Faster, brighter Apple-ier
Looking for an eye-catching back-to-school computer? MacBook Pro makes the grade
APPLE’S BUILD QUALITY IS THE PINNACLE OF DESIGN...
Apple users have been waiting quite a while for an upgrade to the iconic MacBook Pro. At one time, it was the first choice for professionals and third level students who needed top-tier performance for video and photo editing. However, Apple were overtaken as Windows laptops have made the big strides over the last few years.
Apple has addressed this deficit with some new models for 2018. The thirteen-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is one such upgrade, and the best priced of the upgraded models.
Setting up a Mac is as easy as it’s always been. In the box, there’s just your Mac, a charger and the charging USB-C cable. If you’re a new Mac user the set-up is straightforward, and you can skip various steps and come back later and have yourself up and running in about five minutes. However, if you’re an existing Mac user, there’s a tool for migrating from your other machine.
The new MacBook Pro is an impressive looking tool. It’s available in Silver or Space Grey and weighs in at barely over three pounds which is only slightly more than the MacBook Air.
Apple’s build quality remains the pinnacle of manufacturing and design. The enclosure is made from recyclable aluminium and while light and smooth to the touch, it feels sturdy, almost like it’s ready for action.
Inside there’s a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor. There’s a Touch Bar of course, which is customisable by the user. The storage is decent as standard with a 256GB SSD drive which can be doubled when you’re ordering. Like the storage, the standard 8GB of RAM can also be doubled but I found the standard configuration ample. On the sides there are four Thunderbolt ports for connectivity but there is no SD card reader.
Once it’s powered up, performance is noticeably improved on the last comparable Mac. The first thing I noticed though, was the new backlight keyboard. It sounds better and quieter thanks to a new silicone layer under the keys that may