Would You Welcome a Larger 13-15" rMacbook?

[Psyfuzz]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to start a bit of discussion but would there be many people out there that would be interested in a larger screen version of the Macbook?

I appreciate that portability is the priority with this device but I'd absolutely love a 13-15" Macbook option with the thinness of the 12 inch giving a little more screen estate for multitasking, more internal space for batteries or a slightly larger/more powerful motherboard, space for another USB C port or two (two left, one on the right?) and generally just another option in the range.

I know there's the Macbook Pro range for alternatives but I'd love to see the retina Macbook range get a few more options as it progresses since it's unparalleled so far on weight/portability and it's fan-less design certainly looks interesting as a future direction for laptops.

Thoughts?

 

[gooser]

i wouldn't see the need to get one.

 

[xmichaelp]

I'm of the opinion that Apple won't and shouldn't make a larger one. It would defeat the purpose of the machine and make it heavier and less portable. They hit an amazing weight at just 2 pounds.

The MacBook has always just been one size.

 

[Fancuku]

I think 14" would be perfect.

 

[jazz1]

Almost the same "issue" regarding going from an iPad Air 2 to a iPad Pro. When does screen size get too big for daily carry?

I wonder how close the weight of a larger 13" version of the Macbook 2015 would come to a 13" Macbook Pro?

That said I used to carry a 17" Macbook Pro everywhere in a huge Waterfield Design Bag

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I would have to see it in person. The key to the Macbook is its portability, otherwise we would just have gotten a retina Macbook Air, and making it larger kind of takes it away.

I'd much rather see them make a Macbook-Macbook Air hybrid, with best of both worlds, at 14".

 

[Psyfuzz]

i wouldn't see the need to get one.

The thinness of the Macbook with larger screen estate is an easy sell of itself - it wouldn't weight anywhere near the Macbook Pro since it'll still have the smaller-motherboard, Core M and no fan design going on.

I'm of the opinion that Apple won't and shouldn't make a larger one. It would defeat the purpose of the machine and make it heavier and less portable. They hit an amazing weight at just 2 pounds.

The MacBook has always just been one size.

Increasing the screen size a couple of inches wouldn't drastically reduce portability and providing the 12 inch version would also remain a 'ultra portable' smaller version would still exist. The weight wouldn't be a huge issue either and as mentioned above assuming they maintain the Core M and fan less design of the 12 inch it'd be a world lighter and more portable than other 13-15 inch alternatives on the market such as the Pro.

I appreciate the Macbook's always been one size, but it'd be great to see them break that tradition and hypothetically offer a 12 and 14 inch Macbook.

 

[SteveJUAE]

No thank you, it defeats the purpose/concept of the rMB IMO

 

[AlexH]

Some might be interested in it, but I am not. I think it's goes against the ethos of the MacBook series.

 

[Psyfuzz]

No thank you, it defeats the purpose/concept of the rMB IMO

Some might be interested in it, but I am not. I think it's goes against the ethos of the MacBook series.

Isn't the purpose/ethos of the current Macbook to provide a more portable experience than the alternatives? Having a larger screen doesn't inherently make a device a less 'portable' option otherwise the 11 inch MBA would supposedly be a more portable device than the rMB. There are so many factors that play into a device's success as a portable device.

Surely offering a significantly more portable 14" inch laptop than the Pro and other non-Apple alternatives fits in with the purpose behind the Macbook range?

 

[jmfangio]

I love having options but have been pleasantly surprised how un-smaill this 12" feels. The retina is so sharp that I never think "I wish I had a bigger screen". And I sold my 13" 2015 rMBP last month to fund the purchase of this rMB and have never looked back and wished I had that extra screen. I am still getting used to the keyboard but love it. The craziest part is how heavy my wife's 2014 MBAir feels now

 

[AlexH]

Isn't the purpose/ethos of the current Macbook to provide a more portable experience than the alternatives? Having a larger screen doesn't inherently make a device a less 'portable' option otherwise the 11 inch MBA would supposedly be a more portable device than the rMB. There are so many factors that play into a device's success as a portable device.

Surely offering a significantly more portable 14" inch laptop than the Pro and other non-Apple alternatives fits in with the purpose behind the Macbook range?

At some point screen size does become a portability issue. And that size will vary amongst users. I think a 15" MacBook would start to go against the idea of the product. 11-13" range is pretty portable. And really, there's not much difference between the 11.6" Air and the 12" MacBook in terms of portability/size. But jumping to 15"? I don't know...

I would note that I disagree with your statement about larger screens don't mean less portability. It's a larger dimension, so yeah, they kind of do make something inherently less portable. But within a certain range, it's not much to write home about.

 

[Max(IT)]

make it 14" with 2 USB-C ports and I will sell my new MBP 13" immediately ...

 

[Erdbeertorte]

For me 17" is enough to use it as a desktop computer at home. With my 17" MacBook Pro I only need one Mac for everything because I can easily take it with me if I need it elsewhere.

It would be very nice if there will be a new one with a Retina display and 4K resolution soon.

Now I am thinking of replacing it with an iMac and a 12" MacBook (or maybe iPad Pro). But I'd rather like to have only one device with all my data on it.

This is what I have now:

 

[garirry]

14" would be a good solution for people who don't mind sacrificing a bit of portability. It's much easier to see on a bigger screen IMO. Besides, it's not going to be that bigger and heavier.

For me 17" is enough to use it as a desktop computer at home. With my 17" MacBook Pro I only need one Mac for everything because I can easily take it with me if I need it elsewhere.

It would be very nice if there will be a new one with a Retina display and 4K resolution soon.

Now I am thinking of replacing it with an iMac and a 12" MacBook (or maybe iPad Pro). But I'd rather like to have only one device with all my data on it.

