Are you satisfied with this morning's spec bump?

[xDKP]

Pretty solid update. Not going to replace my 2015 model, as it does everything I throw at it. Might go for an upgrade on second gen. if they boost it even more.

Do we have any benchmarks on the GPU performance yet? Saw the news was primarily about battery, SSD speed and CPU and no benchmarks on GPU?

 

[deeddawg]

I like the LED apple logo on the back

Are you talking about the logo-shaped cutout on the back of the screen of previous models? The one that's lit up by the rear of the screen backlight? (there's no separate light)

My guess is the lid thinness precluded doing the same thing as before more so than a specific decision to eliminate that detail.
[doublepost=1461153937][/doublepost]

no compelling reason to upgrade if you already own, unless you really want rose gold or are within the return policy and value the latest over some coin back in your pocket

Yes, if you'd just bought the gen1 at full retail and are in the return period I'd give it back, then order a refurb gen1 for a bunch less coin.

 

[lightup]

USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 requires the Alpine Ridge daughter board. It's not baked in to the Core M chipset.

As far as I know, Dell XPS series can output 4k@60Hz through USB-C. What is the difference between that one and the new Macbook??

 

[zhenya]

As far as I know, Dell XPS series can output 4k@60Hz through USB-C. What is the difference between that one and the new Macbook??

The XPS contains the Alpine Ridge daughter board, meaning it has full usb 3.1 gen 2 and Thunderbolt.

 

[PTLove]

As far as I know, Dell XPS series can output 4k@60Hz through USB-C. What is the difference between that one and the new Macbook??

It uses A daughter board to provide the 10 GBPS speeds that USB 3.1 gen 2 can provide. Apple does not, meaning they are limited to USB 3.1 Gen 1. Terrible naming aside, its half as fast, and not fast enough for 4k at 60fps.

 

[semihat]

How would performance on the m5 version of this compare to the 2011 MBA with 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 and Intel HD 3000 Graphics?

Are there benchmarks available for this sort of thing? I'm considering an upgrade and appreciate your help.

I would like to go fanless, more battery life, a better screen, a bigger SSD, more RAM, and faster USB if all else makes sense.

Also how would you connect the computer to a monitor using Displayport if you are using the USB C port to charge the computer? Could this push 2160 x 1600 at 60 Hz with Displayport without a dual DVI adapter?

Thanks.

 

[zhenya]

How would performance on the m5 version of this compare to the 2011 MBA with 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 and Intel HD 3000 Graphics?

Are there benchmarks available for this sort of thing? I'm considering an upgrade and appreciate your help.

I would like to go fanless, more battery life, a better screen, a bigger SSD, more RAM, and faster USB if all else makes sense.

Also how would you connect the computer to a monitor using Displayport if you are using the USB C port to charge the computer? Could this push 2160 x 1600 at 60 Hz with Displayport without a dual DVI adapter?

Thanks.

There are specific benchmarks if you look, but as someone who owns both the exact Air you have and last year's MacBook, there is little practical difference in performance, with the edge going to the newer machine likely due to the much faster ssd. Overall the experience is better on the MacBook because it has about 3x the battery life and no fan noise like that generation Air suffers from.

USB-C to displayport is still a difficult thing on this computer though. AFAIK there are still no adapters that do displayport while also charging. There are several that have been on the verge of release for a couple of months now, in design phase for most of a year. What specific monitor do you want to attach to ?

 

[es5694]

+ Skylake
+ HD 515 graphics
+ faster flash storage
+ faster RAM
+ additional hour of battery life
+ rose gold color option

yeah seems pretty good.

 

[jclardy]

I bought my MB at the first BB $999 sale, still quite satisfied with it. The spec bump would be nice, but I wouldn't have been willing to pay $300 more for it. There are only a few things I want in a new MB:

- Faster connectivity on the one port - at least USB 3.1 Gen 2, preferably TB3.
- A second TB3 port on the other side (Unlikely, but would be nice.)
- At least a 720p FaceTime camera
- A 16GB RAM option (Not a huge deal on my current gen, but with future processor/GPU upgrades it would be nice.)

The battery and CPU/GPU upgrades are nice for newcomers, but I don't think there is a huge benefit in that regard. You don't move to the MB line for performance.

