Ports
Would it have killed them to put a second port on it?
I'd have one - I like Mac OS and it's perfect for documents & browsing on the train. But it's just a bit too limited.
As Geddy Lee of Rush once sang – “plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose”. When Apple unveiled the MacBook Air back in 2008 we all scoffed and said that Steve Jobs’ slimline progeny was over-priced and underpowered. “It doesn’t even have an Ethernet port”, came the mocking cry (followed by the entire PC industry doing exactly …
This post has been deleted by its author
bit curious, what extra bits due you need to connect to it via usb?
Let me see here:
- Tablet
- Headset
- the odd USB stick/storage drive
And you'd want to have the thing running on mains for the sort of things I do. It's one of the reasons I upgraded the old MacBook (yes, an original one) for the Toughbook I have now: I'd have to unplug the headset or tablet when someone handed me a USB stick.
With this, I'd have to forgo those peripherals, run off batteries or pay an extortionate fee for an adaptor. Yet another dongle. Having used laptops that had all interfaces on-board (no dongles required), to having that MacBook that needed dongles for nearly everything (except USB thankfully), to going back to a utilitarian laptop, I'll stick to what I have now.
No thanks. Not at AU$1300. The lack of being able to loose some silly and expensive adaptor more than makes up for the machine's bulk.
>Can you actually buy any other laptop (with a £1000 start price) with just a VGA resolution webcam?
How many buyers of this Macbook don't already have an iPhone? If I had to guess, I'd hazard that most Macbook users will already own an iPhone and use its camera instead.
Anyway, who wants to see me in HD? I've only ever seen Tommy Cooper, Charlie Chaplin and Peter Cook in SD, yet their facial expressions came through.
Now, in an ideal world we world have the best and biggest of everything. Unfortunately, engineering is about priorities and compromises.
You can plug your headset into the little port with the picture of the headset near it, or spring for a bluetooth one. You do not need a tablet if you have this. It is basically a tablet replacement. What kind of tablet do you have that has USB ports by the way?
Also, if you can really buy one for AU$1300 you are getting a great deal. In my country it cost US$1300 which is AUD1600.
USB stick, camera, mouse, keyboard, phone (handy for charging), monitor
Not all at once generally. That said, I use my laptop to work from home. My company uses a remote desktop approach, so I plug my personal laptop into a biggish monitor and hook up a keyboard and mouse.
Don't forget that without an adapter you can't plug /anything/ into the new Macbook if you're running on mains power.
I've had one for a week. It was a replacement for my iPad and for that it is great. I wish it had LTE, but WiFi is almost everywhere. The port is not an issue and the performance is not an issue. I also have a Mac Mini at home, and a 17" Macbook Pro at work set up like a desktop with monitor, mouse and keyboard. Yesterday I worked for 5 hours at a coffee shop and it was fine. The battery lasted the entire time and my working files are in Evernote and in Dropbox so no issue with that.
So far I have not felt limited, and my biggest adjustment was getting used to the keyboard.
Until you realize that Apple defines font sizes in pixels so the only way to get system fonts bigger (when your eyes go and you're an old git like me) is to reduce the resolution of the screen. So I've paid a shedload for a retina screen and the first thing I have to do is to knacker it so I can read the system fonts.
Nope, it doesn't. Once there have been two or three generations more generations of CPU from Intel and you can get a bit more CPU power into the platform, though, it will be quite nice. The original Macbook Air in 2008 was also ludicrously underpowered, but by 2011 it was quite useful, and it's a pretty mainstream laptop in terms of CPU and GPU power these days. (It had more ports, too). So I might be looking at getting one of these in 2017 or 2018.
It is intended to show intent, just as the original Air (no ethernet!!) and the Bondi Blue iMac (no floppy disk drive!!) were in their time - one got another USB socket for MK 2, the other became more sensible looking. In time, it will be given a faster CPU, and the rest of the world will have adopted USB C.
Just think of it as an iPad that is good for emails - for some people that is just fine. Others can buy a Macbook Pro, Alienware or whatever best fits their own personal needs.
..is that you don't actually need to charge it through the day; it has (ballpark) the same "real world" run time as an iPad so I think that Apple's use case is that the only people who will buy this will be light users - web surfing, doc editing, email (no Final Cut, no Photoshop etc) - and so all they will need to do is to charge it overnight and then use it on battery the whole day.
