Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

ThisBougieLife

Suspended
Jan 21, 2016
3,259
10,664
Northern California
No.

The "modular Mac Pro" is vaporware at this point, it may never come for all we know. But the MBP will never go back to being "modular". No replaceable batteries, no replaceable SSDs, no thickness. Sorz.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Seed101

Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
There were legit complaints concerning the keyboard, the graphic card glitching, and the battery, which were reported by actual buyers not just internet haters.
True, but the graphics issues were addressed early with software updates, and the battery problems were pretty much limited to the 13" with touch bar. The others actually get improved battery life for light to moderate use, but the general internet hysteria lost track of that.

Nor is there any real data to prove that it's "successful."
According to Apple there are. But since you ignore contrary facts, it isn't surprising you're unaware.

Edit: I should correct myself to say that Apple led John Gruber to believe there are hard data to show the new MBP is a "hit," but it could be Gruber was misled.
 
Last edited:

Chancha

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2014
2,340
2,161
True, but the graphics issues were addressed early with software updates, and the battery problems were pretty much limited to the 13" with touch bar. The others actually get improved battery life for light to moderate use, but the general internet hysteria lost track of that.
You are right, the combinations of complaints all piled up and slightly blew out of proportion. But I was more commenting on the design choices that led to those specific issues which I didn't elaborate.

KB: if they didn't make the case as thin as it is, they could have easily put in the 2015 KB and virtually no one would complain about the extra 1mm or so thickness. Even if the next MBP2017 has its butterfly switch ver 3.0 it wouldn't change the fact that the one on this 2016 is sub-par, concerning key stroke not registering or simply key failures.

GPU: they are already shipping somewhat mid-range mobile GPU but still struggled to ship it glitchless. If the chassis remains the same then the next update will still be limited by the same class of GPU available with similar thermo envelope, which will again lag behind the curve as performance goes.

Battery: I incline to "believe" the Bloomberg story not on face value, but by deduction: if Apple wasn't going to stuff in batteries with higher density / efficiency, they probably wouldn't have balls to make the MBP further thinner as it did. The MacBook line up has had a reputation of really decent battery life compared to other laptops in the industry for years, I don't think Apple would risk that for no reason. So yes I do hope they will have that supposed safety issue sorted out by the 2017 update, if coupled with Kabylake processors it actually mean these MBPs will have exceptional run time since the new chip has higher mobile efficiency.
 

Queen6

macrumors G4
GPU: they are already shipping somewhat mid-range mobile GPU but still struggled to ship it glitchless. If the chassis remains the same then the next update will still be limited by the same class of GPU available with similar thermo envelope, which will again lag behind the curve as performance goes.

GPU will be moot as long as USB C is interface for power as it's limited to 100W max. For those needing macOS the best route is an eGPU as it's highly unlikely that Apple are going to offer an MBP with powerful dGPU. One of Apple's errors was not having peripherals to work with the 2016 MBP at the point of release; USB C dock, eGPU etc. My next notebook will undoubtedly have USB C/TB-3, my next direct purchase will be an eGPU.

Q-6
 
  • Like
Reactions: SteveJUAE

ugru

macrumors 6502a
Sep 8, 2002
518
555
Caput Mundi
Where did Apple say that? The Shill-in-Chief said they had received more online orders for the 2016 than any other...

That happened just some days after launch, and before the barrage of criticism the first online reviews created and was digested by the public.

We do not have the disaggregated data of how many rMBPs were sold.
In particular it would be interesting to know:
- how many 13" and how many 15";
- how many of them were returned after the extended return window (people had more than 3 weeks to try it), and why;
- how many of them were 2015 models.
I doubt Apple will evere release those data.

So the success or the faliure of the 2016 rMBP has not been proven. All we have is a non corroborated source that says that they sold a huge quantity of 2015 ones.

Look, I know a lot of you guys want to paint the new MBP as some kind of failure, but there is no real data to prove that.

Nor that it is a wonderful success, unless they release disaggregated sales data.

13" buyers are clearly prioritizing size and minimalism above latest and fastest tech, which come with their own compromises.