 

[Queen6]

Would like to have seen TB3, equally as time passed and we got closer to the update it was becoming clear that TB3 would be unlikely, and now we know. definitively.

At this point I am neither excited nor disappointed with the update, it`s not likely to tempt me into replacing my 2015 1.2 rMB, as I am more interested in replacing my rMBP, with an updated rMBP or windows alternative.

Q-6

 

[SR71]

How would performance on the m5 version of this compare to the 2011 MBA with 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 and Intel HD 3000 Graphics?

Are there benchmarks available for this sort of thing? I'm considering an upgrade and appreciate your help.

I would like to go fanless, more battery life, a better screen, a bigger SSD, more RAM, and faster USB if all else makes sense.

Also how would you connect the computer to a monitor using Displayport if you are using the USB C port to charge the computer? Could this push 2160 x 1600 at 60 Hz with Displayport without a dual DVI adapter?

Thanks.

Considering the Core m5 (1.2GHz) MacBook benchmarks higher than that of the Core i5 (and in a few cases very close to the Core i7) I'd say that performance is going to be noticeably better on the MacBook than your current Air.

 

[munakib]

I moved from an 13" Air 2012 to RMB (2015), I understand where you might be coming from in terms of performance. This is definitely not an upgrade in performance from my 2012 Air but I still use photoshop/illustrator daily on it and in terms of physical features, the beautiful screen and slimmer/lighter feel, it was worth it for me at $990.

Yeah I bought an air in 2012 for $1400. But that device felt like a real computer running Photoshop and illustrator. This looks beautiful but very limited power. Lovely computer to look at though. Fell in love with it at bestbuy.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

The XPS contains the Alpine Ridge daughter board, meaning it has full usb 3.1 gen 2 and Thunderbolt.

Guessing Thunderbolt 3 will be an upsell lever into the new MacBook Pro line.

While I was disappointed to see no TB3 in yesterday's update, the more I think about it, this machine is targeted to users who would barely know what 4K means, let alone someone who would actually purchase a 4K monitor and settle for no less than 60Hz. For those people, the pending MacBook Pro update should satisfy those needs as I expect at least 2 USB-C ports with at least one supporting Thunderbolt 3.

 

[deeddawg]

the more I think about it, this machine is targeted to users who would barely know what 4K means, let alone someone who would actually purchase a 4K monitor and settle for no less than 60Hz

Nice to see someone who "gets it". The rMB is clearly NOT targeted at power-users; it's aimed at mainstream consumers willing to spend money on small-and-light.

Comparisons to 13.3 class laptops are specious really, showing the poster's ignorance of the apparent target market for the rMB. Increasing the size and weight allowances to 13.3 ultrabook levels removes the design constraints that drove the compromises built into the rMB.

 

[boltjames]

You were unequivocal that there would be no update and that people who saw the OS X references were delusional. As for 2, Skylake matters to lots of people. Even I'm tempted by the update.

So it sounds like you're happy because you got an update and I'm happy because my RMB satisfies all my needs.

Not sure what the problem is. I'm expecting nothing but happy posts in the MacBook subforum from here in. We now all have exactly what we wanted.

BJ
[doublepost=1461166563][/doublepost]

I would say it is quite an upgrade on the GPU side. I really get more tempted by the rMB with this upgrade, not sure I even need a laptop though since I just got rid of my rMBP 13" that had sat around unused for a year. You never know though, this update was nice enough for me to consider it.

Right now I have my deskptop, a heavy Windows 15" power laptop and my iPad Mini 4, depending on what I decide to do with my coding I might need a lighter laptop and then the rMB 2016 is at the top of the list.

It's a great machine, but it's a situational notebook. My company gives me a notebook with a lot of power, a lot of ports, and a lot of weight. It sits under my desks, never leaves its docking station. I bought the RMB because 2x a day I'm in executive meetings and 8 weeks a year I'm out of the country traveling on business and I wanted the lightest/thinnest notebook possible with a great display and that could run Windows 10 flawlessly.

For those who fit that mold or are backpacking students on large campuses, daily commuters by rail, etc. the RMB is simply a great solution. For those who want the featureset of an Air with the RMB's form factor, they're disappointed.

BJ

 

[Trey M]

Today's update is what you've waited a year for and you're ready to write a check to Apple right now:

_x___ YES

_____ NO

Thought so. Congratulations Trey M.

