Benjamin Button Reviews the New MacBook Pro(blog.pinboard.in)
blog.pinboard.in
Benjamin Button Reviews the New MacBook Pro
https://blog.pinboard.in/2016/10/benjamin_button_reviews_the_new_macbook_pro/
116 comments
Apple have locked developers in to the Apple ecosystem if they want to write apps for Apple devices. You can't build an app for iOS or OSX on a Windows or a Linux machine. If there's a large exodus of developers away from Apple devices then there'll be a resulting drop in the number of apps available in their app stores. That would ultimately damage Apple's appeal to other users.
You're absolutely right that Macbooks aren't specifically for developers, but releasing a laptop that developers generally don't feel is appealing to them could be really damaging to Apple's ecosystem.
You're absolutely right that Macbooks aren't specifically for developers, but releasing a laptop that developers generally don't feel is appealing to them could be really damaging to Apple's ecosystem.
> You can't build an app for iOS or OSX on a Windows or a Linux machine
Well actually you can, when using something like Xamarin which has worked pretty well for our company. Sure, somewhere you need a Mac build machine, but that can be an older generation mac mini or similar. The development can be done on Windows using Visual Studio and C# which overall is a pretty great experience with the added benefit of sharing a large percentage of the codebase with the native android version of your app.
Well actually you can, when using something like Xamarin which has worked pretty well for our company. Sure, somewhere you need a Mac build machine, but that can be an older generation mac mini or similar. The development can be done on Windows using Visual Studio and C# which overall is a pretty great experience with the added benefit of sharing a large percentage of the codebase with the native android version of your app.
Wouldn't it be ironic of most of the Apple developers ended up developing iOS apps in Windows on PC Computers :) Meanwhile in the Windows Store...
I don't remember being able to write for the Commodore while on my Timex, nor for the Amiga while on the PC, or for UNIX while on the PC....
Even UNIX developers are locked to their OSes APIs, unless they constrain themselves to command line POSIX tools.
Even UNIX developers are locked to their OSes APIs, unless they constrain themselves to command line POSIX tools.
"Apple have locked developers in to the Apple ecosystem if they want to write apps for Apple devices."
IF.
IF.
> You can't build an app for iOS or OSX on a Windows or a Linux machine. If there's a large exodus of developers away from Apple devices then there'll be a resulting drop in the number of apps available in their app stores.
I wonder. I've been running OSX in a KVM guest and it's been surprisingly trouble free and smooth via ARD (remote desktop).
I wonder. I've been running OSX in a KVM guest and it's been surprisingly trouble free and smooth via ARD (remote desktop).
It's been about two years since I asked the question, but Apple refused to license the use of OSX under a VM when the enterprise I worked for needed to setup a number of systems for offshore developers to work with.
This is still the case as far as I know. This is not a viable option for a business entity. Probably not even for an individual depending on what you do with it and how ok you are with breaking the EULA.
What's the host machine? I was under the impression that OSX would only run on apple hardware in a vm – is that no longer the case?
The host is a white box Haswell system so this is not Apple hardware. Sierra _can_ be virtualized on non-Apple PC but you'll need to use a bootloader that supports it and build a customized .iso[1] from the install medium downloaded from AppStore. I believe the same goes for Yosemite and El Capitan.
So no, it is no longer the case. It is still prohibited by the EULA though.
[1] https://github.com/kholia/OSX-KVM/blob/master/create_install...
So no, it is no longer the case. It is still prohibited by the EULA though.
[1] https://github.com/kholia/OSX-KVM/blob/master/create_install...
My dreams are simple. I want to be able to put movies and TV shows on a thumb drive, and put that in a TV and play it.
I want to not have to buy a new computer because I tripped over a power cable.
I want to be able to type for more than a few minutes without my hands hurting.
I believe I share these dreams with a lot of people who aren't developers.
I want to not have to buy a new computer because I tripped over a power cable.
I want to be able to type for more than a few minutes without my hands hurting.
I believe I share these dreams with a lot of people who aren't developers.
It sounds like a very cheap laptop would work great for those requirements. Perhaps a used older generation MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
Yeah, and depending on how the keyboard feels on this new beast, I might just stick with the old MBP.
But the thing is, it would be really cool to enjoy the technical improvements without giving up the basics. I played with a MacBook a few weeks ago, and the picture and built-in speakers were sensational. It was an amazing piece of engineering. And I had to return it because in their obsession with thinness, Apple had made it impossible for my gorilla hands to type on.
