I can’t wait for the reveal that this has been a troll job the whole time... You know how you know somebody is a high-powered executive? They tell you...
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Who actually is the 12" MacBook for?
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I can’t wait for the reveal that this has been a troll job the whole time... You know how you know somebody is a high-powered executive? They tell you...
I'm a business traveller as well, and reasonably successful, but to be honest it doesn't ever come up that I need to describe it to people like this. Maybe I'm just not successful enough.
Charli Marie is a graphic designer (works remotely for ConvertKit) on YouTube who has been using the 12” MacBook since the 2015 model combined with a 9.7” iPad Pro. She also has a 15” MBP for desk-based stuff but the Macbook is almost exclusively her mobile computer. She uses the Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and Sketch without issues; she even edits video although she uses Premiere which has nowhere near the optimisation of FCPX.
1. Good point about changing the resolution. I prefer the 1152x720 native setting for surfing and not the 1280x800 default setting. However one can easily change it to the More Space 1440x900 setting for design work.
2. I am surprised she thinks the 2015 MacBook’s keyboard is great. I think it’s horrible. The 2017’s keyboard is way better and even then it’s just OK IMO. Stuck keys notwithstanding, the MacBook Pro keyboard is better.
3. It sounds like the next time around she might be better off with an iMac at home to complement her 12” MacBook instead of having a 15” MBP plus 12” MB.
Or perhaps you’re just not a douchebag - in which case, congrats!
Hey @boltjames, I guessed it was you when the words "d-bag", "executive" and the link to "Show ignored content" appeared all at once. Tell us again about how the 2015 rMB will never be updated because there is no need for Apple to do so! That was great.
I'm a high-powered Unix sysadmin and physicist... 
But seriously, I am a Unix sysadmin, physicist and part-time software developer. The 12" MacBook is nearly perfect for me. I primarily need a machine for remote access into other, higher-powered computers. The MacBook gives me a decent-sized keyboard (not happy about the keys themselves though), reasonable CPU and RAM, and an easy-to-read display, with relatively long battery life given the size of the device. It can also drive my 34" LG widescreen display without any trouble.
The MacBook can handle the day-to-day office stuff without an issue (email, browsing, spreadsheets, etc). I've got access to my photo library and media, etc. If I need more power, well I did mention that my main use-case was for remote access into higher-powered computers.
I just wish the keyboard were better. I've been eyeing a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon lately, just to get a nice keyboard in a super-portable device... (although I'll take a pass on Windows 10)
But seriously, I am a Unix sysadmin, physicist and part-time software developer. The 12" MacBook is nearly perfect for me. I primarily need a machine for remote access into other, higher-powered computers. The MacBook gives me a decent-sized keyboard (not happy about the keys themselves though), reasonable CPU and RAM, and an easy-to-read display, with relatively long battery life given the size of the device. It can also drive my 34" LG widescreen display without any trouble.
The MacBook can handle the day-to-day office stuff without an issue (email, browsing, spreadsheets, etc). I've got access to my photo library and media, etc. If I need more power, well I did mention that my main use-case was for remote access into higher-powered computers.
I just wish the keyboard were better. I've been eyeing a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon lately, just to get a nice keyboard in a super-portable device... (although I'll take a pass on Windows 10)
Which LG, and what resolution? USB-C? Just curious.I'm a high-powered Unix sysadmin and physicist...
But seriously, I am a Unix sysadmin, physicist and part-time software developer. The 12" MacBook is nearly perfect for me. I primarily need a machine for remote access into other, higher-powered computers. The MacBook gives me a decent-sized keyboard (not happy about the keys themselves though), reasonable CPU and RAM, and an easy-to-read display, with relatively long battery life given the size of the device. It can also drive my 34" LG widescreen display without any trouble.
The MacBook can handle the day-to-day office stuff without an issue (email, browsing, spreadsheets, etc). I've got access to my photo library and media, etc. If I need more power, well I did mention that my main use-case was for remote access into higher-powered computers.
I just wish the keyboard were better. I've been eyeing a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon lately, just to get a nice keyboard in a super-portable device... (although I'll take a pass on Windows 10)
Also, which MacBook? The 2017's keyboard is not great, but it's OK, and it's way better than the 2015/2016 keyboard.
I'm a high-powered Unix sysadmin and physicist...
But seriously, I am a Unix sysadmin, physicist and part-time software developer. The 12" MacBook is nearly perfect for me. I primarily need a machine for remote access into other, higher-powered computers. The MacBook gives me a decent-sized keyboard (not happy about the keys themselves though), reasonable CPU and RAM, and an easy-to-read display, with relatively long battery life given the size of the device. It can also drive my 34" LG widescreen display without any trouble.
