Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Marco Arment really hates the new Macbook

lite426 said:
Well, they did set out to "engineer the impossible", whether they have succeeded in doing that is another question. I think most people buying the laptop probably wouldn't even know about Core M or what it is, they will see an attractive, light laptop that seems to fit their requirements and buy it. So I think that Apple thinks that their customers won't know or care too much about that, so long as it works for them. There is a difference 'between what Apple thinks, and what they think that their customers think.
Click to expand...

I would assume any "pro" would know a thing or two about computers and get the machine that's right for the work they need to do, or understand and accept the compromises if they get this machine.

----------
newellj said:
Where has it been marketed as a "full sized experience" laptop?
Click to expand...

And how does one define "full sized experience". I don't take it to mean the MacBook should be able to flawlessly do anything the MacBook Pro does.
 
Why would you care as the owner of this machine what someine else thinks, or writes about it? I mean, it's just another computer that can allow you to read and write emails, surf the internet, watch movies, view porn, etc. The only difference is its a teeny tiny bit smaller and a teeny tiny bit lighter than the long-popular, still bestselling macbook air 11. Bottom line, the rmb is no major breakthrough, just a design change. It seems you all just need to rationalize your purchase of a relatively weak, but cool looking computer that cost, to most, an arm and a leg to buy.
 
What I really do not get why he bought another 15" instead of the rMBP 13". Makes no sense to me. If he wanted a smaller laptop to carry around the 13" is pretty perfect.
 
I finally made some time to check out the new Macbook at the Apple store near me. I really like the trackpad, it literally feels like a real button press. The screen is beautiful.

But....

I did not like the keyboard at all. Could I get used to it? Maybe. Out of all of the shortcomings (processor, trackpad, etc), I feel like keyboard is going to be the most polarizing aspect. The keys are very low, hardly any travel.

If Apple put a retina display in the current MBA's, I'd pick that over the MB in a heartbeat.

It's been said many times that this is very similar to the original MBA's launch. It's not for everyone, but there's no reason to slam it.
 
Yaboze said:
I finally made some time to check out the new Macbook at the Apple store near me. I really like the trackpad, it literally feels like a real button press. The screen is beautiful.

But....

I did not like the keyboard at all. Could I get used to it? Maybe. Out of all of the shortcomings (processor, trackpad, etc), I feel like keyboard is going to be the most polarizing aspect. The keys are very low, hardly any travel.

If Apple put a retina display in the current MBA's, I'd pick that over the MB in a heartbeat.

It's been said many times that this is very similar to the original MBA's launch. It's not for everyone, but there's no reason to slam it.
Click to expand...

My personal assumption is the the Air will be discontinued....
 
Yaboze said:
I finally made some time to check out the new Macbook at the Apple store near me. I really like the trackpad, it literally feels like a real button press. The screen is beautiful.

But....

I did not like the keyboard at all. Could I get used to it? Maybe. Out of all of the shortcomings (processor, trackpad, etc), I feel like keyboard is going to be the most polarizing aspect. The keys are very low, hardly any travel.

If Apple put a retina display in the current MBA's, I'd pick that over the MB in a heartbeat.

It's been said many times that this is very similar to the original MBA's launch. It's not for everyone, but there's no reason to slam it.
Click to expand...

I found the "review" fairly odd in many respects, but having owned one for two weeks and never having gotten to a working relationship with the keyboard I though his comments about why the keyboard didn't work for him very interesting. He may have managed to explain the reasons why it just didn't work for me (I never tried to explain it to myself in words - didn't need to). I found the writing engaging even if most of the rationale seemed doubtful. At the end of the day, it's one person's opinion - no more but also no less. It's a big world. ;)
 
CmdrLaForge said:
My personal assumption is the the Air will be discontinued....
Click to expand...

I think that's the general consensus too.

Hopefully we get a 14" MacBook instead. That could probably fit in something the size of the 13" Air or smaller and would give some room to increase the battery, add a port and improve the thermal profile to allow the chips to run faster for longer...
 
uczmeg said:
I think that's the general consensus too.

Hopefully we get a 14" MacBook instead. That could probably fit in something the size of the 13" Air or smaller and would give some room to increase the battery, add a port and improve the thermal profile to allow the chips to run faster for longer...
Click to expand...

Actually I hope for the rMBP 13" and 15" to go up one inch by having the screen go edge to edge with the case being more or less the same.
 
thought about it but ill buy one 2020 after 90% of the kinks are worked out and after my current laptop is dead and they ad 1-2 more ports and usb c becomes the standard..;)
 
mripadmini said:
thought about it but ill buy one 2020 after 90% of the kinks are worked out and after my current laptop is dead and they ad 1-2 more ports and usb c becomes the standard..;)
Click to expand...

You won't be able to. In 2020 laptops won't exist. Wearables will be fading out. You'll be looking at implantables. :eek:
 
Last edited:
uczmeg said:
I think that's the general consensus too.

Hopefully we get a 14" MacBook instead. That could probably fit in something the size of the 13" Air or smaller and would give some room to increase the battery, add a port and improve the thermal profile to allow the chips to run faster for longer...
Click to expand...

Potentially. It would bring the MacBook line full circle to the days of simply the MacBook and MacBook Pro. At most, it would get one more USB-C port or the rumored thinner Thunderbolt port. Marco is still going to hate it because the keyboard isn't changing, Core M will always be slower than the "regular" Core processors, and it will still be paper thin.
 
