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Any 12" Macbook users holding out for an ARM Macbook?

mj_ said:
I agree with you on pricing, it was definitely overpriced when first released. I don't necessarily agree on the single port being a major issue though. The MacBook was an ultraportable device, and it did what it was supposed to do very well: a small, lightweight, and adequately powerful enough ultraportable computer to satisfy basic mobile computing requirements. I wasn't surprised that the YouTube influencer army started criticizing it for its inability to render four 4K streams simultaneously while playing Crysis with seven external hard drives plugged in but let's be honest: when you're out and about you don't really carry a ton of accessories around with you. Personally, when I take my MacBook on business trips abroad (you know, back in the olden days when there still was such a thing as a "business trip") the only two devices I carry with me that plug into the port are the charger and a USB-C to USB-A adapter for thumb drives, just in case. And if you need more than one peripheral device connected simultaneously while wandering around this planet the MacBook may not be the right choice for you. However, there are plenty of users, including me, who scuffed at the single port at first but ultimately came to the conclusion that one rarely ever plugs anything in when on the go anyway.

Case in point: the iPad Pro, touted by Apple as the professional device of the future and priced just as aggressively as the MacBook, if not even more so. Number of ports? One.
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The MacBook has two ports. One of them is a headphone jack. The other is a charging port, and if the charging port is used, you have no USB port left unless you use a dongle.

The iPad Pro has two ports, if you buy the Magic Keyboard. If you use the charging port on the Magic Keyboard, you still have the USB port available.
 
The MacBook has one USB-Port and requires a dongle to plug in more than one device.
The iPad Pro has one USB-Port and requires a dongle most commonly referred to as "Magic Keyboard" to plug in more than one device.

;)
 
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mj_ said:
I agree with you on pricing, it was definitely overpriced when first released. I don't necessarily agree on the single port being a major issue though. The MacBook was an ultraportable device, and it did what it was supposed to do very well: a small, lightweight, and adequately powerful enough ultraportable computer to satisfy basic mobile computing requirements. I wasn't surprised that the YouTube influencer army started criticizing it for its inability to render four 4K streams simultaneously while playing Crysis with seven external hard drives plugged in but let's be honest: when you're out and about you don't really carry a ton of accessories around with you. Personally, when I take my MacBook on business trips abroad (you know, back in the olden days when there still was such a thing as a "business trip") the only two devices I carry with me that plug into the port are the charger and a USB-C to USB-A adapter for thumb drives, just in case. And if you need more than one peripheral device connected simultaneously while wandering around this planet the MacBook may not be the right choice for you. However, there are plenty of users, including me, who scuffed at the single port at first but ultimately came to the conclusion that one rarely ever plugs anything in when on the go anyway.

Case in point: the iPad Pro, touted by Apple as the professional device of the future and priced just as aggressively as the MacBook, if not even more so. Number of ports? One.
Click to expand...

The iPad is not a desktop computing platform the way the Mac is. Yes, with the advent of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, we can now attach drives to it, but it is way less common to attach devices to an iPad because that was never a primary intended use. The same cannot be said for a Mac.

Having two Thunderbolt 3 ports (in addition to the headphone jack) isn't great, but at least I have the flexibility, between two USB-C to HDMI/USB-A adapters to provide the same amount of I/O that was present in the 2010-2017 MacBook Air, which is enough for most use cases. I cannot say the same about the MacBook, which, at best, gives me the same amount of I/O that was present in the 2008-09 Airs which is not good.

The lack of ports limits the machine to being a less-than-ideal sole computer and practically requires it to be a secondary system for use cases that exceed that of a $200 Chromebook (which, ironically, won't suffer from this kind of I/O deficiency).
 
Again: yes, I/O is limited. Not going to argue with you on that because it's a fact. This might be an issue for you, or for me (which incidentally I thought it would but turned out it isn't at all), or for many other users who either need to plugin external peripherals when on the move or think they need to plugin external peripherals when on the move. However, I know a number of happy MacBook owners that couldn't care less because they never attach anything to it when out and about anyway, except for maybe a power supply for a quick top-up in-between, and use the MacBook as their sole computer for either pleasure or business. Plentiful I/O in a mobile device is only important if you regularly plugin peripherals when not at your desk, because at home it in your office you can connect a USB-C dock, any brand, and get all the I/O you could possibly wish for with a single cable.

