Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
Context check…the original MBA had Micro-DVI which required an adapter, and one USB port. Ever try to do a presentation and find a Micro-DVI adapter?
They quickly revised this model to include 2 USB ports and a Mini DisplayPort, to be more usable and more in line with other adapters offered by other Apple products.
No, it's not too bad. The great thing about Apple is that they're constantly willing to discard and replace even their best technologies if it doesn't fit the specific goals of the product in question, as opposed to other companies that will will milk something decent they came up with for all its worth, in fear of getting rid of it. Clearly, the #1 priority for the Macbook was thinness, lightness, and efficiency, and an additional magsafe port would have heavily compromised that. I'm glad Apple constantly has the guts to do this stuff, inclusing the port would definitely have been "easier" and much safer from a PR perspective, but Apple has never pushed the limits of its new products and made what seems insane, standard in a few years, by playing it safe. Magsafe is also a lot less relevant now that battery life is so high. 90% of people won't even ever need to plug this during the day as long as it charges at night.
Rationalizing are we? Glad you are right about everything.
I think this will be popular ... for many people weight is the big thing, and combine that with a killer display, and nice form factor, and this is a winner. The gold looks awesome, but probably a bit too flashy (for a guy). Will likely get space grey to match my 6+ and iPad (and stainless Apple Watch with black stainless arm band).
I'll likely keep my Retina 15" MBP, but hopefully the Core M is enough for most of what I do ... that's really the only question mark.
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
Context check…the original MBA had Micro-DVI which required an adapter, and one USB port. Ever try to do a presentation and find a Micro-DVI adapter?
They quickly revised this model to include 2 USB ports and a Mini DisplayPort, to be more usable and more in line with other adapters offered by other Apple products.
Wrong. The Late 2008 and 2009 models kept the 1 USB port, they just changed out MicroDVI. The main reason they went to 2 was because they had space and they wanted to get rid of that door.
This was not designed for connected at the office oh wait I need portability people. It was designed for the mass user who appreciates the freedom of computing anywhere. If you want an office powerhouse that is portable use a MacBook Pro.
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
And the MacBook Air is still a smash. Thanks, in part, to several price drops. I seem to recall that the original January 2008 MBA went for something like $1499. It was more of an Executive Laptop than a mainstream consumer model. Now both the 11" and 13" MBAs start at under $1k, replacing the old white plastic MacBook as the low-end Mac.
It will be interesting to see if and when the new MacBook starts to out-sell the 13" MBA and the 13" MBP. I think two things will appeal to consumers: the 2 lb. weight and the two new color options. It will appeal to the masses who don't need to do too much heavy computing every day (e.g. video editing and conversion, Xcode development, Adobe bloatware usage, etc.) who want a high-quality laptop. But I can see that there might be some resistance to the USB C port. "Where do I plug in my camera's memory card?" "I can't charge my MacBook and iPhone at the same time?"
And the MacBook Air is still a smash. Thanks, in part, to several price drops. I seem to recall that the original January 2008 MBA went for something like $1499. It was more of an Executive Laptop than a mainstream consumer model. Now both the 11" and 13" MBAs start at under $1k, replacing the old white plastic MacBook as the low-end Mac.
It will be interesting to see if and when the new MacBook starts to out-sell the 13" MBA and the 13" MBP. I think two things will appeal to consumers: the 2 lb. weight and the two new color options. It will appeal to the masses who don't need to do too much heavy computing every day (e.g. video editing and conversion, Xcode development, Adobe bloatware usage, etc.) who want a high-quality laptop. But I can see that there might be some resistance to the USB C port. "Where do I plug in my camera's memory card?" "I can't charge my MacBook and iPhone at the same time?"
I think very very few actually use the SD card slot. They use their iPhones or other smartphone.
The MBA started at $1799, with 2GB RAM (and no option to upgrade!), either a super slow 4200RPM PATA hard drive or a $1000 64GB SSD (no, I'm not kidding on that price), and a 1.6 or 1.8GHz processor. This MacBook is a bargain at $1299.
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
Exactly, Spam. It's what Apple does and nobody, I mean nobody else can do. They look at every aspect of the design and improve upon the impossible. What a magnificent feat of engineering and design. Just wonderful!
Sad that they weren't able to invent a USB-C connector using MagSafe. One of their absolute best inventions and it's now discarded. Too bad...
