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I have been thinking this too.

I can't remember the last time I used any of the holes on the side of my MBP, apart from the obvious.

What is so special about this particular port? Is it magic?, does it lead us to the holy grail?, is it divine in some special way? Who knows but there seems to be some kind of mythical following for this port.

I'm starting to feel left out.

People are excited about it because it provides the promise of a single cable for charging, display, and all data transfer needs. Potentially you could have a computer like the rMB that when docked at your desk drives a 4k monitor (or two), connects to an external graphics card, and external SSD's that are as fast as internal. It can make a lightweight mobile computer nearly a workstation when docked, via a single cable.
 
People are excited about it because it provides the promise of a single cable for charging, display, and all data transfer needs. Potentially you could have a computer like the rMB that when docked at your desk drives a 4k monitor (or two), connects to an external graphics card, and external SSD's that are as fast as internal. It can make a lightweight mobile computer nearly a workstation when docked, via a single cable.


I'm assuming it can't connect to all these devices at the same time through one single cable?

So your still going to need multiple ports or a hub of some kind to accommodate all this? - Along with a pile of cables.

So really all it is is a standardised cable that has multiple functions. Not what I thought the Holy Grail would turn out to be - but life is full of disappointments.

What would be better would be wireless charging, wireless connection to external monitors, wireless connections to external hard drives and printers.

That would be the Macbook way.
 
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I'm assuming it can't connect to all these devices at the same time through one single cable?

So your still going to need multiple ports or a hub of some kind to accommodate all this? - Along with a pile of cables.

So really all it is is a standardised cable that has multiple functions. Not what I thought the Holy Grail would turn out to be - but life is full of disappointments.

What would be better would be wireless charging, wireless connection to external monitors, wireless connections to external hard drives and printers.

That would be the Macbook way.

Well yes, you are going to need cables from the 'dock' or whatnot to each peripheral - that is expected - but from the laptop to the dock will be a single cable carrying all of those different protocols. Potentially a monitor could be created that supplies power to the attached laptop, has a built-in usb hub, etc. and then you'd need just a single cable to connect to the monitor, no dock needed.
 
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I'm assuming it can't connect to all these devices at the same time through one single cable?

So your still going to need multiple ports or a hub of some kind to accommodate all this? - Along with a pile of cables.

So really all it is is a standardised cable that has multiple functions. Not what I thought the Holy Grail would turn out to be - but life is full of disappointments.

What would be better would be wireless charging, wireless connection to external monitors, wireless connections to external hard drives and printers.

That would be the Macbook way.

Agree on the wireless-everything approach. I believe that's the direction Apple will ultimately take. The size of the machine will eventually be limited by the connectors on the side and when that limitation becomes the lowest denominator we'll start to see wireless power and enhanced wireless connectivity. All the technology to make it happen is already here. It's just a matter of time.
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It looks like the silver Macbook got a sunburn.

LOL... I now liberally apply sunscreen to any apple product I want to protect from becoming a pinkish nightmare. In fact, prolonged exposure could result in a nasty brown "zuneburn" and that's just a horrifying thought.
 
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Agree, but that screen is really horrid in these days. The problem is perhaps not the screen per se, but if you have a retina device being an iPhone or iPad or android with high res display than you notice the difference straight away and can't go back.

I don't feel that way. I am rocking an late 2012 MacBook Pro and I don't see any need for a retina screen. I do have a retina iPad and a retina iPhone but although I see the difference in the screens between my iDevices and my Mac I really can't see the point of retina on my Mac.
 
I'm assuming it can't connect to all these devices at the same time through one single cable?

So your still going to need multiple ports or a hub of some kind to accommodate all this? - Along with a pile of cables.

So really all it is is a standardised cable that has multiple functions. Not what I thought the Holy Grail would turn out to be - but life is full of disappointments.

What would be better would be wireless charging, wireless connection to external monitors, wireless connections to external hard drives and printers.

That would be the Macbook way.

