One thing which I didn't hear too much about was that Apple removed the SD card reader from the MacBook. I find it very useful as some people (like me) still use digita cameras, so it's handy. I guess someday people won't miss those and use their iPhone for all their photography needs; it takes really good pictures and has wifi and cloud syncing. It's not a dealbreaker, I just thought it was very useful for consumer-oriented Macs like the Mini and iMac and MacBook Air to include the SD card reader. I am fully aware it can attached to the USB-C as another dongle.
Aren't USB adapters dime a dozen for SD card reading? I've always used those, instead of the actual slot on my MBPs -- I've often wondered why Apple wasted so much space.
then what are you complaining about an ultra portable for? different use cases.
And the Verge couldn't get more pro-Apple shy of hiring Walt Mossberg as their managing editor. Even with all the criticism in that review, they still gave the thing an 8.4 score. Clearly they are one of the many tech blogs that is afraid of being accurately critical of Apple, lest they be blacklisted from future press events, and risk lucrative page views.
nonsense. they are not pro-apple. they rated the moto 360 higher than the apple watch for chrissakes.
I'm just trying to present a reality that I see so that people don't go out and buy this machine thinking it is a highly flexible platform.
who is suggesting this ultra portable is a highly flexible platform? I'm confused.
The whole point of my posts is to make people aware of the real limitations of this machine. That doesn't make it a bad machine, just that it will never be the machine for a wide array of users.
you're on a tech enthusiast website. do you really think we don't understand the limitations of an ultra portable? no you're the confused one.
I need a multi port to plug both in. Kind of defeats the purpose of the ultra portability
why do you need to be charing your ultra portable at all times? it has all day battery. you can certainly charge your phone off of the laptop's battery.
do you sit around w/ your ipad plugged into the wall all day?
Does anyone else find Joanna Stern insanely obnoxious? I just feel insulted whenever I watch her stuff. The "day with Apple Watch" video was particularly stupid, where she uses it the "wrong" way (ie. smearing toothpaste all over it, taking it in the shower, keep all notifications enabled, etc) then bitches about it.
I cannot help of thinking of the ads for the first iMac, where the big selling point was that there were no cables needed - everything essential was in the case. Remember the one with the kid and dog setting up an iMac compared to a man setting up a PC?
Now we have got to the point where there is a single port, so all you can do is type and use the trackpad. Anything else requires a bag of cables and adapters. Even a USB stick needs an adaptor, and those devices are universal and commonly used.
Now some people above have said "Don't buy this if you need ports", and that is true. But what about when the next generation of all Apple laptops comes with a single multipurpose port?
The thing that puzzles me about Apple's obsession with "thin" is that it is a dead end. Already there are compromises in battery life through making phones ever thinner. There will be a point at which devices cannot be made any thinner. So what is the marketing line then?
Anyone who always has the need to plug that much stuff in.. should not be buying this.
Exactly! I see the MacBook as a big iPad that runs OS X and has a real keyboard. Which is exactly what I've been wanting, and what I think Apple has designed the new MacBook to be.
I don't need ports on my iPad and won't need them on the MacBook. My iPad is likely to go up for sale after I get a MacBook. It's like a super-improved version of the 12" PowerBook which I loved!
Does anyone else find Joanna Stern insanely obnoxious? I just feel insulted whenever I watch her stuff. The "day with Apple Watch" video was particularly stupid, where she uses it the "wrong" way (ie. smearing toothpaste all over it, taking it in the shower, keep all notifications enabled, etc) then bitches about it.
Apple will get better results when reviews come from people who wanted to buy it, as opposed to getting one to review as part of their job as professional gadget bloggers. " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
You have desktop computers which live at one desk: MacPro, iMac. These are full power, large and heavy computers. Devices stay attached for long periods of time and they're generally difficult to move around.
You have portable computers which are highly featured, but easy to move: MacBook Pro. This is a class of device which is light enough to carry, but have enough grunt/ports to substitute a desktop machine. These are the middle ground between full-power and full-portable. Ideally these aren't moved more than once or twice a day.
Finally, you have full-portable computers: MacBook Air & MacBook, these are machines which get moved around all day. Subsequently they're very thin and light at the expense of processing power. e.g. students moving from class to class, they don't typically have devices connected to them and rely on wireless technology for most connectivity (bluetooth and wifi.) They're the device for people who need OS X in something the size of an iPad.
So if a reviewer is talking about a full-portable for what it lacks in comparison to a thicker/heavier machine, instead of how well the device would work for it's designed setting, then the review is pretty redundant. This seems to be the case with the reviews I've read so far, some "get it", but most didn't.
