The "I just ordered / bought / got my new/refurb MBP" thread [Merged]

[facemeat]

So close on pulling the trigger on the 2016 rMBP 15 (512gb SSD 460GPU), but it's $3700 in Sweden, I want to so bad, but I've never paid that much money on a laptop.
Decisions decisions!

 

[GB148]

So close on pulling the trigger on the 2016 rMBP 15 (512gb SSD 460GPU), but it's $3700 in Sweden, I want to so bad, but I've never paid that much money on a laptop.
Decisions decisions!

I think I’ve monopolized this thread long enough and wasn't planning onposting more. But, as I got into a silly argument with a silly person who misstated the intent of my comments, I thought I'd throw my opinion your way one last time.

My last three machines have been the 17" MBP (don't remember what year, but not unibody), a 2008 13" MBP, and three weeks ago I bought a new 15" MBP. The 13" was a machine I bragged about for years. I put an SSD in it when I first bought it, and it ran great until I had to update the OS to run TurboTax last year. At that point Kernel task and windowserver took over the machine, it became super laggy and non-responsive, the fans came on all the time, and the machine became totally unusable because of the update.

I am supplied with PCs at work and currently have the latest Dell desktop running a core i7 chip with Windows 10, and it's no different than any other Windows machine I've had over the years, and that my employer installs McAffee on it makes it miserable to work with. I considered the XPS and Surface, but read about lots of hardware, screen, and hard drive issues on these machines. So, given I prefer the Mac OS and that the PC laptops didn't sound particularly robust, I chose to go with the new MBP.

Given the reviews I read, I was most concerned with dongles of all things. But,rather than spend $10-60 each buying new adapters from Apple or Amazon, you can by USBC to USB3.0 and USBC to USB2.0 and just about any cable to USBC you want on Amazon for $3 to $6. So, when spending $3k on a new laptop, replacing all my cables for about $20 with no adapters really wasn't an issue. In addition, I find the biggest improvement on this machine vs. the 2008 MBP to be the form factor, or size and weight. So buying $20 worth of cables to lose all that size and weight seems like a real no-brainer, and I'm not sure what everyone was complaining about.

My new machine scrolls WORD docs pretty well and doesn't bring on the fans surfing the web or watching videos. It does seem like I often have to click more than once on an icon or screen button to get a response and that the first click is often ignored. Similarly, non-Apple software, like PowerPoint and Adobe Pro, are still as miserable and clunky on this machine as my 2008. Adobe Pro works so poorly and is so laggy I can't use it to read docs at all and instead use Preview, which works smoothly and flawlessly. There's a scientific replacement for Photoshop called ImageJ that's available for free online. I use it a lot and, while it worked fine on my old machine, I can no longer copy an image I adjusted with ImageJ and paste it directly into PowerPoint, and instead have to now save it, open it with preview, copy it again, and then paste it into PowerPoint. To summarize, the new machine is smooth and ok with rudimentary Apple software, and as bad or worse than the 2008 MBP running Office products, Adobe products, Microsoft products, and pretty much anything but simple free Apple apps.

I think the touchbar as it stands is a gimmick and is more cumbersome, expensive and slower than simply hitting the brightness or volume key a couple of times. It's also easy to accidentally swipe the escape key on the touchpad and delete whatever you happen to be working on at the time. I find no advantage to the large trackpad, but haven't had any unintentional clicks with it. It just seems not to function on the first click, but I think that may be software related.

My main reason for buying the new laptop was to have a very stable machine I could trust, that I could do a lot of important work on while knowing it wouldn't crash and delete my work, and which had a faster and newer processor, both so it could run the Apple OS efficiently as well as demanding scientific analysis software and deal with the large databases I work with efficiently.

The biggest issue I have had so far is that, when I try copying my hundreds of microscopy images which are the same size and which have nearly identical names and contents, Finder crashes and I have to do a hard reset. In 9 years the 2008 never crashed, while the new machine crashed five times in the first two weeks, requiring a hard reset each time.

