First impressions - New MacBook Pro 2016

[MFloyd]

I have the new MBP for about a month. Numerous reviews are available on the net / press, so the purpose of this thread is not to try to replicate what has already (and more thoroughly) done, but just to share some personal experiences, and especially the ones in connection with photography.

The configuration I bought was the 15" TouchBar 16 GB one, with 1 TB SSD and the AMD 460 4GB graphic processor.  A slight overshoot in terms of configuration, but as everything is now soldered, no chance to do a MLU - Mid Life Upgrade- as I did with the former MBP 2009 early version.

At the same time it was my first experience with the Sierra OS, as my previous MBP was too old.

My image software is mainly Adobe Lightroom (Lr) and Photoshop (Ps), I'm also using a Wacom tablet and a Datacolor Spyder 4 screen calibration sensor. I have still some Thunderbolt 3 HDD on order, but have already one installed i.e. Porsche LaCie 2 TB portable HDD. Unfortunately, my Apple Cinema 24" display with it's mini DVI doesn't work with the new MBP, so I'm on for a new screen.

System is stable, with a few Lr abends but really nothing worrying. The famous TouchBar is nice, but certainly not my driver for the change. With a 8 year younger MBP, and super fast Thunderbolt 3 connections, it is clear that everything is going faster, with virtually no lag.

More to come, but my first impressions are positive without any reservation.

A partial view of my setup:

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Seems to be extremely touchpad-oriented? No mouse? What about needing dongles for hooking up peripherals?

I feel having a system that basically cannot be further user-upgraded or modified quite weird and disappointing to be honest. Everything hinges on added external devices.

However, if you are happy with your new Mac, all is well that ends well.

[Akira]

Congrats on your purchase!  Hope you enjoy it.

Incidentally, the first thing I was worried to see the new MBP is the large touchpad being accidentally operated during typing.  Are you all right with that?

[MFloyd]

Thank you Akita and Bjørn.  With regard to a mouse, I largely prefer a Touchpad.  I have a mouse, but haven't probably used one for about 4 years.  My son, who carries still out some civil engineering tasks (Cad/Cam, Solid Works, etc) prefers a mouse. Its a matter of preferences and tasks I believe.  The present MBP doesn't hinge more or less on peripheral devices than my previous configuration. I bought 4 dongles of which one is presently used (see picture: on the upper right corner of the MBP). But, as time will pass, dongles will disappear, being replaced by new equipment with USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 connections. The other advantage with new USB-C equipped hardware is its "pass through feature" i.e. you can hook up serially up to 7 devices and receive / distribute electrical power at the same time e.g. I ordered a new external HDD which will also power the MBP at the same time it exchanges data.


HDD with USB-C double connectivity

@Akira: the large touchpad has a "hand palm recognition feature" and should not react on hand palms touching the touchpad.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

You did not answer my concern about the machine being literally soldered to a given configuration, not changeable by a user later? For me that would be a definitive deal-breaker; however, as I'm not into Macs no personal worry at present unless the 'soldered' trend gets momentum.

Please don't construe the above as a criticism, it is about getting insights into the newest technology.

[MFloyd]

Hi Bjørn, I thought that I addressed the question in my first post.  Of what I have read, the MBP, new version, is not upgradable; I believe it's because of the even smaller dimensions: everything must be so cramped inside. That's also the reason I sized the configuration, the way it would hold for at least 5 five years, I hope.  I did not feel your remark as being criticism, just genuine curiosity 😊

[Bjørn Rørslett]

You did mention the bare facts in the opening post, true, but not your thoughts on them. Thanks for elaborating the topic.

[Frank Fremerey]

My past experience with AMD / ATI Grahics in notebooks was very bad, so I am sceptical concerning that feature. My Nvidia Notebooks still run, they are only outdated, the AMD/ATI counterparts died because of bad engineering in the Graphics department. They generally run too hot therefore live shorter. OK if you can replace them in a desktop; Not OK, if they are permanetly builtin unreplacable in a Notebook.

My 2 Cents

[Akira]

Thanks, Christian, for the details about the touchpad.  The palm recognition seems to be a clever feature.

[MFloyd]

@Frank. I'm not too much a specialist in graphic cards. Though, I have the reputation to push the hardware to its limits.  For the time being, I didn't hear any desperate roars of fans crying for cold air, neither could my laptop step in as an auxiliary heating in these freezing temperatures.  Future will tell us.  But i'm not too concerned.

[MFloyd]

I'm just replicating my post on the the other MBP thread.  The screen - for a laptop - is quite impressive.  In this regard, I made a DataColor quality analysis of the screen; the text is in French, but most of you will understand.

"I calibrated and tested the 15" screen of my new MBP 2016. Herewith the DataColor report which was generated during the calibration:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a7pncw2f4z9z9et/MacBook%20Pro%2015%22%20DataColor%20SpyderElite.pdf?dl=0

The analysis shows a gamut which matches the DCI-P3 gamut, largely exceeding Adobe sRGB and closely overlapping Adobe RGB"

At your disposal for further information.

[Jakov Minić]

I haven't been using it very much, but I have to say that I love it thus far!
I too have no intention on upgrading in the next 5 years and given how it operates now, I don't see the need to do so.
It opens and saves images with a blink of an eye, at least my D750 NEFs and TIFFs. Whether I am using PhotoNinja or any other software I don't see any delays in my working process. In fact I am still surprised how quick it is
The fingerprint sign in is cool!
The looks are, well they are very important to me, outstanding.
The battery life is excellent.
The screen is amazing.
The huge track-pad is great and it doesn't get in the way of typing.
The touch bar is something that you need to get used to, but I can see how helpful it will be the more I use it.
I haven't taken Siri out on a date yet.
Yes, I miss the SD card slot, but for how long? Yes I miss the USB ports and mag-safe, but for how long?
It is a lot of money, but I am not sorry I spent it

 

[Anthony]

  With regard to a mouse, I largely prefer a Touchpad.  I have a mouse, but haven't probably used one for about 4 years. 

The Apple Magic Trackpad is brilliant.  I have not used a mouse or a Wacom since getting the trackpad.

[pluton]

I do not now, nor did I ever need (or ask) for a super-thin laptop.  One assumes that Apple's
 market research told them that enough of their customers wanted it thin.
The soldered-in memory and HDD are exchangeable by service shop, right?  If so, that's a regrettable inconvenience and moderate cost penalty. 
As for the mouse:  My first choice is a large trackball, second choice is the trackpad.  Haven't used a tablet yet.
At the rare times I have used a standard mouse, I marvel at what seem (to me) to be the ghastly ergonomics of it.

[Jacques]

My 6 weeks experience mirrors what Jakov has written above, as a primary CF card user the missing card slot is not an issue I just bought a sideways 8 shaped USB to USB C lead to connect my Lexar dual slot card reader, I bought one Apple USB C to Thunderbolt 2 dongle to connect to my LaCie small RAID unit so about £40 spent and I am as before connection wise. The trackpad is really good for quickly looking through images, initial culling etc. I was also a mouse at all times user but not now, my previous MBP from 2012 had the non upgradable build and had worked without issue over the last 4 years so no worries for me about that method of construction