Reviews Archives | Tim Geelen

Review of Apple’s 2016 MacBook Pro

January 19, 2017 by Tim Geelen Leave a Comment

It’s high time I finally write down my review of the 2016 MacBook Pro, Apple’s latest iteration of mobile computers.

I fully transitioned to Apple‘s computing ecosystem in 2009 when I purchased my first Macintosh computer-a fully specced MacBook Pro. It was fast, sturdy, upgradeable and highly reliable, and the synergy between hardware and software made it an absolute joy to use. I took great care of the device, and even after extensive daily use and a couple of deployments abroad, the laptop still looked like new until the day of its demise.

In late 2015, I started to notice multiple graphical glitches and frequent green lines on my screen. After taking it to the Apple Store, the verdict was grim-the GPU was near death. My machine was also too old to be still eligible for repair.

So a new MacBook Pro was the logical choice. However, at that time, Apple was not on par with its competitors. Their 2015 MacBook Pro’s still used a 3-year old processor architecture. And not wanting to spend my hard earned cash on outdated hardware, I decided to wait.

In late 2016-nearly a year after my old one broke-the upgraded 2016 MacBook Pro was finally released. I wasn’t incredibly impressed with the new features, but decided to order a fully specced Built-To-Order (BTO) machine.

2016 MacBook Pro Quality Control Issues?

Once the device arrived on my doorstep, my initial excitement quickly turned into great disappointment.

When I opened the lid for the first time after unboxing, I immediately detected an ugly scuff mark underneath the left speaker. It was not a scratch as the surface of the aluminium body was smooth. Whatever it was, it was distracting and noticeable from different angles under day light conditions.

Scuff mark damage on the 2016 MacBook Pro aluminium body.

Already in a foul mood, I continued my thorough inspection and tests of the device. On several occasions I encountered minor to severe graphical issues. After the umpteenth glitch, my tolerance reached its boiling point and the computer went back into its box. Clearly I received a faulty, defective product. This was not something I was willing to accept. I promptly returned the MacBook Pro and demanded-and received-a full refund. To be fair, the Apple staff were very forthcoming and helpful.

Graphical glitches on the new 2016 MacBook Pro.

After further online research, it turned out I was far from the only person with these problems. Several people already complained about identical cosmetic damage on their 2016 MacBook Pro on a MacRumors forum thread. I also noticed many reports on similar graphical glitches.

Despite my doubt and increasing reluctance, I placed a new order for another MacBook Pro with the same specifications. Upon delivery, the replacement went through a new inspection. This time the machine passed the test. It’s this 2016 MacBook Pro I’ve been working on these past weeks and the subject of this review.

Performance

Generally I opt for the highest tier MacBook versions. Together with my OCD-level of care, this ensures that most of my electronic devices will last me for several years. This time, I chose a 2016 MacBook Pro with the following BTO configuration:


Version	15-inch MBP with Touch Bar
Finish	Silver
Processor	2.9 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (6th Generation Skylake)
Storage	1 TB PCIe-based onboard SSD
Memory	16 GB of 2133 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Graphics	Radeon Pro 460 with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory
Ports	04 Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) ports
Battery	Up to 10 hours of standard use

Coming from a 2009 computer, the 2016 MacBook Pro is a major upgrade for me in the hardware department. It’s a solid combination of good portability and decent performance. For a mobile computer, it is quite powerful and handles everything I throw at it. The quad-core Skylake processor is a definite improvement.

The Radeon Pro 460 GPU with 4 GB of memory should be enough to drive my more graphically intensive tasks for the next couple of years. It isn’t the best and most modern graphics card available, but this GPU is a decent compromise between performance and portability (i.e. battery life).

Surprisingly, the new MacBook Pro only comes equipped with 16 GB of RAM. To be fair, I doubt I will ever fully use 16 GB of RAM. But 32 GB of RAM would at least increase the longevity of my new laptop and prepare it for more advanced software. According to some technology reviews, the RAM restriction was another compromise between adequate performance and battery life. The upcoming Kaby Lake processors are also limited to 16 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, so don’t expect a 32 GB MacBook Pro anytime soon.

For data storage, you can choose 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB Solid State Drives. My films and music normally fill up my hard drive, but are now stored in the cloud. Therefore, I no longer need large capacity storage drives. The 1 TB SSD is therefore more than sufficient for my needs. The read/write speeds on this SSD are also impressive. It’s a very fast drive which will not disappoint you.

Despite several online complaints on disappointing battery life, I personally have not had any problems with this. Any battery issue are now reportedly fixed after a software patch. Apple officially advertises up to 10 hours of battery life with normal use. And that’s about what I get, so no complaints there.

