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What to Expect in the Third Generation MacBook
- Thread starter Hellhammer
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Give me 16GB, improved keyboard and 14" option and I'm probably going to buy it. (And second USB-C please. I don't even dare to ask about microSD.)
Until the processor gets a bit faster (by 50% at least), I don't think stuffing 16GB of RAM in there makes any sense at all, as the computer will barely be able to make use of that RAM before the processor becomes the major bottleneck.
For instance, it makes no difference whatsoever if I'm running my virtual machines with 1GB of RAM or 4GB of RAM for share. The processor is just too slow to make the virtual machines go any faster. Same goes for my Lightroom workflow. Honestly, sharing more disk space for RAW cache makes more of a difference.
Granted, they aren't completely unusable, but for whatever power this little thing can muster, I think 8GB is plenty.
For instance, it makes no difference whatsoever if I'm running my virtual machines with 1GB of RAM or 4GB of RAM for share. The processor is just too slow to make the virtual machines go any faster. Same goes for my Lightroom workflow. Honestly, sharing more disk space for RAW cache makes more of a difference.
Granted, they aren't completely unusable, but for whatever power this little thing can muster, I think 8GB is plenty.
No I think they really want to put TB3 on it so if they can manage to fit the controller on the motherboard, we could see it as soon as this generation. As you said, no Touch Bar because that'll be a MBP exclusive for a few years at least. According to Apple, the MBP display portion is as thin as the 12" MacBook one, although they may have been talking about the display panel. Either way I think they will try to fit a 720p camera in there. A 2nd USB-C port is unlikely but possible in the future.
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I think the performance this year will see a significant boost. While the Kaby Lake chips see a modest improvement in performance, I strongly believe they'll ditch the m3 due to the m5/m7 rebrand to i5/i7. I ran a poll about this before the rebrand was officially announced, and most people thought they'd still have an m3 model in the 2017 refresh. Despite that, I still believe they'll ditch the m3 because a) having an 'm3' along with 'i5' and 'i7' is messy and could be confusing to customers, and b) there is only a small price difference while the performance gained is significant. This year it seems like they are giving the 12" MB what it needs to be considered at the same level as a MBA.
I have the option of purchasing a Silver rMB M5 512G for $1,150. It has 11 power cycles and seems to be in tip top condition. Reading some of these comments are making me question whether this would be a good purchase or not. Originally purchased in Sept 2016 and warranty until Sept 2017.
I currently use a SP4 and am starting to hate it for work tasks (mainly outlook, spreadsheets and webex). It's great for travel but the kickstand isn't ideal and the keyboard is really not perfect.
Any guidance on the price and purchase would be appreciated.
I currently use a SP4 and am starting to hate it for work tasks (mainly outlook, spreadsheets and webex). It's great for travel but the kickstand isn't ideal and the keyboard is really not perfect.
Any guidance on the price and purchase would be appreciated.
Looks ok. But why don't u look on eBay for the price? And why do u post this here? Totally off topic
While I can appreciate the 12'' MacBook, it really is a nice machine.. I gave it quite a few looks towards it before I pulled the trigger on my 2016 MBP. It's just not designed to be that heavy duty machine. I don't even see them trying to set it up as a MacBook Air replacement. Let's be honest though.. The MacBook Air was probably one of the best machines Apple has ever built. I'd go out on a limb and say that I don't think another machine will ever be able to top it. As for the 12'' future upgrades that we'll likely see this year, I'd say the option for 16GB ram is almost a given. I dunno if I see them switching away from a mobile processor or not. It would definitely be a smart move though.
Well it's not really a mobile processor, I think it was a mistake for Intel to make it seem like that and they are now fixing that with the i5/i7 rebrand. Although, they'll have to stick with the 5W processor, I believe they'll drop the m3 and go exclusively i5/i7 which means a significant speed boost for the base model. The 12" MacBook was designed to be the 11" replacement and kind of for potential iPad customers in the sense that it's heavily used for basic tasks and media consumption. The bad press it had at the beginning was mainly due to the fact that it was being reviewed by a MBP / 13" MBA audience. The replacement for the 13" Air is the base 13" MBP although it's not s well rounded as the Air is right now.
They'll definitely bring it down this year, whether it's with the March refresh of MBP refresh later this year. It will probably decrease to $1099, although hopefully $999 (although unlikely due to iPad Pro pricing). I think the best price point for this would be $899 but that can't happen for several reasons.
You mean the performance of the base model?
I honestly doubt it. Price difference between m3 and m5 models were small last year as well. That did not stop Apple from forcing people to pay $300 more for an m5 model. Though admittedly, they were also nice enough to include a 512GB SSD with that extra $300.
Also Apple can make the whole m3 vs i5/i7 situation a selling point to make it seem like the higher-end config is worth the extra costs. They are under no obligation to make their line-up "less confusing" to customers as... I think I need to point out that right now, they still sell iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2, and iPad Pro (both sizes). And also, the MacBook is currently their "lightest" computer in the line-up, but yet they still sell the "Air" line. And again, also, they have MacBook Pro with or without touchbar. That's on top of them still selling iPhone SE and 6S along with iPhone 7.