When my NEW machine appeared laggy like the old one, I started looking at Activity Monitor and, just as with the 2008, I found Windowserver and Kerneltask using up anywhere from 5-20% of resources as the machine idles. I think this is unacceptable and all the clocks ticks being used by Kerneltask and windowserver are blocking my first click on the trackpad, making scrolling in PowerPoint and Adobe glitchy, etc. Basically, it appears to me the brand new processor is just barely powerful enough to run the bloated and crappy Mac OS in addition to a simple Mac app or maybe a web browser. Ask the CPU to run high end software or start moving large numbers of large files around, and it can't handle the OS, the app and the data, and it crashes.

To summarize, the new machine is a step down from past MBPs except for form factor as relates to size and weight. It can run basic software and manage normal amounts of data that might be used on a home or school computer. It crashes when trying to run advanced software the 2008 was able to handle, and it crashes when copying too many or too big files. Having to re-click on links is annoying and the touchbar is a minor annoyance and not an improvement.

If you're thinking about buying it for school or if you do pretty routine things with your computer and will only run common software that's been around a long time it's fine, as long as you're not expecting a big improvement in anything other than looks for your $3700. If you’re looking to do more with it, I'm not sure what the other options are. My main criticism would be that, as this machine can't run today's software or handle the data files (actually, it can't handle the data files I made 9 years ago that the 2008 MBP handled fine), it's not future proof in any way, especially when you add in the soldered SSD and memory. Actually, what I am describing fits perfectly with the soldering - the idea is to make this machine obsolete as soon as possible so you'll go buy another. And the best way to do that is to make it obsolete today...and add gimmicks like a huge trackpad and expensive touchbar instead of computing power, improved OS or useful features.

I didn't pay a penny for my top of the line 15" MBP, and that's why I kept it. But, while the XPS and Surface may be just as glitchy, I think you might be able to save some money and be equally or more happy if you're paying for it yourself.

These are just my opinions, of course, but I'd be happy to answer any questions or try to back them up if you or anyone else is interested.

Guess the alternative response would be:
"It's great because I just spent a lot of money on it...what a cool keyboard, you should join the club!"

 

[logicstudiouser]

So I finally took the leap to a retina MacBook Pro from my 17" MacBook Pro.
I ordered an Apple Certified Refurbished top end 2014 2.8GHz MacBook Pro from OWC.
I didn't even know you could still get a 2014 model with a full Apple warranty, but I was wrong.
Given how close the Geekbench results are between the 2.8ghz 2014 and 2015 MacBook pro, I thought the 2014 would be fine for me. I am pretty indifferent about the force touch, so I think I made a good choice.

 

[szilske]

After having thought a while, whether I should get the 13" or the 15" to replace my Late 2013 13", I ordered the entry level 15" model.

Can't wait to get my hands on it and see if it is worth it. And I hope I will get used to the size, which is small for a 15" laptop, but still big compared to my current 13".

 

[mpConroe]

Hi Guys!
I just ordered new MacBook Pro 13'' with TouchBar and Satechi for missing ports

Can't wait to see my new MacBook Pro. I used to have MacBook white with Core 2 Duo, I have iPhones since 2008 (3G,4S,6S Plus) and I bought Mac mini from 2007 two years ago to replace my old pc machine at home.

To all people: don't buy pc laptops.
All my pc laptops since 2013 ended in laptop repair services. I had Sony Vaio which reprair would cost me £700 ($875) cos Sony doesn't make laptops anymore. I had two Asus laptops, one of them ended in services forever - they give me my money back so I bough Sony Vaio. After my Vaio I bought Asus K series with i7 and geforce graphics card but this laptop has terrible screen and now is in repair centre in UK cos it doesn't charge the battery. Fitst time they replaced mobo but it still doesn't charge so I send them laptop again :/.

I have new laptop every year. I really hope that my MacBook Pro will serve me for years like the MacBook White did for 4 years

 

[AYNOM]

Hi Guys!
I just ordered new MacBook Pro 13'' with TouchBar and Satechi for missing ports

Can't wait to see my new MacBook Pro. I used to have MacBook white with Core 2 Duo, I have iPhones since 2008 (3G,4S,6S Plus) and I bought Mac mini from 2007 two years ago to replace my old pc machine at home.

