I didn't see it as controversial at all. It was my main and favorite Mac for several years while commuting a lot by train. It was nothing short of amazing. The other models were way too big for the little train tables. Also it was very light which was a plus when lugging it around all day. Bring it back!
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Apple Introduced Its Most Controversial MacBook 10 Years Ago Today
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I don’t think this was the most controversial Mac laptop, but it paved the way for the most controversial one. I think it was the USB-C only MacBook Pro because Apple thought that something that kinda worked for consumers would work with professionals too.
Still, up to this date, the only sub 1kg Apple laptop.
I wonder what Apple could do if they wanted to bring back such a computer with the Arm architecture and the higher energy efficiency that it brought...
I wonder what Apple could do if they wanted to bring back such a computer with the Arm architecture and the higher energy efficiency that it brought...
I was very happy with its size and weight using it for school and travel.
Despite its performance it was a more capable machine than a comparatively sized iPad (with keyboard) thanks to macOS!
Despite its performance it was a more capable machine than a comparatively sized iPad (with keyboard) thanks to macOS!
Funny thing is I really liked this laptop when it came out. Used it for a month before taking it back. I could deal with the keyboard and the speed limitations, but ultimately it was that GD single usb port that ruined the experience. There was plenty of space for a second one, but Apple was Apple and refused to add it despite being one of the biggest complaints about the model. I’m a photographer by trade, so if I’m having to bring a GD dongle to plug in the power cord and an external drive or SD reader at the same time, I’m out.
Totally, with apple silicon, c1 chip and the improvements in battery technology it would be great.
The only real problems were the CPU (mostly Intel’s fault) and keyboard. With a new keyboard and an M4 SoC, would be interesting at the right price point (which is something rarely seen in Apple’s catalogue).
I personally owned a 2016 m5 version. And I loved it, I was able to do everything on it, I mean yeah video editing took forever but it was what it was. The super thin design was amazing. I did have to have my keyboard replaced though. The butterfly keyboard sucked. Great concept but just poorly executed.
Bought one of these in 2018 and only replaced it in summer of last year.
Fantastic machine for what I used it for.
Zero issues with the keyboard (needless to say it was a problematic design) and until the last few months I had an all day battery life with my usage.
I remember working in retail and seeing it in the flesh for the first time in 2015 it was a remarkable piece of kit design wise.
Fantastic machine for what I used it for.
Zero issues with the keyboard (needless to say it was a problematic design) and until the last few months I had an all day battery life with my usage.
I remember working in retail and seeing it in the flesh for the first time in 2015 it was a remarkable piece of kit design wise.
when it comes to pricing lack of features and reduction in ports the controversy still continues
Apple’s strategy is going to be keep on milking the masses as much as they can in the years to come , not able to upgrade ram and storage on your own with high cost is a crime as well
Apple’s strategy is going to be keep on milking the masses as much as they can in the years to come , not able to upgrade ram and storage on your own with high cost is a crime as well
This device was the perfect form factor for apple silicon.
Probably the best MacBook I’ve ever owned by far!
The design of this thing was near perfect, the perfect size for portability. It was ahead of its time.
The only reason I got rid of it after 5 years was because of the butterfly keyboard reliability. I sold it before it was worth nothing.
And what device did I get as its replacement? I got the surface laptop go, which is similar in size and capability. Plus it had the advantage of USBC and A ports and surface charge port.
Probably the best MacBook I’ve ever owned by far!
The design of this thing was near perfect, the perfect size for portability. It was ahead of its time.
The only reason I got rid of it after 5 years was because of the butterfly keyboard reliability. I sold it before it was worth nothing.
And what device did I get as its replacement? I got the surface laptop go, which is similar in size and capability. Plus it had the advantage of USBC and A ports and surface charge port.
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Google was able to release a Chromebook with an Intel chip and 12" in size, pixelbook
One thing a lot of people didn't realise about the Macbook 12" was that when closed it was about the same size and weight as an iPad.
Bring it back on Apple Silicone with a 5G modem and create the ultimate coffee shop warrior.
