Apple Thread II | AirPods Pros Announced

[Floex]

[Mafro]

I’m currently contemplating these three machines...

- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,579
- 13.3” MacBook Pro TouchBar 2.3GHz quad-core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,749
- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: £1,779

In terms of overall performance I was wondering, comparatively speaking, what would the trade offs be to have one machine with a lot more RAM but a slower processor, and another with a faster processor but less RAM.

I also noticed missing from the Air is True Tone and Wide colour (P3).

Have a look on Apple's refurbished site. You can get June 2017 Pro with those same specs but 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD for £1389 without the TouchBar or £1559 with it.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray

That's where I got my Pro from last November and the only way of telling it's not brand new is the slightly different box it came in.

[Tafdolphin]

I’m currently contemplating these three machines...

- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,579
- 13.3” MacBook Pro TouchBar 2.3GHz quad-core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,749
- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: £1,779

In terms of overall performance I was wondering, comparatively speaking, what would the trade offs be to have one machine with a lot more RAM but a slower processor, and another with a faster processor but less RAM.

I also noticed missing from the Air is True Tone and Wide colour (P3).

Have a look on Apple's refurbished site. You can get June 2017 Pro with those same specs but 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD for £1389 without the TouchBar or £1559 with it.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray

That's where I got my Pro from last November and the only way of telling it's not brand new is the slightly different box it came in.

So, take this however you like but my wife is a designer, all her friends are designers, all her colleagues are designers, and they're all lifelong Mac users. Every single one of them contends that the 2017 line of Pros outclass the recent additions to the lineup hands down. One guy, head of a design agency in Switzerland, called his 2018 15' Pro 'a nightmare' and 'the worst Mac ever.' The touchbar is almost useless, the keyboard is worse that the generation before, the connectivity is very limited and requires multiple adaptors etc etc. It's a lesser machine for a greater price.

So yeah. Those refurbs look good.

[KK]

As a value proposition, the iMac's are so much better...but I'm not sure I want to go back to using a desktop computer, even though I do have an iPad and iPhone so its not like I'd be drastically hamstrung in terms of portability. On the flipside, you've got the 4K screen, the bigger storage space, all the ports, the superior keyboard, mouse (which on its own costs 80 quid).

Okay so the HDD uses old tech, but it's crazy that you can even purchase a 5K iMac for less than the 512GB Air.

Their pricing structure seems all over the place to me at the moment (see also the 12'' MacBook).

[Robbo-92]

That looks really nice

How are you finding it so far?

[Mafro]

I’m currently contemplating these three machines...

- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,579
- 13.3” MacBook Pro TouchBar 2.3GHz quad-core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,749
- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: £1,779

In terms of overall performance I was wondering, comparatively speaking, what would the trade offs be to have one machine with a lot more RAM but a slower processor, and another with a faster processor but less RAM.

I also noticed missing from the Air is True Tone and Wide colour (P3).

Have a look on Apple's refurbished site. You can get June 2017 Pro with those same specs but 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD for £1389 without the TouchBar or £1559 with it.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray

That's where I got my Pro from last November and the only way of telling it's not brand new is the slightly different box it came in.

So, take this however you like but my wife is a designer, all her friends are designers, all her colleagues are designers, and they're all lifelong Mac users. Every single one of them contends that the 2017 line of Pros outclass the recent additions to the lineup hands down. One guy, head of a design agency in Switzerland, called his 2018 15' Pro 'a nightmare' and 'the worst Mac ever.' The touchbar is almost useless, the keyboard is worse that the generation before, the connectivity is very limited and requires multiple adaptors etc etc. It's a lesser machine for a greater price.

So yeah. Those refurbs look good.

As far as I know the main differences between the 2017 and 2018 version are the usual spec bumps and the keyboard has an extra membrane under the keys.

[Tafdolphin]

I’m currently contemplating these three machines...

- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,579
- 13.3” MacBook Pro TouchBar 2.3GHz quad-core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: £1,749
- 13.3” MacBook Air 1.6GHz dual‑core 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: £1,779

In terms of overall performance I was wondering, comparatively speaking, what would the trade offs be to have one machine with a lot more RAM but a slower processor, and another with a faster processor but less RAM.

I also noticed missing from the Air is True Tone and Wide colour (P3).

Have a look on Apple's refurbished site. You can get June 2017 Pro with those same specs but 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD for £1389 without the TouchBar or £1559 with it.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/G ... Space-Gray

That's where I got my Pro from last November and the only way of telling it's not brand new is the slightly different box it came in.

