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Any 12" Macbook users holding out for an ARM Macbook?
- Thread starter leeuk321
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Most non-mac users who review Mac hardware, especially the laptops miss the point.
The human is generally the slowest element in a lot of (Not ALL! that's what higher end machines are for!) workflows. They benchmark the hardware, say "its slow!" and forget that if you know how to use macOS, actually getting things done is often faster than under linux or windows due to the macOS features.
As above they compare thin/light machines to bigger machines and say "they're slow!". Without thinking that the machine you can actually use whilst on the road due to size and battery life is much faster than the machine you either don't have room to use (and have to wait until you get to a desk to have the space), or dies after 45 minutes on battery (unless you wait until you get to somewhere with AC power). They're also much faster than the machine you actually left at home because its a pain in the rear to lug around.
If someone is not a full time Mac user and they are reviewing Mac hardware I generally ignore them to be honest. They don't get it.
Count me in
I dont have an issue with them, to be honest I like them. I have a 2016 MBP with the butterfly and like typing on it. It wouldnt be a deal breaker for me if they were to switch but given the overall general reliability, a scissor switch would be welcomed.
What I do need in the new 12" MB is better battery life, Apple Silicone power, better webcam and a lightweight machine.
I would actually purchase this MacBook as a travel device to replace my current 2012 Macbook Air. I was enthralled with the original neo-MacBook in 2015 but didn't have the money as a high schooler at the time. I like having a smaller, more portable laptop to take places in lieu of my Pro when all the extra ports and storage aren't needed.
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Luke Miani is a Mac youtuber...
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Luke Miani is a Mac youtuber...
My girlfriends MacBook Air 2010 just died on her yesterday. Don't you guys agree with me that she should wait for the rumored 2020 Macbook ARM release? She basically can use my MacBook Pro anytime she wants, just that she likes to have her own computer with all of her pictures and stuff.
You have just answered your own question.
I wouldn't pay full whack for a Macbook at this time personally, if I were getting a cracking deal on one I may consider it but it would be silly to opt for it unless you NEED it which given your situation you don't.
I would say yes. Just make an extra user account on your internal drive. She could perhaps also use an external SSD in the meantime if you have one lying around; if you install macOS on it that should work fine (not sure if T2 chips or iCloud could mess it up though).
Don't get me wrong, the current MacBook Air is great. But the rumours about the new MacBook/MacBook Air next month are very promising. If you get an Intel MacBook Air now, it will possibly be very outdated by next month.
Of course, if she needs Boot Camp, that's a different story.
Spot on! This is exactly what I have been bothered about by for a long time. It's not just the MacBook, it's pretty much all ultraportable reviews. Most reviewers pitch them against much heavier and more powerful machines and focus on CPU performance, graphics performance, and the likes instead of focussing on what people choose an ultraportable for: I can carry around my entire office, conduct my business, and run my own consulting firm on a device that weighs less than two pounds and runs all day long on a single charge happily chugging along with whatever office/business task I throw at it. Why the heck would I care that it cannot render 4K high-quality videos smoothly while streaming three 4K streams with 150+ Chrome tabs open simultaneously or run CineBench 20x in a row without thermal throttling? Like you said: that's not the point, and it's completely irrelevant in a small ultraportable device such as this.
That said if Apple actually chooses to revive the Butterfly keyboard as recent rumors seem to be suggesting (although they can all be traced back to a single source, so all has to be taken with a grain of salt) I am definitely out. It's not the touch and feel that I mind, au contraire. I got used to typing on Butterfly-style keyboards after a while and don't mind. Once my muscle-memory adjusted and I stopped hitting the keys with vigor and force my typing experience improved significantly. It's the reliability and susceptibility to tiny specks of dirt that will keep me from considering it. Unless of course Apple extends their 4-year keyboard repair program to include this new device from the get go
If your MacBook Pro died, would you be happy to share your girlfriend's 2010 air anytime you want?
At minimum, a used or refurbished intel will get her through at least another couple of years.
I think the main problem was the price of the MacBook. In 2015, they should have given the MacBook 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, a non-retina display, and price it 899$ to replace the 11" MacBook Air. Nobody would have cared about the performance. What happened in reality though was that you could choose between a fast 899$ 11" MacBook Air with ports or a slow 1299$ 12" MacBook without ports. Sure, in some ways the MacBook was the better one, but I wouldn't want to be the one working in an Apple shop trying to sell 12" MacBooks at that time. 😅Spot on! This is exactly what I have been bothered about by for a long time. It's not just the MacBook, it's pretty much all ultraportable reviews. Most reviewers pitch them against much heavier and more powerful machines and focus on CPU performance, graphics performance, and the likes instead of focussing on what people choose an ultraportable for: I can carry around my entire office, conduct my business, and run my own consulting firm on a device that weighs less than two pounds and runs all day long on a single charge happily chugging along with whatever office/business task I throw at it. Why the heck would I care that it cannot render 4K high-quality videos smoothly while streaming three 4K streams with 150+ Chrome tabs open simultaneously or run CineBench 20x in a row without thermal throttling? Like you said: that's not the point, and it's completely irrelevant in a small ultraportable device such as this.