TB3 makes total sense, it's simply a big step up over the current USB-C - Thunderbolt 3 offers up higher bandwidth that means you can get more done from a single cable. Yes you'd still need a hub if you were to attach everything independently but the point is with TB3 manufacturers can start integrating features into single devices as the Zhenya mentioned. Think of an Apple Thunderbolt Display 2 that provides a hub, a 4/5K display and power to your Macbook all on one cable - you sit down, plug in and you're done.

TB3 also makes external GPU's possible - the razer core external GPU serves this function. You could have an external GPU connected to the hypothetical thunderbolt display 5K (with peripherals and internet connectors etc all attached) all connected to your laptop through a single input. This bridges the performance gap of other devices without compromising the design of the device when travelling.

It's not that it's 'the holy grail', it's that's it's a significant step up over current technology and given we only get one port, getting the best one possible that will improve the way the device integrates with other technology and reduces clutter is going to be in people's interests.
 
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I think the staff need to learn to love their products. A few months after the watch came out and I had one from the beginning, I convinced my spouse to try one on when we had to buy another MacBook Pro for a family members. When we asked a staff after I paid for the MacBook about the Apple Watch to show us one so that my spouse could try that on, he gave me a look and made a face that he did not care for it. Saying something like "Apple Watch.. really??" That alone stopped my spouse to want to try one since he thought he would not care for it. I was amazed why this guy was hired in the first place.
Agree. Apple better step up oversight of their sales rep. I walked into the store in Rancho Cucamonga (SoCal) two weeks ago and asked about the 2015 MB and she said "So it's kinda like a hybrid between an iPad and laptop." I suppose she did her best, but geez, I even had to tell about the retina display. Needless to say, no sale there (although to be fair, I knew I was likely waiting to the anticipated refresh this month). I really was needing someone who knew the machines well and could intelligently describe the differences between the laptop options. It was a poor moment compared to various visits to Apple stores over the past twenty years.
 
This thing is overpriced but I can see this is exactly what many people want. Light, thin, long lasting battery and does all the basic computer stuff (that 90% of people use a computer for). I doubt it stutters on YouTube video.

While light+thin is something that "on-the-go" people want, it also means its not durable. This thing feels as if you can break it like a cracker.

I was surprised though that the iPad Pro is more powerful than this :mad:
 
TB3 makes total sense, it's simply a big step up over the current USB-C - Thunderbolt 3 offers up higher bandwidth that means you can get more done from a single cable. Yes you'd still need a hub if you were to attach everything independently but the point is with TB3 manufacturers can start integrating features into single devices as the Zhenya mentioned. Think of an Apple Thunderbolt Display 2 that provides a hub, a 4/5K display and power to your Macbook all on one cable - you sit down, plug in and you're done.

TB3 also makes external GPU's possible - the razer core external GPU serves this function. You could have an external GPU connected to the hypothetical thunderbolt display 5K (with peripherals and internet connectors etc all attached) all connected to your laptop through a single input. This bridges the performance gap of other devices without compromising the design of the device when travelling.

It's not that it's 'the holy grail', it's that's it's a significant step up over current technology and given we only get one port, getting the best one possible that will improve the way the device integrates with other technology and reduces clutter is going to be in people's interests.


All what you've written does sound good. But do you really think external GPU's is something Apple would do?

Don't get me wrong I use Lumion on my MBP via Bootcamp and the graphics card can just about do that.

Having an actively cooled, external GPU would be a godsend.

However, Apple is Apple and they would never do anything like that.

What people are asking for is very PC sounding.

Maybe a lot of people are 'switchers' and like Apple stuff but don't get it.

Apple is about making tech stuff just work. Thats the reason all this geeky port stuff is slowly disappearing.

As long as a human being can prod an icon with there face to make magic happen, is all people want at the end of the day. It's where the money is, sadly.

For the rest of the geeky minority, well they can get there kicks from somewhere else.
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This thing is overpriced but I can see this is exactly what many people want. Light, thin, long lasting battery and does all the basic computer stuff (that 90% of people use a computer for). I doubt it stutters on YouTube video.

While light+thin is something that "on-the-go" people want, it also means its not durable. This thing feels as if you can break it like a cracker.

I was surprised though that the iPad Pro is more powerful than this :mad:


You have obviously never has to endure the creaky plastic rubbish Windows laptop people have been suffering for years.

