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

[Ankaa]

One possibility, which I don't believe, would be that Apple has too big inventory of 8gb models and they want to sell them away before new model and/or 4gb is almost out and they don't want to make another batch of the old model.

Anyway, not being able to drive normal tv as a screen (4k@60Hz) in 2016 is a deal breaker to me. Waiting for June...

But 8GB were BTO ....somehow I don't think they had a huge stock they needed to get rid of.

 

[zhenya]

I agree. I do like the form of the MacBook as a good portable, but you can't justify that there's "nothing" out there like it. You can get an Asus Zenbook with the same CoreM gen chip with QHD for $699 on Microsoft's site. I mean, MacOS is a very good OS, and Windows 10 is kind of unfinished, but the differences are tomato, tomahto to me who is a technical nit-picker about everything in an OS.

The Zenbook is nothing like the MacBook. It's 13.3", 2.65lbs to 2lbs, 2" longer and an inch wider. It's a fine computer, but the differences are significant. The absolute focus on the smallest volume, lightest fully functional laptop with excellent components is exactly what makes the rMB so special. If it were up to the Macrumors forum committee we'd end up with the Homer-car.

 

[Mac 128]

Considering the cost of the new MacBooks starts at $1299 in USD, which is $600 more than a similarly equipped Zenbook with a better screen, Apple could easily include a PowerBrick that has -- dunno -- maybe two old fashioned USB ports and a Mini Display Port built in, just for hellavit? Dell did that with a few models.

That's not really a solution I'd be interested in. My MacBook power brick plugs directly into the wall. I wouldn't like having to crawl under my desk to use a port hub.

 

[izzyfanto]

The Zenbook is nothing like the MacBook. It's 13.3", 2.65lbs to 2lbs, 2" longer and an inch wider. It's a fine computer, but the differences are significant. The absolute focus on the smallest volume, lightest fully functional laptop with excellent components is exactly what makes the rMB so special. If it were up to the Macrumors forum committee we'd end up with the Homer-car.

haha!

 

[Jdeaner7]

Yeah I don't get why people are surprised this didn't get redesigned only one year later. Apple is pretty clear about their intentions with this machine. It only has one port for charging and because Apple considers this mostly a wireless machine. I wonder how many people who would actually be in the market for this machine really need more ports vs everyone saying they do just because it doesn't have it.

I own the MacBook 2015 model. I just which it had 2 USB-C ports than one. There is times I can't Connect a hard drive and use it change it because it requires power.

 

[numlock]

Where would you put them in the current design? There's literally no room for them. Would you have delivered the rMB without a 3.5mm headphone jack, and put a second USB-C port there instead? And then where would you put the other port or two?

The problem is, in order to make room for even the profile of the additional port opening, they would have to redesign the notebook so it as larger. And removing the 3.5mm jack at this point was not an option for their target audience.

I'm all for as many ports as possible, but the trick is to do it without making the rMB larger or heavier, or less marketably functional.

again im not here to design apple products. but are you asking where to add ports with the existing design and everything else being the same?

its two contradicting arguments i see on this forum.

a) "wireless world" which seems to mean only one port.
b) its very hard/impossible to add more ports.

now are they designing a product to match this slogan or is the slogan used to justify an issue the design team could not overcome?

 

[curmudgeonette]

But 8GB were BTO ....somehow I don't think they had a huge stock they needed to get rid of.

The secret of BTO units is that they mostly aren't Built To Order! Instead, they are just alternate configurations that don't get a retail SKU and aren't pushed through the normal distribution channels. If they truly were built to order, you'd have to wait weeks for a production run of your selected variant.

Alternate explanation of the 8GB Air bump: Apple may have a large supply of the 1600 MHz LPDDR memory chips used in the rMB1 and 8GB MBA. Or a contract to buy a certain number of them. With the rMB2 going to 1866MHz memory, Apple needed some way to use up the slower memory.

 

[Mw0103]

And still the stupidity of one single port.

It's actually one multi-function port. And my iMac and work-issued dell optiplex have at least 6 ports apiece (the dell actually has about 8 USB ports and 4 display ports), but I can't remember the last time I plugged anything into either of them (the dell actually has two display cables since it doesn't have a built-in display, for what it's worth).

This whole one-port complaint is blown way out of proportion.

