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Apple Updates 12-Inch MacBook With Skylake Processors, Faster Graphics, Longer Battery Life, and Rose Gold

tomd25 said:
I weighed up the decision between the iPad Pro and the MB 12" in January, and for me it came down to the fact that I *still* can't really do most of the things I want to do with a highly portable device on an iPad, unless I accept huge compromises.

I'm probably not the average user, but I definitely need to be able to browse the web well (including weird websites, e.g. when abroad and trying to book accommodation on a website that looks like it hasn't been updated for 15 years!) and to download photos (both RAW and JPG) from my digital camera while away, both for back up and to do some light filtering/editing while on the go. For long journeys, I want the ability to watch films and also to potentially do a bit of work as I run my own business (e.g. writing blog posts and presentations in Markdown, maybe a bit of light (front-end web) development).

The iPad is OK for web browsing (but merely OK, IMO - badly designed sites are still a pain to use on it) and watching films, but useless for doing the kind of work I need to do, and the workflows for using it to work with photos from a camera are still far too convoluted and limited for me.

Once I realised this, it was an easy decision, and I'm happy to have gone with the MB 12" - even if it's not the fastest laptop, it's fast enough for simple Lightroom use, which is about the most taxing thing I do with it; and I can be far more productive than I ever could with an iPad (while using my MB Pro for "real work"). It's light and small enough that I can basically take it anywhere I would an iPad. I also bought one for my partner, who uses it as her only laptop (for mainly web browsing, Office and some Illustrator/InDesign), and she is delighted with it, showing that the performance is fine for "normal" users.

At this point, I can't really imagine buying another iPad unless I needed it for work - they're pretty, but I struggle to find anything useful to do with them that I can't do with my iPhone.

All that said, was expecting a more exciting update performance wise (given e.g. the HP Spectre, which sounds like it is quite a bit more powerful) but I'm not sure how realistic that is, and also we obviously don't know how much of a boost the new chipset will actually give. At least I don't feel like I need to get rid of my laptop and buy the newest model 3 months after buying it ;)
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Exactly how I feel, and why I'm happy with my Macbook. While the iPad pro can't connect to an external display, be usable with a keyboard and mouse with an interface to match and connect peripherals when I need it, it's just not the device for me.
 
td2243 said:
I suspect in June, the "pro" and "air" labels will disappear and those sizes will be reintroduced into one MacBook line.

Anyone that expected a price drop or more ports on these is missing the target audience. The 13" and 15" models will probably have more of what these forumites are wishing were on these models.
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The "pro" label is useful for hiking the price tag on something that's already around in some form, see the latest iPads.

The MBA line is the one-too-many series here, Apple should and will kill it off, but then the 13-inch pro would be available at a price lower than the non-pro rMB, which looks very weird and is hard to justify (hence why I think Apple is keeping the MBA line alive).
 
peterh988 said:
Unfortunately, (in all arenas, not just here) there's an "it doesn't suit my needs, so it shouldn't exist" attitude.
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Repeating what needed to be said in one of the first posts in.

If any of what this 12" MB has to offer is not what you need: Move on!
It is not for you!
No criticism will change this product.

Check out MBPs, wait for the new models and be aware that Apple's direction is to remove ports and force wireless and cloud computing all the way.
I am not saying I like it, but that seems to be the writing on the wall.

Glad they finally made 8GB min memory, now we need larger SSDs (I know not for cloud) and theoretically the custom builds should go to at least 32GB memory.

Everything else (as in missing ports) can be compensated for with the best dock out there right now:
OWC Thunderbolt 2 dock has every connection possible, even Firewire and all.
Actually isn't that bad to lug around size wise.

PS: I do not work for OWC, but they have a lot of good well thought out Mac products.
 
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1=1? said:
I'm starting to wonder if they'll discontinue the macbook pro line altogether.
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Not the Pro.
They'll discontinue the Air line eventually.
Maybe one more generation, then they'll discontinue it in favor of a 13-14in MacBook.
(Though I wouldn't be surprised if they kept one low-end Air around for a while, at bargain prices for the entry-level and education market. Similar to the "current" 13in Pro with DVD drive)
[doublepost=1461087787][/doublepost]Anybody know a decent USB-C to DisplayPort cable/adapter that also allows for simultaneous charging?
 
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I love powerful Macs. I have a Mac Pro, 2 Retina iMacs and a powerful gaming rig. I also have the rMB and LOVE it.

People complain about the one port, but my kids gave me a USB hub for Christmas. I still haven't plugged it in. I also have the media adapter. Same thing.

I use this for meetings, for working on stuff while I am in bed. It is a fantastic machine for traveling and such.

I don't know why people can't select the right tool for a job. It's like everyone here complaining that their screwdriver is not a hammer. If you need a hammer, buy a hammer. Don't criticize a screwdriver for not being a hammer. Some of us just want a screwdriver.

