Pencils and paper were once the only school supplies students needed. Now students seem to need an endless list of supplies:  colored pencils, scissors, dry markers, post-its, white out, etc. One of the most important items on this list is a laptop. Teachers are constantly asking students to type essays, complete online assignments, and prepare presentations. All of these tasks require a laptop. There are thousands of different laptops and hundreds of brands that one can choose from. One of the most popular brands that students pick, especially in Palos Verdes, is Apple. On October 27, 2016, Apple released the new Macbook Pro. This article will cover the new Macbook Pro with a Touch Bar. Hopefully, the arguments provided will help someone determine—is it worth it?

Pro: Hardware

     The new Macbook Pro is by far one of the best pieces of hardware Apple has created. One of the bests reasons why someone should buy this new laptop is for its new design. Apple has thoughtfully constructed this laptop so it is thinner, lighter, and smaller than the 2015 Macbook Pro. The screen is 67% brighter and there are front facing speakers, instead of ones located on the sides like on last year’s model. In addition, these new Macbook Pros include a small screen above the keyboard known as a Touch Bar. This Touch Bar was implemented to make the user more productive. There are useful tools that change automatically according to what application is open. Also, for the first time on a laptop, Touch ID is available to make a person’s private information more secure.

Pro: Performance       

     Even though the new Macbook Pro is smaller than the 2015 Macbook Pro, it still provides about 10 hours of battery life. Furthermore, the newest model includes better processors and enhanced graphic support. Therefore, a user will be able to game, video edit, or do graphic work with more power. The 13-inch Macbook Pro is 103% faster for gaming, 76% faster for video editing, and 3D graphics compared to the previous Macbook Pro. The 15-inch Macbook Pro is 130% faster for 3D graphics, 60% faster for gaming, and 57% faster for video editing that the 2015 Macbook Pro.

Cons: The Ports

     This year, Apple has brought the idea of “minimalistic” to a new level. There are now only 2-4 USB C ports available on the New Macbook Pro. USB C can act as a power, Thunderbolt, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA port. This decision moves Apple one step closer to a wireless future. However, this is still the present so people will have to use adaptors if they want to use any of those USB C ports. Luckily, there is still a headphone jack.

Cons: The Price

     Apple is famous for selling overpriced products. The New Macbook Pro is no exception. The baseline for the 13 inch 256 GB storage Macbook Pro with Touch Bar is $1,799 This price goes up to $1,999 if someone chooses to upgrade to 512 GB storage. On the other hand, if someone wants a 15 inch Macbook Pro with a Touch Bar, be ready to fork over $2,399 to $2,799.

     So if you want improved design and performance, living in the future today is important, and you’ve got spare cash, the New Macbook Pro is worth it.