Got rid of my rMB

[Sander25]

I have had numerous Apple products, including several MB Airs, iPhones, iMac etc. However the rMB is the worst Apple product I have ever owned.

- Sluggish (1.2 - 512)
- Horrible battery capacity. Often as little as 4 hrs (Cocunut battery shows it is down to 84% capacity after 100 cycles)
- Dongles for everything
- Draining power while in sleep mode
- Track pad not working well
- Does not work with Thunderbolt display
- Drops 5gHZ connection on Airport Extreme

My user experience was reminiscent of a crappy Asus laptop I had years ago. Perhaps I got a lemon...but it was not good...

Bought a MB Pro 13" and happy to drag the extra weight around for something that actually works like a decent notebook.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I have had numerous Apple products, including several MB Airs, iPhones, iMac etc. However the rMB is the worst Apple product I have ever owned.

- Sluggish (1.2 - 512)
- Horrible battery capacity. Often as little as 4 hrs (Cocunut battery shows it is down to 84% capacity after 100 cycles)
- Dongles for everything
- Draining power while in sleep mode
- Track pad not working well
- Does not work with Thunderbolt display
- Drops 5gHZ connection on Airport Extreme

My user experience was reminiscent of a crappy Asus laptop I had years ago. Perhaps I got a lemon...but it was not good...

Bought a MB Pro 13" and happy to drag the extra weight around for something that actually works like a decent notebook.

Certainly seems the wrong laptop for you, hope you did not loose too much on it

Funny I thought the trackpad was one of the best

 

[Steve121178]

Sounds like very poor research on your behalf. Everyone could have told you that the performance was not spectacular & dongles were required for everything.

The trackpad & WiFi issues are odd though.

 

[garirry]

Sounds like very poor research on your behalf. Everyone could have told you that the performance was not spectacular & dongles were required for everything.

I'll have to agree with this. It's common information that the rMB is in a very experimental state, much slower than the MBA, worse battery, and limited connectivity. It's also not clear who they are targeting with this. So, yeah, the rMBP or MBA is way better than this, at least for now.

 

[mmomega]

I am on the opposite end of the spectrum on this one. This is one of if not the best laptop I've owned.

When traveling I don't need a powerhouse, I'm remoting in to dozens of workstations and servers and I keep it in my bag all the time so I can LTE tether in a second and be connected to any client in a minute or less. I can easily make it through an entire day, if not my truck has a 110 outlet and I'll charge it in between locations if I need to travel.

I've purchased a single USBC-USB3 adaptor and haven't had the need for anything else.
I did understand what I was getting in to with this laptop and was well aware of it's limitations but I haven't really hit any of those. I've been steady "downgrading" over the years as my needs have changed. Started with a 15" MBP 7 years ago, few years later I went to a 13" MBA and loved it, stayed with that size until the 12" retina came out and am very happy with it.

When not working the 512GB just store a lot of media for traveling, I connect with BT headsets so I could even be without that plug personally.

It definitely has a niche market glad you found a different machine that works better for you.

****Coconut Battery showing 95+% of capacity, bought new, build date 7-12

 

[whodatrr]

I'm still on the fence with mine. Bought one for the woman, about a month ago, and she absolutely loves it. But she got tired of me stealing her system, so I found another open box for myself.

So far: screen is amazing, like the trackpad, power is about what I expected (I have a new iMac for power), and USB-C is what it was cracked up to be.

However, I'm guessing that I get somewhere in the ballpark of 5 hours, which is probably good enough for most of my needs/ I am, however, worried that battery life will start to decline over the years, especially after reading so many reports of battery degradation.

Aside from the battery, it's about what I expected. Sitting on it for another week or three to decide (45 day return policy).If it doesn't work out, I guess it's a 13" rMBP for me?

 

[Sander25]

Sounds like very poor research on your behalf. Everyone could have told you that the performance was not spectacular & dongles were required for everything.

The trackpad & WiFi issues are odd though.

Bought it on launch day. Was too eager. Did not expect a powerhouse, not that bad either. Simple tasks like word processing etc was too slow.

Add to the list: drops Bluetooth connection regularly and when connected to external monitor using HDMI, it flickers (tried 3 different monitors). I probably got a Lemon...

Obviously I knew about dongles, but it turned out to be a much bigger hassle than expected.

Generally love Apple´s products and have had every single product except Mac Pro. The user experience on the rMB however was (way) below expected. First Apple product I have gotten rid of. In my humble opinion, Apple took to many compromises here to save a few ounces on weight.

Glad you guys like it and are happy with it. I would not recommend this.

 

[Steve121178]

I haven't bought one yet. I'm waiting for the Skylake refresh before deciding. However, it would be used as a secondary machine or when I am travelling, it's perfect for those scenarios. As a primary machine? No way.

