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The best laptops and 2-in-1s to give as gifts
For our holiday gift guide, we skipped straight to the all-purpose machines we recommend all year round, from ultraportables to gaming rigs to convertible 2-in-1s. We even have a Chromebook in there for the Chrome OS faithful (and also, people shopping on a budget, or people whose recipients require just the basics).
Ask Engadget: Should I buy a laptop or a 2-in-1 for school?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back our "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question is a buying comparison between a Chromebook or a 2-in-1 Surface Pro 7. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! I'm going to college in September and I want a device that can do all. At first I wanted to get a Surface Pro 7 since it's both a laptop and tablet (I would think a tablet is necessary for drawing diagrams) but then my friend told me I should just go for a Chromebook since it's cheaper and will get me by. What do you think?
The best laptops for students in 2019
Each year, laptops are one of the most well-represented categories in our back-to-school gear guide. And for good reason! With the exception of the relative few who prefer desktops, for almost every other student setting foot on campus this fall, a notebook is going to be the most important tool at their disposal. And it's no minor purchase either. Our favorite ultraportables cost north of $1,000, and even a decent budget model will set you back at least $500. And once you do make the investment, it's something you're not likely to replace for three, four, who knows how many years. For the purposes of this guide, we're going to focus on what Engadget considers the best of the best. Our philosophy is: A laptop is one of the most critical pieces of gear a student needs, and it's worth investing in build quality, performance and battery life that will stand the test of time. Oh, and don't worry, we have lots of picks for gaming laptops specifically -- you'll want to check out the gaming section of our back-to-school guide for that. Right now, we're just thinking about the best all-around laptops; the best for most people, in most use cases. Here's what we would buy if we were spending our own money.
Apple says it fixed the MacBook Pro keyboard
The MacBook Pro is getting an upgrade today and yes, it's the upgrade you've been waiting for. After acknowledging problems with the "butterfly" mechanism in its MacBook keyboards and later offering next-day repairs, the company is now attempting to address the underlying design. For over a year, users have been complaining about stuck and unresponsive keys, with the outcry culminating in a March Wall Street Journal column that was published without certain letters, as if written on a stuck butterfly keyboard. It was for that story that Apple finally issued a statement acknowledging the problem. The following month it began offering next-day keyboard repairs. Now, Apple says it's using different materials in the keyboard mechanism, which it hopes will address these complaints. Additionally, the company is extending the standard one-year warranty for keyboard issues that would normally be covered by the care plan. So, even if your one year is up, you still qualify for keyboard repairs as if you were still in-warranty. Of note, this isn't the first time Apple has tweaked its Butterfly keyboard to address user complaints. Last year's refresh quietly added a membrane meant to keep debris from working its way in. Here's hoping the fix that Apple announced today actually does the trick. In addition to that revised keyboard design, Apple announced some CPU upgrades today, with the 15-inch MacBook Pro receiving an eight-core processor option for the first time. The $2,799 configuration of the 15-inch model will come standard with an eight-core, Core i9 processor offering base speeds of 2.3GHz (up to 4.8 GHz with Turbo Boost). The less expensive $2,399 SKU starts with a six-core, ninth-generation Core i7 processor with a base clock speed of 2.6GHz and Turbo Boost speed of 4.5 GHz. For those who can afford it, there will also be a higher-end CPU option: a 2.4GHz, eight-core Core i9 processor with a Turbo Boost speed of 5.0GHz. Meanwhile, the 13-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro is getting slightly faster eighth-gen Core i5 and i7 quad-core processors. It'll come standard with a 2.4GHz quad-core Core i5 chip that reaches Turbo Boost speeds of up to 4.1GHz. It will also be configurable with a 2.8GHz quad-core Core i7 CPU that reaches 4.7GHz through Turbo Boost. These new MacBook Pros are available now, at the same starting prices as before: $1,799 for the 13-inch Touch Bar model and $2,399 for the 15-inch machines.
