Who in their right mind would buy a MacBook after today?

[newellj]

Had two rMBAs, returned both. Still have a 2017 rMB.

The rMBA is not much faster, but runs hotter. When it runs hotter, the fans kick in and are obnoxiously loud by anyone's standards.

The rMBA Retina display turns out to be between 250-300 nits with poor color balance, compared to the rMB Retina display which runs 400 nits with better color and contrast ratios.

The FT camera, 720p per the spec sheet, is no better and sometimes worse than the 420p FT camera in the rMB in real life use.

The rMBA is no more portable than a rMBP (2.75 vs 3.0 pounds) and much heavier 2.75 vs. 2.0 pounds) than a rMB.

The Gen 3 KB might be an advantage for the rMBA, but based on lots of posts in the MPB forum, it doesn't look like that's true in real life.

The rMBA is not less expensive when you purchase the same size SSD.

The *ONLY* reason I can think of to buy an rMBA this year is that a 12" diagonal screen is actually noticeably smaller in real world use with spreadsheets and some other productivity applications, and if you set the scaled resolution to 1440p it gets reeeeeeally squinty.

 

[EugW]

The FT camera, 720p per the spec sheet, is no better and sometimes worse than the 420p FT camera in the rMB in real life use.

Yeah, I've been reading posts on that. Disappointing.

I had been hoping for an upgrade to a 720p camera with better low light capability than the 12" MacBook's 480p camera. Well, the MBA got the 720p upgrade, but apparently it still sucks as bad.

On the MacBook, the FaceTime camera is so bad I basically never use it for anything. If I have to FaceTime anyone, I just use my 2.5 year-old iPhone 7 Plus, which provides a much, much, much better quality image, particularly in low light. Even the iPhone 6s is way, way better.

This doesn't bode well for FaceTime on next year's 12" MacBook.

 

[lambertjohn]

Yeah, I've been reading posts on that. Disappointing.

I had been hoping for an upgrade to a 720p camera with better low light capability than the 12" MacBook's 480p camera. Well, the MBA got the 720p upgrade, but apparently it still sucks as bad.

On the MacBook, the FaceTime camera is so bad I basically never use it for anything. If I have to FaceTime anyone, I just use my 2.5 year-old iPhone 7 Plus, which provides a much, much, much better quality image, particularly in low light. Even the iPhone 6s is way, way better.

This doesn't bode well for FaceTime on next year's 12" MacBook.

Next year’s 12” MacBook? What makes you so certain there’s going to be one? I think the 12” MacBook is history with the 13” Retina Air replacing it.

 

[KPOM]

Next year’s 12” MacBook? What makes you so certain there’s going to be one? I think the 12” MacBook is history with the 13” Retina Air replacing it.

What makes you say that? As we can see, Amber Lake isn’t that big of an upgrade from Kaby Lake. The MacBook Air is considerably bigger and heavier. If Apple were going to discontinue the MacBook they probably wouldn’t have updated the color to the new gold. If anything they’d have dropped a color or two and perhaps reduced the available configurations. They did none of that.

If an ARM Mac is real, the 12” MacBook is just where to start. Or even if it stays Intel, Cannon Lake is the next big upgrade and that isn’t around until late next year.

 

[newellj]

Yeah, I've been reading posts on that. Disappointing.

I had been hoping for an upgrade to a 720p camera with better low light capability than the 12" MacBook's 480p camera. Well, the MBA got the 720p upgrade, but apparently it still sucks as bad.

On the MacBook, the FaceTime camera is so bad I basically never use it for anything. If I have to FaceTime anyone, I just use my 2.5 year-old iPhone 7 Plus, which provides a much, much, much better quality image, particularly in low light. Even the iPhone 6s is way, way better.

This doesn't bode well for FaceTime on next year's 12" MacBook.

Well, heck, it doesn't bode all that well for next year's 13" retina MBA!!! %(

 

[Dodgeman]

Is not having a fan a that big of a deal of the MB?
My old windows had fans and yes when they were running I hated it.
Here are my choices.

Refurb Macbook 12
New Macbook 12
New Air 2018

I like the Macbook a lot as in more memory and ultra light/thin as well also no fan noise is a plus. I am also sure the processor is fine for my general web browsing and occasionally creating a document or 2. However when looking at refurbs the 12 is the way to go however when it's new I am looking at $100 MORE based on prices I have found. So get more memory, maybe a better screen, more probability over fast processor and a few new upgrades... $100 is a $100 and even at these price points (even if I keep it for years) it makes a difference and I want the best bang for buck while minimizing my OOP cost.

Which would u chose based on general web usage?

 

[Neodym]

The Air is difficult to recommend. For mobility a MacBook is superior and for performance (and very similar footprint & weight) a MacBookPro 13 is the "better Air".

New MacBook is not required if the refurb is a 2017 as well (because that's still the latest tech in the MacBook). So far I can say only good things about _Apple_ refurbs. Other refurb offers always bear a slightly higher risk imo, depending on how much you trust the vendor.