This is what I have now:

View attachment 591796
View attachment 591797
View attachment 591803

Yes, a "slightly-more-rare" 17" retina MBP with 4K display will be excellent, I wish Apple made this. Also, I'm curious. Don't you think it's better to keep the backup drive at home in a safe place (in case your computer gets stolen for example)?

 

[maclook]

This topic, since the MBA days, has garnered some odd responses. "Goes against the ethos", "see not point", etc. Every other Apple product comes in multiple sizes. Would shouldn't the MacBook provide options? The thinness and lightness of the Macbook (and MBA before it) is what I love, not necessarily the footprint which would potentially be the same as the 13" MBA/MB for a 14" MB. I'm sure most people's backpacks and bags can fit the bigger footprint.

So my answer is yes. I would hand down my 12" MB and get a 14" if it were offered. The MBA and MB have been marketed for casual (read: non-pro) use but I've gotten a lot of pro usage from my MB and old MBA including coding, web design, graphic design so I don't need the processing power of a heavier Pro but would love the larger screen.

 

[Josh125]

Personally, no. I can see the usefulness for some people, though.

 

[SteveJUAE]

You have answered the problem in your reply

It's not the rMB that's wrong, it's the old MBA range need updating, that's where your new 14" should be

Isn't the purpose/ethos of the current Macbook to provide a more portable experience than the alternatives? Having a larger screen doesn't inherently make a device a less 'portable' option otherwise the 11 inch MBA would supposedly be a more portable device than the rMB. There are so many factors that play into a device's success as a portable device.

Surely offering a significantly more portable 14" inch laptop than the Pro and other non-Apple alternatives fits in with the purpose behind the Macbook range?

 

[maflynn]

I know there's the Macbook Pro range for alternatives but I'd love to see the retina Macbook range get a few more options as it progresses since it's unparalleled so far on weight/portability and it's fan-less design certainly looks interesting as a future direction for laptops.

How would it be different then Apple's current offerings, i.e., MacBook Pros?

Apple already has 13" and 15" models for sale and rolling out competing 13 or 15" MacBook models would be confusing and diluting Apple's product line too much.

 

[Psyfuzz]

How would it be different then Apple's current offerings, i.e., MacBook Pros?

Apple already has 13" and 15" models for sale and rolling out competing 13 or 15" MacBook models would be confusing and diluting Apple's product line too much.

Because the Pros don't offer the same thinness, lighter weight, focus on USB C, fan less design, Core M processor, different colours, new keyboard mechanism (whether you're into that or not) etc. The only similarities would be the screen sizes and the fact they run OS X.

A 14 inch retina Macbook could easily be more portable than say a 13 inch Pro given the weight would be significantly less and it'd have a much thinner design - more screen estate, less bulk.

Given how drastically different the Macbook looks compared to the Pro range, I don't think it'd confuse the market - a 14 inch Macbook would interfere less with the Pro range than the current Macbook is on the Air range (both having a focus on portability)

 

[maflynn]

But you missed my point. There will be so little difference between a larger MB and MBP that it will not generate new sales, just stealing sales from people looking to buy the MBP.

Secondly, Apple's obsession with thinness means we'll most likely see a thinner MBP as well, so if you want a thinner laptop just wait until the next revision of the MBP line

 

[zhenya]

13" is too close to the existing 12" so I'd say they'd have to make a 14" model. At that point, it'd be interesting to see how much the thing weighed even if all else were equal to the current Macbook. At, say 2.5lbs I think they'd have an extremely niche seller between the existing Macbook as the ultraportable and the 13" Pro which would be significantly more powerful and possibly less expensive for an extra 1lb of weight.

The trouble I see is that it seems most people who want a larger screen would also want a bit more horsepower - a la the Macbook Air - and then we get back to the original issue - if you start to move a 14" Macbook to a u-series processor, add a few ports, you're at 3lbs+ while being more expensive than the Pro.

The 'problem' is that the 13" Macbook Pro is an incredible machine in terms of the horsepower/weight/price ratio so it makes it really difficult for Apple to offer something that is substantially better just below it. I'm sure that's why the Air's have not received an update.

I will say it will be very interesting to see how the new lineups shake out next year.

 

[MacRazySwe]

Was hoping for a 13" rMBA, so the 12" rMB was certainly a disappointment for me. A larger screen would definitely make it more interesting, as long as it doesn't impact the weight and size by too much.

 

[zhenya]

Was hoping for a 13" rMBA, so the 12" rMB was certainly a disappointment for me. A larger screen would definitely make it more interesting, as long as it doesn't impact the weight and size by too much.

They make a 13" rMBA. It's called the MacBook Pro. 3.5lbs to the Air's 3lbs. Add a retina screen and the necessary extra battery and the two become identical.

 

[xmichaelp]

The thinness of the Macbook with larger screen estate is an easy sell of itself - it wouldn't weight anywhere near the Macbook Pro since it'll still have the smaller-motherboard, Core M and no fan design going on.



Increasing the screen size a couple of inches wouldn't drastically reduce portability and providing the 12 inch version would also remain a 'ultra portable' smaller version would still exist. The weight wouldn't be a huge issue either and as mentioned above assuming they maintain the Core M and fan less design of the 12 inch it'd be a world lighter and more portable than other 13-15 inch alternatives on the market such as the Pro.

I appreciate the Macbook's always been one size, but it'd be great to see them break that tradition and hypothetically offer a 12 and 14 inch Macbook.

It would drastically reduce portability though. The rMB is tiny. It makes the 13" MBA and MBP look like a tank.

It's footprint is almost as small as an iPad

What I want them to do is make a 14 and 16 inch rMBP.