The iPad Pro isn't more powerful either. Specs, perhaps. But the software isn't on par at all.

Power at the end of the day with all these tools, comes down to the user.
 
Given the Apple dock for this puppy has just 2 outta 5 stars (people hate it?), anyone love it, here, that has one? (or can recommend an alternative?)
 
It does when you have more than 1 browser tab that has a video present on it (i.e. YouTube), and you have initiated play-back on both videos, even if the video in the "background" is paused or stopped. The longer I leave a video that has been "initiated" in a background window open, the worse the stutter gets until I have to restart Safari.

This, btw, is without flash installed.

I would attribute it to a memory leak of some sort, and if you're saying that this doesn't happen to you, then perhaps my hardware is damaged somehow (although I've brought my computer into the store multiple times, and they've done full OS reinstalls and hardware scans to no avail).

Basically, the 1st gen Macbook is suitable for some casual users, but not all. I just ordered an m7 refreshed version that I hope won't suffer from this issue. If it still happens, then it just means I'll have to move back to a Macbook Air until they come out with some hardware that can support the way I browse the internet (i.e. having 5-6 tabs open simultaneously).

If you only use your browser one window at a time, without tabs, I doubt you'd encounter video stuttering.

Categorically incorrect. Your machine has a problem, software or hardware.

As demonstrated by someone here, and as seen in my day-to-day usage, you're simply spreading false claims.

People spending $1600 for a device to "browse the internet w/5-6 tabs open" and watch videos???

Money isn't an issue for some people. C'est la vie.

Below is a summary of 50% of the conversations about the MacBook on this site. Viewer discretion advised:

Person 1: I bought a MacBook because it does everything I want it to do and and I love the look and size.

Person 2: But can it do 150 layers in Photoshop while simultaneously ripping a BluRay of The Martian while attached to two 4K/60Hz monitors? If not, epic fail, noob.

Person 1: WTF????

Although exaggerated, probably one of the best summaries of this year-long argument. Person 2 would consider themselves to be 'better informed', but they're looking at completely the wrong product for their needs.

ha! well I was joking and implying that only old people want this laptop and/or people who just surf the net and don't actually use the laptop for performance tasks like any type of multimedia work.

That's weird. I'm 25 and edit 2.7K GoPro footage on mine whilst on trips.

Exporting is slow, of course, but editing is roughly on par with the top-end 2015 5K iMac we have at home.

Slow CPU, no TB3, ONE port, horrible value all around. This laptop is worth MAYBE $700-800 tops, you would have to be insane to drop $1300 on this thing.

The broader target market for this laptop do not know what CPU means, what TB3 is, or why the hell they need 4 USB ports when they can "just email it".

Forum nerds (like us) don't get that. Marketeers get that.

sorry Apple no sale I need Thunderbolt and USB without having carry around another adapter.

You're looking in the wrong product line buddy.
 
Too damn pricey. I want to love it enough to upgrade from my 2011 11" MBA, but come on this thing is way expensive for what it offers.
It's $100 difference for the same RAM/SSD configs than a MBA11, plus it's smaller and lighter with a WAY better display.
 
I want a FAST, 13" machine with usb and thunderbolt ports. I'm using a 2013 macbook air, but would like a better screen and a faster machine. Maybe the new macbook pro will work for me. It's not that bulky anymore. I have a mac pro but find I use my laptop for most things...
 
It's $100 difference for the same RAM/SSD configs than a MBA11, plus it's smaller and lighter with a WAY better display.

I agree with your statement, but I wanted 512gb SSD, a better camera, and one more port for that price. I am deciding to maybe go with a refurb or wait to see what WWDC comes of the pro line. I do love everything else about it.
 
So funny to hear people have the, "Why rMP versus Air" debate. When the late 2013 rMBP came out and I compared that new slimmer redesign and specs to the Air I wondered why the hell anyone would purchase the Air. I guess I overlooked the simple fact that the consumer will choose which model they feel works best for them for the cost. Always. lol
 
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The broader target market for this laptop do not know what CPU means, what TB3 is, or why the hell they need 4 USB ports when they can "just email it".

Forum nerds (like us) don't get that. Marketeers get that.