It would be nice to get a work laptop that had those strict improvements in it too, without having to sacrifice so much usability. That used to be the MBP upgrade experience. Once in a while you had to mourn something useful—the loss of an ethernet jack, for example. But mostly you got a lighter, faster machine with a better screen and battery life.
This upgrade is far more drastic and the first time the trade-off doesn't seem worthwhile. It's like design puritans took over the company.
But the thing is, it would be really cool to enjoy the technical improvements without giving up the basics. I played with a MacBook a few weeks ago, and the picture and built-in speakers were sensational. It was an amazing piece of engineering. And I had to return it because in their obsession with thinness, Apple had made it impossible for my gorilla hands to type on.
It would be nice to get a work laptop that had those strict improvements in it too, without having to sacrifice so much usability. That used to be the MBP upgrade experience. Once in a while you had to mourn something useful—the loss of an ethernet jack, for example. But mostly you got a lighter, faster machine with a better screen and battery life.
This upgrade is far more drastic and the first time the trade-off doesn't seem worthwhile. It's like design puritans took over the company.
You should check out the dell percision series.
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-m5510-workstatio...
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-m5510-workstatio...
> Some people seem to think that the MacBook is only for developers and Apple is obliged to listen to only their feedback
Sure, and developers should stop buying a brand that don't care about them too. That way everybody is happy. Apple can sell luxury goods and developers can shop elsewhere. Nothing of value will be lost.
Sure, and developers should stop buying a brand that don't care about them too. That way everybody is happy. Apple can sell luxury goods and developers can shop elsewhere. Nothing of value will be lost.
> Nothing of value will be lost.
Except for loss in revenue for Apple. Most tech companies right now prefer to buy Macs for devs because of the costs[1] and devs like it because of the versatility. If devs wont prefer Macs, it seems unlikely that the companies will also keep buying them in bulk
[1] - http://www.businessinsider.in/Macs-cost-one-third-as-much-as...
Except for loss in revenue for Apple. Most tech companies right now prefer to buy Macs for devs because of the costs[1] and devs like it because of the versatility. If devs wont prefer Macs, it seems unlikely that the companies will also keep buying them in bulk
[1] - http://www.businessinsider.in/Macs-cost-one-third-as-much-as...
To me, the touch bar is the lesser of the two sins that Apple committed with these pro models.
So many of your 'typical' mac users need a proper keyboard. People writing long articles or novels, developers, obviously, even people working on writing reports or theses they all need a good keyboard. Typing is fundamental, and key travel makes a huge difference in the feel of it. Every review I've read of the single-port macbook suggests that while you can get sort of used to it, it's never as good as the older macbooks.
So many of your 'typical' mac users need a proper keyboard. People writing long articles or novels, developers, obviously, even people working on writing reports or theses they all need a good keyboard. Typing is fundamental, and key travel makes a huge difference in the feel of it. Every review I've read of the single-port macbook suggests that while you can get sort of used to it, it's never as good as the older macbooks.
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The key travel in the new MBP is larger than in the singleport MB, as per presentation.
By how much though? Knowing Apple, it might be larger by only 0.1mm. That wouldn't afford any noticeable benefit though.
People writing long articles or novels don't run a MBP, they used the Air or now the normal MacBook, you don't need a Pro machine for that.
I'm a writer. I write around about 2000 words a day, and I'll be getting the new MacBook Pro for a few reasons:
- The screen is better than the Air. That matters when you're staring at it for 8 hours a day.
- However over-priced the MacBook Pro is, that goes double for the small MacBook. It's just too expensive for what you get.
- I want to be able to run photoshop and have it deal with the RAW files from my Sony A6000, My current machine — a 2012 MBA — can't manage it without becoming a noisy radiator.
- If I'm paying top dollar for a laptop, I want it to last for at least four years, and I don't see the small MacBook satisfying me for that length of time with its current resource limitations.
- The extra screen real estate might not seem like much, but when I want my work and a browser next to each other, it makes a difference.
Unusually for writers, I use Vim, and the lack of a hardware Escape is a small concern, but I've remapped it anyway, so I don't think it will pose much of a problem.
The keyboard also worries me, but I've played with the smaller MacBook and It's OK, not awesome but I can deal with it.
Edit: Of course, I could just buy a Windows laptop, but I haven't used Windows regularly for about fifteen years. I used Linux for about a decade, and then OS X. I won't move to Windows, and I'm too busy for the sort of fiddling Linux generally requires. Plus, I'm not a of fan of any current Linux UI — none have the polish of MacOS. So, in addition to everything else, MacOS is a big factor in my sticking with Apple.
