So it turns the new MacBook Pro into the good old MacBook Pro aesthetics-wise. I really couldn't understand the obsession about thinness on a Pro segment device when it means sacrificing all that is truly useful about that device.
This just brings everything back to the way it was a few years ago only with updated features and performance.
The sad thing is that we all know that if Apple wanted to use a .95" chassis, then they could absolutely kill.
Tons of ports, a 99WHr battery, a gaming-worthy gpu, the old perfect keyboard, a trackpads that actually clicks and maybe even some expandable stuff (storage, etc).
Agreed. But I wouldn't call it "prestige" though. "Fashion statement" is more appropriate IMO.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all Apple fans are like that, but enthusiasts and professionals buying Macs fail to realize that they're the absolute minority. Apple just isn't to cater for a minority when all the money is elsewhere. It's self evident with Apple's price increase, despite no value added for the working professional.
I don't know about half-assed scientists but full-assed ones might need a supercomputer, or a normal server, or Windows, or MacOS, or Linux. Or simply pen and paper. Some simply need a laptop to connect to anything in the backend and a Mac will do just fine. You can use it for scripting or the software used might be developed exclusively for MacOS.
Any half- or full-assed commentator needs to know this so he doesn't sound like turd.
Yes, a mac will do just fine.... as a glorified thin client, but anything with a screen will do too nowadays.
There are some portable machine with enough muscle to be used for main computing device, for example my clevo laptop with 64GB ram and beefy nvidia gpu I'm typing on right now. Oh and it is cheaper than mbp 15" BTW.
Yeah, thinness in laptops and mobiles is just the stupidest choice to go for in regards to productivity. I actually tested an old laptop with 99Wh laptop back around 2014. It lasted the day with work. We need more like that.
That's an interesting design idea and a creative way to solve the problems created through lost functionality thanks to Apple (and many other OEMs) being fixated on making thinner computers and using a millimeter or two of reduced thickness as a selling point to justify the latest model to an audience that may not understand the benefits of upgraded internal components.
Smoothing out the bridge connector so it isn't a snag prone, make it USB-C and slap in an extra battery and you've got a winner. Maybe OWC will develop a similar solution for a few other popular laptops out there and there'll certainly be a market for this kind of hardware until technology evolves to make the shedding thickness thing less of a problem.
This is the equivalent to the companies making Airpod straps, great commentary of just how ridiculously far Apple has taken the form over function mentality.
Four USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports offer more professional performance than ANY PC laptop. The Expensive Dell XPS 15 has only one Thunderbolt 3 port. And the only significant port it has is HDMI, and even there it's only HDMI 1.4 with no support beyond 1920x1080. Your "Real Professionals" argument is total bullshit.
"The Expensive Dell XPS 15". That "expensive" machine is pretty damn cheap compared to the latest Macbooks with the same specs.
You could argue that you only need 1 TB3 port for a dock. 4 don't really matter when you don't have enough PCIe lanes. Enjoy your dongles for the rest of the ports, you'll need them.
You could also argue that the XPS 15 isn't Dell's Pro line. If you want a real professional, ultraportable Dell machine, check out their Precision 15 5000 series, with Xeon CPUs and pro graphics that can actually drive 4 TB3 ports, which aren't needed ATM. Something Mac laptops never had. Just make sure you skip Skylake.
Pros want their current equipment to work without fuss. They don't need Apple and/or other OEMs to tell them what they should, or shouldn't use.
HPs and Thinkpads have similar models with "real" pro specs and features. So yea, nope, not your new shiny Macbook.
That's 100% BS. XPS 15 start at $999, and has 1050 GPU. I had no problem driving external 4K display with HDMI either.
It's a big joke to use new macbooks for any professional usage. They are glorified ultrabooks, or macbook airs. Maybe just enough for journalist, but not for professionals.
I think this is people trying to solve problems that don't exist. And Apple Air Pods work great. If you haven't tried them, don't tell us you know they suck. You don't know jack shit.
So you're telling me that having only USB Type-C ports isn't a problem, when there are MANY peripherals that still use Type A? You're surprised that people want to use their old stuff? Also, you don't have to own AirPods to figure out that small items are easy to lose, and that an item to keep them together would prevent you from losing one and making them useless.
Someone seems extremely defensive today. Everything has problems, even Apple products.
Why did you buy the scaMBook Wanna-be Pro? Because it's new, it's fast, it's lightweight...it's über-thin! <a couple months down the road, same dumb customer> Why did you buy the DEC addon for the scaMBook Pro? Because it adds more functionality, more ports But didn't you have that with the old model? Yeah, but this one is thinner It WAS, right? Yeah, well....I'm a CrApple fanboi and I buy any PoS they release thinking it's "premium" bullshit.
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baka_toroi - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
The fact that this exists blows my mind in terms of how retarded the industry got.close - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
So it turns the new MacBook Pro into the good old MacBook Pro aesthetics-wise. I really couldn't understand the obsession about thinness on a Pro segment device when it means sacrificing all that is truly useful about that device.This just brings everything back to the way it was a few years ago only with updated features and performance.
