The 12" PowerBook was one of the best-selling laptops for Apple.
One defense for the 12" PB being better than the 12" MB is the PB was still using a 4:3 aspect ratio which resulted in a display with 70.28 inches square while the new MB with its 16:10 aspect ratio results in only 64.72 inches square. But lets also remember that those 12" PBs were more expensive than the new MB, and that's without considering inflation since they first went on sale.
They are brilliant machines that the rest of the industry will now try to match with their "me too" product but ultimately fail to drive profits. I foresee Apple continuing to increase their market share of the traditional PCs, and can't wait for most of these new MB features to make their way to the MBP.
The whole dongle thing is disingenuous. As a user of the MBPr on the road I have to take the DVI dongle and RGB dongle everywhere because not every site does HDMI. Folks who do presentations will have dongles anyway.
Yes, take cdmi, dvi and even a nasty old VGA,=, one never knows....
I take an Apple TV (has to be latest edition) also for doing presentations. Ill use that if the have HDMI. I can do the show from macbook or iPad.
USB-C charge overnight, work entirely wirelessly - I love theis new MBP, its kinda like iPad all over again - but with real keyboard and real IOS - Im getting one
I initially purchased a Macbook Air to take on vacations (we tend to travel abroad) and local trips, in order to perform backup and manipulation of photos from my DSLR camera. The MBA has worked wonderfully for this, but it's old, and by current standards has very little storage capacity. I need to get a replacement, but if the goal is to have a compact, convenient system for the uses I outlined above, I don't see how this new Macbook can do it. No SD card slot. No USB for me to offload from precious HD space onto a thumbdrive, no way to connect an inexpensive external drive for a tertiary backup.
There is a USB port with USB 3 speed capacity. Connecting most of those devices will require nothing more than a USB-C male to USB-A female cable.
The SD card will require a SD card reader.
Quote:
Now, if I get the new Macbook, I have to spend a way too much money for adapters on top of an already expensive notebook just to regain this basic functionality, and I end up with a package that is far more inconvenient to use (I have to keep track of all those adapters). Additionally, if I'm in the middle of the Philippines (our most common destination), and an adapter breaks or gets lost, I'm simply screwed, unless I want to book a couple flights to go to Manila and buy one there. Having Apple.com deliver one just isn't a serious option like it is in a western country, at least not in the time frames that I spend in a single location.
Maybe there is some niche group that will benefit from this new device (such as those who can't live without a gaudy gold-colored computer), but I don't see much use in it personally. Hopefully, they will wake up and release a MBA with some ports.
I realize that there will be super-expensive options for me to buy new thumbdrives and external hard-drives eventually so that I can replace my perfectly good ones at increased costs due to a whim on the part of Apple, but this still does not fix the fact that I cannot connect easily get the photos from my camera to the computer. And to anyone about to suggest getting a sd-card wifi adapter, I have. They work like crap.
Buy two and quit whining. You can copy your images from the SD card to the USB stick/drive without even booting the computer by using the app on your iPhone. Using a USB-C to USB-A cable it even acts like a standard SD card reader.
And it's not like Apple discontinued the MBA. Jesus.
Yes, take cdmi, dvi and even a nasty old VGA,=, one never knows....
I take an Apple TV (has to be latest edition) also for doing presentations. Ill use that if the have HDMI. I can do the show from macbook or iPad.
USB-C charge overnight, work entirely wirelessly - I love theis new MBP, its kinda like iPad all over again - but with real keyboard and real IOS - Im getting one
Did you know the aTV can do peer-to-peer wifi with iOS8 devices now?
When I brought the atv I always brought an airport express as well since you never know what weirdness exists on someone else's network and sometimes they just don't want to let you connect. You can be connected with your laptop or iPad on the same network as the aTV and end up in different VLANs. How that even happens I have no idea but it was a big banquet room so I guess we could see and connect to different routers. The AV stuff was in the back.
I am not happy with this decision to move away from all ports, save one. I understand why it was done, and I get the vision, but I was hoping if the Macbook line returned it would be something between the Air and the Pro, not just another Air...which basically that is what this is. This design should have been saved for the MacBook Air.
I don't want to have to buy dongles and adapters to plug in other devices. I don't want to buy converters to use existing converters. I don't want to compromise. However, Apple is all about making people compromise for their personal vision...and I am not a fan.