I absolutely agree with you on the iPad btw. I was just using it as example, that's all.
 
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mj_ said:
Again: yes, I/O is limited. Not going to argue with you on that because it's a fact. This might be an issue for you, or for me (which incidentally I thought it would but turned out it isn't at all), or for many other users who either need to plugin external peripherals when on the move or think they need to plugin external peripherals when on the move. However, I know plenty of happy MacBook owners that couldn't care less because they never attach anything to it when out and about anyway, except for maybe a power supply for a quick top-up in-between. Plentiful I/O in a mobile device is only important if you regularly plugin peripherals when not at your desk, because at home it in your office you can connect a USB-C dock, any brand, and get all the I/O you could possibly wish for with a single cable.

I absolutely agree with you on the iPad btw. I was just using it as example, that's all.
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I'm not saying that there won't be some users that aren't bothered by the lack of ports. I'm saying that it's a hard sell for the rest of us who were bothered by it. I own a 12" MacBook (2017; Kaby Lake Core m3, 8GB of RAM), but I only use it for beta testing macOS releases in the summer (for the rest of the year, it runs Windows 10 as one of many secondary PCs that I have). Ports, low performance, and weak thermals are why it's a secondary system for me. It's perfect for doing what I want it to do, but there's no way I'd sell someone else on it.
 
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I just find the lack of a second USB-C port irritating. I can definitely get by, but the point is I shouldn't have to. A second USB-C port makes a huge difference in convenience when the same port is used for charging. As mentioned, they even sort of "added" a second USB-C port to the iPad Pro, probably because many people complained about the single port on the iPad Pro too.

If space really was an issue (and I doubt it is) on the 12" MacBook, and Apple really had "courage", then they would have dropped the headphone jack like they did on the iPhone and instead would have put a USB-C port there. However, even if they kept the headphone jack, there is still enough room physically for another USB-C port.

BTW, the 12" MacBook works great with a 27" 2560x1440 mini-DisplayPort monitor... except that if you want to keep the MacBook charged while you use it, you have to use a dongle with pass-through power, which is again is quite annoying.
 
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EugW said:
I just find the lack of a second USB-C port irritating. I can definitely get by, but the point is I shouldn't have to. A second USB-C port makes a huge difference in convenience when the same port is used for charging. As mentioned, they even sort of "added" a second USB-C port to the iPad Pro, probably because many people complained about the single port on the iPad Pro too.

If space really was an issue (and I doubt it is) on the 12" MacBook, and Apple really had "courage", then they would have dropped the headphone jack like they did on the iPhone and instead would have put a USB-C port there. However, even if they kept the headphone jack, there is still enough room physically for another USB-C port.

BTW, the 12" MacBook works great with a 27" 2560x1440 mini-DisplayPort monitor... except that if you want to keep the MacBook charged while you use it, you have to use a dongle with pass-through power, which is again is quite annoying.
Click to expand...

i just picked up a Macsales powered dock and do plan to sometimes use an external monitor with my 12” Macbook once it returns from Apple with a new battery installed. It won’t be my primary computer. I have an iMac.

A used Mac-mini would have probably been the way to go, but I had the 12” MB on hand, and an extra monitor, keyboard, and trackpad. I wonder if I can run it closed, or if heat will be a problem?

All in all, I do like it even just using it on the couch as a simple laptop.
 
The lack of a second port can definitely be annoying, especially if you are trying to use the Macbook as your main machine. I picked up a USB-C hub for mine just so I could have a wide variety of ports available and still be able to charge it if necessary.

Having the port as TB3 (instead of USB-C) would have also been nice so I could also use my TB3 dock with it.
It is great for what it is though and I enjoy the portability of my Macbook. It is much lighter than my 2012 13" Macbook Air and while it does lose a bit in screen size, the retina display makes up for it.
My 16" MBP feels super heavy as using the Macbook for awhile.

