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Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

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Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#821

Post by Fnoord »

jandrese wrote: post #455
alexis_fr wrote: post #414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the Apple keyboards are already $150, with no “lower” model available. Add a touchbar and it will be a $300 keyboard. Note that the price bump for emoji-enabled Macbooks is about the same.

Third party keyboards are a lot cheaper and work just as well, plus you get real F-keys if you want. While I personally wouldn't buy it (I'm kind of picky about the tactile feel of the keyboard), you can get this fully functional Bluetooth keyboard for $20. https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Bluetooth-Ultra-Slim-Keyboard-D...

Try the HHKB. There's even a BT version (with USB as well). It does come at a price though.

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#822

Post by owenwil »

bluedino wrote: post #447
rarecoil wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wasn't that kind of the point of the "Pro" line? I mean, if you just wanted a kinda cool laptop, you'd buy a MacBook or MacBook Air. It's now the MacBook Prosumer, and there is no pro option. Hacker News has been whinging about this Apple dilemma for years. I'm sorry to say that I just don't think there will ever be the golden age of MacBooks again. The "Pro" ideas coming from Cupertino are gimmicky at best for devel…

I love Thinkpads but the trackpads, screen, and build quality leave a lot to be desired. Every Mac is the same level of assembly/quality but ThinkPads vary too much from one to another. The prices for the high-performance models are almost as high as Apple and the power bricks are actually bricks.

The modern X1 carbon does not have this problem. I’m using the 8th generation and the trackpad is very good, along with a screen that accomplishes full-on HDR, and much better color depth.

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#823

Post by owenwil »

katbyte wrote: post #785
ducttape12 wrote: post #534

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've struggled with this idea - almost everything (outside Apple specific development) is ported to Windows. My work is in .NET and various Javascript frameworks. Never had a problem with Windows. Plus I feel if I really needed a Linux environment, the Linux subsystem would fill that need.

> Plus I feel if I really needed a Linux environment, the Linux subsystem would fill that need. Have you actually used it? A bunch of devs I work with continually have issues relating to WSL so i'm not sure if its comparable to macOS.

Early WSL was a pain, but they’ve come a long way. My entire web dev stack works natively on WSL these days–and WSL2 is due any day now, which should make it entirely on-par going forward.

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#824

Post by JamesDLevine »

golfer wrote: post #261
docker_up wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently was forced to upgrade by 2015 laptop at work because the battery life was finally short enough that I couldn't stand it. I hate dongles. The 2015 Macbook will stand as their last best laptop. Nothing about the 2018 laptop is better, it's only worse. I don't understand why they don't see this. There should really be a huge multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit for their keyboards and fixability to wake…

100% agree. I'm typing this on a 2015 Macbook Pro, and holding on for dear life, even as it has started alerting me about servicing the battery. It's a great machine. I tried using the touchbar on my son's newer MBP. It's awful, and not meant for serious use. His laptop has been replaced once already due to keyboard issue, and starting to show defects again.

A year back I replaced the battery on my 2013 15" model - like the other commenters, I paid $199 at the Apple Store for a new battery, topcase, including keyboard and trackpad. I also recently bought a used 2015 Pro on ebay as a backup. I have a 2016 13" touchbar pro, and after replacing the original keyboard, I'm actually quite happy with it. But for the 15" model I just don't think the price is justified given the specs... my next mac might be a Thinkpad with Ubuntu and virtualized MacOS, sorry to say.

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#825

Post by ben-schaaf »

stephenr wrote: post #792
ben-schaaf wrote: post #628

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was initially sceptical of USB-C, but was looking forward to having less things to plug in. Then I learnt that USB-C only supports up to 100W of power, and even worse the MBP included charger is only 87W. All high performance laptops draw more power than that at high load (think gaming, rendering, etc.). I just don't see USB-C ever replacing a proper charging cable if it can't even supply enough power to run the co…

> All high performance laptops draw more power than that at high load You’re going to need to qualify what you mean by “high performance”.

I'd classify any laptop with 6 or more intel cores and a dedicated gpu >= rx560/gtx1050(ti). Not so sure about mobile, but a desktop RX560 on its own uses 80-100W[0] which doesn't really leave any headroom for a 6 (yet alone an 8 core) cpu.

