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2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

lvh.io

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Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#251

Post by freehunter »

adjkant wrote: post #76

I still can't believe Magsafe is gone. I swear I save a Mac every month via Magsafe and worry about when I have to upgrade in a few years. They better release a clean version of this by then.

I've actually had a problem with Magsafe. When I'm using my laptop on my lap, my leg pushes up on the adapter, which causes it to disconnect very easily. But I can lift my 13" 2015 rMBP right off the table by pulling straight out on the adapter. Seriously, if you're careful enough the Magsafe charger can support the entire weight of the laptop. Which means it's a great feature if I step on the cable (which pulls it downward) but if I trip on it and pull it straight out, it will always, every single time, always pull my laptop right off the table.

Which makes it worse than worthless, remembering that when I use it on my lap it will constantly disconnect itself. I'm happy to see Magsafe go, I'm just not thrilled that it's not being replaced with something better.

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#252

Post by freehunter »

jedberg wrote: post #110

The fact that I need a 3rd party adapter to connect my Apple branded monitor to my Apple branded laptop is patently ridiculous.

But I need an adapter to plug my Apple branded hockey puck mouse to my Apple branded laptop, too... we're talking two different hardware generations.

Likely the reason they discontinued the Apple monitors is because they wouldn't work with the new MacBook.

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#253

Post by eridius »

51Cards wrote: post #81
Caballera wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The escape key is still there, it's on the Touch Bar, I have no issues with using it, and I haven't had to re-map it. Also you can hit the 'fn' key and the 'Function' bar and escape key will appear while using any other 'app' that changes the Touch Bar.

The prime issue is lack of tactile feedback. I wrote quite a bit about this in a previous comment, in that we "touch type" because we get feedback from our fingers. Implementing a "keyboard" interface that requires a change of visual focus is not a good UI practice.

In your comment 25 days ago, you stated that the problem is the layout of the Touch Bar changes regularly, therefore you need to look at it. But this doesn't make sense for the Esc key, because the Esc key is always in the same place on the Touch Bar (and is always available while you're typing).

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#254

Post by eridius »

Lio wrote: post #137
Caballera wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The escape key is still there, it's on the Touch Bar, I have no issues with using it, and I haven't had to re-map it. Also you can hit the 'fn' key and the 'Function' bar and escape key will appear while using any other 'app' that changes the Touch Bar.

Does it toggle or is only when the fn key is held? If it's only whilst the key is held it effectively means you'd have to use your right hand to press the escape key ...which doesn't sound ideal to me.

Esc is always available while you're typing (and usually available when you're not). Holding Fn is for getting at the F-keys, not for getting at Esc (though it can be used for getting at Esc too if you're in a context that normally hides that key).

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#255

Post by falcolas »

eridius wrote: post #245
qyv wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And herein lies the rub of USB-C: It isn't a universal logical interface, it is a multi-use physical connector. By overloading the port's logical functions you introduce incompatible physical configurations.

There have always been charge-only USB cables, they're just not all that common (I believe many mice come with those for charging, but I don't know where else you'd get one). I agree that it is a problem for Apple to be shipping a charge-only USB-C cable, both because this significantly increases the number of charge-only cables in the wild, and because this is probably the first USB-C cable that their customers will…

FWIW, the only time I've seen charge-only USB cables is when they are permanently attached to a charging brick.

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#256

Post by scottlamb »

Here are my caveats:

1. The keyboard. Not the Touch Bar; the rest of the keyboard. There isn't much travel and I'm afraid it will aggravate my RSI. I've tried pressing the keys more gently, but sometimes I'm too gentle and miss keystrokes. Pressing the right side of the caps lock key is unreliable even when I press it fairly firmly. And the right shift key has gotten stuck once already. I'll give it some more time to see if things improve, but RSI is a deal-breaker. I'm considering returning the laptop.

2. The battery life. It's nowhere near 10 hours when I'm doing development. I haven't been keeping close track but I'd say less than 5 and less than previous generations. I think they used a processor which is more efficient at idle and took away a lot of battery to make it thinner. It's maybe not more efficient when working, so the battery life is reduced if you use the processor more heavily than they've anticipated.

