While we love everything Apple, the latest MacBook Pro with Touch ID has some exciting new features but is it right for you? We have a rundown for you. Take it from the guys who specialize in user upgrades and Mac peripherals!
Touch ID fingerprint sensor -If you love your MacBook Air but crave the Retina display, then you can still get one without forking over an extra $300 for the Touch ID bar. If security is important to you, the Touch ID adds an extra layer since your machine is less likely to be physically hacked. I wouldn't go so far as to say "Goodbye Passwords" but as Apple Pay extends to the web, Touch ID will allow for more and more secure payments.
Smaller Form Factor -Apple's 15-inch version is half a pound lighter, 14% thinner and has 20% less volume than its immediate predecessor (that's four years ago). The same screen size with a smaller footprint is often overlooked but if you are on-the-go a lot, this feels much nicer in your carry on.
Faster SSDs -PCIe based SSDs are even faster in this version and if you can afford it, get the new 2TB version. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the new MacBook Pro features a removable SSD (yeah!) powered by a custom controller from Apple (Ugh!). In short, if you must have a new MacBook Pro, faster access times will never get old.
USB-C Ports -This reminds me of the 2013 Mac Pro canister that looks sexy when nothing is plugged into it but try a few dongles or third party hubs and you'll think twice about how cool you look inside a Starbucks.The core issue with USB-C is confusion.Not all USB-C cables, ports, power supplies, and devices are compatible, and many are limited in various ways.
MagSafe 2 -I can't tell you how many times I've tripped over my power cable and thanked Jobs for inventing the magnetic charging connector. Now that you've conditioned yourself NOT to care about the cord, good luck with remembering that you're locked into a USB-C port. First dongle purchase? Magnetic adapter.
Battery Life -With better display and more computing power, how could Apple trade that against lower battery life? It says 10 hours but early experiences show that nobody is getting anywhere near that figure.
Skimming Your Emails Are You? -To make a long story short, here's what you need to know. If you want something beautiful (and you'll pay for it) with a great screen, intriguing Touch Bar and ID, larger trackpad, and a relatively lighter machine, the new MacBook Pro is for you. You need to weigh that against no USB-A ports, no native display ports, shorter battery life, and no user upgrades after purchase.And welcome to dongle madness!