- The screen is better than the Air. That matters when you're staring at it for 8 hours a day.
- However over-priced the MacBook Pro is, that goes double for the small MacBook. It's just too expensive for what you get.
- I want to be able to run photoshop and have it deal with the RAW files from my Sony A6000, My current machine — a 2012 MBA — can't manage it without becoming a noisy radiator.
- If I'm paying top dollar for a laptop, I want it to last for at least four years, and I don't see the small MacBook satisfying me for that length of time with its current resource limitations.
- The extra screen real estate might not seem like much, but when I want my work and a browser next to each other, it makes a difference.
Unusually for writers, I use Vim, and the lack of a hardware Escape is a small concern, but I've remapped it anyway, so I don't think it will pose much of a problem.
The keyboard also worries me, but I've played with the smaller MacBook and It's OK, not awesome but I can deal with it.
Edit: Of course, I could just buy a Windows laptop, but I haven't used Windows regularly for about fifteen years. I used Linux for about a decade, and then OS X. I won't move to Windows, and I'm too busy for the sort of fiddling Linux generally requires. Plus, I'm not a of fan of any current Linux UI — none have the polish of MacOS. So, in addition to everything else, MacOS is a big factor in my sticking with Apple.
As a side note, if you really dislike the current Linux UIs, you may like Elementary OS (https://elementary.io/). It's UI took a lot of design cues from Mac OS and Chrome OS.
People who work on pro machines do a lot of writing. I'm ready to bet that everyone in this thread does a lot of writing.
Note that the keyboard on the MacBook is even worse than the one on the new MBP.
Note that the keyboard on the MacBook is even worse than the one on the new MBP.
I'm not disputing that, I just stated that writers/novelists don't use a MBP, I'm not defending Apple on this, just stating a fact.
And it's a sad state of affairs in HN when I get downvoted for that, felt like I'm on Reddit now.
And it's a sad state of affairs in HN when I get downvoted for that, felt like I'm on Reddit now.
I am a writer, and I am having this argument with you in writing on a MacBook Pro.
But do you need the hardware of the MBP for that or was it a personal choice?
If we are free to use anecdotes I will base my evaluation on two friends who are copywriters and another one who's a tech writer. All of them using an Air or a normal MacBook for the work they do.
I'm curious on what your usage is as a writer for paying a premium on the Pro, care to elaborate?
P.S.: English is not my native language and I'm really trying to not sound condescending, I'm genuinely curious.
If we are free to use anecdotes I will base my evaluation on two friends who are copywriters and another one who's a tech writer. All of them using an Air or a normal MacBook for the work they do.
I'm curious on what your usage is as a writer for paying a premium on the Pro, care to elaborate?
P.S.: English is not my native language and I'm really trying to not sound condescending, I'm genuinely curious.
I happen to be a developer as well, so I want a machine I can travel with that's powerful enough to get everything done when I'm remote, and can drive a big external monitor when I'm home.
But for people who are writers and nothing else, I think the retina display was a big draw when the machine first came out.
The point I was trying to make above is that people who code, or use a pro laptop for editing or whatnot, still have to do a lot of writing as part of their job. So the keyboard on these machines matters a lot. And pro-users tend to be on their laptops all the time, which makes the ergonomic issues more important.
But for people who are writers and nothing else, I think the retina display was a big draw when the machine first came out.
The point I was trying to make above is that people who code, or use a pro laptop for editing or whatnot, still have to do a lot of writing as part of their job. So the keyboard on these machines matters a lot. And pro-users tend to be on their laptops all the time, which makes the ergonomic issues more important.
So this was quite misleading, as a developer myself I completely understand why you'd want a MBP but I was explicitly referring to writing-only work...
> or now the normal MacBook
Which also has the same Butterfly keyboard, or rather the previous version of it; and according to Apple, a less "better" version of it.
Which also has the same Butterfly keyboard, or rather the previous version of it; and according to Apple, a less "better" version of it.
At the same time, developers are often power users that are willing to shed a good amount of money for a decent laptop, and will recommend Macs to friends and famility. It was around 2009-2012 that about 50% of laptops at most developer conferences were Macbook/Macbook pros; I've seen the (perceived) percentage declining since.
Do you really think the "average user" would spend $1500-2500 for a laptop? The Macbook Pro is for Pro users. Let them work as pros.