 

[Mac 128]

again im not here to design apple products. but are you asking where to add ports with the existing design and everything else being the same?

its two contradicting arguments i see on this forum.

a) "wireless world" which seems to mean only one port.
b) its very hard/impossible to add more ports.

now are they designing a product to match this slogan or is the slogan used to justify an issue the design team could not overcome?

Apple clearly set out to design a Mac that addressed a specific customer, and set the parameters accordingly. As they have always done. Trying to make their design into something else is pointless.

People seem to forget about the Macintosh Duo. I had two of them I liked them so much -- a 280c and 2300c. They required a dock for almost anything. They had One serial port which you could assign to be the printer or modem port. There was an OPTIONAL 14.4 modem RJ-11 Jack, and a dedicated power port. And that was it. No 3.5mm headphone jack, no wireless.

People bought it for its size and portability. For those who simply needed to work, and didn't need to input or export data constantly, it was the perfect Mac, with virtually full desktop capabilities when docked into one of several docking stations Apple offered. At a minimum, a road warrior could plug it into any Apple Talk network at any field office and transfer files, or directly into any Apple supporter printer and output a document. The optional modem made for slow, but easy to transmit faxes, or transfer files from anywhere with a phone line.

And that's exactly what the the rMB is. It's stripped down to the bare essentials, but offers the expandability if someone needs it. I think Apple will offer a second port, eventually, and I know where it's going to go, and so does Apple. And they will likely keep pushing the limits of this particular model to serve the customer who seeks out the ultimate portability regardless of the compromise, just like they've been doing since the introduction of the PowerBook Duo in the early 1990s.

 

[biracialfamily91]

Yes, the Rose Gold Macbook i've been waiting for. Now I can match with my iPhone and iPad Pro

 

[MH01]

Ah, I see your point. To me, the MacBook's most griped about "flaws" are the lack of ports and the damn webcam, one of which I think requires a physical redesign. I was trying to recall when Apple made a substantial physical redesign on the second generation of a notebook.

I worded that wrong they never deviated from a design in a major way to my knowledge from 1st to 2nd gen, they just improved the 1st gen in such a manner that it was a worthy update and not just a spec bump.

I really like my macbook, the webcam is not a major issue, but the one port for the sake if making more money out of adapters is very lame. Though for work, day in and day out, its perfect.

 

[Carlanga]

You don't speak for all Apple users, so when you make unqualified statements (like above), your point is lost (IMO).

I just thought it was ironic that you're using the Air to dog the MacBook, when there are people here that use the Pro to dog the Air that you like so much.

What's the point? There's a market for the MacBook, you're just not in it. Just like there's a market for the Air that you're in, and plenty of people with Pros aren't. Doesn't make your Air any less of a better choice for you, does it?

Sure, I'm against the MacBook... Lol
The current and new MacBook is too crippled. When the air came out I also thought it was weak and too crippled. This MacBook update did nothing for me in 2016. The MacBook and the MBA are made for the same type of user. They are ultrabooks, with close prices and as such they can be compared. Also, what 13" non retina MacBook Pro users dogs in the MBA of the last few years? Lol

 

[ColdShadow]

Show me a current laptop that is smaller, lighter, thinner, with less overall volume that the rMB, while still having a real-world 8-10 hour battery and tons of ports.

Not just one of those metrics, all of them.

I'll wait here.

HP Spectre

see,you didn't have to wait at all

 

[zhenya]

HP Spectre

see,you didn't have to wait at all

Go back to the original post and scroll down a bit. Already addressed, with pictures. Not even close.

 

[diipii]

Good.. how about updating the Mac Mini and Mac Pro now?

1000 times yes.

 

[Mitch1984]

One of the worst things you could do to your battery (phone, laptop, iPad) is to constantly plug and plug it; and that's exactly what a single port does for this one.

Wonder how bad the battery will be after a year or so of use

I'm not sure that's true with modern batteries.

 

[toke lahti]

Does that sound like a good idea?
[doublepost=1461172243][/doublepost]
Throw your hands up? That's how you interpret it?

No, it went something like this: "If we get rid of Magsafe, which we've demonstrated is less useful on this small machine, we can go with 1 port, USB-C. If we keep Magsafe, we need at least 2 ports, which changes the entire design of this product, not to mention spirit. That other port would still be USB-C and we'd be missing an opportunity to use it for power. To me that just makes it a more magical, appreciable product. Its 1-port-to-rule-them-all....not 1 port plus power too even though we didn't need it..to rule them all."

They should make magsafe dongle to that usbC.