I'm sure the ARM Macs will be good (after awhile), but I don't have any plans on upgrading my 12" Macbook as it works totally fine. (I have a 2016 Macbook: m7/512GB)
 
leeuk321 said:
Just watched that video now, and yes it's an interesting watch but like you say...a whole lot of misses. So many critics and cynics miss the whole point of the Macbook, whilst ironically also being aware of it; it's as if they list the "few advantages", but don't actually appreciate the value of those things. As we all know, Apple made the Macbook with three priorities in mind for what it had to be:

A proper laptop that ran MacOS
As light as possible
As silent as possible

Everything else was made as good / fast / efficient as possible as a second-place to the above. Yet so many people who criticise the Macbook get the priorities twisted around and have the same argument: "Well, yes of course it's an actual MacOS running laptop that's ultralight and silent, but if you're willing to have something 50% heavier, a loud fan and/or another device that's running iPadOS or Windows...this is a TERRIBLE machine!!".
Click to expand...

Keyboard aside, I definitely appreciate the rMB for what it is (was). But I don't think putting a normal keyboard and one more USB-C port would have killed the form factor.
 
So today I was looking at some Apple displays with my 12" MacBook.

The Thunderbolt display wouldn't work because there is no Thunderbolt on the 12" MacBook.

So that left the mini-DisplayPort Cinema Display. Unfortunately, that was annoying too. It turns out you need both mini-DisplayPort and USB simultaneously to work it properly. USB is required to get iSight (and mic) support, but that didn't surprise me. What did surprise me though is that in order to adjust the brightness, you needed USB plugged in too, strangely enough. So, with just the one port on my 12" MacBook being used for mini-DisplayPort, I had no way to adjust the brightness of the screen. There was no brightness slider at all in the display preferences. To get that I'd have to use a multi-function dongle or something.

How do I know? Because I brought my 2009 MacBook Pro as well. With that one if I only plugged mini-DisplayPort, I'd get no brightness slider. When I plugged in USB, the brightness slider would appear. When I then unplugged USB, the brightness slider would disappear again.

Interestingly, if I plugged in just USB, I'd get full iSight support, but of course wouldn't get anything on screen since the mini-DisplayPort was not connected.
 
smbu2000 said:
The lack of a second port can definitely be annoying, especially if you are trying to use the Macbook as your main machine. I picked up a USB-C hub for mine just so I could have a wide variety of ports available and still be able to charge it if necessary.

Having the port as TB3 (instead of USB-C) would have also been nice so I could also use my TB3 dock with it.
It is great for what it is though and I enjoy the portability of my Macbook. It is much lighter than my 2012 13" Macbook Air and while it does lose a bit in screen size, the retina display makes up for it.
My 16" MBP feels super heavy as using the Macbook for awhile.

I'm sure the ARM Macs will be good (after awhile), but I don't have any plans on upgrading my 12" Macbook as it works totally fine. (I have a 2016 Macbook: m7/512GB)
Click to expand...
I said I didn’t have any plans on upgrading my Macbook, but I guess I meant to an ARM Mac.
I actually just purchased a base model Macbook Air (2020) to replace the Macbook. It’s dual core like my Macbook, but performance is much better than even my 2016 m7.

It also relieves the complaints I mentioned above, having that second usb-c port to use will be nice, plus they are TB3 ports so I can share accessories with my 16” MBP.
My Akitio Thunder3 Dock Pro isn’t compatible with the Macbook and my portable two port plugin dock/adapter as well which I use with my 16”.

My 4 year butterfly keyboard replacement coverage is over at the end of this month as well. It’ll be nice not having to worry about it as it has already been replaced by Apple before.
 
smbu2000 said:
I said I didn’t have any plans on upgrading my Macbook, but I guess I meant to an ARM Mac.
I actually just purchased a base model Macbook Air (2020) to replace the Macbook. It’s dual core like my Macbook, but performance is much better than even my 2016 m7.

It also relieves the complaints I mentioned above, having that second usb-c port to use will be nice, plus they are TB3 ports so I can share accessories with my 16” MBP.
My Akitio Thunder3 Dock Pro isn’t compatible with the Macbook and my portable two port plugin dock/adapter as well which I use with my 16”.