Nonsense...A 20% thicker (like 2015 rMBP, not bigger) 13" quad core would sell like hot cakes...
[doublepost=1491843663][/doublepost]
GPU will be moot as long as USB C is interface for power as it's limited to 100W max.

Agree. Bring back Magsafe, one of the thing people has been asking since day 1.
 
Last edited:

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
Nor is there any real data to prove that it's "successful."
I do think they had a spike in orders, but I also believe that spike included a large ratio of the older MBPs

I hope Apple does address some of the short comings and this falls release will maybe be closer to what I need in terms of features and price.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Mercurian

aevan

macrumors 601
Feb 5, 2015
4,542
7,240
Serbia
Nor is there any real data to prove that it's "successful."

And, as noted, Schiller simply said they'd received more online orders for them than for any other; again, this is meaningless because every other rMBP was available in stores and online the day they were announced. I'm unaware of Apple releasing specific sales data - perhaps you could point to it in an SEC filing that breaks down 2015 versus 2016 MBPs?

Incidentally, why are you so invested in the new MBs being "successful?" How do you define success, anyway, and how closely does your definition track Apple's? Right - there's no way to know.

WHo says I'm invested so much?

And when I say successful, I mean that the Mac business is growing again.

But if you're asking my personal feeling on the matter, it's successful because it's a great computer. Again - that's my personal view. Either way - my "investment" is more a reaction to all the negativity than anything else.
 

Queen6

macrumors G4
Agree. Bring back Magsafe, one of the thing people has been asking since day 1.

Unfortunately I don't see it happening Apple's hubris will prevent then from accepting they have made a "wrong turn" well maybe 3-5 years later :rolleyes: Sadly Apple has pushed the MBP to a more consumer based product in the hope of selling greater numbers. Personally I can only speak for myself and my peers, with the rustle being a resounding no sale. At very best we will just get yet another adaptor/dongle as yet another additional necessary purchase.

If those who own and use the new MBP are good with it I am genuinely happy for them, equally a good number of us have been left out in the cold. That said the situation has also opened new avenues, one which Apple may well rue in time...

Over 20 years with the Mac, I have never seen Apple to be so "penny pinching" lacking vision or direction, so sick & tired of Tim Cook's Apple :(:(:(

Q-6
 

ugru

macrumors 6502a
Sep 8, 2002
518
555
Caput Mundi
Unfortunately I don't see it happening Apple's hubris will prevent then from accepting they have made a "wrong turn" well maybe 3-5 years later :rolleyes: Sadly Apple has pushed the MBP to a more consumer based product in the hope to sell greater numbers.

They were. Last week changed everything.
 

Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
KB: if they didn't make the case as thin as it is, they could have easily put in the 2015 KB and virtually no one would complain about the extra 1mm or so thickness. Even if the next MBP2017 has its butterfly switch ver 3.0 it wouldn't change the fact that the one on this 2016 is sub-par, concerning key stroke not registering or simply key failures.

The keyboard is one of the few choices Apple made that really is probably primarily about thinness. But most people like it, judging from polling and comments here and elsewhere. Here's the most recent poll about it:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/keyboard-poll-owners-only-please.2039905/

Many consider it an improvement, and relatively few find the opposite. Key failures are of course bad regardless of thickness and key travel. It remains to be seen if this design will hold up in that regard, or may need to be upgraded as you suggest.

GPU: they are already shipping somewhat mid-range mobile GPU but still struggled to ship it glitchless. If the chassis remains the same then the next update will still be limited by the same class of GPU available with similar thermo envelope, which will again lag behind the curve as performance goes.
That's always been the case with the MBP, compared to Windows gaming machines. The 460 that is the top MBP dGPU now was faster in broad GPU benchmarks than what was offered in the closest competition for the MBP when it came out, though. That changed when the Dell XPS was updated a few months later. None of this has to do much with thickness, as you couldn't get the GPU in the 2017 XPS 9560 in the older MBP chassis either, not only because of size but because it isn't compatible with the goals for the MBP in regard to heat, noise, battery life, and now also being able to charge from any port. The AMD GPUs also have the advantage of offering far better external monitor support, able to drive about twice as many UHD pixels.