I like the machine, and I think it will be beautiful, but Apple is moving further and further away from having a "normal" work based Laptop. Once the non-retina Macbook Pro is gone, I am afraid Apple will never go back.
Did you know the aTV can do peer-to-peer wifi with iOS8 devices now?
When I brought the atv I always brought an airport express as well since you never know what weirdness exists on someone else's network and sometimes they just don't want to let you connect. You can be connected with your laptop or iPad on the same network as the aTV and end up in different VLANs. How that even happens I have no idea but it was a big banquet room so I guess we could see and connect to different routers. The AV stuff was in the back.
Yes - its great, its why i mentioned you have to have latest generation aTV
Its great that You don't need to bring an airport anymore - and no need to access the clients wifi - which can be impossible with some clients.
Not initially, but two years from purchase, probably. I replaced the battery once in my late-2008 MBP and at this point it only lasts two hours. So while, as per my other post, I do think this machine will sell really well, it would have been far better if it had two ports or separate power and USB-C.
That's going on seven years ago. Battery (and power-management) technology has improved quite a bit since then. Even my 2013 MBA lasted for almost a full work-day before I got rid of it a few months ago.
Pretty soon, MacBooks will be like the phones. Plug them in overnight and you're good to go a full day (at least) on a single charge.
Rationalizing are we? Glad you are right about everything.
nope, he's just right. apple didn't just fall off the turnip truck -- they've been doing this and killing their own darlings for decades. you're the one who's new to it.
Benjamin Frost wrote: "The screen is too small, quite simply. A laptop should be at least 13". I think Apple should offer 13", 15" and 17" sizes only."
I fully agree about the 11" and 12" being too small (especially the 11"). The original 17" model (which I once owned) had a poor sales record, which is why it was discontinued. I agree with you about the 13" and 15" models. I currently own a 2012 MacBook Pro (15"), and my next laptop will be the 13"MacBook Pro with Skylake chips.
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?
a "toy" - how original. not. other things derided as "toys" -- apple ][, mac, iMac, iPhone, iPad. oops.
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.
1) dock. 2) dev use case is not for an ultra portable; thats what the Pro is for.
Oh boy. Apple takes away nothing from what's already there, but ADDS something new and fabulous, and what do you get? A whole bunch of whiners ready to jump off the balcony.
I see the new MacBook more as a 'concept machine' for Apple to try out new ideas/innovations that eventually make it into the MBA and MBP. My guess is that they will sell a limited number to Mac enthusiasts, but on the whole, the other laptops will sell way more units.
1. This will sell in the millions. Apple doesn't sell small numbers of units of products (except for the apple watch edition). Wait for Back to School for this really start moving. Its light and simple.
2. This is the first in a relaunched MacBook line which will replace the MacBook Air Line. Next version of the MacBook will be i3.
The Macbook Air's will probably be around one or two years till a new MacBook with retina screen, intel i5 processor is released, and no internal fan is released. The bigger MacBook will get an extra USB 3.1C port, but not much else. Apple is telling us that its time to simplify again and go wireless as others have pointed out here.
3. It takes time for engineering and design come up with these new components like the keyboard and then implement in a new machine. Look for the next model (i3) to be released before the back to school period. Space Grey and Gold will be options for the i3 MacBook and MacBook Pros.
4. There will be no 12 inch iPad Pro. That was just a smoke screen so that people didn't realize that Apple was coming out with a 12 inch laptop.
5. There's not going to be any switching to the A series chips for at least a few years. Apple's shown its commitment to intel with the core M chip
6. My one disappointment is no touchID
7. Microsoft's new Surface 4 Pro will be a minor hit but will really eat into other WinTel manufacturer's not Apple's market share.
(I've met a lot of IT people who love it and I admit I want one too - If I need a WinTel laptop for work I want a SurfacePro4).
I like the machine, and I think it will be beautiful, but Apple is moving further and further away from having a "normal" work based Laptop. Once the non-retina Macbook Pro is gone, I am afraid Apple will never go back.
The non-retina pro needs to die as soon as possible, good riddance. Not sure why you'd want to "go back" to a machine with low resolution screen, hard drive, and optical drive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by anantksundaram
Oh boy. Apple takes away nothing from what's already there, but ADDS something new and fabulous, and what do you get? A whole bunch of whiners ready to jump off the balcony.
Go figure.
