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If you don't like the rMB why not get a 13" rMBP?

Rogifan

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Nov 14, 2011
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The entry level 13" rMBP is the same price as the entry level rMB. Yes it's heavier than the MBA but I'm guessing people that need more ports and power are less concerned about weight. It seems to me Apple's ultimate goal is to phase out the MBA when they're able to make the rMBP thinner and lighter. So then they'll be down to two laptop lines: rMBP for people who need more ports and power and rMB for everyone else. Is it possible that the rMBP could become thinner and lighter with Skylake?
 
iRun26.2 said:
Certainly! I think it will almost get to the same dimensions as the 13" MBA at that time.
Click to expand...

Obviously that's Apple's ultimate goal then. This is why I don't get all the complaining over the new rMB (yes I'm talking about you John Siracusa). It's not like Apple stopped selling laptops with multiple ports and MagSafe. It's not like there are no options.
 
When the new rMB came out, I was convinced that I was going to get this machine. After lots of research and figuring out my workflow, I concluded on a 13 rMBP. But I echo the same sentiments you mention. Same price for more power and ports.

I couldn't justify the ultra portability of the rMB to my workflow. But that's just me. This will be an awesome machine for the frequent traveler and for most of the population who just uses for internet, media consumption and email.
 
Rogifan said:
The entry level 13" rMBP is the same price as the entry level rMB. Yes it's heavier than the MBA but I'm guessing people that need more ports and power are less concerned about weight.
Click to expand...
You're probably right about the CPU power, but my guess is that many people who are interested in an ultraportable laptop also need a decent selection of ports and connectivity options on the go. Having to carry around a collection of dongles when traveling does not help portability.
 
This makes me so curious on what ports thy might remove frm the rMBP next year....They said that their vision for the future is one without cables...that being said, it would make sense for them to remove some ports i guess....right??
 
"who are interested in an ultraportable laptop also need a decent selection of ports and connectivity options on the go."

Then it's not ultraportable if it has all those ports and options.

Why don't some people get it, there are trade offs and if Apple is going to make a super thin, with a full size keyboard something has to give. Look at those Windows full power pads. Lot's of ports, no keyboard and then add a keyboard it's not thin and portable.

Buy the rMBP, please!
 
Rigby said:
You're probably right about the CPU power, but my guess is that many people who are interested in an ultraportable laptop also need a decent selection of ports and connectivity options on the go. Having to carry around a collection of dongles when traveling does not help portability.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you're talking about a MBA.
 
ByteTheBooty said:
This makes me so curious on what ports thy might remove frm the rMBP next year....They said that their vision for the future is one without cables...that being said, it would make sense for them to remove some ports i guess....right??
Click to expand...

I imagine they may replace USB Type-A with Type-C ports, and drop MagSafe (moving the charging to USB-C like rMB). So rMBP will be left with multiple USB-C ports, Thunderbolt II/III, and SDSX card reader.
 
ctyrider said:
I imagine they may replace USB Type-A with Type-C ports, and drop MagSafe (moving the charging to USB-C like rMB). So rMBP will be left with multiple USB-C ports, Thunderbolt II/III, and SDSX card reader.
Click to expand...

you think they'll drop HDMI?
 
Rigby said:
You're probably right about the CPU power, but my guess is that many people who are interested in an ultraportable laptop also need a decent selection of ports and connectivity options on the go. Having to carry around a collection of dongles when traveling does not help portability.
Click to expand...

I obviously can't speak for anyone else, but I carry my rMBP around a lot, but I never carry connected accessories with it. When it gets home, all kinds of things get plugged into it. I think I'd be ok with the rMB the way it's currently configured, and I'd guess a fair number of people will be the same. People who have to use it for presentations may find the port situation requires a dongle, but I'm not sure who big a percentage of users that is.
 
bjet767 said:
Then it's not ultraportable if it has all those ports and options.

Why don't some people get it, there are trade offs and if Apple is going to make a super thin, with a full size keyboard something has to give.
Click to expand...
As has been mentioned over and over again, there are laptops just as thin and light as the Macbook (such as the Samsung ATIV 9 2015 Edition) that prove you wrong.
 
Agreed, that's the best alternative. When I bought this MBP, I basically topped it out (late 2008). It cost $2000, had lots of power for the time, could easily run Blizzard games on it etc. Total waste of money. I've never used the power. I have a high end desktop that I use when I need a beefy CPU & GPU. I like to use laptops on the couch to browse web, when I'm traveling, at the library etc. I don't need power. I just want portability, quiet, light, cool temperature, and a nice screen. In other words, I'm going to buy the rMB.
 
newellj said:
I obviously can't speak for anyone else, but I carry my rMBP around a lot, but I never carry connected accessories with it.
Click to expand...
That's fine, but others do, especially when traveling where connectivity is not always available. USB flash drives, presentation projectors, OTP security keys, travel mice, phone charger cables etc. pp. As of today, there is almost nothing you can connect to the Macbook without a dongle. USB-C may some day be more common, but today it isn't.
 