[0] https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-radeon-rx-560-4gb,5...

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#826

Post by hrrsn »

ben-schaaf wrote: post #628
dcosson wrote: post #485

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess I'm the only one that thinks USB-C is actually better? The biggest win is that now I can use a single dongle for power, displayport to my monitor, and connection to a USB hub. So if I take my laptop home or into a meeting room, when I get back to my desk it's just a single thing to plug in now instead of 3+ separate cables. And since this stuff is all standardized now and there's no longer anything Apple prop…

I was initially sceptical of USB-C, but was looking forward to having less things to plug in. Then I learnt that USB-C only supports up to 100W of power, and even worse the MBP included charger is only 87W. All high performance laptops draw more power than that at high load (think gaming, rendering, etc.). I just don't see USB-C ever replacing a proper charging cable if it can't even supply enough power to run the co…

MagSafe 1 and 2 topped out at 85W. There are gaming laptops that require more than one brick-sized charger. There are legitimate complaints in this thread, but this isn’t one of them.

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#827

Post by ben-schaaf »

bdowling wrote: post #796
ben-schaaf wrote: post #628

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was initially sceptical of USB-C, but was looking forward to having less things to plug in. Then I learnt that USB-C only supports up to 100W of power, and even worse the MBP included charger is only 87W. All high performance laptops draw more power than that at high load (think gaming, rendering, etc.). I just don't see USB-C ever replacing a proper charging cable if it can't even supply enough power to run the co…

Two USB-C ports in parallel would get you to 200W.

According to this[0], Macbooks will only charge off one cable. Not sure if anything has changed in that regard since 2016, but I'd wager it hasn't.

[0] https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/259744/what-happen...

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#828

Post by crispinb »

kabdib wrote: post #721
docker_up wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently was forced to upgrade by 2015 laptop at work because the battery life was finally short enough that I couldn't stand it. I hate dongles. The 2015 Macbook will stand as their last best laptop. Nothing about the 2018 laptop is better, it's only worse. I don't understand why they don't see this. There should really be a huge multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit for their keyboards and fixability to wake…

Just walk away from the Mac. Windows is perfectly viable for doing development, so is Linux. You can easily get a laptop that is cheaper and more reliable than a Macbook. About the only thing you'll be missing is a cool Apple sticker, but you can get those on eBay. Your wallet will thank you, and so will your fingers. A Macbook was a reasonable, even logical choice in 2012. Now, not so much. Apple can have me back if…

> Windows is perfectly viable for doing development, so is Linux.

Viable, yes. I've spent the last year (since replacing a 2013 MB Pro) with a Dell 15 XPS, roughly 50/50 Windows & Linux (Ubuntu then Fedora). Both work. They each run everything I need a laptop for.

Honestly neither is quite as good a desktop for me as macOS, but they are near enough that even if I liked the current generation of MacBooks (which I don't), I wouldn't consider it worth paying the premium.

There isn't a single solution I'm truly happy with. Windows 10 is yucky but for me fairly practical (meaning mainly it doesn't waste my time). Linux is more appealing and almost worth it for the speedy file access, but is too time-consuming for me to to commit to. MacOS is my favourite all-round OS, but (Hackintoshes aside) only runs on hardware I don't want (and certainly not at the price). I guess the only thing I haven't tried is ChromeOS. Maybe next time. 2019 desktop OS's are a sorry scene.

Re: Apple introduces 8-core MacBook Pro

#829

Post by q-base »

dzonga wrote: post #736
bluedino wrote: post #447

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love Thinkpads but the trackpads, screen, and build quality leave a lot to be desired. Every Mac is the same level of assembly/quality but ThinkPads vary too much from one to another. The prices for the high-performance models are almost as high as Apple and the power bricks are actually bricks.

I have a t490 with 500 nit display. 100% ARGB / SRGB. I haven't seen any macbook display that's sharp. Btw I have a personal 2012 Retina Macbook pro & a 2018 Macbook pro that I use for work for frontend.

How is the keyboard on the T490? I have a T460s at home where I like the keyboard a lot. I have a T470s at work, where the keyboard is a little less to my liking and I tried a colleagues T480s where it felt awesome again - so how about the T490? Can't really decide between T480s, T490, T490s or 6th gen X1 carbon.
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