The M2 MBP makes absolutely no sense

[Arctic Moose]

while anything by Ive lasted decades

Keyboards? *badum-tish*

 

[jwolf6589]

Here's my take on this whole M2 MBP situation (I apologize if this has already been posted about)

The M2 MacBook Pro (and 13 inch MacBook Pros in general) is one of the weirdest and most worthless products that Apple sells. It still has the old design from 2016, while EVERY OTHER MACBOOK has had a redesign.

I think they are not paying any attention to the 13-inch MacBook Pro (the announcement lasted like 2 minutes). They will probably just discontinue it altogether in a few years.

You are paying at least $1300 for a 6-year-old design that still has the touch bar. Now, there is basically no gap whatsoever from the M2 MBA to the 13-inch MBP.

Here's my question/thought - What is the point of the 13-inch MacBook Pro anymore? All you get is 1 or 2 extra GPU cores and a fan. This didn't matter very much in the M1, so I don't think this will matter in the M2 either.

What do you think about this?

I strongly disagree with you!!! I love the touch bar!!!!!!

 

[jwolf6589]

Several wrongs in that post:

• First and foremost: it's Apple's #2 best selling notebook. Repeat it various times until it sinks in
  • Did I mention it sells?
• The old design looks just as good and has the robustness of 6+ years of problems worked out.
  • Many people find it better than the new boxy design.
• There are people who like the touch bar.
• It provides a middle ground between the MBA and the 14" MBP. The gap that the MacBook used to fill.
  • In other words a true general purpose laptop without the hang of throttling.

Also not counting that not everyone wants a very expensive MacBook pro with a SD card sot. I know I sure dont.

 

[MauiPa]

I love my M1 MBP, so looking at more speed with the M2, who could like like that? Also, the fan is not crucial for a lot of things, but in running handbrake with upscaling or filters, or not using the video encoders (I know, but some people even stupidly suggest that, even though the video encoders produce a better result and is far quicker), the fans do come on, that would be throttling on the MBA. So I would get one, depending how actual experience plays out. Oh, and the Touch Bar is awesome!

 

[inigopete]

I think I'd potentially be a customer for an M2 MBP. I want something small but powerful. To be fair, I'm currently on a mid-2015 15" Retina MBP, but I'm looking for something significantly smaller and lighter to do everything on. And having a fan, to get the most out of the hardware when needed and prolong its life, seems to make more sense than to throttle its performance.

I basically found this thread to find out reasons why I _shouldn't_ go for an M2 MBP. And complaints about the touch bar seem to be the only stand-out.

 

[MajorFubar]

I was surprised that Apple said it was their second best selling Macbook.
Ever since the 14" came out last October I've been trying to figure out what the point of it is. IMO a Venn diagram of even the M1 MBA and M1 14" MBP would have the two circles already overlapping so much that I didn't at all perceive a place for the 13" MBP in the lineup, and the M2 MBA increases the size of the overlap.
It's #2 purely because it's the second least expensive laptop option, even though I'm sure 90% of the people who buy it would find the MBA satisfies their needs.

 

[jwolf6589]

I was surprised that Apple said it was their second best selling Macbook.
Ever since the 14" came out last October I've been trying to figure out what the point of it is. IMO a Venn diagram of even the M1 MBA and M1 14" MBP would have the two circles already overlapping so much that I didn't at all perceive a place for the 13" MBP in the lineup, and the M2 MBA increases the size of the overlap.
It's #2 purely because it's the second least expensive laptop option, even though I'm sure 90% of the people who buy it would find the MBA satisfies their needs.

Except those like me that prefer the touch bar. In 2020 I bought my current MBP because of the touch bar.

 

[MajorFubar]

Except those like me that prefer the touch bar. In 2020 I bought my current MBP because of the touch bar.

I expect you're in the tiniest minority, hence why it's all but dead in the current Mac lineup. Doesn't make you wrong, of course. If it 'works' for you, then sweet.
As the years roll by and software updates to the OS and to in-house and third-party apps basically forget about it (not that it was ever embraced by third-party apps anyway), one day it's probably going to be just a row of touch-sensitive function keys.

 

[jwolf6589]

I expect you're in the tiniest minority, hence why it's all but dead in the current Mac lineup. Doesn't make you wrong, of course. If it 'works' for you, then sweet.
As the years roll by and software updates to the OS and to in-house and third-party apps basically forget about it (not that it was ever embraced by third-party apps anyway), one day it's probably going to be just a row of touch-sensitive function keys.

I doubt it. Hence why they just released a new MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar.

 

[MajorFubar]

I doubt it. Hence why they just released a new MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar.

An alternative viewpoint is the one and only single MBP still on sale with a touchbar has been upgraded with an M2, and Apple spent the sum total of about 20 seconds mentioning it in a 1 hour 49 minute video.

 

[jwolf6589]

An alternative viewpoint is the one and only single MBP still on sale with a touchbar has been upgraded with an M2, and Apple spent the sum total of about 20 seconds mentioning it in a 1 hour 49 minute video.

Yeah so? It still sells well.

 

[iTundra]

For us the 13" MBP fills a need. It's more robust than MBA and cost/performance and size hits a sweet spot. Many of us have too often hit limits on MBA's when trying to edit photos or video. The 13" MBP is not as limited.

And FWIW, I and several people I work with do like the Touch Bar and are sad to see it go. Hopefully it will return.

We all have different needs, wants and desires. Just because the 13" MBP doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense to others.