Apple stops charging $99 to transfer data to new Macs
If you have a ton of files you need to move to your new Mac, you're in luck. Apple quietly did away with the $99 fee it charges to migrate data from your old Mac to your new computer. The policy change, which went into effect on April 2nd, was first reported by TidBITS. From now on, if you purchase a new Mac or take your computer in for repair, Apple will transfer your data for free.
Apple may unveil a 16-inch MacBook Pro and 31-inch 6K monitor this year
If you're in the market for a new MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad or virtually any other Apple product, gather 'round for Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's freshest rumors. To start, he told 9to5Mac that Apple will release a 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2019 that would be the largest-screen MacBook since 2012. That makes some sense, as we know that LG or another manufacturer is building such displays for Origin and others. Kuo adds that a 13-inch MacBook Pro might appear with up to 32GB of RAM, an amount that can only be found on 15-inch models right now.
Apple adds faster AMD Vega graphics options for 15-inch MacBook Pro
Apple has acted on its promise to give the 2018 MacBook Pro a much-appreciated graphics performance boost. You can now configure the higher-end 15-inch laptop with Radeon Pro Vega 16 or 20 GPUs that, if you ask Apple, deliver up to 60 percent faster processing power for tasks like 3D modeling and GPU-accelerated video edits. Both options come with 4GB of memory, so your choice boils down to the level of computational power you want.
Apple says T2 chip can limit third-party repairs for recent Macs
Yes, the reports were true -- Apple's T2 chip can potentially restrict third-party Mac repairs. The company confirmed to The Verge that the co-processor can limit third-party repairs for certain components on recent systems, likely including the iMac Pro and MacBook Air. Apple didn't provide a full list of affected parts or say which machines were covered, but the T2 could regulate repairs for the logic board (aka motherboard) and Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
Apple announces repair programs for iPhone X, MacBook Pro problems
As it tends to do, Apple has chosen a Friday evening to announce programs that will replace flawed components on a couple of its devices. First up is a display module replacement program for the iPhone X. Some owners have been reporting touch issues since the phone debuted, and according to Apple a failed part in the display could cause the following problems: The display, or part of the display, does not respond or responds intermittently to touch The display reacts even though it was not touched If your touchscreen is finicky on an "eligible device" then it will be replaced for free, although there might be a charge for things like a cracked display. The replacement program covers your iPhone X for three years dating back to when it was originally purchased.
Apple’s laptop line is more of a mess than ever
Imagine that you've got $1,300 and you'd like to buy a new Apple laptop. Which one do you choose? The $1,299 MacBook, the new $1,199 MacBook Air or the cheapest MacBook Pro, which also retails for $1,299. If you really want TouchID then you'll opt for the Air, but if you're looking for the "best" then the Pro is the only answer. Not that you'd understand that from the price list, thanks to Apple's crushing inability to properly differentiate its products.
Apple will add Radeon Pro Vega graphics option to MacBook Pro
The new MacBook Air wasn't the only laptop upgrade at Apple's Brooklyn, New York, event. The company has announced that it's giving 15-inch MacBook Pro buyers new graphics options for Radeon Pro Vega graphics in late November -- you won't have to settle for the older Radeon Pro 500 series GPUs available at launch. Apple hasn't discussed pricing, but there are Radeon Pro Vega 16 and 20 models that promise up to 60 percent faster graphics. If you thrive on pro 3D rendering or GPU-heavy video editing, this might be just what you were looking for.
Apple ‘software lock’ prevents repairs on iMac Pro, 2018 MacBook Pros (updated)
In new Apple computers with its custom T2 chip (currently the iMac Pro and MacBook Pro 2018 models) it serves the purpose of "the System Management Controller, image signal processor, audio controller, and SSD controller." That means it can handle the system's secure boot system and on the fly encryption, as well as image processing for the FaceTime camera. While the enhanced security is nice, it has additional implications. According to MacRumors and shown on documents posted by Motherboard, anyone doing significant repair work on these systems will be left with a nonfunctioning system until they run the "Apple Service Toolkit 2" diagnostic software. For the MacBook Pro that includes "display assembly, logic board, top case (the keyboard, touchpad, and internal housing), and Touch ID board," and on the iMac Pro, it's the logic board or SSD.
