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

[radiologyman]

Give it a year and price will go down to MBA levels. Now I may not be willing to wait that long Where you guys planning to buy to avoid tax and may be get a little discount?

 

[drsmithy]

So to that everyday person, they weren't looking for a better 11" Air. They are simply in the market for a small, thin, cool looking laptop that is powerful enough to run Word or Pages and browse the web....

Then they'd almost certainly be better off with an 11" MBA and several hundred dollars left in their pocket.

And in that respect, Apple has just blown the competition out the market.

I've been buying laptops for a long time, for myself and others, for a wide variety of personal and business purposes. From 17" carrier-class "portable workstations" through 13-15" general purpose notebooks to sub-10" ultrabooks and tablets. I'm pretty confident I can consider pretty much any common use case. I'm really, really struggling to see an audience for this machine that isn't better served overall by existing alternatives.

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for $19, you can get a usb to usb-c adaptor...one simple, small cable, and you'll be able to do all those things (albeit one-at-a time...). if u need usb AND an external monitor, get the $79 adapter (if you can afford the mac, you can afford the adaptor)..

It's not a matter of affording, it's a matter of convenience and practicality.

Nobody is saying these things CANNOT be done, with a suitable array of adapters, dongles, and other things. The point is that this (unplugging and replugging devices, remembering to carry around the right dongles) is intrusive into the user experience for commonplace activities. ESPECIALLY given how simply they could have been at least partially addressed.

 

[APlotdevice]

then you're in luck, there are macbook airs, and pros... so if this one's not for you, you have choices.

why is this so hard for people to grasp? this is where apple is headed, but in the very-real present, you have choices...

Actually that's the problem right there: we have choices now, but knowing Apple, those choices probably won't always be there. And it's not like our current Macs are going to keep working and be supported forever.

 

[santaliqueur]

We are talking about a $1300 laptop however. The public in general does not buy such expensive machines.

Go to any college campus and let's revisit this statement.

 

[fisherking]

Actually that's the problem right there: we have choices now, but knowing Apple, those choices probably won't always be there. And it's not like our current Macs are going to keep working and be supported forever.

there will always be choices. or, perhaps, when all the elements of a mac laptop (size, weight, power, etc) converge...a few GREAT choices.

how is it a problem right now in the present? anyway, we'll see where things go in 'the future', but for now...we can deal with the present, and the options we have.

 

[APlotdevice]

Go to any college campus and let's revisit this statement.

Uh yeah, I'm one of those college students TYVM. And as a college student, I frequently find myself using a USB stick to transfer data to and from my computer and the ones at the college. I've also had to edit together some videos for various classes, which is where the processing power of my Air really comes in handy.

Also most of the Macs I see on campus are Airs. With some older MacBooks and Macbook Pros sprinkled in. I've yet to see any students will a Pro Retina. I imagine that most students that go for a Mac opt for the cheaper models.

 

[Idefix]

Bottom line for me: it confirmed the adage never to buy a first generation Apple product.

 

[MikePLP]

Bottom line for me: it confirmed the adage never to buy a first generation Apple product.

Then you shouldn't buy any companies first generation product because Apple's first generation is so much better than others.

 

[Huracan]

I've been confused a bit by this product. By all means, this looks like a bonafide MacBook Air. Why not call it MacBook Air? Anyway, I like the MagSafe. I am not sure this USB-C is going to be as robust. In particular when having to constantly plug and unplug devices. Let's see how well it sells with other people (probably not with me). I think it would be good to have a MagSafe to USB-C adapter, if there isn't one already. Other than this, the machines look beautiful. A good engineering feat.

 

[HellasLEAF]

would really like a chance to type on this thing to see what it's like and if I can get used to it.

It doesn't sound like I will like it. mostly because I like the air's keyboard too much. I mean that video they showed is ridiculous. I never even think about keys bottoming out and rarely if ever miss a stroke. The keyboard was just another excuse to cut weight and size so they could make people go 'wow' at the debuts. 2 pounds sounds better than 2.3 or 2.7

I really like a lot about this macbook though it's definitely bold and that space grey is gorgeous.

how long until 2nd gen then? a year? ugh..

 

[fertilized-egg]

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.

