Apple 2019 MacBook Pro 16-in. Laptop
By Dajaun Martineau
I
t’s easy to say that the new 16-in. MacBook Pro is “the world’s best
pro notebook,” but does the product stand up to Apple’s boast? I
had the chance to take it for a test drive and here’s what I found.
First Impressions
The first thing I noticed when I powered up the machine is that the
screen gave me more real estate. Featuring a 3072 x 1920-resolution
monitor, it’s just shy of 4K – more than enough considering those pixels
are jam-packed into a 16-in. display. I found the extra space extremely
handy for viewing multiple plug-ins simultaneously. I no longer have
to choose between detailed views and a big picture overview; with
the new screen, I can have both.
Despite having a significantly larger screen, the laptop itself isn’t
much larger; the screen simply occupies more space inside the case,
reducing the margins that used to border the screen to almost nothing.
The second thing I noticed about the new MacBook is the key-
board. Apple has transplanted the design from the iMac standalone
keyboard to create a very sturdy and responsive keyboard. The action
is definitely an upgrade from the previous model. The escape key has
been reverted to a physical key in order to give the user direct ac-
cess. Additionally, the Touch ID fingerprint reader has been removed
from the Touch Bar to give an aesthetically pleasing parallel to the
escape key.
In Use
As I dug deeper into the architecture of the system, I discovered that
Apple’s engineers completely redesigned the case for this run of the
MacBook Pro to allow for a larger heat sink and increased airflow. The
augmented thermal efficiency is essential in reducing the amount of
heat produced by the Intel i7 and i9 chips. The power you get from the
chips is impressive but the noise from the fans can be a bit frustrating
when trying to record in the same room as the laptop.
That said, I found that compared to the 2017 model, the new
MacBook Pro fan activates less often, so it’s definitely an improvement.
As always, Apple has made this system bigger and faster than its
predecessors. This MacBook Pro is now configurable to have up to
64 GB of RAM and 8 TB of storage. The increased capacity makes my
dream of being able to fly anywhere in the world and have my entire
sample library without carrying a dozen external hard drives a veritable
reality. Apple also boasts that this notebook has the largest battery
possible while still being allowed through airport security checks. This
means that I can work in more unique locations for longer periods of
time without having to hunt for an outlet.
Another element that caught my attention was the upgraded
high-performance microphone array, which delivers a 40 per cent
reduction in hiss and a superior signal-to-noise ratio that rivals that
of popular professional-grade digital microphones. The mic captures
clean recordings that focus in on the quietest details. While it’s no
studio-grade condenser, it does a great job in a pinch, easily outper-
forming most USB microphones.
While the price of Apple products is sometimes intimidating, the
base unit is currently going for $2,999 CAD though a fully-loaded
configuration (2.4 GHz 8 core i9, 64 GB RAM, and 8 TB storage) jumps
the price up to $7,459. That being noted, I feel compelled to remind
everyone that this is a professional piece of equipment intended to
be the centrepiece of your creative environment.
Apple has a tradition of pushing us farther into the future whether
we like it or not. Most recently, the company has redefined connectivity
with the standardization of USB-C (one cable to rule them all!) and now
they’re redefining the potential of software with the discontinuation of
all x86 processes. The immediate downside is that any older software
you have may not function on the new MacBook. Most production
software developers have done the work to replace all of the old bits
so that their software will remain compatible in the future but some
developers will be left behind.
If you can find it within you to let go of the past, the new purely
64-bit architecture will be significantly faster and more secure.
The other huge benefit of abandoning x86 support is that this
opens the door for the transition to ARM processors. The introduction
of ARM processors will allow Apple to free itself from its current ties
to Intel. Independence could be very stirring for Apple users as Intel’s
processor shortages and heat issues have been curtailing the progress
of the notebooks for some time. Apple’s computers could operate
quicker and cooler and at a lower cost. I think that is something that
we all want as professional MacBook users.
Summary
While there are a few issues with cost and fan noise, I have to agree
that this laptop is “the world’s best pro notebook.” I cannot think of any
other piece of professional hardware that could even hold a candle
to this unit when it comes to power, portability, and sustainability.
With the new 2019 Apple MacBook Pro, you’ll be able to do much
more in less time.
Dajaun Martineau is a producer/engineer/writer based out of Toronto,
ON, who spent the better part of a decade as a Senior Staff Engineer at
Phase One Studios before going freelance. For his full discography and
more information, visit www.dajaun.com.
PROFESSIONAL SOUND 23