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> Pros don’t quit because their tools are suboptimal. That’s practically the definition of “professional” – a pro gets the damn thing done. A pro user might gri

by jwr 10y ago

> Pros don’t quit because their tools are suboptimal. That’s practically the definition of “professional” – a pro gets the damn thing done. A pro user might gripe about the new MacBook Pro, but the next time she needs a new machine, she’s going to buy one anyway because that’s the path of least resistance and she needs to get back to work. This sums up perfectly my thoughts about Apple hardware right now. I am annoyed by the fact that I won't be able to connect any of my devices to the new MacBook Pro, but I'll buy one anyway, because I need to get things done to earn money. I also agree that the pro market is ripe for disruption (again). Interestingly enough, Apple began its rise to stardom from the pro segment, which it is now abandoning. Foolishly, I think, because it's a relatively easy disruption path for the next company.

dingaling 10y ago
"Pros don’t quit because their tools are suboptimal." Indeed they don't quit. Quite the opposite, pros dump sub-optimal tools ASAP and buy something decent to finish the job. The productivity of a tool that meets requirements hugely outweighs any additional cost. In the UK Draper brand hand-tools were well regarded until the 2000s, when they started applying their brand to cheaply-manufactured tools from China. Word of insufficient quality and durability spread amongst 'pro' users who quickly stopped buying them. Draper later tried to reintroduce a 'Draper Pro' line with higher quality but the brand was irrepariably tainted. Now they're mainly found in the hands of occasional DIYers who remember the brand name.
- seanp2k2 10y ago
  Speaking of hand tools, is there anything between something like Xuron / Xcelite / CHP and Erem? $100 for a pair of diagonal cutters is too much but the rivet on my CHP PN2007 sheared when using it for some heavier-but-not-IMO-abusive work. I don't mind paying $20-40 for a good set.
  - lebski88 10y ago
    Knippex might fit the bill.
- smacktoward 10y ago
  The same thing happened in the US to Craftsman tools, the line sold by (now rapidly vanishing) retailer Sears. For decades the Craftsman name was synonymous with high quality, reliable tools -- a reputation also shared by other Sears house brands, like Kenmore appliances and DieHard automotive batteries. Then Sears got a new CEO, production got shipped to China and the quality of all those brands dropped through the proverbial floor. And all the cost-cutting didn't even help turn the company around; if anything, Sears went under faster afterwards than it had been doing before. Nearly a century of brand value destroyed in a few years, to no positive purpose whatsoever. What a waste.
allenbrunson 10y ago
> I also agree that the pro market is ripe for disruption (again). I kind of hope so. I am not happy with Apple's latest moves with their Mac lineup. I have been using my current Macbook Pro for six years. I expected to buy one of the newly-announced Macs, but they really aren't speaking my language anymore. So I ordered a refurb Macbook Pro from 2015. It's still not what I would prefer, because the battery is glued in, the RAM can't be upgraded, not the latest processor, etc. But at least it still has USB-A ports, magsafe, and a physical touch pad. I guess now I've bought myself another six years' worth of time to see if Apple comes up with something that is more to my liking. If someone were to introduce an entirely new and exciting platform, with ways to make money in its ecosystem for a programmer like me, I would strongly consider it. I've done it before. Way back in 1999, I abandoned Windows and switched to BeOS. I worked for Be, Inc. for almost a year, before they went out of business. Even though it didn't go so well last time, I would make the jump to a new platform, a second time, in a heartbeat.
- woah 10y ago
  Lack of USB A, MagSafe, and physical touch pad is what you're mad about? The first is a understandable, but a matter of obsolescence, the second also (plus you can fix it with a $20 USB c cable with magnetic breakaway). Being mad about the haptic touch pad is a real head scratcher, since it is strictly an improvement.
  - donatj 10y ago
    The haptic touch pad is probably the worst part in my honest opinion. It just feels wrong, even after a year of using it.
    - fzzzy 10y ago
      Seriously? The haptic touch pad is the best thing to ever happen to pointing devices! It is absolutely amazing.
- fzzzy 10y ago
  Uhh, the 2015 retina has a haptic touchpad.
moftz 10y ago
There are plenty of MacBook Pro alternatives that have identical hardware but have a wider range of ports: Microsoft Surface Book Razor Stealth Dell XPS 13 Unless you are sticking with the macOS ecosystem for old time's sake, it's trivial to switch to a Windows workflow.
- woah 10y ago
  Or if you need to use Mac software, or don't like the buggy and unpolished windows ecosystem
- anexprogrammer 10y ago
  Or you're on Windows at the moment and wish to go back to macOS, but the new MB 12 style shit travel-free keyboards and the other hardware/ports choices now stop you.
- pantalaimon 10y ago
  > Unless you are sticking with the macOS ecosystem for old time's sake, it's trivial to switch to a Windows workflow. Or Linux for that matter.
  - jwr 10y ago
    If only it were true. I have to write a blog post about this. As someone who regularly uses all three major operating systems: Mac OS sucks the least, by a wide margin. It's not even close.
- rbanffy 10y ago
  And, with the Windows workflow, you'll have extra breaks whenever the computer decides it has to reboot because Microsoft wants to install something.
  - endemic 10y ago
    IIRC if you pay for the "Pro" version of Windows, you can defer updates.
  - 10y ago

