Apple Updates the MacBook Pro to a Real Pro Machine
I’m traveling but will have a lot to say on the 2018 MacBook Pro. B&H Photo will be loaning me my recommended configuration of the 2018 MacBook Pro for me to thoroughly test.
For more on the new Apple MacBook Pro, bookmark my blog at MacPerformanceGuide.com. I occassionally cross-post like this, but I prefer to keep the computer stuffer at MPG. See also the articles and reviews pages over at MPG.
Below is my recommended configuration. A 1TB SSD is OK if it works for you, and a 4TB SSD is fantastic and preferred, but very pricey.
For the first time ever, the MacBook Pro really looks like a pro machine. The key factors are the 6-core CPU, the 32GB memory option, P3 gamut display, and 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports. I wish I could pay to remove the touchbar, but we cannot have everything.
- 2.9 GHz Intel Core i9 Six-Core
- 32GB of 2400 MHz RAM
- 2TB SSD
- 15.4" 2880 x 1800 Retina Display with P3 color gamut
- AMD Radeon Pro 560X GPU (4GB GGDR5)
- True Tone Technology
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.0 Touch Bar
- Touch ID Sensor
- 4 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) Ports
- Force Touch Trackpad
- macOS High Sierra
Negatives:
- The TrueTone display sounds like a disaster for those working with images where accurate color is needed. It will need to be turned off.
- The Apple T2 chip will create booting and recovery headaches just as with the iMac Pro. That said, encryption of the SSD without any speed penalty is something well worth having for a travel machine.
- The keyboard and touchbar irritated many pro users including me. These seem to remain, and will make the usage experience less than ideal.
Recommended configurations below. Be sure that 512GB is enough if you go with an SSD that small—it is not upgradeable. My work demands nothing less than a 2TB SSD, so even 1TB is problematic. It can be a very expensive mistake to buy too small an SSD (buy another one to fix the problem, a huge cost).
Do not buy a MacBook Pro with only 8GB of memory unless it is only for casual use. The memory is soldered on, and 8GB is nowhere near enough for many tasks. It is sufficient for email and web and so on—casual simple uses.
While a 13-inch display is too small for my taste, the smaller size may appeal to some.
