MacBook 12 appreciation thread

[mk313]

Managed to get my hands on a new and still sealed/shrink wrapped MB 2017.

Anyone running Sequoia on a 2017 model?

nice find!

 

[next_cube]

I think at the time, Apple's intention was to discontinue the MacBook Air given that it was still on the pre-Retina design. Much of the MB's design lives on in the current Air. The way I see it, the Air is essentially the MB but with a better facetime camera, a magsafe port, an extra usb-c port, and both usb-c ports can also do thunderbolt, and a larger screen.

The MBA is a great device, but I am still hoping Apple will release a new <1 kg laptop in the future. I use my MB while travelling and weight is a big factor for me. Unfortunately an iPad can't replace a MB yet (for me).

 

[next_cube]

nice find!

Thx! Sold my first MB only to learn that a iPad can't replace it for my needs. Oh well.

 

[next_cube]

Sequoia runs just fine on the MB 2017.

 

[aleni]

I think at the time, Apple's intention was to discontinue the MacBook Air given that it was still on the pre-Retina design. Much of the MB's design lives on in the current Air. The way I see it, the Air is essentially the MB but with a better facetime camera, a magsafe port, an extra usb-c port, and both usb-c ports can also do thunderbolt, and a larger screen.

The 12" Macbook was joy to use in term of ultra portability. The smallest 13" Air doesn't even come close.

 

[Adora]

I'm missing my rose gold 12" too. It was a 2015 or 2016 🤔 m7 refurbished. At least it was purchased directly from Apple by the End of 2016. My brother still uses it.

He always gets my stuff when he destroyed his and I have to buy something new. 🙃

That time it was a white plastic MacBook from 2010 with new SSD and 16GB RAM what he also got from me. He let it fall down outside on something very hard when it was icy.

 

[F-B-Z]

Macbook is actually what an iPad Pro should be. This is the reason why it wasn't updated with M chip in my opinion.

This!

They refrain from this to avoid cannibalizing their iPad Pro sales with its inferior ipadOS (compared to macOS). It is such a pity. An 11 or 12'' MacBook with an M processor and a real operating system would be a day 1 purchase for me.

 

[537635]

I was on the verge of getting an iPad Pro several times.

Everytime I go through things I would do on the device in my head and come up with several things, which are borderline impossible or extremely cumbersome on iPadOS.

After all these years it has become rather stupid, that with their grip on both the powerful hardware and software Apple won't touch the ultraportables anymore and even worse - offers a gimped tablet instead.

 

[ccbc]

One nice thing about the MB that was not mentioned (I think) is that it can use a 20-watt charger. These are now the most common charger since phones use them.

At least a 20w charger works on my 2016 1.1GHz m3. coconutBattery reports between 12 and 15 watts when both charging and using a 100w charger, so totally doable to go lower.

 

[imdog]

The greatest laptop of all time.
The current Pros look like the bulky brick windows laptops Mac users would scoff at in 2008, and the current Airs are less sleek than a 2015 MacBook Pro. Apples design and engineering (in terms of aesthetics) have absolutely fallen off a cliff.

 

[glhiii]

The greatest laptop of all time.

I agree. There is something esthetically pleasing about the MB that no other laptop has come close to -- for me, at least.

 

[Nychot]

i love mine, too. but i'm going to have to get the battery replaced because of non-usage for a long time.

Same here re battery. Bought battery on it for "35 and a mr fixing type place here says $50 to install. That worries me.

 

[salbalboa]

I agree. There is something esthetically pleasing about the MB that no other laptop has come close to -- for me, at least.

I prefer to use my 2017 MacBook over my M4 Air with 32gb ram. I would buy a M1 MacBook in a heartbeat if they ever make one.

It's much easier to use on the go when traveling and also when I need to remote into my work pc when I'm out.
The M4 Air is nice but just doesn't have the same profile/size has the 12 inch Macbook and that makes it a little cumbersome while trying to use it in a car or on a plane etc.

The 12 inch MacBook was the perfect form it just needed the M1 and maybe a new keyboard.

 

[dandyryan]

we need this skinny legend to make a comeback. what a crispy laptop experience, the macbook air 13 doesnt hit the same way im afraid and NO an iFad is NOT a replacement.. the ipad mini is the beyonce of the lineup though.
give me an M4 in the 2017 chassis we can keep the butterfly keyboard idc

 

[MiamiBeach]

we need this skinny legend to make a comeback. what a crispy laptop experience, the macbook air 13 doesnt hit the same way im afraid and NO an iFad is NOT a replacement.. the ipad mini is the beyonce of the lineup though.
give me an M4 in the 2017 chassis we can keep the butterfly keyboard idc

I agree, I never had a problem with the butterfly keyboard with my 2015 and my current 2017 MacBook. I never eat/drink near my machine and the keyboard works as good as day 1.

 

[537635]

I did have problems with the butterfly keyboard, but still the machine was a joy to use.


I do keep wondering if it would be such a disaster (in terms of iPad sales) if they did a Macbook Pro 11''. Same design as 13'' and 15''.

- 11'' OLED from iPad Pro with FaceID (which would make the laptop slightly thicker), but no touchscreen (pretty much useless for majority of laptop use scenarios)
- 2 or 3 USB-C ports, no HDMI, no SD card, no magsafe
- around 1kg weight
- priced between 13'' and 15'' (because of OLED)


I'd but this in an instant. No hassle with the added weight and thickness of iPad keyboard, proper macOS. Please, Apple.

 

[loby]

we need this skinny legend to make a comeback. what a crispy laptop experience, the macbook air 13 doesnt hit the same way im afraid and NO an iFad is NOT a replacement.. the ipad mini is the beyonce of the lineup though.
give me an M4 in the 2017 chassis we can keep the butterfly keyboard idc

yes, we who have a MB still all are cheer for Apple to come out with an Ultra Portable with a M chip in it. That would be something...

But...

With the recent updates to the iPad at WWDC with Mac like functions, it does not look like Apple has plans and wants to push iPads for the Ultra portable. I for one gave away my iPad when I purchased a used MacBook 2015 just to try it out and to my surprise it became my every-day general Mac. I just like it. I can handle the butterfly keyboard as I did not mind it with my previous MacBook Pro 2018. No issues with either.

I am typing now on my M3 MacBook Air. It is a wonderful machine. I am on my couch typing. The MacBook is MUCH BETTER for this, tight spots, in the car, in the train or airplane (fits nice on the tray if economy class - but Apple either flys first class or their own planes - so no need for them so they don't know).

I do not think an ultra portable MacBook with a M-chip would eat sales from a MacBook Air or an iPad, as they have different usages, but Apple seems to think so and it looks like still no sight or thought of another MacBook.

Here is still hoping!

 

[537635]

With the recent updates to the iPad at WWDC with Mac like functions, it does not look like Apple has plans and wants to push iPads for the Ultra portable. I for one gave away my iPad when I purchased a used MacBook 2015 just to try it out and to my surprise it became my every-day general Mac. I just like it. I can handle the butterfly keyboard as I did not mind it with my previous MacBook Pro 2018. No issues with either.

It's just bizzare with these iPadOS updates. Every year it's the same, "almost as good as a computer"...


Yet after 10 years of these updates iPads are somewhere 75ish percent there with usabilty compared to Macbooks.