16-inch MacBook Pro • Hacker News Board

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#661

Post by mhandley » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:51 PM UTC

jeffshek wrote: post #535

theklr wrote: post #507

Why does everyone seem grateful that they kept the headphone jack? Where did Apple give the impression that they would remove it from a more stationary device?

Apple sent a survey asking once how macbook owners would feel if they removed it. They believe the answer is going to be Bluetooth.

There are still many places (classrooms, lecture theatres, meeting rooms) where the only way to drive the projector is VGA. Not because it's good, but because it's the lowest common denominator. In these places, when using VGA, the only audio input to the speakers is usually a 3.5mm jack. Remove the 3.5mm jack, and anyone who teaches or makes business presentations won't buy it.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#662

Post by dpedu » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:52 PM UTC

snowwrestler wrote: post #52

11 years ago I bought a 15” MacBook Pro, the first model year with the unibody design. I’m still using it almost every day for web browsing, watching videos, editing documents, etc. In 2008, it cost $2,400. The new 16” released today costs... $2,400.

This isn't correct. The late 2008 Macbook Pro base price was $1,999 [1]. The new 16" base price is $2,400 [2].

[1] https://lowendmac.com/2008/15-macbook-pro-late-2008/

[2] https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/16-inch

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#663

Post by ActorNightly » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:53 PM UTC

40acres wrote: post #565

EnderMB wrote: post #531

While it's nice to see an opinionated company like Apple admit fault and revert to what people want, I wonder if this move is too late for many of those that decided to move away from Apple? Years ago, I switched to a Surface Book, and while I'm tempted to go back for this MBP I reckon that a Surface Book update would be enough to kill any desire for the Mac range. While Apple stagnated, many of the high-end manufact…

Doubt it. For devs there still isn't a great alternative. No one has the build quality of Apple and the XPS has been disappointing. Can't speak much for other pros but I'd imagine that they held off on an upgrade rather than switch to a new manufacturer. Apple's branding helps here.

There are absolutely better alternatives. Ubuntu 18 with Gnome (or any other modern Linux) + modern laptops with intel/nvidia work fantastic. Plenty of good aluminum chassi out there.

Apple build quality isn't even close to being good. Hardware failures are common, they had the shitty keyboards in previous gens that started failing after dust got stuck in them, e.t.c.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#664

Post by megablast » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:54 PM UTC

> You can spec this machine up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB (not a typo) of storage on the SSD. That’s just a massive amount of storage — and it will cost $6,099 to get a fully loaded 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Wow, that is a lot of computer. Even the base model is 16gb and 512gb.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#665

Post by perfect_wave » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:54 PM UTC

bastien-brd wrote: post #212

charleshan wrote: post #184

Don't forget that the Touch Bar costs an additional $400 for consumers. The 2015 model was the best MacBook Pro. Perhaps the best laptop yet.

Agreed, I'm still on a 2015 model and still super happy, even battery life is OK. Every time a new MacBook Pro is announced, I'm a bit excited but then I compare and I find no good enough incentive to upgrade yet. I'm secretly hoping that my 2015 model dies so I can upgrade to a newer sexier one, but the damn beast keeps on working great.

Also a 2015 MBP user chiming in. I see absolutely no reason to upgrade. Currently in need of a battery replacement. Still deciding whether it's worth attempting myself or to just shell out the extra $100 for Apple to do it.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#666

Post by usertrjx » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:55 PM UTC

mcv wrote: post #134

snowwrestler wrote: post #52

11 years ago I bought a 15” MacBook Pro, the first model year with the unibody design. I’m still using it almost every day for web browsing, watching videos, editing documents, etc. In 2008, it cost $2,400. The new 16” released today costs... $2,400.

Yeah, but that extra inch, man! I agree, though. My old 2011 MBP was fantastic. A few months ago the video card finally died, otherwise I'd still be using it. Modern macbooks barely seem to have any keyboard keys anymore.

Also have a 17 in. 2011 mbp, There is a workaround to get it working with the on board video bypassing the failing video card, but it doesn't seem like a long term fix.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#667

Post by rtkwe » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:55 PM UTC

mmmBacon wrote: post #205

karpodiem wrote: post #18

Would it materially harm a company with a trillion dollar market cap to offer a version of this without the touchbar (thus yielding a lower price), so people can afford to upgrade the soldered memory and NVMe drive? Would it also harm them to make a version that didn't have soldered memory/NVMe drive? Ultimately, this is why I switched to a Dell Latitude. Being user hostile to basic memory/disk replacement doesn't fl…

One way Apple has become a trillion dollar company is by minimizing skus. Options mean inventory, development and test costs etc... and can be sources of quality problems triggering warranty repairs or replacements. Doing few things allows one to streamline both product development and manufacturing.

The thing about that is they could minimize SKUs even more by providing socketed ram and storage. The permutations of that are much more numerous than adding a touch bar vs physical keys option.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#668

Post by heavyset_go » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:56 PM UTC

donkeyd wrote: post #587

blhack wrote: post #373

It's hilarious to me that their own marketing image has two dongles plugged into the laptop so that the user can still use USB. Apple please for the love of usability: please give me back USB. I AM the pro that you want to feature in every one of your marketing videos. I have a music studio in my house, I build interactive lighting installations for the biggest music festivals in the world, I build custom hardware co…

Things change, deal with it. I've swapped USB cables to USB-C cables. Only USB drives, which i rarely use anymore require an adapter. Meanwhile, I can use all 4 ports to: - Run a display - Charge my laptop - Charge a phone - Connect a drive I can even use a single port to both charge the laptop and run a screen with multiple USB devices attached to it. I now need to daisy chain converters to use my PS/2 mouse on my M…

> Things change, deal with it.

Other companies have dealt with change better than Apple. For example, I can buy a professional tier laptop from Microsoft or Lenovo with plenty of USB ports, while Apple's reaction to change has been to ignore their professional users' use-cases.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#669

Post by ActorNightly » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:56 PM UTC

I urge everyone to remember Apples actions regarding HK protests,specifically how they are able to remove an app from the store, without any easy way to side load it on devices.

Also keep in mind that warranty and repairs on Mac products are a complete ripoff.

Re: 16-inch MacBook Pro

#670

Post by vkaku » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 6:57 PM UTC

Looks like an upgrade, for sure. I'd look at it if they did a few more things:

1) Ryzen Options; Icelake Options 2) Regular USB 3 Ports and 3.5mm Jack 3) Make the Touchbar Optional. 4) Do not solder stuff to the Board.