New MacBook Pro - Major Departure?

Color me a bit disappointed in the new MacBook Pro. I love my Mid 2012 Retina and was waiting on the new MBP to make a decision on the next laptop but it seems there were major departures made from the core idea of the "Pro" line up. I think a 2015 model might be a good choice but I need to go actually try the keyboard first and actually use one. On paper though they seemed to have made some odd choices and not really an 'upgrade', if not a downgrade, in some places.

The new touch bar could be a great feature to a lot of users so I'll give them some credit there. I'd rather have a physical power button for some situations. Everyone's software isn't perfect so a dedicated and physical 'force restart' button would be nice. Interested to see how that works if the OS locks up.

Now to the real issues. Why is the SD Card deleted on what is arguably the 'creative professional' laptop of choice? Cool adopt USB-C and make up your own name. I like the idea of USB-C but no USB 3.0 or a single thunderbolt connection? Guess buy adapters to plug into adapters.

A major question mark for me though is the choice in GPU. A major departure IMO. The 44X-46X graphics cards are a 100-150 dollar GPU. It's the new 'thinnest' GPU but a 2000-4000+ dollar laptop with a 150 dollar GPU installed? And nVidia is optimized for a LOT of the 'creative professional' software.

I see they kept the headphone jack which after deleting on the iPhone seems odd. Be nice to have an adapter to use your lightning headphones plugged into another adapter into the headphone jack. That is if you use their crappy headphones. Not really an issue for me personally but an odd choice.

And finally a lot of people use their iPhone and iTunes to listen to music. You have to buy a cable or buy an adapter to do this. Or to do a backup/restore if you have phone issues. Not sure the thought process on that front.

And no magsafe... why?

dinanm3atl wrote in post #18169184
Now to the real issues. Why is the SD Card deleted on what is arguably the 'creative professional' laptop of choice? Cool adopt USB-C and make up your own name. I like the idea of USB-C but no USB 3.0 or a single thunderbolt connection? Guess buy adapters to plug into adapters.

A major question mark for me though is the choice in GPU. A major departure IMO. The 44X-46X graphics cards are a 100-150 dollar GPU. It's the new 'thinnest' GPU but a 2000-4000+ dollar laptop with a 150 dollar GPU installed? And nVidia is optimized for a LOT of the 'creative professional' software.

maybe its time to switch to Alienware or MSI gaming laptop? They are still overpriced but at least you somewhat get what you pay for
You simply get waaay better hardware for the money

FuturamaJSP wrote in post #18169206
maybe its time to switch to Alienware or MSI gaming laptop? They are still overpriced but at least you somewhat get what you pay for
You simply get waaay better hardware for the money

And then run it on inferior software.

hackintosh or Linux
if you hate windows

also why do you think Windows is inferior compared to mac os?

Hogloff wrote in post #18169302
And then run it on inferior software.

That's kind of debatable. OS X has the best core/out-of-box experience, while Windows has the most software support. Both can be customized to some degree to emulate features of the other. OS X has the superior audio implementation, while Windows is more flexible graphically. Both are susceptible to security risks, but both can also be secured quite well, although OS X has the benefit of security through obscurity (for now). Ever since both platforms settled on x86, the feature set of both has toed in a lot, OS X became more open and connected, while Windows gained a lot of refinement.

The big issue for me is that both companies are pushing for "lifestyle" systems that focus on convenience and user experience over performance, and even desktop systems now feature mobile chips. The former is nice to have of course, but is of little use when stitching big panoramas or rendering video. Take for instance the newly announced MS Surface Studio, it has mobile parts stuffed into a tiny base, and while the screen seems pretty nice, you can already do everything you really needed yesterday with a Wacom Cintiq 27QHD connected to a desktop.

And they market it as a "professional" system when it's limited to a 270w TDP? Sure electronics have been getting fairly efficient as of late, but they didn't even put a 1070 into their system but a 980m! A chip that was 40% slower than the still-older 980. How do they expect such a system to push 14mp of resolution with a decently large workload?

The same issue is of course applicable to iMacs, and somehow Apple even managed to screw up the Mac Pro with the same ethos, so its hard to stay in the Apple camp, but some of the stuff MS is doing also doesn't make much sense either. I'm still trucking on with my old iMac hoping for Apple to do something different, but it seems to be in vain, getting a PC again is looking better every month that goes by... for $4000 you can easily get a state-of-the art PC and a high-end display.

Another 4000 dollar pc vs mac comparison
https://www.slrlounge.​com …stom-pc-performance-test/

the gap would be even bigger today because of the release of GTX 1080 and Titan X Pascal

Apple has been going this way for a while, between the crazy design of the Mac Pro and their slow hardware refresh cycles. I can't take them seriously anymore.

OSX holds no special value for me over Windows anyway and their constant process of changing things that dictate how you have to work, forcing you in to workarounds, is not user or consumer friendly.

I'm sure they'll carry on, maybe they'll even start to lose ground, but they aren't what they used to be. I wouldn't buy a phone without a headphone jack either, for that matter. I'll be rather cross in a couple years if I don't have a choice in the matter and have to start futzing with a dapters

The touch bar does nothing for me as a photographer. The lack of usb and memory card reader does however.....it makes me not want it. One reason I started using a MacBook Pro is for the versatility of a laptop. For me, my 2015 MB pro does everything I need and then some. I didn't buy a laptop so I would have to purchase multiple adapters to haul around for when I wanted to use it on the go. I'm sure it will be an amazing machine but for what I use mine for it would not have the practicality I wanted when I purchased the pro.