Offer Wifi or Wifi + 5G Options same as iPad.
Bring it out in lots of cool colors.
I think Apples sleeping on this one
Bring it back on Apple Silicone with a 5G modem and create the ultimate coffee shop warrior.
Offer Wifi or Wifi + 5G Options same as iPad.
Bring it out in lots of cool colors.
I think Apples sleeping on this one
I loved this thing!!!!!!!!! wrote my whole bachelor thesis on this macbook. Missing the crisp keyboard since then.
There was really no reason for it to have 1 port, could have fit another in
I have a 2017 MacBook 12inch, still use it daily and absolute love it. I dread the day that I have to scuttle it and buy a MacBook "Air".
Apple announced the infamous 12-inch Retina MacBook a decade ago today, an experimental new Mac that was as controversial as it was revolutionary.
Apple unveiled the 12-inch MacBook on March 9, 2015, at the "Spring Forward" event in San Francisco, California. The event was primarily focused on the Apple Watch, which was being fully detailed ahead of its launch the following month, so the debut of the brand-new MacBook line took many by surprise. Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the new MacBook as a "reinvention" of the notebook.
The device was extremely controversial due to its underpowered performance, single USB-C port for both charging and data transfer, short battery life, unreliable butterfly keyboard, and high price point ($1,299 starting price in 2015—the same as a MacBook Pro at the time).
However, the 12-inch MacBook offered a glimpse at what was to come in the Mac lineup. It was the first Apple device with a USB-C port, terraced battery, butterfly keyboard, and haptic trackpad. It was also the first MacBook with a design focused on efficiency, a Retina display in a non-Pro model, multiple color options, and without a fan or an illuminated Apple logo.
In 2016, Apple refreshed the 12-inch MacBook to add Intel Skylake Core m3, m5, and m7 processors, improved battery life and faster PCIe storage, and a Rose Gold color option. In 2017, it introduced Intel Kaby Lake Core m3, i5, and i7 processors, and a second-generation butterfly keyboard for slightly better reliability.
It was discontinued upon the introduction of the 2019 MacBook Air. The 12-inch MacBook was functionally replaced by the 2018 MacBook Air, which effectively adopted its design, but with an additional USB-C port, a single fan for active cooling, and a larger display.
What do you think about the 12-inch MacBook a whole decade later? Let us know in the comments.
Article Link: Apple Introduced Its Most Controversial MacBook 10 Years Ago Today
Yeah bring back a sub 1kg laptop please. 🙏
The current Air is just 2 centimeters deeper and wider, which is less than 10%.
But it's 35% heavier.. 😮💨
The current Air is just 2 centimeters deeper and wider, which is less than 10%.
But it's 35% heavier.. 😮💨
I don’t think it will make a comeback as any 11” iPad with the Magic Keyboard could replace its functionality (primarily simple office work) with cellular as a plus. Sadly the touch-based iPadOS limits the potential of this form factor. If Tim Apple has the courage to bring macOS to iPads with MKB, I guarantee this combo will become the bestseller, at least I would upgrade to M5 iPP w/ cellular and buy a new MKB.
It was one heck of a portable laptop, it looks futuristic compared to my M4 Pro.
I ran Windows 10 on it back in the day since Mac OS was so slow on it.
It was really good for general web browsing and playing old school games on it. (TES Oblivion, SimCity 2000 and 4, etc.)
I ran Windows 10 on it back in the day since Mac OS was so slow on it.
It was really good for general web browsing and playing old school games on it. (TES Oblivion, SimCity 2000 and 4, etc.)
I have a 2017 model with the i5 and 8GB and 512GB SSD. I sold my 2015 to get this one. Now I want to see if I can tweak it to run cooler 
I actually ordered some stuff for it and a new battery I am waiting for all the stuff I ordered to come in first.
I actually ordered some stuff for it and a new battery I am waiting for all the stuff I ordered to come in first.
I feel the 12" Macbook is the best example of what Apple so very uniquely Apple. That they are not afraid to design products with controversial tradeoffs and make people rethink just what are really "must-haves" in a product.