 

[MacPoulet]

If you don't mind the old gold or rose gold colours, many resellers are liquidating them out. Got the mid-tier model brand new for a great price, even lower than a comparable refurb.

 

[Dodgeman]

The Air is difficult to recommend. For mobility a MacBook is superior and for performance (and very similar footprint & weight) a MacBookPro 13 is the "better Air".

New MacBook is not required if the refurb is a 2017 as well (because that's still the latest tech in the MacBook). So far I can say only good things about _Apple_ refurbs. Other refurb offers always bear a slightly higher risk imo, depending on how much you trust the vendor.

I agreed. The Pro would be the wiser choice. Apple does just a few things to make you want the Air ie fingerprint.

The Pro same deal though just a but heavier and the performance is not needed.

I went with the smaller MP over the 2018 air simply due to size and memory.
However I may change my mind and get the 2018 Air as I might not even need the 256gb memory.
The only thing I would back up is a phone and that is at 64gb so far so I still got room to work with.

If you don't mind the old gold or rose gold colours, many resellers are liquidating them out. Got the mid-tier model brand new for a great price, even lower than a comparable refurb.

Haven't seen any sites...?

 

[MacPoulet]

I agreed. The Pro would be the wiser choice. Apple does just a few things to make you want the Air ie fingerprint.

The Pro same deal though just a but heavier and the performance is not needed.

I went with the smaller MP over the 2018 air simply due to size and memory.
However I may change my mind and get the 2018 Air as I might not even need the 256gb memory.
The only thing I would back up is a phone and that is at 64gb so far so I still got room to work with.



Haven't seen any sites...?

You gotta keep looking. It also depends on which country you’re in. Last week, Fry’s had them on clearance in the US, I got mine at Best Buy in Canada, and some UK vendors had them too.

Took me a few weeks, but I snagged one and very happy with it.

 

[Dodgeman]

Has anyone viewed the 12 inch MacBook side by side with the 2018 Air?
Is the screen that big of a difference in terms of brightness or quality?
I remember seeing it and thinking it is a very slight difference by nothing you would notice at home or in everyday usage....

 

[Neodym]

Has anyone viewed the 12 inch MacBook side by side with the 2018 Air?
Is the screen that big of a difference in terms of brightness or quality?
I remember seeing it and thinking it is a very slight difference by nothing you would notice at home or in everyday usage....

I can only report about the 12" MB and the screen is brilliant! I seem to remember that someone wrote in these forums that the Air's screen quality is worse in comparison.

Which would make sense, as Apple tries to position the Air as "low-cost" (haha) product, whereas the 12" MB is positioned as higher-end ultra-mobile with good-quality components at a comparably high price.

 

[snazzybunny]

Got the mba 2018 with 512 gb and 16 gb for 1450. Brightness is way too bright for me on max. It’s a lot lighter than my 2018 mbp. I didnt want to stick with the older macbook 2017 bc of the old hardware and older keyboard. The battery life on my air isnt so good but I’ve been running a looot of stuff on it.

 

[Dodgeman]

I can only report about the 12" MB and the screen is brilliant! I seem to remember that someone wrote in these forums that the Air's screen quality is worse in comparison.

Which would make sense, as Apple tries to position the Air as "low-cost" (haha) product, whereas the 12" MB is positioned as higher-end ultra-mobile with good-quality components at a comparably high price.

Yes this is true. I am going to re visit the 2018 Air again and compare against the MB.
If they are really similar it might just boil down to size and memory.

Got the mba 2018 with 512 gb and 16 gb for 1450. Brightness is way too bright for me on max. It’s a lot lighter than my 2018 mbp. I didnt want to stick with the older macbook 2017 bc of the old hardware and older keyboard. The battery life on my air isnt so good but I’ve been running a looot of stuff on it.

The 2017 MB isn't that old, but I see wanting the latest. Seems you have no screen issue either.

 

[snazzybunny]

Yes this is true. I am going to re visit the 2018 Air again and compare against the MB.
If they are really similar it might just boil down to size and memory.



The 2017 MB isn't that old, but I see wanting the latest. Seems you have no screen issue either.

I got a good price on the mba 2018 so if the new macbook does come out ill just sell my old mba and get the new macbook. In the meantime, the mba will do. Yea I never have it on full brightness.

 

[Dodgeman]

I got a good price on the mba 2018 so if the new macbook does come out ill just sell my old mba and get the new macbook. In the meantime, the mba will do. Yea I never have it on full brightness.

Some people complain about the screen and some don't

 

[sky87]

Has anyone viewed the 12 inch MacBook side by side with the 2018 Air?
Is the screen that big of a difference in terms of brightness or quality?
I remember seeing it and thinking it is a very slight difference by nothing you would notice at home or in everyday usage....

