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Thoughts on MacBook Pro 2018

Migrating from a 2012 MacBook Pro to the 2018 model represents a huge leap in performance, but I’m still not sold on some of the trends within portable computing.

I do not recommend buying the first generation of any technology — hardware or software. In the case of the revised MacBook Pro, I did not like the 2017 release and am glad we could delay upgrading until there was a 2018 release. Some of what I did not like about the 2017 MacBook Pro has been addressed by Apple:

  • Keyboard feel: Typing on the previous MacBook Pro butterfly keys felt strange.
  • Memory shortage: Using the Adobe suite, I need more RAM than 16GB for media editing.
  • Storage options: Archiving projects, working from the cloud, and other strategies cannot offset the need to local storage when editing media projects.
  • Processor updates: Encoding video, in particular, benefits from CPUs and GPUs with support for hardware codecs.

What I still dislike, but can tolerate:

  • ONLY Thunderbolt 3 / USB C Ports: Include HDMI and Ethernet, please. For now, I’ll carry adapters.
  • Mid-range Screen Resolution: Increase the native resolution from 2880 (1440) to 3840 because scaling reduces the benefit of Retina double pixels.
  • Glossy Screen: Offer the matte option, that was last available in 2012.
  • Touch Bar vs. Function Keys: Offer a choice for those of us not impressed with the Touch Bar.
  • Trackpad Size: Reduce the oversized trackpad’s size, which finally too absurdly large.

Within 24 hours of receiving the new MacBook Pro, the Time Machine backup performed its magic and I was up and working once again. Knowing the ports would be an issue, I ordered Amazon Basics dongles for USB A, Ethernet, and HDMI connections. That’s three dongles to replace ports that existed on the MacBook Pro 2012 model.

Before using the system, I protected the case with a Mosiso cover, keyboard skin, and anti-glare screen protector. The screen is gorgeous, with great color, but I work in settings with overhead lamps and needed to reduce the glare. Apple has improved its glossy screens, reducing glare more than I thought possible. However, fluorescent lighting still creates annoying hot spots.

With the thinner and thinner design, I wasn’t sure there was room for a keyboard skin. The Mosiso skin somehow fits nicely and offers the extra traction I like. Ideally, Apple would offer the keyboard from the PowerBook G4 days, when they also had a 17-inch MacBook Pro for serious power users. The improved butterfly keys and the skin work nicely for my touch typing.

To overcome the lack of ports, I purchased a CalDigit TS3+ dock for my desk. This small dock replaced all but the FireWire port (which I was no longer using) that I had on my MBP 2012. I now have my external screen, Ethernet, audio mixer, printers (two), scanner, mechanical keyboard, and SD card reader again. The mass of cables into the MBP 2012 has vanished. There is one TB3 cable with power. The solution cleared my desk and connected all the devices upon which I rely for teaching and creating.

There’s not an easy solution for the Apple Touch Bar replacing the function keys. The Touch Bar has been called a gimmick and a solution in search of a problem. So far, the Touch ID is the only part of the bar I’ve used, and it wasn’t that difficult to type in my password to unlock a computer in the past. Because I do most editing at my desk, the Touch Bar will be sitting atop a keyboard I don’t even use!

The trackpad is absurdly oversized. I keep bumping it with the side of my right hand, below my thumb. This leads to random jumping of the mouse, which annoys me. The trackpad is larger than an iPhone X, by a significant amount. Again, this seems to be a solution without a problem. Maybe Apple can offer a pen and the trackpad can replace a Wacom tablet. It’s certainly large enough to be used for illustrating.

Now for the obvious: the system is wicked fast. What was taking three hours was finished in under 30 minutes. A half-hour HD video program edited in Adobe Premiere required only four minutes to process and export to a new format. In the past, I waited an hour and the MBP 2012 might overheat in the process.

The MBP 2012 has serious problems, sadly, because I love the machine. It’s been a loyal companion for years and I know its quirks. I even know how to reseat the connectors inside that now come loose from time to time. The yellowish spot on the lower left of the screen is even a familiar flaw. The blemishes include memories.

The MacBook Pro 2018 will be a good replacement for the 2012 model. The six-core i7 is fast, the 2TB SSD might be the fastest storage device in any laptop, and the 32GB of RAM are only maxed out when using Adobe Premiere and Photoshop. This system will serve me well.

Published inGeneralHardwareTechnology