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MacBook Review Roundup: Major Design Appeal, but Too Many Key Compromises
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I think your statement here is misleading. Raw horsepower is not the only characteristic of a computer that weighs into the price. Miniaturization and quality of materials are two that can as well. Not to mention some of the new battery technology they used in this thing.
This laptop is obviously aimed at a different market segment than the MBPs are and it baffles me as to why folks complain about it rather than acknowledging what they need/prefer is an MBP and that others might have different needs than them. I have an MBPr. I could have gotten this new MacBook instead, but it doesn't meet my needs for the features and price. Does that make it any less good for its intended purpose? No. Does that make it overpriced? Not necessarily.
If I recall, the original MBA came with one USB port and no backlit keyboard, and those were two of the major complaints. Then, in the second generation, they added both features in because they realized customers wanted that. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, $1,800 in 2008 doesn't seem as bad as the MacBook pricing (+adapters) in 2015. I have no knowledge of Apple's costs of good sold, but I'm guessing they're trying to make a killing on the new MacBook. I'm hoping demand is way less than they were hoping for and that people don't buy the new MacBook in mass, which would allow Apple to continue to price products this way.
My issue is the RDF; that something like this wouldn't have happened under Steve Jobs. No it would have and it did. If people need power and ports the 13" rMBP is there. If they need discrete graphics the 15" rMBP exists (and most likely will be updated at WWDC or this fall).
So funny thing i planned on getting the new MBR 100%, even went to BB Tuesday to see if they were getting them. Yesterday i came across a mid 2011 MBA in GOOD condition i7 with 4GB RAM 256 SSD for $600, i offered $500 cash and he excepted via Craigslist. I have owned a MBPR in the past and YES while the Retina is nice, really nice. Once you calibrate the Air's screen its really not that bad at ALL. Maybe some more lid adjusting for better contrast, but obviously I'm always sitting right in front of it, so don't need stellar viewing angles.
So i guess i won? I am saving $800 plus because my MBA performs about the same in single core, and actually BETTER than the MBR multi core
. So i ask myself is the extra $800 worth it at the moment? Well i don't think so, i just lug my MBA around my house, nobody ever gets to see how cool my MBR would be if i got one. Plus i will OFTEN plug my MBA into my 23" 1080p monitor at my desk while playing XBOX ONE. So technically with the MBR i would be downscaling the beautiful screen, and i would need a $80 adapter
Does anyone STILL think i need the MBR, if so speak up. Im all about the latest and greatest. But at the same time getting into my 30's I'm learning better about impulse buying. My plan, use the MBA for a year and see what the 2nd MBR version brings. Im sure better
Now I MUST STAY AWAY FROM THE APPLE STORE DISPLAY FOR THE MACBOOK! That is the danger zone!
So i guess i won? I am saving $800 plus because my MBA performs about the same in single core, and actually BETTER than the MBR multi core
. So i ask myself is the extra $800 worth it at the moment? Well i don't think so, i just lug my MBA around my house, nobody ever gets to see how cool my MBR would be if i got one. Plus i will OFTEN plug my MBA into my 23" 1080p monitor at my desk while playing XBOX ONE. So technically with the MBR i would be downscaling the beautiful screen, and i would need a $80 adapter Does anyone STILL think i need the MBR, if so speak up. Im all about the latest and greatest. But at the same time getting into my 30's I'm learning better about impulse buying. My plan, use the MBA for a year and see what the 2nd MBR version brings. Im sure better
Now I MUST STAY AWAY FROM THE APPLE STORE DISPLAY FOR THE MACBOOK! That is the danger zone!
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
No, we're all Apple fans here... enough to hang out with total strangers and talk Apple products and even get beat down when we have something to say other than "rah, rah Apple". My posts are from a fan of Apple trying to rationalize this new product from Apple. Nothing more.
Relative to past Apple "home runs", it's just a lot easier to identify potential issues with these than others, which is unfortunate. I don't hate either product myself (nor am I interested in buying either "as is") but I am disappointed at not being more "wowed" as I've come to generally expect when Apple rolls out new things. I'm guess I'm itching to buy a new iPod, iPhone, iPad-like goodie from Apple and neither of these scratches that itch.
Those who see this as ultimate, fantastic, magical, etc, good for you! I'm glad they built your view of perfection and I hope such people enjoy the product(s) very much.
How dare people try to understand that specs aren't the only things money can buy.
Oh...
Avoid buying any 1st gen Apple product. The list of supporting examples goes back more than thirty years.
So take it for what it is and if some people like it for what it is and are willing to spend the money more power to them. If this was the only laptop Apple sold I could understand the complaints. But it's not. It's basically occupying the spot the MBA did in 2008 (as the ultra portable) when the MacBook still existed.
I think you're right, give it a year (update) or two. The one port suggests a very iPad/iPhone/iPod type of anticipated use model (charge it up overnight and use it during the day, don't plug it in at all - maybe Apple will get the WiFi bug in Yosemite nailed down by then).
I would much rather have a Retina Air than this (I like available ports and breakaway charging interfaces) - that would have wowed people with enthusiasm, but I'm sure you're right about this replacing the air in a year or two.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Before there was a Watch and a rMB did you post such gripes? I hang out around here a lot and I can't remember ever seeing so many gripes about "fumbling around" and cumbersome and difficulty in pulling iPhones out of pockets.
I have seen longing for a retina screen in an Air but boy, IMO, this is not that. This is a whole different thing.