The glitches are software issues, even now. There's no lack of power for smooth scrolling and so on.

Battery: I incline to "believe" the Bloomberg story not on face value, but by deduction: if Apple wasn't going to stuff in batteries with higher density / efficiency, they probably wouldn't have balls to make the MBP further thinner as it did. The MacBook line up has had a reputation of really decent battery life compared to other laptops in the industry for years, I don't think Apple would risk that for no reason. So yes I do hope they will have that supposed safety issue sorted out by the 2017 update, if coupled with Kabylake processors it actually mean these MBPs will have exceptional run time since the new chip has higher mobile efficiency.
Right, there's already room in the present chassis for a larger battery.
 

Queen6

macrumors G4
They were. Last week changed everything.

When Apple stops talking and actually delivers, then and only then will I be inclined to look once again. Apple may be picking up consumers for the Mac, however more & more serious users are abandoning the platform as Apple is simply not to be trusted as provider of professorial grade hardware and software, that Apple will regret in time, as we were once Apple's strongest advocates...

Q-6
 

Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
Nonsense...A 20% thicker (like 2015 rMBP, not bigger) 13" quad core would sell like hot cakes...
Wow, that's pure delusion, based on simply ignoring facts. Again, why would people want a 13" screen in a chassis almost as big and as heavy as a 15" that already has a quad core? You've simply refused to face that question. Thus myth lives on.

Sadly Apple has pushed the MBP to a more consumer based product in the hope of selling greater numbers. Personally I can only speak for myself and my peers, with the rustle being a resounding no sale.

All based on your continued insistence on ignoring all contrary facts. Again, objectively the new MBPs are more powerful and improved in numerous ways. In the real world, there are pros talking here and elsewhere continually about how well the new MBPs meet their professional needs.

Over 20 years with the Mac, I have never seen Apple to be so "penny pinching" lacking vision or direction, so sick & tired of Tim Cook's Apple :(:(:(
This too is based 100% on simply ignoring all contrary facts and views. You continue to confuse your desires with the only legitimate vision and direction. While Apple thrives, and other pros continue to thrive using their products.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HenryDJP

ugru

macrumors 6502a
Sep 8, 2002
518
555
Caput Mundi
Meanwhile, in the real world.

LTP_BWB_2017-rank-over-time_v2.1.jpg


http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/laptop-brand-ratings
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
And when I say successful, I mean that the Mac business is growing again.
Which is a good thing, and I'm glad things are stablized because I really don't want Cook having any excuse to kill of the Mac line.

Sadly Apple has pushed the MBP to a more consumer based product in the hope of selling greater numbers. Personally I can only speak for myself and my peers, with the rustle being a resounding no sale. At very best we will just get yet another adaptor/dongle as yet another additional necessary purchase.
I agree, Apple's main focus has been very much on the consumer and that's been leaving professional users behind.
 

Chancha

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2014
2,340
2,161
The keyboard is one of the few choices Apple made that really is probably primarily about thinness...... Many consider it an improvement, and relatively few find the opposite. Key failures are of course bad regardless of thickness and key travel. It remains to be seen if this design will hold up in that regard, or may need to be upgraded as you suggest.
The "many considering it an improvement" bit is with the condition if his given unit is failure-free. This is the troubling part, that Apple would ship this new design in this state on a professional machine, where some intended audience are writers or coders who really rely on typing accuracy. I think such length to thinness is quite justified on the 12" MB line which inherited the MacBook Air target where probability is a priority, but I struggle to see it in the MBP line especially the 15" models.

That's always been the case with the MBP, compared to Windows gaming machines..... None of this has to do much with thickness, as you couldn't get the GPU in the 2017 XPS 9560 in the older MBP chassis either, not only because of size but because it isn't compatible with the goals for the MBP in regard to heat, noise, battery life, and now also being able to charge from any port.
While I agree that MBP or even back track to the PowerBook line had "always been the case" with using mid-range mobile GPUs. But there is one difference where Apple used to update their models annually if not more frequently, so the particular choice of chip would only lag for a time until the newer model that replaced it. This MBP update cycle has slowed down a lot lately, the GPU is subject to longer periods of being "underpowered". As a result, even aiming for thinness has always been part of the MBP feature set, for this particular generation it's not helping its under-performance not just the GPU but also lack of DDR4 (thus the 32GB argument). But anyway the above posters had already noted, since the MBP is done with MagSafe, with USB-C the TDP constraint will always be there regardless of the chassis / thermo envelope.

