Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Announces 12-Inch Retina MacBook With Revamped Trackpad, Starting at $1,299

Ulenspiegel said:
I really can't comprehend why a critical opinion is always considered to be "whining"?
Click to expand...

Having a critical opinion is one thing. Posting the same thing over and over again in multiple threads how this laptop does not meet your exact needs is another. You don't understand the difference?

Not every product that Apple makes will be perfect for you. I know that's crazy, but that is how it is. The critical opinion that you're agreeing with is about not being able to connect to 73 USB devices and corporate network equipment. Then when it is pointed out that it is possible to connect to at least 71 USB devices, the poster that you're agreeing with whines about having to spend $79 for an adaptor. Yeah, that's valid criticism.:confused:
 
bombrider said:
So you just daisy chain an RJ-45 to USB connector to your USB to USB-C connector? Revolutionary!

----------



Pity they didn't engineer a retina display in to the existing, legitimately revolutionary Macbook Airs purely because they want to drive anyone looking for a beautiful screen to the Apple version of the Chromebook. It's not so revolutionary for this thing to have no fans when it's that underpowered.

Come on. I admit the new Macbooks are beautiful but to anyone who actually understands the technology the current lineup is absurd.
Click to expand...

If you were in business you would do exactly as Apple is doing. Don't deny it. If you disagree you won't be in business for very long. Because in order to stay in business companies will not have their existing customer's interest at heart. They need new money everyday. At the end of the day they have shareholders to please. Techies aren't their only customers and techies are the only ones that will be crying that their existing line didn't get updated but rather a new machine was released to make money. It's business.
 
theSeb said:
Having a critical opinion is one thing. Posting the same thing over and over again in multiple threads how this laptop does not meet your exact needs is another. You don't understand the difference?

Not every product that Apple makes will be perfect for you. I know that's crazy, but that is how it is. The critical opinion that you're agreeing with is about not being able to connect to 73 USB devices and corporate network equipment. Then when it is pointed out that it is possible to connect to at least 71 USB devices, the poster that you're agreeing with whines about having to spend $79 for an adaptor. Yeah, that's valid criticism.:confused:
Click to expand...

I have a feeling that you are bit overreacting.
You are right, not every product is perfect for anybody.
We will see how the new "revolutionary" port will perform in practice.
And to sell an adapter for 79 USD is absolutely a genious business idea.
 
I'm ready to replace my four-year-old 11" Macbook Air. I think that I'll be able to get used to the keyboard and trackpad, and I'll put up with yet another adapter when I want to connect the computer to a projector and run it off AC power. But I'm wondering how the Core M and Intel HD Graphics 5300 will handle complex Keynote presentations, which sometimes cause my MBA to hiccup. I guess I'll wait and see before I choose between the new laptop and a refreshed MBA or even a 13" MacBook Pro.
 
splogue said:
Now that made me spit out my coffee. It also made me a little nostalgic. Those were fun times. Slow times, but fun times nonetheless.

Sean
Click to expand...

I still use some for transferring files with my vintage computers collection.
 
droodles said:
can it run dota 2?
Click to expand...
no

Well maybe you can launch it without crashing, but not on a playable level.
While the graphics chip would run Dota 2 at 1366x768 with ~ 28 fps average,
there is also the issue of the woefully underpowered CPU (1.1 GHz dual core)

The yoga 3 with same SoC runs Dota 2 @ ~640x480 with ~ 53 fps
 
Last edited:
Predictably there are a lot of "you're not the target market" comments. I understand the sentiment but it's still a laptop. It's not an iPad. It's not unthinkable that people would want a small and light laptop that they can still hook up to a keyboard, monitor and mouse when they get to their home or office. Wanting to hook up a laptop to a keyboard, monitor and mouse is not a fringe case. Hopefully someone will release some kind of hub.

Personally my only computer is an 11" MacBook Air. I use it to run my web design and development business. In my office it's hooked up to dual thunderbolt monitors, keyboard, mouse, time machine drive, ethernet and power adapter. It's got MORE than enough power for my needs as I don't do print or video work. For web design (which uses low res files compared to print) and coding (just text files) this machine has ample power. And yet when I leave the office it's an absolutely joy to carry because it's so small and light. Best of both worlds! I love it.

Maybe I can do that with this new machine too but only if someone releases some kind of hub. People well tell me to buy a Pro or a 13" Air but I do not need a Pro machine and I don't want a bigger machine. Why pay for more machine than I need? That's also heavier to carry around. Anyway... hopefully there'll be some kind of hub. If I can hook it up to the Thunderbolt monitors hopefully the monitor can act as a hub. I'd love to see what solutions are out there because as much as I love my 11" Air... it's due for an update.
 
Starts at 1299? It will easily cost $300 more after you buy 4-5 adapters and a spare charger.

1.2Ghz? No, thank you. I am not a beta tester to an underpowered machine. After buying the Air in 2008 i can only say this: i'll never buy a 1st gen product again.

----------
iSheep5S said:
No fans? How will it not cook itself if you choose to do anything intensive. Like gaming? I'll stick to my Pro ty.
Click to expand...
Gaming? Dude, it has a 5W CPU, i don't think it will handle movie playback in BluRay quality (25GB+) and you want to game on that thing.
Let's wait for the geekbech scores, but i doubt it will be much faster than an ipad.
 
stanislaus1 said:
"Type-C USB also allows for bi-directional power, so apart from charging the peripheral device, when applicable, a peripheral device could also charge a host device."
Your external, stationary harddisk could charge your macbook.
Click to expand...

