Apple Says Original 12-Inch MacBook Now Obsolete

[AND411]

Apple already has a thin, sub-12" computer with M-series chip available today:

View attachment 2225799

Also includes a touch screen at no extra cost.

You are comparing apples and oranges here.
Your sub 12" with M processor lacks one decisive feature: MAC OS!
Moreover, a new MacBook 12" with this form factor would have a 12.5" screen and thus be larger than the iPad 11 pro.
I like my iPad 11 Pro with Magic Keyboard, but it is not a full-fledged computer with which you can edit Word documents and work on Excel spreadsheets. With a small Macbook, you can also use Lightroom CC, Photoshop and FCPX to their full extent.
A Macbook 12.5" with 5G module would be the dream of travellers and business people who want to use all the advantages of MacOS on the go.

 

[AND411]

I remember this laptop being absolutely derided when it came out, now everyone wants it back. Strange.

Because it had too many flaws, was too expensive and too weak in performance.
None of that is an issue today, the Magic Keyboard fits into a case that is only 11.3 mm thin, Apple's M3 will perform.
People long for a full-featured MacBook that is feather-light and small for travel or on the go, for personal or business use.
BRING IT BACK!

 

[Lioness~]

Remember the 12" I had with love ♥️

But the difference with 13" is not super big - I have survived living with a 13" instead for some time.

 

[JDHiro]

This Mac was the only one I’ve ever bought that was slow on Day 1.

 

[Zest28]

Thankfully after 8 years we've had such a big advancement

8GB RAM is all you need according to MacRumors.

 

[1madman1]

I bring a 2017 MacBook to work everyday. It’s the perfect size - only complaint from me is the lack of I/O that forces me to carry a handful of dongles with it.

The iPad Pro is NOT a replacement. iPad OS is a joke.

 

[MysticCow]

Oh lord the keyboard. Clickety clickety.

We’ll you can “clack clack clickety clack* to Dolly Parton:

 

[roar08]

Bring it back with M3!!

I think this would be an absolutely incredible machine.

 

[Roadster Lewis]

I got the battery replaced on mine last month. It is a great piece of design and looks tiny next to my 13” MBA.

 

[jforsander]

Let's be real. The 12" MacBook was obsolete the day it was released. Awful keyboard and terribly slow even when it was brand new.

 

[dasmb]

"... 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD." Some MacBook's today still come with the same SSD storage and RAM specs, 8 years later. Tim Apple says "You're welcome!" 🤣

And it remains sufficient for almost every workload.

This is to be expected -- as more workloads move to the cloud, there's less to store and load locally, anyway. For most users, memory is only needed to support browsers (or native apps that act like browsers, such as VS code or Spotify). And almost nothing is stored locally that isn't backed by a cloud cache (think messages, email -- for most users, neither has its entire history downloaded to the machine anymore).

I write cloud software and wouldn't be able to get by with 8, but 16 is still plenty for most workloads:

This is with 4 large products open, a database server and many docker containers running.

I am running a 512 gb hard drive with 254 gb remaining. Most of that space is taken up by garbage I never clean up because I don't have to -- my actual storage requirements are under 100 gb.

 

[Wanted797]

I’d love to see this come back and replace the current M1 air!

 

[TMRJIJ]

So where are all those haters when it was originally launched? Hopefully, they’re not the same people here loving it today.

 

[TMRJIJ]

How could any of these still exist since they depend on that one USB-C port? Within 6 months, the port should have been damaged, jiggly and/or stuffed with lint... requiring repairs that cost more than the whole device new.

Based on all of the "iPhone going USB-C" pessimist posts, I presumed that all USB-C Macs and iPads never made it 6 months due to the same, "rampant" problems with USB-C. Curiously, somehow my own Apple stuff has had no such problems, but clearly, mine must be exceptions and not the rule.

Worked at an AASP for 4 years. Only seen about a handful of broken USB-Cs on MacBooks. The part itself was less than $20. The majority of port damages were ironically on MacBook Pros.

