I have written an article called "Is that Pro Enough for You" but I was curious to see what articles we would see by actual pros that have actually used it. As I expected, we already have an article called "One Professional’s Look At The New MacBook Pro" from a professional (Thomas Grove Carter) who "cuts high end commercials, music videos and film". The one thing that he says is:
"On the 27th October Apple unveiled their new line of MacBook Pros. Since then half of what I read online seems to be “Professionals” (those guys), telling me it’s not Pro at all, not Pro enough or not the right kind of Pro. How many of these people have even touched the new devices?"
"On the 27th October Apple unveiled their new line of MacBook Pros. Since then half of what I read online seems to be “Professionals” (those guys), telling me it’s not Pro at all, not Pro enough or not the right kind of Pro. How many of these people have even touched the new devices?"
What a great concept! Actually use something before you comment on how useful it is. One of my favorite mobile techYoutube channels was reviewing the new Microsoft Surface Studio and actually said that the Microsoft Surface Dial was "in part gimmicky, but more useful than Apple's Touch Strip because it is more tactile and we are used to using doorknobs". So she is able to make that assessment without every using a MBP with the Touch Bar because we are "used to using doorknobs". Wow! Just Wow!
(As a side note, I think the Microsoft Studio looks pretty awesome, but it isn't a laptop, so comparisons to anything used on the MBP is kind of ridiculous, even if you have actually used both computers.)
(As a side note, I think the Microsoft Studio looks pretty awesome, but it isn't a laptop, so comparisons to anything used on the MBP is kind of ridiculous, even if you have actually used both computers.)
The guy that has actually used it has a different opinion
To quote this reviewer:
"For years we’ve had single mouse inputs on a graphical user interface. Over time we’ve added more buttons and scroll wheels, trackpads with gestures. The Touch Bar takes this step further by allowing multiple inputs at the same time and combines well with the trackpad. The more I’ve used it the more I’ve replaced certain keyboard shortcuts. Why would I use dual-hand/multi-finger shortcuts if the button was there in front of me? And it’s contextual. It changes depending on what I’m doing. I’m editing picture; it shows me relevant trimming shortcuts. I’m editing titles; it shows me font, formatting and colour options. All without the need to open other menus. It works, it’s faster and it’s more productive. I believe it’s only a starting point, as developers learn how we all use this thing, it’s going to get better and better. But even the short time that I’ve been using it with Final Cut Pro 10.3, I can already feel it becoming part of my everyday editing process."
No one, other than this one guy has written about real world use of the MBP (with Touch Bar), so I am not saying that his comments will be the norm. However, it does show that in a very short amount of time, one pro already finds this feature useful.
"For years we’ve had single mouse inputs on a graphical user interface. Over time we’ve added more buttons and scroll wheels, trackpads with gestures. The Touch Bar takes this step further by allowing multiple inputs at the same time and combines well with the trackpad. The more I’ve used it the more I’ve replaced certain keyboard shortcuts. Why would I use dual-hand/multi-finger shortcuts if the button was there in front of me? And it’s contextual. It changes depending on what I’m doing. I’m editing picture; it shows me relevant trimming shortcuts. I’m editing titles; it shows me font, formatting and colour options. All without the need to open other menus. It works, it’s faster and it’s more productive. I believe it’s only a starting point, as developers learn how we all use this thing, it’s going to get better and better. But even the short time that I’ve been using it with Final Cut Pro 10.3, I can already feel it becoming part of my everyday editing process."
No one, other than this one guy has written about real world use of the MBP (with Touch Bar), so I am not saying that his comments will be the norm. However, it does show that in a very short amount of time, one pro already finds this feature useful.
It is the Power, Stupid!
The other main complaint is the lack of power with the new MBPs. I have written about the trade off of size, battery power, and heat, so I won't concentrate on those points. However, the main thing is how the thing works. I posted a video from Hardware Canucks in a prior post showing just how much faster video is processed on a 16GB Mac vs a 32GB Windows PC and laptop.