:eek: Whaaaaa - where did you read that? And how do I know if my external drive supports it?
 
This thing is incredibly sexy. However, I would never do any real work on it; those processors won't allow it. As sleek as it is, it comes off to me like an iPad with a built-in keyboard that happens to run OS X. This isn't a bad thing, just makes me wonder about its practicality for getting traditional computer things done on it. Like don't expect any dual monitoring with 4K displays or any kind of gaming above the simple stuff from the App Store.

Still, very tempting machines... :cool:
 
I like it and do think the specs are good (besides only I port). Having an m processor imo is good for a laptop like this that's supposed to be very portable. I went looking for a new laptop over the last few weeks and after playing around with all sorts I decided to switch to windows after 11 years. I got a 4k 11.6" ultra book convertible that's about as small (11-15mm) a little heavier (2.4lbs) and also made sturdy from aluminum/carbon fiber. the inclusion of a touchscreen, presentation and tablet mode were things I realized I wanted/needed the most in a really portable laptop and don't think I'll go back to a non touchscreen laptop. My keyboard is kinda sucky and it's not as good spec wise (but was also on sale and 3/5 cheaper) windows/metro has its quirks but it's also fun learning something new after so long.

Idk the percentage of people who want apple touchscreen laptops but in a package like the new 12" MacBook I think it would be perfect for the main demo of users. After mainly using my iPad for the last few years I think I had just become so used to touch that it was almost what I was expecting on laptops. That's why I feel like touchscreens on laptops are just the next logical step.
Maybe I'm in the minority and it won't matter if apple doesn't offer it. But I feel like apples missing very progressive functionality when I looked at the laptops with touch or convertible, having great build quality, having a great screen and in very similar packages. im realizing how useful it is having a full os with touch such as doing work with full office or being able to use a digitizer in Adobe or similar apps.
Sorry if this was a little off topic. Just seeing how similar in form the 12" MacBook is compared to my new laptop made me think about touch display on laptops.
 
theSeb said:
Having a critical opinion is one thing. Posting the same thing over and over again in multiple threads how this laptop does not meet your exact needs is another. You don't understand the difference?

Not every product that Apple makes will be perfect for you. I know that's crazy, but that is how it is. The critical opinion that you're agreeing with is about not being able to connect to 73 USB devices and corporate network equipment. Then when it is pointed out that it is possible to connect to at least 71 USB devices, the poster that you're agreeing with whines about having to spend $79 for an adaptor. Yeah, that's valid criticism.:confused:
Click to expand...

The issue is when every product moves so far away from what you need some become annoyed. I imagine most WANT to like it yet they continue to remove functionality in favor of being thinner.

I used to care about some of these fuctions yet these days I don`t care. At one time lack of ports could be an issue however any camera will just sync with said laptop.

Plus an adaptor is not not that big of an issue. (the idea would have bothered me a couple years ago)

Still think Apple should have one laptop where it is all about power and fuctionality and less concern over it being insanely thin.
 
zhenya said:
The Dell xps13 which has been all the rage is considerably larger and heavier than this. This is a 2lb laptop! The Surface Pro 3 is 2.4lbs with its type cover!
Click to expand...

I like the lighter weight a lot as the current MBs are heavier than you think when you carry them around all day. Thinner doesn't bother me, I'd rather have the extra ports. But all that is evolutionary not revolutionary. I like the new colours which is probably the main reason I'll buy one.
 
Gorgeous design. Too bad it's only 12 inches, that's really a deal breaker for me.
 
troop231 said:
Bye bye MagSafe :( Probably going to be lots of broken ports now if people trip over your cord.
Click to expand...
This MacBook is so light, it wouldn't have mattered what connection they used. It still would've taken a fall. I'm sure they realized this after testing it with the MagSafe interface. Plus they were trying to go almost completely portless, and MagSafe carries nothing besides power. Whereas USB carries everything.
 
brinary001 said:
This MacBook is so light, it wouldn't have mattered what connection they used. It still would've taken a fall. I'm sure they realized this after testing it with the MagSafe interface. Plus they were trying to go almost completely portless, and MagSafe carries nothing besides power. Whereas USB carries everything.
Click to expand...

This is exactly why they could've made the (whatever new USB standard) an omnidirectional magnetic data + power interface.
 
troop231 said:
Bye bye MagSafe :( Probably going to be lots of broken ports now if people trip over your cord.
Click to expand...

Remember, MagSafe was created in the era where you frequently used your laptop while plugged in.

This will be used more like a tablet: almost always used unplugged, and charging happens at night.
 
theSeb said:
But you're willing to spend $1300 on a laptop? People are weird. Clearly this computer is not for you then. Accept it and move on. Is whining on forums going to change anything? Does it make you feel better? You're just wasting your fingers and energy.
Click to expand...

As much as some like to pretend otherwise, Apple clearly does respond to a certain extent to people "whining" on forums.

The 2011 Air's lack of a backlit keyboard was something that was changed because people complained about it.

To be blunt, I have little doubt that Apple will fold and include more ports in the next model, because the decision to do otherwise is really stupid. And internet complaints will be part of why they do.
 
chiefsilverback said:
In your scenario why wouldn't you get the USBc adapter and just plug your existing home setup into it, then you just connect one cable and all the things you mentioned will work!?!?!?
Click to expand...

Because I don't want to pay $80 for an adapter???!?!??!
I'm already going to end up paying $1.3K and you think it's acceptable that I should have to pay $80 more just to make things work. Ha.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back