To all people: don't buy pc laptops.
All my pc laptops since 2013 ended in laptop repair services. I had Sony Vaio which reprair would cost me £700 ($875) cos Sony doesn't make laptops anymore. I had two Asus laptops, one of them ended in services forever - they give me my money back so I bough Sony Vaio. After my Vaio I bought Asus K series with i7 and geforce graphics card but this laptop has terrible screen and now is in repair centre in UK cos it doesn't charge the battery. Fitst time they replaced mobo but it still doesn't charge so I send them laptop again :/.

I have new laptop every year. I really hope that my MacBook Pro will serve me for years like the MacBook White did for 4 years

Your anecdotal experience is not a reflection of the overall population.

I just bought my first MBP ever, 2016 15" MBP w/ Touchbar maxed out coming from a 2012 Sony Vaio that hasn't had many issues other than a failing battery as of last year.

 

[mpConroe]

Your anecdotal experience is not a reflection of the overall population.

I have never told that my experience is a reflection of the overall population. LMAO

 

[maflynn]

To all people: don't buy pc laptops.

My SurfaceBook and Surface Pros have been rock solid. From my reading Dell has a good reputation with their XPS line. Conversely, Apple's track record hasn't been all that stellar; 2008 -> 2011 widespread dGPU failure. 2012 -> 2015 staingate (reflective coating wearing off).

All I'm saying is that stuff happens and MBPs are not perfect and PCs are not all bad, My SurfaceBook is used everyday and its been doing fine.

 

[mpConroe]

My SurfaceBook and Surface Pros have been rock solid. From my reading Dell has a good reputation with their XPS line. Conversely, Apple's track record hasn't been all that stellar; 2008 -> 2011 widespread dGPU failure. 2012 -> 2015 staingate (reflective coating wearing off).

All I'm saying is that stuff happens and MBPs are not perfect and PCs are not all bad, My SurfaceBook is used everyday and its been doing fine.

Good I can say that I have a bad luck in the case of pc laptops. I don't why it has happened to me. My new MacBook Pro will be my 5th laptop since 2009.
2009 - MacBook White
2013 - Asus (I think it was 2013 but not sure)
2014 - Sony Vaio
2016 - Asus K-series
2017 - MacBook Pro 13''

I have never tried Surface Book and Dell stuff but I can tell that I also heard that there are good but they still runs Windows.

 

[maflynn]

Don't get me wrong, my 2012 rMBP has been rock solid and its been the best laptop I ever owned. I'm not down on Apple but they have their share of negativity and QC issues. I saw some people post here recently getting multiple replacements and each replacement was defective like their original machine.

 

[mpConroe]

Don't get me wrong, my 2012 rMBP has been rock solid and its been the best laptop I ever owned. I'm not down on Apple but they have their share of negativity and QC issues. I saw some people post here recently getting multiple replacements and each replacement was defective like their original machine.

Sure, like every laptop company. Macs are beutiful machines and the quality compared to other laptops is really good. I know that they are some issues but there is no perfect laptop on the market.
I hope that this time I will be lucky .

 

[sixers3]

Hi

How much better is .. worth it?
Mbp2016 touch bar

• 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
• Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz
• 16GB 2133MHz memory
• 256GB PCIe-based SSD1
• Radeon Pro 450 with 2GB memory

Or

• 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
• Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
• 16GB 2133MHz memory
• 512GB PCIe-based SSD1
• Radeon Pro 455 with 2GB memory

It is around 450$ More for 512 ssd.
Im doing some arhitecture job and normal personal usage.

Thanks

 

[scottglax]

Just pulled the trigger on a 2016 15" tMPB in space gray. It's got a 2.7GHz i7, 512GB SSD and Radeon Pro 460. Have played around with it in my local Apple Store the past couple of days and finally decided I needed to take the plunge.

I'm coming from a 2010 MacBook Pro which still runs great. I threw a Samsung SSD and 8 gigs of RAM in it a few years back, but for quick video editing, it's just not practical anymore. I've also got a mid-2012 Mac Mini which also has a Samsung SSD and 16 gigs of RAM which I plan on keeping.

I'll probably get an LG 5K Ultra display next month to pair with it, just want all of this shielding stuff figured out first. But I can't wait to start using the new machine.