3. The Touch Bar. I'm sure I can make it work, but I would prefer to have a physical escape key for vim, especially given that the caps lock key is questionable too so that may be out as a substitute.

4. That going from 1 TiB of storage to 2 TiB of storage would cost another $800, and the SSD is not even replaceable later. I don't want to spend that much, so I have 1 TiB that I'm already close to with photos likely to push it over. I really wouldn't mind having a 512 MiB SSD and a 2 TiB hard drive, but that's not an option. It wouldn't be as much of a problem if Apple Photos (or some other inexpensive product) had good support for auto-selecting part of the library to have on the SSD as a cache of full storage on a network/external/cloud drive. (I.e., one library that I could open up and add stuff to while disconnected, view some recent / starred / non-hidden photos while disconnected.)

5. 16 GiB of RAM rather than 32 GiB and not expandable. I gather this lost a three-way battle with battery life and thickness/weight.

Most of these (#1, #2, #4, #5) are the negative consequences of Apple's anorexia.

Having only USB-C ports isn't a problem for me. Losing MagSafe makes me a little sad—it has saved laptops for me—but I like the idea of being able to plug in just one cable to do everything. Those docks don't actually exist yet, but they will soon. In the meantime, I have the included power adapter, a USB-C to DisplayPort cable, and a portable USB-C to three-port USB-A + gigabit Ethernet hub. It'll do.

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#257

Post by ProAm »

Klathmon wrote: post #236
slantyyz wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> My Dell P2715Q display does work properly as a hub when it's asleep. The P2715Q has all sorts of quirks. I have a pair of them connected to my Windows computer, and when they go to sleep, Windows basically forgets where all the open windows were and disperses them somewhat randomly. Of all the monitors I've used, I've only ever experienced this with the P2715Q. I also notice that the power output of the USB ports…

>I also notice that the power output of the USB ports on the monitors is barely enough to charge any recent mobile device. That's because it's probably supplying the USB spec of 500ma. That's not a fault, it's how it should work. The usb-looking chargers that come with many recent mobile devices are using a bastardized set of "not really standards" to let them pump more juice through the USB port than is allowed.

It's probably the cable, if they use a data cable it will limit it to 500ma, but if they get a usb power only cable I bet it will supply more. You're right its probably working as designed.

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#258

Post by eridius »

vszakats wrote: post #159
kfinley wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Does the 'fn' key force-change the touchbar to display F1-F12? Yes it does

Is it possible to set it [1] to display F keys by default (and switch to alternate functionality only on pressing Fn key)? [1] System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard > "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" option on El Cap.

No. You can set the Touch Bar to show, by default, "App Controls with Control Strip", "Expanded Control Strip", or "App Controls". And you can change Fn so it shows "Expanded Control Strip" instead of the F-keys (e.g. if you never need F-keys). But you can't set the Touch Bar to default to F-keys and require Fn to do something else.

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#259

Post by 0xffff2 »

kfinley wrote: post #106
Bytes wrote: post #6

The problems with the new macbook "pro" seem to keep on growing. I am really surprised that Apple did not find the connecting to external display issue in internal testing.

I suspect we will see the share desktop experience extend to other devices. In an post release interview Jony Ive implied that the touch bar was the first step in a new paradigm. Imagine the Photoshop toolbar being available on your iPad's touch screen, while you're editing a photo on your Mac. Or playing a video game while using your iPhone for controls.

I think good tactile feedback is fundamentally required as the first step. Touch, even with haptic feedback makes for a very poor experience compared to memorizing shortcuts that use real keys.

Re: 2016 Retina MacBook Pro Caveats

#260

Post by njitram »

asd wrote: post #78
lvh wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hopefully I can save you some frustration. If you got the TB2 dongle, it won't work. Apple suggests you purchase a third party DisplayPort dongle. Make sure it's DisplayPort 1.2 (that's what lets you do 4k@60Hz). No advice on what to buy though; except check the reviews to make sure it works on the 2016 MBP! (_NOT_ the MacBook! Compatibility with the MacBook means nothing.)

Thanks. @sandipc above linked to this[1] monoprice cable, but it's out of stock with no ETA. :( I'll keep looking. [1] http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12908

This one might work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016QO8186
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