 

[garirry]

Bought it on launch day. Was too eager. Did not expect a powerhouse, not that bad either. Simple tasks like word processing etc was too slow.

Add to the list: drops Bluetooth connection regularly and when connected to external monitor using HDMI, it flickers (tried 3 different monitors). I probably got a Lemon...

Obviously I knew about dongles, but it turned out to be a much bigger hassle than expected.

Generally love Apple´s products and have had every single product except Mac Pro. The user experience on the rMB however was (way) below expected. First Apple product I have gotten rid of. In my humble opinion, Apple took to many compromises here to save a few ounces on weight.

Glad you guys like it and are happy with it. I would not recommend this.

I think you just had a bad model. It should NOT be slow with word processing. It's probably more powerful than my iMac 2009 to be fair.

 

[whodatrr]

Yeah, 2nd machine is the use case for most. And it excels at that.

I haven't bought one yet. I'm waiting for the Skylake refresh before deciding. However, it would be used as a secondary machine or when I am travelling, it's perfect for those scenarios. As a primary machine? No way.

Not seeing anything like that with my base model. It handles MS Office fairly well, though I haven't really taxed it yet. These mobile CPUs aren't that bad. While rated fairly low, they're actually designed to spend most of their life running much higher. They can idea down to 1.1, but are comfortable doing longs stretches at 2.0 or above. These aren't powerhouses, but they can make light work of Office Productivity stuff.

I think you just had a bad model. It should NOT be slow with word processing. It's probably more powerful than my iMac 2009 to be fair.

 

[ZipZap]

I have had numerous Apple products, including several MB Airs, iPhones, iMac etc. However the rMB is the worst Apple product I have ever owned.

- Sluggish (1.2 - 512)
- Horrible battery capacity. Often as little as 4 hrs (Cocunut battery shows it is down to 84% capacity after 100 cycles)
- Dongles for everything
- Draining power while in sleep mode
- Track pad not working well
- Does not work with Thunderbolt display
- Drops 5gHZ connection on Airport Extreme

My user experience was reminiscent of a crappy Asus laptop I had years ago. Perhaps I got a lemon...but it was not good...

Bought a MB Pro 13" and happy to drag the extra weight around for something that actually works like a decent notebook.

Did you take it into Apple even once to address these issues?

 

[whodatrr]

Just looked into the battery issue again, and I feel better. Didn't know that Apple had updated their AppleCare battery policy to replace batts that are under 80% capacity. hey, if I'm getting 80% from your two Macbook batts 3yrs from now, I'll be just fine. That certainly nudges me in the direction of keeping the two rMBs we now have.

Typing this on a rMB who's batt is now at 74%, after about 2 1/4 hours of work. That's not earthshaking, but good enough for me. It's just weird how sometimes I get significantly less than that?

 

[BarcelonaPaul]

Just looked into the battery issue again, and I feel better. Didn't know that Apple had updated their AppleCare battery policy to replace batts that are under 80% capacity. hey, if I'm getting 80% from your two Macbook batts 3yrs from now, I'll be just fine. That certainly nudges me in the direction of keeping the two rMBs we now have.

Typing this on a rMB who's batt is now at 74%, after about 2 1/4 hours of work. That's not earthshaking, but good enough for me. It's just weird how sometimes I get significantly less than that?

Hey guys, this may sound a silly question but how do you know if batteries are under 80% capacity?
My White MacBook is 5.5 years old now and still seems pretty strong. Never got more than 5 hours of use from the battery though.
Health Information:

Cycle Count: 2146

Condition: Normal

 

[boltjames]

I'll have to agree with this. It's common information that the rMB is in a very experimental state, much slower than the MBA, worse battery, and limited connectivity. It's also not clear who they are targeting with this. So, yeah, the rMBP or MBA is way better than this, at least for now.

Apple is targeting a typical businessman who can afford the very best form-factor and doesn't need a lot of horsepower.

Pick a VP, an SVP, an EVP, we're Emailing, Browsing, viewing PDF's, building Powerpoint preso's, running an Excel spreadsheet, typing a Word doc, visiting Dropbox for files, using Skype to chat with the kids, running iTunes to binge watch Breaking Bad on a flight, running SlingBox to catch a game. The RMB is perfect for this. We don't game and we don't compile 4K video, we don't need big processors and we don't need the fans and the ports.

The MBP is the pickup truck, is big and heavy and can do everything. The RMB is the weekend convertible, is light and fast and situational for those who can afford it. The MBA is a rusty minivan with a coat of fresh paint in a used car lot.

BJ

 

[boltjames]

Bought it on launch day. I probably got a Lemon...