 

[Jani81]

Just came back to Apple world with new MacBook Pro 15" touch bar. With 2.6 ghz i7, 256 sad and Radeon Pro 450. My desktop is nowadays PC but laptop need to be Apple because these are so much better than PC laptops

 

[sam311]

On Dec the 23rd 2016 I got my custom configured MBP 13". From day one I had a battery problem as most of us had. Contacted Apple and worked on it till Feb the 14th 2917 and Apple decided to replace it as it has an issue with the battery since the most I got out of it 4Hours 20 minutes , I send it back for replacement awaiting the new one.
Now in my way back from FedEx I went and bought a new 15" MBP tested it last night and the most I got was 5 hours of its battery life. I am going to test it for a couple of days and if it stays the same it will go back under the 15 Days money back,I will not suck a 3K machine when it does only the half time of what Apple promised.
Will keep you posted .

 

[mpConroe]

Hi Guys again!
As I said before, I pulled the trigger on new MacBook Pro TB version . I just typing from him. As my mom said, the keyboard is louder than other laptops - we have Samsung Chromebook and ASUS K series.
This computer is amazing, I'm really happy . I waited all day checking my messages on iPhone and finally I have this MacBook Pro.

 

[GB148]

Update on another few days with my new MBP 15":

It brings up the beach ball a lot, and not under heavy use. Copied a few CDs to iTunes this morning and then tried to update the album cover art under Album Info. The beach ball popped up and the machine locked, then released, then beach ball again, repeat....

Also, as far as the keyboard, if you are an experienced touch typist it might be ok. I'm not but I've been typing a long time and am fairly fast...but not on the new keyboard. The "A" is a pretty commonly used key and it's right next to the shift button. I've never before had issues with hitting "Shift" instead of "A", but on my new MBP I waste time typing tons of words in all caps which have to be replaced. Because of the minuscule travel it's super easy to hit a wrong key unintentionally and my error rate has gone through the roof. Plus, as I've mentioned before,the touchbar is even easier to accidentally activate and I hit the escape icon on it pretty routinely when writing emails and close what I'm working on by accident. I also have come to realize I used to rest a thumb on the edge of my trackpad to orient my fingers when using it. Now my thumb rests on the trackpad and I routinely re-size windows when trying to move the cursor.

This machine is pretty lame and laggy running Adobe Pro, Finder, iTunes, PowerPoint, etc. It brings up the beach ball when copying files and when doing things in iTunes. It runs worse than my old 2008 MBP and has many more flaws and glitches, brings up the beach ball when the old machine never did, and crashes, which the old machine never did. That the huge trackpad and touchbar create new problems while adding nothing to performance, and as the software runs worse on this machine than the 2008 it replaced, it seems Apple is dead.

Anyone care to explain to me what innovation or new features Apple has added in the last ten years? Is it the thinness, different ports, the touchbar or big trackpad? Is it the new colors?

EDIT: I want to emphasize again that these issues are due to the OS and that there is nothing wrong with the hardware. I upgraded the MBP because my old machine couldn't run the current OS and some software I use was no longer compatible. When I upgraded the OS on my 2008 MBP, kerneltask and windowserver took over the CPU usage, the fans came on all the time, and the machine became laggy and non-responsive. These are the same issues that affect the brand new MBP. When I'm typing in word and realize that caps has been on and I need to go back and delete, I'll hit the back arrow key. I have it set for the shortest delay after pressing a key and to move at the fastest speed. Yet, when I hit the arrow key, the cursor stays where it is for a second or two and then slowly moves back across the line of text. There is a very noticeable lag or delay after every action, key stroke, button press, etc. My MBP has been on a few days now and, when I looked to see what's been using resources, my software is third on the list and kerneltask and windowserver use 3-4 times more resources than software, and I am sure they are delaying both the software and the hardware, the cursor movement and the ability to copy files. It's just like the iPhone now. Lots of gestures I don't want or need getting in the way on the new trackpad, the touchbar adding nothing to performance, and my machine spends most of its resources running the OS and not my software, presumable because Apple is now using my $3000 Mac to monitor my activity rather than help me do work, just like my iPhone.