You mean Apple? How the hell could Apple do that? They don't run the USB-IF so there is no way they could have gotten them to create an entirely new USB standard that incorporates MagSafe. And USB-C is exactly what it is. If that's the design the USB-IF decided on then that's how it is. Perhaps you mean to say that Apple was unable to create an entirely new, proprietary connector, but that would also be incorrect because there is no evidence that they weren't able to, only that they choose to use USB-C and we can then deduce that its inclusion means it was the best choice for Apple.
not to mention the CoreM chips are not living up to expectations - the old i5 4300U parts are beating it. Just another toy, why do you think there is a silly gold version?
not to mention the CoreM chips are not living up to expectations - the old i5 4300U parts are beating it. Just another toy, why do you think there is a silly gold version?
Core M is struggling under Windows. Windows is CPU centric. OS X is GPU centric. It's going to offload the strain onto the 5300, not the CPU itself. Apple has also retweaked the OS to play nice with these new chips.
I am hoping that the new MacBook USB-C connector will be the same story as the original iMac USB connector. Basically the handicap will be the driving factor to get third parties making hardware to fill in the gap and then this will be picked up both other computer makers.
Given this connector is not Apple specific, and may be tempting for other "Ultrabook" manufacturers, there may be incentive to create a product base that can be used by other computer systems. Also, not being Apple specific, Apple can't dictate the terms around the hardware using the technology.
Myself, I would be interested in seeing what 'dock' solutions come to market. The Thunderbolt ones are probably better in terms of performance, but their price point has been a pit of sticking point, for many.
One last thing is that I would like to see Apple push for a magsafe based USB plug.
This will sell like crazy. It is spot on with what MOST laptop users want/need. No it will not satisfy those that are stuck in the past or need something specialized but for the masses it will be a hit. This line will replace the air eventually.
I don't think it will replace the Air. The 12" screen is too small, but the single port is a real show stopper for me. As an app developer I always use 2 USB ports for testing and debugging and the macbook won't hold 10 hours (my typical workday) without power.
As I am not the only app developer with these constraints, I am not so sure it will sell like crazy.
You could speculate that aliens taking the form of giant hamsters will take over the earth and be only slightly less credible than this kind of flypaper article. Bzzzz, bzzzz, bzzzz
One last thing is that I would like to see Apple push for a magsafe based USB plug.
The whole magsafe argument is irrelevant because, although it was a brilliant idea, it was born from the necessity that MBP required being plugged in all the time at, classrooms, coffee shops and airports. Now, no more hard drives spinning, no more fans, energy sucking CPU, or dvds. You just charge it up at night and go all day just like your iPhone or iPad, hence no more magsafe necessary.
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
Honestly I think he isn't that far off. A light notebook won't make up for the limitations this machine has. For many ports are important and it is especially important to be free of unnecessary dongle and adapters.
The negatives as I see it:
1. 2011 MBA like performance. This only becomes more important as 2016 approaches and also with the next release of Mac OS.
2. Lack of Ports. I would have been much happier with two type C ports or even a charger that acts like a break out box. Especially in my case, the ability to break out ports from then charger would actually work well for me. That wouldn't be a perfect soultionto the one port problem but it would make the base machine more attractive.
3. The lack of a memory upgrade option. It is 2015 and frankly we need he option for more RAM for many users.
4. Relatively high price for what you get!
The positives:
1. Retina
2. A platform that will grow into new technology. By this I mean the Mac Book can be looked at as a proof of concept that would be much better with SkyLake, DDR4 and other enhancements. In fact the wireless nature of the machine suggest that Apple is looking forward to SkyLake and down the road to Intels more advance and communicative offerings.
3. It is bigger than the 11".
4. Great battery life.
Kuo's numbers may be off but I think in general he is right. This laptop will eventually become a hot product but it will take the market some time to mature and make purchasers feel comfortable going this route.
Dudes, I would opt for the 11 inch air over this sleek underpowered bauble. Oops the USB C pulled out and knocked my computer on the floor! But ... what about the magnetic detach thingie that was so great? Oh, they got rid of that because ... uh ... ??? So stoked for my next Apple device but it's just not on the market today.
Comments
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
Context check…the original MBA had Micro-DVI which required an adapter, and one USB port. Ever try to do a presentation and find a Micro-DVI adapter?They quickly revised this model to include 2 USB ports and a Mini DisplayPort, to be more usable and more in line with other adapters offered by other Apple products.