However, you're not me so I'm glad these seem to be ideal for your needs. I hope you enjoy them.
Specs aren't the only thing, but what else does the MB offer for that price you can't get anywhere else?
Running slow Photoshop isn't very fun. If I owned this Macbook, unless I had no other options, these kinds of apps probably wouldn't be worth running on it at all.
I don't think there's been as much of a functionality compromise for iOS devices. This Macbook, Mac Mini and the Apple Watch are the recent releases that stick out to me as being the most underwhelming.
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They cut the price from $2999 to $2499 for the SSD and doubled the size 8 months later.
My guess is that in 2-3 years this is the $999 entry level MacBook. But the technology isn't there yet. For starters, not much uses USB Type C. Second, Core M is a step back from current processors, though well ahead of Atom. Skylake will change that, as will the next update.
As Rogifan points out, Apple didn't want to just throw a Retina display into an Air, since it would require a thicker battery and you'd be right back at the 13" rMBP. Core M is the only option, and it's an expensive processor. Asus might be selling one for $700, but if they are paying Intel $281 for each processor, there is no way they are making any money on it.
HP, Apple, Lenovo, and Dell are pricing Core M PCs as niche machines. Apple's offering is a lot thinner and lighter than ASUS and Lenovo's offerings. My guess is that all of them plan to sell them in limited quantities until the rest of the technology catches up. In the meantime, fans of the original MacBook Air will like this.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Because we expect the gigantic brains of Apple to learn from their own past. People keep spinning this "just like the original MB Air" as if that justifies doing the same thing again. That first one didn't sell that well. Why? Wrong price and underpowered. Are any of us armchair geniuses or complete dummies confused about that? So why roll out a wrong price and underpowered new air again?
Instead of this idea of getting it out as a platform so they can make it better in 2 or 3 iterations, why not just go ahead and make it better? Or save it until they can?
Some of us expect more of Apple- maybe too much? But I think we all can identify what made the Air a success and what stood in it's way. If Apple is smarter than us- and won't most of us passionately argue that they are- they know this too. So skip the first generation air repeat and roll out the equivalent of the latter generation air as the first generation of this rMB. Had that done that, much of this negative- even the negative in these reviews- would probably be much less. It seems to "fit" priced down toward a new entry level Apple laptop.
All IMO which I fully understand is not everyone's opinion.
How many other 2lb notebooks that are 1/2" thick can you buy, and how much do they cost? The cheaper alternatives like the Surface 3 use processors that are even slower than this.
Is this the iPad Pro?
I'm wondering if this is the backbone of the "iPad Pro" that's been yakked about?
The logic board is tiny, it's fanless, and it operates with only USB-C & headphone ports.
Just move that tiny logic board behind the screen, snatch off the keyboard and BAM! it's an iPad.
I'm wondering if this is the backbone of the "iPad Pro" that's been yakked about?
The logic board is tiny, it's fanless, and it operates with only USB-C & headphone ports.
Just move that tiny logic board behind the screen, snatch off the keyboard and BAM! it's an iPad.
The major complaints of the original Macbook Air were the price and small hard drive. Both of those issues are considerably better in this new Macbook, and, while I never considered buying a Macbook Air with a 64GB SSD for $3K, I'll be buying the new Macbook at release.
The single port is less of an issue than the original Air, because the Macbook has a much larger hard drive, and so many of us use the cloud, now. USB-C is also more versatile than the Macbook Air's original port.
Interesting note from the Ars review, the multicore performance of the iPad Air 2 and this new Macbook are about the same...for the low end Apple could kick Intel to the curb if it ever wanted to.
I'm still struck by how much this looks more like an iPad with a keyboard and not a formal Apple laptop.
In 3 years this might be a good buy (if you can get past the lack of ports).
In the long run I see this replacing the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro getting a more MacBook Air like form factor.
Until then this is for early adopters and people who only need an iPad but want a laptop.
In the long run I see this replacing the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro getting a more MacBook Air like form factor.
Until then this is for early adopters and people who only need an iPad but want a laptop.
Tell me what you can get in a larger notebook that is also in this machine and isn't spec related.
This machine is different than the typical notebook. That's the whole point. The closest thing to it off the top of my head is probably an XPS 13" and that's more akin to the MBA 13". So it offers size and weight benefits, in addition to some new technology in USB-C and the new battery design.
The reason people keep saying that the arguments in this thread are like the 2008 MBA all over again is because they are. This machine is, in fact, rough around the edges. It's a new product. The point of it is to gauge and spur consumer interest, start a new product line, and hopefully a new subcategory of notebooks. I don't expect it to sell a lot. It probably won't. The 2008 MBA didn't (although I owned one - it was a good machine for its intended purpose). I think lots of people miss these points.
Read my original comment. The reviewers are all reviewing it based on what it's not as opposed to what it is. It is what it is. If that's not for you, why even talk about it? There are several other products available that are designed to suit a wide range of needs.
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Then buy a different computer!? Apple makes several different kinds!
No, I didn't used to post about how annoying it was to use a phone to tell the time. But it was something I often thought about, both when watching others do it with any kind of phone, and when my watch strap broke and I had to do it myself. I am fortunate enough not to care what the time is usually, so I don't have a big problem with it.
But recently I have been using imessage a hell of a lot (over the last few months), and *that* has been annoying. Whereas I used to get a few messages a week and they didn't matter, now I'm getting them almost constantly and I would really like to see them without having to get my phone out each time.