BJ

I'm picking mine up next weekend at the Apple Store. I wished for TB3 but didn't get it. I'll live with faster processor, nearly double ssd speeds and a tad more battery life.

But don't try to derail the topic BJ. You have written countless posts ripping people for predicting an Early '16 release. While everyone was clamoring over what's update would/wouldn't include, you simply took the position that there was no impending refresh because Skylake didn't seem to be enough of a difference maker.

Apple updates the MB yesterday basically with only Skylake, ssd and battery improvements and you claimed in the other thread that your prediction was mostly correct? Reality distortion, man.
[doublepost=1461166712][/doublepost]

I'm picking mine up next weekend at the Apple Store. I wished for TB3 but didn't get it. I'll live with faster processor, nearly double ssd speeds and a tad more battery life.

But don't try to derail the topic BJ. You have written countless posts ripping people for predicting an Early '16 release. While everyone was clamoring over what's update would/wouldn't include, you simply took the position that there was no impending refresh because Skylake didn't seem to be enough of a difference maker.

Apple updates the MB yesterday basically with only Skylake, ssd and battery improvements and you claimed in the other thread that your prediction was mostly correct? Reality distortion, man.

And by the way, according to you the rMB wasn't even available until August. So according to BJ this was refreshed 8 months after its release. Right?

 

[boltjames]

I'm picking mine up next weekend at the Apple Store. I wished for TB3 but didn't get it. I'll live with faster processor, nearly double ssd speeds and a tad more battery life.

But don't try to derail the topic BJ. You have written countless posts ripping people for predicting an Early '16 release. While everyone was clamoring over what's update would/wouldn't include, you simply took the position that there was no impending refresh because Skylake didn't seem to be enough of a difference maker.

Can't wait for the YouTube videos showing Pinky next to the Gen 1 and seeing how Safari launches Facebook 0.0001 seconds faster. What will you do with all that time? You probably will pick up a whole second of your life each year, add it up, that's like three or four chews of gum between now and eternity right there.

No derailment here. Fact is, Apple is so unexcited about the Skylake addition that they didn't mention it three weeks ago at a very dull keynote and they wrapped it up in Pink aluminum to get anyone to notice. This isn't the refresh that people wanted. They wanted HD cams and 4K video compatibility and another USB-C port. What they got is a meaningless chip bump and a $400 price increase. Pinky is a downer.

BJ

 

[izzyfanto]

Haha this is funny

 

[Davidkoh]

It's a great machine, but it's a situational notebook. My company gives me a notebook with a lot of power, a lot of ports, and a lot of weight. It sits under my desks, never leaves its docking station. I bought the RMB because 2x a day I'm in executive meetings and 8 weeks a year I'm out of the country traveling on business and I wanted the lightest/thinnest notebook possible with a great display and that could run Windows 10 flawlessly.

For those who fit that mold or are backpacking students on large campuses, daily commuters by rail, etc. the RMB is simply a great solution. For those who want the featureset of an Air with the RMB's form factor, they're disappointed.

BJ

If I were to get one it would be for doing coding apps at home, things that do not really require that much performance. At work I actually compute stuff so a laptop wont cut it either way, need a strong desktop unless I want to wait hours extra for the results.

All im saying is that the 2016 model has some nice CPU and GPU performance increases if you look at bechmarks of the chips in other products.

 

[pat500000]

+ Skylake
+ HD 515 graphics
+ faster flash storage
+ faster RAM
+ additional hour of battery life
+ rose gold color option

If you think 480 p cam is better than 1080p...okay.

 

[Eggtastic]

Are you talking about the logo-shaped cutout on the back of the screen of previous models? The one that's lit up by the rear of the screen backlight? (there's no separate light)

My guess is the lid thinness precluded doing the same thing as before more so than a specific decision to eliminate that detail.
[doublepost=1461153937][/doublepost]
Yes, if you'd just bought the gen1 at full retail and are in the return period I'd give it back, then order a refurb gen1 for a bunch less coin.

I was unaware that it was the same light. Still a neat feature and sad to see that thin is the priority.

Also, what is your take on refurbs. I never bought one, but if it is impossible to tell the difference of brand new I might as well get one.

 

[where is it]

Minor refresh = happy.

What more could they have done? The Macbook is near perfect as it is. Light, quiet, retina.