Par the course for the internet and serial whiners. The Macbook Air and Macbook Pros have been updated, while Apple has introduced a new line that many will love and gives new meaning to laptop portability, while introducing so many new technologies. Oh, the horror. You'd think Apple scrapped their whole lineup in order to introduce this machine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Macman1984
I wasn't clear. What I meant is that it's too bad they weren't able to combine the two. To have a USB-C AND make it a magnetic connector so it would break-away when someone comes along and trips on the cable. I happen to think that the magnetic break-away cable connector is one of the most elegant, efficient, effective and beautiful designs they ever put in a laptop. I am sad to see it go...
Yeah, having a data cable that breaks away magnetically sounds brilliant, just what people need during a data transfer or backup. Or did you not think about that part? Apple spends thousands of hours thinking of these things, unlike the 5 seconds that most posters invest in their analysis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppeX
Just get a real computer with real power and ports: MacBook Air.
Yeah, and like 25% of the screen resolution. I absolutely love my Air, but I would never buy one today with the current screen. It also suddenly looks ridiculously outdated next to the new Macbook.
The non-retina pro needs to die as soon as possible, good riddance. Not sure why you'd want to "go back" to a machine with low resolution screen, hard drive, and optical drive.
Of course you need a DVD drive. How else are you going to install software?¡
Of course you need a DVD drive. How else are you going to install software?¡
You're being facetious, but stunningly, there's posters at macrumors furious that the new Macbook doesn't have a DVD Drive. I'm not even joking. I sometimes wonder if there's an actual human being behind those words.One of these precious posts:
Quote:
Why, because Apple said so? Businesses still use optical drives all the time. Drivers and utilities still come on CD's. ISO's are everywhere.
Now if you said floppy drives are relics, that's more the truth. But useful features don't become relics just because Apple told you they are.
I'm shocked by this new macbook.
Out of the box it can't connect to an external display, read from a DVD, read an SD card, or connect to anything USB while charging. Wanna do any of these...drop an extra $79 on an adapter? How do I import my pictures from SD cards? Two adapters?
I mean, how fucking stupid and insane do you have to be to think there was the smallest chance in hell this thing would include an optical drive, when Apple has dropped it from ALL of their products, including desktops and pro machines? How disconnected do you have to be to believe "drivers and utilities still come on CDs' and can't be found on the internet?
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.
The mistake you make is assuming that developers are a major portion of the customer base.
It's not an optimal development machine, which is ok, it's not intended to be one.
Comments
One defense for the 12" PB being better than the 12" MB is the PB was still using a 4:3 aspect ratio which resulted in a display with 70.28 inches square while the new MB with its 16:10 aspect ratio results in only 64.72 inches square. But lets also remember that those 12" PBs were more expensive than the new MB, and that's without considering inflation since they first went on sale.
They are brilliant machines that the rest of the industry will now try to match with their "me too" product but ultimately fail to drive profits. I foresee Apple continuing to increase their market share of the traditional PCs, and can't wait for most of these new MB features to make their way to the MBP.
The whole dongle thing is disingenuous. As a user of the MBPr on the road I have to take the DVI dongle and RGB dongle everywhere because not every site does HDMI. Folks who do presentations will have dongles anyway.
Yes, take cdmi, dvi and even a nasty old VGA,=, one never knows....
I take an Apple TV (has to be latest edition) also for doing presentations. Ill use that if the have HDMI. I can do the show from macbook or iPad.
USB-C charge overnight, work entirely wirelessly - I love theis new MBP, its kinda like iPad all over again - but with real keyboard and real IOS - Im getting one
I initially purchased a Macbook Air to take on vacations (we tend to travel abroad) and local trips, in order to perform backup and manipulation of photos from my DSLR camera. The MBA has worked wonderfully for this, but it's old, and by current standards has very little storage capacity. I need to get a replacement, but if the goal is to have a compact, convenient system for the uses I outlined above, I don't see how this new Macbook can do it. No SD card slot. No USB for me to offload from precious HD space onto a thumbdrive, no way to connect an inexpensive external drive for a tertiary backup.
There is a USB port with USB 3 speed capacity. Connecting most of those devices will require nothing more than a USB-C male to USB-A female cable.
The SD card will require a SD card reader.
Maybe there is some niche group that will benefit from this new device (such as those who can't live without a gaudy gold-colored computer), but I don't see much use in it personally. Hopefully, they will wake up and release a MBA with some ports.
