Apple this year introduced several major new pieces of hardware, the iPad Pro, Apple Watch, fourth-gen Apple TV and 12-inch MacBook. Like most Apple fans, the one that had me the most excited at launch was the Apple Watch. I thought Apple Watch would have a huge impact on my daily life, but 8 months in, the new Apple device that’s actually affected by day-to-day technology usage the most is the 12-inch MacBook.
I was incredibly skeptical of the 12-inch MacBook when Apple initially announced it. As someone who types for a living, I was worried about the new butterfly keyboard being less conducive to productivity than the standard scissor keyboard. I was worried that the single USB-C port would prove to be a huge roadblock in day-to-day use. 8 months later, however, I’m entirely sold on the 12-inch MacBook and think it’s the best new product Apple introduced in 2015 and I can’t wait to see where Apple takes it in the coming years. The 12-inch MacBook has renewed my faith in the fact that Apple can still design gorgeous pieces of hardware that actually improve on and fulfill a need in the market.
Before pulling the trigger on the new MacBook, I used a 13-inch MacBook Air. One of my biggest qualms about the MacBook Air was the low-quality display, especially when I made the switch to a 4k monitor at my desk. I used the MacBook Air because I loved the portability and how easy it was to slide in my backpack and take it to and from classes. The performance of the MacBook Air was always good but not great, but I was willing to sacrifice performance for portability. And I still am. I never use my laptop for hardcore video editing, gaming, or anything of that sort. I use it to do research for homework, write things like this article, browse Twitter and Facebook, and listen to music, which the MacBook Air was more than capable of handling.
Then came the 12-inch MacBook. The design of the device (which we leaked months before its announcement) was seemingly unrivaled at the time. With an ultra-thin profile, even thinner than the MacBook Air, the 12-inch MacBook is incredibly easy on the eyes. It features the same tapered design as the MacBook Air, but it starts tapering at a thickness much thinner than the MacBook Air’s.
Unlike any MacBook released in recent years, the 12-inch model was also launched in three color variations: space gray, gold, and the traditional silver. I opted for space gray to match my other Apple products and I have no regrets. The space gray color does tend to show fingerprints and smudges more easily than the traditional silver design, but nevertheless, the aluminum build has held up very well throughout 8 months of usage.
When I first bought the 12-inch MacBook, however, I didn’t immediately get rid of my MacBook Air. I wasn’t sold that the 12-inch screen, Core M processor, USB-C port, butterfly keyboard, and battery life were going to be changes that I welcomed. 8 months later, however, some of those things have grown to be my favorite features about the device.
Coming from a 13.3-inch MacBook Air, which I always found to be the perfect size, I was skeptical of the smaller 12-inch display. That is, until I laid eyes on the gorgeous Retina display. The MacBook features a 2304 x 1440 resolution, which comes out to 226 pixels-per-inch and it’s eye-popping. I was always annoyed by the 1440 x 900 resolution on the MacBook Air and upgrading to the 12-inch MacBook was incredibly welcomed.
The Core M processor was another factor of which I was skeptical. The MacBook Air was never a powerhouse of a machine, but it was always able to get the job done. Despite my skepticism, I decided to go with the base model MacBook, which packs a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor and 8GB of RAM with Turbo Boost up to 2.4GHz. 1.1GHz seemed unfathomably slow to me, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook is in no way, shape, or form a powerhouse, but for me, it’s still able to get the job done. I rarely notice any slowdowns, although they do appear occasionally when I have a handful of windows and tabs running. Playing a video and trying to do too much else is also a recipe for disaster at times.
Like I said, I’m willing to compromise performance in favor of portability and the MacBook is a perfect example of having to do just that. It’s by no means the fastest machine Apple offers and for the price, you’re definitely paying a premium for the sleek, first-gen design.
Like everyone else, I was skeptical of having a laptop with a single USB-C port, but it’s proved to not be as big of an issue as I expected. I’m really reminded that I rarely plug anything into my laptop except a charger. I couldn’t tell you the last time I plugged my iPhone in to sync it with iTunes or plugged in a flash drive. I use Dropbox for all of my file storing needs at this point and all of peripherals are Bluetooth. Obviously, I can’t speak for everyone here and many people have needed to purchased adapters on top of adapters to use the MacBook everyday, but for me, this hasn’t been an issue.
