPhone 7 thread/debate.. the whole 3.5mm thing has been a total non event.. I've got 1 dongle in the box, it was tricky for a few weeks having to think a bit more than I'd like to, then the market swung into action because the lack of ports etc has obviously created an opportunity which China has happily filled and I've bought a couple of lightning to 3.5/lightning splitters from ebay for next to nothing and in the meantime the bluetooth pricing is collapsing and innovation is flourishing (I'm in the accessories market).

I don't want to see Apple encouraged to make stupid decisions that hurt consumers, for example how do we benefit by Apple introducing lightning headphones which are a complete dead end even only in the medium term?

What happens on the next model or the one after that when they stop bundling the dongle? It's going to happen, just give it some time.

I'm not exactly keen on relying on China third party manufacturers though, the only cables I've had die on me are ones used with an iPhone which hardly inspires confidence (it seems utterly backwards to find you can't rely on a simple cable, I expect that kind of nonsense back in the 90s not now).

The same will be absolutely true here, I'm more annoyed that more mfrs aren't jumping wholeheartedly on the USB-C bandwagon. But nevermind, Apple's weight will address this.. a great example is I've been supplying USB-C cables and chargers to a national retailer for over a year now, they sell almost nothing despite all the small handset mfrs getting in on it, I'm pretty sure now Apple have pushed their laptop lineup there we'll start seeing loads of innovation in that space.

That might be true of an iPhone but Macbook Pro sales aren't quite as big of a driver of change.

 

[FishFluff]

Apple need to have the balls to change the Lightning connector on the iPhone/iPad to USB-C as the current state of things is ridiculous. I say this as someone who's used Apple kit since the first iMacs in the late 90s so I've seen them drop a lot of standards by the wayside.

 

[jonneymendoza]

I put my SP4 in the same category as my 2016 Macbook. It's OK for some stuff, but the keyboard etc. Isn't up to work-horse standards.

I'm curious about the keyboard on the new rMBP with the touchbar thing. I couldn't use the keyboard in my Macbook all day, it'd drive me potty. I tend to use that unit as a super-iPad rather than a full laptop though, I.e my meeting buddy.

My rMBP I write a lot of stuff on - it's simply not as comfortable doing it on the Surface Pro or the Macbook, so I choose not to.

The new macbook pro seems to have same keyboard that you dislike though?

 

[v0n]

I think it was v0n, I may be paraphrasing.. but I'm pretty sure he's the one going on about it being a netbook and how I'm a PRO.. I need PRO things when the definition of pro is so much broader than people who use photoshop.

No that wasn't me. My line of defence was "there was enough space in Apple product lineup to have a "pro" MacBook Pro and the cut down, two-weird-ports-and-that's-it Macbook for a web developer". In similar way as there was enough space in product lineup for a iBin Mac "Pro" for a lawyer/realter and a world crushing, number crunching full tower Mac Pro with half a terabyte of memory, two physical CPUs at 22 cores each for a scientist. Giving to new customers, doesn't have to alienate the old customer base. In my scenario Apple had a cake and ate it all, every "Pro" in Pro lineup from a youtuber in Starbucks to broadcast engineer in a toilet was happy and there was a unicorn rainbow across every Apple store.

"I'm a PRO I need PRO things"... phew.. up your "oozb-see" man, up your "oozb-see"

 

[matt100]

The point most people are trying to get across is a machine that compromises on existing features (battery life, ports, keyboard etc) is perhaps not doing its best to cater to a professional market. I'm in agreement with the view that the term Pro doesn't mean it's aimed at professionals but more that it just represents their high end model.

Not quite sure how even lower end models in the Apple range don't meet your "rock solid, dependable, has a great battery, great screen and looks respectable" requirements but that's neither here nor there I guess.

Fair point, I guess the word "pro" ends up as a prompt if you're going to use it for work, rationally you're bang on.

Of course it isn't but your argument basically means Apple can do anything no matter how idiotic and claim it's progress, I personally think it's rather cynical as by losing those ports they've hidden the cost of accessories you'll probably need (not to the same extent but in a similar fashion to the Surface keyboard).

They can and do!

And it's true on the accessories too, although to be fair Apple always has shown almost contempt for old accessories. You can call it arrogance because it is but I guess they'd explain it as being a single minded vision. I suspect it's a bit of both.

