Absolutely, those are basically the #1, #2, and #3 most important qualities one would need in a proper laptop.
Anything less would be a large compromise.
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Any 12" Macbook users holding out for an ARM Macbook?
- Thread starter leeuk321
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Absolutely, those are basically the #1, #2, and #3 most important qualities one would need in a proper laptop.
Anything less would be a large compromise.
I literally popped into the MacBook section to post this very thread. I currently use a 12" MacBook as my portable device (have a large 2x 4K Hackintosh for heavy lifting/gaming and work have provided me with a 15" MBP, which I hope to turn into a 14" MBP when they release it).
It's the perfect size, portable, extremely light and I simply love using mine on the go. My requirements before my career change (which basically involved staying at hotels/client sites) meant that I longed for a 13/14" beefier MBA that could also bootcamp so I could play a few games in Windows, however with my role a normal commutable role, I look forward to getting a 12" ARM powered MacBook. Imagine the power!
It's the perfect size, portable, extremely light and I simply love using mine on the go. My requirements before my career change (which basically involved staying at hotels/client sites) meant that I longed for a 13/14" beefier MBA that could also bootcamp so I could play a few games in Windows, however with my role a normal commutable role, I look forward to getting a 12" ARM powered MacBook. Imagine the power!
Absolutely, I have pretty much been of the exact same mindset. I've got a 256gb 2017 Macbook but also thought about upgrading to a 512gb successor so I could install bootcamp. I only want bootcamp to play games-of-my-youth on, like command & conquer and the like. I appreciate that there's Wine, but I really just longed for a complete canvas to install and bounce around different games hassle-free and at will. But yes, the main priority was for the successor to be fanless, which of course hasn't happened yet. I have my own sole-trader business, and often have my Macbook on my lap in the morning with a coffee, and in the evening whilst watching TV, so small, light and fanless are requirements I can't compromise on.
Hopefully once ARM MacBooks roll out there will be a solution in place for running Windows. Maybe somehow they'll figure out how to make "Bootcamp x86" (!).
There seem to be a few rumours pointing to a MacBook replacement being included in the first wave of Apple Silicon products. I would be over the moon if that proved to be true.
Honestly, I would pay a lot for exactly what I have now in the 2017 MacBook if the new model was faster and had a non-butterfly keyboard.
But I also get the impression there is a chance of some really nice extras like FaceID/TouchID, decent GPU performance, better battery life, possibly a touch screen (given the iOS app compatibility), etc. etc.
Apple Silicon may bring some compromises that concern me in the high-end space, but for the small MacBook a beefed-up iPad chip seems pretty much perfect.
Honestly, I would pay a lot for exactly what I have now in the 2017 MacBook if the new model was faster and had a non-butterfly keyboard.
But I also get the impression there is a chance of some really nice extras like FaceID/TouchID, decent GPU performance, better battery life, possibly a touch screen (given the iOS app compatibility), etc. etc.
Apple Silicon may bring some compromises that concern me in the high-end space, but for the small MacBook a beefed-up iPad chip seems pretty much perfect.
Definitely, I hear you there. The main things I'm looking for in an ARM successor to the Macbook is more power, updated keyboard and one (or more) full-fat 40gbps Thunderbolt ports. And for it to still be fanless, otherwise imho it's not a "Macbook", regardless of the size, weight and branding.
For me, touchscreen would be a drawback, and I hope they don't go down that road, but each to their own. And yes, in terms of added bonuses, faceID/touchID would be amazing, as would better GPU performance and battery life, all as you mentioned. As you mention about the iPad, everyone knows how great the performance is on the iPad Pro, so basically make the beefed-up laptop version of that which runs MacOS and you've got the *perfect* Macbook.
Glad I've held out since 2017, resisting the temptation to get the flawed Air or overkill 13" MBP, can't wait.
I think what a 2020 Arm MacBook's improvements should be over the 2017 Intel MacBook:
1) Better keyboard
2) Two USB-C ports, preferably with Thunderbolt support.
3) Better trackpad
4) True Tone display
5) 720p FaceTime camera, with decent low light quality
BTW, IMO A14 would easily be fast enough.
Interesting - I actually love the trackpad as-is and find the newer ones too big! Different strokes for different folks.
But overall these are all nice additions. Second USB port is an obvious improvement - I didn't even think of it as I have gotten so used to the dongle life!
On touch screen, I can see it happening simply because a big selling point is access to the iOS app library, nearly all of which is touch-optimised. It's not a feature I particularly crave.
My biggest desire is that the touchbar does not make an appearance. I find it to be awful in its current guise - haptic feedback at a minimum is needed.
I'm not talking about the size. I'm talking about the feel. The click is more substantial on the MacBook Pros.
Me too. I'm probably going to buy the first ARM laptop that comes out.
I’d add FaceID to the list and a 1080p camera rather than 720.
We can assume it will have a scissor-switch keyboard and that the extra tiny amount of space for that will let the trackpad be more like the MBP one too.
I genuinely think Apple should be looking to have at least the same minimum standards for these things as are on the current iPad Pros.
I wanted to like this laptop so much. I bought one soon after they came out, gave it a couple months and ultimately had to get rid of it and go back to my old Air. The god-awful keyboard was what killed it for me. This was before they started breaking, and I never had any actual issues with mine aside from it just being horrible to type on. The single USB-C port and weak battery life didn't help much either. But the display was wonderful and the lightness was really game-changing. Truly a laptop you could forget about in your bag.