 

[sam311]

So close on pulling the trigger on the 2016 rMBP 15 (512gb SSD 460GPU), but it's $3700 in Sweden, I want to so bad, but I've never paid that much money on a laptop.
Decisions decisions!

So what is your point? What do you want to tell us about it? Good Bad ? Battery life ETC .
I really did not understand your post , Please be clear .

 

[michaelprothero]

Just got my nTB 13", 2.4 | 512 | 16gb and it is quite possibly the nicest machine i've ever used.
Was waiting to take the plunge since before Christmas, was disappointed by the keynote and their offering to be quite honest. Having the product in my hand at an Apple store changed my mind, the touchbar is quite frankly a gimmick to me as a developer so the nTB was my weigh up. I use escape far too much to rely on a touch screen with no haptic feedback. Yes the 2015 device is more than capable, but I thought i'd splash out. My day job is as an iOS developer on an iMac, existing laptop was a disgustingly old 2011 13". It's a pleasure to use. Usually work in React Native and booting a fresh simulator with a project build takes about 20 seconds.
My go-to performance test is system prefs, which takes me a little while at work, sadly. Nearing instant on this model and everything i've thrown at it so far it seems an incredibly capable machine.
It's ridiculously snappy to load IntelliJ, talking 2-4 seconds for a rather large project. Keyboard is weird, but oddly easy to get used to and satisfying. Have ordered some slightly bulletproof cases for when I'm developing on the go. All in all, incredible build quality, satisfying to use and has put the spark back in me as a developer.

 

[GB148]

Just got my nTB 13", 2.4 | 512 | 16gb and it is quite possibly the nicest machine i've ever used.

I see a lot of programmers/developers on here who seem to suggest that, if an MBP can run their development software to make apps, it must be a pretty high end competent machine. So I looked at the titles you mentioned in your post and they look like word processors for writing Java code, and not something demanding that would push a CPU. You mention simulation and I realize there may be more involved, so I'm curious what makes it the nicest machine you've ever had? You said the keyboard is weird but you can get used to it, and that the touchbar is a gimmick - not exactly a screaming recommendations that make it the nicest machine. So you went from a 2011 to this machine and, when you boot a simulator and it takes 4 seconds instead of 20, is that what makes it the best machine you've ever used, as that seems to be the only positive statement you made about it. From what I've read, running IntelliJ requires OS 10.5 and a Gig of ram and nothing more. And I read you can run React Native on an iPhone. I've also read these programs are primarily memory hogs, and that others say they don't perform well on recent MBPs. The newness and novelty factor wear off pretty quickly......

 

[michaelprothero]

I see a lot of programmers/developers on here who seem to suggest that, if an MBP can run their development software to make apps, it must be a pretty high end competent machine. So I looked at the titles you mentioned in your post and they look like word processors for writing Java code, and not something demanding that would push a CPU. You mention simulation and I realize there may be more involved, so I'm curious what makes it the nicest machine you've ever had? You said the keyboard is weird but you can get used to it, and that the touchbar is a gimmick - not exactly a screaming recommendations that make it the nicest machine. So you went from a 2011 to this machine and, when you boot a simulator and it takes 4 seconds instead of 20, is that what makes it the best machine you've ever used, as that seems to be the only positive statement you made about it. From what I've read, running IntelliJ requires OS 10.5 and a Gig of ram and nothing more. And I read you can run React Native on an iPhone. I've also read these programs are primarily memory hogs, and that others say they don't perform well on recent MBPs. The newness and novelty factor wear off pretty quickly......

I should edit my post and say that this is the nicest mobile workstation i've ever used.
I'm not using the touch bar model as clearly stated in my post as per the nTB reference. Word processors for Java? Not even close, IntelliJ is a fairly demanding Java based IDE, running 3-4 of these side by side can be a strain on a machine. It regularly indexes complex file structures to provide almost instant access to code very deep in a file tree. I run 3, minimum. One for running a node server in debugger, another for debugging Android and an additional for our JS project. Again, this is demanding, as it is often streaming output of log information from a native device/simulator, or at the minimum log output from a server.
I run a minimum of 2 XCode projects, one for running our application (again in debug mode with heavy logging output), another for native module development. I stated I used an iMac at work.