No, there's actually a term which describes smaller notebook like this one, it's "Subnotebook" Many subnotebooks historically cost a lot more than more powerful but bigger laptops.

"Netbooks" were a low cost variation on small laptops that came along later mostly based on cheap Atom processor with corners cut in order to save cost, starting with the first Asus EEE PC which I owned. This Macbook isn't it. For instance the Core M processor costs 10 times more than cheap Atoms used in most of those Netbooks.

It seems no one seems to remember those expensive sub notebooks, usually slow and often impractical but sure were beautiful, Sony made a number of them. Compared to those old subnotebooks, the new Macbook is a very practical machine, mostly because we have reached a point where a low voltage processor is fast enough for most things and SSDs are quite speedy.

 

[ann713]

Uh yeah, I'm one of those college students TYVM. And as a college student, I frequently find myself using a USB stick to transfer data to and from my computer and the ones at the college. I've also had to edit together some videos for various classes, which is where the processing power of my Air really comes in handy.

Also most of the Macs I see on campus are Airs. With some older MacBooks and Macbook Pros sprinkled in. I've yet to see any students will a Pro Retina. I imagine that most students that go for a Mac opt for the cheaper models.

You've yet to see a retina MBP on your campus? Wow. The majority of the students at my UC have the 13" rMBP, right down to the professors. I wouldn't be surprised if this 12" MB starts popping up everywhere.

 

[APlotdevice]

You've yet to see a retina MBP on your campus? Wow. The majority of the students at my UC have the 13" rMBP, right down to the professors. I wouldn't be surprised if this 12" MB starts popping up everywhere.

The majority? I've gone to three separate colleges in the last two years, and MacBook ownership, though disproportionately high, was never in the majority at any of them, period. Let alone high-end MacBooks. Admittedly Universities could be a bit different, since costs in general are higher and the professors are paid more than at two-year colleges.

Regardless, this particular Macbook still presents issues for many college users. In particular anyone looking to use their MacBooks for photography, videography, or sound editing is going to feel hindered by the lack of ports and processing power.

And let me also point this out again: The new Macbook has the same price tag as the 13" Pro Retina (and that's not including the $79 port adapter). So the question is, how much are people willing to give up to shave off less than two pounds? Especially when they also have the option to get the Macbook Air, which is simultaneously much cheaper and overall better spec'd?

 

[srp0039]

Any idea when the new Macbook will be available for in-store preview?

 

[groovyf]

My 2011 MBA is due for an upgrade so i waited to see what the 12" macbook retina would be like but i just cant do it. It looks like the MBA will slowly be phased out over the next few years so i think ill grab a 2015 model while i can.

I've a 2011 MBA also, and think the upgrade of screen resolution is enough for me to make the jump. I don't hammer my MBA at all with apps - I have Photoshop but that's light usage. I do however make quite a lot of use with MS RDP and VPN for to connect to PC at work (1920x1080 screen) so suffer with the lower res of the MBA.

 

[torana355]

I've a 2011 MBA also, and think the upgrade of screen resolution is enough for me to make the jump. I don't hammer my MBA at all with apps - I have Photoshop but that's light usage. I do however make quite a lot of use with MS RDP and VPN for to connect to PC at work (1920x1080 screen) so suffer with the lower res of the MBA.

Im going to wait till i can demo the new macbook retina in-store and then make my decision, if there is any hint of lag due to the low power machine driving so many pixels i will go for the MBA 100% If there is no lag and i like the new trackpad and keyboard i may change my mind. TBH the only reason i have for upgrading my 2011 MBA is the bad battery life, everything else about that machine is brilliant for my usage, so the new macbook needs to have great battery life aswell.

 

[srp0039]

Im going to wait till i can demo the new macbook retina in-store and then make my decision, if there is any hint of lag due to the low power machine driving so many pixels i will go for the MBA 100% If there is no lag and i like the new trackpad and keyboard i may change my mind. TBH the only reason i have for upgrading my 2011 MBA is the bad battery life, everything else about that machine is brilliant for my usage, so the new macbook needs to have great battery life aswell.

Battery life on >MBA 2013 is way better than any rMBP out there, even the new one..