No, it's not too bad. The great thing about Apple is that they're constantly willing to discard and replace even their best technologies if it doesn't fit the specific goals of the product in question, as opposed to other companies that will will milk something decent they came up with for all its worth, in fear of getting rid of it. Clearly, the #1 priority for the Macbook was thinness, lightness, and efficiency, and an additional magsafe port would have heavily compromised that. I'm glad Apple constantly has the guts to do this stuff, inclusing the port would definitely have been "easier" and much safer from a PR perspective, but Apple has never pushed the limits of its new products and made what seems insane, standard in a few years, by playing it safe. Magsafe is also a lot less relevant now that battery life is so high. 90% of people won't even ever need to plug this during the day as long as it charges at night.
Rationalizing are we? Glad you are right about everything.
I think this will be popular ... for many people weight is the big thing, and combine that with a killer display, and nice form factor, and this is a winner. The gold looks awesome, but probably a bit too flashy (for a guy). Will likely get space grey to match my 6+ and iPad (and stainless Apple Watch with black stainless arm band).
I'll likely keep my Retina 15" MBP, but hopefully the Core M is enough for most of what I do ... that's really the only question mark.
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
Context check…the original MBA had Micro-DVI which required an adapter, and one USB port. Ever try to do a presentation and find a Micro-DVI adapter?
They quickly revised this model to include 2 USB ports and a Mini DisplayPort, to be more usable and more in line with other adapters offered by other Apple products.
Wrong. The Late 2008 and 2009 models kept the 1 USB port, they just changed out MicroDVI. The main reason they went to 2 was because they had space and they wanted to get rid of that door.
This was not designed for connected at the office oh wait I need portability people. It was designed for the mass user who appreciates the freedom of computing anywhere. If you want an office powerhouse that is portable use a MacBook Pro.
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
And the MacBook Air is still a smash. Thanks, in part, to several price drops. I seem to recall that the original January 2008 MBA went for something like $1499. It was more of an Executive Laptop than a mainstream consumer model. Now both the 11" and 13" MBAs start at under $1k, replacing the old white plastic MacBook as the low-end Mac.
It will be interesting to see if and when the new MacBook starts to out-sell the 13" MBA and the 13" MBP. I think two things will appeal to consumers: the 2 lb. weight and the two new color options. It will appeal to the masses who don't need to do too much heavy computing every day (e.g. video editing and conversion, Xcode development, Adobe bloatware usage, etc.) who want a high-quality laptop. But I can see that there might be some resistance to the USB C port. "Where do I plug in my camera's memory card?" "I can't charge my MacBook and iPhone at the same time?"
Resolution isn't everything.
My 2012 15in MBP is maxed out with an i7, 16Gb RAM and 2x 1TB SSD's. (no DVD drive).
I'd use it more if I could put 32GB ram in it like my HP Windows Laptop (17in screen, 32Gb Ram 3.5TB of SSD)
Yeah, I run a shed load of VM's. But I can only run 2/3rd of the plant's systems on my MBP.
I do use it for Photo and Video editing. A shoot last week used up some 90Gb of storage.
So I'd like a 17in MBP with an i7, 32Gb Ram max and the ability to have at least 2TB of SSD storage inside.
If it has a retina display then great but it isn't a deal breaker for me.
Sadly, Apple isn't in the market of supplying luggable devices with this sort of power.
And the MacBook Air is still a smash. Thanks, in part, to several price drops. I seem to recall that the original January 2008 MBA went for something like $1499. It was more of an Executive Laptop than a mainstream consumer model. Now both the 11" and 13" MBAs start at under $1k, replacing the old white plastic MacBook as the low-end Mac.
It will be interesting to see if and when the new MacBook starts to out-sell the 13" MBA and the 13" MBP. I think two things will appeal to consumers: the 2 lb. weight and the two new color options. It will appeal to the masses who don't need to do too much heavy computing every day (e.g. video editing and conversion, Xcode development, Adobe bloatware usage, etc.) who want a high-quality laptop. But I can see that there might be some resistance to the USB C port. "Where do I plug in my camera's memory card?" "I can't charge my MacBook and iPhone at the same time?"
I think very very few actually use the SD card slot. They use their iPhones or other smartphone.