Do you really think the "average user" would spend $1500-2500 for a laptop? The Macbook Pro is for Pro users. Let them work as pros.
> Some people seem to think that the MacBook is only for developers and Apple is obliged to listen to only their feedback. News flash: world doesn't revolve around hacker news.
News flash. Developers are the ones that make a platform worth investing into. Where there's a thriving community of devs, there are interesting useful apps, new ideas, investments and research.
News flash. Developers are the ones that make a platform worth investing into. Where there's a thriving community of devs, there are interesting useful apps, new ideas, investments and research.
I am a developer and really liked the new MBP.
Not all of us developers are complaining.
> Some people seem to think that the MacBook is only for developers and Apple is obliged to listen to only their feedback. News flash: world doesn't revolve around hacker news.
The problem is not that Apple makes hardware for non-developers (for which it may actually be a great fit and value).
The problem is that Apple stopped making hardware for developers. A group of users which were quite happy with the previous offerings of Apple. There even was a time when the MacBooks were the best value a developer could get for reasonable money. Quite a few key users will make the switch to Windows&Linux based Laptops because Apple does not deliver anymore (not even at a high price point).
The problem is not that Apple makes hardware for non-developers (for which it may actually be a great fit and value).
The problem is that Apple stopped making hardware for developers. A group of users which were quite happy with the previous offerings of Apple. There even was a time when the MacBooks were the best value a developer could get for reasonable money. Quite a few key users will make the switch to Windows&Linux based Laptops because Apple does not deliver anymore (not even at a high price point).
But world does revolve around developers. We are reason why companies like Apple are successful.
And if even cheap Chromebook provides better experience, than it is time to move on. MacBook Pro today actually has some competition, Dell XPS is very nice machine.
And if even cheap Chromebook provides better experience, than it is time to move on. MacBook Pro today actually has some competition, Dell XPS is very nice machine.
In fact, the only thing I don't like about this utterly brilliant piece is that it revolves only around developers. It would have been a much stronger statement if only :%s/developers/professionals.
You're right—point taken!
How would you define 'professionals' in this context? Professonal what?
It seems the definition is "anyone for whom this product is unsuitable", as in "well this laptop may be OK for [x] but for a real professional like me it is a joke".
It seems the definition is "anyone for whom this product is unsuitable", as in "well this laptop may be OK for [x] but for a real professional like me it is a joke".
Well, the categories which the MBP is supposedly targeted to: graphic/web designers, photographers, musicians, artists, filmmakers and makers of any kind. Of course that includes developers.
Seems to me that the new features appeal more to the casual user who uses its laptop for leisure (your [x]) than the professional.
Seems to me that the new features appeal more to the casual user who uses its laptop for leisure (your [x]) than the professional.
Musicians need ports, and already have gear to lug around; they don't need more dongles. A single standard usb 3 port would have gone a long way.
It is also a massive pain when someone wants to give you something on a usb stick. Same goes for people in publishing and other content creation industries. People who want to plug an external monitor in to give a ppt without needing a special dongle.
It is also a massive pain when someone wants to give you something on a usb stick. Same goes for people in publishing and other content creation industries. People who want to plug an external monitor in to give a ppt without needing a special dongle.
This is your definition of "professionals"? People who use USB sticks, and external monitors for ppt?
That is a perfectly sensible definition of actual professional use.
Not two days ago I presented at a conference where I had to plug an HDMI cable into my laptop, and in the middle of setting that up, I transferred over a backup copy of my presentation to the house laptop on a USB stick.
Now maybe I am not a professional in your eyes. But I was wearing a suit!
Not two days ago I presented at a conference where I had to plug an HDMI cable into my laptop, and in the middle of setting that up, I transferred over a backup copy of my presentation to the house laptop on a USB stick.
Now maybe I am not a professional in your eyes. But I was wearing a suit!
I already carry a dongle to convert Thunderbolt to VGA, because you can't count on conference room projectors having a connector made in the last decade... Now I just need to carry one more for HDMI.
I'm fairly certain that a USB-c to standard USB port will also be a dongle that every Macbook Pro owner will need to carry. Apple should bundle 2 with every Macbook Pro, but the whiners would still complain...
I'm fairly certain that a USB-c to standard USB port will also be a dongle that every Macbook Pro owner will need to carry. Apple should bundle 2 with every Macbook Pro, but the whiners would still complain...
You are very much a professional in my eyes. In which case I don't see a problem wit the new MacBook. It has four ports each of which supports USB and DisplayPort.
