Early reviews of Apple’s MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) have framed it as an expensive prototype from the future — a notebook that will someday be the standard, but one most people aren’t ready for yet. Despite that classification, the new MacBook is extremely tempting if you’re in the market for a new computer: it’s more portable than even the MacBook Air, it’s the first Mac available in gold and space gray finishes, and it has a trackpad with a new feature called Force Touch.
But can you actually do work on the 12-inch MacBook? That’s the $1300 question everyone is asking. I’ll unpack my experience below …
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Performance & Battery Life
The new 12-inch MacBook won’t beat the rest of the MacBook lineup in any benchmark tests, but it’s still a fast performer. The answer to whether or not the new MacBook can be used for work depends on two things: what tasks the MacBook is capable of performing, and how long the MacBook can perform those tasks on a single charge.
The short answer to whether or not the new MacBook can actually be used for work is that it depends on what you plan to do, but for a lot of people the answer is probably yes. It’s not a machine optimized for performing power intensive tasks, but it can do a lot of low- to mid-level jobs well.
My Mac is typically running a couple dozen apps at a time during the typical workday including multiple constant Twitter streams, 20+ Safari tabs, quick photo editing, frequent downloading and uploading, lots of messaging and email, and music or video playback … all at the same time.
During my evaluation in an actual workday under typical conditions, I only noticed a performance issue when a particular Twitter app would demand more memory than usual — an issue experienced on every other Mac I’ve owned and tested.
The new MacBook is powered by a low power Intel Core M chip — a first for Macs — which helps it achieve a fanless design. That means the Mac isn’t as powerful, but it is completely silent and has a much smaller footprint. It also means the new MacBook shouldn’t get warm enough that it needs a fan to cool off.
Got this message on my 12-inch. Guess Chrome was too much to handle lol #MacBookProblems #Overheating pic.twitter.com/BZCl2DuGbP
— Dom Esposito (@macmixing) April 18, 2015
As Dom mentioned when using the new MacBook to edit and export short video files, it did stand up to piecing together a 1080p clip, but working with a 4K footage resulted in dropped frames. But does the MacBook get too hot? Chrome (which includes Flash) was the culprit of an unexpected heat warning during Dom’s use. I’ve tried to achieve the same warning myself, and while I’ve managed to get the bottom of the MacBook uncomfortably warm especially during a Time Machine backup, I’m still waiting for my first heat warning.
Ripping and encoding a DVD in HandBrake using Apple’s SuperDrive ($79) and USB-C to USB Adapter (more on that later) resulted in the biggest performance hit compared to other Macs I’ve owned and tested. The job took several minutes longer on the new MacBook than it did on my mid-tier 2012 Mac mini; it also noticeably slowed down system performance until the job was done. Not an impossible task on the new MacBook, but not ideal if you have better tools.
In terms of battery life, Apple promises up to 9 hours of wireless web usage and up to 10 hours of iTunes playback. In my actual (multitasking-heavy) usage, I measured 4 hours 35 minutes between 100% to 2% during continuous usage. Under the same use, the system said to expect 3 hours 57 minutes until a full charge was reached from 2%, although in practice only required 2 hours 22 minutes to reach 100%.
A typical workday usually spans 8 hours at least so 4.5 hours of battery life during typical usage won’t get the job done, but I’ve always had to connect to power with previous MacBooks so this is no different. The new MacBook can handle heavy multitasking and quick data input as it runs OS X and is very much a notebook with a keyboard and trackpad (both of which are different than previous MacBooks). An iPad with greater benchmark results may be more powerful with greater battery life, but it can’t yet run apps side-by-side or multitask between dozens of apps like a Mac. I can’t yet do my actual work on an iPad even if I wanted to, but the new MacBook got the job done right out of the box.
USB-C
I mentioned in the previous section having the expectation of always relying on connecting a power supply to get through a typical workday with any MacBook. All other MacBooks have a dedicated MagSafe port for charging, and separate USB/Thunderbolt ports for transferring data and using external monitors. The new MacBook combines data transfer and charging in a single USB Type C port. You’ll have to pick up an adapter for now if you want to use your existing USB accessories, connect an HDMI or VGA display, or ever charge the MacBook while simultaneously using any USB accessory.