My 4 year butterfly keyboard replacement coverage is over at the end of this month as well. It’ll be nice not having to worry about it as it has already been replaced by Apple before.
Click to expand...
I am of the firm belief that had the MacBook 12" sold better, they would have eventually released a Thunderbolt version. I think they were waiting for Intel to built it into their chipset, but we all know about Intel's numerous delays.
 
mj_ said:
if you need more than one peripheral device connected simultaneously while wandering around this planet the MacBook may not be the right choice for you
Click to expand...
With the power adapter is one of these "peripheral devices" connected to it. It's no stretch imagine USB flash drive and external screen / projector being popular. As someone else said, you can definitely "get around" that lack of ports. You shouldn't have to.

Especially since there's only so much a market for ultraportables that few compromises in portability - but many on everything else.

mj_ said:
Case in point: the iPad Pro, touted by Apple as the professional device of the future and priced just as aggressively as the MacBook, if not even more so. Number of ports? One.
Click to expand...
Future or not, I don't think Apple has sold very much of these (yet?) either.
 
I used to own one before I picked up an iPad Pro and I would go back in a heartbeat. it was SOOPER light, a full featured Mac, and even though it only had one Thunderbolt port it was amazing.
 
The Samurai said:
Cash in hand, October can't come sooner.

11" iPad Pro has been sold.
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www.cultofmac.com

$849 ARM MacBook could feature butterfly keys, 12-inch display

One of Apple's first ARM-powered notebooks could be a 12-inch MacBook with butterfly keyboard, according to one tipster. The entry-level machine could
www.cultofmac.com

Well I’m hoping the reported rumor on Cult-of-The-Mac is off. See rumor reporting only one port, and a butterfly keyboard. Finger crossed this isn’t accurate regarding these two things.
 
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I owned all 3 production years of the 12" rMB. I still have a 2017 i5/8/512. Great machines. Misunderstood by many. Capable of so much more than the skeptics and haters give it credit for. When I am at home, I have an OWC USB-C dock for more ports than I ever use, and on the road (where this machine shines) I pack a single Apple digital AV adapter to have USB A to swap files with colleagues via thumb drive and to charge while doing it. A single port has never been much of a burden to me when I'm out and about. And, I actually used these as my only Macs for a few years. I have a side gig that needs heavier horsepower, so I also have bigger Macs now. But, that 12" rMB is the first to hit the road with me. So, I very much want an Apple Silicon refresh of the 12" form factor.
 
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djfirth said:
I owned all 3 production years of the 12" rMB. I still have a 2017 i5/8/512. Great machines. Misunderstood by many. Capable of so much more than the skeptics and haters give it credit for. When I am at home, I have an OWC USB-C dock for more ports than I ever use, and on the road (where this machine shines) I pack a single Apple digital AV adapter to have USB A to swap files with colleagues via thumb drive and to charge while doing it. A single port has never been much of a burden to me when I'm out and about. And, I actually used these as my only Macs for a few years. I have a side gig that needs heavier horsepower, so I also have bigger Macs now. But, that 12" rMB is the first to hit the road with me. So, I very much want an Apple Silicon refresh of the 12" form factor.
Click to expand...
AFAIK, there are no USB-C dongles for the 12-inch MacBook available that provide mini-DisplayPort + USB + power delivery. I searched but I simply cannot find one. The only way you can use mini-DisplayPort AFAIK is without power and without USB support. So, in order to charge your MacBook or use USB devices, you have to unplug your mini-DisplayPort monitor.

The solution is go with HDMI, but of course none of Apple's own monitors (or iMacs with Target Display Mode) support HDMI input.

As far as I'm concerned, the Arm 12" MUST have at least 2 USB-C ports, and Thunderbolt support is highly preferred. If in 2020 they still come with a single non-Thunderbolt USB-C port then that will be a major letdown.
 
Dream for me would be:

- Apple silicon
- Scissor-switch keyboard
- Touch ID/FaceID
- Thunderbolt 3 port (I'd even take just one of them)
 
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