The coming of Windows’ new Creator’s Update has marked a shift in the company’s marketing, now looking to cater directly to the artistic world and, arguably, relate itself to a market vastly dominated by Apple, some online sources report.
But many would argue that Apple and the Macbook already have their niche, they were born premium, they don’t need to achieve this status like Microsoft products often do. They also don’t need to compete in the creativity and productivity realm, they practically made it.
The newest iteration of the Macbook Pro is already garnering mixed reviews, with users citing battery issues and graphic glitches (later confirmed to be caused by a third-party app) as the main reasons, but Apple’s latest powerhouse computer still has many things to offer.
This situation begs the neverending question, why buy a Macbook? In fact, why buy the latest model? The upcoming 2016 Pro is looking to address these issues.
The new Macbook Pro: an argument on overpricing
The 13-inch entry-level model offers a 2.9GHz dual-core i5 Intel processor with 8GB of RAM, a powerful machine right out of the box. It also contains 64MB eDRAM, which stands for embedded dynamic RAM, and reaches a turbo boost of 3.3GHz.
The DRAM memory integrates onto the processor (hence the ’embedded’ prefix) to create this system, making the computer’s processes faster and more efficient. Apparently, this is not enough for most users, who have complained of little bang-for-the-buck.
The 13-inch with the specs mentioned above starts at $1,799 with Touch Bar (no TB is $500 less). For this price, most computers from other brands already include an i7 (or similar) and a minimum of 16GB of RAM. Apple apparently looks to excuse the price tag with these new keyboard feature.
15-inch models cost up to a thousand dollars more and include an i7 with either 256 or 512GB storage and optional Touch Bar. 16GB of RAM included. They represent a huge difference from the 13-inch, but the price seems to be just too high this time for reviewers.
Users might get the same performance for a cheaper model
Most reviews are making design the real highlight. This feature has been the detonator for most detractors to claim that it doesn’t really offer an upgrade from older models, except in this aspect.
The Touch Bar, which could be the cause for the price hike as stated above, has been praised and criticized for these two very reasons, design and functionality. Too few apps currently support it, which begs the question as to whether Apple should have waited a little more.
Other reviews name the fingerprint sensor as the real advancement. They also praise the storage capability and its revamped speed, which is a huge pro. Apple’s solid-state drives work at a rate 100% faster than its predecessors.
Weighing the pros and cons, reviewers agree that for now, it is best to stick with older models, unless users really want to try the new Touch Bar. A computer that relies mostly on its aesthetic prowess to impress consumers will arguably have a hard time with critics. However, for Apple, sales are not dropping.
Source: Wall Street Journal
