Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports • Hacker News Board

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#211

Post by cdnsteve » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:43 PM UTC

izacus wrote: post #29

mmjaa wrote: post #19

I've had mine for a week now, and have been able to use it alongside my late-2014 rMBP, which has been a solid workhorse. I'm starting to notice very subtle preferences for the 2017 model creeping in - after an hour of typing, for example, going back to the old keyboard feels really, really inefficient and antiquated, and my typing rate is lower than on the new rMBP. I also really enjoy the Touchbar - it hasn't been…

> I've had mine for a week now, and have been able to use it alongside my late-2014 rMBP, which has been a solid workhorse. I'm starting to notice very subtle preferences for the 2017 model creeping in - after an hour of typing, for example, going back to the old keyboard feels really, really inefficient and antiquated, and my typing rate is lower than on the new rMBP. For me it's the EXACT opposite - everytime I ret…

Same here, I prefer my older MBP keyboard. The giant trackpad always gets in my way as well. Afters years on my old MPB it's muscle memory that needs reprogramming now, which takes time and means mistakes.

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#212

Post by stuckagain » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:44 PM UTC

waffl wrote: post #146

spilk wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having owned MacBooks/PowerBooks/iBooks in various configurations over the past 15 or so years, what models were getting real-life 10 hour lifetimes, and while doing what? I've never seen anything near that on anything I've owned before.

Likewise, I've owned a huge number of mac laptops since the titanium PowerBook and I don't think I ever managed to get more than 4-5hr of real work use (adobe suite etc) I've always been confused by these 10hr claims and have never expected more than 4-5

If you just use a laptop for ssh the battery life will be really epic.

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#213

Post by tibbon » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:45 PM UTC

mmjaa wrote: post #19

I've had mine for a week now, and have been able to use it alongside my late-2014 rMBP, which has been a solid workhorse. I'm starting to notice very subtle preferences for the 2017 model creeping in - after an hour of typing, for example, going back to the old keyboard feels really, really inefficient and antiquated, and my typing rate is lower than on the new rMBP. I also really enjoy the Touchbar - it hasn't been…

Same on all accounts (including work buying it and those feelings).

The keyboard I thought I'd hate, but it's actually so much better than I imagined.

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#214

Post by sbov » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:48 PM UTC

at-fates-hands wrote: post #95

sprite wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The new 15 inch max specced is $4,299 + tax in the US.

WOW. I could spec out a laptop (pick a vendor) with a 500SSD, i7, 32GB RAM and still be under 2K. I don't want to say their hardware is overpriced. . .but they're stuff is WAY over priced. http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-ZBook-Studio-G3-15-6-Core-i7-2-7G... $1,350.00 - HP ZBook Studio G3 - 15.6" - Core i7 2.7GHz (6th Gen) - 32GB RAM - 512GB SSD (M6V80AV) It's a dealer refurb, but still. . .

When I used to buy macbooks, they did carry a premium, but usually not the sort of premium you're implying here. The problem is you have to compare apples to apples - not "I don't need that fancy XXX anyways". Which is an argument, but not an argument that macbooks are overpriced to the extent you're thinking here.

With the touchbar, it will probably be more difficult to do fair price comparisons.

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#215

Post by makomk » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:50 PM UTC

organsnyder wrote: post #210

floatrock wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get that the chinese manufacturers reverse-engineer everything, but you're saying that you can use "thunderbolt" on your packaging without paying some licensing fee to apple? I mean, a bunch that just have the no-name plastic-bag packaging probably slip by on Amazon, but I would assume the lawyers wouldn't let you brand your cable "thunderbolt" without some official licensing fee process.

Apple doesn't own Thunderbolt: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/trademarks/thunderbol...

Apple does however control which Thunderbolt devices work with Apple hardware and software. Which means, for example, that Thunderbolt 3 hardware released prior to the launch of the new Macbook Pro is effectively Windows-only: http://plugable.com/thunderbolt-3 This appears to be an entirely artificial software block done to force manufacturers to go through their certification program and presumably give then a cut; there's a hack out there that bypasses it.

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#216

Post by organsnyder » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:51 PM UTC

Daviey wrote: post #14

I'm not really a fan of Mac's, but I don't think too much weight should be put on this. Everything that Apple delivers is greeted with negative reports, and yet it turns out to be successful. Also... i've never even heard of "Consumer Reports" before.. but the name is pretty subjective.

Consumer Reports is a widely-respected nonprofit. They make their money from selling subscriptions (most of their information is behind a paywall), and do not sell advertising. Their board is elected by their membership. All products that they review are purchased at retail—in fact, they even make their purchases discretely, to make sure that they don't get preferential treatment.

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#217

Post by SimeVidas » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:52 PM UTC

R.I.P. Safari for Mac. Nobody is going to use you after this. ;-)

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#218

Post by jsjohnst » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:52 PM UTC

jghn wrote: post #134

jsjohnst wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's the best laptop for a management level person in engineering running from meeting to meeting who occasionally sits down to write some light code / test code that they are reviewing from others. Great screen, decentish (but not great) memory, and great battery life, all with the simplicity of a single cable connection for power/monitor/accessories. Best of all, it's fantastic traveling as it can be easily…

I could see that. My work machine is a 15" rMBP which is mainly used hooked to a keyboard and monitor. Even when not plugged in I enjoy coding on it. Thing was, it was just big enough that I disliked lugging it around everywhere, back & forth to home, when traveling, etc. For me my rMB is more for personal and light remote work purposes but that winds up being not dissimilar to your engineering mgmt persona you descr…

> Thing was, it was just big enough that I disliked lugging it around everywhere, back & forth to home, when traveling, etc.

Exactly! I've had dozens of coworkers over the years who don't take their laptop home (much to my dismay, especially as some were on-call) due to the weight and size of the 15". They also barely would take them to meetings, so I don't get why they just didn't request an iMac.

When I still used the rMBP for daily work, I got mine down to two cables (Thunderbolt / Power) despite having two near 4K displays (LG 34" TB2 monitors) and a bunch of accessories plugged in, but the hassle just wasn't worth it. So when I switched jobs, I finally owned up that my needs had changed and decided to try the rMB with a single 4K display (27" LG USB-C w/ PD). Honestly best decision I'd made in a long time for hardware. Takes getting used too, but for anyone else in a similar position (aka director/VP/CTO roles), I highly recommend it.

Re: Newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

#219

Post by bastawhiz » Fri, Dec 23, 2016, 5:52 PM UTC

Bud wrote: post #184

0x09 wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've gotten myself into a stupid situation where I have purchased something like 4 adapters that don't accomplish what I thought they would when I bought them. USB-C to DisplayPort -> DisplayPort to HDMI -> Monitor - doesn't work USB-C to DisplayPort -> DisplayPort to DVI-D -> Monitor - doesn't work USB-C to Ethernet - doesn't work I'm actually planning to just go to Best Buy today and try to find anything that will…

You can't expect an off-brand USB-C adapter to be able to fully support DisplayPort. USB-C does not natively contain DisplayPort. Also, don't daisy-chain adapters when you don't have to. Use a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Such as this one: http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av...

Herein lies the problem. Consumers don't understand or care why these things don't work, they just don't and it's frustrating. "I bought the adapter and plugs in, why doesn't it turn on?" I shouldn't need to explain to my dad why there are two indistinguishable plugs that follow different standards where one works and one doesn't.