Early Benchmarks Put Retina MacBook CPU Performance in Range of 2011 MacBook Air

[JonnyIreland]

Quick question for the "average user" that everyone seems obsessed with "protecting" from this evil new MacBook.... Considering the all-day battery life that it has, why would you need more than one port? Even if you have a mighty balls-to-the-wall rMBP, do you honestly use all the ports on a regular basis? I'm sure a percentage of you do, but I have a 6 year old MacBook Pro (that is very much up for replacement) & I can't remember the last time that I needed a second port.
Like I said, we're not all the same though. Then again, if I can grasp this concept (that we all have different needs), why can't all the haters admit it too?

 

[Woodcrest64]

As long as you're not a hard core gamer, serious photographer, or videographer, CAD user or anything else on the demanding side this machine will suit a lot of people.

For social media, email, internet surfing, general business meetings, word processing and etc this is a great machine, IMO.

If you need something more there is always the 13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display.

 

[iRun26.2]

much less port, barely thinner, barely lighter, worse camera, worse keyboard, confusing touchpad....

Sounds like exactly what I want (it's the barely in the barely thinner and barely lighter that interest me... along with the retina display). You are certainly free not to buy it, you know.

 

[cfedu]

Quick question for the "average user" that everyone seems obsessed with "protecting" from this evil new MacBook.... Considering the all-day battery life that it has, why would you need more than one port? Even if you have a mighty balls-to-the-wall rMBP, do you honestly use all the ports on a regular basis? I'm sure a percentage of you do, but I have a 6 year old MacBook Pro (that is very much up for replacement) & I can't remember the last time that I needed a second port.
Like I said, we're not all the same though. Then again, if I can grasp this concept (that we all have different needs), why can't all the haters admit it too?

If you have never used a USB device, external display or connected a Smart phone to your PC in the last 6 years, the new macbook will be perfect for you.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I don't know why all the complaints regarding the new MacBook. It cannot be compared with current Apple laptops. This is their first FANLESS laptop. Without a fan they are limited to the power they can put into it without getting too hot. They are aiming at the people who want a super portable laptop for travel and primarily use it to surf the web and communicate.

The problem with this argument is that people can buy a Windows laptop for MUCH less and if it's just about "web browsing and email," Windows does both of those very basic things just fine. Is there that big of a difference of such basic functionality from Windows to Mac?

I am also not buying most of "this is not for you; it's for consumers who need basic computing mostly via wireless connections" arguments either... both for the fact that Windows machines can cover that same base for MUCH less AND Apple's own Air laptops are priced a fair amount less than this new one and also do those jobs EXACTLY the same as this one. Why are average consumers going to pay up for this new one when the Airs are cheaper and deliver exactly the same experience (or better). Is Retina enough to justify that much difference in price? If it's only/mostly about web browsing and communications, is retina even important on laptop-sized screens?

Based upon ejecting the hardware (jacks) utility and trading off power for "fanless", I'm thinking this thing sells well if it's priced at less than the lowest-priced Airs. Otherwise, I suspect the Airs get the price-sensitive customers who must buy Apple (instead of Windows), and the rMBPs get the users who need more than "just browsing and communications" because they can also get the ports without having to lug along adapters (and pay for those adapters too).

It seems like it should be:
-(this new) MB: low-priced
-Airs: mid-priced
-Pros: high-priced

The weight difference vs. the 13" rMBP is not that great and the latter comes with a lot of added utility. I can't recall anyone faulting the 13" rMBP as being "too thick" so I'm not sure this modestly "thinner" benefit means that much to the average joe wanting to buy a new laptop. USB-C may be a huge hit in the future but right now it pretty much connects to nothing without an adapter. Why does the average consumer pay up for this one instead of an Air or the 13" rMBP? Again, if the right consumer is the one with very modest computing needs, why don't they just buy a used/refurb Apple laptop or an Air or a new Windows laptop for much less?

 

[iRun26.2]

Which has nothing to do with the CPU architecture.

Right. But the numbers from 2011 being compared are for CPU only!

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As long as you're not a hard core gamer, serious photographer, or videographer, CAD user or anything else on the demanding side this machine will suit a lot of people.

For social media, email, internet surfing, general business meetings, word processing and etc this is a great machine, IMO.

If you need something more there is always the 13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display.

I do plan to do some CAD. The retina screen will be most helpful here.

 

[JonnyIreland]

If you have never used a USB device, external display or connected a Smart phone to your PC in the last 6 years, the new macbook will be perfect for you.

I've used all those things, just generally not at the same time. And as for an external display (which I have also done, so I'm not knocking it personally), well you'll find plenty of people that consider it all kinds of stupid to hook a laptop up to an external display for extended periods. Again, not me, but hey what do I know. I've only been using computers for 36 years.

 

[iChrist]

Poster on tech sites aren't most people. I could show you a ton of Twitter and Instagram posts basically saying "shut up and take my money".

Of course. But I always have a hard time with this logic.

A lot of people pay money to McDonalds for food. Is that indicative of quality?

A lot of people pay money for Gucci and other cheesy products. Is that indicative of value?