Here is another video showing how the thing actually compares to a popular Windows laptop.
Here is another video showing how the thing actually compares to a popular Windows laptop.
To quote the video above "it comes down to how the hardware works with the software". This is the theme that people that actually use the computer will continue to put forward.
So is it powerful enough for a "Pro"
Once again, we have the guy that actually has real world "pro" experience with the Touch Bar versions and he says pretty much the same thing:
"First off, It’s really fast. I’ve been using the MacBook Pro with the new version of FCP X and cutting 5k ProRes material all week, it’s buttery smooth. No matter what you think the specs say, the fact is the software and hardware are so well integrated it tears strips off “superior spec’d” Windows counterparts in the real world. This has always been true of Macs. If you’re running software with old code which doesn’t utilise the hardware well, you’re not going to get great performance (as pointed out here). I understand people need to use programs from other developers, but at some point they need to play catch up. Otherwise it’s akin to asking for a more powerful engine because you like to buy tire-less wheels for your car. For all the kinds of work I do it’s been excellent"
"First off, It’s really fast. I’ve been using the MacBook Pro with the new version of FCP X and cutting 5k ProRes material all week, it’s buttery smooth. No matter what you think the specs say, the fact is the software and hardware are so well integrated it tears strips off “superior spec’d” Windows counterparts in the real world. This has always been true of Macs. If you’re running software with old code which doesn’t utilise the hardware well, you’re not going to get great performance (as pointed out here). I understand people need to use programs from other developers, but at some point they need to play catch up. Otherwise it’s akin to asking for a more powerful engine because you like to buy tire-less wheels for your car. For all the kinds of work I do it’s been excellent"
Does this mean it will work for every pro?
Obviously not! There are desktop computers for a reason. To quote the article:
"A ‘Professional’ should be defined by the work they deliver and the value they bring, not their gear. Use the new MacBook Pro, don’t use the new MacBook Pro. Your audience don’t care. You just have to keep making great work however you can. For me, I love it and I think most people will do too... once they actually touch it."
Doesn't that pretty much put this stupid argument to bed? Ha, Ha, Ha! Never! There will always be complainers about any new tech. It goes with the territory and if Apple doesn't fit your needs, then maybe it is time for you to move to something else. By the looks of it, Apple hasn't been hurt by the sudden flock of "pros" to other platforms (if these complainers are to be believed).
According to MacRumors "Slice Intelligence says the new MacBook Pro accumulated more revenue from online orders during its first five days of availability than the Microsoft Surface Book, ASUS Chromebook Flip, Dell Inspiron 2-in-1, and Lenovo Yoga 900, based on e-receipt data from 12,979 online shoppers in the United States." Look at the chart below, it is mind blowing:
"A ‘Professional’ should be defined by the work they deliver and the value they bring, not their gear. Use the new MacBook Pro, don’t use the new MacBook Pro. Your audience don’t care. You just have to keep making great work however you can. For me, I love it and I think most people will do too... once they actually touch it."
Doesn't that pretty much put this stupid argument to bed? Ha, Ha, Ha! Never! There will always be complainers about any new tech. It goes with the territory and if Apple doesn't fit your needs, then maybe it is time for you to move to something else. By the looks of it, Apple hasn't been hurt by the sudden flock of "pros" to other platforms (if these complainers are to be believed).
According to MacRumors "Slice Intelligence says the new MacBook Pro accumulated more revenue from online orders during its first five days of availability than the Microsoft Surface Book, ASUS Chromebook Flip, Dell Inspiron 2-in-1, and Lenovo Yoga 900, based on e-receipt data from 12,979 online shoppers in the United States." Look at the chart below, it is mind blowing:
The Wrap Up
So, we have learned that the MBP is pro enough for the pro in the article, the Touch Bar should be used before being evaluated, and new MBP orders are wiping the floor with the competition. That pretty much says it all.
RSS Feed