 

[toke lahti]

That's great an all, but this machine is explicitly designed for a wireless paradigm. It's not the machine for those looking to plug in multiple peripherals.

That may upset some people, but lack of ports isn't a design flaw, it was done intentionally.

The problem I and many others have with mb is, that mb is the reason we don't get rMBA.

So, if some people are happy with one port, that's fine. But those who are not fine with only one port and want to use osx are out of luck. Because Apple chooses to do so.

Same thing with desktops; current mini is a joke and mp is old and expensive.

 

[zhenya]

They should make magsafe dongle to that usbC.

https://griffintechnology.com/us/breaksafe-magnetic-usb-c-power-cable

Having used the rMB for a year though, it's a non-issue. The fact I can recharge it via any available usb-port with a $5 cable is a much bigger perk.

 

[toke lahti]

https://griffintechnology.com/us/breaksafe-magnetic-usb-c-power-cable

Having used the rMB for a year though, it's a non-issue. The fact I can recharge it via any available usb-port with a $5 cable is a much bigger perk.

Strange, that isn't available in Europe.
Btw, is there a usbC-dp dongle available and can TBdisplay be used with dp?

 

[zhenya]

Strange, that isn't available in Europe.
Btw, is there a usbC-dp dongle available and can TBdisplay be used with dp?

There are DP dongles, but nothing shipping at the moment that allows power pass-through. I don't believe the TB display is compatible.

 

[Nunyabinez]

I own the MacBook 2015 model. I just which it had 2 USB-C ports than one. There is times I can't Connect a hard drive and use it change it because it requires power.

Yes, there are times when people need two ports. The phrase "there are times" implies that it is a minority of the time. So why would you force the port on the machine 100% of the time when you only need it occasionally. And for some people those times are almost nonexistent.

That is why I have a USB-C to USB 3 hub in my bag for those (extremely) infrequent times when I do need it.

If you need that second port often enough to need to have it included, you picked the wrong machine.

 

[PlainviewX]

It's actually one multi-function port. And my iMac and work-issued dell optiplex have at least 6 ports apiece (the dell actually has about 8 USB ports and 4 display ports), but I can't remember the last time I plugged anything into either of them (the dell actually has two display cables since it doesn't have a built-in display, for what it's worth).

This whole one-port complaint is blown way out of proportion.

No it's not. Try downloading photos off a card reader, to an external HDD but can't because your Macbook needs to be charged. One port for power and all reading/writing capabilities is one of the stupidest decisions Apple has made. They're about to do the same with the iPhone 7. One port for headphones and charging.
[doublepost=1461258223][/doublepost]

Yes, there are times when people need two ports. The phrase "there are times" implies that it is a minority of the time. So why would you force the port on the machine 100% of the time when you only need it occasionally. And for some people those times are almost nonexistent.

That is why I have a USB-C to USB 3 hub in my bag for those (extremely) infrequent times when I do need it.

If you need that second port often enough to need to have it included, you picked the wrong machine.

Apple made a stupid design decision when someone advocates people look to other machines, or an older Macbook, to do rudimentary tasks, like, ya know, charging your Macbook and working off an external HDD.

 

[NT1440]

No it's not. Try downloading photos off a card reader, to an external HDD but can't because your Macbook needs to be charged. One port for power and all reading/writing capabilities is one of the stupidest decisions Apple has made. They're about to do the same with the iPhone 7. One port for headphones and charging.
[doublepost=1461258223][/doublepost]
Apple made a stupid design decision when someone advocates people look to other machines, or an older Macbook, to do rudimentary tasks, like, ya know, charging your Macbook and working off an external HDD.

Sounds like you bought a product that doesn't suit your needs. Why did you do something foolish like that?

 

[zhenya]

No it's not. Try downloading photos off a card reader, to an external HDD but can't because your Macbook needs to be charged. One port for power and all reading/writing capabilities is one of the stupidest decisions Apple has made. They're about to do the same with the iPhone 7. One port for headphones and charging.
[doublepost=1461258223][/doublepost]
Apple made a stupid design decision when someone advocates people look to other machines, or an older Macbook, to do rudimentary tasks, like, ya know, charging your Macbook and working off an external HDD.

Ahem. http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Type-...UTF8&qid=1461260097&sr=8-4&keywords=usb-c+hub

Although I suggest that if this is something you need to do while out and about on a daily basis, you bought the wrong machine. That's fine. They still make other devices to suit you. Just leave my MacBook alone.