Yes, you need either a new cable, a new flash drive, or an adapter. But don't pretend that makes this laptop totally unsuitable for your use.
Yes, you need either a new cable, a new flash drive, or an adapter. But don't pretend that makes this laptop totally unsuitable for your use.
I never said that was my definition of "professionals". That is you being snarky.
The common themes to wanting a Macbook Pro is that you want more grunt and more I/O, and you have the money to pay for it. A common need among this group is exchanging large data sets, and not being willing to use iCloud/Dropbox/Google Drive to do it for a variety of reasons, like speed, convenience, confidentiality. These are also people who often want to do this in a variety of locations.
The common themes to wanting a Macbook Pro is that you want more grunt and more I/O, and you have the money to pay for it. A common need among this group is exchanging large data sets, and not being willing to use iCloud/Dropbox/Google Drive to do it for a variety of reasons, like speed, convenience, confidentiality. These are also people who often want to do this in a variety of locations.
You were replying to my comment asking for a definition.
[deleted]
iOS thrived on Apps, Apps built by talented developers for whom the Mac is the platform of choice. A lot of MacOs' appeal comes from great 3rd party apps as well, the first party stuff on iOS and MacOs is mostly a commodity.
In the long run I believe Apple should absolutely listen to the developers/professionals that create amazing content for/on their platform which goes a long way to make the platform desirable for consumers.
You don't need any of the things people are complaining about for developing iOS apps.
>But we all know you won't. You'll buy this MacBook sooner or later
Try me.
Try me.
[deleted]
[deleted]
USB C is the best thing that's come out of the USB Implementers' Forum in a long time. I can't wait till all of my equipment does everything - power delivery, video display, arbitrary high speed data exchange- through identical ports.
I'll be traveling for 6 weeks soon, and if my camera and kindle used USB C, I'd be very happy.
I'll be traveling for 6 weeks soon, and if my camera and kindle used USB C, I'd be very happy.
I'd be happy if they'd kept the Magsafe and two USB3 ports and the SD-Card reader. Add 2-4 USB-C ports on top of that and I'd be happy.
Using a USB-C adapter for Video output seems acceptable to me since VGA ain't coming back and there are quite a range of replacement connectors which are all semi-incompatible to each other. An adapter for wired Ethernet is also acceptable since you're connecting to other wires anyways. Not optimal but acceptable.
Not acceptable, though, is having to carry an adapter to connect a common USB-Stick or SD-Card. These things won't go away in the next 4 years.
Using a USB-C adapter for Video output seems acceptable to me since VGA ain't coming back and there are quite a range of replacement connectors which are all semi-incompatible to each other. An adapter for wired Ethernet is also acceptable since you're connecting to other wires anyways. Not optimal but acceptable.
Not acceptable, though, is having to carry an adapter to connect a common USB-Stick or SD-Card. These things won't go away in the next 4 years.
I think the idea is that charging itself could have been kept magsafe. The aesthetic elegance of a universal port is trumped by the guarantee that my machine is safe. I trip over power cords far more than I'd proud to admit, and I'm sure most people are the same way too.
And yet, I also cannot wait until everything is USB-C. It makes me hope that after that we can also tackle wall plugs and make them universal!
And yet, I also cannot wait until everything is USB-C. It makes me hope that after that we can also tackle wall plugs and make them universal!
They could have integrated that in their USB C charging cable but for some reason they didn't.
https://griffintechnology.com/us/breaksafe-magnetic-usb-c-po...
https://griffintechnology.com/us/breaksafe-magnetic-usb-c-po...
That thing looks ugly as sin... Apple should have integrated it with their charger; you're right.
But what's a good alternative? I really don't like the new MBP but it looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and buy it anyway because it's time for an upgrade.
I wish there was a slim Linux compatible laptop out there with decent battery life, display and trackpad.
I wish there was a slim Linux compatible laptop out there with decent battery life, display and trackpad.
You might consider a Razer Blade Pro. It comes close in specs, build quality and price.[0]
[0] http://www.razerzone.com/eu-en/gaming-systems/razer-blade-pr...
[0] http://www.razerzone.com/eu-en/gaming-systems/razer-blade-pr...
It also weighs 3.4kg :( wouldn't want to carry that around!
Well the 17.3" model comes at 3,4kg. But there is also a 14.0" inch model with very powerful specs and a 4k screen which weights less than 2kgs
http://www.razerzone.com/eu-en/gaming-systems/razer-blade-20...
http://www.razerzone.com/eu-en/gaming-systems/razer-blade-20...