You could have just come to that conclusion and saved us the drama.

My friend got a lemon iPhone 6. Didn't make it the worst smartphone ever created. Just made it a factory defect, easily replaced and under warranty.

BJ

 

[Queen6]

Bought it on launch day. Was too eager. Did not expect a powerhouse, not that bad either. Simple tasks like word processing etc was too slow.

Add to the list: drops Bluetooth connection regularly and when connected to external monitor using HDMI, it flickers (tried 3 different monitors). I probably got a Lemon...

Obviously I knew about dongles, but it turned out to be a much bigger hassle than expected.

Generally love Apple´s products and have had every single product except Mac Pro. The user experience on the rMB however was (way) below expected. First Apple product I have gotten rid of. In my humble opinion, Apple took to many compromises here to save a few ounces on weight.

Glad you guys like it and are happy with it. I would not recommend this.

I have 1.2 and it has not exhibited any of the problems you have listed; no battery drain while sleeping, battery run time is good 6-8 hours, general productivity work (MS Office), equally it`s not a powerhouse and my goto Mac for business meetings and shorter trips.

I have no doubt that some rMB`s are defective from the manufacture as this is inevitable; there has been some rMB`s with failed voltage regulators which induce the heavy battery usage, even when sleeping, poor, sluggish performance can easily be a poor thermal connection with the base of the rMB lessening it`s ability to passively cool.

By it`s nature the rMB is far less fault tolerant than other Mac`s, equally Apple should focus on QC as being a premium product one does not expect cascading failure as the OP incurred.

Q-6

 

[mattDC5R]

Hey guys, this may sound a silly question but how do you know if batteries are under 80% capacity?
My White MacBook is 5.5 years old now and still seems pretty strong. Never got more than 5 hours of use from the battery though.
Health Information:

Cycle Count: 2146

Condition: Normal

Install coconut battery. It gives you more detailed info on your battery.

http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/

 

[BarcelonaPaul]

Install coconut battery. It gives you more detailed info on your battery.

http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/

Thank you very much Matt!

 

[Sander25]

Did you take it into Apple even once to address these issues?

Yes....they will replace battery and possibly logic board. In for repair now. However, when it is returned a (happy) student is getting it as a gift. Just not the computer for me.

 

[Sander25]

You could have just come to that conclusion and saved us the drama.

My friend got a lemon iPhone 6. Didn't make it the worst smartphone ever created. Just made it a factory defect, easily replaced and under warranty.

BJ

Thanks for you valuable insight and reply.

 

[garirry]

Yes....they will replace battery and possibly logic board. In for repair now. However, when it is returned a (happy) student is getting it as a gift. Just not the computer for me.

I seriously think you should use it for a month after you get it and give it another chance, considering it's most likely defective. I'm not saying you shouldn't give it away, just use it for a bit to see if the problems go away, so you wouldn't have the bad taste of the product.

 

[Sander25]

Apple is targeting a typical businessman who can afford the very best form-factor and doesn't need a lot of horsepower.

Pick a VP, an SVP, an EVP, we're Emailing, Browsing, viewing PDF's, building Powerpoint preso's, running an Excel spreadsheet, typing a Word doc, visiting Dropbox for files, using Skype to chat with the kids, running iTunes to binge watch Breaking Bad on a flight, running SlingBox to catch a game. The RMB is perfect for this. We don't game and we don't compile 4K video, we don't need big processors and we don't need the fans and the ports.

The MBP is the pickup truck, is big and heavy and can do everything. The RMB is the weekend convertible, is light and fast and situational for those who can afford it. The MBA is a rusty minivan with a coat of fresh paint in a used car lot.

BJ

That is exactly what I was hoping the rMB would do. I own a company and travel extensively in Middle East and Asia. It just did not do if for me.

 

[Sander25]

I seriously think you should use it for a month after you get it and give it another chance, considering it's most likely defective. I'm not saying you shouldn't give it away, just use it for a bit to see if the problems go away, so you wouldn't have the bad taste of the product.

Good point. Will see how it is after return. Maybe I´ll keep it as my travel companion...

 

[boltjames]

That is exactly what I was hoping the rMB would do. I own a company and travel extensively in Middle East and Asia. It just did not do if for me.

You got a defective model. It happens. My friend's BMW lasted a month and they lemoned it. Gave him a new car and an apology.

He didn't go into BMW forums and cry. He took action and got a replacement.

BJ

 

[Sander25]

You got a defective model. It happens. My friend's BMW lasted a month and they lemoned it. Gave him a new car and an apology.

He didn't go into BMW forums and cry. He took action and got a replacement.

BJ

Thanks for your great advice. Much appreciated...