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

[zhenya]

My laptop is my only computer. Under normal circumstances, it is connected to a monitor, speakers, and a USB 3 hub for a couple of hard drives. That amount of connections is not possible for the new MacBook. I do occasionally disconnect but not often, at the time the 15 MacBook pro made more sense than an iMac. This laptop is not meant for people like me. I can't understand why someone wouldn't buy a MacBook air which is still thin and light with a better processor and more ports.

So you would connect this to a hub 100% exactly the same as you do today. In fact, you could have less connections because you could leave your desk setup connected to the hub (ie. dock) and when you sit down you make 1 connection for power, monitors, and data.

 

[bchreng]

All irrelevant details to what it does. None of that makes it do more. It's capabilities and performance level compare to the sub $200 market.

I really don't care whether it's plastic or aluminum. Makes no difference to what the machine does or how well it does it. As for memory, etc... Still not nearing a value comparable to its price (not even close to being a value for the dollars asked). Just more overpriced, slower than last year, preobsoleted technology.

It's the crippled mini all over again, just this time with a price hike.

It's not irrelevant. You can't deny that those features definitely add to the price overall. While they may not contribute to a faster computer, they do add to the overall experience. You also have to compare the price of memory and etc to the amount charged by Apple on their other products, not PCs. Else why consider an Apple product in the first place?

This shouldn't be compared to previous MacBooks either since Apple is clearly trying to redefine this line, what it is and who it caters to. The same cannot be said of the mini refresh that you mentioned. (Which I agree with)

 

[Beachguy]

What is the scenario where 1lbs and 0.16 inches matters?

How are either the MacBook Air or Pro not already extremely portable?

I had the same thoughts. I take my Pro and my Air all over the place. Quite portable.

 

[rikardors]

I am not sure, but I will make a guess here.

I think that Apple will sometime this year, probably about September/October update the Macbook pro 13" and 15".
When they do I think that they will bring them both in line with the design and overall 'Language' of the new Macbook 12"
So for instance they will share the same new Unibody design and the same approach to Battery design as well as probably being slightly thinner and lighter. They both will share the same new USB-C Port
This is my opinion because I don't see Apple making this amazing new Macbook and saying it is "The future of the Notebook" only to make it a Product on it's own.
it makes sense that they will at some point bring the rest of their Macbook range in line too.
This means I think they will start to retire the Macbook Air
as otherwise their product line in the Macbook range will be too complex and too many. Here then is what I think will be the line up by later this year

12" Macbook -> For those who want a ridiculously thin and light Notebook.

13" Macbook Pro -> for those who want a more powerful Notebook with slightly bigger screen

15" Macbook Pro -> for those who want a more powerful Notebook with a far bigger screen

The Macbook Air will still be on sale for a year or two with reduced price point for those who want a Macbook but can't quite afford the others.

The Macbook Pro 13" and 15" will both be available in the 3 Colours...Space Grey, Silver and Gold and will have the new Force Touch Trackpad.

This makes choosing a Notebook far easier and better with less complexity.

I though could be wrong but we will see in a few months.

Overall though I think it is amazing and very good piece of engineering.
I hear the keyboard is not as good as regular MacBooks in terms of the travel though that I am sure will just be something people need to get used to and once they do will be ok with it, same with there Force Click.

Can't with for Apple to release a 15" Macbook Pro with all the features of the 12" Macbook and in the same 3 colours, then i am upgrading my 2013 Macbook Pro

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Only on the 13" Macbook Air, the 11" Macbook Air is nearly the same in every area.

Well hopefully this will happen because now I see this new Macbook more like a downgrade compared to my Macbook Air 2013

 

[Ulenspiegel]

...Yet Scott Forstall was fired for bad design decisions.

That was a little bit more complex situation. Main reason was that Forstall was a rival who lost his mentor.

 

[AppleInLVX]

My wife wouldn't have the slightest need for it. Not the slightest. Most buyers (by that I mean much more than 50%) will never connect this MacBook to anything other than power by cable.

I guess it depends on the amount of storage you need. If you took more pictures, or had a local music or video collection, you'd likely run out of space on that machine in pretty short order. Then you'd need an external drive, especially if you use it as your primary computer.

I guess the idea is that it really is the Mac for people who already own a Mac.

 

[Truefan31]

I don't understand. U get an adapter and u can have power, usb, and hdmi all at once. I bet soon they'll have adapters that include other ports such as maybe tb2.