Thin, light and with a great build quality.

Thinner and Lighter…

This MacBook Pro is a beautiful engineering marvel. It truly is a thin and light machine, and pictures really don’t do it any justice. Despite its slim chassis, the notebook still feels very sturdy and solid. The plastic screen hinge from older versions is removed. The top screen and hinge are now made out of one solid piece of aluminium. It’s top notch and I know of no other computer manifacturer that comes close to Apple’s level of build quality.

The laptop’s retina screen is exceptional and definitely one of the more redeeming qualities of the 2016 MacBook Pro. Photos and video will show with deep and vivid colors on a great IPS-technology screen, supporting a resolution up 2880 x 1800 pixels.

The air vents are moved to the side of the chassis, allowing for better air circulation. This provides better cooling of the MacBook’s internal components. This is needed during high performance tasks, as MacBook Pro notebooks tend to get hot. The 2016 version is no different, although not as bad as earlier versions. The fans still spin like crazy, but are also noticeably quieter when compared to my 2009 MacBook Pro. During average use (i.e. writing, surfing, watching video, etc.), the 2016 MacBook Pro is very silent.

Two of 4 Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) ports on the new 2016 MacBook Pro.

… But With Less Options

Apple replaced all older USB Type-A ports with the newer USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. These 4 new generation ports provide faster data transfer, while the Thunderbolt 3 controller allows you to connect a wide variety of peripherals to your device. All with one single port.

This understandable but unpopular decision will drive third party manufacturers forward to natively include USB Type-C connections on their devices. I have no problem to use an external dongle until that time. Another interesting point is that the Thunderbolt 3 controller will allow the use of external GPUs in the future, providing some extra longevity to my computer.

The beloved MagSafe connector is no longer present. This simple yet brilliant technology saved my previous MacBook Pro from death in many crowded situations. The magnetic charging connector prevented your computer to fly off your table when you (or someone else) tripped over the charging cable. It still don’t understand why Apple decided to remove one of its greatest features. You now charge your 2016 MacBook Pro via any USB Type-C port of your choice.

View on the keyboard, trackpad and Touch Bar of the 2016 MacBook Pro.

The Touch Bar

The Touch Bar is the main feature advertised for the 2016 MacBook Pro. Instead of the traditional function keys, you have a digital OLED screen which displays app contextual menu options. It works okay. I have to occasionally press it multiple times before it properly registers my input.

Overall, the Touch Bar is a useless gimmick to me. It seems specifically designed for teenage girls for quick emoji selection. There’s no added value for normal and professional users at this time. Perhaps this will change as more apps integrate its functionality. Nonetheless, most computer-savvy people use actual keyboard shortcuts for a fast workflow. With the Touch Bar, you have to interrupt your focus by looking down to the bar and then back up to the main screen. Quite annoying.

Built into the power button is the Touch ID sensor. Similar to the recent generations of iPhone and iPad, this sensor allows you to unlock your computer with your fingerprint(s). Works great and fast. Sadly, it only works when you wake up your Mac from sleep or lock mode. Touch ID is not functional at all when you attempt to log on after booting your machine and will always require your password. Quite the disappointment. Especially since Windows computers have been able to do this for years. Yet another example of good intentions but sloppy execution.

Keyboard & Trackpad

Similar to the 12″ MacBook, Apple also used the new butterfly key mechanism in the 2016 MacBook Pro. I tried it on the MacBook and did not like the lack of key travel. And although the key travel improved slightly on the new MacBook Pro, I’m still not a fan. And the damn thing is loud. So fucking annoying. It will take time to get used to this keyboard.

Apple’s trackpads also have a well deserved reputation. No other computer brand has ever done them right. But in the new 2016 MacBook Pro, Apple took it too far. It’s absolutely massive. Too big even. My hands rest on the trackpad’s surface area while using the notebook, but that hardly gives me any issues. The palm rejection technology is quite good.

The non-tactile feedback is not on par, though. The trackpad frequently refuses to recognize my click and drag efforts. Moving files tends to become quite frustrating as a result. It is at times also difficult to determine the boundaries for my right clicks.

Conclusion

Pros: quality build and design; solid performance in a portable package; amazing screen.
Cons: Ridiculously expensive; lack of real innovation; limited memory options.

Am I satisfied with the 2016 MacBook Pro? Mildly. Am I ecstatic about it? No.

