Much-needed improvements to performance and the dreaded keyboard
If you’re praying for more ports, some included dongles, or maybe the return of the MagSafe adapter, I’ve got bad news for you. Apple’s not improving their port situation. You’ll still need at least $200 in adapters and dongles to get the MacBook Pro back up to the extendability of the 2015 MacBook Pro. Furthermore, you’ll still be out an additional $200 for the TouchBar, which has received lackluster reviews. Still, if your only complaints about the MacBook Pro were the fragile keyboard and mediocre performance, Apple has some great news for you.
The Keyboard
Credit: iFixit
The 2017 MacBook Pro keyboard came with Apple’s second generation butterfly mechanism keyboard design. These keyboards had a fundamental flaw. They feature almost non-existent keyboard travel. The smallest fleck of dust can get under the keys and prevent them from being depressed. Not only that, it can permanently damage the mechanism. Many of the people in my office with a 2016 MacBook Pro or newer have had significant problems with these keyboards, and most of us don’t even use them often, but keep our MacBooks in docks. This then requires a complete replacement of the entire top half of the MacBook Pro, because Apple didn’t make their laptops serviceable or environmentally friendly. Apple hasn’t issued a recall, but is replacing the keyboards that fail under warranty. However, they didn’t have a solution to fix these keyboards; they will fail again.
Apple’s announcement for the 2018 MacBook Pro introduced the third generation butterfly mechanism. However, Apple merely stated that the new keyboards were quieter. They didn’t announce that it fixed the reliability concerns, likely because that would mean admitting that there are reliability concerns. While some blogs were quick to assume the worst, others withheld judgement (cough). It’s good we did. iFixit’s teardown (above) reveals that Apple’s changes to “quiet” the keyboard were likely made to prevent dust related failures, as you can see from the patent drawings below.
Apple’s dust protection patent for the new keyboard. Top: old style. Bottom: new one.
Apple’s new keyboards have a small silicone membrane. Each key is sealed off from dust. This quiets the keyboard, which, admittedly, was quite loud, but—most importantly—it protects the keyboard mechanism. This keeps a tiny fleck of dust from destroying your $3,000+ computer.
The Power
Apple’s new MacBook Pro had some understandable complaints when it was introduced in 2016. One was the 16GB of memory, a small amount for many developers and artists. For many of us, 32GB is necessary for a decent computer. Beyond that, the memory was tuned for low power consumption, not performance. Apple wasn’t even using the fastest graphics or processors. Professionals made their opinions known, and many of us clung to our 2015 MacBook Pros, refusing to “upgrade,” even when our companies offer it.
2018 MacBook Pro
Apple also released a $200 leather sleeve for the MacBook Pro. I know, you don’t care. Who pays $200 for a leather pocket?
Mac Way for the Future!
Personally, I’m still waiting for the new Mac Pro. Due to the degrading performance of my 2010 MacBook Pro (and its weight), I’ve been using my iPad for mobile tasks. I don’t feel like I need mobile pro hardware anymore, especially not with the limitations the MacBook Pro comes with. What’s the point of portability if I need a dongle or hub to connect to anything, including my iPhone?
USB-C isn’t ready for the spotlight, and many accessory manufacturers haven’t switched over to the unproven technology yet, which still doesn’t have standardized audio and a simple poorly made cable can destroy your computer. Apple rushed to cut away necessary USB-A ports and SD card slots to make something visually simple, without realizing that professionals don’t want visual simplicity, they want something that works. Appearance is a secondary consideration, not the primary one.
The new MacBook Pro finally has the performance and longevity to last into the future, which is important, because Apple didn’t design the computer for the present.
One final note: a fully-loaded 2018 McaBook Pro will run you $6,699. Don’t forget the add on at least $200 worth of dongles, and, of course, the extension cord for the charger that Apple once included with MacBooks. Let’s call it an even $7,000, shall we?
Sources:
- Apple
- Apple Support
- Alexander Fagot, Notebook Check
- Ed Hardy, Cult of Mac
- Joe Rossignol, MacRumors
- Nick Statt, The Verge