Nor I, but that mechanical keyboard is damn tempting...
Just chiming in to suggest the Asus UX305F laptop or similar. Mine is very portable (important to me in a laptop), works great with my linux install (everything out of the box goes great except brightness keys which require re-assigning to work), is passively cooled and has a nice SSD.
Perhaps it has been replaced by a newer model with more RAM (mine only has 8GB) which would be good for VMs, but I don't keep up with the Jones' so I'm not sure. The thing works great for me at a fraction of the cost - it was $499 on one of the bit online shops when I got it.
I think laptops are quite a personal choice, and finding the 'perfect' one is very difficult. I couldn't quite justify spending as much as a Carbon X1/X3, or the top MBP, and a year down the track I'm very glad I didn't. YMMV etc : )
Perhaps it has been replaced by a newer model with more RAM (mine only has 8GB) which would be good for VMs, but I don't keep up with the Jones' so I'm not sure. The thing works great for me at a fraction of the cost - it was $499 on one of the bit online shops when I got it.
I think laptops are quite a personal choice, and finding the 'perfect' one is very difficult. I couldn't quite justify spending as much as a Carbon X1/X3, or the top MBP, and a year down the track I'm very glad I didn't. YMMV etc : )
I know a couple of people who use the Lenovo X1 Carbon as a linux dev machine, though I don't know personally how easy it is to get up and running.
I use one (2015 model), it's ok. The 2560x1440 screen works well (using 1.5 scaling) with unity, a bit less so with cinnamon, as it Cinnamon only supports integer scaling. Chrome has a scaling flag that is independent, that's a bit extra work. I regularly connect an external 4k screen over DP, works fine and runs at 60Hz.
The touchpad is ok, but wish it was larger and dealt with palms better. Over time I adapted and now am careful to not touch it while typing (or maybe some update fixed it).
I use an older Ubuntu version and there are a two bugs - it doesn't always lock when closing the lid and the touchpad is sometimes disabled on wakeup. Switching to a terminal (ctrl-alt-1) and back reenables it.
Overall, I'm happy - great keyboard, decent HiDPI screen and all in a very light machine. 16GB RAM and longer battery life would be nice, but I'm happy with the weight tradeoff.
Overall, I'm happy - great keyboard, decent HiDPI screen and all in a very light machine. 16GB RAM and longer battery life would be nice, but I'm happy with the weight tradeoff.
Fairly hassle-free. I have both the 2015 X1 Carbon (with Debian Jessie) and 2016 X1 Yoga (with Debian Stretch). I needed to install an extra xserver-xorg-input-* package for the touchscreen on the latter to work nicely and Firefox Aurora to get gesture support, but everything else just works.
The keyboard on the X1 Yoga is sort of meh, though.
The keyboard on the X1 Yoga is sort of meh, though.
I witnessed a person unboxing it and installing Ubuntu - it took under an hour to complete
Dell used to have a Linux version of their XPS line called "Developer edition", really great form factor on that one and they also have an extra battery as an accessory. Looking at their webpage I'm not sure if they discontinued it though, maybe one can find a used one
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-13-linux/pd
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-13-linux/pd
The new XPS 13 has a developer edition, at least in European stores.
Too bad they have ditched the Intel wifi card and has the same Killer one the normal XPS
Too bad they have ditched the Intel wifi card and has the same Killer one the normal XPS
I'm in a similar situation. I want to get myself to like it but I just don't. I don't like this direction and am actively looking into something else even though I really like Mac (and FCPX).
A surface maybe? A intel UltraBook? How about a Ultrabook-Hackintosh? I'm sure there must be something.
I currently use my company device for everything. As long as I have that I'm good, but if I were short on time, I'd probably buy it again if I know myself correctly.
A surface maybe? A intel UltraBook? How about a Ultrabook-Hackintosh? I'm sure there must be something.
I currently use my company device for everything. As long as I have that I'm good, but if I were short on time, I'd probably buy it again if I know myself correctly.
I have a Surface Pro 3, and love it to death, but a word of caution would be that the keyboard on it is "adequate" but certainly not suited for development. The surface book, I gather, is better, but you could probably find better specs for less if you don't really need a convertible.
I am a bit lost myself : for me OsX is the best mix where I have a nix like terminal, great design tools and general software support, good UX, and I don't have to spend too much time maintaining and configuring the machine.