Likewise, the butterfly keyboard and Force Touch trackpad are things I’ve grown used to, as well. At first, the butterfly keyboard is definitely a bit tedious due to the lack of movement from the keys, but now that I’ve gotten used to it, I’m able to type just as fast with it as I was the traditional scissor mechanism keyboard on the MacBook Air. Regarding the Force Touch trackpad, I really wouldn’t have been able to tell that it was a different kind of trackpad technology had Apple not disclosed it. The vibration that you feel when you press is nearly identical to the feedback received from a normal trackpad. I will say that using Force Click is not as useful as I expected it to be. 3D Touch is far more useful on the iPhone 6s than Force Click is on the MacBook due in large part to the more ample screen space on MacBook.
If I had one complaint regarding the MacBook it would have to be its battery life. Apple touts that you can get 9 hours of web browsing from the device, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten that much life from a single charge. More realistically, I’m getting about 5 to 6 hours on a charge. This is somewhat frustrating because if the MacBook could last a workday – 8 hours – then it would be the ultimate on-the-go productivity machine, but having to worry about your laptop dying a little more than halfway through the day is just an added layer of stress.
In The Future
The good thing about the 12-inch MacBook is that it’s a first-gen product. There’s so much room for the device to grow. Personally, I would love to see Apple work on improving the device’s battery life before it does anything else. As time progresses and battery technology gets more affordable and smaller, Apple will undoubtedly improve the battery life of the MacBook, but in the interim it’s far from great.
I would also like to see Apple add one more USB-C port to the device. With the shaky battery life of the device, it would be much more conducive to productivity to be able to charge the device and still have a free USB-C port. This again comes down to technology within the MacBook shrinking as it progresses.
Finally, Apple, can you please upgrade that horrendous 480p FaceTime camera? In 2015 using a 480p camera should be a crime. When FaceTiming, people can always tell when I’m using my MacBook and when I’m using my iPhone. The quality is just undeniably bad.
Wrap Up
2015 was a big year for Apple. The Apple Watch, iPad Pro, and MacBook were all released, as was Apple Music. All of these things have greatly impacted my daily tech usage (Apple Watch maybe less so), but the MacBook is by far my favorite Apple device or service of 2015. The combination of the gorgeous Retina display and ultra-slim hardware design makes the MacBook the best Apple laptop I’ve ever owned.
The MacBook allows for such seamless portability that it’s hard to make the case for ever needing a larger machine. Sure an extra USB-C port and improved battery life would be welcomed, but we have to remember that this is a first-generation product. Apple undoubtedly has some changes up its sleeve.
In a time when many are skeptical of Apple’s design trends and changes, the MacBook proves that the company still knows how to create a beautiful piece of hardware with a premium and elegant feel (and price tag). The MacBook is a prime example of an Apple product that is somewhat ahead of its time, but will gradually become the ‘norm’ for both Apple users and other users. At this point, you’re paying a premium for being ahead of the curve, but it’s undoubtedly worth it.
Read Dom’s take on the 12-inch MacBook here and Zac’s full in-depth review here.
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thanks for sharing – issue is after spending some 800 bucks on an Apple Display – there is NO solution on the market hooking them up or charging the laptop as with the Macbook Air.
I agree with but you mentioned the display size is 12.4 inch? i think it’s 12.0 inch?
Yeah man. I’m with you. It is a stunning device. Best of the year from any manufacturer. Anyone who pans that thing hasn’t laid eyes or hands on it, because it is ridiculous. I hope they scale that thing up to a widescreen 15″ for my remote astrophotography stuff. Dreamy.
It’s the biggest disappointment to me this year. There is no getting by that it is under powered and over priced for that lack of power, especially the $1599 version.
The iPad Pro has more power and a better screen. Apple should built ARM supported OSX and put their own chips in it instead of Intel chips. I would definitely not buy the first generation MacBook.