If, and this is a big "if", Apple has somehow had a change of heart, decided not to be the corporate company that they have always been, and decided to give us back a base model configuration of the 15" rMBP at $1999, then I can see them doing what you have just suggested.
I really have to stress that Apple, in their infinite wisdom (or lack of it) decided to increase the price of the 15" rMBP by a whopping $400.
If it's "business as usual", then we'll just see a silent spec refresh, and I think that's more realistic than banking on them ditching the m3 model at the low end, while simultaneously dropping prices.
If they don't replace the 3.5mm jack with Lightning this next MB update, then it's not likely to be replaced until Apple drops Lightning, and ports of any kind, from the iPhone, considering Apple does not seem interested in supporting Lightning audio on the Mac. Apple doesn't seem to be making the MB for Mac users anyway, but rather iOS users who need a Mac. In the present design, and especially as it gets smaller, there's going to be less and less room for even a second USB-C port. Apple might instead offer a magnetic, inductive charging port like the smart connector which can be used for charging, USB 3, or digital audio, and which could also be compatible with iOS accessories needed when they drop ports for contactless wireless charging (which is where iOS seems to be going). One need look no further than Apple's budget MBP with only two ports, despite having plenty of room for 4, or even a couple of USB-A ports instead making it a good low budget transition Mac. But clearly these are not concerns of Apples.
The 2016 512 gb versions are $1249 this week at Best Buys. If in the US, that is a great price now.
It is, but if you've waited this long I'd just continue waiting another 1.5 months. It's not like prices will get worse when the refresh is announced. This is my strategy at least...
Yeah, with it being this late in the game it's best to just hang back & see what Apple has up their sleeves. Unless you need a new MacBook ASAP anyway.
They sold it as an improvement when the MBP was announced, and it might save them time and money only producing one type. So my guess is they'll include the new one, unless the height is somehow different and there's a space-constrain in the rMB.
You're right in how you view the MacBook audience, very few people seem to realize that including the early reviewers who were all heavy Mac users, and even now many still fail to understand it and compare it to a 13" MBA or MBP.
But if/when Apple removes the headphone jack on the 12" MacBook, I think it will be replaced with another USB-C port which will probably, by that point be Thunderbolt 3. I say that because it's unlikely to be this generation, given the rumors that it will remain on the iPads.
Right, if they don't start transitioning away from the headphone jack with this year's products, then it's not likely to go away until Apple goes completely wireless, or they legitimately run out of room due to redesign or added features. I don't agree they will ever add a 2nd port to the MB if they don't soon. To me keeping a single port just reinforces what it is -- a transitional device aimed at iOS customers who have already been trained to get by with just one port and mostly wireless solutions (and for that matter re-training Mac users seeking ultra portability).
To that end, I don't see the iPad ever getting a USB-C port. It will likely stay Lightning until there is no port. People who need ports, will buy the MBP, or iMac, which may be all that's left for dedicated PCs from Apple. I'd even wager that the MB will lose its one USB-C port at some point down the line. Now assuming there's ever a chip that supports Thunderbolt-3 in the MB, then I can see Apple adopting it to appeal to Mac users, for which they can charge a lot more, as they keep dropping the price of the non-Thunderbolt-3 MB for the typical consumer. In which case, that new MB might see a second USB-C port in place of the headphone port. But if they do that, I think we're going to see some sort of support for USB-C audio, including support for Lightning headphones from Apple to signal that change. It's very odd we haven't seen anything yet in terms of universal audio support across all of their product lines. Apple may do anything with these products, and have certainly proven that with their current products, but I think how they handle audio support is going to provide signals as to what types of ports they're likely to support and include on products going forward.
"The MacBook Air was probably one of the best machines Apple has ever built. "
I agree and wonder if the 3rd generation MacBook will end up dropping in price and taking the Airs completely off the shelf.
I could see an 8G 256 for $999 and a 16G 512 for $1299.
$999 would be a fair price, especially if they take the Air model off of the shelf entirely. The Air is probably still one of the most popular MacBook models to date. It's also still a phenomenal piece of hardware. Honestly, I would hate to see Apple discontinue it. Steve had a lot of passion behind that machine, and it showed when he unveiled it. He was genuinely excited about that notebook and you could tell. The 12'' MacBook is a very nice machine as well though. I strongly considered it before I purchased my '16 MBP just for the sheer portability. I was just concerned about down the road usage for things that I needed to get done, and honestly for the maxed model, I just think the prices are to high. You're already into MBP pricing with a maxed out 12''
I really don't think Apple would drop the prices and I personally don't hope they do. I'd rather they spend more money on it instead.
My guess for this years update:
- Kaby lake CPUs
- New keyboard switches
- Maybe the better color screen
- Maybe that "new battery tech" they talked about.
- Hopefully no headphone jack and instead a second USB-C.
My guess for this years update:
- Kaby lake CPUs
- New keyboard switches
- Maybe the better color screen
- Maybe that "new battery tech" they talked about.
- Hopefully no headphone jack and instead a second USB-C.