I picked up a 128GB ipad mini 4 today.  When I turned it on the battery life was at 54%.  Does that seem low?  I thought they usually had around 80%?  Also, it wasn't recognizing me typing at some point until I restarted it.  Is there a reason to be concerned?  I can always take it back and exchange it for a new one.  

I wouldn't worry about it.  The battery just means that it had been on the shelf for a week or two longer than "normal."  Regarding the typing, if it's fine after a restart, it's a-ok.

Seems to have gone unnoticed but the new MacBook Pro looks really nice. I like the change to four USB-c/thunderbolt 3 ports. Still deciding on the touchbar. Pretty, sure this will be my next computer.

I know a couple of people that have been waiting for this one.

For folks who use the function keys all the time (many Digital Audio Workstations like Pro Tools, Reaper etc use them quite a bit) the touchbar is a big deal.

Some people are thinking about replacing their Mac Pro's (pre 2013) with the new MacBook. 

I hear some whining about the loss of firewire but a couple of adapters solves that easily.

We'll see once the early adopters give it a go. 

Me, I'm still content with my 2012 6 core Mac Pro (I have a 2012 Macbook Pro that doesn't see a lot of use). I would love to have Thunderbolt connections but I've added a USB-3 PCIe card for faster connections. 

I do hope they update the Trash Can.

Touch bar is interesting and I trust Apple, if anyone, to have it be stable and reliable.  Other computers with touch sensitive buttons have been less than stellar but obviously touch-based interfaces have come a long ways in the last 5 years.  

Can't wait for the standalone Touch Bar keyboard for iMacs and Mac Pros. Must be coming ...

Wife is in for a 15" MacBook Pro as her next corporate machine after 20+ years of ThinkPads. Progress.

 

2 hours ago, n_maher said:

...but obviously touch-based interfaces have come a long ways in the last 5 years.  

I remember my first touch based interface. It was way back in the 70's. I think they called it a clitoris. I never got very good with it.

1 hour ago, swt61 said:

I remember my first touch based interface. It was way back in the 70's. I think they called it a clitoris. I never got very good with it.

They still have those.  Some interfaces just never get old.

IMHO Microsoft is starting to get it's act together at least for some professional users.

I'm all about the software and I have way too much money and study invested in CoreAudio to change right now but,..

The upcoming Surface Studio sure is a nice looking machine!

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/devices/surface-studio/overview

^I thought about getting one of those but I just can't imagine spending that kind of money after dealing with the Surface Pros.  

That could get me interested if price were significantly lower than a Mac's.

Watch the first 10 minutes.

tl;dw - Wi-fi on new MBP's is bottlenecked by Thunderbolt data traffic.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that maybe the usb-c adapter might be the culprit?

Watch it further then. The next 20 minutes or so they're doing cross-checks with other devices/setups.

No, I see what they're doing.  If it turns out that you're unable to use usb devices and the internet at the same time is an actual problem with the new macbooks and it's unrelated to 3rd party adapters, I'll buy brent biscuits.

Currently there's a slight shitshow going on in the Apple official USB-C dongle review thread - http://www.apple.com/shop/reviews/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter

I have pretty neutral sentiment for both of the major players. For 20 years I've been using mainly Windows and for the last year or so getting a MBP for work was a wonderful revelation. I'd hate to return to Windows for work.

 

The newest review on that product was from march, so 8 months ago, and obviously not using the current macbook pros.  But I imagine there will be some teething on usb-c, and it will eventually work out.

Yeah, I'm going to be skeptical on this one as well. This seems like the kind of thing Apple and Intel would catch in QC testing.

Thunderbolt 3 has tons of bandwidth and shouldn't be limited by that kind of load. 

So now that AAPL has officially abandoned Thunderbolt, I'm officially in the market for a TB hub.  There are exactly two worth considering.  The OWC for $220, an the Elgato for $200.  The former has FW800 support, but its performance has ...mixed reviews.  The latter lacks FW, but has slightly better scores.  I need FW support.  If I don't get the OWC, I'll be buying an Apple TB/FW adapter.  Supposedly OWC have upgraded the firmware and made some other minor changes to their design to improve its performance.

Any HCers have experience with TB docks?  Any recommendations?

Haven't used the docks but I do use an Apple TB/FW adapter with my 2012 MBP. I use an external drive with the adapter>FW800 and my Metric Halo interface with the stock FW800 > FW400 adapter. The drive I use is AC powered and I've never had an issue with powering two 48V mics from the interface a Pro Tools iLok in one of the USB ports and headphones from the Metric Halo. 

That's my remote recording rig if I'm not using CAT5 from an Avid S3 (which is much of the time).

Both the laptop and interface are usually plugged into AC.

IMHO the TB/FW adapter is cheap and easy and until I'm forced to change, I'll stick with that.

I use the older version of THIS . It has worked perfectly for two MBAs. No FW but a good quality dock.

Thanks for the input.  I'm going to be buying ...something this weekend.  Being cut off from my FW HDDs is unacceptable.  Currently thinking an AAPL brand adapter in the short term and wrestling with the TB Dock prospect later.

 

Also, this Retina screen is ...something else.  

the adapters work really well

Looks like I'm going to be ordering about half a dozen of these things, at $10 a pop.  That's still far cheaper than buying a second thin MagSafe PSU.  I have quite a stash of the (older, fatter) ones that I've been hoarding since 2008.

TAKE ME TO YOUR DONGLES!

Dark grey looks amazing in person.