If u need all these extra ports constantly I'd suggest getting a New rmbp. It's imo the best value. Retina screen, more powerful, more ports.

 

[aristobrat]

My laptop is my only computer. Under normal circumstances, it is connected to a monitor, speakers, and a USB 3 hub for a couple of hard drives. That amount of connections is not possible for the new MacBook.

Individually, no.

But it looks like USB-C is like Thunderbolt in that it can support multiple things going over the same wire (including 100w of power, which I don't think Thunderbolt can), so I'm guessing that they'll make USB-C monitors/docks where you'll plug that one cable into this new MacBook, and be able to do audio/video, and access extra ports on the monitor/dock.

Kind of like how Apple's Thunderbolt Display currently works. When I sit down at work, I plug in two cables (one cable for power, the other cable connects to the monitor), and my Mac drives the monitor, plus can access the USB/FireWire/ethernet/Thunderbolt ports that are built into the back of the monitor.

 

[impulse462]

I didn't understand the hate on this with Thunderbolt and I don't get it now. While I am not a fan of a single port, I'm definitely a fan of "One Port Fits All".

Does everyone need multiple displays?

Does everyone need ethernet?

Does everyone need 3 USB?

Does everyone need Firewire?

I need all of this sometimes. I even need a serial adapter when I'm messing with Cisco routers. You know what's awesome? I have a couple of adapters that let me—get this—adapt to the current situation.

I'll be thrilled when there is, more or less, one master port type. It'll be even better when modern peripherals auto-negotiate with it so I don't need adapters except for legacy devices.

2 - 4 USB-C ports would have been nicer, although carrying a hub really doesn't bug me too much. When I'm genuinely on the road, I carry almost nothing. If I'm in a situation where I need to hook up to a bunch of stuff... it's in my bag anyway. What's a hub?

You're premise I agree with, but what if you want to plug your iphone in as well as a flash drive/external hdd. can't do that with this computer as far as I know since the adapter only includes one usb port.

 

[Beachguy]

Actually there's no Ethernet accessory, just VGA, USB and HDMI in different combinations. You will be forced to use Wifi only until a third party releases the Ethernet adaptor

Couldn't you use the Mac ethernet add-on? I have one somewhere...

 

[Tanax]

I'm a developer and have constant use of the ports and SD reader. But, I've never used my headphone jack. We seem to be at an impasse.

If you're a developer you wouldn't buy this kind of laptop anyway, you'd buy the rMBP.

USB mice, my iPhone/iPad, external memory cards, printer (on occasion) and external storage (USB drives as well as ext hdd) for me

Pretty difficult to plug in USB mice, external memory cards and external storage while you're sitting in the sofa or on the bus. Oh wait, you're using your laptop as a workstation - get the rMBP.

Like I said, this laptop isn't meant for you who need all of those ports since if you need them, you're probably in need of a more powerful laptop anyway, like the rMBP provides for you.

 

[macgurrl]

Just like Nikon cameras, change one or two things and call it new or revolutionary and charge a ton of money for it.

 

[canman4PM]

It's impressive as hell from an engineering standpoint. So much packed into so little. The new keyboard, screen, batteries, touch pad, logic board, lack of fan, etc. Very impressive.

From a utility standpoint, however...

...it does seem a lot of cash for an underpowered computer.

But there are those that will buy it for its ultra portability, its standout good looks (I find it particularly sharp in gold), or other reasons I can't think of. I think of it as an interesting stepping stone and look at the future of the notebook that a niche group will buy anyway.

 

[tdale]

It's impressive as hell from an engineering standpoint. So much packed into so little. The new keyboard, screen, batteries, touch pad, logic board, lack of fan, etc. Very impressive.

Budgetised

From a utility standpoint, however...

...it does seem a lot of cash for an underpowered computer.

Budget

But there are those that will buy it for its ultra portability, its standout good looks (I find it particularly sharp in gold), or other reasons I can't think of. I think of it as an interesting stepping stone and look at the future of the notebook that a niche group will buy anyway.

Very niche. Its not like an MBA is twice the size and too awkward to carry around. For a Lite Mac, its not cheap.

What of the iPad Pro 12"? That is probably just a large iPad. The MB12 is just a light featured, not cheap Mac. Seems a bit bizarre. IMO the word functionality has been lost on favour of lighter and smaller.