And, in my reply, I stated that the MacBook is designed for consumer workflows and the MacBook Pro is designed for professional workflows. Hence why the MacBook Pro is the machine you should be looking at.
I mean, you wouldn't buy a consumer camera for a professional photoshoot, so why would you buy a consumer computer for professional work?
My point of discussing a pro workflow was independent of the laptop selection. There was a claim made that SD was of no use and was on the way out. I clearly provided cases where it's useful and preferred technology.
I can create a list of valid situations for a Macbook to end up receiving SD cards from a pro photographer, but I don't see the point. Obviously an MB Pro is preferred. There are people making a living on Rebel bodies (consumer bodies), and obviously a 1DX or 5Ds are preferred.
One thing about the mag safe charging is that if the cord is tripped on it pops right out without taking the whole laptop with it. This has actually saved me a couple times. Can someone let me know what happens in the same situation now? Haven't heard anyone address this.
nonsense. they are not pro-apple. they rated the moto 360 higher than the apple watch for chrissakes.
Don't be so naive. It didn't get rates worse than the moto 360 because it is a worse device, because it isn't, it for rated worse because expectations have changed. If a phone nearly exactly the same as the iPhone 6 was released as the 6s would it get universal praise? No. Because times have moved on. A watch with good enough battery life has been done before, for years even, to release something like that now is just stupid. But don't take my word for it, buy what you want. I don't own any form of smart watch
One thing about the mag safe charging is that if the cord is tripped on it pops right out without taking the whole laptop with it. This has actually saved me a couple times. Can someone let me know what happens in the same situation now? Haven't heard anyone address this.
I'm not sure but I can imagine that the MacBook is such lightweight that either you'd still pull the laptop with you or make MagSafe such weak that it will fall off by itself.
Also, if what is claimed regarding battery life is true you sgoukd be able to get through the day with it without charging.
My point of discussing a pro workflow was independent of the laptop selection. There was a claim made that SD was of no use and was on the way out. I clearly provided cases where it's useful and preferred technology.
I can create a list of valid situations for a Macbook to end up receiving SD cards from a pro photographer, but I don't see the point. Obviously an MB Pro is preferred. There are people making a living on Rebel bodies (consumer bodies), and obviously a 1DX or 5Ds are preferred.
pro photographer: = please define first.
After that, you can than continue to rant about how vastly underpowered the MB (not P for Pro!) is and so dog-dung slow ingesting and processing your RAWs, right? :rolleyes:
I work almost exlusively with "pro photographers" every day, and the only thing I can say is that of recent years, the only thing a majority of them are professionals in are The Pro League of Incessant Bitching and Moaning. If it's not their gear, Adobe, Bloggers, Facebook, Instagram, iPhone shooters, clients, than leave it up to them to come up with an excuse why they still can't click a picture that's worth more or processed better aesthetically than a poor "amateur" in an even poorer country, using taped together lights, modifiers, 10 year old computer, cracked T5i and scratched to hell 50mm.
Check out 500px for literally hundreds of these "amateurs" vs. PROs, and their enthusiasm and delight that people like their "hobbiest attempts" enough to license their photos on Prime.
So help me out, what do YOU think P....R....O stands for?
(Edited: chopped the quote off?!... but hey... I'm a pro )
Good review, I think slim notebooks are now becoming part every notebook manufacturers, so we should except slim notebooks in future too , the usb issue sticks too, the reliability of cloud some time causing waste of time , like if your internet is slow it will take too much time to upload your stuff. All in all good notebook. thanks
Now we have got to the point where there is a single port, so all you can do is type and use the trackpad. Anything else requires a bag of cables and adapters. Even a USB stick needs an adaptor, and those devices are universal and commonly used.
USB C is the new USB. Also, for things like hard drives and cameras, it's just a different version of a cable you'd need anyway. Before, you'd take USB A to mini/micro-USB and now it's USB C to mini/micro-USB.
Now some people above have said "Don't buy this if you need ports", and that is true. But what about when the next generation of all Apple laptops comes with a single multipurpose port?
They won't go to a single port on other laptops, just like they didn't when the Air launched with a single USB A port years ago.
Plus there's wireless power and data to consider. Imagine a day when you can take a drive with no ports on it, just sit it next to a computer and it will power up and transfer data using the computer's power sent out wirelessly. The following is coming with Skylake at the end of the year:
[VIDEO]
Gigabit wireless isn't as fast as USB/TB for things like SSD but comparable to standard hard drives. Instead of taking an SD card out the camera, just sit the camera next to the computer and take the files off it. Instead of plugging in an SD card, get an SD card or reader with wireless power and sit it on the palm rest of a laptop.
