I've got about 9 hours of use on this so far ... here are my first impressions.
Usage Profile
For reference, I've been using a 12" rMB (both 2015 and 2016 m5/512 models) since July of 2015. Prior to the rMB, I had a 13" rMBP (2013). I also have a mid-2015 rMBP 15"/512/16GB that is used for more intensive tasks (mostly Win10 virtual machines for Visual Studio work).
I use this (and used the rMB) as a mobile workhorse; meetings/notes, e-mail, web browsing/research, social media and writing. The mid-grade config rMB (512/m5) was great for this; and I expect the base rMBP to be even better (and it is, see below.)
I am not interested in the touch bar.
First Impressions
I can't put this thing down. It has provided a wonderful experience so far.
I really enjoyed the rMB "butterfly" keyboard. I can fly on these things. The butterfly keyboard on this one is even better, offering a little more satisfying "tactile-ness" in the key presses. I don't think it has much more travel, if any, but the presses feel more easily registered across all of the keys providing a satisfyingly soft click.
The trackpad is huge. My inner palms rest on the outer edges (about an inch on either side) of the trackpad while typing, but the palm rejection works beautifully. If I try to put pressure on the trackpad with either palm it will not click, no matter how hard I try. I'm not sure if the size is really necessary, but it works flawlessly. Having a large area to rest my palms in front of the keyboard also provides a comfortable typing experience.
The screen looks beautiful, though I can't really tell the difference between this one and the rMB / 15" rMBP screen which are also pristine. I'm told this one is better. It looks the same to me, though apparently has some more robust capabilities.
Performance has been great so far, no slow-downs, choppiness, lags, etc. even when trying to tax the system. It can get a bit warm in prolonged CPU intensive work; it got down-right toasty in my lap when running a Win10 VM and installing a bunch of updates while running a few flash applications in Safari. The fan was running during this time but I could not hear it without bringing the laptop to within 2-3 inches from my ear. When the tasks were complete, the machine cooled off very quickly.
As my mobile workhorse that travels with me pretty much anywhere I go, portability is very important to me. It provides about the same portability as the rMB with a larger screen and more power, and the slightly larger size and profile provides a bit more comfortable "lap" experience than the rMB (the rMB was almost too small for comfortable lap use, it would bounce around all over my lap while typing and was often too small to find a comfortable lap position for prolonged use.)
The profile, balance, size/weight of this re-design may be one of the most overlooked features, and is one of the most important for me. It just "feels" fantastic, both in use and in transit, even more so than the rMB. I feel as though this feature alone should have received a bit more attention in the unveiling event... the balance between power and size/weight/portability is nearly perfect.
I'm OK with the price I paid. My rMB (m5/512) was $1599. The base rMBP (i5/256) is $1499 and is quite an upgrade (aside from the smaller capacity SSD.)
For those entering the "no-USB / dongle required for everything" frontline, this machine may be a little painful. Since I was already vested in the rMB, I have two Apple USB-C AV Multiport adapters, a USB-C to USB adapter, and an additional 29W USB-C power adapter (which should be able to charge this thing, slowly... more on that Monday when I'm able to test it.)
Enough for now... will update the thread with more info as I continue to log more hours with it.