Last edited:
newellj said:
OK. In my capacity as The Master of the Universe, I hereby designate that as The Most Meaningless and Stupid Statement of the Year, even (or perhaps especially) considering that we're talking about adverbabble. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Okay. So when they say they engineered a "full-size experience" into the thinnest and lightest laptop ever, they don't really mean it? I should rather expect it to perform like a netbook, regardless of what the manufacturers claims actually are?

So do they mean all that crap about the Apple Watch? I'm so confused now.
 
What on earth is a full sized experience? My take would they mean a full size keyboard and ergonomics. And it delivers that. Expecting MBP performance is ridiculous to take from that one sentence. If it had the same performance why have a separate Pro line?
 
The guy traded in his street cred for a rant, or click bait.

Trackpad a step back? That's beyond laughable. It's an embarrassing statement from someone that supposedly knows his way around a computer.

I've owned tons of different Windows and Macs since 1981 and the rMB is one of my favorites of all times for what it's designed to do.

I get the keyboard takes a few days to get use to. But after 24 hours he's so smart he knows the end of the story? Not likely. Poster boy for "instant" gratification.

Glad that he took it back. Somebody that the machine is designed for is a very happy camper today.
 
jcmeyer5 said:
Okay. So when they say they engineered a "full-size experience" into the thinnest and lightest laptop ever, they don't really mean it?
Click to expand...

It's about differentiating product lines. This really just seems to mean "this is our smallest computer that runs a desktop operating system." It's a way of distinguishing the MacBook from the iPad: it has a keyboard and OSX.
 
Complaining that the retina screen is crappy and blurry when he's running it at a non-native scaled resolution is utterly hilarious.
 
Honestly, I don't think anyone would have complained about his review if he had added a few phrases:

"The trackpad is not good (for me)"
"The keyboard is not good (for me)"

This also goes for the thread, though. As soon as you start telling people This is good instead of I think this is good the conversation devolves into this sort of thing. This computer is not objectively "good" or "bad." "I don't like it" doesn't mean "It is not good."
 
Dekimasu said:
Honestly, I don't think anyone would have complained about his review if he had added a few phrases:

"The trackpad is not good (for me)"
"The keyboard is not good (for me)"

This also goes for the thread, though. As soon as you start telling people This is good instead of I think this is good the conversation devolves into this sort of thing. This computer is not objectively "good" or "bad." "I don't like it" doesn't mean "It is not good."
Click to expand...

And I'd still have a problem with it because I would've known all that before he ever purchased the machine. Someone I know won't like this machine telling me they don't like this machine is pointless.
 
Why are people getting their panties into a twist over a review? The guy bought it, he did not like it, fine, it's his pinion.

Asking the question, why did he buy it if he knew he would not like it, well, think back to all the 1st generation products that people thought would fail and turned into huge successes.

----------
Rogifan said:
And I'd still have a problem with it because I would've known all that before he ever purchased the machine. Someone I know won't like this machine telling me they don't like this machine is pointless.
Click to expand...

Mate, do you own the MB? Cause if you are defending it this hard, without actually owning one, how is your opinion any more valid? I dare say less.

I am on the fence. I am going to get one, try it for a few weeks before getting involved in debates.
 
MH01 said:
Why are people getting their panties into a twist over a review? The guy bought it, he did not like it, fine, it's his pinion.

Asking the question, why did he buy it if he knew he would not like it, well, think back to all the 1st generation products that people thought would fail and turned into huge successes.

----------



Mate, do you own the MB? Cause if you are defending it this hard, without actually owning one, how is your opinion any more valid? I dare say less.

I am on the fence. I am going to get one, try it for a few weeks before getting involved in debates.
Click to expand...

I'm complaining about power users buying something they know won't meet their needs and then writing a negative review about it. Honestly I think he and Jason Snell could have saved themselves a lot of time with a two sentence review: "All I wanted was a MacBook Air with retina screen and you gave me this instead. FU Apple."
 
Rogifan said:
I'm complaining about power users buying something they know won't meet their needs and then writing a negative review about it. Honestly I think he and Jason Snell could have saved themselves a lot of time with a two sentence review: "All I wanted was a MacBook Air with retina screen and you gave me this instead. FU Apple."
Click to expand...

To be fair there is a review on MR by a developer praising it, so are people telling him, he is wrong ? They are not .

Unless you actually purchase the product and use it, you cannot assume that it does not meet you needs. Power users used to use machines a lot slower than the MB 3-4 years back, that were portable.

Many people wanted a MBA with retina, does that mean they are not allowed to give the MB a go?

Sorry but I trust the opinion of people who actually own the products and not people who feel the need to defend something for the sake of brand loyalty.

Go out and buy the MB, you have 14 days to return it. People will value your opinion . That is what I am going to do.
 
MH01 said:
To be fair there is a review on MR by a developer praising it, so are people telling him, he is wrong ? They are not .

Unless you actually purchase the product and use it, you cannot assume that it does not meet you needs. Power users used to use machines a lot slower than the MB 3-4 years back, that were portable.

Many people wanted a MBA with retina, does that mean they are not allowed to give the MB a go?

Sorry but I trust the opinion of people who actually own the products and not people who feel the need to defend something for the sake of brand loyalty.

Go out and buy the MB, you have 14 days to return it. People will value your opinion . That is what I am going to do.
Click to expand...

One of my reservations about the value of the Arment opinion piece is that he owned the rMB for a day. That's better than most people who fulminate about its alleged shortcomings, who either haven't even seen the thing or at best have only poked at it for two or three minutes in the store. In most cases, you need at least a couple of days to give a new machine a reasonable audition, and a couple of weeks (the return period) is better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back