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5 Reasons You’ll Hate the New MacBook Pro

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The new MacBook Pro 2016 is finally here with a new look, new features, more power and longer battery life. Unfortunately the 2016 MacBook Pro comes with a nasty surprise, or should we say five of them.

Here is a look at five of the new MacBook Pro features you will hate, and what you can do about them if you decide to buy a 2016 MacBook anyway. The odds are good that not everyone will hate each of these items — but for some users this is a major issue.

Read: 2016 MacBook Pro 13 vs MacBook Pro 15

Apple announced the MacBook Pro late 2016 model with Retina Display at a special event on October 27th and it is on sale now starting at $1,799 for the 13-inch model and $2,399 for the 15-inch model. Here’s how to finance the new MacBook Pro.

Here are the reasons to hate the new MacBook Pro.

Here are the reasons to hate the new MacBook Pro.

Even with a new design, an OLED touch panel and Touch ID, this is what you’ll hate about the new MacBook Pro 2016 update.

No Regular USB Ports

The 2016 MacBook Pro no longer includes regular USB ports. Odds are good that you use these regularly to charge your iPhone or connect an accessory to your MacBook.

This USB Type A connection is no longer on the MacBook Pro. Instead you have several USB C connections. USB C is smaller, reversible and can connect accessories, monitors and more.

This will push you to buy an adapter if you need to connect your phone or another USB device to your computer. Some devices like the GoPro Hero5 already includes a USB C port so you can use a USB C to USB C cable, but for others you will need buy an adapter.

Thankfully Apple sells a USB C to Lightning cable, which you will likely want to buy.

No MagSafe Connection

The 2016 MacBook Pro includes new USB C charging connectivity and you will no longer enjoy the benefits of MagSafe charging. With the current MacBook Pro the charger is held in place with magnets and if you move the notebook or trip on the cord the notebook remains in place and the cord flies away.

With USB C this is not the case, and you will need to adjust your habits or buy an accessory. Griffin makes a USB C MagSafe adapter called BreakSafe that can solve this problem, but you have a small part of it sticking out of the side of your MacBook.

There is no SD card slot or MagSafe connection.

There is no SD card slot or MagSafe connection.

No SD Card Slot

There is no SD card slot included with the new 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Pro so you will need to plan for that.

This is a device for creativity, but if you want to get your photos and videos on the new MacBook you will need to buy a USB C SD card adapter. The Apple Store includes a $49.99 USB C SD card reader, but you can find cheaper ones on Amazon.

No Escape Key on the New MacBook Pro

There is no MacBook Pro escape button on the physical keyboard.

There is no MacBook Pro escape button on the physical keyboard.

There is no physical escape key on the 2016 MacBook Pro. Apple replaced the top row of the keyboard with an OLED touch strip and Touch ID. That means the function keys are no longer there and neither is a physical escape key.

For many average users, Esc, isn’t a button we push regularly. Programmers who use vim, will definitely need to adjust to this change as will other users who rely on this daily.

macOS Sierra 10.12.1 now allows users to remap the Escape key to Caps Lock or another modifier. This doesn’t undo years of muscle memory that will keep fingers going to the top left of the keyboard.

You’ll Need a Dongle with Your MacBook Pro

macbook-pro-dongles-2016Do you connect to Ethernet, VGA, HDMI or other devices with your current computer?

Prepare to buy a dongle or adapter to get all the connectivity you need. There are some connections that you don’t need access to at all times, so removing them is OK.

USB C can connect to monitors, but if you travel to hotels or conference rooms you will likely need to invest in a USB C to HDMI or USB C to VGA adapter that will allow you to connect anywhere you are.

You can get a USB C Multiport adapter with a USB port, USB C Port and HDMI connection for $79.95 form Moshi or Apple. You can also get an adapter that includes many items from Sanho for $49.95 with Two USB ports, Micro SD and SD cards.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Franklin Marder

    10/27/2016 at 12:31 pm

    None of these are real issues. By going this way these computers are open to a slew of good quality and cheap, don’t go there, accessories.