If it (or, some version of it) makes a return with a good keyboard and some half-decent battery life it could be the perfect ultracompact laptop.
I’m getting back a 12” from my kid that needs a new battery. I bought her a new Air. so the 12” is now mine.
I’ve toyed with the idea of getting the 12” a new battery and keep it in the family. But the prospect of a new non-Intel CPU MacBook, at a rumored cheaper than current prices, keeps me from wanting to pump $300.00 into the old 12” MacBook. Even worse there is no telling, according to the Apple certified repair shop, if the 12” has hidden battery swelling damage.
I’ve toyed with the idea of getting the 12” a new battery and keep it in the family. But the prospect of a new non-Intel CPU MacBook, at a rumored cheaper than current prices, keeps me from wanting to pump $300.00 into the old 12” MacBook. Even worse there is no telling, according to the Apple certified repair shop, if the 12” has hidden battery swelling damage.
As much as I know the new “leak” being discussed is fake, the rumored 12” MacBook it depicts would be damn near perfect.... $799 price tag with an A14x level processor (potentially faster then the current 16” MBP) and 15+hr battery life... If Apple comes out with something similar at the end of the year I am a day one buyer...
I just don’t get why they’d not put a second port on there as that was one of the limitations which did for it first time around. Even the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard gives you one port to charge and one for connecting things.
That rumour just sounds like someone has totally made it up themselves - anybody with half a passing interest in Apple could come up with that. What we need are actual details!
Trackpad is fine...i have both pro and 12" and that is not the issue...
The fix will come on the
-Usb4 2 ports - Tb3
- 400-500nits display
- better keyboard
- better facetime camera
- less heat
- more than 12 hours battery life
- always on cpu
And yes better perfom...but it would be a given since that 5-7W is an old and poor chip from the last gen 12" macbook (probably 4 times better on cpu side and about 10 times better on igpu)
From my person testing the as vs intel mac mini the heat is on another level on the same application...i tried even on Rosetta 2 and still...no question about it...so on laptops will be even better since heat also affects a lot the battery life and the battery degradation
For $200.00 tpta; I'd go for it. But, in talking with Apple I was getting different quotes, and cautions about pre-existing damage due to battery swelling (I have no idea if there is battery swelling in this particular 12"). Then I contacted a third party, Apple approved, repair shop, and they quoted $290.00 $149.00 for the battery and $129.00 for the labor.
To make things worse, I've seen refurbished 12" going for about the same as the repair bill. Although I have no idea if refurbished means new battery. This was not from Apple, so I don't think I'd trust that.
I did watch a 45 minute You-Tube video. OMG too intensive for me to try. As everyone probably knows the battery is segmented all over the place and glued in. It looked like the repair process was like scrapping barnacles off a ship while still in the water
Well once I get my hands on it I'll start with Apple again., it was easier in the days when you could just visit my local Apple Store.
It really is going to be interesting if the rumors about the next generation Apple laptops will be slightly cheaper. It is going to blow-out the prices of this generation new/used.
To make things worse, I've seen refurbished 12" going for about the same as the repair bill. Although I have no idea if refurbished means new battery. This was not from Apple, so I don't think I'd trust that.
I did watch a 45 minute You-Tube video. OMG too intensive for me to try. As everyone probably knows the battery is segmented all over the place and glued in. It looked like the repair process was like scrapping barnacles off a ship while still in the water
Well once I get my hands on it I'll start with Apple again.
, it was easier in the days when you could just visit my local Apple Store.It really is going to be interesting if the rumors about the next generation Apple laptops will be slightly cheaper. It is going to blow-out the prices of this generation new/used.
I think the 1 port is fine if its Thunderbolt 3. I don't think it's a big limitation considering the portability of the laptop. It's 2020, everyone is using cloud services. I mean aside from video/photographer there is no real need for the average user to have access to an additional port on a daily basis. I'm sure there are exceptions but for the most part I feel like performance / battery life are more important in this form factor.
Those recent tweets aren't rumours. Those are wish lists.
Disagree. It needs at least one I/O port and one charging port. If they have to remove anything, remove the headphone jack and put a second USB-C port in its place (which would be both a charging port and an extra I/O port). For those wanting a headphone jack, they can pay the ten bucks for that little dongle. Courage! Or uncourage?
In fact, Apple even added that charging port to the iPad Pro... in the form of a port on the Magic Keyboard. People want it, that's why the iPad Pro got it, and that's why the MacBook Air has it.
Would it be the end of the world if the new MacBook came out with just one USB-C port? No, but it would still be damn annoying, and it would be enough to turn off some potential customers.
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It was always a big limitation of the laptop for me, cloud or no cloud. I’m a big fan of the form factor, but it quickly becomes a PITA only having one port, whether on the move or at the desk. And I don’t believe you’d have to make the laptop that much bigger to have two.
The thing that everyone forgets is that the 12" MacBook already has two ports, so obviously there is enough space for two ports. The problem is that one of them is a headphone jack.
As mentioned, I'd be perfectly happy if they got rid of the headphone jack and replaced it with a USB-C port.