But I agree, not for me (or us, on this site, even if you're not an Apple hater) because it's just too limited. But it wouldn't be for my parents. Or my sister. Or probably even "most" people (as in more than 50% of the population). So long as you don't consider the cost.
I could live with just one port.
But that would be one port and a power connector.
Effectively this is a computer with no ports, and has lost the mag-safe power connector which is one of the best things about my MBP.
Sure there is a market for these - people whose use is 100 percent mobile - but that is a pretty small market and they are cutting themselves off from a much bigger one.
I agree. MagSafe is a work of genius - why get rid of it? Seems like a backward step to me. I love my 5yo MBP but it's definitely showing it's age, despite the upgraded RAM (8GB) and SSD (512GB). But at least I could upgrade it. I'd love a new MacBook, but every year Apple give me less incentive to buy one. More expensive, less power, non-upgradable and now no MagSafe! Fuck Apple. Now I'll have to find a nice ultra book and stick linux mint on it. Bollocks.
The one annoying thing about Magsafe is that Apple ruthlessly protects it, so if you want another charger there are no discount ones. The good thing about USB-C is that it is not an Apple only standard, so although Apple's adaptors and chargers are expensive, there is nothing stopping you buying cheaper products from other manufacturers. Or at least there won't be once those products start shipping.
The use/charge patterns of tablets has provided data about the way *some* people will use this Macbook. If my phone is charging and I decide I want to use it, I unplug it, do what I want to do, and then plug it back in again. It is not expected that people will not often use this laptop whilst it is plugged in - indeed, with its battery life, it will be rare that they have to - so the clear benefits of the MagSafe connector would rarely come into play anyway
In the future, more people will use USB-C monitors and port extenders (remember, everyone is moving to this standard). Unlike power bricks, these live on the desk not on the floor, so a tugged cable won't drag the laptop off the desk.
Many people are used to phones and tablets that don't need ports.
[I have an Android phone with microSD and USB OTG - both of which I have only used once. If I got my arse in gear and finally sorted out my home storage system and network, I wouldn't even have plugged my phone into my laptop.]
It's a keyboard... with as much feedback as a ZX81's and the left and right cursor keys have been made full size yet the up and down keys are half sized and therefore the cluster of keys as a whole is more difficult to find, at least until muscle memory remembers for you.
Now that makes sense. I agree. It is an iPad with a keyboard.
Of course I always thought the "Air" product line was supposed to cover that and the regular "Macbooks" without that designation were for the normal "all-things" notebook/laptop activity and productivity on the go.
Now it's like both are just tablet and netbook replacements sans productivity. To me, this is a formula for confusion, angst, frustration and anger with their fanboys & girls customers.
>It's an iPad with a keyboard. Credit where it's due: Apple know their market.
A good fraction of it, yes. "Yeah, it's like the iPad you're used to with its 8hr battery and high res screen, but it's got a keyboard" is a pretty clear and simple way to communicate this machine's strengths (and compromises) to potential buyers. Some of them might think to themselves: "Well, the only time I pick up my laptop instead of my iPad is when I want to type something, and this thing isn't much heavier, so.... hmmm maybe".
It is only for a good fraction of Apple's market though - they do still make Macbook Pros and Airs.
We're not complaining about the OS. I'd sooner see it on a more useful machine.
Hell, if Apple released MacOS X for IBM clones, they'd make a killing! There will still be a market who want the "premium" experience of running MacOS X in its native habitat (on Apple hardware) but it would make a real compelling alternative to Windows and Linux.
Yeah but you can tell they are slowly replacing the BSD user land parts whenever they can, launchd for example (but at least it isn't systemd, the name gives it all away). All you have to do is run Freebsd on a Mac to see quite big differences even if you stay only in the CLI on both. MacPorts can bridge the difference enough though I guess.
The problem with these laptops is that they stop being sleek and portable the moment you realize that they need a pile of accessory gadgets to go with them. If you're taking it to meetings you need an HDMI adaptor and power cable. If you're taking to a hotel you need power and an Ethernet adaptor. A road trip might need a USB-C adaptor, 12 inverter, and a cell modem. Eventually you realize that a bigger laptop would actually be more portable.
