Buy 1.2/512 MacBook 12 now or wait for Skylake? 40% better graphics?

[Truefan31]

I wonder if the next rmb has a tb3 port how effective it could drive a external gpu. Obviously the cpu would be the bottleneck

 

[SSD-GUY]

It's obviously better to wait at this point, everything is using Skylake right now and it eats Broadwell alive when it comes to the GPU. The new Skylakes can run games like GTA V and Alien Isolation at acceptable framerates, it can run any modern game and most of the games I play are maxed out. With Broadwell it couldn't even run those games and things like CSGO and Dota 2 struggled to hit 30FPS with low settings.

It is a massive leap for fanless Laptops.

Do you have any links or benchmarks to show the skylake core m vs skylake core m? Thanks
[doublepost=1452252743][/doublepost]

£530?! Nice, where/how'd you get it so cheap!? :O

Gumtree (UK version of craigslist)

 

[FriendlyMackle]

For your usage go for the current model and save your money. No one knows when Apple will move the rMB to Skylake, nor is it given that Apple will reduce the price of the rMB, for that to happen the Air will be deprecated from the lineup, once again only Apple knows if and when. Personally I don't expect to see an update until the 12 month point at earliest for the rMB.

The stuttering in PDF`s is due to software, not hardware try Skim likely it will be of far more use to you. As for the the GPU improvement 40% is a maximum value, real-world it will be beneficial, equally not earth shattering. I own a 1.2 it copes with a heavier loads than you are describing with ease. Only reason I would upgrade to Skylake is battery life, and that has to be seen.

If you want a 12" Retina MacBook and pass on the one available for £690, you will be kicking yourself if you pass on it, and the updated version pricing remains which is likely. Once a product is launched Apple is all about evolutionary steps in development, not revolutionary. Offer £600 - £650 cash and see if you get a "bite"

Q-6

I have a question -- what is the software problem causing the stuttering when scrolling PDFs on the MacBook? Is this a problem in Preview or in Acrobat? Thanks!

 

[David58117]

I have a question -- what is the software problem causing the stuttering when scrolling PDFs on the MacBook? Is this a problem in Preview or in Acrobat? Thanks!

This is such an old issue (the stuttering on PDFs), it's been improved some but is still there.

I think it's a retina issue...

My 11" air/old 2012 15" didn't have it.

Both a 2014 and 2015 15" had it, my 12 rMB has it, and a 2014 13" had it.

It's much improved, and I use skim now which I think performs better...but it's still there..

It's not a 12" rMB issue, and the 12" performed PDF viewing just as well as any of the others I had.

 

[SSD-GUY]

Wow. This thing is light!!!

Apart from Skim, what other apps do people recommend loading up on this?

 

[scaramoosh]

Do you have any links or benchmarks to show the skylake core m vs skylake core m? Thanks
[doublepost=1452252743][/doublepost]

Gumtree (UK version of craigslist)

Just have to look at videos like these of it in the Surface Pro 4, games like this wouldn't even run on the old one.

 

[lite426]

Oh I just knew you got it from somewhere like Gumtree for that price! The legit bargains you can get on Gumtree are amazing. Even the saying "If it seems too good to be true..." doesn't always apply to Gumtree.
So there's definitely nothing wrong with it? Does it have warranty left? And did you go to the seller's house and check it out first and stuff?
In a way I feel sad that you got it so cheap as when it comes time for me to resell I know I'd definitely lose a lot when there are deals like that! I hoped to resell my base RMB using Gumtree for at least £650 around August. Hate eBay fees.

 

[SSD-GUY]

Just have to look at videos like these of it in the Surface Pro 4, games like this wouldn't even run on the old one.

Are you sure? Because a quick youtube search shows that the MacBook can handle GTA V, albeit at a lower frame rate than the surface pro 4

TBH though, I'm glad I got such a good bargain. I doubt I'll hardly be playing any games. If the Skylake refresh does have some magical new ability (tbh even a 2nd port may not sway me at the moment as I've only paid £530), then I MAY upgrade, but I think i'd rather hold out and see what Apple does with the MacBook Air over the next year or two.
[doublepost=1452300850][/doublepost]

Oh I just knew you got it from somewhere like Gumtree for that price! The legit bargains you can get on Gumtree are amazing. Even the saying "If it seems too good to be true..." doesn't always apply to Gumtree.
So there's definitely nothing wrong with it? Does it have warranty left? And did you go to the seller's house and check it out first and stuff?
In a way I feel sad that you got it so cheap as when it comes time for me to resell I know I'd definitely lose a lot when there are deals like that! I hoped to resell my base RMB using Gumtree for at least £650 around August. Hate eBay fees.

Haha yes, Gumtree is amazing for bargains. We met in a public place in London so was all good. I don't recommend going to their house, prefer public places tbh.

Has 10/11 months warranty remaining, will definitely be buying Applecare. It doesn't look that used tbh, no scratches etc. I don't think it's been used that much, the charger and wire are a bit dirty.