So, take this however you like but my wife is a designer, all her friends are designers, all her colleagues are designers, and they're all lifelong Mac users. Every single one of them contends that the 2017 line of Pros outclass the recent additions to the lineup hands down. One guy, head of a design agency in Switzerland, called his 2018 15' Pro 'a nightmare' and 'the worst Mac ever.' The touchbar is almost useless, the keyboard is worse that the generation before, the connectivity is very limited and requires multiple adaptors etc etc. It's a lesser machine for a greater price.

So yeah. Those refurbs look good.

As far as I know the main differences between the 2017 and 2018 version are the usual spec bumps and the keyboard has an extra membrane under the keys.

The addition of the touch bar, removal of the F keys and comparative lack of connectivity options are the biggest surely? There's also been stories of reduced build quality with the more recent models.

[Floex]

They were on the 2017 model. Sure it’s not 2016?

2018 models are superior to the 2017 models, no question.

Still not what they could be but better.

[Tafdolphin]

They were on the 2017 model. Sure it’s not 2016?

2018 models are superior to the 2017 models, no question.

Still not what they could be but better.

The first 2017 model Maf linked to doesn't have a touchbar...

Anyway. I'm no expert, but I know experts who prefer the 2017 models.

[Mafro]

The TouchBar and USB-C ports were introduced on the 2016 Pros. You can get the 13inch ones with or without the TouchBar but it’s present on all the 15inch models.

[Floex]

People say 2016 was a decent enough year but the 2017 models were the first with a shitty keyboard, lack of connectivity and a Touch Bar.

The fact the latest models use Coffee lake processors, a better keyboard & the 15” pro can be upgraded to 32gb RAM make it the superior model.

[Tafdolphin]

Sounds like I do indeed mean 2016. Definitely not an expert, then!

[KK]

Just seen that if you upgrade to the 1TB storage option on the iPad Pro, you also get an extra 2GB of RAM (6GB vs. 4GB). Costs £1,519/1,719 though.

[massimo]

What game are you playing there? What’s it like using that Nimbus controller?

[Robbo-92]

Just seen that if you upgrade to the 1TB storage option on the iPad Pro, you also get an extra 2GB of RAM (6GB vs. 4GB). Costs £1,519/1,719 though.

I've seen conflicting reports about whether the extra 2 GB of RAM is just to better manage the higher storage or not, not even considering it myself really.

On iPad Pro news, think I'm going to myself one ordered tomorrow evening, 11" 256GB with pencil and folio keyboard. Reckon a new phone can wait till next year (partly as I'm hoping they switch the iPhone to USB C so I can get away with one charger).

Edit, or not.... Still feel like I'm trying to talk myself out of buying a Pro

[RichardUK]

That looks really nice

How are you finding it so far?

Really good, I love the design and the feel of it, on the presentation they talked about it being thin and feeling great in the hand and it really does, I have the folio Smart Cover and even with that it’s still really thin



The screen quality is fantastic, the gestures along with Face ID are the same as my iPhone X so it feels really easy to navigate, the only thing I don’t like is not being able to add more app icons per screen, the way they are spaced out looks a little silly, the sound is great and the battery seems really good as well, I have not actually plugged it in yet!

What game are you playing there? What’s it like using that Nimbus controller?

It’s Modern Combat 5, it’s a free game but I have been playing the single player and it’s ok, it looks surprisingly good graphically and plays ok, it shows that Call of Duty/Battlefield games would be possible on iPad

The Nimbuss is better than I expected, on photos I thought it looked cheap but it feels quite nice and I’m an Xbox fan so using this controller is very similar to the Xbox One pad, it would be nice if Apple made an official controller and they maybe more games would support it but overall I’m pleased with it

[Mafro]

What’s so special about that Smart Cover that makes it £99?

[Errkal]

What’s so special about that Smart Cover that makes it £99?

It's smart durr

[RichardUK]

What’s so special about that Smart Cover that makes it £99?

it has quite a nice quality feel about it (not as good as the iPhone X Smart Folio but that's leather) it obviously fits the iPad perfectly and offers front and back protection without making it bulky, it also turns on the iPad when its opened (magnets) it also can be used in a couple of positions but the main reason its £99 is that its made by Apple although disappointingly it does not have an Apple logo on the back

[rinks]

Smart folios, and Smart covers before them, are horrendously overpriced, but they are also brilliantly designed. I would never use any other cover, so I always factor it in as part of the basic price when I’m considering buying.