Don’t get me wrong, the laptop is doing its job. It is a good compromise between performance and portability, but comes at a high cost. I simply can’t shake the feeling that I paid way too much. Yes, I know Apple always charged a premium price for its products. And they used to be worth the high price. But now Apple is pushing it too far. The company seems to forget that its competitors are catching up. Based on online reactions, the increased price has put off many potential customers. If Apple continues this trend, it further risks alienating a big portion of its customer base.

Apple has become complacent. After the longest wait between upgrades, the only real new feature of the 2016 MacBook Pro is the Touch Bar. In times where Microsoft brings the impressive Surface Studio, the HoloLens, and easy 3D design/printing to the table, Apple only replaces the keyboard’s function keys with a useless touchscreen. Where’s the innovation? It seems like we’re now at the tipping point where Microsoft becomes the new innovator while Apple morphs into… the old Microsoft.

Such a shame. Apple used to be for for the creative rebels who “think different.” That era is over. This is perfectly embodied in its current CEO, who prefers to spend his time with political meddling and “social justice” activism instead of building innovating products. Even providing an acceptable level of quality is clearly a challenge nowadays.

Nonetheless, I hope this MacBook Pro will serve me well enough for a couple of years. I’m relatively content with this new computer. However, if Apple doesn’t catch up with its competitors soon, this 2016 MacBook Pro may very well be the last Macintosh computer I own.

Take care of yourself and until next time.

Review of Nubian Heritage African Black Soap

July 31, 2016 by Tim Geelen Leave a Comment

Today I’ll tell you about a new favorite product of mine: Nubian Heritage’s African Black Soap. Yes, you read that right, I will review a bar of soap. But this is kick-ass soap. So read on and learn why.

Nubian Heritage

Starting out in Harlem, USA, in 1991, Nubian Heritage brought the healing properties of African black soap to the wider community. The company prides itself on using authentic cultural recipes and natural, fair trade ingredients.

For example, shea butter is a central key ingredient in their products. This substance can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was popular for hair and skin protection. The company gets its shea butter from women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana, cutting out the big corporations and thus ensure fair wages for these enterprising women. An initiative which I can only applaud.

Throughout the years, Nubian Heritage expanded and designed a wide range of wellness, skin and hair care products and collections. But their African Black Soap remained a central component and best seller, and turned the company into an entrepreneurial success.

African Black Soap

My first bar of African Black Soap. Certainly not the last!

African Black Soap originates from West Africa where it is known to reduce skin imperfections, irritations, and minor blemishes. Using natural ingredients, the African Black Soap provides good cleansing while still being gentle for the skin. The soap has been used to treat eczema, psoriasis, and other skin ailments in Africa for centuries.

I learned about African Black Soap when I found out it was the preferred soap of Bold & Determined‘s Victor Pride and Chris from Good Looking Loser. Victor even buys it in large boxes. Both spoke highly of this product, so several weeks ago I decided to give the soap a chance. Ordered via Amazon, it arrived on my doorstep a week later.

I opened the boxes and retrieved several bars of black soap, all containing small particles. I’ve always used the typical white soap bar, so this was quite a peculiar change for me.

These are the organic ingredients of the soap:

African black soap base, coconut oil and/or palm oil, shea butter, oat kernel meal, Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice, plantain extract, vitamin E, vegetable glycerin, mineral pigment or vegetable color, natural fragrance and/or essential oil.

I immediately jumped in the shower to give it a try. The soap lathers easy and is a joy to use in the shower for both your face and body. Be warned: the soapy residue turns your tub and washcloth black. This is a result of the palm ash ingredient. It is normal, but unusual for a first time user. Just rinse properly afterwards-which you should’ve been doing anyway.

However, true appreciation for this soap will come after a few weeks of continued use, when your skin will look and feel better.

The Scent

It is pretty difficult to describe how this soap smells.

Chris from Good Looking Loser describes the scent of this African Black Soap as follows:

It’s hard to communicate how it smells, but I’d say that it is close to the just-got-off-the-beach smell. Not sweaty. Not completely like suntan lotion-just “beachy.”

That is actually a fairly accurate description of the soap’s scent. I couldn’t have said it better. I like that it’s not an overpowering smell, contrary to those chemically enhanced soaps which make me smell like a typical perfume store. The scent is present but faint. And above all, it just smells clean. Just the way I like it. And so does my girlfriend.

Conclusion

When something comes highly recommend by both Victor Pride and Chris, I just knew I had to try it for myself. And I haven’t regretted that decision for a single second. I like that this African Black Soap is made up of natural products instead of a bunch of potentially harming chemicals.

After a couple of weeks of use, any minor skin blemishes disappeared or became less noticeable. I also love that the soap’s scent is not overly strong, but still makes me feel and smell clean. You can use this soap on both your body and face without any issues. Shea butter also acts as a moisturizer and leaves my skin feeling supple and less dry.