I've compared the 2018 MBA and 12" MB as display models in store. Didn't notice a huge difference between the two in brightness/quality (whereas the old non-retina Air had an obviously inferior screen). The screen size difference was somewhat noticeable. There was a huge difference in weight between the two though - I can imagine just bringing the 12" MB with me everywhere, whereas I can't quite imagine the same for the 2018 MBA. (For reference, I have a 2018 MBP 13" that I don't bring around much.)

I have been very tempted to get the 12" MB for a few months now - but the dealbreaker for me at the moment is the noisy gen 2 butterfly keyboard. Comparing the gen 2 keyboard with the gen 3 keyboard in store I can notice a definite difference in the noise levels when I type, though admittedly I type very fast and rather loudly. Would make it somewhat awkward to use in quieter settings like meetings, lectures, libraries...

 

[radiologyman]

People consider iPad a very portable device that can be carried everywhere. This is how MB 12 feels to me, so light I always carry it around the house, with rigid hinges for the screen and no moving parts. No wobble here. Clamshell form factor, hardware keyboard and ability to multitask makes it much more productive to use, though my 4 other family members use iPads extensively. Old MBA and MBP are too heavy in comparison and used stationary. I do have a workstation at home that is set up as file/media server and for occasional video transcoding. I login into it remotely which is also giving me a windows machine on MacBook when needed (rarely).

 

[Dodgeman]

People consider iPad a very portable device that can be carried everywhere. This is how MB 12 feels to me, so light I always carry it around the house, with rigid hinges for the screen and no moving parts. No wobble here. Clamshell form factor, hardware keyboard and ability to multitask makes it much more productive to use, though my 4 other family members use iPads extensively. Old MBA and MBP are too heavy in comparison and used stationary. I do have a workstation at home that is set up as file/media server and for occasional video transcoding. I login into it remotely which is also giving me a windows machine on MacBook when needed (rarely).

Yeah i had an iPad I want an actual computer.
I right now have the mb 12 and the air 2018.
I may go ahead and stick with the air 2018. I think I can get by with the memory and I also think the screen will be ok as long as I have nothing side by side to compare it to.

 

[Neodym]

Comparing the gen 2 keyboard with the gen 3 keyboard in store I can notice a definite difference in the noise levels when I type, though admittedly I type very fast and rather loudly. Would make it somewhat awkward to use in quieter settings like meetings, lectures, libraries...

About time that Apple switches the rMB to a complete virtual keyboard, with each key giving haptic feedback with trackpad-like technology ...

 

[EugW]

About time that Apple switches the rMB to a complete virtual keyboard, with each key giving haptic feedback with trackpad-like technology ...

That would totally suck.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Well after seeing the 12" MacBook, MacBook Air and Pro in Paris yesterday, I've got to say that I still prefer my MacBook 12" the best. It's just so damn chic and brilliant. I never tire of the design.

I really can't as an Apple user and fan get my head around the new Air. whose idea was it? And why such a poor/cheap screen on a very very very expensive machine? Was there not enough available power in it to drive the MacBook Pro's P3 wide colour gamut screen? What is the point of the Air when £300 buys the same storage MacBook Pro TB?

If you want a fantastic lightweight Mac then go with the MacBook 12".

The 12" MacBook is a pure joy in every sense and Apple's finest design. I use it for 5-8 hours every day and I can't fault it. It's even beautiful editing 4K 60 fps HEVC video in FCPX which I do on a daily basis.

 

[Neodym]

That would totally suck.

Care to explain?

The click on the rMB‘s Trackpad feels very natural. With that technology and the key travel on the rMB’s keyboard being very small already, I could imagine Apple to provide a virtual keyboard that feels very similar to it‘s mechanical brother.

 

[Dodgeman]

Well after seeing the 12" MacBook, MacBook Air and Pro in Paris yesterday, I've got to say that I still prefer my MacBook 12" the best. It's just so damn chic and brilliant. I never tire of the design.

I really can't as an Apple user and fan get my head around the new Air. whose idea was it? And why such a poor/cheap screen on a very very very expensive machine? Was there not enough available power in it to drive the MacBook Pro's P3 wide colour gamut screen? What is the point of the Air when £300 buys the same storage MacBook Pro TB?

If you want a fantastic lightweight Mac then go with the MacBook 12".

The 12" MacBook is a pure joy in every sense and Apple's finest design. I use it for 5-8 hours every day and I can't fault it. It's even beautiful editing 4K 60 fps HEVC video in FCPX which I do on a daily basis.

Yeah the air is not that bad. However it may not be the best choice for me.
I ordered a refurb MB 12 to see what the quality of it is and then will make my ultimate final decision between the 2018 Air, the Refurb 12in MB or the brand new 12in MB.

 

[EugW]

Care to explain?

The click on the rMB‘s Trackpad feels very natural. With that technology and the key travel on the rMB’s keyboard being very small already, I could imagine Apple to provide a virtual keyboard that feels very similar to it‘s mechanical brother.

The trackpad on the MB is not great IMO. It feels different and inferior to the mechanical ones.

Anyhow, I suspect a haptic keyboard would weigh significantly more.