First Impressions of New 12-Inch MacBook: Ridiculously Light, but Thin Keys and Trackpad Take Getting Used To

[roderickv]

...It would help me to understand what you're actually trying to say...

If I may, I think the concern that was being expressed here - and by me is this.

1. No one likes to repeatedly purchase new adapters each time we buy a new laptop. (FW400 to FW800 to Thunderbolt to USB-C)
2. I also would like to carry the lest amount of accessories when I travel. (external hard drive - SSD is still too costly and not large enough, external DVD if you still have that need - like me)
3. Most importantly, you can clearly see the trend Apple is on. Over time, in an effort for a thinner device (that is not always a priority for the user) we have lost or are losing the ability to easily change the battery, ram and hard drive on any laptop. Optical? Gone. And yes with optical, we knew it was going to happen eventually, but Apple being out front on this means it's more painful for us Apple laptop users. (Just because I have to use Dropbox to share a 2GB or 3GB file doesn't mean I prefer that over optical or a removable flash drive, and in case you were thinking of mentioning it - Airdrop is still a joke). Mac Laptops are not quite there yet, but like my iPad are becoming sealed and not expandable with no external ports besides a headphone jack and maybe a charging port.

So if you are like me and have replaced your desktop mac with a MBP, and still travel often with your laptop, the trend Apple is on doesn't look promising.

 

[MikeSmoke]

I would like to upgrade from a mid 2009 MBP which is still going strong. The 12" w/retina really wet my whistle. But a threshold point is that it has to run Logic Pro X and not in a hobble fashion. I don't know how this M processor stacks up but I am not optimistic.

 

[X38]

This seriously looks amazing... for something that should cost $400-500.

Why in the heck would anyone spend a whopping $1300 for something like this?!?! Just get a MacBook Pro.

I mean, if I'm forking out over a thousand dollars, I'm gonna want more than one freaking USB port on my computer. What happens when I want to transfer something from a thumb drive to an external hard drive? ...And then what if I need to charge it also while I'm doing those transfers? Or what if I want it plugged in while using HDMI?

I, for one, would absolutely HATE to have a spiderweb of dangly cables/splitters coming out from ONE port. It's absurd. Couldn't it have just been a tad thicker in order to have at least TWO USB-C ports?

But anyway, it's a BEAUTIFUL netbook. Can I say that? Yeah, it's a netbook.

And if it was in the $400-500 price range, I'd say Apple is super smart for putting something like this out on the market. But I just can't see why ANYONE would spend SO MUCH MONEY on something that's simply just not worth it.

I'd say you absolutely nailed it. More like a design study that made it to market without any modifications to make it an actually useful product.

 

[wideEyedPupil]

Anybody know how Apple is getting the gold and silver finishes on these MacBooks? Note same pricing as space-grey. Is in anodising process? Actual gold atoms or something else?

 

[goinskiing]

Color me intrigued, though I'll need to see a geekbench score before pulling the trigger.

 

[swingerofbirch]

there IS a headphone port. and you can get the usb c adapter, allowing you to run on AC while using usb...

You should probably read the article again...

They're selling the multiport adapters (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter?), which let you pass USB-C power through to your adapter, along with a traditional USB peripheral (and your choice of HDMI or VGA). And the other of two ports on the machine is...an 1/8" headphone jack.

Sorry I did not look at the tech specs page to see that it does have a headphone port. In the presentation I recalled them showing Bluetooth headphones and thought that was an indication of it not having a headphone jack. I knew there were adapters mentioned but didn't realize that it allows for power pass through, which it does (although it's $79 for the adapter, which is pretty steep for the ability to back-up to a drive while charging).

 

[simonmet]

Holy crap. I just realised this doesn't even have a thunderbolt port. Or headphone jack?

This computer is seriously DOA.

WTF Apple?

 

[XboxMySocks]

So how does the one port work? If you want to plug something in while you charge the computer.......?

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Holy crap. I just realised this doesn't even have a thunderbolt port. Or headphone jack?

This computer is seriously DOA.

WTF Apple?

It has a headphone port.

 

[simonmet]

So how does the one port work? If you want to plug something in while you charge the computer.......?

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It has a headphone port.

Ok, that's at least something. Thanks.

 

[KALLT]

That keyboard looks really goofy with the edge-to-edge size and huge disproportionate keys, like an amateur Photoshop almost. The keyboard used to be nicely aligned with the display bevels, giving it an even look. The MacBook doesn’t look that way anymore.