 

[fat jez]

I've a 2011 MBA also, and think the upgrade of screen resolution is enough for me to make the jump. I don't hammer my MBA at all with apps - I have Photoshop but that's light usage. I do however make quite a lot of use with MS RDP and VPN for to connect to PC at work (1920x1080 screen) so suffer with the lower res of the MBA.

Effective resolution (1152x720) of the rMB is way below 1920x1080. You might want to check what it can scale to before purchasing. Either that or you'll need to run it native with good glasses

 

[torana355]

Battery life on >MBA 2013 is way better than any rMBP out there, even the new one..

Yep that the huge selling point for the MBA over the new Macbook Retina aswell as the extra ports and cheaper pricetag. The new Macbook retina has the better screen, is lighter and thinner and is silent due to no fans. Im still leaning towards the MBA.

 

[Serban]

So, i've played with one of those at the show. This is the future, the apple guy when i asked how can i get a flash storage into this, he told me 2 options:
1) for present, with adapter BUT in 2 months (and that is 1 month only from the release), samsung and other 3 major manufactures will have flash storage for usb-c at the price like: 256 storage at the current 128 price and so on
2) The second, he didn't said right but i understand the language between the lines is that the future is iOS and OSX connected from storage point of view through icloud. Now iOS icloud kind of doesn't exist but he told me to wait for WWDC. The prices will be updated probably from 5gb free to 10 gb free and in next 2 years will be like 100gb for 1$/month
So with icloud storage app into ios build in easy access and with 10gb free, why do you need a flash storage anymore?
He is right, this is the future, the mouse/monitors/printers will be wireless
3) The next big thing will be with their next display that will be connected wireless to any current macbook specs (i think he said any mac from 2012 to present)

Yes i can say im impress what is the future in the Apple thinking in IT and work

 

[fat jez]

Ok. So a month from now you can buy usb-c flash drives. Will be brilliant as long as you only want to share data with other rMB users! Everyone else will have USB-A ports for ages to come.

 

[Serban]

Ok. So a month from now you can buy usb-c flash drives. Will be brilliant as long as you only want to share data with other rMB users! Everyone else will have USB-A ports for ages to come.

2 months from now so since May there already be in markets a lot of brands with different storage capacities

 

[patseguin]

Why exactly do so many people think this is overpriced? Since you are all business owners and know better than Apple, what do YOU think it should cost? To me it is the Cadillac of notebooks. You are paying for a top of the line high end piece of hardware with cutting edge features so as an all metal body, ultra thin form factor, USB-C, Retina display, improved trackpad and keyboard, OS X, and so on. A common argument people make is "I can just buy a Dell and have money left over". A Dell running a crappy M$ operating system and tons of bloatware doesn't even remotely compare to a machine running OS X.

 

[numlock]

Why exactly do so many people think this is overpriced? Since you are all business owners and know better than Apple, what do YOU think it should cost? To me it is the Cadillac of notebooks. You are paying for a top of the line high end piece of hardware with cutting edge features so as an all metal body, ultra thin form factor, USB-C, Retina display, improved trackpad and keyboard, OS X, and so on. A common argument people make is "I can just buy a Dell and have money left over". A Dell running a crappy M$ operating system and tons of bloatware doesn't even remotely compare to a machine running OS X.

the car analogies have never worked with apple and this one certainly dosent change that. the cadillac we had while i was growing up was quite powerful can anyone say that about this computer?

i didnt realise usb-c and a keyboard (with mixed reviews) came at such a premium.

it seems geared towards people that use the cloud a lot and that takes the operating system out of the picture somewhat. nice to see you are still stuck in last decade with the m$ reference.

 

[sracer]

Why exactly do so many people think this is overpriced? Since you are all business owners and know better than Apple, what do YOU think it should cost? To me it is the Cadillac of notebooks. You are paying for a top of the line high end piece of hardware with cutting edge features so as an all metal body, ultra thin form factor, USB-C, Retina display, improved trackpad and keyboard, OS X, and so on. A common argument people make is "I can just buy a Dell and have money left over". A Dell running a crappy M$ operating system and tons of bloatware doesn't even remotely compare to a machine running OS X.

Your use of "M$" tells me all I need to know about how much weight to give this post.

As for whether one thinks it is overpriced depends upon what they intend on using the device for. If it is nothing more than a device to surf the web and check emails and never leave the home or office... yeah, it's overpriced for that.