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Comment by robhu | Hacker News Reader

It's a definite improvement, but quite disappointing if you want to use the GPU for pro use (e.g. video processing), given that there are other pro laptops out there now that include things like GTX 1060 and 1080 that are up to 5 times more performant.

It's a good upgrade over what was there previously, but it's disappointing relative to the rest of the market.

I understand Apple want to optimise for battery life and thinness, but it would have been nice if there'd been a choice (have this GPU and 10 hours battery life, or a 1080 and 5 hours battery life)... or dual GPU like before so you could have a 1080 or 1060 in there but normally use a low power integrated GPU.

The Razer Blade Pro (17", mechanical keyboard, desktop class graphics, 32GB on board, ...) is exactly what I actually want in a Macbook Pro. It's just a shame it doesn't run OS X.

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I've been drooling over the new Razer lineup since they were announced. If the MacBook Pro had anywhere near these specs, they would be destroying the market. Love working in MacOS, but it's basically becoming cost prohibitive. My 2008 MacPro tower isn't going to last forever, and SOMETHING has to replace it. Ideally mobile.

What's the battery life like on those Pro laptops?

Ideally Apple would release an external graphics card that communicates via TB3 for docked pro use, and then use the discrete Radeon Pro 460 when on the road.

The battery life is under two hours when you're doing "that kind of work". Also, the GPU is severely throttled when the laptop is not plugged into the AC power.

Yes, and wouldn't it be good to let the pro buying the laptop make that choice?

You can make that choice. By not buying the MacBook Pro.

All these articles and comments that imply that Apple has put a gun to their head seem a bit overblown.

Hell, Apple is still selling the old model if you're really that upset about USB-C.

I am saying from the perspective of a Mac using developer, wouldn't it be nice if Apple offered them the choice of choosing low end GPU for better battery life or high end GPU with less battery life, which may (and for many is) more appropriate for their professional workload.

I called Apple (both personal and business divisions) and you can not buy the old model with dGPU any more unless you buy refurb. The only 2015 available is the base model with Intel integrated graphics.

Keep in mind that the max TDP is only 35W this generation (down from 50W in the M370X). Don't hold me to it, but I suspect battery life will be better than 2 hours.

I believe it's already possible to hook up and external card to a Pro. At least I've seen pictures of it on a gamers machine so don't know how viable it actually is

It's not officially supported and so probably isn't a good business investment.

The Razer Core is (I believe?) the first non-chinese/ebay/type-thing solution that is officially meant to work on laptops (other than Razer or whoever makes the eGPU dock).

However I read a thread today saying someone who has one of these couldn't get it to work with the new 13" MBP. Don't know if that means it won't be possible in the future though. It's also very expensive ($400?) to add on top of the GPU.

TB3 is the first protocol to officially support eGPU by Intel.

As long as Apple doesn't block it outright in the EFI firmware, it should support eGPUs by default. If not, then Apple's the blame.

You can use a thunderbolt GPU enclosure; not sure how useful it is if Apple don't update their OpenGL drivers.

The Blade Pro is priced at $3700, which puts it in another class incomparable to the MBP.

I believe the top spec MBP and top spec Blade Pro are similarly priced?

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