 

[XboxMySocks]

Ok, that's at least something. Thanks.

I still don't know what the **** is going on with the USB-C port though. :/

 

[Jaro65]

apple has more money than any other company........but they cant throw in the usb adapter for free on a $1300 notebook.......

But this is exactly why, "apple has more money than any other company...."

 

[Dekema2]

It's probably just me but I've never seen a MR article with an S bomb in it. Probably because I'm used to this other forum which is censored and will ban you for using the "d" word... if I can say it here.

 

[aront]

Yet another product disappointment under Tim Cook. Other than the iPhone, every single thing this guy has done has been a disappointment.

Buggy software
Soldered RAM
Childish, unnecessary colors
Plastic
Rubber
Thinness at the expense of performance
Lower value per dollar products
Downgrade refresh updates

Oh, but profits are up and that's all that matters.

 

[nordique]

Looks nice, new track pad seems neat


but its really overpriced for what we're getting.

I really, really don't like this USB-C port though. I don't care that its going to be the standard 2-4 years from now, its the fact that one will require so many damn dongles and we can only do one thing at a time (unless there's a multi dongle, which itself would add needless bulk)

Its not intuitive imo, hopefully the market realizes this once the "new" factor dissipates and responds accordingly

overall, this new notebook is a disappointment especially considering the price point.

 

[aront]

This seriously looks amazing... for something that should cost $400-500.

Why in the heck would anyone spend a whopping $1300 for something like this?!?! Just get a MacBook Pro.

I mean, if I'm forking out over a thousand dollars, I'm gonna want more than one freaking USB port on my computer. What happens when I want to transfer something from a thumb drive to an external hard drive? ...And then what if I need to charge it also while I'm doing those transfers? Or what if I want it plugged in while using HDMI?

I, for one, would absolutely HATE to have a spiderweb of dangly cables/splitters coming out from ONE port. It's absurd. Couldn't it have just been a tad thicker in order to have at least TWO USB-C ports?

But anyway, it's a BEAUTIFUL netbook. Can I say that? Yeah, it's a netbook.

And if it was in the $400-500 price range, I'd say Apple is super smart for putting something like this out on the market. But I just can't see why ANYONE would spend SO MUCH MONEY on something that's simply just not worth it.

Yeah, but it's real thin, yippee! And profit margin is higher than any product to date, and we all know that's what matters most according to Tim Crook philosophy.

 

[Nicky G]

People people people.

This is an early adopter version of a new Apple laptop line, and mark my words, in two years this will be as popular as the current Air has been for the past few years.

The 14" Retina MacBook will eventually come out, and offer one or two more ports.

The Retina MacBook Pro will get a redesign, drop a little weight, keep most of its ports, and probably be available at 13" and 15" like today.

All will be good in the world, and chances are, rev 2 or 3 of the 12" Retina MacBook will gain an additional port. Just like the original Air gained useful ports after a few revs. And then became the most popular laptop out there.

 

[Tech198]

"ridiculously light" MR is Ridiculously right...

Take out most of the logic board and replace it with a miniature board, its like one of experimental kits we all used as kids to improve our minds.

Surround it with 5 (i think i counted) large batteries, and u have a powerful Mac.. I missed the battery life, but it has to be better ...

I dunno why Apple focus "too much" i would say, on the design on the tackle feedback of the key presses, and the corner rocks, the same on track pad...

Whats the reason behind this "need" to over simplify this on an event ? it's good, but its like they are trying to tell u it will make your whole day's work better... No it won't.....

Maybe the key may break in current form too much pressure applied to one side.... but i doubt this would happen on Mac's ... Apple knows their design inside/out.

They still failed to do two things here:

* a video showing how the USB-C connecor would work with multiple devices... what cable will be needed with approprite ends??? I think , but would have been still good to have some short of demo as to how it woul take place.


* fanless operation... as previously stood by groan, Apple must know that their product will never get hot 90% when playing CPU intensive tasks, games, encoding video..... to bring out a product without a facy

If you haw a Macbook Air, u would encode video too.

 

[Nicky G]

Yet another product disappointment under Tim Cook. Other than the iPhone, every single thing this guy has done has been a disappointment.

Buggy software
Soldered RAM
Childish, unnecessary colors
Plastic
Rubber
Thinness at the expense of performance
Lower value per dollar products
Downgrade refresh updates

Oh, but profits are up and that's all that matters.

