New 13-inch MacBook Pro • Hacker News Board

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#81

Post by ajconway » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:00 PM UTC

the_gipsy wrote: post #44

tsar9x wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, competitors are still behind Apple. They offer worse touchpad, worse screens (it's either 16:9 or weird resolution), no macOS, worse speakers, worse microphone, worse battery.

> macOS Hold on, I would actually buy a macbook if the hardware wouldn't be annoyingly incompatible with Linux.

If hardware quality and design is desirable, there are a several options on the market. Surface Pro are extremely nice if you're into Windows. X1 Carbon is a nice option if you are after a durable and compact laptop. Razer Blade is basically a performant gaming laptop in a MacBook Pro body (though you don't have to play games on it).

Still, even with all the software and hardware issues of the recent years, there is something in Apple's computers that makes me want to keep using them.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#82

Post by mysticmode » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:00 PM UTC

missosoup wrote: post #2

Is it just me or is Apple starting to fall woefully behind non-mac hardware competitors in both price and perf? I used to look forward to these announcements, now it's just 'we upgraded to a +1 generation config (still 1-2 generations behind what others are doing), that'll be 2000 bucks thanks'. Advertising 4 cores and 2018 Iris graphics as if it's some kind of achievement, when competitors have full dGpu solutions a…

Indeed. And the words that Apple puts to explain about their products is going really numb.

They should change their ambiguous tone and show the real progress in these mac.

I can absolutely get a better laptop at a reasonable price than these products and the features that offers and be more productive.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#83

Post by biktor_gj » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

missosoup wrote: post #2

Is it just me or is Apple starting to fall woefully behind non-mac hardware competitors in both price and perf? I used to look forward to these announcements, now it's just 'we upgraded to a +1 generation config (still 1-2 generations behind what others are doing), that'll be 2000 bucks thanks'. Advertising 4 cores and 2018 Iris graphics as if it's some kind of achievement, when competitors have full dGpu solutions a…

It's even worse when you notice that two of the four "new" models come with an 8th gen Intel CPU, and DDR3 memory, it's like they replaced the keyboard from the previous model and they're calling it "new".

Between selling cpu's 2 generations behind, the keyboard issues, and thermal problems in the Macbook Airs, it really seems like Apple is trying its best to alienate buyers from their laptop line. Just recommended a coworker a Macbook Air for her son, an i7, 16Gb of RAM and 512Gb SSD. From off to account creation, the fan was already running. By the time the laptop was showing the desktop it was burning to touch. Some more testing and I found out the CPU was at 94-98ºC after 4 minutes. Turns out it is by design (just take a look at the photos of the cpu cooler, separated from the fan https://www.ifixit.com/News/36480/theres-something-new-in-th...). She just returned the laptop and is exploring options from Dell and Lenovo.

Even if you like MacOS, you now have to wait before buying anything Apple until you can see a teardown just to see if it's going to survive even casual use.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#84

Post by Karupan » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

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.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#85

Post by lmilcin » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:02 PM UTC

ubercow13 wrote: post #78

lmilcin wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And how do these scissors work with beard follicle? It's all the same to me, really, if it can't survive piece of hair. For the past 20 years I have been using Thinkpads. My last one is T440s which I bought immediately it was available and still wait for it to die. I would like a MBP but seeing what the Thinkpad went through I just don't think so. I spilled stuff on it not once but twice, once hot latte and once a li…

T440s also uses scissors like almost every laptop

Thinkpad keyboard is completely unlike Apple keyboards, however the technology is called. Just the key travel on Thinkpad is probably more than entire thickness of Apple keyboard.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#86

Post by martinvol » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:03 PM UTC

corey_moncure wrote: post #45

It's astonishing how far the MBP has fallen in ten years. My 2010 MBP was and still is the perfect laptop design. Look what Apple has taken away from us: MagSafe, SD card slot, optical audio I/O, RJ45, USB-A, even the top row of our keyboards. What have we gained? The same internal advances that are in every other computer, a gimmicky touch bar, fragile keyboard mechanism, and USB-C. What's really sad is that none of…

Seriously are you missing optical?

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#87

Post by quantummkv » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:04 PM UTC

nivertech wrote: post #7

4 cores? Pro? 2020? lol EDIT: maybe 4 cores are enough for development using non-compiled languages, and if you don't use Chrome and Electron apps, and not running several VMs and docker containers. Some programming languages like Julia and Erlang/Elixir will happily use all the cores available on your laptop to speed up calculations, run builds, tests and other development tasks.

Unless you are using your laptop as a server or using a boatload of electron apps, 4 high performance x86 cores are more that enough in a 13-inch laptop.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#88

Post by shoo_pl » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:04 PM UTC

djhworld wrote: post #61

A bit disappointing the 32GB ram option is only available on the £1,799 model (which, when added, bumps the price to £2,199) Interestingly on that model the RAM is running at a higher speed (3733MHz LPDDR4X vs. 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory) I'm still running my MBP from 2015 which is mostly fine, but Firefox and co. eat the RAM so would be good for an update. Although for work I use the 16" 2019 model with 32GB and Firefox…

The ram difference is most likely because the lower-end models use 8th gen CPU, whereas the top tier uses 10th gen.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#89

Post by OrangeMango » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:04 PM UTC

tartrate wrote: post #34

tsar9x wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, competitors are still behind Apple. They offer worse touchpad, worse screens (it's either 16:9 or weird resolution), no macOS, worse speakers, worse microphone, worse battery.

Apple is still behind Lenovo. They don't have the TrackPoint, only glossy screens, not even 16:9, no Linux support, only one battery instead of two replacable ones, and so on.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the X series ThinkPads are the main competitor to the MacBook Pro series. IE, thin and targeted at professionals.

It's been years since an X-series has had a removable battery and the option for two of them. Decent-quality screens are a significant upcharge and even then barely match the Apple screen. And going over to their website, an X1 carbon 7th gen with a 10th gen Intel processor still uses LPDDR3, just like the Apple.

If you do a real comparison - beyond just "processor cores/speed, ram and disk quantity", you'll find that there really isn't a huge difference in price for specs and that you can comfortably buy the one you prefer and not feel ripped off.

Re: New 13-inch MacBook Pro

#90

Post by xhruso00 » Mon, May 04, 2020, 1:05 PM UTC

nonane wrote: post #74

corey_moncure wrote: post #45

It's astonishing how far the MBP has fallen in ten years. My 2010 MBP was and still is the perfect laptop design. Look what Apple has taken away from us: MagSafe, SD card slot, optical audio I/O, RJ45, USB-A, even the top row of our keyboards. What have we gained? The same internal advances that are in every other computer, a gimmicky touch bar, fragile keyboard mechanism, and USB-C. What's really sad is that none of…

MagSafe was flawed - I’m glad it’s gone. It had massive reliability issues due to dust getting in between the connectors - which ending up causing charging problems, excessive heat at the charging port and countless charging adapter replacements.

On MBP2015 and i love magsafe.