I typically use AirDrop or Dropbox to move files between various devices during the typical workday, but moving data from my old Mac to the new MacBook on day one meant using an adapter. Wireless solutions were available including restoring from a Time Machine backup, but I wanted a fast and reliable way to move data. Ultimately, I used a USB 3.0 external hard drive to carry data between Macs, which meant I needed Apple’s USB-C to USB Adapter ($19) for connecting the drive to the new MacBook.
Aside from the DVD rip test (which I never actually do; I had to blow the dust off the SuperDrive) and setting up the new MacBook, I haven’t needed to use any adapter again. The overly expensive $79 USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter ($79) from Apple is the most practical if you foresee needing one, though, as it offers both a power option and a traditional USB port. Google has some nice options available now and Belkin has some coming soon. If you foresee frequently relying on any adapter, though, the new MacBook probably isn’t the best machine for you as the hassle trumps the convenience of portability.
Overall, though, the new USB-C port is a very interesting addition to the Mac. While it’s more difficult to connect and disconnect than the MagSafe charging connection found on the rest of the MacBook lineup, it’s also more resistant to accidentally unplugging during use. USB-C also allows you to charge the new MacBook in new ways not previously easily possible.
For instance, you can use a portable charger to re-juice your MacBook without needing a wall adapter. As the new MacBook packs in a 5263 mAh battery, I can achieve more than two additional charges with my Anker A7 13,000 mAh external battery pack ($29) and a USB-C to USB cable ($12.99). You can also charge the 12-inch MacBook… from another 12-inch MacBook. Connect the included USB-C Charge Cable ($29) from one 12-inch MacBook to another, and whichever Mac was connected first will charge the Mac you connect next.
Trackpad & Keyboard
The new MacBook features a Force Touch trackpad first made available on the MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015). The new trackpad includes a second depth of clicking called a Force Click which can perform tasks that previously required three-finger taps or weren’t available at all.
Both a regular click and a deeper Force Click give the illusion of an actual button click, but the new trackpad is indeed buttonless. The illusion is created using haptic feedback which can be applied in other applications like iMovie and QuickTime as well.
In terms of how this impacts using the new MacBook for work, you likely won’t notice any loss of features (aside from three-finger dragging which has moved to the Accessibilities panel), only new ones like pressure sensitive drawing and new menus. Many of the features you can access with Force Touch were previously available through other gestures; its biggest impact, for me, is allowing the the notebook to be as thin as it is.
The new MacBook’s keyboard is immediately obvious, and whether or not you can do actual work on the 12-inch MacBook likely depends on how you adapt to typing on it. The new keyboard is much tighter as it has almost no travel, or depth, found on other MacBook keyboards. Personally, I find the tightness feels more efficient and less sloshy, but it still takes a period of adjustment even if you’re optimistic. I can understand why other testers have written off the new keyboard as a compromise to achieving a thinner MacBook, but I’m personally finding that my Apple Wireless Keyboard is the one I don’t want to use now… except for the arrow keys.
I saw the arrow keys mentioned in multiple MacBook reviews and couldn’t understand how the design change could be that big of a deal. Then I started using it. The change is that the left and right arrow keys are now full sized while the up and down arrows are half of a full key. While the up and down keys are unchanged, I’ve found myself needing to look to use any arrow key now as the left and right keys feel like the nearby Option key.
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- 13-inch MacBook Pro
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- 12-inch MacBook
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- 12-inch MacBook ‘esc’ key
The backlighting has also changed on the new keyboard. Apple says each key now has its own individual LED for backlighting. Between this and the general shallow design, you no longer see as much stray lighting when viewing the keyboard at an angle. The backlighting isn’t as perfect as Apple’s marketing material, however, as certain keys consistently have uneven lighting, an issue new to this MacBook. This means the escape key may read like ‘sc’ rather than ‘esc’ at night, and each Command key is noticeably dimmer than the letter keys.