That said if Apple actually chooses to revive the Butterfly keyboard as recent rumors seem to be suggesting (although they can all be traced back to a single source, so all has to be taken with a grain of salt) I am definitely out. It's not the touch and feel that I mind, au contraire. I got used to typing on Butterfly-style keyboards after a while and don't mind. Once my muscle-memory adjusted and I stopped hitting the keys with vigor and force my typing experience improved significantly. It's the reliability and susceptibility to tiny specks of dirt that will keep me from considering it. Unless of course Apple extends their 4-year keyboard repair program to include this new device from the get go
I just ordered a New MBA last week, custom build w 16GB ram... I think Ill be canceling that now and wait for the new ARM 12" .. I currently own a macbook 12 and lobe the size .. Cant wait !
We’ve somehow found ourselves in the position where we need two laptops, one for my wife and one for me as she’s off back to uni and my latest ”iPad Pro as a laptop replacement” experiment has crashed and burned.
I’m not wanting to spend money on new laptops just now - the standard Macbook Air would be more than enough for my wife’s requirements, but an updated 12” Macbook would be even better.
I think in her case we’ll just hold on another month or so to see what transpires, but its a strange position with the product line now because we’ve all seen what Apple are capable of when you look at the iPad Pro and iPhone in terms of hardware, performance etc.
I’ll either get a used 12” Macbook or go for a second-hand 2020 Air or MBP.
I’m not wanting to spend money on new laptops just now - the standard Macbook Air would be more than enough for my wife’s requirements, but an updated 12” Macbook would be even better.
I think in her case we’ll just hold on another month or so to see what transpires, but its a strange position with the product line now because we’ve all seen what Apple are capable of when you look at the iPad Pro and iPhone in terms of hardware, performance etc.
I’ll either get a used 12” Macbook or go for a second-hand 2020 Air or MBP.
as someone who has used a 2011 11" MBA, 2014 13" MBP, 2017 12" MB, and 2019 16" MBP, the only keyboard I've not liked is the 2019 MBP. I don't get why Apple made the 16" keyboard feel cramped when I have 1.5" of space on either side of the keyboard. I don't listen to music on my Mac, I'd rather they had smaller speakers (or relocated) and a more generous keyboard. I really like the 2017 MB the longer I've used its keyboard.
I would buy an updated 12" MB in a heartbeat. I like it for on the couch browsing, and on the go more than the iPads I've had.
I would buy an updated 12" MB in a heartbeat. I like it for on the couch browsing, and on the go more than the iPads I've had.
All of those laptops, including the 16”, have the same 19 mm key spacing, which is considered ideal for typing ergonomics.
Yes I’m aware. I was just pointing out that the 12” MacBook’s port limitation is a real world problem, even with Apple’s own displays.
I own both a 30” Cinema HD Display with mini-DisplayPort adapter and a 27” iMac 2010 which can be used in Target Display Mode through mini-DisplayPort, and neither can be realistically used with my 2017 MacBook because of its port limitation.
Even though the 12” MacBook can output mini-DP, it can’t actually charge or use other USB devices at the same time. Having another USB-C port would solve all those problems.
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I just bought a 2017 MacBook and dang, it's so light that it is going to be my main campus notebook to replace my iPad Pro since I have to run Photoshop and Audition programs... 512 gb SSD very nice for those artworks I am working on.
There's two hubs/dongles from Cable Matters that has power delivery, 2 x USB-A ports, Ethernet and DisplayPort (when you say Mini DisplayPort, I'm assuming that DisplayPort is fine, since you can get cables that go from DisplayPort -> MiniDP).
One version has 4K@60Hz DisplayPort with USB 2.0 speeds on the USB ports.
The other has 4K@30Hz DisplayPort with USB 3.0 speeds on the USB ports.
There's no way to get around the DisplayPort/USB speed tradeoff, as it's simply a limit of the USB-C port. DisplayLink devised a way to let you have your cake and eat it, theoretically, but I tried it and *it sucks*. Big time.
The only caveat is that you can't connect two portable hard drives at the same time, as it doesn't give enough power. There's also powered docking stations that give you all of the above and more, but I'm assuming with you saying dongle that you're looking for something portable that's powered from the MacBook power adapter? The docking stations are pretty expensive, and I was debating getting one for a while (and might still), but I'm holding out to see if the ARM MacBooks have thunderbolt. If so, I'll be getting the CalDigit TS3 Plus docking station, no question.
