12-Inch Retina MacBook Receives Mixed Reviews From Early Adopters

[Gameboy70]

I LOVE this little laptop. By far, the best MacBook (Air, Pro or otherwise) I have ever had and I have had several over the years. For what I do, this is all I need. Plenty fast, great battery and the screen is amazing. And it noticeably lightens my bag which I carry everywhere I go. Again, the best laptop Apple has ever made.

This. I kept debating between getting the new rMBP and the rMB. Within hours of actually using the rMB, all my reservations about it vanished.

What you're transitioning from matters. I've never had a Mac later than mid-2012, nor one with more than 4GB of RAM. Between the RAM boost and the faster SSD, the rMB actually outperforms by mid-2012 iMac, 11" mid-2011 MBA, and 13" mid-2012 MBP.

I'm faster on the new keyboard, and don't have any complaints about it so far. Even the much-derided arrow keys haven't caused me trouble. Once I turned off force clicking (which interferes with drag-and-drop operations), the new trackpad has been awesome. As far as the ports, I've never been the type to use more than one port at a time.

I'd caution anyone on the fence about paying too much attention to tech writers' reservations. Just try it for yourself and trust your own experience.

 

[henryonapple]

are these available in store yet???

 

[boast]

now we know.

iPad + keyboard > rMB

 

[Ploki]

The one problem I have with this thing is (besides the need to buy a $80 adapter just to use your USB) the price.

This Macbook is certainly not worth the $1299 for what it does. I can get the current gen Macbook Pro for the same price and I dont need to buy an adapter for my USB and it can do 3x as much. Just saying.

You're missing the point.

rMBP is heavier, has a bulkier PSU, is fatter.

You can get a PC laptop for half the price of rMBP and it can do everything that the rMBP can.

That's not the point. First-gen MB-Airs were never the performers yet they cost more than comparable old 13" unibody MacBooks...

It's a different profile of a computer, I can understand that you don't need it, nor do I need it. It's not all about raw CPU power and ports.

If you need ports and CPU, you get the Pro machine, if you need a little less you get the Air (once its updated), if you need a simple laptop you get the MacBook. The prices are a little steep, but once they come down its going to be an awesome entry laptop.

 

[thekeyring]

See, having something that weights next to nothing and is really thin.... really are not actual factors in deciding if a computer is great. Those are great for ads, but when it comes to use, Apple has this insane notion that thin/light at all costs is the way to go. It's not. This is why my mid-2012 rMBP is staying put until it breaks. It has everything I need. 15" screen, SD card slot, Thunderbolt, retina, SSD, and the thing still screams. Oh, it also has magsafe, which I absolutely love.

And the sad part, all the things the 12" has wrong with it, Apple is wanting to put in all of their laptops eventually. Take all my ports and functionality away, but damn, the thing is so thin and light.

Right now, with all this watch nonsense, my Apple DEFCON is at about a 2 right now. I'm really in the dumps over this company who would rather make jewelry in get into high fashion. I'd love Tim to spin off just the "computer" division.

The Jobs product pipeline is pretty much officially over, and I don't like the path we are headed down.

Since 2005 I've been drinking the koolaid. The mug is finally empty for me. For me now, Apple is only as good as its computers, and from what I've seen lately, I'm a bit worried about what type of computer I'll be using in about 3 years.

Don't worry. Look at the difference between no optical drive in the MacBook Air (2008) and no optical drive in the MacBook Pro (2012). One made people shocked, the other felt inevitable.

If wireless is the future, by the time the MacBook Pros are down to only one port, it'll be the present. That's if Apple decide Pros don't need the ports, which I would be very surprised about.

Example: the current Pros, while MacBook Air-like with their lack of optical drives, SSDs and thinness are still really powerful and have new ports like HDMI.

 

[heimo]

I'd caution anyone on the fence about paying too much attention to tech writers' reservations. Just try it for yourself and trust your own experience.

This is your last warning. Stop being rational right now. We don't like pragmatic approach around here.