The small oats flakes in the soap bar supposedly help to exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells. However, the African Black Soap did not give a true scrubbing effect like a dedicated body scrub would. Luckily, I use a loofah while washing, getting my body the proper exfoliating it needs. Although, using a loofah has its risks, according to some sources.

Using this soap has made my shower routine much more enjoyable. Nubian Heritage African Black Soap is now my favorite soap, and I would definitely encourage everyone to give it a try. And I’d like to thank Victor and Chris in the process for the excellent recommendation!

Sadly, I have not found this soap in local stores here in Belgium. So like Victor Pride, I have no other option than to order it in bulk. I even keep a few bars at work, especially since it is not that expensive. If you are interested, you can order this African Black Soap on Amazon or directly via the Nubian Heritage website. Give it a shot and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Take care of yourself and until next time.

The Art of Manliness Review

May 31, 2016 by Tim Geelen Leave a Comment

Do you also feel like modern young men have turned into weak and cowardly crybabies? Do you believe that modern men have lost the understanding of masculinity, with its values of self-reliance, strength and personal responsibility? Do you regret the destruction of the nuclear family by man-hating feminists, forcing many boys to grow up without a father? Then you are not alone.

Art of Manliness Review

Brett and Kate McKay observed the same with great concern. That’s why they founded the Art of Manliness website back in 2008, so they could help young men to grow up and rediscover the lost virtues of manliness. AOM quickly grew into a successful online men’s interest magazine. The McKays bundled the best tips and advice into a book with the same name, while also hosting a podcast series wherein Brett discusses many interesting topics.

The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man offers pieces of wisdom to motivated young men, instructing the reader on several practical techniques and the importance of self-reliance, discipline and personal responsibility. You know, those typical traditional values and skills that any good father or grandfather would normally pass on to you. Overall, this is an excellent book to give to a teenage boy or even a young twenty-something-especially those without a father figure who could give them the necessary guidance and direction.

Each chapter within is named after a distinctive manly role (the gentleman, the father, the lover, the leader, …) and discusses the virtues of each of these aspects. The practical tips on men’s style, grooming, etiquette, dating, and manly values, will help transform you into the best version of yourself-a respected and responsible manly member of society.

The book has a distinct retro style, mimicking the look and feel of the AOM website. Clearly written, each page offers concise advice and contains some tongue-in-cheek humor as well. The Art of Manliness encourages you to behave like a 19th century gentleman and rediscover their concepts of manliness in the process. I agree that many good values and skills of the older days have been lost. It would definitely benefit society were they to be reintroduced. I like technological advancement, but I admit some things were just better “in those good old days.” For example, it’s due to the book (and website) that I converted from electric shaving to the traditional wet shave with a safety razor and brush. Try it and feel the difference. I never want to go back to the modern way of shaving.

You can buy The Art of Manliness through the AOM Shop for $18.99. You can also purchase the Art of Manliness Collection Boxed Set (priced at $29.99) which includes this book as well as The Art of Manliness: Manvotionals.

Here are some examples of what’s discussed within:

Three ways to tie a tie.
Shave like your grandpa.
Band of brothers: making and keeping strong friendships.
Stop hanging out with women and start dating them.
Balance work and family.
Give your son a right of passage.
Five traits of leadership.

Sounds interesting, right? That’s because it is.

There’s just one problem I have with The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man.

The book puts women on a major pedestal, practically encouraging you to treat girls like a goddess. It is implied that you have to play “Mr. Nice Guy” who has to cater to a girl’s every whim. This no longer works in modern times, so this behavior should not be recommended to any modern man.

What’s the point of being a gentleman anyway, when there hardly are any worthy ladies around who still deserve such a treatment?

The Art of Manliness initiative is useless without its female counterpart, teaching girls to become that very rarest of specimen nowadays-a feminine, well-behaved and worthy woman. Until then, if women refuse to be the best version of themselves, they sure as hell don’t deserve the best version of yourself.

Many women nowadays dump their husbands and boyfriends, leech of welfare and alimony, and spend most of their time partying, twerking and drinking. Simply put, they’ve changed into loudmouthed, degenerate feminists who’ve forgotten the values of true femininity. Instead of bettering themselves and complementing men, women want to compete with men-and generally fail at it. Once these women become older and finally decide to settle down, they are surprised that men want nothing to do with them.

That’s why I do not agree with much of the dating and love advice in this book. It’s too outdated and old fashioned, as if it’s stuck in the previous century. The social dynamics between men and women have changed. The sooner men understand this and adapt to the new reality, the better.

