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MacBook Review Roundup: Major Design Appeal, but Too Many Key Compromises
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Yeah. Technology has reached the point where Apple could put a 13" rMBP into a laptop the size of the 13" Air without worrying about it scorching someone's lap. This is why I'm thinking Apple will eventually take the little-big route with the Macbook lineup. Instead of 4 choices, we'll have two. A thinner 12" Macbook, and an up and coming oh-so-slightly thinner redesigned 15" MBP.
It's just that for right now, at this very moment, I don't think signing up for the first step down that road is worth the asking price.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
OK. But then I would say keep it in the lab until you can roll out gen 2 or 3 rather than push it out too early and have this put down and described- even as part of justifying it- as another first-generation Air, which was priced wrong and underpowered. Pushing it out as a public product isn't a requirement to develop a second generation that is better.
In the meantime, update the Air and you still have a very thin & light computer that is your most popular seller and no one knows that this other MB could come to market so we don't miss it. The only gripes about the Air of late (before we knew about this MB) was retina. So stick this MB retina screen in a refined Air's case (and no I don't believe that has to add the thickness of the rMBP for battery), sell a ton of them and then roll out what will be generation 2 or 3 of this rMB as the new Air at the right price and with the added power (and probably that 1+ additional port too).
The rAir delivers the revenues in 2015 (along with much praise) and the gen 2 or 3 rMB rolled out as it's first generation available to the public wowed anew in 2016 or 2017.
It's a Macbook, not a Pro edition. Most folks don't need anything close to the processor power that runs in the Pro lines anyway.
Unfortunately, they're charging Pro prices for it. If this were 899 or 999, they'd really be on to something. At this price, might as well just get an Air for portability or a Pro for the display.
Unfortunately, they're charging Pro prices for it. If this were 899 or 999, they'd really be on to something. At this price, might as well just get an Air for portability or a Pro for the display.
This notebook will sell well. Its intended market is not professionals which will use it heavily with external drives and so on, though the solution (a bit expensive) available if such need arises. Its intended for casual use, for which is does its work and plus looks great. So it is rather a luxury notebook and is marketed as such and with such price.
For heavier use you have MBA and MBR. They are here, they are not discontinued and in fact just got updated. So there is more choice which is not bad thing per se. I just used MBA 11 incher for a month long assigment with very heavy use (for presentations, research and publishing) and it did just great despite being not as powerful as MBR. Maybe someday I will get MBR as well, but MBA now is very good as it is.
For heavier use you have MBA and MBR. They are here, they are not discontinued and in fact just got updated. So there is more choice which is not bad thing per se. I just used MBA 11 incher for a month long assigment with very heavy use (for presentations, research and publishing) and it did just great despite being not as powerful as MBR. Maybe someday I will get MBR as well, but MBA now is very good as it is.
Uh because this is a discussion board for tech/apple enthusiasts? And I find this product interesting, though flawed?
Exactly. But if you want portability *and* the display then you will need to pay appropriately.
That's totally fair. When Apple introduced the Air it was a 3rd category in their consumer/pro product grid. The rMB is occupying that space today and eventually I think we'll get to rMB (consumer) and rMBP (prosumer). My guess is Apple isn't expecting to sell boatloads of this nMB. There's a reason they left the Airsin the lineup just like the did with the MB's when the Air launched.
People will vote with their wallets... I hope.
My 2013 MBP is as thin as I want. I need ports and performance. This is an $800-1000 notebook, at best.
I miss old school PC Macbooks
The Verge:
"Its easily the most impressive laptop Ive seen since the original MacBook Air. Its almost unbelievable in every regard."
"The result is a claimed nine hours of battery life a claim that's notably close to my experience. In our relatively light test, which reloads websites once a minute, this MacBook actually beat Apple's claims by about an hour or so. But when you're putting it under stress, you'll get a bit less, probably closer to eight hours."
"This new MacBook is the future. All laptops are going to be like this someday: with ridiculously good screens, no fans, lasting all day. Just like the original MacBook Air defined a generation of competitors, this new MacBook will do the same. It, or something inspired by it, is what you'll be using in two or three years. It's that good."