Don't care about ports. Only the poor Windows massive or the deluded few care about ports. Why would anyone want to waste their life plugging things in? Work harder and get wireless peripherals.

The Macbook is the closest thing for people that would love an iPad but actually want to do some business.

 

[KPOM]

Can't wait for the YouTube videos showing Pinky next to the Gen 1 and seeing how Safari launches Facebook 0.0001 seconds faster. What will you do with all that time? You probably will pick up a whole second of your life each year, add it up, that's like three or four chews of gum between now and eternity right there.

No derailment here. Fact is, Apple is so unexcited about the Skylake addition that they didn't mention it three weeks ago at a very dull keynote and they wrapped it up in Pink aluminum to get anyone to notice. This isn't the refresh that people wanted. They wanted HD cams and 4K video compatibility and another USB-C port. What they got is a meaningless chip bump and a $400 price increase. Pinky is a downer.

BJ

Macs are a cash cow. iPhone is what drives Apple's revenue. The reason they didn't announce this at the keynote is that they wanted to showcase the iPad Pro and iPhone SE. iPad sales are flagging and they need to give it airspace. iPhone sales likewise have plateaued and the SE is an important part of their growth strategy. Mac sales are doing just fine.

Apple has updated Macs in the past with press releases rather than with fancy rollouts. They did this in 2011, for instance, when they upgraded the MacBook Air from Core 2 to Sandy Bridge. The redesigned MacBook Air got the fancy rollout in October 2010, but a very significant upgrade came through a press release. I doubt anyone would consider the move from Core 2 to Sandy Bridge "meaningless."

Anyone paying attention to Apple over the past year would not have been surprised by the addition of rose gold as a color option. The MacBook and iPad target markets overlap. I'm somewhat surprised that the 12.9" iPad Pro didn't get a rose gold option, but perhaps that product skews more male because of its size and bulk (though that doesn't explain why the iPad mini 4 has no rose gold option).
[doublepost=1461169831][/doublepost]

I was unaware that it was the same light. Still a neat feature and sad to see that thin is the priority.

Also, what is your take on refurbs. I never bought one, but if it is impossible to tell the difference of brand new I might as well get one.

I had a refurbished MacBook Air in 2011. Other than that it shipped in a plain white shipping box rather than a fancy Apple box, it was indistinguishable from a new one.

 

[deeddawg]

Also, what is your take on refurbs. I never bought one, but if it is impossible to tell the difference of brand new I might as well get one.

I always had mixed feelings about the lighted logo. Yes it's a clever idea, but it's also a bit of a "Look at me! Look at me!" statement that I don't care for much. I'm not into status symbols. (which shouldn't be taken as critical of those who are) Thus I'm basically indifferent about it for the rMB vs my prior MBA.

Refurbs... Over the years I've bought the following Apple refurbs: a MBA13, a Mac mini, two ipads, two Airport Expresses, an Apple TV, and two ipod nanos. Everything has been indistinguishable from brand new except for the white box. I've had one ipod nano fail due to sweat damage, thus not Apple's fault. Everything else is still in service.

I'd never hesitate to buy an Apple (US) refurb if it fit my needs at a price I was satisfied with (including the price delta to a new model).
[doublepost=1461171865][/doublepost]

nearly double ssd speeds

Just curious, in what specific instances/applications will the ~850MB/s write speed make a discernible difference from the existing ~450MB/s write speed of the 2015 model? Read speeds aren't as different apparently, ~950MB/s vs ~850MB/s. link: https://twitter.com/film_girl/status/722479611985141760

 

[boltjames]

If I were to get one it would be for doing coding apps at home, things that do not really require that much performance. At work I actually compute stuff so a laptop wont cut it either way, need a strong desktop unless I want to wait hours extra for the results.

All im saying is that the 2016 model has some nice CPU and GPU performance increases if you look at bechmarks of the chips in other products.

Understood on your use case.

What I'm saying is that in the real world no human can feel a millisecond so having a 25% "performance improvement" where a machine is now capable of executing tasks in 100 milliseconds where it used to take 125 milliseconds means squat. It's like people who drive the 400 horsepower version of my 300 horsepower car who can never realize their 0.01 second advantage in the standing quarter mile because all they do all day is drive between stop signs in school zones. These benchmark tests don't mean anything. They sell magazines and generate YouTube clicks, nothing more.

BJ