26 replies to this topic

[Sneaky Snake]

The new MacBook:
Apple is shedding the "Pro" or "Air" designation for their newest MacBook design, and instead simply calling it the "MacBook". It's very much an ultra-portable that is going to be targeting the premium ultrabook market. Specs:

• 12" Retina display running at a resolution of 2304x1440 (1152x720 pixel doubled)
  
• Intel "Broadwell" CPU running at 1.1 GHz (options for 1.2 and 1.3 GHz)
  
• Intel HD 5300 graphics
  
• 8 GB RAM
  
• 256 GB SSD (config up to 512 GB)
  
• 13.1 mm / 0.54" thick
  
• 2.03 pounds
  
• Fanless design

More Info

Updated 13" Retina Macbook Pros:
The 13" rMBP's have seen a spec bump in order to feature "Broadwell" chips from Intel as well as increased graphics

• CPU's upgraded to latest Broadwell architecture with options for dual core i5 2.7 Ghz, dual core i5 2.9 Ghz, or dual core i7 3.1 GHz
  
• Graphics upgraded to Intel HD 6100

More Info

What to Expect From The New Processors:
Intel 5th generation of Core i processors (codenamed Broadwell) offer small performance gains over Haswell. The main draw of Broadwell is the energy saving it allows, which should translate into longer battery life for laptops.

Ars Technica Broadwell Preview

What to Expect from the HD 6100 vs the HD 5200:
The HD 6100 has not yet been benchmarked, but it should offer substantial performance gains over the HD 5200. Do not expect designated graphics performance that can be found in the 15" Retina or the iMac, but expect a nice boost compared to previous Intel integrated solutions.

Intel Iris Pro 5200 Review

[Thain Esh Kelch]

I wuv the new Macbook. Exactly what I wanted, except for the battery life. But I had decided before the announcement, to wait for rev. B anyway, so getting Skylake at the same time will fit perfectly and hopefully pull it up to 12 hours.

People are not giving the keyboard great reviews, but they've only tried for a few minutes of course, so we will see how it pans out. Will try before I buy at least.

[Janichsan]

A sleek little thing. However, I think it will be problematic that it only has one single port, that will have to be used for everything, including charging.

[DaveyJJ]

+$79 for the adaptor you're going to need (at this time) for that one port.

[macdude22]

Thain Esh Kelch, on 10 March 2015 - 01:19 AM, said:

I wuv the new Macbook. Exactly what I wanted, except for the battery life. But I had decided before the announcement, to wait for rev. B anyway, so getting Skylake at the same time will fit perfectly and hopefully pull it up to 12 hours.

People are not giving the keyboard great reviews, but they've only tried for a few minutes of course, so we will see how it pans out. Will try before I buy at least.

Can they make me a fatbook with matias quiet click switches

[Sneaky Snake]

When it was initially announced I thought I would buy one for sure. Now that I'm re-thinking my computer needs, I realize that just wouldn't be feasible.

The new 12" Macbook is a fanless design, which is awesome for noise, but not so good for performance tasks. I'm not expecting great performance out of it, but it would be nice to be able to play some lower spec games like League of Legends and Starcraft 2 without the laptop throttling the performance.

The new 13" rMBPs will be quite fast machines. The CPU's are top tier for getting work done, and the Iris Pro was a pretty decent iGPU, so I expect the HD 6100 to offer even better performance. Hopefully it retains the same jump in performance that we've seen from Intel's previous iGPU's. The performance gap between the HD3000<HD4000<HD5000 is fairly substantial.

[Frigidman™]

Heh, pfft... smaller and smaller, less and less flexibility. Bah, I pass.

I want to see a more portable collapsable 19" desktop mac that has a built in battery for those situations you need to use it when you cant find a power plug (or power goes out).

[macdude22]

No thunderbolt. No MagSafe. I really need to retool my efforts in getting DEP OTA enrollment and policies setup at twerk.............It's becoming increasingly difficult to deploy these in the traditional manner. Not that necessarily agree with old grognard methods of deployment but it's what enterprise expects. Last time I brought up DEP workflows everyone looked at me like I was a witch.

[the Battle Cat]

macdude22, on 10 March 2015 - 07:52 AM, said:

Last time I brought up DEP workflows everyone looked at me like I was a witch.

If you aren't going to have the big black mole removed from your long crooked nose you could at least lose the pointy hat.

[macdude22]

But the hat covers my balding head.

[Sneaky Snake]

Frigidman™, on 10 March 2015 - 07:18 AM, said:

Heh, pfft... smaller and smaller, less and less flexibility. Bah, I pass.

Well technically these thinner laptops are more and more flexible.

[Frigidman™]

Too tiny of screen to do anything but mash your thumb on a button.

[Janichsan]

Sneaky Snake, on 10 March 2015 - 09:40 AM, said:

Well technically these thinner laptops are more and more flexible.

I don't think you should put them in your back pocket.

[Hansi]

People this isn't a laptop for you it's for average casual laptop users.

[macdude22]

Hansi, on 10 March 2015 - 01:27 PM, said:

People this isn't a laptop for you it's for average casual laptop users.

No but when Dr. Gruber decides he wants a gold macbook I damn well better have something in place to support him. Because unsupported is not in our vocabulary.

[the Battle Cat]

macdude22, on 10 March 2015 - 01:50 PM, said:

No but when Dr. Gruber decides he wants a gold macbook I damn well better have something in place to support him. Because unsupported is not in our vocabulary.

Macdude, Nerd of Action.  Hasbro's new Techno-nerd action figure comes with all the latest gadgetry (available for purchase separately).  His arch nemesis is Fraktard the End User who's slack jawed lack of technical grasp makes him the ultimate foe.

[Sneaky Snake]

Hansi, on 10 March 2015 - 01:27 PM, said:

People this isn't a laptop for you it's for average casual laptop users.

Ya I know. It's a really beautiful device, and I want it to be the laptop for me, but since it's not I'm getting bitter and finding reasons to criticize it.

[Frost]

IMO they need to nix this Air business and go back to having just plain "iPad" and "MacBook." With MacBook Pros being the fuller-featured desktop replacement with discrete GPUs, etc. Getting on Apple.com and seeing "MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro" with all kinds of functionality overlap I start getting flashbacks to Gil Amelio days. Product line could use some simplification.

[Thain Esh Kelch]

Frost, on 11 March 2015 - 11:33 PM, said:

IMO they need to nix this Air business and go back to having just plain "iPad" and "MacBook." With MacBook Pros being the fuller-featured desktop replacement with discrete GPUs, etc. Getting on Apple.com and seeing "MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro" with all kinds of functionality overlap I start getting flashbacks to Gil Amelio days. Product line could use some simplification.

But that is just what they have done with the new model.. Its clear that they expect the new Macbook to be the sole budget model long term, with that name. The Air is going out.

[macdude22]

Thain Esh Kelch, on 11 March 2015 - 11:56 PM, said:

But that is just what they have done with the new model.. Its clear that they expect the new Macbook to be the sole budget model long term, with that name. The Air is going out.

Perhaps, but they seem perfectly content with enough iPad SKUs to make Steve rise from the grave.