I agree with you... but at the same time most don't need those ports
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Who actually is the 12" MacBook for?
- Thread starter Dave245
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I've been experimenting with using the Macbook 2015 as my portable. While all my day to day work is done on Mac Pro's, the Macbook is used just for traveling / being on call and the occasional computing session in bed or on the couch.
I like the notebook as a whole ... no real complaints on the form factor and the ultraportable nature of the Macbook was a big reason for selecting it. But there are some serious compromises ... it certainly gets hotter and feels more sluggish than my iPad Pro 12.9. I was expecting it to be comparable. But, in fact, it can barely play Hearthstone at 1440x900 whereas the iPad has no problem running the game at 60 fps at Retina resolutions.
The state of docking solutions also seems to be very unclear. I need 4K@60 Hz DisplayPort out while charging. Most docks only have HDMI, and the reviews for the few that have DisplayPort are rather unclear and from weird brands. Not confidence inspiring at all. I really wish the one port was a Thunderbolt 3 port.
Well, the bottom line is that I think this is good enough to be my "emergency portable" ... i can do all computery things on it like write code, download files, etc. I just need to suffer through 3x compile times. But given how little I'll actually be using it, that seems OK. I'll probably be on vacation anyway and can go get a coffee or something.
I like the notebook as a whole ... no real complaints on the form factor and the ultraportable nature of the Macbook was a big reason for selecting it. But there are some serious compromises ... it certainly gets hotter and feels more sluggish than my iPad Pro 12.9. I was expecting it to be comparable. But, in fact, it can barely play Hearthstone at 1440x900 whereas the iPad has no problem running the game at 60 fps at Retina resolutions.
The state of docking solutions also seems to be very unclear. I need 4K@60 Hz DisplayPort out while charging. Most docks only have HDMI, and the reviews for the few that have DisplayPort are rather unclear and from weird brands. Not confidence inspiring at all. I really wish the one port was a Thunderbolt 3 port.
Well, the bottom line is that I think this is good enough to be my "emergency portable" ... i can do all computery things on it like write code, download files, etc. I just need to suffer through 3x compile times. But given how little I'll actually be using it, that seems OK. I'll probably be on vacation anyway and can go get a coffee or something.
The 2017 is much, much faster than the 2015. It also has a vastly improved keyboard.
Don’t expect to game on it though.
I just got my 2016 MB 8/512 m5 yesterday. Really nice machine! Keyboard will take some getting used to though.
I haven't used it in person, but I can get the newer 2017 MB 8/256 m3 for $90 more. Is the keyboard improvement (or other updates) worth it though? From a storage standpoint, both machines well exceed my use (I only use about 65gb on my MB since all my media is attached to my Mac Mini).
I haven't used it in person, but I can get the newer 2017 MB 8/256 m3 for $90 more. Is the keyboard improvement (or other updates) worth it though? From a storage standpoint, both machines well exceed my use (I only use about 65gb on my MB since all my media is attached to my Mac Mini).
I'm rather happy with my M5 2016 MB. Great battery life, portable, and works like a charm. 2017 KL version is faster and better, but I really don't care about that, since I use other computers for those needs. But the keyboard alone is the main reason I plan on purchasing 2017 version. It is that much better. At least to me
As any automotive enthusiast should know, a weekend convertible is purchased for fun and convenience, not performance. It's a situational option that trades performance for form factor.
The 12" RMB is the perfect machine for those who bought it for the right reasons.
I have to fully agree with you. If you know what you are getting, it is the perfect machine. My home unit is a maxed out Mac Mini and it is attached to our TV to serve as our DVD player and overall storage server for the other Macs and iOS devices in the house.
I spend most of my Mac time on my rMB because I travel and it is perfect in pretty much every way. I am not doing any "heavy lifting" as it relates to video production or anything with it. I develop keynote speeches and presentations on it. I use it for newsletter and Pages app design material for handouts and what not as well. I enjoy it. I know that people complain about the keyboard, but I have adjusted accordingly and it has worked out quite well.
I use the official Mac Store app. In the beginning I only used it in Safari, then a Safari based GitHub app but eventually I just tried the real WhatsApp app, even though it's based on Chromium. I can tell you, the difference in battery usage is negligible.
Unless you know you want or need 512gb, I'd recommend returning it and getting the 2017 MacBook! It's better in all regards. For only $90 more, it's a no-brainer! The keyboard is much improved and the CPU is better. Check out the reviews of the 2017 MacBook -- most all of them conclude that the 2017 is the better laptop! It could even be worth springing for the extra $$ to get the 512gb 2017 model!
? The 2017 m3 speed is roughly in the same ballpark as the 2016 m5. You shouldn’t expect the 2017 to be noticeably faster.
IMO the keyboard is a big improvement though.
Well I just hunt and peck and do not type the standard way so that's probably why the keyboard is not a big deal to me.
I bought my discounted but new 2016 M3 MacBook as I like its smaller footprint and better screen than the MBA - sold the Air to someone the same day. Still can't quite believe how small (in a good way) this device is.
I'm fine with one port although I did get a USB-C to normal USB dongle in case I ever want to connect my phones to it.
I'm fine with one port although I did get a USB-C to normal USB dongle in case I ever want to connect my phones to it.
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I'm a college student with a Computer Science concentration. Would a 2016 MacBook be a good laptop for causal activities and introductory swift coding? And how does MacOS run on this model?
Without doubt it would.
Portable, light, great screen, mid apple range processors and plenty of options in terms of RAM and storage.
If you plan to run any windows or Linux VMs I'd look towards 16GB RAM and the more storage you can afford the easier it will be.
Portable, light, great screen, mid apple range processors and plenty of options in terms of RAM and storage.
If you plan to run any windows or Linux VMs I'd look towards 16GB RAM and the more storage you can afford the easier it will be.
I've heard of users complaining about the Core M3, but if the experience is still smooth and practical in general use, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.
The core m3 in the 2017 is an entirely different animal than the core m3 in the 2016, IMO. The 2017's core m3 does just fine running a Win 10 VM and the experience in both the guest and host OS is buttery smooth.
I have an i7 Windows Laptop for curricular purposes and VMs. I'm interested in the MacBook because of coding capabilities with iOS and MacOS, as well as personal use along with my other Apple products (iPhone, iPad)
If it's going to be your only computer, I suggest you go with a MacBook Pro 13 or 15 just for practicality reasons. The MacBook Pro's are much better at docking to a monitor due to Thunderbolt 3, and the larger screens are more productive. The MacBook 12" is a great secondary computer, but I wouldn't have one if I wasn't already running desktops at work and home ... and it will struggle a bit just driving just one additional 4K monitor.
I a 2014 MBP15 I use for heavier tasks and connecting to all of my attached external storage - and I find the rMB compliments it very well as my portable machine. If you have a powerful laptop already, IMO the rMB would be a good match for your needs (especially if you do not plan to use many wired devices with it.)