Apple
7 Things to Do Before Your New 2016 MacBook Pro Arrives
Here we outline a few things you should do before your new 2016 MacBook Pro arrives.
Earlier this year, Apple took the stage and announced new 2016 MacBook Pro models. The 13-inch and 15-inch 2016 MacBook Pro both come with an impressive set of features including the all-new Touch Bar, under-the-hood upgrades, a new trackPad, improved speakers, and the new macOS Sierra.
If you placed an order for a 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Pro shortly after the conclusion of Apple’s event, there’s a good chance your order is on the move.
New 2016 MacBook Pros are shipping out to buyers around the world and many have arrived ahead of the original delivery date.
If your 2016 MacBook Pro is on the move, now is a good time to start preparing for its arrival. To help, we want to outline a few tips we think will come in handy while you wait for your new 13-inch or 15-inch laptop to arrive.
Track Your New 2016 MacBook Pro
If you recently put in an order for a new MacBook Pro you’ll want to track your order from the Processing stage to your doorstep.
If you haven’t received a shipment notification email from Apple, track down your confirmation email from Apple and click on your Order Number. Apple’s website will show you current status of your order.
If you have received a shipment notification from Apple, click on Track Shipment. You’ll be taken to Apple’s website where you’ll find a tracking number. Select that and you’ll be taken to your carrier’s website. We recommend checking your MacBook Pro order once or twice a day to track its progress.
If your MacBook Pro is being delivered through UPS, we highly recommend downloading the UPS app and signing up for My Choice. The service is free.
MacBook Pro deliveries require a signature. If you know you won’t be home for the delivery you’ll need to make the proper arrangements otherwise the delivery will fail.
Apple allows you to pre-sign for your delivery. You can also arrange for your carrier to hold the package at a local location.
Get Familiar with macOS Sierra
The new 2016 MacBook runs Apple’s brand new macOS Sierra operating system out of the box. If you aren’t familiar with macOS and/or Sierra, now would be a good time to get acquainted with the software you’ll be using once your new MacBook arrives.
There are more than a few resources out there. Apple’s website provides a basic overview of the features and changes on board macOS Sierra.
If you want to dig a little deeper, we’ve put together a walkthrough video that will take you through Sierra’s most important features.
If you’d rather read about the features, we’ve also put together a in-depth walkthrough that highlights the key differences between Sierra and Yosemite.
Get familiar with Sierra before you new laptop arrives. That way you won’t be caught off guard when you fire up your new MacBook for the first time.
Figure Out What Adapters You Need
The new MacBook Pro’s ports are limited to a set of USB-C ports that sit along the outside edge of the device. Due to this change, many of you will want or need to buy USB-C adapters.
If you want to charge your iPhone, your existing Lightning cables won’t work unless you have a Lightning to USB-C adapter. Same goes for those of you trying to charge a device that uses microUSB. Unless you have an adapter, you’ll need to find another power source.
The 2016 MacBook Pro doesn’t come with any adapters so you’ll need to make a separate purchase. Some of you might want or need to make a purchase before your new MacBook Pro arrives.
Apple sells a bunch of official adapters but you have options. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy sell more affordable alternatives and you might look into an all-in-one option like the Aukey USB-C Hub.
Look Into MacBook Pro Accessories
The MacBook Pro accessory ecosystem is extremely robust and we recommend looking into what you might need (outside of adapters) before your new MacBook Pro arrives.
We’ve put together a list of the best MacBook Pro accessories you can buy right now and it’s worth a look if you think you might need more than the laptop itself.
We expect to see some Black Friday MacBook Pro accessory deals emerge at Amazon and other third-party retailers so if you can’t find what you want at the price you want, you might wait a few more days to see if you can snag a deal.
Decide: Restore or Start from Scratch
Before your new MacBook Pro arrives, you’ll want to make a decision about your current files and settings. Some of you might want to start from scratch, others might want to perform a restore.
Typically, we start from scratch. Often times, restoring will bring over a ton of bloat that you simply don’t need on your computer. And thanks to iCloud, you’ll probably have access to your most important files already.
If you’d rather restore from a backup, you can perform a restore from a Time Machine backup. If you’re unsure about how to proceed, Apple’s website walks you through the process.
Track Down Your Passwords
When you fire up the new MacBook for the first time you’ll want to input your Apple ID and password. Most of you will have your own information memorized but if you’re setting it up for a family member or significant other, make sure you have those handy.
Once the initial setup is complete you’ll probably turn your attention to your apps, both Apple and third-party applications. You’ll need logins and passwords for those too.
When you re-download apps like Chrome, LastPass, and Slack, you’ll need to login in again to access your account.
If you haven’t logged into your apps and services in awhile, now would be a good time to ensure that you have that information on hand.
Figure Out What to Do With Your Old MacBook
If your 2016 MacBook Pro is replacing an older model, decide what you’re going to do with your old MacBook.
The first thing you’ll want to do is prepare your MacBook for sale. We’ve put together a guide that will take you through this process.
Next, you’ll want to select a place to sell it. There are tons of sites out there (Gazelle, eBay, Craigslist, etc) so you’ll want to do your homework.
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When it comes to connecting your iPhone to your MacBook Pro, the best option is to buy a USB C to Lightning cable instead of using an adapter that is more likely to get lost or left at home. Sure, an adapter would double as a USB adapter for other devices, but we're looking to remove adapters as possible. I own two of these cables and I love them. Not only can I connect my iPhone directly to the Mac, but if I plug this cable into my MacBook Pro charger I can fast charge my iPhone X. This also works for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. When fast charging the iPhone charges up to 50% in 30 minutes. Apple sells two official USB C to Lightning cables. You can use this to charge your iPhone or iPad, sync to iTunes and even to use with Duet to use your iPad as a second display for your MacBook Pro. | |||||||||||||||||
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