Conclusion

The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man provides many practical tips which every young man should learn and apply, ranging from grooming to male virtues. There’s no doubt that any male teenager who applies the book’s advice will set himself upon the path of success. I also found the retro feel and humor to be cleverly done.

However, other sections and advice in the book felt too outdated and out of touch with reality, particularly when discussing male-female relationships. I therefore question whether the old fashioned style of gentlemen still has a place in our modern day society.

To conclude my Art of Manliness review: would I recommend this book to others? Yes, I would. And I have already done so in the past. But The Art of Manliness offers its greatest value to teenage boys or young men in their early twenties. Of course, the book can also offer useful knowledge to a lost thirty-something who needs to regain some self-discipline and guidance on life. I still re-read a chapter now and then before bed.

More personally, The Art of Manliness was an introduction to conscious self-improvement for me. This book enabled me to discover other mindset, masculinity and self-improvement authors, like Victor Pride and Mike Cernovich. These great guys have truly helped to open my eyes. But I will never forget that it all began with Brett McKay and his work. For that, I will always be grateful.

Take care of yourself.

Review of Bold & Determined’s BADNET

February 29, 2016 by Tim Geelen 4 Comments

Last year I was browsing Bold & Determined when I noticed Victor Pride (alter ego of Nick Kelly) promoting BADNET, his free service package to set up a working blog. I’ve been reading Victor’s work for a while now, and one of his core messages is that you have to invest in You, Inc. as well as own your own name. The man made a point.

I realized I had no platform where I could write down my views and share them with the world. This needed to change. However, Facebook sucks and my Twitter was also not suitable, especially since Twitter has gone full left-wing Social Justice Warrior by censoring and banning politically incorrect, conservative & libertarian accounts. It was high time to take action and claim my own space on the internet.

I knew nothing about website hosting and installation, so the BADNET deal looked very interesting and almost too good to be true. But I decided to take the leap of faith and registered. I have not regretted it since.

So what better way to show my gratitude than by writing my first article on my experience with BADNET?

BADNET Review

BADNET allows you to register a domain name and purchase web hosting for your blog. I know, nothing out of the ordinary with that. But the real added value is that you’ll also receive several nice benefits, including 4 informative ebooks.

The following was included in the package deal:

A free domain. Yup, your domain name will be free for the first year.
Great hosting deal. Victor’s team continuously looks for the best deals available for your website hosting. The advertised price is for the most basic package, but adding additional security features and options will increase the cost-although it still remains within reasonable levels. You can fully select your perfect hosting package based on your available budget and wishes.
Full installation. You don’t have to worry about technical details and installation at all. Just register via the provided link, select your hosting package, choose your domain name, and pay. Once complete, send your registration details to Victor’s admin, who will then handle the rest. His crew will install WordPress on your website, which is the most popular blogging platform.
Plugins. The BADNET crew will also install and configure 7 extra plugins, helping you with website optimization, overall security, spam prevention, SEO and more.
Four ebooks. You’ll also receive 4 ebooks, wherein Victor offers excellent advice and several tips on how to take your blog to the next level.
- Quick Start Guide: Creating Your First Blog Post.
- How To Create the Perfect Blog Post.
- Blogging for Profit 101.
- The Tools of the Trade For a Pro Blogging Career.

Once complete, you can just login, download and install a nice looking theme, and create your content. I recommend to use the Genesis framework and use a compatible theme. Super easy. No hassle or strings attached. And the best part of it all: all those extra benefits are completely free! What’s not to love about that?

Just a remark: at the time of my registration, BADNET worked together with Web Hosting Hub. Their staff was fast, helpful and friendly in replying to my account questions. I also appreciated the tutorials and tips in their Help Center. Nowadays, hosting packages are offered via BlueHost, so I can’t provide any comments on their service. BlueHost seems a bit more known and also offers a slightly cheaper basic hosting package. Both have good customer reviews, although I noticed that most clients were very pleased with Web Hosting Hub‘s customer support.

Conclusion

I consider my BADNET experience as top grade: fast, quality service and everything was delivered as advertised. Within 24 hours, my basic blog was set up and ready to go. I would definitely recommend this service package to other people, and I have already done so.

If you are looking to get a blog or other type of website, BADNET is the way to go. You have to pay for a domain and web hosting anyway, so why not get a discount, free benefits and solid advice in the process? What are you waiting for? Claim your own internet domain and get your voice out there!

Want to know more about my experience with this service? Then leave a comment below or contact me directly. I’ll answer any questions you still have.

Take care.