Profits are up because of record sales, and that indicates that most people strongly disagree with you.

 

[iPaintCode]

I personally like the direction of the new MacBook. I would totally rock a Space Gray, as a front-end developer this is plenty of power. I'm betting that Retina display needed to squeeze all the tech out of it due to power requirements. Far as the single port and audio jack that's all I'd ever use or need (but everyone has their own needs).

What I'd like to test out is the new Keyboard and Trackpad as this will be the direction Apple is going for the larger Retina's (13 is getting the Trackpad IIRC). I called the local Apple Store as I was in the area, was told they had 13" Retina's with new Trackpad on display. Went there and wasn't on display yet, was sad panda.

 

[Ronnoco]

This seems like a Mac this is no things to no people, though. Who's going to buy this thing?

People who liked the gold iPhone.

 

[aront]

Profits are up because of record sales, and that indicates that most people strongly disagree with you.

No, it says that there aren't many other options, because Windows 8 was not good and Apple is taking advantage of the situation by lowering quality and satisfaction level of it's own products.

And profits are up because Tim is playing nickle and dime with his customers with downgrade refreshes, deceptive pricing tiers, and substituting inferior parts and features, etc.

 

[Jon-Erich]

Great, only one port on the laptop.

I can't wait to see the spider's nest of cables and plugs that some people are going to need with this one.

HDMI, power, USB for external devices, Thunderbolt... All going through one port.

Who thought this would be a good idea? Oh, right. Jony...

There's no doubt that Jony Ive has a lot of power at Apple and if he argues for something, he has a good chance of getting his way. However, his main role is still in design. This means that he isn't the one who works with various technology companies to try and develop a new standard that's on par with Firewire and USB. Apple will do a lot of crazy things but I doubt even they will try to create a new industry standard for connecting devices just because Jony didn't want to drill a few extra holes in his machines.

 

[iPaintCode]

I bet PC manufactures (Asus, Samsung and even you Microsoft Surface Pro 4) will be coming out with a single port notebook just like Apple's decision on the MacBook. Then Apple will release one with two USB C ports, oh the trolling Apple does to these PC companies.

But hey it's got a USB! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE9L08AZTN8)!

 

[Renzatic]

But we're not talking about the higher end stuff.

Nerds know what THEY want. They're nerds. Their downfall is that they assume what they want is what everyone wants.

I hope you don't take my posts as me scoffing at nerds. I consider myself a nerd in a few different topics. Having spent a great deal of time around nerds, I have seen how upset they get when they are presented with situations that run contrary to their experiences. As good as they are with many technology subjects, understanding the public's needs (in general) is not one of their strengths.

I agree with you to a point. A power users perspective on things will be completely different than your average mom 'n pop. They want the best, they're opinionated about what that best is, and they're recommend that best to anyone that'll listen. They're rarely ever steering anyone wrong, but more often than not, they're usually suggesting something that far exceeds the needs of your average mom 'n pop. They'll give you what they think is the best bang for your buck, but they're usually telling someone to get something with more bang than what's needed, even for that buck.

Like your Facebook and MS Office crowd probably doesn't 16GB of ram. They probably don't even need 8. Most of them can easily get by with 4. But most of us here would probably recommend at least 8GB to our grandmas.

Cuz contrary to what some people claim, we're all nerds here. We're arguing about Apple stuff on a messageboard. That's nerdy.

But with that said, sometimes the nerd argument can get abused and misused to dismiss things that are important to everyone. Like the ever controversial iPad ram issues. Up until the Air 2, they only had one gig of the stuff, but it was obvious it needed more. Yeah, it's true, the average person probably doesn't care how much ram is in the iPad. But having more would help the experience, and give everyone a better selection of apps and games, which the average person does care about.

So while what you're saying is true to a point, the nerd argument can be used as a blanket dismissal against subjects that shouldn't be dismissed. That's what I usually argue against.

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I bet PC manufactures (Asus, Samsung and even you Microsoft Surface Pro 4) will be coming out with a single port notebook just like Apple's decision on the MacBook. Then Apple will release one with two USB C ports, oh the trolling Apple does to these PC companies.

I think MS precopied them. The SP3 only has one USB port, and it's basically a new Macbook without a keyboard built in. Thing has almost the same resolution on a similarly sized screen and everything!