The MacBook can handle the day-to-day office stuff without an issue (email, browsing, spreadsheets, etc). I've got access to my photo library and media, etc. If I need more power, well I did mention that my main use-case was for remote access into higher-powered computers.
I just wish the keyboard were better. I've been eyeing a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon lately, just to get a nice keyboard in a super-portable device... (although I'll take a pass on Windows 10)
I've just set mine up in the hotel I'm staying in. I must say that I love the 12" MacBook already! That said, I did think that the keyboard on the MacBook Pro was slightly better that on this unit. I can see this becoming my main computer and me selling my 2013 MacBook Pro.
Well, when I said that thought the keyboard was better on the MBP it was in an Apple store and you can't really get a good feel for it in there. So far I have no problems typing on this 12" MacBook. I'm just hoping that there no major updates coming out this year although as I mentioned before I have 30 days to return this one if there are.
I also think the feel of the MacBook Pro's keyboard is better than the MacBook's, but that's not the issue. The main issue is the fact that a lot of people have had stuck keys, after several months or maybe a year of use.
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/05/23/second-macbook-pro-keyboard-class-action/
It's supposed to affect both the MacBook and MacBook Pro, but most of the posts about this seem to be from MacBook Pro users.
I haven't heard that the MacBook keyboard has as many issues as the MBP - but maybe it could be that MBP users are more vocal!
I used to work with someone who had the original 2015 MB and it worked flawlessly in the 2 years he had it for.
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I noticed this, too. There are fewer people posting in the MB forum here than the MBP forum, but you would think that you'd still see a much larger percentage of complaints about dead/broken keyboards here if the failure rate were the same.
One thing that I recall seemed to be a fairly common element for MBP keyboard failures was heat levels, though that's hard to document.
That’s a good point. Perhaps there more microscopic deformation in the Pros due to their much higher heat generation
Coming from the MbP with the Touch Bar to the 12" MacBook, the only time I miss it is when hunting for an emoji in iMessage. Other than that, I can't say that it was a game changer for me. I honestly didn't use it too much. When using VS Code there is an extension that allows you to add things like "indent" "search" "find closing tag" etc which could be handy sometimes, but overall I'm doing just fine without it.
My only complaint about the 12" MacBook would be that I would like the touchpad to be just a bit bigger. Of course, that wouldn't come without a cost. I don't find the keyboard on the 2015 to be too much different than my MbP. At least all of the keys work fine still, which was a concern when I picked this thing up a couple of weeks ago.
edit: Maybe Apple could decrease the screen bezel some and turn the MacBook into a 13" screen with essentially the same form factor.
Apparently exactly this is going to happen in the fall but with one of the mid range ‘business productivity’ intel processors with a fan - so it’s likely not to be quite as thin as the MB but still pretty thin.
Jury is still out as to whether it’s going to called a MB or a MBA.
Some high-powered executive's are not afraid of their titles or their positions. As a multi-millionaire I enjoy my Apple products, and I still own my 2015 RMB and see no need to upgrade at this time. My wife's is two years newer and no faster.
Which specific models of MB? IMO the entry level 2017 is noticeably faster than the entry level 2015.
Plus the 2017 keyboard is better.
If I had the 2015, I probably wouldn’t upgrade either, but given the choice of a 2017 vs a 2015 for several hundred dollars less, I’d take the 2017.
The monitor is an LG 34UC97. I drive it over HDMI at its native resolution of 3440 x 1440, via the Apple USB-C to HDMI/USB/Power dongle. The MacBook itself is an original 2015 model. Probably going to replace it with a newer model, waiting to see what comes out after WWDC.
Lol
Some ‘high-powered executive’s’ what? Who do they possess that are unafraid?
I’ve got a 2017 TB 15 myself, but have always wanted an RMB - my aunt (a lowly teacher if you can believe it) has a 2015 rMB and loves it, as do I, but choosing between model years I would absolutely go newer unless I already owned it... two years is too short for a laptop lifespan
I’m guessing the reason for the discrepancies in keyboard issues between the regular MacBook and the Pro is due to heat. The Pro users tend to push their machines harder and expect them to be able to do more ‘pro’ things like long hours of rendering video etc, whereas the MacBook has accepted limitations.
There is some evidence that key failure has occurred when the machine has got hot - in a laptop that is thermally challenged to begin with, blasting fans to cool things down, the keyboard’s fragility is worsened. ‘Cos, Apple, materials tend to soften and deform under heat - especially when they are so ludicrously thin...
There is some evidence that key failure has occurred when the machine has got hot - in a laptop that is thermally challenged to begin with, blasting fans to cool things down, the keyboard’s fragility is worsened. ‘Cos, Apple, materials tend to soften and deform under heat - especially when they are so ludicrously thin...