I realize that there will be super-expensive options for me to buy new thumbdrives and external hard-drives eventually so that I can replace my perfectly good ones at increased costs due to a whim on the part of Apple, but this still does not fix the fact that I cannot connect easily get the photos from my camera to the computer. And to anyone about to suggest getting a sd-card wifi adapter, I have. They work like crap.
This works well:
http://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-FileHub-Wireless-External-File-Server/dp/B00AQUMZRA
$40 at time of posting.
Buy two and quit whining. You can copy your images from the SD card to the USB stick/drive without even booting the computer by using the app on your iPhone. Using a USB-C to USB-A cable it even acts like a standard SD card reader.
And it's not like Apple discontinued the MBA. Jesus.
Yes, take cdmi, dvi and even a nasty old VGA,=, one never knows....
I take an Apple TV (has to be latest edition) also for doing presentations. Ill use that if the have HDMI. I can do the show from macbook or iPad.
USB-C charge overnight, work entirely wirelessly - I love theis new MBP, its kinda like iPad all over again - but with real keyboard and real IOS - Im getting one
Did you know the aTV can do peer-to-peer wifi with iOS8 devices now?
When I brought the atv I always brought an airport express as well since you never know what weirdness exists on someone else's network and sometimes they just don't want to let you connect. You can be connected with your laptop or iPad on the same network as the aTV and end up in different VLANs. How that even happens I have no idea but it was a big banquet room so I guess we could see and connect to different routers. The AV stuff was in the back.
Personally,
I am not happy with this decision to move away from all ports, save one. I understand why it was done, and I get the vision, but I was hoping if the Macbook line returned it would be something between the Air and the Pro, not just another Air...which basically that is what this is. This design should have been saved for the MacBook Air.
I don't want to have to buy dongles and adapters to plug in other devices. I don't want to buy converters to use existing converters. I don't want to compromise. However, Apple is all about making people compromise for their personal vision...and I am not a fan.
I like the machine, and I think it will be beautiful, but Apple is moving further and further away from having a "normal" work based Laptop. Once the non-retina Macbook Pro is gone, I am afraid Apple will never go back.
Did you know the aTV can do peer-to-peer wifi with iOS8 devices now?
When I brought the atv I always brought an airport express as well since you never know what weirdness exists on someone else's network and sometimes they just don't want to let you connect. You can be connected with your laptop or iPad on the same network as the aTV and end up in different VLANs. How that even happens I have no idea but it was a big banquet room so I guess we could see and connect to different routers. The AV stuff was in the back.
Yes - its great, its why i mentioned you have to have latest generation aTV
Its great that You don't need to bring an airport anymore - and no need to access the clients wifi - which can be impossible with some clients.
The screen is too small, quite simply.
A laptop should be at least 13". I think Apple should offer 13", 15" and 17" sizes only.
The world doesn't revolve around you. Go away.
Not initially, but two years from purchase, probably. I replaced the battery once in my late-2008 MBP and at this point it only lasts two hours. So while, as per my other post, I do think this machine will sell really well, it would have been far better if it had two ports or separate power and USB-C.
That's going on seven years ago. Battery (and power-management) technology has improved quite a bit since then. Even my 2013 MBA lasted for almost a full work-day before I got rid of it a few months ago.
Pretty soon, MacBooks will be like the phones. Plug them in overnight and you're good to go a full day (at least) on a single charge.
Rationalizing are we? Glad you are right about everything.
nope, he's just right. apple didn't just fall off the turnip truck -- they've been doing this and killing their own darlings for decades. you're the one who's new to it.
"The screen is too small, quite simply.
A laptop should be at least 13". I think Apple should offer 13", 15" and 17" sizes only."
I fully agree about the 11" and 12" being too small (especially the 11"). The original 17" model (which I once owned) had a poor sales record, which is why it was discontinued. I agree with you about the 13" and 15" models. I currently own a 2012 MacBook Pro (15"), and my next laptop will be the 13"MacBook Pro with Skylake chips.
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?
a "toy" - how original. not. other things derided as "toys" -- apple ][, mac, iMac, iPhone, iPad. oops.
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.
1) dock. 2) dev use case is not for an ultra portable; thats what the Pro is for.
Go figure.
I see the new MacBook more as a 'concept machine' for Apple to try out new ideas/innovations that eventually make it into the MBA and MBP. My guess is that they will sell a limited number to Mac enthusiasts, but on the whole, the other laptops will sell way more units.