 

[dexterbell]

http://store.apple.com/us/product/M...3d808db6c4afc675cc7e5bdf8d2544a2f3822f99aa028

You were saying? (I acknowledge the fact that theres a USB Adapter that is $19...but its JUST for USB.) I was referring to the multi port adapter that regardless you can't deny its still too expensive.

So is this a ridiculous claim or?

Yea, you never said anything about HDMI, you said USB. I can plug in any USB device I want for $19. You don't need an $80 adapter for USB, you are wrong.

 

[grad]

All we wanted was a Macbook Air with Retina display. Apple over-designed this one.

No, we also wanted the 16:10 screen ratio, the decrease in weight, and, more importantly, the fanless operation. Unfortunately, for every step forward Apple made 2 steps back and one step to the side.

 

[tann]

Give me 2 type C ports and I will jump in.

Maybe on the next one in a few years.

 

[APlotdevice]

Yea, you never said anything about HDMI, you said USB. I can plug in any USB device I want for $19. You don't need an $80 adapter for USB, you are wrong.

You do need that $80 adapter if you want to plug anything in while charging the laptop.

 

[Wolfi]

How do you connect Thunderbolt based Cinema Display to this machine and why none of official Apple adapters for USB-C does not have thunderbolt port? Is Thunderbolt port already obsolete for Apple?

 

[nick42983]

All we wanted was a Macbook Air with Retina display. Apple over-designed this one.

Adding Retina to the current 13" Air would have been awesome, as well as adding a space grey option.

This leaves the Airs in a weird position. They'll probably be eliminated altogether within a few years. The 13" Retina will get a bit slimmer, but the new Macbook will be the ultralight. It doesn't make sense to keep a line called "Air" when you have an even lighter model.

 

[dexterbell]

You do need that $80 adapter if you want to plug anything in while charging the laptop.

True but we already knew that and it isn't an issue for most people. I rarely have anything connected to my laptops. If I do, it's an SD reader to download photos or video, that only takes a few minutes. Even transferring files off an external drive only takes a minute. It's not an issue for me or for most who buy the MacBook

 

[MH01]

You'll probably need to get used to this. I think this is a deliberate change made by Apple to stir things up. Change for change's sake.

I hope that I'm wrong and there was a technical reason for the removal of the glowing logo.

So they can bring it back in version 2 as a feature

 

[antonis]

All we wanted was a Macbook Air with Retina display. Apple over-designed this one.

Thank you. I've been saying so even before the MB was launched. And I was called various names, because of that, in these forums.

And by the way, what is the story with the "all-day battery" ? A false advertising in order to justify the single-port ? Battery life is nowhere near "all day" in any laptop, AFAIK.

 

[UltimaKilo]

I think by calling it a "MacBook" Apple eventually does want to make it mainstream. They'll keep the MacBook Air around until the MacBook is ready to go mainstream. At some point the Pro chips will have similar energy consumption as today's Air chips, so Apple can position the MacBook as the mainstream model and the Pro as the higher end model.

Unfortunately, we will likely have to wait until 2017 for Cannonlake in hopes to see a decently powered MacBook. I have a 2008 Unibody Macbook that is starting to show its age and I was very disappointed in the speed sacrifice of the rMB. It seems like I'll hold out in hopes of a Skylake rMBA later this year.

 

[ZipZap]

http://store.apple.com/us/product/M...3d808db6c4afc675cc7e5bdf8d2544a2f3822f99aa028

You were saying? (I acknowledge the fact that theres a USB Adapter that is $19...but its JUST for USB.) I was referring to the multi port adapter that regardless you can't deny its still too expensive.

So is this a ridiculous claim or?

Your previous post made it sound like NO USB adapter was available below $80 which is not true.

----------

Have you seen the Apple Watch in person? Pictures and videos don't do it justice. Like a lot of people are saying, it's one of the most impressive products Apple has produced in terms of design, quality and fit and finish; from the actual watch to the bands. Heck, all the innovation they've introduced with just the bands is remarkable.