You don't have to be a technology nerd to see that the MacBook is a ripoff. For example, you can get a Samsung Notebook 9, which is actually lighter at 1.9lbs (13in version), magnesium alloy build and comes with a Core i5 CPU for $999.99.
 
Due to limited per-store availability of the 12-inch MacBook during launch week, it is highly recommended that prospective buyers call their local store ahead of time to confirm in-store stock.

Yeah these things aren't exactly flying off the shelves right now, so if the App says they're in stock, you're good. When the price drops 200-300 bucks in a couple months though, that'll be a different story. At $1,099/1,399, these things are an amazing purchase if you can get by the single USB port and aren't editing 4K video. I picked up my Space Gray 512GB model at Christmas for 300 off, and it's been with me constantly. I'd considered going back to a 13" rMBP because I could use a little more horse power when editing photos, but honestly everything else just feels chunky now after using this little guy on a regular basis.
 
Welcome to the wonderful world where a new color option (pink) is considered an upgrade aside from some minor processor upgrades? Anyway, I was not impressed with the MacBook to begin with and as an owner of a Late-2012 MacBook Pro model that is still going strong I have no desire to pick one of these things up. The comments about the pink (rose gold) option on this thing are hilarious :).

Well, maybe those rumors of thinner 13" and 15" MacBook Pros are true to give some people something to look forward to.
 
So funny to hear people have the, "Why rMP versus Air" debate. When the late 2013 rMBP came out and I compared that new slimmer redesign and specs to the Air I wondered why they hell anyone would purchase the Air. I guess I overlooked the simple fact that the consumer will choose which model they feel works best for them for the cost. Always. lol
You're absolutely right. Personal preference is such a volatile subjective thing. You know why I never went with an Air personally? I can't stand that silver bezel around the screen. It annoys the tar out of me visually and I can't look past it. the Air is a great design, has plenty of power and storage for the price point, but I couldn't stand to look at the screen for more than a couple seconds without feeling that OCD itch in the back of my head starting to flare up. The MBP, rMBP and the rMB all have black glass bezels, so why the heck does the MBA have that ugly silver bezel?
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Well, maybe those rumors of thinner 13" and 15" MacBook Pros are true to give some people something to look forward.

That unknown is exactly what stopped me from trading in my gen 1 rMB for the new gen 2 model. If they roll out a 13" rMBP with a thinner chassis, USB-C and TB3, oh it's on like Donkey Kong.
 
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Not sure why anyone would buy this over the air, guess for the screen but this is only for light casual usage.. This thing even stutters watching streaming video on youtube..
That is complete and utter rubbish. Yours (if you even have one) must have some fault or, more likely, a poor Internet connection. For info, I routinely have mine air playing iTunes video to my TV whilst running its own monitor and a 30" Dell Ultrasharp with various programmes open. It never stutters and does all this flawlessly. As for the one port whiners, I rather like the way my 3 way adapter acts as a simple docking station when at home. On the move I plug nothing into it at all. I don't know why some fail to understand just how many people this device suits and how good it is (albeit expensive). I have a rMPB for work, but keep using my MB instead.
 
You don't have to be a technology nerd to see that the MacBook is a ripoff. For example, you can get a Samsung Notebook 9, which is actually lighter at 1.9lbs (13in version), magnesium alloy build and comes with a Core i5 CPU for $999.99.

You've defended the fact that you don't have to be a tech nerd with more tech references...

It's embedded in your personality to care about those things. You visit tech forums - you're already several times more involved than average.

To put it bluntly, in the context of the target market for this product:

The average consumer doesn't know/care what a Samsung Notebook 9 is.
The average consumer doesn't know/care if 1.9lbs is an exceptionally lightweight laptop.
The average consumer doesn't know/care what magnesium alloy is.
The average consumer doesn't know/care what a Core i5 CPU is.

The average consumer wants a product that makes them feel good and makes positive change to their life. They'll pay the price for that. You should watch this TedX to better understand the way marketing works.

Regardless of marketing, if it is a definitive rip-off, why do I not feel ripped-off? I returned a maxed-out BTO 2014 5K iMac for that very reason, but not my MacBook...
 
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