1. This will sell in the millions. Apple doesn't sell small numbers of units of products (except for the apple watch edition). Wait for Back to School for this really start moving. Its light and simple.
2. This is the first in a relaunched MacBook line which will replace the MacBook Air Line. Next version of the MacBook will be i3.
The Macbook Air's will probably be around one or two years till a new MacBook with retina screen, intel i5 processor is released, and no internal fan is released. The bigger MacBook will get an extra USB 3.1C port, but not much else. Apple is telling us that its time to simplify again and go wireless as others have pointed out here.
3. It takes time for engineering and design come up with these new components like the keyboard and then implement in a new machine. Look for the next model (i3) to be released before the back to school period. Space Grey and Gold will be options for the i3 MacBook and MacBook Pros.
4. There will be no 12 inch iPad Pro. That was just a smoke screen so that people didn't realize that Apple was coming out with a 12 inch laptop.
5. There's not going to be any switching to the A series chips for at least a few years. Apple's shown its commitment to intel with the core M chip
6. My one disappointment is no touchID
7. Microsoft's new Surface 4 Pro will be a minor hit but will really eat into other WinTel manufacturer's not Apple's market share.
(I've met a lot of IT people who love it and I admit I want one too - If I need a WinTel laptop for work I want a SurfacePro4).
I like the machine, and I think it will be beautiful, but Apple is moving further and further away from having a "normal" work based Laptop. Once the non-retina Macbook Pro is gone, I am afraid Apple will never go back.
The non-retina pro needs to die as soon as possible, good riddance. Not sure why you'd want to "go back" to a machine with low resolution screen, hard drive, and optical drive.
Oh boy. Apple takes away nothing from what's already there, but ADDS something new and fabulous, and what do you get? A whole bunch of whiners ready to jump off the balcony.
Go figure.
Par the course for the internet and serial whiners. The Macbook Air and Macbook Pros have been updated, while Apple has introduced a new line that many will love and gives new meaning to laptop portability, while introducing so many new technologies. Oh, the horror. You'd think Apple scrapped their whole lineup in order to introduce this machine.
I wasn't clear. What I meant is that it's too bad they weren't able to combine the two. To have a USB-C AND make it a magnetic connector so it would break-away when someone comes along and trips on the cable. I happen to think that the magnetic break-away cable connector is one of the most elegant, efficient, effective and beautiful designs they ever put in a laptop. I am sad to see it go...
Yeah, having a data cable that breaks away magnetically sounds brilliant, just what people need during a data transfer or backup. Or did you not think about that part? Apple spends thousands of hours thinking of these things, unlike the 5 seconds that most posters invest in their analysis.
Just get a real computer with real power and ports: MacBook Air.
Yeah, and like 25% of the screen resolution. I absolutely love my Air, but I would never buy one today with the current screen. It also suddenly looks ridiculously outdated next to the new Macbook.
Of course you need a DVD drive. How else are you going to install software?¡
Of course you need a DVD drive. How else are you going to install software?¡
You're being facetious, but stunningly, there's posters at macrumors furious that the new Macbook doesn't have a DVD Drive. I'm not even joking. I sometimes wonder if there's an actual human being behind those words.One of these precious posts:
Why, because Apple said so? Businesses still use optical drives all the time. Drivers and utilities still come on CD's. ISO's are everywhere.
Now if you said floppy drives are relics, that's more the truth. But useful features don't become relics just because Apple told you they are.
I'm shocked by this new macbook.
Out of the box it can't connect to an external display, read from a DVD, read an SD card, or connect to anything USB while charging. Wanna do any of these...drop an extra $79 on an adapter? How do I import my pictures from SD cards? Two adapters?
I mean, how fucking stupid and insane do you have to be to think there was the smallest chance in hell this thing would include an optical drive, when Apple has dropped it from ALL of their products, including desktops and pro machines? How disconnected do you have to be to believe "drivers and utilities still come on CDs' and can't be found on the internet?
I think very very few actually use the SD card slot. They use their iPhones or other smartphone.
I use it all the time for photo work in the field. A lot more convenient than carrying and using a CF card reader like I used to do.
The iPhone's useful for quick snaps of things in, say, the supermarket that I want to remember to get later.
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.
The mistake you make is assuming that developers are a major portion of the customer base.
It's not an optimal development machine, which is ok, it's not intended to be one.