 

[technole]

My 2017 MacBook m3 definitely felt like Ventura was the end of the line, it chugs along. I still love the 12' form factor and I took this notebook everywhere on vacations around the world for years when I didn't want to bring my work MBP.

The single USB-C port never bothered me, I always brought the Apple 3-in-1 dongle in my bags.

I do hope 12' comes back someday on Apple Silicon because I will buy it day 0, guaranteed.

 

[minik]

I sent the original 12" MacBook to surplus at work long ago as it didn't run macOS Monterey and so underpowered. However, I went out and bought the 2017 model at Costco in early 2020. If Apple brings it back, I will definitely order one too.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I still have a 2017 MacBook i7, so I say this with love...

The 2015 MacBook was obsolete when it was introduced.

 

[technole]

I still have a 2017 MacBook i7, so I say this with love...

The 2015 MacBook was obsolete when it was introduced.

It also had the OG butterfly keyboard, the noisy one too. Sometimes I felt I should have gotten the i7 upgrade over the m3. But I got my value out of the 2017 notebook, and so did my partner.

 

[Xand&Roby]

My 2015 butterfly keyboard is more softly than the 2019 one. The 2015 was kidnapped twice, in 2016 and 2017, by the police. It was treated very badly by these. But it is much more resistant than 2019, despite problems with screens, one of the 2015 still works despite kidnappings and the folded screen. Love everyone of these, I really hopes Apple doesn’t update it: better sells iPad Pro 12,9” with iPadOS that weights and cost the double to be half productive than MBs with macOS.

 

[whelmedjedi]

Everything with this machine was perfectly planned. But it was intel's low iq processors that made this machine bad. Also i believe we owe apple silicon macbook's to this. Apple has seen Intel can no longer provide what they need with 12" MacBook. So they made their own processors.

 

[aespana]

My 2017 MacBook m3 definitely felt like Ventura was the end of the line, it chugs along. I still love the 12' form factor and I took this notebook everywhere on vacations around the world for years when I didn't want to bring my work MBP.

The single USB-C port never bothered me, I always brought the Apple 3-in-1 dongle in my bags.

I do hope 12' comes back someday on Apple Silicon because I will buy it day 0, guaranteed.

Ventura on this Macbook is horrible. So slow it doesnt worth it

 

[loby]

How could any of these still exist since they depend on that one USB-C port? Within 6 months, the port should have been damaged, jiggly and/or stuffed with lint... requiring repairs that cost more than the whole device new.

Based on all of the "iPhone going USB-C" pessimist posts, I presumed that all USB-C Macs and iPads never made it 6 months due to the same, "rampant" problems with USB-C. Curiously, somehow my own Apple stuff has had no such problems, but clearly, mine must be exceptions and not the rule.

Had that issue with my Macbook 2015 (bought it used). Took it into Apple in January for a battery replacement and it looks like they did something and don't have the problem anymore. Probably tighten the port (screw) or clean it out when reinstalling it after taking it apart for the battery replacement (on these models they replace the entire bottom enclosure, so they would have to unscrew the logic board).

My MacBook Pro 2018 had faulty USB-C ports and Apple replaced them too...

So far, "ok" with MacBook Pro 2021. It might not be a universal problem, but it does exist.

 

[loby]

I remember this laptop being absolutely derided when it came out, now everyone wants it back. Strange.

Not necessarily the case when it came out. Complaints were "underpowered, keyboard and over priced". The overall concept was desired.

Doesn't look like Apple will do another 12" because they would rather have people buy iPad and get a keyboard. They make more money on that.

I prefer a "real" laptop with macOS. Hope Apple considers it again with a M-chip. Would sell like hotcakes.

 

[loby]

Worked at an AASP for 4 years. Only seen about a handful of broken USB-Cs on MacBooks. The part itself was less than $20. The majority of port damages were ironically on MacBook Pros.

Makes sense...MacBook Pro users do heavier loads and demands.

 

[svish]

Was a great laptop. Hopefully Apple will one day relaunch the 12" MacBook