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New 13-inch MacBook Pro

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Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#461

Post by HatchedLake721 »

ericzawo wrote: post #394
kylec wrote: post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's non-obvious, but the 13" MacBook Pro is actually two different computers. On the low end it has a 15W CPU, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a single fan, and on the high end it has a 28W CPU, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a dual-fan system. The low end version can only be configured with 16GB of memory, whereas the high end version can be configured with 32. It's not artificial price inflation, they're actually diff…

But of course, as is the Apple way, this is deliberately unclear. You would have no idea about this at all unless you were, at-minimum, keeping up with Intel CPU improvements (or regularly browsed Hacker News.)

Of course. Why would a consumer care how many watts CPU or fans it has? You would, but that's <1% of people who buy Macbooks.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#462

Post by mrits »

DonHopkins wrote: post #369
RedneckBob wrote: post #338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just purged Apple from my life largely because the touchbar continues to live on. Love my new Lenovo, btw. As a workaround for the touchbar that worked pretty well, I bought a silicon keyboard protector for the Apple Magic Keyboard, cut out the area for the function keys, and used hot glue to glue it over the touch bar. Prevented the touchbar from activating at the slightest touch and did return some of the feel of…

The original Apple ][ had a reset key in the upper right corner of the keyboard that was WAAAAAY too easy to press. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e3/1b/53/e31b53767fad646fc635... They eventually put a stronger spring under it so it was harder to press, but it was still terrible. There was actually a thriving after-market for $3.25 "RESET KEY PROTECTORS": square plastic tube shields that fit over the reset key so you…

Reminded me of how many times we'd accidentally kick the front of the nintendo on the floor and reset it.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#463

Post by whywhywhywhy »

DonHopkins wrote: post #340

What are the most essential or coolest add-ons to get for a new MacBook Pro? Is there a good all-or-many-in-one dongle with several USB or other ports? Are the any options for extra power supplies? Is there a good dock for using it with a big display on a desktop?

>Is there a good all-or-many-in-one dongle with several USB or other ports?

After struggling for a few years trying to use dongles I'm actually becoming convinced such a thing might not be possible. My screens flicker, my drives drop out all sorts of issues no matter what the dongle or the devices.

The other thing that points to this is the fact Apple doesn't just sell one, they could easily sell a USB-A/Display port/Power dock for around $400 and people would lap it up but curiously they don't because I think deep down they have realized the only reliable way to use a USB-C port is a one to one conversion.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#464

Post by v77 »

mr_custard wrote: post #382
alexggordon wrote: post #125

I was curious how the 13 inch was priced so I compared it to a new Dell XPS 13. Dell has a better processor (maybe, [2]) , but I couldn't find the option to upgrade the Dell to 4TB internal SSD, so I compared both with the 2 TB option. Ram is the same at 32GB. Dell came out to $2399[0] USD and Apple came out to $2999[1] USD. Dell Pros: * Row of function buttons (I've used BTT to customize my touch-bar to the point wh…

Useful figures, so thanks for providing those. It's been a few months since I last looked into the latest prices. I agree with you that it's still worth it. However, I feel that without comparing the OS and tight OS integration, this doesn't represent one of the most important aspects of a comparison between the two, when considering a purchase. I go through this same loop every time I buy a new machine... yes, usual…

I came to Macs as a longtime Windows/Linux user for software developmemt. There's no way I would ever go back. My 2015 Air is rock solid, never any problems despite being used 8-12 hours per day and you get Unix underneath. Just bought a new Air so I can have a backup machine.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#465

Post by DanBC »

reaperducer wrote: post #459
AdamCraven wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps, but it reduces the size of the secondary market so consumers have less choice and may opt for a new one instead. This is the real advantage to Apple.

Is there a secondary market for a ten-year-old MacBook Air? I use a nine-year-old Air almost daily, but I don't think the vast majority of people would consider it viable, let alone pay for one.

Ebay shows a load being sold for between £70 and £120. Here's one that has actual bids on it. (£106 when I post this comment). https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-MacBook-Air-13-inch-Late-20...

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#466

Post by kebman »

tw04 wrote: post #197
alexggordon wrote: post #125

I was curious how the 13 inch was priced so I compared it to a new Dell XPS 13. Dell has a better processor (maybe, [2]) , but I couldn't find the option to upgrade the Dell to 4TB internal SSD, so I compared both with the 2 TB option. Ram is the same at 32GB. Dell came out to $2399[0] USD and Apple came out to $2999[1] USD. Dell Pros: * Row of function buttons (I've used BTT to customize my touch-bar to the point wh…

After several years I can unequivocally say I still hate the touch bar. I love touch ID, but the bar needs to go. USB-C was all about standardizing. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, I did love magsafe, but I also love that in theory someday I'll have one cable to rule them all. And I'll be able to charge my headphones/laptop/phone/random device with a usb-c cable instead of needing 8 of them.

Magsafe or no Mac. Also touch bar needs to go. I mean, regardless of usability, just look at that eyesore! It used to be that Macs were for professionals. Now it's for showoffs only. Sorry. I really used to love Macs...

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#467

Post by voisin »

tw04 wrote: post #197
alexggordon wrote: post #125

I was curious how the 13 inch was priced so I compared it to a new Dell XPS 13. Dell has a better processor (maybe, [2]) , but I couldn't find the option to upgrade the Dell to 4TB internal SSD, so I compared both with the 2 TB option. Ram is the same at 32GB. Dell came out to $2399[0] USD and Apple came out to $2999[1] USD. Dell Pros: * Row of function buttons (I've used BTT to customize my touch-bar to the point wh…

After several years I can unequivocally say I still hate the touch bar. I love touch ID, but the bar needs to go. USB-C was all about standardizing. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, I did love magsafe, but I also love that in theory someday I'll have one cable to rule them all. And I'll be able to charge my headphones/laptop/phone/random device with a usb-c cable instead of needing 8 of them.

I wonder why they haven’t replaced touchID with FaceID on MacBooks. There’s a camera and I find FaceID to be so much more seamless.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#468

Post by hrktb »

Eric_WVGG wrote: post #220
Karupan wrote: post #84

A little disappointed it’s not the rumoured 14” model as I’ve been looking to replace both my 15” and 13” MacBooks. Also, regarding other comments on “just” the 4 core CPU - it’s probably all they could squeeze in without having to redesign the chassis/thermal design. I’m going to hold off for a tear down to see if they have improved the cooling system like they did (Or claimed to) with the 16” version.

I’ve always found the 13” Pros to be the “worst of both worlds” compromise. You don’t get the svelte lightness of the Air, or the generous desktop or raw power of the big boy. Whatever your priority is, it’s just not there. A 14” screen would have at least differentiated the product. I think a lot of these are bought by corporate bean counters and people who assume that Airs must be awful if they’re the most affordab…

An advantage of the 13” is the lack of discrete GPU.

If you don’t need one, you won’t have to care about tweaking for power consumption (like adding utilities to force disable it) and your laptop will be less likely to take off like a jet engine.

I had to take the 15” to get the 32G RAM on the previous iteration, and it made me wish I could have had a 13” option at that time.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#470

Post by brookside »

Is the headphone jack still on the right? (Rhetorical question.)

Still an insane choice as headphones have their wires on the left ear so when on my work macbook i have a wire either under or over my wrists. (Or behind the display, which shortens cable length significantly and pulls a sharp angle which will ruin my Sony MDR 7506 soon enough.

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