On a trivial level, I find that the new keyboard font (San Francisco as found on the Apple Watch) is nicer to look at than the previous keyboard font (VAG Rounded). While it won’t impact your typing for work, it is refreshing to see all day long as a personal preference.
You can see how similar the Lightning port on the iPhone and iPad is compared to the new USB-C port. While the iPad has a smaller footprint and is still thinner than the thickest part of the new MacBook, its portability feels very similar. Pair that with OS X, a trackpad, and a good, full-sized keyboard and the new MacBook gives the iPad a real run for its money. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus haven’t quite felt like iPad Air replacements for me as they have for other people, but the new MacBook is in close proximity. Carrying it closed feels very similar to toting an iPad Air around; aside from using the iPad Air as a second display, I can’t foresee toting both on a quick trip.
If you foresee having to rely on the available adapters or find the keyboard unfavorable, you won’t want the new MacBook as your work machine. It’s also not the powerhouse that creative professionals and developers need to get the job done, but it can certainly juggle a dozen or two important tasks without hiccups if they’re not too taxing. You can pick up a MacBook Air for less or a MacBook Pro for the same price or more, but it will be the ultra thin design (and new color options) that make the trade-offs worth it for early adopters.
It can do actual work in cases where an iPad wouldn’t be feasible. My only real concern about the new MacBook is its display size: 12-inches is not a generous amount of screen space. I preferred to run the 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro at its ‘more space’ option, but the text is uncomfortably small for me in the new MacBook’s ‘more space’ option.
I’d be envious of a similarly powered 14- or 15-inch MacBook with the same design: you could easily include another USB-C port with the longer body, and the larger but still thin footprint could pack in a few extra hours of battery life as well.
As someone with a desktop Mac setup to fall back on, though, the new MacBook is a phenomenal portable solution. I can rely on it for work, and it’s as comfortable as an iPad to use on the weekends and evenings. It’s a more difficult decision to make if you don’t have a more powerful Mac to do the heavy lifting from time to time, but it’s not out of the question in the least to rely on the new MacBook for doing actual work.
The MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) is available from $1299 (Amazon/Best Buy) in space gray, gold, and silver.
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Nice review.
Chrome has issues in OSX for every Mac.
Chrome is OSX just drains battery and I don’t know why Google can’t/won’t fix it.
As much as I would like to use Safari on OSX, this one thing really bugs me. Safari doesnt remember the zoom level of a website. If i set the zoom level to 120%, the next time I open that website, it changes back to 100%. And most websites dont use dynamic design which automatically adjusts to screen width :|
@Ashish, How about Firefox? As far as I know Safari isn’t the only decent performing browser, it’s just Chrome that sucks battery. I use Safari and Firefox interchangeably at home and at work.
Google needs to fix the Chrome problems.
uhm.. just use Safari? It’s lightyears beyond Chrome in most cases.
Chrome has issues even on Windows PC!
Chrome is designed to hunger for system resource.
Google doesn’t consider it an bug; they consider it a feature.
Nice review. I think this product is going to be incredibly popular. And once the price comes down a bit I think these will be flying off the shelves.
if they price comes down they definitely will.
No need for this device whatsoever. Moved to a 2015 Dell XPS 13 and will never look back. My iPad Air 2 matched up to a Brydge keyboard covers all my Apple needs. Silly design and clear attempt at trying to offer us an all touch large format device.
Meant to say “clear attempt at trying to NOT offer us an all touch large format device.”
There’s no need for this device? BAhahaha. Incompetency of people. This is a MacBook. It is meant for 99% of computer users. The MacBook Pro is meant for the remainder of computer users. If anything, a more powerful laptop would be the device one would say (albeit it stupidly) there is no need for.
The fact that you are commenting on articles about the New Macbook says something completely different than what you described in your post. If the 2015 Dell XPS 13 was really that great and you “would never look back” then what are you doing here? People who are purchasing the New Macbook.. surely are not taking time out of their day to read & comment on XPS 13 reviews.. because unlike you.. they truly do not care what the competition has to offer.
