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

[Marketh]

Wasn't sure where to put this as didn't want to create a new thread, but for everyone who has had their laptops arriving/arrived recently, take the heat & battery life with a pinch of salt for at least the first few days, on both battery and AC power.

I assumed once Spotlight indexing had finished that would be it, but for example tonight I've been plugged in for the first time, and Photos has been scanning all faces & analysing my entire library in the background. Turns out it only does this when on AC power. Just thought there might be others who didn't know this so I hope it helps. Hope you all enjoy your new machines!

 

[linkgx1]

Just bought my first Mac ever! Got a base Macbook Pro 15'' that I'll use for programming/graphic design/web dev. Wondering if i should have gone for 512, but I think i'll be fine. More than likely if i need something that big then I'll have an external SSD anywho.
[doublepost=1533255331][/doublepost]

Just picked up my new MacBook Pro 15" base model this morning. I drove three hours to New Hampshire just to purchase it without sales tax and save myself $200, since I saw they had it in stock at the Best Buy just across the state line. I'm really glad I bought this machine, I love it.

I'm coming from a 13" 2015 MacBook Pro, so this is a big upgrade. Four more cores, bigger better screen, much better speakers, 8 GB more RAM, a dedicated graphics card, and it's only half a pound heavier. I'm actually downgrading from a 512 GB in my 13" to the 256 GB SSD in this machine, but I'm okay with that because I only filled up a quarter of the 512 GB in the three years I've owned it. Plus, I still *have* that machine and all of its storage space. So I couldn't justify spending an extra $400 to get 512 GB. I'd have to either buy the $2800 stock model, or custom order one with the $200 SSD upgrade and pay $200 of New York sales tax on it. Anyways, no regrets.

This was not purchased out of need, it was purchased out of pure want. The only problem with my old machine was a couple of minor cosmetic issues with the screen. I'm not a "pro" user by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just a baker who likes MacOS and is willing to spend some extra cash to get a premium laptop, because I do spend an inordinate amount of time at my computer. And in my opinion, the MacBook Pro is the only truly premium laptop on the market. There aren't any Windows laptops with quality speakers and trackpads; they're mediocre at best. The manufacturers all cut corners because they know their users will just use headphones/mice to overcome the deficiencies. It's things like that that make me willing to pay the Apple tax. Plus the OS. I'll gladly pay more to avoid the headaches of Windows.

This is what I'm feeling (granted, I'm trying to learn development right now).

I went to the Microsoft store. The Dell XPS 15 was something I was heavily considering. It's beautiful and the screen kills the Macbook Pros. However, I realized that I prefer the OSX experience. I mean, I use my Windows desktop for gaming, but for everything else i prefer the Mac. It's just more refined IMO (for the most part, Keyboardgate withstanding).

 

[sennomulo]

Just bought my first Mac ever! Got a base Macbook Pro 15'' that I'll use for programming/graphic design/web dev. Wondering if i should have gone for 512, but I think i'll be fine. More than likely if i need something that big then I'll have an external SSD anywho.

That was my reasoning too. If I get to the point where I need more space, external storage is much cheaper than Apple's SSD upgrade options. For the $400 I could have spent for an extra 256 GB on my hard drive, I could buy three 500 GB Samsung T5 SSDs.

I actually find myself using far less space than I used to, because the technology has allowed me to offload so much of what I used to store on my personal computer. I don't need to store every episode of my favorite TV shows when there's Netflix. I don't need to store every song I like when there's YouTube. I don't need to store every game I play when there's Steam.

 

[justinf77]

Thanks! just to be certain: Returning BTO items is not clearly stated in Apple’s return policy. It says that personlized items like an encraved ipad are excluded. Ofcourse I understand that but is a BTO macbook not also personalized?

Personalized in this case means engraved, no need to worry, BTO MacBooks can definitely be returned!

 

[macpcf]

Just bought my first Mac ever! Got a base Macbook Pro 15'' that I'll use for programming/graphic design/web dev. Wondering if i should have gone for 512, but I think i'll be fine. More than likely if i need something that big then I'll have an external SSD anywho.
[doublepost=1533255331][/doublepost]

This is what I'm feeling (granted, I'm trying to learn development right now).