I paid NZ$3697 for a rMBP15, 8GB, 512SSD. This MB12 is NZ$2000. Poor value I feel.

Or a MBA11 4GB/256GB which is a far better Mac for NZ$1699, or a 13 for $1799. Or a Lite Mb12 for $2000???

 

[toke lahti]

Couldn't you use the Mac ethernet add-on? I have one somewhere...

Heck, maybe Apple will even upgrade their usb-ethernet dongle from 100Mbps speed (specced in 1995) to new superspeed with usb3 & GbE (specced in 2008 & 1999)!

 

[switcher75]

Sealed the deal on the Retina 13" MacBook Pro for me.

Smart move .Better computer same price, and a bunch of ports. Actually cheaper if you would have to use those $79 dongles.

This is thinness taken to the insanity level.

 

[Queen6]

Very niche. Its not like an MBA is twice the size and too awkward to carry around. For a Lite Mac, its not cheap.

What of the iPad Pro 12"? That is probably just a large iPad. The MB12 is just a light featured, not cheap Mac. Seems a bit bizarre. IMO the word functionality has been lost on favour of lighter and smaller.

I paid NZ$3697 for a rMBP15, 8GB, 512SSD. This MB12 is NZ$2000. Poor value I feel.

Or a MBA11 4GB/256GB which is a far better Mac for NZ$1699, or a 13 for $1799. Or a Lite Mb12 for $2000???

The one and only problem with the current Air is the display, as it`s resolution is tragic for 2015, unfortunately I don't see Apple upping that ever, the new "MacBook" has that corner.

Q-6

 

[tdale]

The one and only problem with the current Air is the display, as it`s resolution is tragic for 2015, unfortunately I don't see Apple upping that ever, the new "MacBook" has that corner.

Q-6

The new MacBook lite is a damn fine machine for browsing and email. It's cheap too...... I could get 4 Windows laptops for that price or a 128 iPad Air 2 and have quite a few beers with the change.

 

[Beachguy]

If you're a developer you wouldn't buy this kind of laptop anyway, you'd buy the rMBP.

I would think it would depend on what I develop for, and what my employer furnished me to do it on, wouldn't it?

As well, I didn't say I *would* buy one- I commented on using ports and the SD card.

 

[chatin]

Goodbye Air.

Sounds like Air will get dropped in favor of this superior design. Back to basics is good. I want a gold one with blue case to match my watch.

 

[Queen6]

The new MacBook lite is a damn fine machine for browsing and email. It's cheap too...... I could get 4 Windows laptops for that price or a 128 iPad Air 2 and have quite a few beers with the change.

Completely agree, equally the new "MacBook" is not being sold as low end product, despite it`s specifications. I have reservations myself, all the same Apple will sell as many as they can produce, and fully expect to see many across the table during business meetings...

Q-6

 

[RadiDoc]

I'd like to hear which netbook you've been using and how it compares in terms of:

• 
  weight
  ability to run programs like Sketch if/when needed
  trackpad
  keyboard design
  OS support
  build quality
  environmentally aware design
  display (!!)

ipad air 2 with attachable keyboard.

 

[karlwig]

A strange update. Lots of impressive engineering in this, but they've made this MacBook tier lighter and more portable than the Air. Don't understand that from a marketing POV.

This is obviously the new Air, just not in name. I figure this is because they will keep the Air lineup for another year, then upgrade the specs and lover the price on this one slightly.

After they ditch the non-Retina models, the laptop lineup will make sense again: The 12 inch Macbook (with or without the Air name in it), 13 inch Macbook Pro and 15 inch Macbook Pro.

 

[subsonix]

After they ditch the non-Retina models, the laptop lineup will make sense again: The 12 inch Macbook (with or without the Air name in it), 13 inch Macbook Pro and 15 inch Macbook Pro.

I don't agree, the current MacBook Airs covers things that this new model does not, so there is a place for both of them. It would make some sense to switch the names on them though.

 

[Queen6]

ipad air 2 with attachable keyboard.

IOS is for toy`s, new Macbook is very far from a powerhouse, equally it has a full desktop OS. the only questions are; can you deal with the physical connectivity and is the performance adequate for your needs.

My own concerns are physical connectivity and throttling of the CPU, right now I am looking at a maxed out 11" Air as a backup to my MBPr`s, equally I haven't discounted the new MacBook as the display makes a significant difference.

Connectivity I can get around, heavy throttling no that`s an impasse...

Q-6