The MBA started at $1799, with 2GB RAM (and no option to upgrade!), either a super slow 4200RPM PATA hard drive or a $1000 64GB SSD (no, I'm not kidding on that price), and a 1.6 or 1.8GHz processor. This MacBook is a bargain at $1299.
Kuo is full of it. The MacBook Air was a smash, mainly due to the lightness.
Exactly, Spam. It's what Apple does and nobody, I mean nobody else can do. They look at every aspect of the design and improve upon the impossible. What a magnificent feat of engineering and design. Just wonderful!
Best
You mean Apple? How the hell could Apple do that? They don't run the USB-IF so there is no way they could have gotten them to create an entirely new USB standard that incorporates MagSafe. And USB-C is exactly what it is. If that's the design the USB-IF decided on then that's how it is. Perhaps you mean to say that Apple was unable to create an entirely new, proprietary connector, but that would also be incorrect because there is no evidence that they weren't able to, only that they choose to use USB-C and we can then deduce that its inclusion means it was the best choice for Apple.
not to mention the CoreM chips are not living up to expectations - the old i5 4300U parts are beating it. Just another toy, why do you think there is a silly gold version?
not to mention the CoreM chips are not living up to expectations - the old i5 4300U parts are beating it. Just another toy, why do you think there is a silly gold version?
Core M is struggling under Windows. Windows is CPU centric. OS X is GPU centric. It's going to offload the strain onto the 5300, not the CPU itself. Apple has also retweaked the OS to play nice with these new chips.
What, no kick stand?
Given this connector is not Apple specific, and may be tempting for other "Ultrabook" manufacturers, there may be incentive to create a product base that can be used by other computer systems. Also, not being Apple specific, Apple can't dictate the terms around the hardware using the technology.
Myself, I would be interested in seeing what 'dock' solutions come to market. The Thunderbolt ones are probably better in terms of performance, but their price point has been a pit of sticking point, for many.
One last thing is that I would like to see Apple push for a magsafe based USB plug.
This will sell like crazy. It is spot on with what MOST laptop users want/need. No it will not satisfy those that are stuck in the past or need something specialized but for the masses it will be a hit. This line will replace the air eventually.
I don't think it will replace the Air. The 12" screen is too small, but the single port is a real show stopper for me. As an app developer I always use 2 USB ports for testing and debugging and the macbook won't hold 10 hours (my typical workday) without power.
As I am not the only app developer with these constraints, I am not so sure it will sell like crazy.
One last thing is that I would like to see Apple push for a magsafe based USB plug.
The whole magsafe argument is irrelevant because, although it was a brilliant idea, it was born from the necessity that MBP required being plugged in all the time at, classrooms, coffee shops and airports. Now, no more hard drives spinning, no more fans, energy sucking CPU, or dvds. You just charge it up at night and go all day just like your iPhone or iPad, hence no more magsafe necessary.
Honestly I think he isn't that far off. A light notebook won't make up for the limitations this machine has. For many ports are important and it is especially important to be free of unnecessary dongle and adapters.
The negatives as I see it:
1. 2011 MBA like performance. This only becomes more important as 2016 approaches and also with the next release of Mac OS.
2. Lack of Ports. I would have been much happier with two type C ports or even a charger that acts like a break out box. Especially in my case, the ability to break out ports from then charger would actually work well for me. That wouldn't be a perfect soultionto the one port problem but it would make the base machine more attractive.
3. The lack of a memory upgrade option. It is 2015 and frankly we need he option for more RAM for many users.
4. Relatively high price for what you get!
The positives:
1. Retina
2. A platform that will grow into new technology. By this I mean the Mac Book can be looked at as a proof of concept that would be much better with SkyLake, DDR4 and other enhancements. In fact the wireless nature of the machine suggest that Apple is looking forward to SkyLake and down the road to Intels more advance and communicative offerings.
3. It is bigger than the 11".
4. Great battery life.
Kuo's numbers may be off but I think in general he is right. This laptop will eventually become a hot product but it will take the market some time to mature and make purchasers feel comfortable going this route.
Sad that they weren't able to invent a USB-C connector using MagSafe. One of their absolute best inventions and it's now discarded. Too bad...
Perhaps one day we'll see an ? watch inspired inductive recharger instead of the forlorn MagSafe cable?
I also loved the way the MagSafe cable snapped off when you tripped over the cable. You'll have to be more vigilant in your coworking space now ...