Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Seems there's no macbook for developers who don't need the full blown m1 pro power, but the large screen.
As ever, if you want the large screen, you have to take the top performance and now ports as well. I'd just like a 15" macbook air with the m1.
In my experience; few developers want a 5 pound laptop. So the 16” isn’t really made for them, but for creatives who already lug a lot of heavy gear.

I think Apple’s stats showed that the 13” Pro was extremely popular with developers (prior to the M1 Air; and remember all this planning happened several years ago). So they created the 14” $1999 Pro for developers. Granted, a 15” Air would have been cool (lighter, cheaper), but it’s all about compromises to cover as many users as possible.

I think you might find the 14” is close enough to a 15” to meet your needs. The square screen can actually be nicer for coding than a wider aspect ratio as well.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ursbraem
I figured that the moment I realized there was no FaceID.

Makes even less sense to buy now unless you really really need it tbh. They are handing you a reason to delay your purchase as long as you can on a silver platter.
Or you can buy now, enjoy that XDR miniLED Promotion 120 Hz for a year then sell it and get FaceID MBP when it’s launched? Win-win, no?
 
Seems there's no macbook for developers who don't need the full blown m1 pro power, but the large screen.
As ever, if you want the large screen, you have to take the top performance and now ports as well. I'd just like a 15" macbook air with the m1.
If they decided to bring back the 2019 16" pro design, stick the regular M1 in it and sell it for around the $1,499 mark as the '16 inch MacBook' I'd be all over it.
 
Quick comment on the notch/faceid issue:

The way I look at the notch is that the other option to continue offering the top camera would be a larger gap on top with NO screen there. Why not give us screen with a notch? If we want I’m sure we can likely set up a custom resolution that removes the notch entirely and gives us the same situation as if there was a large screenless gap there. This way we can potentially throw some extra data in the “notch row”. It’s all win from my perspective.

While I agree adding the additional components to allow faceID would have been nice, I think the majority of people find touch ID faster and more reliable on a laptop. Your hands are already on the keyboard. It probably would have been quite complex to fit the extra components in there (thickness of screen less than phone) and it seems to give little benefit.
Or make a version without a camera altogether for those of us that wont buy one with a notch. I know, we notch haters don't count and Apple doesn't need our money.
 
I think my ideal desktop machine would be an M1 Max Mini. Would easily run my whole studio. Can have a lesser spec laptop for editing audio where there's less of a need for all the plugins to be local. Don't really understand the concern over a notch.
 
The notch does not bother me as below it you still have a full 16:10. I run in dark mode so it'll hardly be noticeable.
It would bother me, I can't even stand it on the iPhone, but I guess I could run in clamshell mode when at home. (most of the time) The specs of a 14" M1 Max are impressive.

If someone ever comes out with a decent x86 emulator, or Microsoft allows purchasing licenses for WoA, I may need to buy one.
 
Or make a version without a camera altogether for those of us that wont buy one with a notch. I know, we notch haters don't count and Apple doesn't need our money.
Honest question: If Apple had just cut off the screen below the camera and left a large bezel on top like prior 13” models, would you have preferred that?

8EE50D18-83C7-4FFB-9278-AC0985F8B7D7.jpeg

FD04F3BF-90DB-4319-8235-7CEF9546FC93.jpeg
 
This is why I don't understand people's complaints about the notch (or is it that they don't understand the change?)... the notch hasn't eaten into screen space, it has allowed ADDITIONAL space either side of it
I understand the change -- I just think the notch is UGLY and distracting! I don't care about the extra pixels or "additional" space.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Romain_H
Honest question: If Apple had just cut off the screen below the camera and left a large bezel on top like prior 13” models, would you have preferred that?

View attachment 1871192
View attachment 1871191
Yes, I would have very much preferred that bigger bezel. (and would have already ordered one!)

Edit: After all, every laptop I own looks like that and it doesn't bother me a bit.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Bow Commander
I wholeheartedly agree. I'm looking forward to trading in my M1 MBP and my M1 iPad and then paying the extra 300 to get one of these 14 inch beauties.

Someone (or hell, maybe I'll just make one) will make a simple tool to add rounded pure black to the top of your chosen wallpaper so that the menu bar area is black to blend with the notch, while still having all the menu bar information visible, and I already imagine that will look awesome due to the mini-led screen. The notch is a non-issue for me.

Lovely design refresh!!
 
Yes, I would have very much preferred that bigger bezel. (and would have already ordered one!)

Edit: After all, every laptop I own looks like that and it doesn't bother me a bit.
Thanks! So if there is a software setting that does that, then you will order one? Because that would be so trivial to implement that I’m sure it’s on the way.

Once the screen extension is turned off...you could also use that space for notifications. So imagine it’s completely black (so you can’t tell it’s there), but little icons could pop up in that black space to tell you that you have a meeting coming or a new message or whatever. Could look cool.
 
Exactly what I’d say, except for the price. They could at least leave the base model price untouched. But whatever. This is by far the laptop of year, given that no heat or noise problems arise.
An equivalent PC, albeit some differences, is gonna be in the same price range
 
It would bother me, I can't even stand it on the iPhone, but I guess I could run in clamshell mode when at home. (most of the time) The specs of a 14" M1 Max are impressive.

If someone ever comes out with a decent x86 emulator, or Microsoft allows purchasing licenses for WoA, I may need to buy one.
I have an iPhone 13 Pro and I don't even notice the notch. I also chose a background that's dark at the top which really allows it so blend in. I'll do the same when my MacBook arrives next week.

Yeh the M1 Max is incredible. I went for the base M1 Pro as it's more than enough for my needs - I only do a little 3D modeling work.
 
I understand the change -- I just think the notch is UGLY and distracting! I don't care about the extra pixels or "additional" space.
Fair enough I suppose. I'd take the extra screen real estate every time.

Though I'd question how distracting it would be with a dark wallpaper (or at all really, after the first hour or so, but particularly with a dark wallpaper)
 
The notch plus thin bezels add newness and "Appleness" to the design. Functionally, it's a lateral move.

The rest of the machine is a BIG improvement in every way (although I don't care much for the shape).

Best MBP since the death of the cMBPs, in my opinion.

For me, what would have made it truly perfect is replaceable SSDs and an actual 17" model, but that'd be really pushing it with Apple.
 
They look decent but it seems quite astonishing to see people getting so excited about a rehashing of a load of old features being brought back.

Yes its good news but FFS the company should:

(a) Never have taken them away in the first place on a "Pro" model
(b) Not taken four years to bring them back
(c) Listened more carefully to their prosumer customers.

My video users are increasingly asking for PC's because and I doubt we will be buying the new Mac Pro desktop because it is so heinously expensive.
 
Pretty much where I am as well, from several angles these are honestly not attractive computers... but then they will be fantastic computers nonetheless. I like the look of the display and keyboard deck - just the black keyboard depression bothers me. If I'm going to be spending a lot of money on this thing and keeping it a long while I want to look at it and think what a nice looking piece of hardware, and so far I don't. I get many people couldn't give a toss, but for me that is an important part of these machines...
Agree as well. That keyboard portion seems very weird and monotone. The blocky lid is also weird. And I did love the way the edges were done on the previous one compared to this. Oh well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Falhófnir
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.