Both Linux and Windows are inferior in some of these aspects, so I have been sucking it up for the past couple of years. Coming the next time I have to change my machine, I am not sure what I will get.
Both Linux and Windows are inferior in some of these aspects, so I have been sucking it up for the past couple of years. Coming the next time I have to change my machine, I am not sure what I will get.
>I have a nix like terminal
Does bash on windows solve this issue for you or do you want the entire terminal to be nix like (instead of the command prompt)
Does bash on windows solve this issue for you or do you want the entire terminal to be nix like (instead of the command prompt)
Bash on windows is a far cry from a true nix terminal. A lot of things in windows bash just don't work right yet.
Are you on insider preview? They make a good progress. For example now you can have Ubuntu 16.04 and be able to call windows executables from bash.
In my opinion it is now much better experience than macOS offers
Why "better"?
I use Ubuntu in production and having the same tools on the dev machine natively is great. When I was using macOS it was a bit clumsy to get tools set up. I find apt superior to brew also compiling from source etc is less of a headache.
Windows really nailed that department.
Dell makes the XPS 13 or 15 and you can get Linux-specific versions. They are very nice machines, up there with the Macs in terms quality (and price).
I had the XPS 15 for a few months. I found it very fast, gorgeous 4k screen, great keyboard - but heavy and with abysmal battery life. The touchpad was also meh under Linux.
Take a look at Lenovo's Thinkpad, in particulary the T and the X series. See if you like something, Linux works very well on them.
Hackaday did a breakdown for people jumping ship..
https://hackaday.com/2016/10/28/apple-sucks-now-heres-a-thin...
https://hackaday.com/2016/10/28/apple-sucks-now-heres-a-thin...
the thinkpad t-series is very good. I own a t450s and it's thin, light, has a great battery life and trackpad, and the screen is high resolution.
oh, and it's incredibly linux friendly.
oh, and it's incredibly linux friendly.
Dell XPS are very nice.
"Upgrade" means improvement. What improvement you expect to get in new mbp? Less bright apple logo?
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But the new model surprisingly hasn't had any increase in memory, sticking to a somewhat frustrating limit of 16GB, something that won't come as welcome news to VM users, or graphics and video designers.
Yes. This is the real jaw-dropping showstopper for me.
My current MacBook works well enough. There's no overwhelming, compelling reason to get a new one.
And yet, it's three years old, so I figured that maybe if Apple comes out with a 32GB version, I'll get it in the coming months.
They didn't, and so I'll be holding onto my machine for a while longer.
My current MacBook works well enough. There's no overwhelming, compelling reason to get a new one.
And yet, it's three years old, so I figured that maybe if Apple comes out with a 32GB version, I'll get it in the coming months.
They didn't, and so I'll be holding onto my machine for a while longer.
With the latest NVIDIA and Intel chipsets and with built-to-order options of up to 128GB on board memory, it's firmly positioned in the hi-end laptop market segment.
Would be interesting to know, a few months from now, the percentage of those complaining that actually switched to Linux/Windows and bought a non-Apple laptop.
Apple has always done this. Always. In the end people adapt and things progress.
Apple has always done this. Always. In the end people adapt and things progress.
Button forgot to mention: "It's likely that these changes were not possible had it not been for the unceremonious departure of Jonathan Ive - who had obviously lost his keen design touch years earlier."
This is hilarious. I didn't know my current MBP is that good.
Anyone else considering Hackintosh? Some water cooled beast running OSX really appeals TBH.
2 years ago, while I still had just a Macbook Air, I built a gaming PC, but choose all the hardware from the tonymacx86 guide so I could use it also for iOS development.
Last year I bought a Broadwell rMBP and relegated the Gaming PC to just gaming.
Imho, too much work to mantain it updated and properly working. If I was still in high school, I could live with all the cons, but as a working freelancer, I won't.
Last year I bought a Broadwell rMBP and relegated the Gaming PC to just gaming.
Imho, too much work to mantain it updated and properly working. If I was still in high school, I could live with all the cons, but as a working freelancer, I won't.
As a counter point, my wife and I have both been using hackintoshes for the past four years and I do very little, if any at all, work to maintain them. Setting up a machine from scratch is made easier now with Clover. Even moving to each new version of OSX has been just as easy as my MBP which I use when travelling. That's not to say it's without it's cons, iMessage/Handoff/Facetime don't work, but that doesn't bother me as I don't really use them and when I do it's on my iPhone or iPad.
I've also had few issues all in all. The key is to get compatible hardware and you'll mostly be fine.