  2. Mechie

    10/31/2016 at 11:47 am

    I did not get the iPhone7 b/c they took away the phone jack…and now….MagSafe is the reason why I’m not buying the new macbook pro even when I’m currently laptopless (I was so confident with Apple’s new design, I gave my old macbook pro to a family member in hoping to upgrade this Fall). Without MagSafe…is a deal breaker for me…especially with the high price increase. I can’t afford to trip over the power cable (which I know i WILL at some point) and break the laptop. Griffin adapter is not good enough since it sticks out. Apple…it was a nice 10 years run with you…I guess it ended when Tim Cook took over.

  3. Wyatt Biker

    11/02/2016 at 5:28 am

    Yep, I am trying to hold on to my 4 year old Macbook Pro 15 and hope Apple comes to their senses. But if not, I will have to swallow my pride and get a Surface Book and install Linux. Let Apple play with their dongle hell and their iPhone toys.

  4. Greg

    11/04/2016 at 5:12 pm

    I have enjoyed all my Macbook Pros, but my current one will be my last one. I couldn’t care less that the new one is a tiny amount thinner and a tad heavier. Big deal. At a certain point, it just doesn’t matter. The things I loved most about my Macbooks were the keyboard and the Magsafe charging port. Both of those are gone. Apple knew that a huge number of people hated the new butterfly keyboard, but they are so arrogant that they put it on the new Macbook Pro anyway. That in itself is enough to drive me away. Apple has taken the position that people carry their Macs around in cases, so it’s no big deal to lug a bunch of dongles around. Well, it is to me. It was bad enough not having an Ethernet port, but this is over the top. I’ve seen posts elsewhere from people complaining about the keyboard, but saying they are sure they’ll eventually adapt to it. It boggles my mind how Apple can do no wrong in the minds of some people and how they continue to buy Apple products no matter what. But even the “fanboys”will eventually get fed up. Apple was on the verge of bankruptcy once, and averted it by bringing back Steve Jobs. They won’t be able to do that this time.

  5. Mark Bolton

    12/13/2016 at 11:25 am

    I am just hoping that my 2012 MacBook Pro with all the necessary connections, Retina Display, non-butterfly keyboard lasts forever. I don’t want one of these new ones with all the inconveniences that come with them… When an upgrade is a downgrade – count me out.

  6. Dave

    12/19/2016 at 11:20 am

    I agree here in every way. I purchased a new Macbook Pro 15 and after one solid weekend of using it, it’s going back. Here are the deal breakers for me in order of precedence:

    1. Keyboard. The new butterfly keyboard is terrible. It may save space, but the satisfying feel of my legacy MacBook pro is something I find hard to live without. My fingers don’t naturally go to the correct key. I am a fast typer and the new keyboard doesn’t lend itself to maintaining a typing rate I can live with.

    2. Internals. We have essentially a 2015 MacBook pro stuffed into a smaller thinner chassis with slightly better processor performance and a very slightly improved graphics performance. We waited so long for so little.

    3. Ports. There aren’t many T3 devices out there yet, but until there is a proliferation of them, Apple decided to leave you with no other option except to pile a bunch of cash into those silly dongles. Two USB 3 and Two T3 connections would have been enough. I can live without an SD reader, but come on.

    I would have gladly gone with another MacBook Pro in its legacy chassis with a bump in internals. Now I’m left with returning it and hoping my legacy laptop will keep me going until Apple gives me something I can live with, or I hang up my 2012 MacBook Pro after it doesn’t work any longer.

    I was hoping Jony Ive would have kept things straight. Steve would have used that butterfly keyboard and thrown it back saying “This is a piece of ###t. Make it better”. Now there isn’t anyone to keep the artsy Jony Ive in check.

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