Rigby said:
That's fine, but others do, especially when traveling where connectivity is not always available. USB flash drives, presentation projectors, OTP security keys, travel mice, phone charger cables etc. pp. As of today, there is almost nothing you can connect to the Macbook without a dongle. USB-C may some day be more common, but today it isn't.
Click to expand...

But there are lots of other excellent candidates in the lineup for people who need what they offer - what the rMB doesn't offer - today. If you don't like the Apple choices, buy a Lenovo or a Dell or an Asus.
 
Rigby said:
As has been mentioned over and over again, there are laptops just as thin and light as the Macbook (such as the Samsung ATIV 9 2015 Edition) that prove you wrong.
Click to expand...

True but none are as thin AND weigh only 2.03 pounds AND come with a retina screen AND 9 hour bSttery life.

OS X is also requirement but that may be true for everyone.

The rMB is special in that it can run OS X and Windows. I need that!
 
iRun26.2 said:
True but none are as thin AND weigh only 2.03 pounds AND come with a retina screen AND 9 hour bSttery life.
Click to expand...
Actually yes, the ATIV has all of that. And ports.
OS X is also requirement but that may be true for everyone.
Click to expand...
Agree, I much prefer OS X. That's why I'm so disappointed with the Macbook. Otherwise I would have bought something else by now.
 
Rigby said:
Actually yes, the ATIV has all of that. And ports.
Agree, I much prefer OS X. That's why I'm so disappointed with the Macbook. Otherwise I would have bought something else by now.
Click to expand...

Geeez.... These stupid comments. In another universe, where this was a Samsung thread you'd get people like Rigby saying...

"Yes, but the macbook is $100 cheaper and has PCIe instead of SATA drive AND has 1.1GHz core M standard, not a 0.9GHz!"

Instead of all this complaining, you should spend that precious time to build a time machine to five years from now where you'll have everything you want in any computer out there, but unfortunately, you'll have to contend with Rigby from the future that will still be complaining about the current technology.

I've said it before, if there was a perfect computer made for everyone, we wouldn't have a hundred manufactures out there make computers from all the same parts.
 
ctyrider said:
I imagine they may replace USB Type-A with Type-C ports, and drop MagSafe (moving the charging to USB-C like rMB). So rMBP will be left with multiple USB-C ports, Thunderbolt II/III, and SDSX card reader.
Click to expand...

I hope so. Dropping ports and card readers is fine for the entry level laptops but if they start that on the PRO line, this mid 2014 rMBP 15 will be my last Apple laptop.
 
So the 13" rMBP isn't portable? Obviously Apple's ultimate goal is to eliminate the MBA and make the rMBP thinner and lighter. They're just keeping the MBA around until that day comes.
 
"As has been mentioned over and over again, there are laptops just as thin and light as the Macbook (such as the Samsung ATIV 9 2015 Edition) that prove you wrong. "

Really?

I think there is currently just this one, but yes there will be more as Apple again stimulates the market. Also don't forget Samsung actually makes a lot of the Apple parts.

Here's the comparison:
http://www.gizmag.com/new-macbook-vs-samsung-ativ-book-9-2015/36614/

If you noticed this:

"The Samsung Ativ Book 9 (2015) is 8 percent taller and just a hair wider. As thin as the new MacBook is, Samsung managed to make its laptop 11 percent thinner."

"Samsung wins the thinness crown, but Apple’s is lighter: by 3 percent. Once you factor in the Ativ’s larger frame, "

The extra width and height is the trade-off. More room for more ports. I stand on what I wrote.

The rMB is currently using a faster version of the CPU than the Samsung.

The devil is in the details. So if you want a Windows machine, buy the Samsung. It's that easy.
 
Last edited:
dexterbell said:
I hope so. Dropping ports and card readers is fine for the entry level laptops but if they start that on the PRO line, this mid 2014 rMBP 15 will be my last Apple laptop.
Click to expand...

I still like Apple's keyboards, system builds, retina screens and OS X but I need ports so if that happens, I'll have to move on too.
 
bjet767 said:
The rMB is currently using a faster version of the CPU than the Samsung.

The devil is in the details. So if you want a Windows machine, buy the Samsung. It's that easy.
Click to expand...

Also, don't forget that the Samsung uses SATA drive and the Macbook uses faster PCIe. Even past the small differences in GHz, this alone should make the Macbook seem faster. Again, the comparison is difficult because you'd be running different OS (Windows vs OSX) but some people could argue that that differences in memory would make the most difference.
 
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