Your 2015 MacBook Pro will be a great machine for many years to come. Best laptop on the market.

Hogloff wrote in post #18169302
And then run it on inferior software.

I own an iphone and I'm pleased with it. I truly considered purchasing a mid level Macbook Pro last month but couldn't pull the trigger. I genuinely debated on buying a Macbook pro or iMac. It would have been a big step for me since I'm a PC user.

I simply just couldn't get over the hardware at the price point. I was actually looking forward in something new to adapt to regarding Apple software.

I did look at the MSI gaming laptops but decided to go desktop again. Even if I went Macbook Pro I still would be using LR6 for my workflow. If portability was imperative I would seriously be looking into a PC "gaming" laptop.

The big ticket item for a desktop is basically the CPU and if required high end GPU. As a Canadian the prices of computers/parts is noticeably more $$$$ than my friends living the the US. Even for about $1200 CDN you can build yourself a very potent computer. If it's a video editing station I'd spend a tad more. Otherwise a modest build desktop PC seems to be a extremely inexpensive compared to a top tier macbook Pro.

Since Adobe Premiere, PS and LR is a common tool of choice any platform be it Windows or Apple is based more on preference of operating system. Speaking strictly latest hardware I was in disbelief how far Apple will push it's loyal users into paying premium dollar for last years hardware in today's market. This comment is not about Apple vs PC....it's more about $$$$ vs performance ratio while using the same Adobe products.

We all compromise in some form or another. For mobile application for a "tool" a PC gaming laptop does provide more performace per $$$$ spent over the latest MacBook pro.

AlanU wrote in post #18169425
The big ticket item for a desktop is basically the CPU and if required high end GPU. As a Canadian the prices of computers/parts is noticeably more $$$$ than my friends living the the US. Even for about $1200 CDN you can build yourself a very potent computer. If it's a video editing station I'd spend a tad more. Otherwise a modest build desktop PC seems to be a extremely inexpensive compared to a top tier macbook Pro.

A desktop will always be a better value proposition. Not only is it cheaper, but the performance will be higher. Desktop CPUs (and GPUs) can attain and sustain higher clock speeds. There are other advantages as well.

Not really germane to this discussion on which laptop to pick, although if you don't really need a laptop I'd always say don't get one. Get a desktop instead.

The issue for the MPB is fairly similar to my camera situation. They have both exceeded my requirements for some time now. I can only see myself replacing my MBP when it finally gives up on me one day in the future. I also have a 2009 iMac that does everything just fine while running the most current OS. There is only upgrading out of desire now. Not need. As for MAC/PC comparisons they always mention the obvious things like entry cost, performance, etc. but fail to touch upon a lot of important issues. I use both Mac and PC and spent a career in IT and one thing I will never, ever trust Microsoft with is my data. I don't care if PCs were free. I'd still put my money on a Mac. Touch bar, no SD slot... whatever. As long as the OS remains solid and I can walk down the street for service that doesn't point the finger at everything 3rd party on my machine I'm good.

I bought a MBP in July of this year for my wife's school. It was between getting a 13" MBP or a 12" MB or even a MBA. Decided on the 13" MBP to hold her over for a while. When I heard rumors of the new one with the Touch Bar I started to feel a little buyer's remorse. Then seeing that the 13" Touch Bar is $1,800 and I ended up paying around $1,000 for the MBP made my mind at ease.

nqjudo wrote in post #18169461
The issue for the MPB is fairly similar to my camera situation. They have both exceeded my requirements for some time now. I can only see myself replacing my MBP when it finally gives up on me one day in the future. I also have a 2009 iMac that does everything just fine while running the most current OS. There is only upgrading out of desire now. Not need. As for MAC/PC comparisons they always mention the obvious things like entry cost, performance, etc. but fail to touch upon a lot of important issues. I use both Mac and PC and spent a career in IT and one thing I will never, ever trust Microsoft with is my data. I don't care if PCs were free. I'd still put my money on a Mac. Touch bar, no SD slot... whatever. As long as the OS remains solid and I can walk down the street for service that doesn't point the finger at everything 3rd party on my machine I'm good.

really?

http://www.digitaltren​ds.com …ing/can-macs-get-viruses/
http://www.telegraph.c​o.uk …-see-everything-you-type/

also not all pcs run on windows....
wonder what kind of career you had

FuturamaJSP wrote in post #18169477
really?

http://www.digitaltren​ds.com …ing/can-macs-get-viruses/
http://www.telegraph.c​o.uk …-see-everything-you-type/

also not all pcs run on windows....
wonder what kind of career you had

LOL. You're always around with those same old links. We all know you think Apple is evil. After this post you're sure to come back with a link about Apple's deplorable Chinese factory conditions - as if no PC makers engage in the practice. My career was based upon making the best decisions for my enterprise and I did that very well. Of course there are PCs that don't run Windows. I didn't single out PCs as the problem. I singled out Microsoft but one has to admit the association is usually blurred. In any case for these purposes yes, there are always exceptions but it is only the minority that don't rely on an out of the box solution.