When Apple announced late last year that it was updating its MacBook Pro line the feeling was that it was well overdue. The workhorse of Apple's line-up felt a bit neglected as the MacBook Air and the new 12- inch Macbook got their respective turns in the spotlight.
Pro fans got their wish: a shiny new MacBook Pro that seemed to take a giant leap forward, with a high-quality display and touch-sensitive controls.
You have a choice. First of all there are 13-inch and 15-inch version. The real star of the show is that the MacBook Pro has the Touch Bar, Apple’s concession to the current trend towards laptops with touch screens without actually making the leap itself, but you can also have a 13-inch version without it, simply using the standard set of function keys across the top.
It’s easy to dismiss the TouchBar as a bit of a gimmick but it’s surprisingly useful. It allows you to register your fingerprint to log into your profile on the device or to trigger Siri, Apple’s voice-assistant that came with the latest version of MacOS.
The TouchBar controls change depending on what software you are using. If you are in Photos you can use it to scroll through images or as shortcuts for editing photos.
Messages brings up emoji or predictive text suggestions. Web browsing on Safari turns it into a way to switch quickly between multiple open tabs or select your favourite sites. Occasionally, it reverts back to the Function key layout. It’s a versatile beast.
It’s easy enough to get used to. Within a few minutes it felt like second nature to tap away on it. However, the layout of the keyboard meant I frequently hit the Siri key by mistake – something that got a bit frustrating
There are some things missing from the MacBook Pro. MagSafe, Apple’s previous charging adapter, has been ditched in favour of the USB C port. Thankfully Apple hasn’t gone down the line of the 12-inch MacBook , which came with a single port that was somehow supposed to do everything. In fact, there are four on this particular model of MacBook, replacing the standard USB connection, the Thunderbolt 2 ports, and the charging port.
There are good and bad points to all of this. On the good side of things MagSafe may be gone, but now you have a choice of what USB port you can use to power it up. It’s also a much neater tidier thing if you are into your aesthetics.
On the not so good side it causes some inconvenience. To make any of your existing USB devices work with the new MacBook Pro, you need to invest in adapters or USB C compatible cables – and that pushes the price up yet again.
The MacBook Pro is not a cheap buy even at the entry-level model. But then there are few Apple devices that are. It all depends on how you see the value of it panning out for you. Currently I work off a MacBook Air that was bought in 2011; it’s still in good working order. Spread that cost over six years (and still going) and it seems like a sound investment.
The MacBook Pro is almost double the price but you get more for it in terms of power and features. Plus there is the TouchBar and TouchID, things that may seem unnecessary until you’ve been using them for a few weeks.
It does feel a little like Apple is hedging its bets here, though. Despite the addition of the TouchBar I still have the urge to tap at the screen, particularly for shutting down the accidental Siri activations. It just feels like you should be able to do it.
Will people spend their hard-earned cash on the MacBook Pro? Committed Apple fans, yes. Those who want a Mac but feel the Air or the 12-inch version won’t quite do the job? Probably. It may be overkill for the occasional laptop user, though.
The good:
The TouchBar is useful, changing according to what app you are using at the time. It works best with Apple’s own software, but the touch-sensitive panel also brings in TouchID, allowing you to log in with a fingerprint. You may occasionally be asked for your password, but like your iPhone or ipad that features the same thing, it will be a far less regular thing.
The standard spec is also pretty decent, and although there have been reports about battery life being less than stellar, the Pro version we tested here didn’t disappoint on that scale.
The not so good:
You are going to need deep pockets for this one, particularly if you are planning on deviating from the standard configuration. The base model with TouchBar is €2,099, which is a serious investment for many people. There are also the extra adapters you will have to buy to get the Macbook to play nicely with your existing peripherals and devices. Add in a USB C to USB A adapter from Apple’s site and you bump the cost by only €9 at the moment, but you may need to invest in a couple. If you need a Thunderbolt adapter that’s another €35. A multiport VGA adapter will set you back €59, and that’s before you get into Ethernet adapters supplied by third parties. Some people won’t need all of these extras, but it’s an added expense and hassle you could probably do without.
The rest:
The Retina display is pin sharp, so regardless of whether you are working with images or text it will all look good. The TouchID reader also allows you to switch between profiles on your machine so you could have more than one person using a single MacBook Pro. Handy for families.
The Verdict:
If you’ve been waiting for a new MacBook Pro to hit the market this is worth the investment. But it may be a little too rich for some users’ tastes.