People don't seem to be making a big deal of this but I think wireless power is a big deal. The distances aren't large just now but if they can focus the energy transmission, you can just plug in a laptop brick and it will charge not only your laptop but phone and tablet at the same time without plugging in a single wire. Airports and public transport can have these power sources in the chairs and you'd just sit down and it will charge the phone in your pocket or purse.
People are mourning the loss of Magsafe but shouldn't if they take away the whole cable. USB C would just be backup charging. Even though this model doesn't have it built-in, they can make a USB C wireless charger that also has some ports on it and maybe wireless display output.
The thing that puzzles me about Apple's obsession with "thin" is that it is a dead end. Already there are compromises in battery life through making phones ever thinner. There will be a point at which devices cannot be made any thinner. So what is the marketing line then?
The same applies to more than just the thinness. Once you go Retina, using terms like Retina HD or Retina 5K are not as meaningful. When they hit the limits, they emphasize some other feature. Eventually gadgets will be just like refrigerators and toasters where you don't see a lot of meaningful changes but you still buy the best brand.
After that, you can than continue to rant about how vastly underpowered the MB (not P for Pro!) is and so dog-dung slow ingesting and processing your RAWs, right?
I work almost exlusively with "pro photographers" every day, and the only thing I can say is that of recent years, the only thing a majority of them are professionals in are The Pro League of Incessant Bitching and Moaning. If it's not their gear, Adobe, Bloggers, Facebook, Instagram, iPhone shooters, clients, than leave it up to them to come up with an excuse why they still can't click a picture that's worth more or processed better aesthetically than a poor "amateur" in an even poorer country, using taped together lights, modifiers, 10 year old computer, cracked T5i and scratched to hell 50mm.
Check out 500px for literally hundreds of these "amateurs" vs. PROs, and their enthusiasm and delight that people like their "hobbiest attempts" enough to license their photos on Prime.
So help me out, what do YOU think P....R....O stands for?
(Edited: chopped the quote off?!... but hey... I'm a pro )
Again, my argument is that SD is not a dead technology. It's not.
You go on with your stereotyping of photographers though.
Just left the Apple store pretty disappointed. Went in to buy a new MacBook, only to be told that the Retail Stores don't have any in stock to sell. All purchases must go on line. Guess I get to wait a month now. Had I known, I would have gotten up and done it at 3AM ET. Bummer. Bad call Apple. I can understand selling out of limited stock, but no stock of any configuration on launch day? What a crappy decision by Apple.
Again, my argument is that SD is not a dead technology. It's not.
You go on with your stereotyping of photographers though.
You have reading comprehension problems, because I'm not dissing on all "photographers". Only the ones that insist upon calling themselves "pros", but acting nothing like it often enough to cause me to generalize and categorize the first time I hear it uttered or see it written. You couldn't even take a second to ponder what you wrote, and what I replied with: specifically: give me your definition of ***PRO.
Naturally SD is not dead... yet. See the post above yours by Marvin and please, take the time to read, watch and understand it and its contents before replying and considering for just a moment, what the near future has in store. Whether you.... or any other "pros" want to believe it or not.
*** I nor any of my other colleges in diverse creative/technical disciplines go around and prefix our titles with PRO. So I ask: why do photographers feel they need to do that? Or is it because they think if they say it enough either a) their audiences/clientele will believe it; or b) they might someday believe there work is worth the moniker and the money they charge? :wow:
Comments
Aren't USB adapters dime a dozen for SD card reading? I've always used those, instead of the actual slot on my MBPs -- I've often wondered why Apple wasted so much space.
then what are you complaining about an ultra portable for? different use cases.
nonsense. they are not pro-apple. they rated the moto 360 higher than the apple watch for chrissakes.
who is suggesting this ultra portable is a highly flexible platform? I'm confused.
you're on a tech enthusiast website. do you really think we don't understand the limitations of an ultra portable? no you're the confused one.
why do you need to be charing your ultra portable at all times? it has all day battery. you can certainly charge your phone off of the laptop's battery.
do you sit around w/ your ipad plugged into the wall all day?
Does anyone else find Joanna Stern insanely obnoxious? I just feel insulted whenever I watch her stuff. The "day with Apple Watch" video was particularly stupid, where she uses it the "wrong" way (ie. smearing toothpaste all over it, taking it in the shower, keep all notifications enabled, etc) then bitches about it.
