There are a lot of folks complaining about the fact that the current MBP is maxed out at 16GB of RAM. However, while I have had my concerns, as well, I am sticking with Macs, for now.
I saw the video below a while back and wanted to link it here because it is one of the many reasons I am getting the new MBP rather than moving to Windows:
I saw the video below a while back and wanted to link it here because it is one of the many reasons I am getting the new MBP rather than moving to Windows:
The other thing is that I have read articles this year discussing the amount of RAM most people will need and the consensus is 8GB of RAM. While I use more taxing applications like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, I still think that 16GB will be more than enough to do what I need for years to come.
If I was a person that had high end needs and was concerned about future use, I would simply upgrade it when 32GB becomes an option or move to another OS. When we make tech decisions, rarely are we looking at a product that will solve all our problems for a decade. Sometimes you have to use a short term solution, then sell that product to help pay for something new when they have something that fits your needs better.
Here's how much RAM your PC needs to run smoothly
How Much RAM Does Your Computer Need for PC Games?
According to the article, "on a computer that stores massive databases, virtual machines, and other huge things in memory, even 32GB of RAM may not be enough." So, if that is you, I would pass on the new MBPs and move to another solution.
If I was a person that had high end needs and was concerned about future use, I would simply upgrade it when 32GB becomes an option or move to another OS. When we make tech decisions, rarely are we looking at a product that will solve all our problems for a decade. Sometimes you have to use a short term solution, then sell that product to help pay for something new when they have something that fits your needs better.
Here's how much RAM your PC needs to run smoothly
How Much RAM Does Your Computer Need for PC Games?
According to the article, "on a computer that stores massive databases, virtual machines, and other huge things in memory, even 32GB of RAM may not be enough." So, if that is you, I would pass on the new MBPs and move to another solution.
Why Apple? Why?
Apple's answer:
"To put more than 16GB of fast RAM into a notebook design at this time would require a memory system that consumes much more power and wouldn’t be efficient enough for a notebook. I hope you check out this new generation MacBook Pro, it really is an incredible system."
A more thorough explanation (Reddit):
"The true reason behind the lack of 32gb or ddr4 is intel. Skylake does not support LPDDR4 (LP for low power) ram. Kabylake is set to include support, but only for the U category of chips. So no LPDDR4 support for mobile until 2018 I think."
"To put more than 16GB of fast RAM into a notebook design at this time would require a memory system that consumes much more power and wouldn’t be efficient enough for a notebook. I hope you check out this new generation MacBook Pro, it really is an incredible system."
A more thorough explanation (Reddit):
"The true reason behind the lack of 32gb or ddr4 is intel. Skylake does not support LPDDR4 (LP for low power) ram. Kabylake is set to include support, but only for the U category of chips. So no LPDDR4 support for mobile until 2018 I think."
Is it "Pro"?
The most ridiculous thing I have been reading in the comments is that the new MacBook Pro is no longer for the professional. There isn't one unified professional that uses Macs. The "pros" that use Macs are in many different jobs across many different spectrums. For a huge majority, 16GB of RAM will be more than enough for years to come. In the state I reside, there is a professional privilege tax. Therefore, if you're profession is not listed below, this state does not consider you a professional.
If a "pro" is less exclusive and simply means "making money using a Mac", that is much larger group that has very different needs. I think the MBP is not the laptop for every single job, but if that is the criteria, Apple has never had a "pro" computer.
Other "Pro" concerns
I have also read that this computer isn't for the pro because it doesn't have any ports that aren't USB-C. I have actually seen people say it isn't pro because it doesn't have an SD slot. That is ridiculous.
Wanting to use devices without adapters has never been a pro requirement for a computer. I have a thunderbolt 2 dock that I have been using with my 2011 MBP and it made the laptop no less "pro" than before I got the dock. Actually, it made the 2011 MBP much more "pro" by expanding the ports to include USB 3, which the computer did not have.
Like it or not, the USB-C/Thunderbolt connectors are a HUGE step forward in capabilities. You can use an adapter to get backward capabilities, but you can't make a slow port that is built into the computer faster. Here is an article I wrote about Thunderbolt 3 over a year ago that explains why I like the port.
Wanting to use devices without adapters has never been a pro requirement for a computer. I have a thunderbolt 2 dock that I have been using with my 2011 MBP and it made the laptop no less "pro" than before I got the dock. Actually, it made the 2011 MBP much more "pro" by expanding the ports to include USB 3, which the computer did not have.
Like it or not, the USB-C/Thunderbolt connectors are a HUGE step forward in capabilities. You can use an adapter to get backward capabilities, but you can't make a slow port that is built into the computer faster. Here is an article I wrote about Thunderbolt 3 over a year ago that explains why I like the port.
On the other hand....
Please don't confuse my defense of the 2016 MBP as being "pro" as being happy with every decision Apple made with the new laptops. I just think the way people are complaining about is ridiculous and hurts their credibility. One guy was claiming it was no longer "pro" because it lacked MagSafe!! While that is also ridiculous, mark my words "Griffin Will Make a Break Away cord for the new MBP, just like they did for the MacBook".
I do feel bad for the people that need a 32GB option right now, but it just doesn't fit Apple's design philosophy and I don't think it is rational to think that they would have come out with an 8 pound laptop that has 2 hours of battery life. They can barely update the stuff in their line up now (which is a more common and legitimate complaint), so adding a laptop to please a small percentage of Mac users really doesn't make a lot of sense. If I had your specialized needs, I would try to find some way to move to Windows where you can get a laptop to your specs.
For the record, I would have preferred one USB 3 slot and one SD card slot (more for future storage expandability than for dropping files). It is a preference. That doesn't mean that it is something that makes the laptop useless for my needs, or less pro, it just means that there will be some slight inconveniences in the short term.
I do feel bad for the people that need a 32GB option right now, but it just doesn't fit Apple's design philosophy and I don't think it is rational to think that they would have come out with an 8 pound laptop that has 2 hours of battery life. They can barely update the stuff in their line up now (which is a more common and legitimate complaint), so adding a laptop to please a small percentage of Mac users really doesn't make a lot of sense. If I had your specialized needs, I would try to find some way to move to Windows where you can get a laptop to your specs.
For the record, I would have preferred one USB 3 slot and one SD card slot (more for future storage expandability than for dropping files). It is a preference. That doesn't mean that it is something that makes the laptop useless for my needs, or less pro, it just means that there will be some slight inconveniences in the short term.
RSS Feed