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

[newellj]

I expect that in under 12 months, the Macbook will be revised to add 1-3 more USB-C ports and the MBA line will be discontinued.

Like they should have done last week.

It's hard for me to imagine that Apple won't cave on the single port for the next version of the rMB. Time and market reaction will tell...

 

[s2mikey]

I expect that in under 12 months, the Macbook will be revised to add 1-3 more USB-C ports and the MBA line will be discontinued.

Like they should have done last week.

Really? The MBA line going away? Actually....you may be correct. I thought for sure that the MBA line would get a retina display and it would the pro line that was scaled back or whatever. A more powerful, retina MBA could have replaced the Pros.

Interesting.

 

[zhenya]

It's hard for me to imagine that Apple won't cave on the single port for the next version of the rMB. Time and market reaction will tell...

Given the design they've adopted, where would they put it? Apple isn't one to typically abandon a form factor in any short period of time once it has been adopted.

Again, this is a computer built for the center of the bell curve; that large portion of users who don't use any of those ports 95% of the time. That's a big portion of the market, and worth catering to.

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Really? The MBA line going away? Actually....you may be correct. I thought for sure that the MBA line would get a retina display and it would the pro line that was scaled back or whatever. A more powerful, retina MBA could have replaced the Pros.

Interesting.

I would expect to see both the 13" and 15" models revised in some way in the next year that makes their strategy a bit more clear.

 

[newellj]

Given the design they've adopted, where would they put it? Apple isn't one to typically abandon a form factor in any short period of time once it has been adopted.

Again, this is a computer built for the center of the bell curve; that large portion of users who don't use any of those ports 95% of the time. That's a big portion of the market, and worth catering to.

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I would expect to see both the 13" and 15" models revised in some way in the next year that makes their strategy a bit more clear.

I am not an engineer and I haven't torn an rMB apart (no one has), but you could get a second USB port where the audio jack is. Audio then either goes wireless or more likely could be relocated to a section of the case where it is not as fully supported as it currently is.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

Summary of last 30 pages:

If you like the new Macbook you are choose one )

1. An Idiot
2. A Genius

 

[bobob]

I expect that in under 12 months, the Macbook will be revised to add 1-3 more USB-C ports and the MBA line will be discontinued.

Three more USB-C Ports?!?

 

[zhenya]

I am not an engineer and I haven't torn an rMB apart (no one has), but you could get a second USB port where the audio jack is. Audio then either goes wireless or more likely could be relocated to a section of the case where it is not as fully supported as it currently is.

If you look at how people are actually using their Macs in libraries, airports, cafes, etc. The two ports they are most likely to be using, by far are the headphone jack and the charging port. Again, see that bell curve. This isn't designed for the edge cases.

 

[Rigby]

I expect that in under 12 months, the Macbook will be revised to add 1-3 more USB-C ports and the MBA line will be discontinued.

Like they should have done last week.

Well, personally I'd prefer a regular (Type-A) USB port, so you could at least plug in a thumb drive that is compatible with the rest of the world (as well as all the other ubiquitous USB accessories). Ultrabooks such as the UX305 or Yoga 3 prove that it is possible to fit them into a case thinner than the Macbook's.

 

[newellj]

If you look at how people are actually using their Macs in libraries, airports, cafes, etc. The two ports they are most likely to be using, by far are the headphone jack and the charging port. Again, see that bell curve. This isn't designed for the edge cases.

Yes - but the USB C does both charging and data, so that's not an issue. I'm suggesting that if Apple tries harder they can put another USB C port where the headphone jack is now and still find a place for the headphone jack. How hard they try depends on whether they believe there's a market need (or whether they choose to listen to the market, if the market says it's necessary).

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Well, personally I'd prefer a regular (Type-A) USB port, so you could at least plug in a thumb drive that is compatible with the rest of the world (as well as all the other ubiquitous USB accessories). Ultrabooks such as the UX305 or Yoga 3 prove that it is possible to fit them into a case thinner than the Macbook's.

I think the USB A port is gone, at least for laptops like this. It needs the flexibility that USB C offers.

 

[drsmithy]

Three more USB-C Ports?!?

Depends on whether or not there's space under the keyboard. We won't know until someone does a teardown.

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Again, this is a computer built for the center of the bell curve; that large portion of users who don't use any of those ports 95% of the time. That's a big portion of the market, and worth catering to.

The fat part of the bell curve aren't spending that much money on a machine like the Macbook.

 

[OneMike]

That would be a great computer for my kids if the price was better. As an adult, Other than wanting the newest. This computer seems like a step back for now.

No usb, no sd. I could live without thunderbolt or Hdmi as this would be a portable although at times I use hdmi out when.. out. Having to use a big adapter for those things means you have to carry and remember to carry more stuff.

