Earlier this week, Apple updated their MacBook Pro line of laptops with faster processors containing more cores. But the new gear is the same size, it has the same limited ports, the same potential issues with heat dissipation, and a new and “allegedly-improved” butterfly keyboard.
A keyboard that’s been a problem for three years. As a good friend sent me in an email last night: “Oh, sure,” he writes, “like it’s really fixed this time? I’ll believe it when Casey Johnson and Joanna Stern say it’s fixed.”
The only reason this butterfly keyboard exists at all is that Apple believes that Pro laptops are thin laptops. Which is both arrogant… and misguided.
When I do video production or video editing or audio editing on location – tasks which are considered pro functions – these new machines require I also travel with a 20 pound bag of dongles. Production today requires USB, HDMI, audio out and a Micro SD slot. None of which Apple considers Pro anymore.
ASIDE: When was the last time you went on a job saying, “If my laptop isn’t thin, I can’t use it?” Or, was it more likely you said: “DARN! I hope I remembered to bring all my stupid connectors?”
Every year, I promise myself that I’ll buy a new Apple laptop. I have the money – it’s in the bank. Yet, every year, when Apple updates their laptops. they don’t fix the keyboard, don’t fix the heat issues, don’t add more ports; and constrain GPU power. So, I’m still traveling with a 2013 MacBook Pro which has a slower CPU but plenty of ports and a keyboard that has never failed.
Increasingly, as media software continues to evolve, GPU speed and storage bandwidth take center stage while CPU speed diminishes in importance, especially for higher-resolution formats. But these new Pro units boost the CPU not GPU.
Still, they are thin.
ASIDE: When was the last time you said: “Wow, my extra-thin laptop sure looks sexy sitting on the corner of the craft table.” Or, did you say, “I wish this color grading would render faster?”
As you know, Apple does not share its hardware plans with the public, so I have no inside knowledge. But it is my hope that these units are a placeholder for a complete system redesign coming in the next year.
A pro laptop that is thicker, that includes a better, more reliable keyboard. More ports. Faster GPUs. And a heat sink big enough to cool Cleveland. And if they need to slow the CPU down a bit to accommodate that, that’s a good trade-off.
ASIDE: Hands, please. How many people want a laptop that’s really, really thin, overheats under load and has a problematic keyboard? OK. How many people want a computer that isn’t quite so thin, better cooling, faster GPU, more ports and a reliable keyboard?
I’m happy that consumers like thin. I think thin is cute. But, excuse me, I need to grab my traveling kit of dongles and docks. It’s time to get work done.
THINKING FURTHER
I have no objection to thin laptops. Not everyone who needs a laptop needs all the horse-power of a video editor. The MacBook Air is a delightful machine; and very thin.
My objection is that systems which are marketed as high-power, professional systems should focus on goals other than simply seeing how thin they can be made.
36 Responses to Dear Apple: Thin Is Not Pro
← Older Comments Newer Comments →-
Larry says:
May 27, 2019 at 4:38 pm
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Tan says:
May 27, 2019 at 6:16 pm
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Nick Rains says:
May 27, 2019 at 8:50 pm
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Dr.Marc M. Batschkus says:
May 28, 2019 at 12:31 am
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Lee Walkup says:
May 28, 2019 at 7:20 am
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Larry says:
May 28, 2019 at 7:52 am
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Phildo says:
May 28, 2019 at 10:54 am
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Patrick Norman says:
May 28, 2019 at 1:15 pm
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Shameer M. says:
May 29, 2019 at 11:52 am
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bart weiss says:
May 29, 2019 at 1:41 pm
← Older Comments Newer Comments →Nick:
A good comment. Personally, I need dongles for Ethernet (2 discrete networks), HDMI, audio out, an SD reader, and multiple USB-A ports for most of my gigs. Plus, I carry external storage, audio speakers and Ethernet cabling. Hence the “20 pounds.”
Agreed, a dock in an alternative. But, some of these ports, I submit, should be standard without requiring dongles.
Larry
While I have not much issues with the ports, I would say they should make it thicker to allow more design and heat leeway. I would prefer if Apple focus on the machine performance then thinness. There’s the Air if people want thin.
The cabling and external storage etc you’d have to carry anyway I suspect. I have a single Sinstar dongle with 3x USB, 1x HDMI, 1x SD, 1x 1GbE and a pass through USB-C power port. Works a treat but God help me if I lose it! Probably should buy a spare. At least with internals you can’t lose them.
Dear Larry,
thank you for another great article.
The headline already says it all and you´re right.
Nevertheless should we still be able to acknowledge the incredible advancements that Apple initiated. Who knows how laptops would look like today if Apple hadn’t pushed the limits of thinner and lighter way back in 2008 with the first MacBook air?
And that seems for me the distinction. Yes, there are people for whom thinner and lighter is very important because they need to carry the laptop around and maybe together with other stuff limiting their capacity.
And on the other hand there are the pro users for whom this use case seems to be less relevant because battery and CPU and connectivity is paramount (also screen size like with the 17″ that many pros loved). Yes, their number might be smaller but they are important and produce what other people watch and consume.
Maybe Apple is tempted to soften the focus to include “prosumers” that are numerous and spend much money for their “hobby” and like to have a “sexy” device. This would explain at least part of the obsession with “thinner”.
Larry, I agree wholeheartedly. I’m a heavy user of a mid-2015, 15″ MBP. Use it all day at the studio, then take it home and edit/render some more. It gets hot! And I know its days are numbered; so will need new one pretty soon. Don’t care about thin. Need that “heat sink big enough to cool Cleveland”! And as much GPU as it will hold. I mostly use mine w/external monitor and kbd, so the butterfly kbd is not critical for me. But I’ve heard horror stories about keys that don’t work. Please, Apple, more ports of different kinds, more GPU, better heat sinks. Don’t care about thin. I just want to get the work done on a cool, dependable machine that renders fast.
Marc:
I agree with you. There is a need and purpose for thin. I think the MacBook Air is a lovely system: thin, light and powerful.
But even Apple does not label that “Pro.” A Pro system needs more than thin, as I think the comments to this article attest.
Larry
Maybe Nvidia’s new laptop to be introduced in June will be a more compelling pro solution than Apple’s “thin to win” idea.
See MacRumor’s link below:
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/28/nvidia-studio-laptops-to-compete-with-macbook-pro/
I second all of this. Additionally, the loss of MagSafe for power connection is absurd, particularly when editing in the field in cramped quarters.
The other issue with thinness/lightness is that it honestly makes the machine hard to open. I can’t open my 2015 MacBook Pro with one hand or I’ll launch it off the table, but my beefier 2009 MacBook Pro? That thing’s a champ.
Also as a native Clevelander, I appreciate the shoutout! 😀
There are rumors of a redesigned 16.5″ MBP in the works. Knock on wood that ends up being better suited to pro users
Hi Larry
I saw your rant on the thinness of the mac book pros
and as someone whose body is falling apart I really really appreciate a very lightweight and thin pro laptop
yes I have to carry a few small cables but it this so much better than carrying the old heavy laptops
so
aside
I love these small and thin laptops
bart