"Its easily the most impressive laptop Ive seen since the original MacBook Air. Its almost unbelievable in every regard."
"The result is a claimed nine hours of battery life a claim that's notably close to my experience. In our relatively light test, which reloads websites once a minute, this MacBook actually beat Apple's claims by about an hour or so. But when you're putting it under stress, you'll get a bit less, probably closer to eight hours."
"This new MacBook is the future. All laptops are going to be like this someday: with ridiculously good screens, no fans, lasting all day. Just like the original MacBook Air defined a generation of competitors, this new MacBook will do the same. It, or something inspired by it, is what you'll be using in two or three years. It's that good."
Airs Tech:
"Apple promises "up to nine hours of wireless Web usage, and our Wi-Fi Web browsing test suggests that this number should be attainable in light usagewe got around 11 hours with the screen brightness set to 200 nits. Thats still several hours short of what the 13-inch Air and Pro, but its far and away better than the Core M-based PCs weve seen so far (the Yoga 3 Pro and HPs EliteBook 1020)."
"Apple promises "up to nine hours of wireless Web usage, and our Wi-Fi Web browsing test suggests that this number should be attainable in light usagewe got around 11 hours with the screen brightness set to 200 nits. Thats still several hours short of what the 13-inch Air and Pro, but its far and away better than the Core M-based PCs weve seen so far (the Yoga 3 Pro and HPs EliteBook 1020)."
It wasn't reviewed well and it didn't sell well. If you want to argue the semantics of whether that meets the criteria of a "fail" I won't stop you.
In the connectivity department, it also gained a second USB port and an SD card slot. So (in addition to all of the natural wireless standards upgrades you mention) it went from 1 usb and one mini displayport to 2 usb, 1 TB, and one SD card. Huge connectivity differences.
Mac World:
"MacBook features Apples new Force Touch trackpad. I like it, though it took me a day or two to get used to the more subtle click feel. "
"But heres the thing: At that resolution, the 12-inch display seems small. Like, really small. Nearly unusably small. So Apple has made the decision to ship the MacBook with its default resolution scaled to emulate a 1280 x 800 display, roughly the same screen area as youd find on an 11-inch MacBook Air. Fortunately, the scaled resolution looks really good. But after a little while, I decided I wanted my display scaled even more, so I switched it to the More Space setting, which emulates a 1440x900 display, the equivalent number of pixels as the 13-inch Air. This was the setting I used for the rest of my time with the MacBook. "
"But honestly, I wouldnt have any qualms using this MacBook as a travel machine, just as Ive chosen to use the 11-inch MacBook Air rather than a MacBook Pro. Opting for a tiny, thin laptop doesnt mean you cant get your work done. Its a lesson the 11-inch Air taught me, and the MacBook fits that tale well. "
"I spent most of a workday with the MacBook in my living room and at a nearby Starbucks and didnt get close to running out of battery. "
"As a longtime user of the MacBook Air line, I look at the MacBook with a mix of excitement and trepidation. This is the future of Apples thin and light laptop line, as well as a warning that were about to enter a transition period for devices as Apple begins to embrace USB-C. And ultimately thats the trade-off here: To get the cutting edge technology, youve got to deal with the incompatibilities and limitations that go with it. "
"MacBook features Apples new Force Touch trackpad. I like it, though it took me a day or two to get used to the more subtle click feel. "
"But heres the thing: At that resolution, the 12-inch display seems small. Like, really small. Nearly unusably small. So Apple has made the decision to ship the MacBook with its default resolution scaled to emulate a 1280 x 800 display, roughly the same screen area as youd find on an 11-inch MacBook Air. Fortunately, the scaled resolution looks really good. But after a little while, I decided I wanted my display scaled even more, so I switched it to the More Space setting, which emulates a 1440x900 display, the equivalent number of pixels as the 13-inch Air. This was the setting I used for the rest of my time with the MacBook. "
"But honestly, I wouldnt have any qualms using this MacBook as a travel machine, just as Ive chosen to use the 11-inch MacBook Air rather than a MacBook Pro. Opting for a tiny, thin laptop doesnt mean you cant get your work done. Its a lesson the 11-inch Air taught me, and the MacBook fits that tale well. "
"I spent most of a workday with the MacBook in my living room and at a nearby Starbucks and didnt get close to running out of battery. "
"As a longtime user of the MacBook Air line, I look at the MacBook with a mix of excitement and trepidation. This is the future of Apples thin and light laptop line, as well as a warning that were about to enter a transition period for devices as Apple begins to embrace USB-C. And ultimately thats the trade-off here: To get the cutting edge technology, youve got to deal with the incompatibilities and limitations that go with it. "
What upsets me about the verge review is the MBA is now thick and clunky? Really? That's true RDF. Apple announces a new design and all of a sudden yesterday's elegant beauty becomes "thick and clunky." It's like all the ppl who banged on about how vulgar phablets were but now swear 5.5" is the perfect screen size.