If you genuinely need all that, this isn't for you. Apple's clearly pushing the idea of wireless, so in AppleWorld(TM):
No HDMI cable necessary, as all projectors are AirPlay equipped (or have an AppleTV connected):
No power cable necessary, with all-day runtime
No cell modem necessary, with Personal Hotspot on your iPhone
No Ethernet adapter necessary, because wifi is ubiquitous.
In this world, the MacBook makes complete sense.
PS I travel 3 weeks out of 4 and spend my life in hotels giving seminars. So I would fall in the target demographic for this. I can honestly say I've never missed Ethernet (don't think the Ethernet port on my MBP has ever been used), and I always use Personal Hotspot if I need remote connectivity; but I would need a USB-C to VGA cable. Apart from that, this would be fine for me if I could just remember to keep it charged.
Zackly!
I want lightness and enough power to do a couple of hours max without plugging it in.
Werk gave me a new MacBook Pro to play with a few months back, but I'd probably still want to buy one of these and take it with me.
All I'll need to take with me is the multiport adaptor (VGA) to plug in hotel projectors, which is what I already do as the VGA adaptor isn't on my MBP as standard.
MagSafe? Not an issue, but then I'm not clumsy and tend to avoid numpties...
To be honest, for the kind of duties I see this device being put to I'd rather have an iPad with one of those Bluetooth keyboard cases.
Sure the iPad doesn't run OS X (well it does but that's an argument for another time) and there's no finder, but by using goodreader as a file manager I could get along fine within the remit of what I would expect to do with the new MacBook.
I'm sure the new MacBook has it's market, but even as a long time Apple user I'm not in it.
Yes please, this is perfect if you cant stand a iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. perfect for that little job which you cant do on your phone, just pop Dreamweaver on her and off you go. As for USB C well just look on Amazon or Ebay and find that adapter you want cheaper than Apple. Now who is going to be first to make a MagSafe to USB C.
but my gf's old powerbook is sicky bad, and with all the problems she was having with the latest
software on the banks etc, she purchased an apple air.
After a bit of tuition from Aimee the wiz kid, she transitioned from osx tiger to yosemite, with few
problems, dumping her micro$oft office for apple mail and libre office.
A happy bunny so far , so a happy Aimee!!
...buy the Lenovo Yoga 3 Vanilla (i.e. not the Pro) it's the same chipset, same size, similar spec.
Differences:
- Screen, only 1920x1080 but reasonable for the screen size
- Only 128GB flash drive but you do get a SD card slot
- Plastic so not as durable but a lot lighter
- Micro HDMI port
- Full size USB 3.0 port, full size USB 2.0 port
- Oh, and a socket that looks a lot like USB... actually a custom charge port that doubles as USB 2.0!!! Did I mention the Lenovo charger can also double as a standard 5V/2A phone charger?
For an engineer on the go all over the City you can only cry over a missing Ethernet port. As you have soooo many USB ports (for such a titchy laptop) a USB to Ether adaptor is bearable :)
Weight... Doh! You got me there. I suspect the metal on all those extra ports add up :)
As for "Apples vs Oranges" this might be the easiest hackintosh given the identical chipset. Don't fancy the keyboard differences and the lack of touch screen support in OSX though.
Still, given the Yoga's £550 to £600 price tag it really shows you're paying for style.
I am in total agreement with your sentiment, but please be aware that as soon as someone makes a list of all their Apple products and finishes it off with an "in every room" comment, they do sound rather smug and ostentatious. Try leaving out everything in the brackets and you still make the same point...
I like your handle by the way.
Fair point Matt, on rereading my post I did sound like a bit of a cock. Not my intention, sorry. My point is, as a household we made a conscious decision a few years ago to move over to Apple - so instead of Windows, Samsung and Sonos, we have Apple. In some ways it's better to have everything integrated (Apple kit really does work very well together) and in some ways it's not (AirPlay remains a poor cousin to Sonos), but it was the definition of 'better' that I was taking issue with.
Cheers,
The design of the new MacBook is world class.
With one solitary port primarily used for charging, the necessity of buying an adaptor that the cheap fucks can't be arsed throwing in for free less it dampen the 40% margin, and having 1/10 repairability I think I can safely say this is not World class design. Shiny yes, World class? Certainly not.