At the price of a pro that's I can't see why one wouldn't just get a pro.

 

[Frosties]

I want to try the new keyboard and pad but run screaming away from the one port handles all.

Just waiting for the broken usb port after bending or forgetting the cable in and moving the computer or sticking in a thunderbolt cable in etc. Leaving me with no way to power the computer at all. It will happen, just some time down the line. Neat internet machine, if it handles netflix and flash ok.

One port, aaaaahhhh!

 

[Rigby]

I think the USB A port is gone, at least for laptops like this. It needs the flexibility that USB C offers.

I don't see why. USB-C adds the ability to carry higher currents for charging and optional high-data rate lines for video. Why would you need more than one of those on an ultraportable? A USB Type-A port would be much more useful for the forseeable future, just to avoid having to carry around adapters to connect the ubiquitous USB accessories.

 

[loybond]

It's the forgettable, out-of-date brand that has failed to compete with the superior German and Japanese competition for decades, and only has its pre-moon mission products to look back on as successes?

To me it is the Cadillac of notebooks.

 

[bobob]

Three more USB-C Ports?!?

Depends on whether or not there's space under the keyboard. We won't know until someone does a teardown.

 

[chabig]

I'm suggesting that if Apple tries harder they can put another USB C port where the headphone jack is now and still find a place for the headphone jack.

Do you really think Apple's designers didn't think of that? There are pictures of the inside of this machine all over the internet. There is nowhere else to put a headphone port. The case it nearly 100% battery from edge to edge.

 

[Idefix]

there really wouldn't be so much confusion about this laptop if Apple had included LTE.

...with LTE it would fit perfectly into Apple's product lineup!

 

[drsmithy]

Image

Image​

Your image doesn't say anything about internal space under the keyboard.

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there really wouldn't be so much confusion about this laptop if Apple had included LTE.

...with LTE it would fit perfectly into Apple's product lineup!

I feel pretty confident stating Apple will *never* integrate LTE (or whatever succeeds it) into a laptop.

Their view would be you should tether to your iPhone or mooch off somebody's wifi.

 

[newellj]

Do you really think Apple's designers didn't think of that? There are pictures of the inside of this machine all over the internet. There is nowhere else to put a headphone port. The case it nearly 100% battery from edge to edge.

By your reasoning, we'd still be using the original iPad and the original MBA. I guarantee that the Apple designers and engineers can add a port if they want to or believe that their market demands that they do so.

 

[s2mikey]

That would be a great computer for my kids if the price was better. As an adult, Other than wanting the newest. This computer seems like a step back for now.

No usb, no sd. I could live without thunderbolt or Hdmi as this would be a portable although at times I use hdmi out when.. out. Having to use a big adapter for those things means you have to carry and remember to carry more stuff.

At the price of a pro that's I can't see why one wouldn't just get a pro.

Yes, a pro is a MUCH more complete machine and if you factor in the great buys on perfectly good refurbished pros it makes this new MacBook a suspect value, IMO.

A lack of ports simply sucks. Let's call it what it is.

 

[newellj]

I don't see why. USB-C adds the ability to carry higher currents for charging and optional high-data rate lines for video. Why would you need more than one of those on an ultraportable? A USB Type-A port would be much more useful for the forseeable future, just to avoid having to carry around adapters to connect the ubiquitous USB accessories.

For better or for worse, probably for both, I think the rMB proves that Apple isn't interesting in the future that the rest of us foresee. I'm not trying to be snarky or facetious. This thing is clearly intended to leapfrog to a different view of the future, and to take Apple users along with it. Whether they've guessed correctly or not, I have no idea, but history says they're probably right.

 

[Idefix]

Agreed.

But even if thin is in, and there's no room for ports, Apple could have put USB ports on the external power brick, especially since the USB-C could pass the connection through to the laptop.

Sort of "stealth" ports that don't ruin the profile of the laptop...

 

[Traverse]

Yes, we need the experts from macrumors to show the fool how it's done.

Thank your or this! That made me laugh! xD

 

[Kendo]

I played around with a Surface Pro 3 keyboard. I thought it was fairly comfortable to type with. Would the new MB have key travel in line with the SP3? If so I would be super happy with the new MB keyboard.

 

[bobob]

I played around with a Surface Pro 3 keyboard. I thought it was fairly comfortable to type with. Would the new MB have key travel in line with the SP3? If so I would be super happy with the new MB keyboard.

Good question! I'd be interested in hearing the answer also.

(Though the Type Cover does bring the Surface Pro 3's weight up to 2.4 lbs - - 20% heavier than the new MacBook.)