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So, I'm buying a new MacBook. Question is, which one?

over 6 years ago from Luis da Silva, Digital Product Designer

  • Spencer JSpencer J, over 6 years ago

    Just got a Kaby Lake 15" Touchbar MBP with base processor and upgraded GPU.

    Upgraded from a 13" early-2015 MBP.

    Overall it's quite zippy, and feels/looks nice. I'm happy I upgraded and did TONS of comparative shopping. There's no better hardware on the market, except GIANT gaming laptops, which have way more portability tradeoffs than I'm willing to accept. It really is the best that's out right now.

    Thunderbolt 3 isn't really ready because the ecosystem to support it doesn't yet exist.

    There are only 2 Thunderbolt 3 docks (Kensington and Elgato) that you can even buy that will let you have a single-cable plugin solution, and virtually no displays support Thunderbolt 3 (with the notable exception of the LGs that Apple sells).

    I hate the touchbar, I think because I don't have a video workflow. I prefer physical function keys and a physical escape key, but I think I'll get over missing them. It's really annoying that the touchbar doesn't have the same resolution as the screen, and all the icons look blurry to me.

    I looked at dozens of different laptops before I made my choice (including Thinkpad, XPS, a 12" Macbook, Yoga, that new Microsoft one with the cheapo fabric, etc), and I am confident it's the right choice and the most futureproof machine.

    Just be prepared to carry tons of dongles for the next year or two.

    3 points
    • Luis da SilvaLuis da Silva, over 6 years ago

      Hey Spencer, what an awesome piece of advice / feedback; thanks for that! :100: I guess you really did your homework on selling me out the new MacBook :)

      More than anything, this is something inevitable which I'll have to buy.

      So, talking about displays, if I ever have to connect the Macbook to an external display (other than LG or Apple), can I use an adaptor? #donglelife

      0 points
      • Spencer JSpencer J, over 6 years ago

        I just wrote a post about this very question, actually! :-)

        Basically there aren't very many Thunderbolt 3 displays outside of the Apple ones, and the USB-C displays aren't great.

        I'm not sold that the Apple 5k display is the best format, and it annoys me that it doesn't offer gigabit ethernet and I'd have to buy ANOTHER adapter. I also don't want 2 4K displays, but maybe I'm just a whiner.

        You can use an adapter to connect the Macbook to an external display, but usually you have to use 2 adapters, one for power, and one for Thunderbolt 3 to DisplayPort. If the display you're using supports HDMI you're in luck, but most of the high-quality displays seem to be DP-only. :-(

        0 points