Now that Polaris support seems to be in MacOS I'm pulling the trigger on this.
About the escape key, is it not possible to place a digital version of it in the touch bar?... not defending apple I'm also not happy with this MBP but I think at least that can be worked around.
Or remap Caps Lock as Escape with Seil (which I just discovered)
If it's about switching modes on vim, can't you just use Ctrl-[?
That combination is a massive pain to hit on many non-US keyboards.
I remapped my keys like this:
CAPS-LOCK ⬅ CONTROL ⬅ ESCAPE ⬅ CAPS-LOCK
I believe that's the solution they went with.
True but the screenshots released so far indicate that it's centred, so it's position will move depending on context. Not good for muscle memory.
No, it is positioned at the far left on all screen shots. There is a small, ugly, constant margin however.
I guess we'll know for sure once they ship. Hopefully, it could be be something that's configurable to preference.
If it's just an ugly margin around the Esc key then I still think it's poor UX work.
If it's just an ugly margin around the Esc key then I still think it's poor UX work.
I agree. I don't think they should have put the esc key there at all. I would have made the key to the left of the "1" key the Esc key, and moved the original functions of that key somewhere else.
However this is coming from a UK user on which the key in question has the symbols "§" and "±". Which I never type. I understand the US layout has some more useful symbols there.
However this is coming from a UK user on which the key in question has the symbols "§" and "±". Which I never type. I understand the US layout has some more useful symbols there.
Nice reference to Scott Fitzgerald. :)
I still like Apple products.
Will I buy a new Apple product--probally not, but will buy used.
I look at the shiny, miniminslistic Apple Stores. I look at their products, and I just get this picture in my mind.
The picture is Steve Jobs throwing phones/computers/watches right against his glass office windows. (He know the windows are shatterproof). His blood pressure is off the charts. He knows he needs to calm down, and make a bunch of changes at his company.
He is so upset with the hardware; he isn't even yelling about the software bugs, or the weird direction the company is going in. I picture him yelling, "We are not a democracy here--you listen to me. We are not Google. We are not a company with too many chiefs. I'm the chief! We do it this way! Oh, yea--we do listen to some of our customers. We are not in the 90's. People have changed. Let's not irritate our better customers?"
I picture employees tip-toeing around that office--until they produce a produce a product that is up to Apple standards. They know they need to produce the perfect product. A device, even Job's, won't find fault in. They know Apple bugs are just expected to be fixed quickly. They know Apple only produces the best devices. And then, and only then can Apple put a huge price on the package.
Will I buy a new Apple product--probally not, but will buy used.
I look at the shiny, miniminslistic Apple Stores. I look at their products, and I just get this picture in my mind.
The picture is Steve Jobs throwing phones/computers/watches right against his glass office windows. (He know the windows are shatterproof). His blood pressure is off the charts. He knows he needs to calm down, and make a bunch of changes at his company.
He is so upset with the hardware; he isn't even yelling about the software bugs, or the weird direction the company is going in. I picture him yelling, "We are not a democracy here--you listen to me. We are not Google. We are not a company with too many chiefs. I'm the chief! We do it this way! Oh, yea--we do listen to some of our customers. We are not in the 90's. People have changed. Let's not irritate our better customers?"
I picture employees tip-toeing around that office--until they produce a produce a product that is up to Apple standards. They know they need to produce the perfect product. A device, even Job's, won't find fault in. They know Apple bugs are just expected to be fixed quickly. They know Apple only produces the best devices. And then, and only then can Apple put a huge price on the package.
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I suppose Apple should listen to the recommendations in this blog
Let's be honest for a moment. Apple has never in the history been the one to wait for market to adapt to some new technology. They have been the one who immediately puts it on their products and gets rid of the old standards. Everybody has known this for years so this really shouldn't surprise anyone.
Generally speaking whether you like it or not, no one really cares if the ESC button is on the touchbar instead of being traditional physical button. Even fewer people care if there are ridiculous 32GB models available when most devs dont even need 16GB. Not to mention average consumers.
If Apple would give you guys 32GB option then people would cry why they can't get 64GB option. If the new MacBook wouldn't have touchbar then people would complain why Apple isn't innovating anymore etc.
What Apple is doing with their new MacBook is what Apple has been doing with their products for decades. If you don't like it feel free to switch to other laptops and run Win10 or Linux. But we all know you won't. You'll buy this MacBook sooner or later, then in 2018 when Apple releases new models you'll be here complaining about something again and you'll still buy that one as well.