The OG MBA lacked an optical drive, and it wasn't soon before people realised that they could live perfectly well enough without one and fast forward to today - you will be hard-pressed to find a laptop with one.
Likewise, the Macbook gives up everything in pursuit of being the thinnest and lightest it can be. It's easy to cheer straightforward spec increases like going from 8gb ram to 16, or 2ghz to 3ghz. But imagine if someone said that in order to cut a few grams off a product or make it a millimetre thinner, they are going to remove features that some people deem essential (such as ports).
Even moreso than the original MBA, how many other companies would have dared to offer such a lopsided offering? Yet somehow, Apple is able to get away with it, and it's thanks to this that we are able to get differentiated experiences in the market today.
This is why I continue to be an Apple fan.
The OG MBA lacked an optical drive, and it wasn't soon before people realised that they could live perfectly well enough without one and fast forward to today - you will be hard-pressed to find a laptop with one.
Likewise, the Macbook gives up everything in pursuit of being the thinnest and lightest it can be. It's easy to cheer straightforward spec increases like going from 8gb ram to 16, or 2ghz to 3ghz. But imagine if someone said that in order to cut a few grams off a product or make it a millimetre thinner, they are going to remove features that some people deem essential (such as ports).
Even moreso than the original MBA, how many other companies would have dared to offer such a lopsided offering? Yet somehow, Apple is able to get away with it, and it's thanks to this that we are able to get differentiated experiences in the market today.
This is why I continue to be an Apple fan.
I had the original 2015 base model, and loved it. It was my first Mac with an SSD so it didn't seem slow to me. I also never plugged anything in to my laptop so the one port never bothered me — though people who never owned one would decry this solitary port as the end of days and Apple losing its goddamn mind, or something. The laptop's size and weight just put it into a different category of device to normal laptops, it was more like an iPad than a Mac in its physical dimensions, which was kind of amazing in 2015.
The article mentioned something about the battery life being bad, but that wasn't the case in the beginning, though I think later OS updates made it worse. Battery drain is usually from a combination of screen brightness and compute, but because the CPU in that thing was only 5W it meant that your screen brightness basically dictated your battery life — have it on low and it would last for ages.
I liked this Snazzy Labs video from a couple of years ago, which went into detail about all the innovations that that MacBook introduced. I don't think those terraced battery cells have been used since, or have they? The force touch trackpad was obviously a big win, but a shame about the keyboard. First all-metal MacBook, too. And fanless. And the speakers were impressive for such a small enclosure. And the first laptop in years that came in colours other than silver.
Like everyone else, I'd love to see this come back in the Apple Silicon era, but I don't think it will — it wasn't a commercial success the first time, and the Air is a much safer bet. A shame.
The article mentioned something about the battery life being bad, but that wasn't the case in the beginning, though I think later OS updates made it worse. Battery drain is usually from a combination of screen brightness and compute, but because the CPU in that thing was only 5W it meant that your screen brightness basically dictated your battery life — have it on low and it would last for ages.
I liked this Snazzy Labs video from a couple of years ago, which went into detail about all the innovations that that MacBook introduced. I don't think those terraced battery cells have been used since, or have they? The force touch trackpad was obviously a big win, but a shame about the keyboard. First all-metal MacBook, too. And fanless. And the speakers were impressive for such a small enclosure. And the first laptop in years that came in colours other than silver.
Like everyone else, I'd love to see this come back in the Apple Silicon era, but I don't think it will — it wasn't a commercial success the first time, and the Air is a much safer bet. A shame.
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Yes, this! At the time this is what none of the detractors seemed to grasp — this was Apple's attempt to make the most extremely minimal computer they could. Its 12" size was dictated by having a full-sized keyboard, and then other decisions went on from there. I love it when Apple pushes the boundaries like this. Hopefully the upcoming iPhone 17 Air will be something similar, going as extreme as possible whilst still retaining the essential elements.
Maybe it was meh using it, but I fell in love with the idea. My macbook pro just looked like a bulky monster next to the pm's macbook.