I think many people wish Apple would make a "thicker", perhaps 17" variant MBP that is a true workstation class laptop, not replacing the current 15" but as an additional model like they used to. But since the 15" is already the best they could get, therefore the wishful thinkings or even bashing is landed on it. This is somewhat similar to the nMP fiasco, people want the maximum tier Mac to be configurable or at least ship with the highest possible set of components, since it is a professional machine afterall.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ugru and Queen6

Seed101

macrumors 6502
Nov 11, 2015
366
263
I can see them dropping the touch bar, or at least phasing it out with similar models available up the chain without it...modular, not so much, think that ship has sailed...

Mac Pro modular could be great however...
 

Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
More silliness from someone who can't distinguish subjective opinion from reality. Clue: That ranking is based directly on likes and dislikes of the kind there is wide disagreement about. And Laptop Magazine isn't the best source for reviews. Check sources that rely more on more objective factors and the new MBP remains at the top.

Apple's main focus has been very much on the consumer and that's been leaving professional users behind.
Again, the facts don't support this view, but some people believe it because they confuse their own desires with those of professionals in general.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HenryDJP

zaphodb3

macrumors member
May 3, 2015
52
63
In the short term, I think they will keep exactly the same hardware and rely on processor improvements for marginal gains in battery life and speed. My expectation is that they will be able to squeak out maybe an extra 0.5-1hr of battery life at best.

For the probable late-2017 upgrade I would be very surprised if they a) introduced a 32gb ram option (because there is no low-power option available, and this would reduce battery life too much) or b) drastically change the chassis to introduce a bigger battery (this would sacrifice portability too much, which I don't think they are willing to go backward on). I think the touch bar will stay at least for another year, I would be (pleasantly) surprised if they admit defeat on this concept sooner than that. A marginal improvement in the video card. Modularity for the laptops will remain a pipe dream, that ship has sailed.
 

thesaint024

macrumors 65816
Nov 14, 2016
1,073
888
suspension waiting room
Nonsense...A 20% thicker (like 2015 rMBP, not bigger) 13" quad core would sell like hot cakes...
Are you going to provide ANY rationale as to why a regular business person would want a hotter running cpu when productivity apps don't frequently require it? I could provide a lot of reasons why smallest and lightest is more convenient for a prosumer. I think you continue to ignore the majority of MBP purchasers. We are not "power users" that run into cpu bottlenecks. Contrary to your belief, we would actually welcome EVEN smaller and lighter than the current 3lbs but still need on demand power for occasional calculations, etc. I suppose what I'm saying is nonsense because you have declared it so.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HenryDJP and xxray

ugru

macrumors 6502a
Sep 8, 2002
518
555
Caput Mundi
You, and people who think like you, who should have bought a rMB instead of a rMBP because they do not need performances and value portability more, are the root cause that lead Apple to believe that they had to do both their laptop lines thinner and thinner instead of differenciate them: one thin and portable the other one thicker and with top of the line GPU and CPU...

So they alienated a big chunk of potential professional customers who looked elsewere...
 

Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
The "many considering it an improvement" bit is with the condition if his given unit is failure-free. This is the troubling part, that Apple would ship this new design in this state on a professional machine, where some intended audience are writers or coders who really rely on typing accuracy. I think such length to thinness is quite justified on the 12" MB line which inherited the MacBook Air target where probability is a priority, but I struggle to see it in the MBP line especially the 15" models.
I don't think I follow what you're trying to say. Yes, the large majority who like the new keyboard consider in that judgment whether it works. That's part of my point. It's failure-free for the large majority. The vast majority of complaints aren't about failures of keys to register correctly, but about key travel or clicky sounds. It's hard to tell if there have been more keys than usual that fail to register correctly; there are always some complaints about that with laptop keyboards. If there are more problems with that than usual, it may be a reasonable and hopefully temporary price for improvements as long as it's not too common.