I went to the Microsoft store. The Dell XPS 15 was something I was heavily considering. It's beautiful and the screen kills the Macbook Pros. However, I realized that I prefer the OSX experience. I mean, I use my Windows desktop for gaming, but for everything else i prefer the Mac. It's just more refined IMO (for the most part, Keyboardgate withstanding).

Buy samsung t5 ssd external hard drive for your storage limitation

 

[lambertjohn]

Thanks! just to be certain: Returning BTO items is not clearly stated in Apple’s return policy. It says that personlized items like an encraved ipad are excluded. Ofcourse I understand that but is a BTO macbook not also personalized?

BTO is not the same as a personalized product. A BTO computer can be resold to anyone because it has no identifying marks on it, such as initials/engravings. Thus, your BTO return will go to the Outlet Store and someone else will eventually buy it. A personalized product, on the other hand, is one that has been built with identifying marks on it specific to the person who purchased the product. Again, such as your initials being engraved on it. Usually, these engravings are on iPods and the like, not BTO computers.

 

[Dave245]

I've got that very config; Didn't feel the i7 justified the price increase. Speed is great, I've upgraded from an early 2015 12" MacBook, so might be noticing a bigger increase in speed from others upgrading from previous MBPs. As I say, so far I'm really happy with it.

I have the same config, it's pretty great. I was having second thoughts--looking at the base 15 inch model--but this thing feels snappy and the size is nice and I actually like the keyboard. Again, for reference I'm coming from a 2011 13inch MBP.

I will be coming from a 15” 2011 MacBook Pro, the 13” is very appealing to me with having a quad core (which I find really impressive) how do you guys find the portability on you’re new 13”?

The i7 doesn’t seem to be much faster than the i5 and for me it’s not like I will be pushing it to it’s limits everyday, at the moment I only edit in Final Cut Pro and or iMovie at 1080p as a hobby, I also use Pixelmator and Affinity Photo on my iPad so I will probably end up getting those on the Mac as well, that way I can work on some edits no matter if I’m using my iPad Pro or my MacBook Pro (thanks my thinking behind it anyway) again it’s only a hobby, my main work is spent writing and for that I still end up spending hours in front of a computer screen.

 

[Hustle]

I ordered the 13" 512GB/16GB/i5 a few days ago. It's just changed to 'Preparing for Dispatch' and the money has been taken from my credit card.

Estimated delivery is still 13-15th, however I'm assuming I'll get it sooner than that? I can't imagine it'll take 10 days to get from China to London?

 

[Scythe]

I ordered the 13" 512GB/16GB/i5 a few days ago. It's just changed to 'Preparing for Dispatch' and the money has been taken from my credit card.

Estimated delivery is still 13-15th, however I'm assuming I'll get it sooner than that? I can't imagine it'll take 10 days to get from China to London?

I ordered the same Monday night (UK time) and got dispatch at 5pm today. Estimated delivery for me was 10-14th, UPS are currently reporting 9th. UPS typically fly into East Mids airport which is near my work so I’m expecting to get it soon.

 

[anshuvorty]

Didn't know where to put this, so putting it here.

Got my 13" MBP on Friday and I was having a great time with it. Jump to yesterday and tried to pair my AirPods to it just because I was curious. A strange thing happened. The AirPods would connect but when I put them in my ears, they would disconnect.

They connect perfectly with my iPhone X and Windows 10 PC, but for some reason, the MBP doesn't want to maintain the connection with the AirPods.

I got in touch with Apple Support and my case got escalated to their Engineering Dept who will contact me later tonight. Bummer my AirPods aren't working with my new MBP.

Does anyone else have any similar experiences with their new MacBook Pros and the AirPods?

Guess what. Apple engineering didn't get back to me. I went to a local Apple Store and they ran diagnostics. They discovered that the Bluetooth Module is being wonky and the laptop requires a motherboard replacement. Apple techs gave me 2 options:


1. Return the laptop and get a replacement from Apple (can't replace the motherboard on this new machine because the parts aren't in yet). Getting this replacement will take 3-4 weeks.

2. Return the laptop for a refund and order the same config again and get the laptop in 10 business days.


Obviously chose the 2nd option. I am disappointed that my 1st MBP experience turned out this bad of an experience. PCs have never let me down like this.

 

[Hustle]

13" i5/512/16, just received dispatched notification. Delivery estimate changed from 13th to 9th.