Macbook Air seems worst of both worlds, its approaching the pro in size without its power, then you have a noisy fan as well. Macbook is sorely needed and should be a great fit for arm. Not sure if they should reuse 5 year old body at this point or debut a 13” with even smaller body.
Exactly what I've always believed. Granted, there will always be people for who a certain spec/price ticks their boxes and hence say "The Air is perfect for me", but when I was considering moving on from the MacBook the 13" Pro seemed like such a better purchase, all things considered. I also thought that the MacBook, 13" MBP and 15" (now 16") MBP would have made for a better lineup than the Air / 13" MBP and 15" MBP. You've clearly got the Macbook which prioritises being as silent, lightweight and portable as possible. And at the other end the 15" MBP which prioritises horsepower. And nicely in the middle you've got the 13" MBP, a halfway-house of weight, size, price, noise and performance. Perfect.
Honestly, I think that the MacBook's biggest downfall was simply marketing, the Air existing in the lineup just muddled the choices. Of course, fans of the Air will argue their cases, and it's personal preference, so they're not wrong (no one is); but I've got a feeling that if the Air had been discontinued in 2015, the spoils of the sales would have simply gone between the Macbook and the 13" MBP and the Macbook might still be here now. Having said that, a lot of the shortcomings of the Macbook were/are because of Intel, which restricted it's evolution.
Good to know. I was specifically looking for mini-DisplayPort but DisplayPort could work with another DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort dongle in the chain I suppose. Unfortunately, the reviews on Amazon say DisplayPort support on these dongles is problematic. Lots of reported compatibility issues, and poor reliability with units dying in a couple of months.
BTW, I just bought a supposed active mini-DisplayPort to dual-link DVI dongle from Cable Matters and it simply didn’t work with any of my Macs, so I’m not optimistic with this brand when it comes complex USB-C multi-function dongles. In contrast, my Apple mini-DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adapter works fine with all three Macs I tried. I do have a simple Cable Matters USB-C to 4Kp60 HDMI dongle with power delivery that seems to work most of the time though.
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I agree. It's smoother to type on because the keys are easier to press down. I had a new 2020 Air for a few weeks and the keys hurt my fingers and tired me out. Refunded it and just stuck with my 2018 Air.
I guess it’s just what you are used to. I have a 2016 Macbook and have used various 2016-2019 MBPs, but I still prefer the Magic Keyboard over the Butterfly.
i do use a Magic Keyboard (w/10 key) on my 2012 iMac as my daily machine though. I also still have an older 2012 MBA that is nice to type on. I recently replaced the 12” Macbook with a 2020 MBA and I am enjoying using it. (The keyboard is exactly like my 16” MBP minus the Touchbar.)
My Windows desktop has a mechanical keyboard with even more travel and I have an Apple Extended Keyboard 2 that I use with my Mac Classic II.
i do use a Magic Keyboard (w/10 key) on my 2012 iMac as my daily machine though. I also still have an older 2012 MBA that is nice to type on. I recently replaced the 12” Macbook with a 2020 MBA and I am enjoying using it. (The keyboard is exactly like my 16” MBP minus the Touchbar.)
My Windows desktop has a mechanical keyboard with even more travel and I have an Apple Extended Keyboard 2 that I use with my Mac Classic II.
I've used Photoshop, Audition, and Illustrator on a 12" MacBook. Prepare for it to be extremely hot and for performance to take a hit.
When the ARM versions come that may change.
It's true, there's no "amazing" USB-C dongle on the market that supports 4k@60Hz mDP/DP + power delivery and USB. I think that because the USB-C is so restrictive, there's not much to work with to make a great dongle, and they've got to have fussy restrictions such as choosing between 4k@60Hz and USB 3.0. I'm not sure why a DisplayPort -> MiniDP adapter would work better for you than simply a DIsplayPort -> MiniDP cable, but obviously you have a certain workflow or setup that this facilities better, so fair enough if that's the case.
I did some heavy research into these dongles, and all things considered the Cable Matters one came out on top. For full transparency though, the first one I had did fail, albeit just under a year's time. I'm pretty certain what the cause was, which is a frustrating element on most dongles, is the damn hardwired USB-C lead from the dongle to the computer. Drives me crazy. Unless you're kid-gloves with it, what happens is that after a while the cable being slightly bent one way and the other causes it to slightly lose connection, meaning that you have to manually tweak the cable around. And then further down the line it'll fail completely. With the replacement, I'm keeping the adapter in a stationary position on my desk, and making sure the cable is fully extended in a straight line. Not ideal, but there's not really another candidate that'd do a better job.
Of course, a docking station solves this problem and more. And like I said, I'm holding off purchasing one purely to see what happens with the upcoming wave of ARM MacBooks. If there's a suitable MacBook (for me) that has a thunderbolt port, I'll be buying the CalDigit TS3 Plus straight away; unless a better model comes out between now and then, that is.