Leaked Apple repair videos offer a peek behind the curtain
Apple products aren't necessarily made for you to repair them at home; you generally need to take your ailing iPhone or Macbook Pro into an Apple retail store for any significant fixes or part replacement. Now, however, a YouTube account has apparently leaked eleven official-looking internal training videos that show how repairs are made on iPhone X, iMac Pro and MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro review (2018): Apple plays catch-up
With the new MacBook Pro, Apple is just trying to keep pace with the rest of the computing industry. The biggest upgrade is Intel's latest CPUs, which have been popping up in PCs since last fall. And there are some other slight hardware tweaks, too. Basically, it's a classic Apple refresh: Not much has changed. Put the MacBook Pro side by side with last year's model and it's impossible to tell the difference. Still, if you're a committed Mac user, it's exactly what you've been waiting for. Everyone else should take a long, hard look at the competition.
iFixit puts the MacBook Pro's anti-debris keyboard to the test
Users have complained that the butterfly switch keyboard that comes with newer MacBook and MacBook Pro models is too sensitive to crumbs and dust, with difficult-to-repair keys becoming "sticky" overtime. But when iFixit took a look inside Apple's newest MacBook Pro, it discovered silicone barriers around the keyboard switches -- a new addition that a MacBook Pro service document states is to "prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism." Now, iFixit has put those barriers to the test in order to see how effective they really are at keeping particles from damaging the keyboard.
Apple's slim MacBook Pro design could be holding back its i9 CPU
The 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro lets you crank up the processor power by swapping in an Intel 2.9GHz six-core Core i9 CPU for an extra $300. But the chip seems to be struggling when it's handling power-hungry tasks, to the point where the average clock speed is vastly below the advertised performance of the CPU. Some tests even showed that it fared worse than the i7 model.
MacBook Pro document confirms 'anti-debris' keyboard redesign
When iFixit tore down the new MacBook Pros, it found silicone barriers protecting keyboard switches. While Apple claimed these were to make the keyboards quieter, others suspected that the membranes were a way for Apple to fix its troublesome keyboards. Now, an internal document obtained by MacGénération and MacRumors confirms that the new feature is indeed a barrier to "prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism."
Apple’s MacBook eGPU is a step toward winning back creative pros
Even though Apple makes a lot more money on iPhones and iPads, Macs are still crucial to its bottom line. For years, they were widely loved by creative folks and influencers because they were simpler and more powerful than Windows PCs. Now, content creation pros and designers are falling out of love with Apple. Many see the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar as a consumer gimmick, and worse, Apple's top-end laptops have failed to keep pace technologically with powerful, well-designed PCs from Microsoft, Dell and others.
iFixit finds a 'cover-up' inside new MacBook Pro keyboards
While we've been all over the outside of Apple's newest MacBook Pro lineup, iFixit has, as usual, decided to look underneath the hood and find out what's changed from previous models. While it has not published a full teardown report yet, the repair outfit said that the keyboard may have a bigger change than Apple let on. Users have reported problems with the "butterfly switch" keyboards in new Apple laptops for a while saying they're too sensitive to crumbs and dust and can't have individual keys repaired. Still, the company said this iteration only has changes that make them quieter to use.
MacBook Pro 2018 hands-on: Quieter keyboard, 'Hey Siri' and True Tone
Apple unveiled some refreshed MacBook Pros this week, and I promised we'd be getting a unit to review ASAP. Sure enough, look what arrived in the mail today: a shiny, new 13-inch Mac. As you can see, the exterior design is the same as the previous-gen MacBook Pro's, from the unibody aluminum enclosure to that giant Force Touch trackpad. Most of the changes here are under the hood (think: quad-core processors on the 13-inch model), so it's going to take a few days to test things like speed, graphics performance and battery life. We'll post a full review next week (and, ya know, spend the weekend indoors putting this thing through its paces). For now, here's a first look at some of the more noticeable differences.