I don't want to see Apple encouraged to make stupid decisions that hurt consumers, for example how do we benefit by Apple introducing lightning headphones which are a complete dead end even only in the medium term?

What happens on the next model or the one after that when they stop bundling the dongle? It's going to happen, just give it some time.

I'm not exactly keen on relying on China third party manufacturers though, the only cables I've had die on me are ones used with an iPhone which hardly inspires confidence (it seems utterly backwards to find you can't rely on a simple cable, I expect that kind of nonsense back in the 90s not now).

It's obvious the lightning headphones are just to replace the earpods. They didn't want to go with wireless headphones in the box as they'd screw over loads of partners, undermine a whole secondary industry including one of their own major profit drivers in Beats not to mention sacrificing margin on the iPhone.

Nobody else is following them, the market has just gone for bluetooth. All the new development I've seen has been in wireless, I've not come across a manufacturer trying to sell me lightning headphones.

That might be true of an iPhone but Macbook Pro sales aren't quite as big of a driver of change.

Fair point but as I learned on a Verge podcast if you separate out the macbook business it would still be a $22bn enterprise ranked well up the fortune 500 so it's not nothing and just like with the iphone, the money follows the Apple product.. Which is a total fact I've observed on iPhone accessory sales since the 3G launched... it's crazy how many more higher priced accessories are purchased for iPhones than any other brand.

 

[matt100]

No that wasn't me. My line of defence was "there was enough space in Apple product lineup to have a "pro" MacBook Pro and the cut down, two-weird-ports-and-that's-it Macbook for a web developer". In similar way as there was enough space in product lineup for a iBin Mac "Pro" for a lawyer/realter and a world crushing, number crunching full tower Mac Pro with half a terabyte of memory, two physical CPUs at 22 cores each for a scientist. Giving to new customers, doesn't have to alienate the old customer base. In my scenario Apple had a cake and ate it all, every "Pro" in Pro lineup from a youtuber in Starbucks to broadcast engineer in a toilet was happy and there was a unicorn rainbow across every Apple store.

"I'm a PRO I need PRO things"... phew.. up your "oozb-see" man, up your "oozb-see"

lol... I'm old and I drink too much, I've clearly dreamed something up

And I would wholeheartedly endorse your product vision.. They do have an incredibly slowly evolving and restricted product lineup. I think they've got the iPhone/iPad pretty spot on, if anything a bit too wide.. but in actual computers they really could offer more choice, I especially don't see why they think they're above an exquisitely designed, aluminium NORMAL BLOODY TOWER.

That in itself probably points to what type of professional they want.. but then it's not a democracy lol.

 

[crinkleshoes]

I think the SP4 keyboard is naff, I hate using it beyond a few minutes.

I agree... GF seems to think it's fine so it may be something you just get used to.

I will say the trackpad seems to be a bit temperamental, sometimes it'll do something with a tap, others it needs an actual click.. might just be windows too to be fair. I don't think it's especially controversial to say OSX deals with trackpads better than windows and when you factor in the generally superior trackpad hardware you do get a really strong experience there.

Although again for balance.. the new one looks ridiculously big, I dont see why you need it to be that large, the one on my 2014 pro is more than big enough IMHO.

Who knows... it might be genius.

But again suggesting they've somehow sacrificed ports for a trackpad is bizarre.. I don't recall ever seeing Apple claiming they made a HUGE trackpad by getting rid of pesky SD card slots. the 2 things just aren't related at all.

I put my SP4 in the same category as my 2016 Macbook. It's OK for some stuff, but the keyboard etc. Isn't up to work-horse standards.

I'm curious about the keyboard on the new rMBP with the touchbar thing. I couldn't use the keyboard in my Macbook all day, it'd drive me potty. I tend to use that unit as a super-iPad rather than a full laptop though, I.e my meeting buddy.

My rMBP I write a lot of stuff on - it's simply not as comfortable doing it on the Surface Pro or the Macbook, so I choose not to.

Like someone else said... it's relative.

It's not the best around... but it's certainly not the worst.

For the type of semi-flimsy flip cover... it's the best of that style, for sure.

Compared to the likes of HP keyboards and the low-end Dells... it's noticeably superior.

But when you're comparing it to 2010-2015 rMBP, MBA, Dell XPS, Razer (a guess as I haven't used razer), MSI, Acer and it's bigger brother the SB - then it falls short.

 

[MacRS4]

The new macbook pro seems to have same keyboard that you dislike though?

It isn't - apparently it's a vastly improved version. Haven't tried it yet, but that would be absolutely critical to me buying one of these.

 

[Destination]

We recognize that many users, especially pros, rely on legacy connectors to get work done today and they face a transition,” the company said in a statement, without acknowledging that Apple’s newest iPhone, released just last month, is one such “legacy” device - without a dongle (or a different cable, sold separately), you can’t connect Apple’s new smartphone to Apple’s new laptop.
“We want to help them move to the latest technology and peripherals, as well as accelerate the growth of this new ecosystem."

They are discounting some of their cables and converters, of which they noe have nineteen in the range, 19 differents leads to make up for the ports they no longer provide, thats an utter junction mess.

 

[kitkat9933]

They are discounting some of their cables and converters, of which they noe have nineteen in the range, 19 differents leads to make up for the ports they no longer provide, thats an utter junction mess.

They also have discounted the 4K and 5k monitor with thunderbolt hubs and pass through charging (only one cable to MacBook) by 25% which makes them very attractive now. Too bad the monitors are ugly and I'd have preferred a WQHD

 

[Marky]

Just saw this comment on Reddit regarding the amount of dongles Apple are introducing, and it just made me laugh out loud

We can solve the energy crisis tapping into the unlimited power of Steve Jobs spinning in his grave.

 

[v0n]

They also have discounted the 4K and 5k monitor with thunderbolt hubs and pass through charging

Oddly enough - monitors only have USB-C to USB-C (one in, three out) hub - no backward compatibility, can't use them with anything else than MB/MBP and against better judgement, unlike its £500 predecessor (27UD88) it doesn't offer any regular USB or thunderbolt port on hub...

 

[kitkat9933]

Oddly enough - monitors only have USB-C to USB-C (one in, three out) hub - no backward compatibility, can't use them with anything else than MB/MBP and against better judgement, unlike its £500 predecessor (27UD88) it doesn't offer any regular USB or thunderbolt port on hub...

You can use it with any TB3 enabled device. You can't use either with the standard MacBook pro as USBC (without TB3) can't drive 4k at 60hz without a DP convertor which as this is USBC->USBC(with embedded TB3) isn't thecae.

 

[englishpremier]

Haven't they stopped selling their monitors altogether? I can only see the LG monitor on the UK store.

 

[dlite]

It isn't - apparently it's a vastly improved version. Haven't tried it yet, but that would be absolutely critical to me buying one of these.

Having just visited apple store just to have a look at the new 13" machine, I would not use word 'vastly' in this situation.

Comparing new MBP13 and MB 12", it is indeed better / firmer, but the difference is not huge. But it is a meaningful difference nonetheless.

Wife was also positive about the MBP13 keyboard and obviously likes the reduction in size / weight, so it seems that we have an upgrade path available without too much pain in our family...

Now I just need to figure out what is going to be the best moment to upgrade our current late 2014 8GB/128GB rMBP13". It is still very nice machine and has the standard USB port + SD card reader, both of which I feel are positives at this point in time.

Too bad magsafe is gone...

 

[MacRS4]

Well that sucks.

 

[UberTiger]

Just saw this comment on Reddit regarding the amount of dongles Apple are introducing, and it just made me laugh out loud

hahaha

Just found this gold on YouTube

 

[Irish_Tom]

That is amzing.

 

[McBain]

Hahahaha

Had to turn off after a minute or so, his laugh is like nails on a chalkboard!

 

[fez]

They are discounting some of their cables and converters, of which they noe have nineteen in the range, 19 differents leads to make up for the ports they no longer provide, thats an utter junction mess.

Is that 19 different leads or is there overlap. That is also potentially 19 types of ports from the past 10 years that 90% of people won't need.

Most people will need perhaps HDMI and USB-A. Replacing leads isn't a massive deal either. Buy a new lead to replace the one on your external HD and its exactly the same as before. You aren't carrying a converter you have just replaced the cable. You don't have to get them from Apple either. You can pick up lightning cables for £5 for good quality ones elsewhere etc.

I had almost all the ports on my macbook pro 13" used when I was at home. I can replace that with either a single dock or a few mulitport solutions. Its really not the end of the world.