by jwr 10y ago

dingaling 10y ago

"Pros don’t quit because their tools are suboptimal." Indeed they don't quit. Quite the opposite, pros dump sub-optimal tools ASAP and buy something decent to finish the job. The productivity of a tool that meets requirements hugely outweighs any additional cost. In the UK Draper brand hand-tools were well regarded until the 2000s, when they started applying their brand to cheaply-manufactured tools from China. Word of insufficient quality and durability spread amongst 'pro' users who quickly stopped buying them. Draper later tried to reintroduce a 'Draper Pro' line with higher quality but the brand was irrepariably tainted. Now they're mainly found in the hands of occasional DIYers who remember the brand name.

seanp2k2 10y ago
Speaking of hand tools, is there anything between something like Xuron / Xcelite / CHP and Erem? $100 for a pair of diagonal cutters is too much but the rivet on my CHP PN2007 sheared when using it for some heavier-but-not-IMO-abusive work. I don't mind paying $20-40 for a good set.
- lebski88 10y ago
  Knippex might fit the bill.
smacktoward 10y ago
The same thing happened in the US to Craftsman tools, the line sold by (now rapidly vanishing) retailer Sears. For decades the Craftsman name was synonymous with high quality, reliable tools -- a reputation also shared by other Sears house brands, like Kenmore appliances and DieHard automotive batteries. Then Sears got a new CEO, production got shipped to China and the quality of all those brands dropped through the proverbial floor. And all the cost-cutting didn't even help turn the company around; if anything, Sears went under faster afterwards than it had been doing before. Nearly a century of brand value destroyed in a few years, to no positive purpose whatsoever. What a waste.

allenbrunson 10y ago

> I also agree that the pro market is ripe for disruption (again). I kind of hope so. I am not happy with Apple's latest moves with their Mac lineup. I have been using my current Macbook Pro for six years. I expected to buy one of the newly-announced Macs, but they really aren't speaking my language anymore. So I ordered a refurb Macbook Pro from 2015. It's still not what I would prefer, because the battery is glued in, the RAM can't be upgraded, not the latest processor, etc. But at least it still has USB-A ports, magsafe, and a physical touch pad. I guess now I've bought myself another six years' worth of time to see if Apple comes up with something that is more to my liking. If someone were to introduce an entirely new and exciting platform, with ways to make money in its ecosystem for a programmer like me, I would strongly consider it. I've done it before. Way back in 1999, I abandoned Windows and switched to BeOS. I worked for Be, Inc. for almost a year, before they went out of business. Even though it didn't go so well last time, I would make the jump to a new platform, a second time, in a heartbeat.

woah 10y ago
Lack of USB A, MagSafe, and physical touch pad is what you're mad about? The first is a understandable, but a matter of obsolescence, the second also (plus you can fix it with a $20 USB c cable with magnetic breakaway). Being mad about the haptic touch pad is a real head scratcher, since it is strictly an improvement.
- donatj 10y ago
  The haptic touch pad is probably the worst part in my honest opinion. It just feels wrong, even after a year of using it.
  - fzzzy 10y ago
    Seriously? The haptic touch pad is the best thing to ever happen to pointing devices! It is absolutely amazing.
fzzzy 10y ago
Uhh, the 2015 retina has a haptic touchpad.

moftz 10y ago

There are plenty of MacBook Pro alternatives that have identical hardware but have a wider range of ports: Microsoft Surface Book Razor Stealth Dell XPS 13 Unless you are sticking with the macOS ecosystem for old time's sake, it's trivial to switch to a Windows workflow.

woah 10y ago
Or if you need to use Mac software, or don't like the buggy and unpolished windows ecosystem
anexprogrammer 10y ago
Or you're on Windows at the moment and wish to go back to macOS, but the new MB 12 style shit travel-free keyboards and the other hardware/ports choices now stop you.
pantalaimon 10y ago
> Unless you are sticking with the macOS ecosystem for old time's sake, it's trivial to switch to a Windows workflow. Or Linux for that matter.
- jwr 10y ago
  If only it were true. I have to write a blog post about this. As someone who regularly uses all three major operating systems: Mac OS sucks the least, by a wide margin. It's not even close.
rbanffy 10y ago
And, with the Windows workflow, you'll have extra breaks whenever the computer decides it has to reboot because Microsoft wants to install something.
- endemic 10y ago
  IIRC if you pay for the "Pro" version of Windows, you can defer updates.
- 10y ago