If these run at a similar level to my desktop work machine, whilst unplugged on my sofa, I can't really complain.

The keyboard is an adjustment, weird since I use a mechanical keyboard at work. But probably will save my hands in the long run as typing requires a lot less physical exertion when there is less travel.

Novelty factor? I wan't to get work done on the move, I would argue this does the job, fantastically.

I'm sure it's borderline magical for someone reading their emails & editing some family photos. That's not what I'm looking for in a machine nor why I made this post.

 

[GB148]

I should edit my post and say that this is the nicest mobile workstation i've ever used.
I'm not using the touch bar model as clearly stated in my post as per the nTB reference. Word processors for Java? Not even close, IntelliJ is a fairly demanding Java based IDE, running 3-4 of these side by side can be a strain on a machine. It regularly indexes complex file structures to provide almost instant access to code very deep in a file tree. I run 3, minimum. One for running a node server in debugger, another for debugging Android and an additional for our JS project. Again, this is demanding, as it is often streaming output of log information from a native device/simulator, or at the minimum log output from a server.
I run a minimum of 2 XCode projects, one for running our application (again in debug mode with heavy logging output), another for native module development. I stated I used an iMac at work.

If these run at a similar level to my desktop work machine, whilst unplugged on my sofa, I can't really complain.

The keyboard is an adjustment, weird since I use a mechanical keyboard at work. But probably will save my hands in the long run as typing requires a lot less physical exertion when there is less travel.

Novelty factor? I wan't to get work done on the move, I would argue this does the job, fantastically.

I'm sure it's borderline magical for someone reading their emails & editing some family photos. That's not what I'm looking for in a machine nor why I made this post.

Thanks for your reply. I wasn't trying to be insulting and wanted to make clear that I really didn't know what was involved. I didn't catch the nTB acronym but wondered what that one was, and as you mentioned the touchbar I thought you had one. I'm curious, do you sense any laginess on the MBP, or have beachball issues? I initially thought my issues were with my file types and sizes, but given the problems I had with iTunes this morning they seem to be more widespread, and I am curious whether I am just more OCD or have higher expectations. The issues with the beachhball seem to appear when external drives are in use, but these are big fast drives I've used without issue with my 2008, and as Adobe Pro and Microsoft apps run terrible on the new machine I am assuming the issues aren't just related to the external hard drive, but anything that requires the CPU to get up and going.

 

[Baltimoron]

So I ordered my Apple refurbished 20015 15-inch MacBook Pro 2.5GHz 512GB. I think it will be plenty powerful enough for my needs for the next few years. Chose it over 2016 touchbar edition because of price, keyboard, my usage patterns, etc. I hope there is still a distinct MacOS by the time I need my next machine.

 

[mpConroe]

I just realised that I skipped the entire generation of MacBook Pros unibody and unibody with Retina display.
My first laptop was MacBook White and my MacBook Pro with TouchBar is a second MacBook I ever had.
I have never had a MacBook Unibody and MacBook Retina Unibody.
It's a pity, that there is no shinning Apple logo on the back. To be honest, it's the only disadvantage of my new MacBook Pro. Other thing are perfectly fine. I mean, I miss MagSafe but know I'm using laptop on the desk so it doesn't really matter.

 

[diamond.g]

Just pulled the trigger on a 2016 15" tMPB in space gray. It's got a 2.7GHz i7, 512GB SSD and Radeon Pro 460. Have played around with it in my local Apple Store the past couple of days and finally decided I needed to take the plunge.

I'm coming from a 2010 MacBook Pro which still runs great. I threw a Samsung SSD and 8 gigs of RAM in it a few years back, but for quick video editing, it's just not practical anymore. I've also got a mid-2012 Mac Mini which also has a Samsung SSD and 16 gigs of RAM which I plan on keeping.

I'll probably get an LG 5K Ultra display next month to pair with it, just want all of this shielding stuff figured out first. But I can't wait to start using the new machine.

Same for me, though I opted for the 1TB SSD. Have you gotten yours yet? (I ordered the day before and am using normal shipping)