Imagine someone using it with a bluetooth mouse, keyboard and headset, the screen mirrored to a 100" TV via AppleTV, Dropbox, iCloud or GDrive taking the place of a USB thumb drive etc.
It's the same thing they've always done, dropping technologies that are on their way out even though they're still in use, if you can live in that wireless future now then its perfect, if you can't then it's not like it's the only laptop they make is it.
If they had 1xmagsafe + 1xUSBc or just 2xUSBc I think a lot of the arguing about how bad it is having 1 port would have never happened. I think this was a mistake on Apple's part not just from a practical point of view but because they took the focus away from what they have produced to what it is so obviously missing. So much of every review and the comments sections are taken up talking about the single port. When I asked people about whether they would get one they all focused on that limitation and said no. I haven't actually met a Mac user yet that has said they would buy it (and there are a lot of Mac users where I work).
Even though you can argue that it is the future, I prefer a future where I can power and USB at the same time without having to remember/buy a dongle. Even if you say it is not needed, it is an image problem and I believe will drastically reduce the sales they could have had if they included 2 ports.
I just replaced my overpriced, faulty MacBookPro 15 (graphics card "glitches").
Have you heard of Apple's 2 worldwide recalls (MacBooks of 2007 and 2011), and their latest "screen-peeling" scandal ?
Then you will understand that, for my latest notebook, I preferred taking a safer bet... with the new Dell XPS 13.
The Dell XPS 13 is a machine built for business: latest Intel Core 5 processor, 8GB memory and 256GB SSD storage, 13.3 inch display (1920x1080 pixels, matte, razor-thin bezel)... with 2 USB 3.0 ports, Mini Display Port and power port ! And light, too, with just 1.18 kg (2.6 lb).
All for CHF 1'030 (which is about USD 1'115, GBP 735 or EUR 990) + VAT, free shipping.
Yep, you read it right, roughly 40% cheaper than the new MacBook Air, despite a much more powerful processor, more readable (matte) display, thinner bezel, and plenty more ports than what Apple fanbois could ever dream of !!!
Plus I don't have to worry about a failing graphics card or peeling display just a few years down the road. A sounder sleep is priceless.
You couldn't be any further from the truth. I have just finished a Master of Law, have been looking for a job since April.
But I would have better work for Dell (or any such company that actually cares a minimum for their customers) than for Apple. If a company has no qualms about screwing their customers over again and again, what a chance they treat their empoyees any better?
And a replaceable battery... which runs for longer...
My own XPS13 is i7, 512, 3200x1800 touch display.
And with Ubuntu Gnome loaded improves substantially over the rather clunky OSX look 'n' feel.
You did mention lots of ports, didn't you?
This new Mac 2015 really doesn't add anything new to get excited about. Unless, of course, you're locked into their world.
Previously had dell xps, the older version. Really enjoyed the lightweight, didn't like the lack of ports - but got used to it.
I want a decent screen, lightweight, no fan, performant enough for dev work/movies/surfing. this ticks the boxes. The core m is actually a decent processor, check out the anand tech article which goes in depth. I will only ever use the macbook for surfing/watching movies/development. The cost is comparable to other laptops with similar spec. Except for the asus zenbook ux305, which is tempting. But I want to try some apple dev for shiggles.
Never had a an apple before, not a fanbois.
This post has been deleted by its author
What Apple have done is create a laptop as an appliance like an iPad only much worse. It's got designed obsolescence built in.
If you check out ifixit.com's teardown at https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Retina+Macbook+2015+Teardown/39841 you'll discover that this thing has been carefully engineered to be practically impossible to upgrade or repair in any significant way.
*Proprietary screws to hold some components together.
*The batteries are glued down into the case - so when the batteries die, end of laptop. Buy another
*The Retina display is a fused unit - no way to change anything in it.
*The processor, RAM and flash memory have been SOLDERED to the motherboard - problems with any of those things and you're screwed.
*The motherboard is glued to the case.
*Everything connects through one USB-c connector, power and peripherals, the lot - when that wears out you buy another laptop.
This thing is designed to have a limited lifespan. It's the ultimate throw-away laptop appliance for rich people, because the first component to fail causes the laptop to be useless. It's designed for landfill only.
ifixit.com gave it 1/10 (its lowest score) for maintainability.
If Apple had put a clock showing how long you've got left before it's garbage, it could not have done more to be an expensive throw-away.