There are a lot of fools out there. I would never take their collective opinion seriously. Perhaps you are different and are more concerned with following the crowd.

 

[subsonix]

Right. But the numbers from 2011 being compared are for CPU only!

Yes, but I quoted you since you compared it to ARM, not the 2011 MacBook Air. For the MacBook Air comparison, it's probably true that graphics performance on this new MacBook is better, and also memory and SSD.

 

[iRun26.2]

This isn't Indiana, everyone gets to stay if they want even if they are different than you.

And yes, I agree with his take on this.

Good one!

I'm sorry, I got a little rude. I'm just tired of people saying my decision to buy this new rMB is stupid. It's precisely what I want (although I would have preferred another USB port).

 

[oldmacs]

This machine should be their baseline machine, not more expensive than computers that outperform it

 

[cfedu]

I've used all those things, just generally not at the same time. And as for an external display (which I have also done, so I'm not knocking it personally), well you'll find plenty of people that consider it all kinds of stupid to hook a laptop up to an external display for extended periods. Again, not me, but hey what do I know. I've only been using computers for 36 years.

Well, if you connect to an external display, using a power source would be good. If you have a USB-C hardrive and a 27" monitor, you will require at least 3 adapters at present to make it work, if it is even possible with the new Macbook.

 

[petvas]

The results were expected but are still somehow disappointing. The device though will feel much faster because of the SSD.
For daily tasks it will perform just fine, just don't expect to edit big Photoshop files on it..
The question each one of us should ask is, is such a device worth its money?
Is mobility and great design worth so much? The answer for me is no.
I will wait for the second generation, hoping for better performance and maybe price..

 

[iChrist]

Good one!

I'm sorry, I got a little rude. I'm just tired of people saying my decision to buy this new rMB is stupid. It's precisely what I want (although I would have preferred another USB port).

I'm not sure why they didn't just add another port on the other side. Anyway, i'm glad to see them start removing extra unnecessary bulk with the screen bezel and space bordering the keyboard. It looks nice.

 

[subsonix]

I'm not sure why they didn't just add another port on the other side. Anyway, i'm glad to see them start removing extra unnecessary bulk with the screen bezel and space bordering the keyboard. It looks nice.

But the border on the side of the keyboard depends on the screen size, or aspect ratio in case of the 11" Air.

 

[Rogifan]

Jony looks like he wants to make love to this thing.

 

[iRun26.2]

I'm not sure why they didn't just add another port on the other side. Anyway, i'm glad to see them start removing extra unnecessary bulk with the screen bezel and space bordering the keyboard. It looks nice.

My guess for the lack of ports is the extra weight. I bet the wanted to be under 2 pounds.

----------

Jony looks like he wants to make love to this thing.

It's his work. Why shouldn't he take pride in it (I know I would).

 

[grahamtriggs]

Doesn't matter how thin or light it is if the performance sucks.

But then that has marked out Apple over the last few years - sacrificing performance and value for a tiny fraction of aesthetic.

 

[kreasonos]

This notebook is a monumental failure.

 

[brinary001]

If it was the same price as a Mac Mini, I'd agree with that- and I'd get one in a heartbeat. But in reality it's in the same price range as other machines that are far more capable (and expandable...)

Boom. Thank you. Was thinking the exact same thing for Macs and PCs.

For a product that is taking on the same name as its plastic predecessors that were canned 5 or 6 years ago, it's being priced at the same level as the Pro and Air line but with none of the power. I still think it's absolutely gorgeous in its design, but this is the first time that I can actually see where the opposition is coming from when they say Macs are all goods looks and nothing underneath, because, in this case, they're not wrong.

 

[rdlink]

Maybe you should check the Apple Store again, I think you misread...

If that's what you think you're wrong. Perhaps you should check again.

Macbook=$1299 with a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM standard.

Macbook Pro 13" Non-Retina=$1549 with that same 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD installed.

Macbook Pro 13" Retina=$1499 with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

 

[ricknaz]

My only computer is a base model 2010 11" air and it does everything I need without too much fuss. I'm a bit sick of trying to make room on the 64GB ssd and I would like a better screen.

Most of the time I sit sideways on the lounge with the air balanced on one leg and I hardly ever use the usb ports. My daughter has a 13" rMBP and that thing is a brick and isn't something I would consider for myself.

I would have been happy with another 11" air with retina screen but I really think the macbook will be perfect for me and many others.

 

[TechZeke]

Everyone got the 12" iPad Pro they wanted.

Don't believe me? Look:

-12" retina display
-iPad "Pro" multitasking everyone wants - full OS X
-iPad level battery
-iPad level Performance
-One Port, like the iPad

This thing is literally a $1300 iPad. The only thing it has going for it is 8GB of RAM and a 256 SSD. However, with an iPad level processor, you aren't going to be doing anything that requires 8GB of RAM. It's frivolous.

 

[bluush]

This notebook is a monumental failure.

You do realize it hasn't even gone on sale yet, right? People said the iPad would be a failure too.

 

[latweek]

This notebook is a monumental failure.

Agreed, at least it excels at something!