 

[iTundra]

I don't think that over supply of touchpads on the shelf has much to do with it. It's much too expensive to store large quantities of components so stuff is typically manufactured with only enough lead time (elasticity) to insure that there hopefully won't be hiccups in production due to shortages. This especially with something as high volume as the 13" MBP.

I think they keep making it for the simple reason that people like me buy it because it fits our use case better than other models.

 

[jav6454]

I think I'd potentially be a customer for an M2 MBP. I want something small but powerful. To be fair, I'm currently on a mid-2015 15" Retina MBP, but I'm looking for something significantly smaller and lighter to do everything on. And having a fan, to get the most out of the hardware when needed and prolong its life, seems to make more sense than to throttle its performance.

I basically found this thread to find out reasons why I _shouldn't_ go for an M2 MBP. And complaints about the touch bar seem to be the only stand-out.

People are either for or against the TouchBar. I personally didn't have it till recently and can see the value added. Thus, after trying it, I liked it.

I would suggest you get a 13"MBP. If you are on the fence on the TouchBar, try it at an Apple Store.

 

[jav6454]

I was surprised that Apple said it was their second best selling Macbook.
Ever since the 14" came out last October I've been trying to figure out what the point of it is. IMO a Venn diagram of even the M1 MBA and M1 14" MBP would have the two circles already overlapping so much that I didn't at all perceive a place for the 13" MBP in the lineup, and the M2 MBA increases the size of the overlap.
It's #2 purely because it's the second least expensive laptop option, even though I'm sure 90% of the people who buy it would find the MBA satisfies their needs.

No, the MBA didn't satisfy my needs. Corporate got me one cause I required the small form factor of the 13" for business travel and then bought one for personal use cause I liked it so much. I didn't want to spend crazy amount of money on a M1 Pro/Max.

 

[jav6454]

"If I don't want it, there's no way anyone is buying it"

Specially more so here in MR.

 

[eRondeau]

It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sell. It's all marketing. Some people don't want to buy the entry-level anything (any MBA) so they'll only look at the next one up (13" MBP). Others want "Pro" in the name. Still others (PC switchers?) equate computing power to cooling fans blasting all the time, so they won't even consider any laptop without a cooling fan. And we always have to remember -- those of us posting on this forum are decidedly *NOT* typical buyers. Typical Apple computer buyers are grandma & grandpa buying a graduation gift for their grandchild who will fall for the salesman's "Now THIS computer is the next step up, it's intended for PRO users, it has a powerful internal fan so it doesn't get too hot and start a fire..." Sold.

 

[MajorFubar]

Yeah so? It still sells well.

It does, probably because it's the cheapest Macbook with Pro in the name, which holds a lot of kudos. Also there are certain people like @jav6454 who feel their needs justify the marginally-better power at the cost of battery life and weight, which is fair play. I'm definitely not here to ridicule anyone buying it, though as I've said, I personally don't see the point. If I wanted something better than the MBA I'd rather buy the 14".

 

[jav6454]

It does, probably because it's the cheapest Macbook with Pro in the name, which holds a lot of kudos. Also there are certain people like @jav6454 who feel their needs justify the marginally-better power at the cost of battery life and weight, which is fair play. I'm definitely not here to ridicule anyone buying it, though as I've said, I personally don't see the point. If I wanted something better than the MBA I'd rather buy the 14".

On the contrary, I am simply pointing out that people have choices and that several people choose to buy the 13". Furthermore there are benefits to it that while don't apply to you doesn't mean that the machine is the odd one out.

 

[MajorFubar]

On the contrary, I am simply pointing out that people have choices and that several people choose to buy the 13". Furthermore there are benefits to it that while don't apply to you doesn't mean that the machine is the odd one out.

To me it's very definitely the odd one out. But that doesn't mean I think no one should like it.

 

[joshuabeg]

It’s a life raft to those who reaaally hate the notch 🤣

 

[jav6454]

To me it's very definitely the odd one out. But that doesn't mean I think no one should like it.

Your posts suggest otherwise.

 

[macdaddy43]

I still strongly enjoy the aesthetics of the 13" MBP. If the touch bar were to be removed, I would really have to think about getting it vs the M2 Air. It is still a beautiful machine.

Sure, new screen and new design for the M2 Air, but 13" MBP is a SOLID workhorse:
- Better battery life
- Better audio (I think, but not positive on this one?)
- Never have to worry about throttling on pretty much any task
- Screen is still beautiful even by today's standards IMO
- Proven reliability

It is still a VERY solid computer. If Apple stretched the screen out to shrink the bezels and removed the touch bar in favor of full-size FN keys, I think I would honestly go with that instead of the new M2 Air.

Different strokes.

 

[ian87w]

Yup, it makes no sense. The Touchbar is clearly EOL as all newest redesigns don't have it anymore. So it's there maybe just to use up all the components, while at the same time, prepping the price point of the 14" Macbook Pro. At the same time, Apple can catch consumers who think that the "Pro" monicker is the better version, and they ended up spending more money for it than the Macbook Air. Believe me, I have met people who think that iPhone Pros only work with Macbook Pros (Pro with Pro only).

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I call it the Memebook Pro for a reason. I have...no idea...what purpose that laptop serves. I mean, it has active cooling and...it has the best battery life out of the entire Apple Silicon Macbook lineup...but that's it!

Honestly don't bother with the 13 inch unless you're memeing...or if you really really really love the touchbar for whatever reason.