My advice for gumtree, go with a friend or 2, always meet in a public place, and thoroughly check the device you are about to buy (i.e check serials against Apple, Checkmend etc). As a rule of thumb I only ever buy MacBooks on gumtree, as I can check their history and warranty pretty easily. I never buy mobile phones etc, just because it's so easy for the seller to block them afterwards.

I think you'll be fine, the MacBook's are still selling for a pretty penny on ebay. My MBA 11 from 2013 should be able to fetch £450/£500 and it's more than 2 years old and has still kept around 60% of it's value after 2 years!

 

[scaramoosh]

Are you sure? Because a quick youtube search shows that the MacBook can handle GTA V, albeit at a lower frame rate than the surface pro 4

TBH though, I'm glad I got such a good bargain. I doubt I'll hardly be playing any games. If the Skylake refresh does have some magical new ability (tbh even a 2nd port may not sway me at the moment as I've only paid £530), then I MAY upgrade, but I think i'd rather hold out and see what Apple does with the MacBook Air over the next year or two.
[doublepost=1452300850][/doublepost]

Haha yes, Gumtree is amazing for bargains. We met in a public place in London so was all good. I don't recommend going to their house, prefer public places tbh.

Has 10/11 months warranty remaining, will definitely be buying Applecare. It doesn't look that used tbh, no scratches etc. I don't think it's been used that much, the charger and wire are a bit dirty.

My advice for gumtree, go with a friend or 2, always meet in a public place, and thoroughly check the device you are about to buy (i.e check serials against Apple, Checkmend etc). As a rule of thumb I only ever buy MacBooks on gumtree, as I can check their history and warranty pretty easily. I never buy mobile phones etc, just because it's so easy for the seller to block them afterwards.

I think you'll be fine, the MacBook's are still selling for a pretty penny on ebay. My MBA 11 from 2013 should be able to fetch £450/£500 and it's more than 2 years old and has still kept around 60% of it's value after 2 years!

I've tried these games and he didn't even show the city where it is a slide show, Alien Isolation is a game that runs at about 10FPS, but with the new chip it's 30-40 and Dota 2 is so smooth on medium to high settings, where on my Macbook 12 everything on low it's a choppy 20-30.

Skylake is a massive improvement for gaming.

 

[Queen6]

I have a question -- what is the software problem causing the stuttering when scrolling PDFs on the MacBook? Is this a problem in Preview or in Acrobat? Thanks!

Preview, been like that for some time, not sure on Acrobat as I don't use, preferring Skim

Q-6

 

[FriendlyMackle]

Thanks for the answers, Queen6 and David58117. I use Acrobat Pro and it seems mostly fine (iMac 27" discrete graphics and i7), I rarely open a PDF in Preview (and then only accidentally).

 

[SSD-GUY]

Quick Update

Been using the MacBook for a little over a few days now, and my word do I love this thing!

I was originally a keyboard hater, but honestly, typing with this on my lap or in a normal scenario (i.e not at an apple store typing standing up), this keyboard if very nice! I've also bought a Moshi keyboard protector which kind of gives the impression that the keyboard has more travel (whilst also protecting the keyboard), so for those that want more 'travel', try the moshi palm guard.

Seriously though, there are some bargains to be found. I highly recommend this MacBook if you're a normal user like me (i.e no gaming or heavy duty stuff - although multi tasking is fine and I lightroom is also fine)

EDIT: Also thank you to Queen6 who recommended Skim. It's now my default psf reader. It's flawless when opening large lectures on my macbook.

 

[xmichaelp]

The question is does Apple really want to put out another version. I dont think you will see one in 2016 as the improvements from Skylake dont matter much to the typical buyer of rMB.

If Apple decides to expand its target audience by beefing up the capabilities, then perhaps a new version will be seen.

The last couple MBA have added basically no power and they still updated. Of course they will update the rMP.

 

[burgman]

Quick Update

Been using the MacBook for a little over a few days now, and my word do I love this thing!

I was originally a keyboard hater, but honestly, typing with this on my lap or in a normal scenario (i.e not at an apple store typing standing up), this keyboard if very nice! I've also bought a Moshi keyboard protector which kind of gives the impression that the keyboard has more travel (whilst also protecting the keyboard), so for those that want more 'travel', try the moshi palm guard.

Seriously though, there are some bargains to be found. I highly recommend this MacBook if you're a normal user like me (i.e no gaming or heavy duty stuff - although multi tasking is fine and I lightroom is also fine)

EDIT: Also thank you to Queen6 who recommended Skim. It's now my default psf reader. It's flawless when opening large lectures on my macbook.

Another bonus is the speakers, glad you are happy with it, as am I. I don't understand many of the haters who think everybody needs tech that they want/need , and you are stupid/blind/fanboy if you can't see that. Right tool for the job, and it's my money thank you very much. I won't pay retail for most tech now because of how fast it changes, great deals out there used.

 

[SSD-GUY]

Another bonus is the speakers, glad you are happy with it, as am I. I don't understand many of the haters who think everybody needs tech that they want/need , and you are stupid/blind/fanboy if you can't see that. Right tool for the job, and it's my money thank you very much. I won't pay retail for most tech now because of how fast it changes, great deals out there used.

Used market is excellent for Apple devices due to transferable warranty/AppleCare.