Today's thought: Minor rant on the new MacBook Pro
Source:
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018...faster-performance-and-new-features-for-pros/
Disclaimers:
If you have a Macbook and like it, I have nothing against you, it's just that I kinda dislike some of Apple's products and business practices, along with the naive Mac users who are thoroughly uneducated about technology due to Macs being so easy to use.
Paragraph-by-paragraph analysis:
Cupertino, California — Apple today updated MacBook Pro with faster performance and new pro features, making it the most advanced Mac notebook ever. The new MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar feature 8th-generation Intel Core processors, with 6-core on the 15-inch model for up to 70 percent faster performance and quad-core on the 13-inch model for up to two times faster performance — ideal for manipulating large data sets, performing complex simulations, creating multi-track audio projects or doing advanced image processing or film editing.
Already the most popular notebook for developers around the world, the new MacBook Pro can compile code faster and run multiple virtual machines and test environments easier than before. Additional updates include support for up to 32GB of memory, a True Tone display and an improved third-generation keyboard for quieter typing. And with its powerful Radeon Pro graphics, large Force Touch trackpad, revolutionary Touch Bar and Touch ID, dynamic stereo speakers, quiet Apple-designed cooling system and Thunderbolt 3 for data transfer, charging and connecting up to two 5K displays or four external GPUs, it’s the ultimate pro notebook.
Faster performance and new pro features: I see no "pro features" added now... Seriously. The Radeon Pro graphics is just a rebranded version of the RX-series to make average users feel more "pro" than they really are. The Force Touch Trackpad is kinda cool, but I really see no point in it considering that there are free, ad-free apps for Windows and Android that turn your phone into an excellent trackpad. I use my Xperia X as one all the time. Force touch has limited applications for me. I really don't see the point of having to use force to press down on the trackpad when there's such thing as right click. Also, I personally don't find large trackpads enjoyable to use (this is opinion). I prefer a trackpoint nipple. The Touch Bar is not revolutionary. It's the same one as last year, and really doesn't help everyday use in a worthwhile way with many apps. The ASUS touchscreen trackpad is revolutionary, on the other hand. Professionals can actually multi-task with it, unlike the little screen at the top of the MacBook keyboard. Touch ID has been done with Windows Hello for years, and was on the previous MacBook Pro. The "dynamic" stereo speakers are actually kinda good, but Windows OEMs are catching up, with Xiaomi's Mi Book Pro having very nice speakers as an example. The "quiet" cooling system is most likely last year's heatsink but barely within Intel spec. As usual, the MacBook will most likely thermal throttle. Thunderbolt 3 is also nothing new, and many Windows "pro" PCs have it. Not 4 ports, sure, but one or two is usually enough. And, Windows PCs have actual ports, such as USB and HDMI.
Now, the "major" features. The "massive" performance gains are mostly to Intel's credit, and the CPUs will most likely thermal throttle if we are following Apple's current cooling track record. The 32GB of memory is nothing new to Windows users, as is the "multiple VM support." The True Tone display cannot be calibrated by the user without a tool, unlike machines like the ThinkPad P51, which has an excellent screen for professionals. The "third generation" butterfly keyboard is most likely unimproved, and will still be inferior to any other laptop's keyboard (except maybe the Dell Maglev keyboard).
“The latest generation MacBook Pro is the fastest and most powerful notebook we’ve ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Now with 8th-generation 6-core processors, up to 32GB of system memory, up to 4TB of super fast SSD storage, new True Tone technology in its Retina display and Touch Bar, the Apple T2 chip for enhanced security and a third-generation quieter keyboard packed into its thin and light aluminum design with all-day battery life, it’s the best notebook for pro users.”
He's on the marketing team. Of course he will fluff up the features of the MacBook. More of the same bull pulled above.
The new MacBook Pro is now faster and more powerful, with 8th-generation 6-core Intel Core processors on the 15-inch MacBook Pro for up to 70 percent faster performance and 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core processors on the 13-inch model for performance that’s up to twice as fast.1 With the option to add up to 32GB of memory on the 15-inch MacBook Pro, users can run more apps simultaneously or load larger files into memory. And with up to a 2TB SSD on the 13-inch model and up to a 4TB SSD on the 15-inch, MacBook Pro gives customers the flexibility to work with large asset libraries and projects wherever they go.
Again the same stuff above.
With 500 nits of brightness and support for the P3 wide color gamut, the Retina display on MacBook Pro is the best Mac notebook display ever. Now with True Tone technology, the display and Touch Bar deliver a more natural viewing experience for design and editing workflows, as well as everyday tasks like browsing the web and writing email.
Apple is being so repetitive. Bet that something like this will be in their marketing language next year. I have given up on the rest of it, which is essentially a school promotion, Mac OS Mojave, and "premium" leather sleeves.
If I feel like it tomorrow, I'll compare it to either the ThinkPad P51 or the Xiaomi Mi Book Pro. Why not.