While I agree that MBP or even back track to the PowerBook line had "always been the case" with using mid-range mobile GPUs. But there is one difference where Apple used to update their models annually if not more frequently, so the particular choice of chip would only lag for a time until the newer model that replaced it. This MBP update cycle has slowed down a lot lately, the GPU is subject to longer periods of being "underpowered". As a result, even aiming for thinness has always been part of the MBP feature set, for this particular generation it's not helping its under-performance not just the GPU but also lack of DDR4 (thus the 32GB argument). But anyway the above posters had already noted, since the MBP is done with MagSafe, with USB-C the TDP constraint will always be there regardless of the chassis / thermo envelope.
As explained in the preceding couple pages of comments and in what I just said, the choice of dGPU isn't constrained primarily or even in large part by thinness. As I and others have pointed out, even the 2015 chassis wouldn't make a difference. More decisive factors are listed and discussed several times here by several posters. There could be a separate port for charging because 100 W isn't enough, but that would only be needed for a machine that's going to eat up the battery and run hot and loud each time the dGPU is engaged, as the machines with 1060 and 1070 GPUs do. That's not consistent with the general design goals of the MBP.

The same is true in regard to RAM and thinness. There's already room for DDR4 RAM. But as Apple has explained, that would cost battery life because it's desktop RAM, not low-powered RAM designed for laptops. My own estimates based on the best data I could find are that over a period ten hours use, about the battery life of the MBP, using 32 GB DDR4 would use 5-84 watt-hours more than 16 GB LPDDR3, depending on load. Considering the largest permitted battery is under 100 watt-hours, that's a lot of battery drain. It's not about thinness.

I think many people wish Apple would make a "thicker", perhaps 17" variant MBP that is a true workstation class laptop, not replacing the current 15" but as an additional model like they used to. But since the 15" is already the best they could get, therefore the wishful thinkings or even bashing is landed on it. This is somewhat similar to the nMP fiasco, people want the maximum tier Mac to be configurable or at least ship with the highest possible set of components, since it is a professional machine afterall.
Yes, many do wish for a thicker machine, but apart from those upset about key travel, they're misinformed. And most of them maintain that state by ignoring all facts that don't fit the myth about thinness being to blame for all or most ills. And yes, they do lash out at the existing machine that isn't as they wish it to be.

That said, I'd love to see a return of the 17", I still have two that are running and waited till now to upgrade waiting for another. But they apparently weren't popular enough to be sustainable as an option. Maybe with better screen technology that can change, but I'm doubtful.
 

aevan

macrumors 601
Feb 5, 2015
4,542
7,240
Serbia
Exactly, this also reflects my own observations...

Q-6

You do realize that, even if the chart is true, it has nothing to do with quality and everything with an emotional response? Just like EA was voted the worst company in the world, worse the oil spillers and weapon sellers, because of ME3 ending?

I mean, you don't honestly believe people are more satisfied with their Lenovos, right? Right?

Sheesh. Enjoy your Dells and Lenovos in the REAL WORLD (Jesus....), what can I say.
 
Last edited:

Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
You, and people who think like you, who should have bought a rMB instead of a rMBP because they do not need performances and value portability more, are the root cause that lead Apple to believe that they had to do both their laptop lines thinner and thinner instead of differenciate them: one thin and portable the other one thicker and with top of the line GPU and CPU...

So they alienated a big chunk of potential professional customers who looked elsewere...
Just keep preserving the delusion by ignoring contrary facts. It's already been fully explained to you by several people why what you say makes no sense, should you ever decide to join us in reality.
 

aevan

macrumors 601
Feb 5, 2015
4,542
7,240
Serbia
Just keep preserving the delusion by ignoring contrary facts. It's already been fully explained to you by several people why what you say makes no sense, should you ever decide to join us in reality.

No point. I pulled out of these ridiculous discussions the last time (because I was, apparently, a) an Apple employee, b) fanatic or c) Phil Schiller) - I guess I'll do it again.

Sure guys. Sure. That thick, USB-A port MacBook Pro is just around the corner. Either that or Apple is doomed. No doubt.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.