Its a $400 to $17,000 external display. There is no movement, and nothing of value inside.

A toy.

My rolex goes up in value. The iWatch will never do that. Its not a serious timepiece.

 

[panther quest]

How would you say it's powerful exactly? By all accounts it's pretty underpowered.

I'm not surprised that the reviews are mixed. It seems like an incredible little machine. It's powerful and it's sexy. But they really compromised on a lot of important features.

 

[Nifrario]

Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges

MacBook 12" 256GB - 8GB RAM - $1550 CAD

MacBook Air 11" 256GB - 8GB RAM - $1496 CAD

MacBook Air 13" 256GB - 8GB RAM - $1570 CAD

You trade a retina screen + sexy&light body to a bunch of ports and a 15% faster processor.

IMHO in 1-2 years MBA gonna be substituted by the MB 12". To reduce the price apple just have to offer a entry level MB w 128GB Disk & 4GB RAM.

Sorry about my bad "english"

 

[69650]

Undecided whether to buy one or not having finally seen and played with it in my local Apple Store. Thought the space grey version looked horrible. Wish they would bring back one colour black and white models.

 

[ZipZap]

How do you connect Thunderbolt based Cinema Display to this machine and why none of official Apple adapters for USB-C does not have thunderbolt port? Is Thunderbolt port already obsolete for Apple?

The use of USB-C is 100% about Apple driving profits from more dongle sales. Apple is a business, not a non-profit.

Thunderbolt is not in the specifications profile for this portable netbook. The rMB was never intended as a serious and powerful macbook. People just want it to be.

All of the issues here stem from the presumption that the rMB is a replacement for the Pro's or any other computer Apple offers. It comes from people wanting to do things outside the rMB use profile.

Perhaps the complaints will lead to changes in the next version…but I would not expect the rMB to ever rival any other line Apple offers.

You're at the low end (despite the price).

If anything, focus all your negative attention on the price.

----------

How would you say it's powerful exactly? By all accounts it's pretty underpowered.

Its not a MBP or rMBP replacement so why does power matter so much.

 

[patch5674]

i cannot believe people bought this product and returned it because they couldn't get on without the typical legacy pc options like USB etc.

I don't know what planet you live on, but to refer to USB as a legacy option is frankly ridiculous.

However, it does raise a slight question of what cable does the iPhone 7 take?

Lightning to USB, Lightning to USB-C or (I am unsure they have the gaul) USB-C to USB-C?

Could it end up being all us rMBP owners who need a £25 adaptor to connect our phones. I literally only connect my phone to my laptop to charge it. iTunes Match and Dropbox take care of the rest, but it still an interesting thought....

 

[ZipZap]

MacBook 12" 256GB - 8GB RAM - $1550 CAD

MacBook Air 11" 256GB - 8GB RAM - $1496 CAD

MacBook Air 13" 256GB - 8GB RAM - $1570 CAD

You trade a retina screen + sexy&light body to a bunch of ports and a 15% faster processor.

IMHO in 1-2 years MBA gonna be substituted by the MB 12". To reduce the price apple just have to offer a entry level MB w 128GB Disk & 4GB RAM.

Sorry about my bad "english"

Yes, Apple is laughing all the way to the bank.

Tim Cook: "Maybe we underpriced the 12…look how many suckers….I mean customers accepted the pricing…"

Flash forward to December 2015.

Flash….Apple announces the rMB 12s. Super fantastic Apple logo now lights up, price increased by $200.

 

[CFreymarc]

I see PoE used daily at my work with no issues.

Very curious to see how it is configured. The original PoE spec was quite robust and was whittled down a lot due to pilot run performance issues concerning cable distance, data rate and hub / repeater needs.

 

[57004]

Struggling to manage two laptops isn't really a fair criticism of the rMB.

It is a bit, if it's due to not being able to meet all his laptopping needs. Similar to the way an iPad can never replace a laptop so you end up carrying 2 devices.