The Touch Bar-equipped MacBook Pro may be about the most popular MacBook Pro to date.
In a recent interview, Apple Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller noted that the new model is the most popular notebook that Apple has ever shipped.
“Our online store has had more orders for the new MacBook Pro than any other pro notebook before,” said Schiller.
Schiller also indicated that Apple will keep macOS and iOS distinct from each other, because of how the hardware differs and how users interface with the devices.
“There’s iPhone and iPad which are single pieces of glass, they’re direct-manipulation, multi-touch and tend towards full-screen applications,” said Schiller about half of the Apple hardware equation. “We want to make those the best in that direction anyone can imagine.”
“Then there’s the Mac experience, dominated by our notebooks and that’s about indirect manipulation and cursors and menus,” Shiller compared. “If you made the Mac a touchscreen you’d have to figure out how to make it a good experience with your finger on a touchscreen. Trust me, we’ve looked at that —it’s a bad experience. It’s not as good or as intuitive as with a mouse and trackpad.”
Schiller also addressed the removal of the SD card slot on the new model, stating that many users found early implementations of the slot as being “cumbersome” and a “trade-off.” The card was excised because of the “path forward” with more generic physical card readers, or the growing implementation of wireless transfer.
Regardless of complaints by users alleging that the new MacBook Pro isn’t “pro” enough, Schiller says that the 3.5mm headphone jack was retained for professionals with audio gear that do not have wireless solutions, and still need the jack for macOS.
Orders for the new notebook have been solid with assorted configurations taking six or more weeks due to demand. Apple hasn’t detailed any order numbers, as of yet, but Schiller is pleased with what he’s seen so far.
The 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar is now in stock and immediately available to ship. The unit starts at $1,499 from assorted retailers.
If you’ve ordered a new Touch Bar-equipped MacBook Pro and have any feedback to offer, let us know in the comments.
Via AppleInsider and The Independent