For all you naysayers out there I just don't find from the reviewers anything more than this:
I
Basic summary.
Don't buy it if you don't like it.
OH, BTW it is not an iPad (or its replacment) and never will be!
I
- wish it had more ports.
- The size is great.
- The screen is great.
- The speed is OK and works quite well.
- The battery is better than Apple said it would be.
- I like it.
- It is expensive.
- It is the future.
Basic summary.
Don't buy it if you don't like it.
OH, BTW it is not an iPad (or its replacment) and never will be!
Dude, you don't take a prius to the Daytona 500!
The Macbook ain't a work horse!!!!!!!!!!!!
These critics set themselves up for failure. Geek bench test and multiple programs opened to check on lag. Pah lease!
The new macbook ain't that type of notebook. Know your effing needs and buy appropriately. Period! Hello, anybody home. LOL!
The Macbook ain't a work horse!!!!!!!!!!!!
These critics set themselves up for failure. Geek bench test and multiple programs opened to check on lag. Pah lease!
The new macbook ain't that type of notebook. Know your effing needs and buy appropriately. Period! Hello, anybody home. LOL!
"Its intended market is not professionals ..."
And the implication is those who buy it are not "professionals" or do you mean those who plug a lot of stuff into their laptop. Which, BTW, to me doesn't really make one a "professional."
"The Macbook ain't a work horse!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dude???????
Work horse????? You must mean those who do what verses those who type all day and use their laptops in a non-work manner.
You guys need to be more specific!
And the implication is those who buy it are not "professionals" or do you mean those who plug a lot of stuff into their laptop. Which, BTW, to me doesn't really make one a "professional."
"The Macbook ain't a work horse!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dude???????
Work horse????? You must mean those who do what verses those who type all day and use their laptops in a non-work manner.
You guys need to be more specific!
The pro reviews are an amalgam of what MacRumor's members have been posting. The problems are conspicuous to everyone.
Thanks for posting macworld's take. I think that wraps it up as well as one could want, so I'm gonna bid this thread a good day. Those buying the rMB -- hope you enjoy.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
No just the opposite. I'm suggesting they MAY have "screwed up" in 2015 by not apparently learning from what happened in 2008 when they launched an underpowered but overpriced laptop on the hope that "thinnest & lightest" would motivate tons of buying anyway.
What made it a success? Later, they lowered the price and upped the horses and the world bought so much of it, it became their best-selling laptop.
So my point AGAIN would be to replicate what made the former Air a big success with this new "Air." Or, take the same beatings they took in 2008 with the press and loyal Apple fans seeing underpowered and overpriced... which appears to be the way they chose to go, again.
I trust that Apple is very, VERY smart about all such matters. So I'm confused why they would do this again. If this rMB couldn't be the newer incarnation of the original Air that became a popular hit, sit on it a little longer, let it fully bake and roll it out when it's ready... which is even what those spinning this as the new round of the first generation Air (as if thats some kind of positive) are doing by saying they are looking forward to the second or third generation.
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Unfortunately, me too... and boy do I not like the idea.
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This is exactly what it is; an exercise in engineering. This machine should be at a showcase as a demo since currently - in practice - it is not even remotely useful.