Does it usually take 5 days to get from China to London?

 

[Vazza]

13" i5/512/16, just received dispatched notification. Delivery estimate changed from 13th to 9th.

Does it usually take 5 days to get from China to London?

Got mine 3 days after dispatch to London.

 

[svgn]

I hate that I have to wait a full month here in Bulgaria if I want an upgrade and I really prefer 16GB for the 13". :|

 

[princ2]

I hate that I have to wait a full month here in Bulgaria if I want an upgrade and I really prefer 16GB for the 13". :|

Hmm, that's a pity! Hopefully will be worth the wait for you

 

[Lennyvalentin]

I am disappointed that my 1st MBP experience turned out this bad of an experience. PCs have never let me down like this.

That's the thing with anecdotal examples and super small sample sizes (IE, personal experience.) Something's never happened to you before, until it does. It doesn't fundamentally change anything about anything; PCs aren't suddenly any better, and Macs aren't suddenly any worse, just because you suffered this random failure.

But, you know this already I'm sure.

 

[lympero]

Decision taken! Got my 15” mbp (2.6-512) to replace my 2015 13” mbp. It’ll be my main working machine for React-native, Ionic and web dev with React. I went with 16gb mainly because I’d have to wait for 30 days to get a custom version in Greece and I’m little worried with ram but other than that the machine is a beast. Really happy!

 

[Hustle]

My 13" is currently on route with UPS. It says it was in China last night, but today it now says 'Cleared customs, The package is awaiting clearing agency review. / Your package was released by the clearing agency.'.

Does that mean it's in the UK or China? I thought customs was once a package arrives in the country it is being delivered to. The location and delivery date has disappeared from the tracking.

 

[Vazza]

My 13" is currently on route with UPS. It says it was in China last night, but today it now says 'Cleared customs, The package is awaiting clearing agency review. / Your package was released by the clearing agency.'.

Does that mean it's in the UK or China? I thought customs was once a package arrives in the country it is being delivered to. The location and delivery date has disappeared from the tracking.

Nah it’s in China still or en route...normally there’s a stop over in Germany before it lands in the UK.

You can check what country it’s in by going to the UPS tracking and selecting shipment details and then clicking the detailed view tab.

 

[csurfr]

Buy samsung t5 ssd external hard drive for your storage limitation

I wish I had waited to pick up the t5. I have a lowly t3, and if you think it might not matter, try finding the usb-c cable that comes with the t5. Samsung doesn’t sell it (thanks Samsung) and the shortest one I have found on amazon or anywhere else for that matter, is from CableMatters and it only runs at usb-2 speed.

I know it sounds trivial, but carrying a 3 foot long Belkin tb3 cable with me just for that little ssd seems like a waste.

 

[feeth]

I debated back and forth, went with the base model from Adorama $100 off and no tax:

Apple 15" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Intel Core i7 2.2GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, macOS High Sierra, Space Gray (Mid 2018)

 

[Erasmus]

Got a 15" 2.6 model yesterday, no upgrades. Haven't had much of a chance to start porting my data and apps over to it, and I've only got a USB-C to HDMI cable so far. Need to do some dock/adapter shopping in the near future.

Still, it's a nice machine, and it's over twice as fast as my 2011 17" MBP.

 

[Dave245]

I see from looking on Geekbench that the i7 13" MacBook Pro has a really high speed (second in single core score) but the i5 is lower in score, is this noticeable in real world use? (SEE SCREENSHOT BELOW)

 

[svgn]

Just ordered the 13"/i5/16/512. Estimated delivery: 25 working days.

and so my watch begins

 

[Dave245]

Just ordered the 13"/i5/16/512. Estimated delivery: 25 working days.

and so my watch begins

25 days? have delivery dates slipped or something? i remember dates were shorter than that when the initial 2018 MacBook Pro's were announced.

 

[svgn]

25 days? have delivery dates slipped or something? i remember dates were shorter than that when the initial 2018 MacBook Pro's were announced.

We don't have apple stores here in Bulgaria. :/ Only authorized resellers. I even thought that I can go to Turkey to get it without waiting 5 weeks, but I realized that they sell macbooks only with turkish, german and arabic keyboard. Wtf.
[doublepost=1533555496][/doublepost]I am optimistic, tho. I hope I'll have it in 2-3 weeks.