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2018 MacBook Pro Review

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Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#471

Post by MagnumOpus »

wux wrote: post #199
chx wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have no idea what your calculations are trying to be, let me try it myself, it should be very simple: In 2014, a 2300 EUR laptop was 2300 / 0.73 = ~3150 USD or so. Today, a 3000 EUR laptop is 3000 / 0.86 = ~3500 USD or so. So no, just the exchange ratio does not explain this. The US inflation numbers, however, say 3150 in 2014 was 3353 USD in 2018 so that's closer.

2300 EUR in 2014 was ~3151 USD, as you say. At today's exchange rate, 3151 USD is approximately 2710 EUR. In January 2017, 3151 USD was approximately 2993 EUR. Apple will give themselves a cushion to prevent undesirable pricing discrepancies (or the need for frequent price adjustments) if the U.S. dollar strengthens against the euro, so a product that they sell at 3150 USD after taxes in the United States would reaso…

> Apple will give themselves a cushion to prevent undesirable pricing discrepancies (or the need for frequent price adjustments) if the U.S. dollar strengthens against the euro

Apple is a trillion-dollar company that has people who can and do hedge FX exchange rates on their products to keep costs predictable in local currency terms. As such they don't need a "cushion" - beyond the need to cushion their margins, that is.

(And even if they didn't hedge FX - if they need a cushion now, why didn't they need the same cushion before?)

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#472

Post by jetti »

kalleboo wrote: post #348
copperx wrote: post #325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm confused. My 2012 MBP already came with a 256GB SSD (lowest possible standard configuration) and it's soldered, like the RAM. Did you mean a 2011 MBP?

You're talking about the "2012 MacBook Pro with Retina Display", they also sold a model without a retina display that used a standard laptop drive and came with an optical drive (!).

Exactly. I have the non-retina + DVD-RW drive.

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#473

Post by doyoulikeworms »

Osmium wrote: post #137
blhack wrote: post #91

It's become comedy at this point. Many, many developers: "We hate this keyboard. It is atrocious! Give us back the old one please!" Apple: "We have listened to your needs. The keyboard is now 8% quieter, and the touchbar is mandatory!"

I love the keyboard, and I code all day. It's actually my favorite keyboard of any I've used with the exception of the current-gen external Apple keyboards. I enjoy the light-touch and low key travel required to type. I find the typing more pleasant and kinder on my hands.

Same, I also actually like the keyboard. When I'm not using it, I'm using Topre switches or Cherry Browns. I'm worried about the durability issues, though.

I think the touch bar sucks, but I like the touch login button.

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#474

Post by jdpedrie »

ebbv wrote: post #295
sbenj wrote: post #279

Am I the only person on here who is bothered by the specs of the base models? For $2400 you get a 2.2 Ghz machine with a 256 GB ssd and 16 GB of Ram. That was seriously overpriced and it hasn't budged in this new release. Seems like you've got to spend well north of 3K to get a reasonable machine. That is way over the market. The model in the review is fully loaded. Apple will charge you a cool $3200 to upgrade to th…

Apple has always commanded a premium for their laptops. Yes there’s competing specs out there for less but there always have been. I paid $3k for my Retina MBP in 2012 and it still works great for me today. It was a good buy for me. If the MBPs available don’t seem worthwhile to you, no need to get upset about it, just don’t buy one.

I've always been happy (well, happy isn't the right word -- accepting perhaps) to pay what I know is a 25-40% premium for apple computers over a roughly equivalent PC, because I know what I'm getting in terms of quality, and the software is far superior.

I'm far less accepting of a 100% price premium while I watch the advantages which caused me to love Apple have been diminished. Seemingly every move in the pro line over the last several years have been to take away things that matter to me (replaceable parts, good keyboard, physical keys).

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#475

Post by nkkollaw »

cygned wrote: post #391
Osmium wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the keyboard, and I code all day. It's actually my favorite keyboard of any I've used with the exception of the current-gen external Apple keyboards. I enjoy the light-touch and low key travel required to type. I find the typing more pleasant and kinder on my hands.

I also really like the new keyboard. It’s definitely the best non-mechanical keyboard I have typed on and I really enjoyed using it. However, like five or six keys are stuck, space and shift work only if I hit them in the center and the 7 key has key chartering worse than a broken Cherry MX. It’s a pity and I am looking forward to buying a new MacBook with a hopefully more reliable keyboard shortly.

So, hold on--let me try to understand.

You like the keyboard, even if 5-6 keys are stuck, and the space and shift only work if you hit them in a certain spot.