Apple has time to fix it, but I think it is grossly over priced for the performance. Apple has 4 devices between 12″ and 13″. For portability and performance I would choose a MacBook Air or IPad Pro. I hope the 13″ and 15″ MacBook Air rumors are true.
I think the MacBook would be solid of it had a series chips and had An ARM written version of OS X and dropped the price. Why not use Apple designed chip instead of Intel chips in an ultraportable. Apple chips are getting faster and more efficient much faster then Intel. Apple should made the switch for MacBook,maybe they will do it with the next MacBook Airs.
$1599 for a underpowered laptop is crazy to me.
Do you actually use computers, or just stare at the specs?
Well for some an Arm powered MacOS machine would indeed be great but the problems of so doing are considerable if you want to do anything beyond Apple’s own software (assuming they rework it in time). You wouldn’t be able to run everything (almost anything) we presently take for granted on Macs. Its a shame because you are right inasmuch as it would show up the Intel powered machine in many ways but overall would not be as useful for most and would hit Apples profits in trying to produce both and fuel peoples fears for what to upgrade to. The logical and best bet is that the iPad Pro and smaller siblings will continue to move into that sector, become more mac like overtime and offer keyboards and other functionality that give you want you want and the difference between them and a Macbook is greatly narrowed. The Pro is clearly the first step to this and Apple will no doubt see how this succeeds over the following years before considering true MacBooks on Arm, should that ever be truly practical.
That’s because you don’t understand that it’s not all about power. Different people have different needs. Many will gladly pay for the portability because they don’t need the power.
A lotus elise vs a typically unsophisticated and brutish american V8 for example. Sure, will probably lose in the straight line, but navigating corners and difficult roads?
Don’t judge a fish for its ability to fly. Don’t just a bird for its ability to swim either. And just because you like to swim, does it mean others can’t jog?
Big world my friend.
the problem is that for portability you have the macbook air, it’s almost as small and thin (you can’t feel the difference in a bag or a suitcase, only in your hands, i use it for a couple of days, my friend has the new macbook, i have an Air) and cheaper. then you have the new macbook with the power of a 2011 macbook air in a little less space (tinner and lighter) for 1500$. the only good to me is the retina display, but easily Apple could update the macbook air with the same retina display, and the weight you loose in this macbook is meaningless, you almost can’t even feel it, but the weight you loose in your wallet is pretty real.
(this come after my big comment) but the new macbook is gorgeous, i can admit that, is possibly the most beautiful design in an Apple device.. at least for my taste.
I agree with your assessment 100%. I have taken the MacBook on multiple overseas business trips and feel it is the ultimate travel computer.
I see the single port as an asset. I can unplug one connection to take it from a desktop to a meeting.
For my purposes, the performance is just fine. MS Ofiice, Photoshop, it’s all good. Battery performance could be a little bit better. Several MBA owners I know are ready to switch.
I love my new MacBook but it effectively bricks the Apple Cinema Displays I have sprinkled around. Feel really let down that Apple hasn’t delivered an adapter to let us connect to our existing displays or delivered a new USB-C display. Being able to dock and have access to camera and mic of the ACD is such a key use case I’m stunned they have been so silent on this for loyal Apple customers.
Can’t wait for a rMBP update that incorporates this design direction.
I also love the new Macbook, I work as a web developer and its a near-perfect machine. I wrote a review if anyone wants a second take: https://louisotto.co.uk/reviews/the-new-macbook-review-for-web-developers/
I’ve had the MacBook Retina for a few months now, and I love it! At first I thought the new keyboard would be bothering, but now I think it’s better than the older keyboards. I too think it should have two USB-C ports, but I don’t find the battery life troubling. In fact, the upside is that you can ‘charge’ it with a regular battery pack.
I also want buy next gen MB. I hope the Skylake procesors will be incorporate in. Design is fabulous. I will switch it for my MBP 13″.
Do you thing, that it is posible to see new MB next year?
Add 1mm travel to the keyboard and it’ll be fantastic
Will this device connect to a 4k monitor and be compatible? I also use my laptop for showing DVD videos to a class would it have enough power to connect to a projector and do this?