MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) Specification Processor: 2.2GHz Quad Core, Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz, with 6MB shared L3 cache Memory: 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 Storage: 256GB Flash Storage Graphics: Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB Height: 1.8 cm (0.71 inches) Width: 35.89 cm (14.13 inches) Depth: 24.71 cm (9.73 inches) Weight: 2.04 kg (4.49 pounds)2 Webcam: 720p (HD) – Front facing Who’s the MacBook for? Okay so, who is this MacBook for? Well if it depends who you ask. I personally use this MacBook as my daily computer. I am a university student that uses the web and Microsoft word. Do you need something this powerful for what I’m using it for? Absolutely not. Who needs a quad-core cpu to do web activity, for someone like myself I should have gone for something much cheaper and probably older from Apple. I would say and this is totally subjective so have your own say, but it’s perfect for someone who video edits as it has 16GB of RAM, 4 cpu cores, although 6 would be better, and I’m sure the graphics help, but I am no video editor professional by any means. I am currently recommending a laptop similar to this for my friend who studies music production. Again I can imagine this MacBook tearing through Logic Pro files and is convenient for moving from his setup at home to the university with ease by putting the system in his bag. I would like to consider myself to have an enthusiast apple MacBook. There is definitely a difference between having an enthusiast Apple MacBook and having an enthusiast PC whether that be laptop or desktop. Generally, you can find much more powerful products cheaper or around the same price. But Apple software is better optimised for their hardware, but let’s not get into that too much. Just to note, I have included my Black Magic Design Speed Test, but I don’t know how accurate this is. It looked quite impressive anyway. Quickly on the software argument Along with the Apple product comes its software of now MacOS. It is a personal preference on which one you like, but I have become very familiar with both operating systems (Windows and Mac) and I find sometimes if you know the shortcuts, Apple takes that competitive edge over Windows. But this is also based on subjectivity and my opinion. It all depends on your level of understanding of both OS’s and how you use them. For instance, when searching for a document or anything I just cannot find, it is super simple to press CMD + space bar, this instantly brings up the spotlight search and you can browse through various files and applications in a well presented manner. Launchpad is another example of how MacOS looks beautiful, instead of Windows’s approach to compiling all of the applications in the applications folder which Mac does also do in Finder. It has another way of quickly accessing applications in a nicer grid through a quick gesture on the touchpad. The price You know what you’re getting into when you look at the price. Its overpriced for what it is if you look at it from a specification side of things. However, when buying a Mac, you must another viewpoint. You are not just buying computer parts or a pre-built system. You’re buying the convenience of having a good looking laptop, which is still very powerful for what most Mac users use Mac’s for, it comes with a premium feel, a laptop that has MacOS, a software you cannot find on any other prebuilt computer that isn’t from Apple, and along with that features such as Siri, and the software’s integration with all of its other products. For example, I can pick up a call from my iPhone on my other Apple devices as long as my phone is connected to the same internet as the other devices. It’s the little things; I don’t see Windows picking up my phone call… However, when this product came out it was £1,600. It is now £1,900 on Apple’s website. Thus being marked up, this may be due to an increase of sales for the ports? More on this later. But not cool Apple. If you really want this laptop try find it cheaper than what Apple are selling it for, I believe it is cheaper on Amazon currently. The touchpad I love this touchpad, at first it takes a little getting used to, most people who try use my Mac won’t be able to click on something because they are used to other physical touchpads. This touchpad on this Mac is a little different… There is no physical click on the Mac. Many people get sceptical about this, but I personally like it. Let me point out that Apple tried to implement this on the new iPhone and I don’t think it works as well on the iPhone because it vibrates the bottom half of the phone, on the MacBook, you don’t notice it because it is so minimal. So you ask, if there is no physical click how do you click on something? Well, Apple included a taptic engine underneath the touchpad. What this is when you watch to click on something instead of the touchpad being pushed down, all it does is vibrate. Now this seems kind of stupid and pointless, but it works. It feels as if your clicking down, but the touchpad doesn’t actually move. Therefore, if you power down your Mac and try click down on it, it won’t work, it will feel like your finger hasn’t moved and that it’s just a bit of glass. As for the size of the touchpad, you don’t need it any larger than it is, and I find the touchpad on the new MacBook to be nice that they enlarged it, I also find it pointless as I don’t even utilise all of the surface area of the current touchpad. The Keyboard Quickly here. Every keyboard is different and it takes getting used to for fluent typing. My previous laptop was sort of stretched out and some keys were otherwise located in comparison to this laptop and it was frustrating hitting the wrong keys when I first started using this keyboard. However now that I have got used to it, I love it. Its backlight, only one colour of white, but it complements the black very nicely, and I have become very fluent with the keyboard and I can now type for the most part without looking at the keyboard, but that comes with practice. The display It looks great, with a resolution of 2880 x 1800, it performs very well and is pleasing to the eye and crisp. I guess enough said! The ports This is something that is definitely a seller for someone to buy this laptop over the new late 2016 MacBook Pro. It provides a Magsafe 2 charger, which is something really cool. If you pull up or down on the charger it will come right out as it is magnetised, therefore it will reduce the probability of you Mac being dragged to the floor if your foot gets caught on the wire. The charger snaps onto the Mac and it has a small LED indicator to indicate that your Mac is being charged (Red) and fully charged (Green). The Mac also provides two Thunderbolt 2 ports, that support up to 20GB/s, two USB 3 ports, capable of 5GB/s, a HDMI port (which I love for connecting a monitor up to increase productivity when not travelling with the laptop). 3.5mm jack connection, which is something that Apple is ditching now, but really nice to have as most products on the market support this. Finally, a SDXC slot for those who want to be able to transfer their camera photos and videos onto the Mac for video and photo editing and production. The battery Quickly. Usage is going to totally depend on what your using the Mac for. If you use it for web and typing, it’s going to last you all day, if your using a lot of applications that put stress on the system, such as video editing, I would look at bringing your charger around with you, but the systems battery lasts me all day (most of the time). If I’m working long hours I will put it on charge when I’m working in the evening. What useful things are included in the box? Obviously the Mac, a Magsafe 2 power adapter, a power lead which can be connected to the Magsafe 2 power adapter for a longer power cord. Most of the time the short cord does the job for me, usually I have a port for charging close by, and of course an adapter for your country, for me its UK. If you’re buying it on Amazon, make sure it’s the UK version you want, if you are in the UK, otherwise I believe that the keyboard can be slightly different and obviously the three prong won’t be there! All in all, a great laptop if you have the pocket for it. I got my laptop through an educational discount with my school at the age of 17 through my part time job. So achievable to afford for anyone if they really want it! If this review was helpful, please let me know. With over 1,500 words, it took a while to write :D Thanks Do you want your products to be reviewed? Business: TechNerds.Reviews@gmail.com Reviewed by Will