On top of that, you're looking to give Apple even more trust any money, when you know that they haven't fixed those problems?

Why!

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#476

Post by nkkollaw »

Someone1234 wrote: post #139
mancerayder wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately for us, Apple bases its decisions on expected sales numbers more than our feelings. That said, does anyone know if the sales numbers are stronger after these mean keyboard and touchbar (and dongly) redesigns?

Sales numbers lag behind consumer satisfaction. Meaning people may still buy this MBP but decide that their next computer won't be a Mac, this means the "lost sale" could be four or five years into the future. Plus there's the magnifying effect of "influences." Are technical people still going to recommend to their less technical family members a Mac? My point isn't "Apple is doomed!" rather, any company, has to look…

Very true. I did buy the late-2016 MBP, that I swore that was the last time I'd buy anything from Apple (because of the trouble and hypocrisy).

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#477

Post by sophistication »

anovikov wrote: post #358
twblalock wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's almost as if Apple aren't even basing their hardware strategy on what developers are complaining about on Hacker News. I’m imagining someone who went into a fallout shelter about 10 years ago, somehow only had HN as a source of news, and suddenly re-entered the world. What would such a person be suprised to learn? I suspect Apple still being a successful company would come as a huge shock to such a person. So…

Tesla? Why would anyone on HN doubt survival of Tesla? Except making impossible claims about delivery deadlines, they weren't mentioned in any especial sins worth mentioning. And Tesla Roadster looked definitely like the big future in 2008.

Because Tesla was David vs Goliath. The laptop market and especially the phone market were much more open to newcomers.

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#478

Post by bogomipz »

llampx wrote: post #434
briandear wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except you don’t need to, generally. Setting up a phone doesn’t require a computer connection and, since USB-A phone chargers are ubiquitous, it doesn’t make much sense to go Thunderbolt 3 on iPhone’s default cable yet because the days of the iTunes setup process are long gone. The primary use of that cable that comes with iPhone is for charging — and it does include a charger. Unless you are the .025% of iPhone owne…

Remember your words when Apple introduces a USB-C to Lightning cable with the next iPhone.

Yeah except Apple has failed to do that twice in a row now.

Both the iPhone 8 and iPhone X shipped after the introduction of the USB-C only Macbooks. And both phones have shipped with only a lightning to USB-3 cable.

So instead of telling me to "remember my words" you might instead try to remember the facts.

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#479

Post by cygned »

nkkollaw wrote: post #475
cygned wrote: post #391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also really like the new keyboard. It’s definitely the best non-mechanical keyboard I have typed on and I really enjoyed using it. However, like five or six keys are stuck, space and shift work only if I hit them in the center and the 7 key has key chartering worse than a broken Cherry MX. It’s a pity and I am looking forward to buying a new MacBook with a hopefully more reliable keyboard shortly.

So, hold on--let me try to understand. You like the keyboard, even if 5-6 keys are stuck, and the space and shift only work if you hit them in a certain spot. On top of that, you're looking to give Apple even more trust any money, when you know that they haven't fixed those problems? Why!

What a great summary! Thing is, if the keys work, I love typing on them. I read that the new releas has improvements and I hope they work.

Concerning the second point; I use some Mac-only tools plus Microsoft Office plus developer tools like Docker, terminals, etc. Combined with the need to have a reliably working machine, I have no choice other than buying a Mac again at this point. Was looking into buying a Carbon X1 with Linux, but it just doesn’t work for me.

Re: 2018 MacBook Pro Review

#480

Post by nkkollaw »

cygned wrote: post #479
nkkollaw wrote: post #475

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, hold on--let me try to understand. You like the keyboard, even if 5-6 keys are stuck, and the space and shift only work if you hit them in a certain spot. On top of that, you're looking to give Apple even more trust any money, when you know that they haven't fixed those problems? Why!

What a great summary! Thing is, if the keys work, I love typing on them. I read that the new releas has improvements and I hope they work. Concerning the second point; I use some Mac-only tools plus Microsoft Office plus developer tools like Docker, terminals, etc. Combined with the need to have a reliably working machine, I have no choice other than buying a Mac again at this point. Was looking into buying a Carbon…

> I read that the new releas has improvements and I hope they work

There are no improvements related to keys not working, only less clicky.

> Combined with the need to have a reliably working machine, I have no choice other than buying a Mac

That's funny, I would think that a machine where about 1/4 of the keys don't work properly (or work at all)--which can die and take all your data with it, is not exactly the definition of neither "working" nor "reliably".

What am I missing here..?

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