“All of the ‘old’ MacBook Pro’s other connections have been replaced by Thunderbolt 3 ports that double-up as USB-C. And on the entry-level model we’re looking at today, there are only two of them, unlike the four you get if you step up to the next model in the range,” Tom Parsons reports for Stuff. “And that’s not the only sacrifice that’s been made for this version of the Pro, because it also does without the sexy, headline-grabbing Touch Bar of the rest of the range. It’s down on power next to its more expensive siblings, too.”
“Blimey, it’s not looking good for this version of the new MacBook Pro, is it?” Parsons reports. “Here’s the thing, though – this is still a really fabulous laptop, and for many people will be the pick of the range.”
“A 2015 MacBook Pro looks practically prehistoric next to this,” Parsons reports. “On balance and having now used the Pro for a little while, I know the ports issue just isn’t really an issue for me. Only you can decide if it is for you… The Touch Bar version of the new MacBook Pro is understandably the one getting all of the internet attention, but this less glamorous entry-level model is actually a real gem in the overall MacBook range. It’s got more power than most users will ever need and crams it into a beautiful shell that’s more compact than a MacBook Air. The power to portability ratio is strong in this one.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’re still not sure who this non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro is for, but, those who get one will likely be very pleased indeed.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s MacBook Pro can easily run a ridiculous number of ‘pro’ apps simultaneously with 16GB RAM – November 5, 2016
The Verge reviews Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro (non-Touch Bar): The Air apparent – November 4, 2016
Phil Schiller explains why Apple dropped the SD card slot but kept the 3.5mm headphone jack in new MacBook Pros – November 2, 2016
Phil Schiller: Apple has more orders for MacBook Pro with Touch Bar than for any other professional Mac notebook ever – November 2, 2016
The debate is over: IBM confirms that Apple Macs are $535 less expensive than Windows PCs – October 20, 2016
The key mission of Apple’s new MacBook Pros – October 28, 2016
TIME Magazine: Apple’s new MacBook Pro Touch Bar is an inventive new way to get work done more quickly – October 28, 2016
Apple does touch right and, as usual, Microsoft does it wrong – October 28, 2016
IBT: Apple’s MacBook Pro Touch Bar is the coolest thing ever; will change the way we use laptops – October 28, 2016
Wired hands on with Apple’s New MacBook Pro: It’s a whole new kind of laptop – October 27, 2016
CNET on the new MacBook Pro: Apple’s amazing strip show reinvents the notebook – October 27, 2016
Hands on with Apple’s new MacBook Pro: Looks and feels so good it’s unreal – October 27, 2016
Apple debuts three new TV ads for all-new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar – October 27, 2016
Apple unveils groundbreaking new MacBook Pro with revolutionary Touch Bar and huge Force Touch trackpad – October 27, 2016
Because Stuff Magazine is the magazine for Mac pros.
Hung up on product naming? Aren’t you the same guy who was pissed because Mac OS 11.0 didn’t follow 10.9?
The new MBP is FABULOUS.
Now we know where Cook and Ive get their inspiration.
God help us poor suffering Mac users.
The issue is not that this is a good replacement for the Macbook Air. It is that the price is so expensive – and much more than the Air was.
Any Laptop that has 2 ports – which includes the power in – can be useful to many, but it isn’t a ‘Pro’ machine.
You do understand that one single port can charge the MacBook whilst it delivers 4K display and accesses a hard drive array? Just one of those two ports can simultaneously offer all the inputs and outputs that whatever machine you currently have has available. And there’s two of them.
Buy the previous model if you can. Tested the new side by side with the previous model at the Apple store on Sunday. The older model is $300 cheaper and it smoked the new one in boot tests.