Now we have got to the point where there is a single port, so all you can do is type and use the trackpad. Anything else requires a bag of cables and adapters. Even a USB stick needs an adaptor, and those devices are universal and commonly used.
Now some people above have said "Don't buy this if you need ports", and that is true. But what about when the next generation of all Apple laptops comes with a single multipurpose port?
The thing that puzzles me about Apple's obsession with "thin" is that it is a dead end. Already there are compromises in battery life through making phones ever thinner. There will be a point at which devices cannot be made any thinner. So what is the marketing line then?
Anyone who always has the need to plug that much stuff in.. should not be buying this.
Exactly! I see the MacBook as a big iPad that runs OS X and has a real keyboard. Which is exactly what I've been wanting, and what I think Apple has designed the new MacBook to be.
I don't need ports on my iPad and won't need them on the MacBook. My iPad is likely to go up for sale after I get a MacBook. It's like a super-improved version of the 12" PowerBook which I loved!
It's funny how every generation, the whining changes.
I remember when it was about "no user installable RAM" and "SSD is still too expensive" and "no internal DVD drive, no sale"
Now we're whining about missing legacy ports.
I think that's real progress. If it were up to PC laptop makers, we'd still have plastic-clad laptops with D-sub VGA ports from 1987.
Does anyone else find Joanna Stern insanely obnoxious? I just feel insulted whenever I watch her stuff. The "day with Apple Watch" video was particularly stupid, where she uses it the "wrong" way (ie. smearing toothpaste all over it, taking it in the shower, keep all notifications enabled, etc) then bitches about it.
Apple will get better results when reviews come from people who wanted to buy it, as opposed to getting one to review as part of their job as professional gadget bloggers.
You have desktop computers which live at one desk: MacPro, iMac. These are full power, large and heavy computers. Devices stay attached for long periods of time and they're generally difficult to move around.
You have portable computers which are highly featured, but easy to move: MacBook Pro. This is a class of device which is light enough to carry, but have enough grunt/ports to substitute a desktop machine. These are the middle ground between full-power and full-portable. Ideally these aren't moved more than once or twice a day.
Finally, you have full-portable computers: MacBook Air & MacBook, these are machines which get moved around all day. Subsequently they're very thin and light at the expense of processing power. e.g. students moving from class to class, they don't typically have devices connected to them and rely on wireless technology for most connectivity (bluetooth and wifi.) They're the device for people who need OS X in something the size of an iPad.
So if a reviewer is talking about a full-portable for what it lacks in comparison to a thicker/heavier machine, instead of how well the device would work for it's designed setting, then the review is pretty redundant. This seems to be the case with the reviews I've read so far, some "get it", but most didn't.
And, in my reply, I stated that the MacBook is designed for consumer workflows and the MacBook Pro is designed for professional workflows. Hence why the MacBook Pro is the machine you should be looking at.
I mean, you wouldn't buy a consumer camera for a professional photoshoot, so why would you buy a consumer computer for professional work?
My point of discussing a pro workflow was independent of the laptop selection. There was a claim made that SD was of no use and was on the way out. I clearly provided cases where it's useful and preferred technology.
I can create a list of valid situations for a Macbook to end up receiving SD cards from a pro photographer, but I don't see the point. Obviously an MB Pro is preferred. There are people making a living on Rebel bodies (consumer bodies), and obviously a 1DX or 5Ds are preferred.
One thing about the mag safe charging is that if the cord is tripped on it pops right out without taking the whole laptop with it. This has actually saved me a couple times. Can someone let me know what happens in the same situation now? Haven't heard anyone address this.
I'm not sure but I can imagine that the MacBook is such lightweight that either you'd still pull the laptop with you or make MagSafe such weak that it will fall off by itself.
Also, if what is claimed regarding battery life is true you sgoukd be able to get through the day with it without charging.
pro photographer: = please define first.
After that, you can than continue to rant about how vastly underpowered the MB (not P for Pro!) is and so dog-dung slow ingesting and processing your RAWs, right? :rolleyes:
I work almost exlusively with "pro photographers" every day, and the only thing I can say is that of recent years, the only thing a majority of them are professionals in are The Pro League of Incessant Bitching and Moaning. If it's not their gear, Adobe, Bloggers, Facebook, Instagram, iPhone shooters, clients, than leave it up to them to come up with an excuse why they still can't click a picture that's worth more or processed better aesthetically than a poor "amateur" in an even poorer country, using taped together lights, modifiers, 10 year old computer, cracked T5i and scratched to hell 50mm.