The rMB is almost perfect for me, the biggest thing being the retina display. The second being the size and weight. Please Apple, don't listen to the people who want you to make this into some multi-tool. It is just fine as it is.
 
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KPOM said:
TB3 is getting some traction because Windows manufacturers are actually starting to adopt it (e.g. Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre). The key was supporting USB-C. Now that it uses a standard port, it's an easier sell.

USB-C is an industry standard and is quickly being adopted for mobile devices on Android. My guess is it will be ubiquitous within 2 years.
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I can go into best buy today and buy 100 different USB 3 hard drives, and 200 more USB thumb drives starting under $5. I cannot buy a single thunderbolt device there. I'm typing this on an early 2011 MBP with a Thunderbolt port that's never been used. Over 5 years since the tech has been available, and there are no devices available at mainstream stores, and if I go way out of my way to find a device, it will be $100+ more for something no better than USB. Yet you still say TB3 is gaining traction. ROFL.

Thunderbolt is dead and has been from day 1. And USB-C was born dead.
 
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CraLor said:
I ONLY mad about on 1 thing.......
Is that the 720 HD FaceTime front camera cost a lot ????????????????????
Insanely ridiculous!!!
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More pixels doesn't necessarily give a better picture.
Especially where space is a at premium and lenses tiny.
 
t.portis said:
I have a rMBP and a rMB and both have their strengths. When I am running around campus teaching a class, attending meetings, or giving a presentation, the rMB is my go to device.
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You lost me at rMB for giving a presentation.

Do you even dongle bro?
 
Perhaps I'm being too optimistic because I know WWDC of late has been about s/w, not h/w, but hoping that they are getting these speed bumps out of the way so they have more time with a blockbuster MBP.
 
Fancuku said:
Agree. Absolutely disgusting that they are still using DDR3 RAM and the lowest integrated graphics.
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As someone else already pointed out there is no DDR4 ram for the Core M chips - and theres definitely no room in the case for discrete graphics (and it doesn't' need it, its not a gaming machine, its just for web surfing, writing and coding etc)
 
I love my mid 2013 Macbook Air.(13" i7 8gb, 128) It's the best laptop I've ever owned--and I've owned nearly a dozen over the years not counting work machines.

What more could I ask for in a notebook? Well a modern display wouldn't hurt. I also wouldn't mind if it was even lighter and smaller. (though the lowres 11" screen was not usable to me before anyone mentions that model)

Enter the 2015 12" Macbook. It's almost perfect. Really my only concerns are the cpu, the battery life, and the keyboard. Everything else is great. I eventually decided to hold off for a skylake refresh as the CPU and battery life would improve.

So now it has happened. The device I was waiting for is here. ...Only it's missing thunderbolt 3 and the facetime cam still sucks. Do I really need those things? I don't know. The real thing holding me back from just ordering it is the lack of an Air refresh to compare it to. Do I buy one now only to have it bested by an amazing ~2.6 lb MBP/MBA (depending on what apple decides to call it) I really want one, but I feel like buying it now would be spending $1600 before really having all the information. I feel like I must wait till June.
 
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I'm sorry, this is a truly pathetic update.
No way Jobs would have released an update like this.
 
An amazing update! :rolleyes:

I have lowered my expectation for a meaningful update to the remainder of the MacBook line (MBA, Pro) and doubtful that anything significant will be included in the iMac. My 2011 iMac is hanging by a thread (not really but it is getting long in the tooth).
 
Boston007 said:
I'm sorry, this is a truly pathetic update.
No way Jobs would have released an update like this.
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Really? Because the first three MacBook Air updates (Early 2008, Late 2008, Early 2009) were just spec bumps like this. No new ports. No webcam upgrade. Those all came on the fourth update (Late 2010). Almost three years later...
 
DevNull0 said:
I can go into best buy today and buy 100 different USB 3 hard drives, and 200 more USB thumb drives starting under $5. I cannot buy a single thunderbolt device there. I'm typing this on an early 2011 MBP with a Thunderbolt port that's never been used. Over 5 years since the tech has been available, and there are no devices available at mainstream stores, and if I go way out of my way to find a device, it will be $100+ more for something no better than USB.

Thunderbolt is dead and has been from day 1. And USB-C was born dead.
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So if USB-C was "born dead," why are people on the iPhone and iPad forums complaining that Apple should replace Lightning with USB-C since Samsung and the other big Android makers are using it?

USB-C will be ubiquitous. It offers faster charging, faster speeds (with new generations), and is reversible. Any notebook as thin or thinner than the MacBook will be USB-C only.
 
Cartossin said:
Enter the 2015 12" Macbook. It's almost perfect. Really my only concerns are the cpu, the battery life, and the keyboard.
...

The device I was waiting for is here. ...Only it's missing thunderbolt 3 and the facetime cam still sucks.
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The keyboard is still horribad for touch-typing as well. Have you tried it? I didn't expect them to revert here, so I'm watching what's coming in June for the MBP. Which is sad, because the MB is one USB port and a better keyboard away from being all I need.
 
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