ImSpartacus - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
The sad thing is that we all know that if Apple wanted to use a .95" chassis, then they could absolutely kill.Tons of ports, a 99WHr battery, a gaming-worthy gpu, the old perfect keyboard, a trackpads that actually clicks and maybe even some expandable stuff (storage, etc).
skavi - Sunday, January 15, 2017 - link
The current trackpad is definitely better than the old mechanical version.zodiacfml - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
It is because people buy the Pro for the prestige and not using it for anything professional.lilmoe - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
Agreed. But I wouldn't call it "prestige" though. "Fashion statement" is more appropriate IMO.Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all Apple fans are like that, but enthusiasts and professionals buying Macs fail to realize that they're the absolute minority. Apple just isn't to cater for a minority when all the money is elsewhere. It's self evident with Apple's price increase, despite no value added for the working professional.
watersb - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
The MacBook Pro is very popular with the scientists I work with: a Unix laptop that mostly works.nerd1 - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
any half-assed scientist needs a powerful server anyway, which runs linux.close - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
I don't know about half-assed scientists but full-assed ones might need a supercomputer, or a normal server, or Windows, or MacOS, or Linux. Or simply pen and paper.Some simply need a laptop to connect to anything in the backend and a Mac will do just fine. You can use it for scripting or the software used might be developed exclusively for MacOS.
Any half- or full-assed commentator needs to know this so he doesn't sound like turd.
nerd1 - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
Yes, a mac will do just fine.... as a glorified thin client, but anything with a screen will do too nowadays.There are some portable machine with enough muscle to be used for main computing device, for example my clevo laptop with 64GB ram and beefy nvidia gpu I'm typing on right now. Oh and it is cheaper than mbp 15" BTW.
rtho782 - Sunday, January 15, 2017 - link
This is the eternal september of the real world.nagi603 - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
Yeah, thinness in laptops and mobiles is just the stupidest choice to go for in regards to productivity. I actually tested an old laptop with 99Wh laptop back around 2014. It lasted the day with work. We need more like that.BrokenCrayons - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
That's an interesting design idea and a creative way to solve the problems created through lost functionality thanks to Apple (and many other OEMs) being fixated on making thinner computers and using a millimeter or two of reduced thickness as a selling point to justify the latest model to an audience that may not understand the benefits of upgraded internal components.Smoothing out the bridge connector so it isn't a snag prone, make it USB-C and slap in an extra battery and you've got a winner. Maybe OWC will develop a similar solution for a few other popular laptops out there and there'll certainly be a market for this kind of hardware until technology evolves to make the shedding thickness thing less of a problem.
p1esk - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
This ugly hack better provide a week of battery life, in addition to all those extra ports/storage.BrokenCrayons - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
This is a very early prototype so they'll probably improve the look/feel of it before it goes into production.britjh22 - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
This is the equivalent to the companies making Airpod straps, great commentary of just how ridiculously far Apple has taken the form over function mentality.BrokenCrayons - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
It's sadly not just an Apple thing.sorten - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
It's mostly an Apple thing. The Dell XPS line and the HP Spectre still offer a full range of ports.lilmoe - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
It's primarily an Apple thing. Other companies with similar products do offer alternatives better catered towards real professionals.TEAMSWITCHER - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
Four USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports offer more professional performance than ANY PC laptop. The Expensive Dell XPS 15 has only one Thunderbolt 3 port. And the only significant port it has is HDMI, and even there it's only HDMI 1.4 with no support beyond 1920x1080. Your "Real Professionals" argument is total bullshit.lilmoe - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
Looks like I cracked a nut."The Expensive Dell XPS 15".
That "expensive" machine is pretty damn cheap compared to the latest Macbooks with the same specs.
You could argue that you only need 1 TB3 port for a dock. 4 don't really matter when you don't have enough PCIe lanes. Enjoy your dongles for the rest of the ports, you'll need them.
You could also argue that the XPS 15 isn't Dell's Pro line. If you want a real professional, ultraportable Dell machine, check out their Precision 15 5000 series, with Xeon CPUs and pro graphics that can actually drive 4 TB3 ports, which aren't needed ATM. Something Mac laptops never had. Just make sure you skip Skylake.
Pros want their current equipment to work without fuss. They don't need Apple and/or other OEMs to tell them what they should, or shouldn't use.
HPs and Thinkpads have similar models with "real" pro specs and features. So yea, nope, not your new shiny Macbook.
nerd1 - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
That's 100% BS. XPS 15 start at $999, and has 1050 GPU. I had no problem driving external 4K display with HDMI either.It's a big joke to use new macbooks for any professional usage. They are glorified ultrabooks, or macbook airs. Maybe just enough for journalist, but not for professionals.
Murloc - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
actually it is because if you want windows or linux you have a big choice of thick and thin laptops.TEAMSWITCHER - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
I think this is people trying to solve problems that don't exist. And Apple Air Pods work great. If you haven't tried them, don't tell us you know they suck. You don't know jack shit.Inteli - Sunday, January 15, 2017 - link
So you're telling me that having only USB Type-C ports isn't a problem, when there are MANY peripherals that still use Type A? You're surprised that people want to use their old stuff? Also, you don't have to own AirPods to figure out that small items are easy to lose, and that an item to keep them together would prevent you from losing one and making them useless.Someone seems extremely defensive today. Everything has problems, even Apple products.
helvete - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
Yeah, the airpods work great but the sound quality they produce is fairly inferior. It could suffice for watching films though..tspacie - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
As the former owner of an actual DEC computer, the name infuriates me.3ogdy - Sunday, January 15, 2017 - link
Why did you buy the scaMBook Wanna-be Pro?Because it's new, it's fast, it's lightweight...it's über-thin!
<a couple months down the road, same dumb customer>
Why did you buy the DEC addon for the scaMBook Pro?
Because it adds more functionality, more ports
But didn't you have that with the old model?
Yeah, but this one is thinner
It WAS, right?
Yeah, well....I'm a CrApple fanboi and I buy any PoS they release thinking it's "premium" bullshit.