Check out 500px for literally hundreds of these "amateurs" vs. PROs, and their enthusiasm and delight that people like their "hobbiest attempts" enough to license their photos on Prime.
So help me out, what do YOU think P....R....O stands for?
(Edited: chopped the quote off?!... but hey... I'm a pro
Good review, I think slim notebooks are now becoming part every notebook manufacturers, so we should except slim notebooks in future too , the usb issue sticks too, the reliability of cloud some time causing waste of time , like if your internet is slow it will take too much time to upload your stuff. All in all good notebook. thanks
An old USB stick needs an adaptor:
http://www.sandisk.com/products/usb/dualdrive-type-c/
USB C is the new USB. Also, for things like hard drives and cameras, it's just a different version of a cable you'd need anyway. Before, you'd take USB A to mini/micro-USB and now it's USB C to mini/micro-USB.
They won't go to a single port on other laptops, just like they didn't when the Air launched with a single USB A port years ago.
Plus there's wireless power and data to consider. Imagine a day when you can take a drive with no ports on it, just sit it next to a computer and it will power up and transfer data using the computer's power sent out wirelessly. The following is coming with Skylake at the end of the year:
[VIDEO]
Gigabit wireless isn't as fast as USB/TB for things like SSD but comparable to standard hard drives. Instead of taking an SD card out the camera, just sit the camera next to the computer and take the files off it. Instead of plugging in an SD card, get an SD card or reader with wireless power and sit it on the palm rest of a laptop.
People don't seem to be making a big deal of this but I think wireless power is a big deal. The distances aren't large just now but if they can focus the energy transmission, you can just plug in a laptop brick and it will charge not only your laptop but phone and tablet at the same time without plugging in a single wire. Airports and public transport can have these power sources in the chairs and you'd just sit down and it will charge the phone in your pocket or purse.
People are mourning the loss of Magsafe but shouldn't if they take away the whole cable. USB C would just be backup charging. Even though this model doesn't have it built-in, they can make a USB C wireless charger that also has some ports on it and maybe wireless display output.
The same applies to more than just the thinness. Once you go Retina, using terms like Retina HD or Retina 5K are not as meaningful. When they hit the limits, they emphasize some other feature. Eventually gadgets will be just like refrigerators and toasters where you don't see a lot of meaningful changes but you still buy the best brand.
pro photographer: = please define first.
After that, you can than continue to rant about how vastly underpowered the MB (not P for Pro!) is and so dog-dung slow ingesting and processing your RAWs, right?
I work almost exlusively with "pro photographers" every day, and the only thing I can say is that of recent years, the only thing a majority of them are professionals in are The Pro League of Incessant Bitching and Moaning. If it's not their gear, Adobe, Bloggers, Facebook, Instagram, iPhone shooters, clients, than leave it up to them to come up with an excuse why they still can't click a picture that's worth more or processed better aesthetically than a poor "amateur" in an even poorer country, using taped together lights, modifiers, 10 year old computer, cracked T5i and scratched to hell 50mm.
Check out 500px for literally hundreds of these "amateurs" vs. PROs, and their enthusiasm and delight that people like their "hobbiest attempts" enough to license their photos on Prime.
So help me out, what do YOU think P....R....O stands for?
(Edited: chopped the quote off?!... but hey... I'm a pro
Again, my argument is that SD is not a dead technology. It's not.
You go on with your stereotyping of photographers though.
Just left the Apple store pretty disappointed. Went in to buy a new MacBook, only to be told that the Retail Stores don't have any in stock to sell. All purchases must go on line. Guess I get to wait a month now. Had I known, I would have gotten up and done it at 3AM ET. Bummer. Bad call Apple. I can understand selling out of limited stock, but no stock of any configuration on launch day? What a crappy decision by Apple.
You have reading comprehension problems, because I'm not dissing on all "photographers". Only the ones that insist upon calling themselves "pros", but acting nothing like it often enough to cause me to generalize and categorize the first time I hear it uttered or see it written. You couldn't even take a second to ponder what you wrote, and what I replied with: specifically: give me your definition of ***PRO.
Naturally SD is not dead... yet. See the post above yours by Marvin and please, take the time to read, watch and understand it and its contents before replying and considering for just a moment, what the near future has in store. Whether you.... or any other "pros" want to believe it or not.
*** I nor any of my other colleges in diverse creative/technical disciplines go around and prefix our titles with PRO. So I ask: why do photographers feel they need to do that? Or is it because they think if they say it enough either a) their audiences/clientele will believe it; or b) they might someday believe there work is worth the moniker and the money they charge? :wow: