I went ahead and bought the new 2016 15” MBP with touchbar. Here are my observations:
While I use it for business, as Lee stated, my demands on it are varied. For example, I’m also a musician and use Apple’s Logic recording software, which is very complex and can be demanding on CPU cycles. - The MBP is a very nicely constructed unit with only two minor issues for me: there are some small and occasional “pinging” sounds as it warms up, as if the metal is expanding.It’s a little disconcerting, and not up to Apple standards, but it is not harmful in any way. The second is in how the edges are cut around the air intake ports along 3 sides on the bottom. They are not bevelled, so the unit feels sharp on fleshy skin as you pick it up quickly or especially when putting it into a carry bag. Not huge issues, but I think the designers missed these details. Compared to previous models, these are certainly oversights - It is very thin and light. When I pick up a 2010 model in comparison, it is remarkable how far the technology has come in terms of weight, power and design. Even the 2013 version seems bulky now... It is a pleasure to carry around and use, and it draws me to using it, increasing my productivity!! - I don’t mind carrying the small dongle I bought to plug into USB-A and Displayport. I always had to carry dongles for various projector hookups anyway. If I were afraid I might leave it behind, I would put a reminder in the reminder app to ping me to take it, or a geo-fence reminder to ping my Applewatch or iphone to remind me as I leave the location. - Griffin makes a magnetic breakaway dongle to approximate the MagSafe power cable function. I’ll probably buy one soon, although I have had no plug disasters yet. I will note it IS nice to be able to charge on either side as 2 ports are available on the right and left side. - I bought one of the 27” LG monitors. It is so nice to have all of your peripherals plugged into the monitor and be able to attach everything and receive power via one cable when “docking” with the monitor! The display quality is unbelievable. I can’t even look at an older display any longer. I’m spoiled! - The Touchbar has been growing on me. At first it seemed more novelty. As Apps begin taking advantage of it, I can see how it will be useful. For a simple example, the built in Apple Calculator App has functions displayed clearly on the bar. This makes it much easier than having to hit Shift = to get to “plus", for example… Complex apps like Logic REALLY benefit in speeding up functions, and Photos has some really cool shortcuts that make using the app and Touchbar a pleasure. - The BIG Touchbar feature that I can no longer live without is the fingerprint sensor. Logging in without my long, complex PW is now easy. Furthermore, I’m a big fan of 1Password. I use a 5 word complex pass phrase for that app, and opening it by accurately typing that long PW was a pain. Now, 1PW opens with a 1 second touch of the fingerprint reader! Nice! - The battery life is a mixed bag. When I’m doing web/email/word processing/spreadsheets/etc as Lee mentioned, battery life is about what it has been on all of my previous MBPs (I’ve been using them all the way back to the Mission Impossible version - what was that a Powerbook 1500?????) However, something very graphics or CPU intensive means the battery might only last a couple of hours. Basically, if the fan is running constantly, it needs to be plugged in, but otherwise, the battery is very acceptable. - I was worried about running out of SSD space on my last MBP 500GB, so I upgraded to the 1TB. Now I wish I hadn’t spent the extra $$$. Why? I use Apple Photos cloud, and iTunes Match. For $50 per year, I can store my photos (I keep good originals backed up separately offsite) and music in the cloud, Sierra has new space optimization features and is smart enough to download just what I need to keep the SSD space freed up. So I still have 660GB free after upgrading to my new MBP. I’ve been watching how much space I use, and it never really gets over 400GB, so I have TOO much room to spare at this point! - I use iStat Menus and keep an eye on my CPU, RAM and SSD space usage (see attached). Even with LOTS of Apps open, I never really run out of Ram, and the CPU cycles rarely get above halfway. The two big cycle hogs are my virus software and Retrospect (backup) both of which I need for compliance reasons. So even though the 16GB of Ram, and the SSD are not upgradeable, I never seem to come close to running out and can’t imagine it being a problem until I’m ready to upgrade again in several years (I usually upgrade between 3-4 year time periods, but I’ve gone longer in the past). - I didn’t like the new keyboard for about 3-4 days, then I got used to it and going back to the older keyboard feels squishy to me. I type about 70 wpm, so keyboarding is important... - I was worried about the new larger trackpad causing a lot of accidental input, but that hasn’t happened. Frankly I don’t know why we need a trackpad this large, it doesn’t seem like a pro either, so I just think of it as a neutral. - I do miss the pulsating white light to tell me it is asleep when the lid is closed, but I think that disappeared a version or two back. - There is no startup chime, and when you lift the lid it starts up. After all these years, that was a big adjustment... I guess I’d say the tradeoffs are acceptable. I think Apple’s done a pretty good job with this machine, and I can’t imagine leaving the Apple ecosystem for something else. I always get AppleCare and support is always helpful and immediate if something comes up. Hope this helps… That fingerprint sensor is the best!!!! Andy > On Mar 16, 2017, at 12:00 PM, [email protected] > wrote: > > Send MacGroup mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.math.louisville.edu/mailman/listinfo/macgroup > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of MacGroup digest..." > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Replacement or a MacBook Pro (Jonathan Fletcher) > > > > From: Jonathan Fletcher <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [MacGroup] Replacement or a MacBook Pro > Date: March 15, 2017 at 7:13:39 PM EDT > To: MacGroup <[email protected]> > Reply-To: Topics related to Apple and Macintosh computers > <[email protected]> > > >> On Mar 15, 2017, at 12:52 PM, Lee Larson <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> On Mar 14, 2017, at 10:59 PM, Harry Jacobson-Beyer <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Why wouldn’t you buy a Mac laptop? >> >> >> I also think there’s too much boutique and not enough toolbox in the new >> machines. > > > But dey so PRETTY! > > > > -- > Jonathan Fletcher > [email protected] > > Kentuckiana FileMaker Developers Group > Next Meeting: 3/28/16 > > Sent from a device not known for spontaneous combustion > > > > > > > > MacGroup mailing list > Posting address: [email protected] > Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Answers to questions: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup/>
_______________________________________________ MacGroup mailing list Posting address: [email protected] Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> Answers to questions: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup/>