I bet that even though ’15 XPS is a competent computer, its still not perfect. And it could be something as minute as the trackpad on the XPS being a little less accurate as what Apple uses on their Macbook’s.. thats making you still read articles and showing curiousity about the New Macbook. This tiny inkling of regret from purchasing the Dell.. will only continue to grow as the New Macbook gains in popularity and your co-workers & colleagues begin to show up using their New Macbook. But where the XPS 13 regret will be most deep.. is when it comes time to move on from the XPS 13 to a newer laptop and you face the cold hard reality that nobody wants your pre-owned XPS and the resale value of that computer has fallen ridiculously low.
Dell. Really? Nothing more need be said.
Dell XPS 13 early 2015 is a nice but unfinished product. Powerful, great screen, nice finish, design etc but touchpad bad to the point when it needs to be disabled. It’s like a a nice car with a faulty steering wheel! Palm rejection does not work on Windows 7 and as a reslut you often find that you are typing in the address bar instead in the textual area and so on, very frustrating. We purchased 15 units and so far all users have palm rest disabled and they use a mouse even when on the movie!
I daily use Retina 15″ Pro and 11″ Air and both machines are almost flawless. XPS is a nice step towards Mac heights but not there yet…
@Dylan – the XPS 13 has a fan (and some complaints on forums say it gets LOUD). The ’15 MB is a fanless model made possible by the Intel Core M.
Personally, I think these are different machines for different users.
LOL XPS 13…
It loses to the 2015 Macbook 11 to 2:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Bp5OTmHKvhS0ng67jEq3qactML5TWg9yzdzFLXmAvqY/edit#gid=0
XPS is bigger, heavier, with worse resolution. Help me with your argument?
Speak for yourself and talk about what *you* don’t have a need for. I’ve enjoyed and have used this device for actual work (in conjunction with a workstation, iMac and gaggle of mac & pc notebooks) and it’s been great. Frankly, I just don’t prefer the non-apple notebooks or dealing with Windows (though I use both platforms daily). I prefer the Apple environment.
Most people aren’t going to spend $1300 on an iPad with a keyboard. That price needs to come down to $999. At least.
I do feel it is priced wrong as well. This needed to come in at $1099.
You must have this confused with a Surface.
You need to compare it with the MBP and MBA with same RAM/Storage options selected. It’d come in at about $800 if it had 4GB RAM and 128GB storage but it has 8GB/256GB hence $1300.
“Most” people isn’t the target market. Buyers in Apple’s cross hairs “like me” will gladly paid over $1,300 for the 12″ MacBook to augment iPads, iMacs, workstations, etc., that we already own. I can crank out written work on this thing as well as edit 50mp photographs from medium format cameras, while sipping a white chocolate mocha in Starbucks. I love the form factor and the apple environment. To assume that the price needs to come down is to assume that enough people aren’t gladly paying the current retail price.
Excellent unbiased review.
The one Apple product I know for sure I’ll never buy
The rest of the world that only watches HD video, logs on Facebook (or other social media), or does word processing, will be interested. Thanks for letting us know though.
Not you again. I’m a big Apple fan, but the new MacBook just isn’t there yet. If it comes around like the MacBook Air did several years ago than kudos to Apple. Otherwise, if someone wants to watch HD video, post to Facebook, or do some word processing then they can get a more affordably priced MacBook Air, iPad Air, or a $150 Chromebook.
The rest of the world is cheap and Apple products are not. Early adopters will make or break this product. If it makes it, and I’m sure it will, then the price will drop within the next several years just like the MacBook Air. This is how Apple operates. It creates a device several years ahead of its time and then improves upon it with each new revision.
According to tech you tubers you can edit 1080p video in Premier and Final Cut without issues so don’t see why most people can’t use it from everything from basic word processing, some ios development and some basic video editing and graphic design.
I wanted the new Macbook, but the software I would use it most for — scoring music at a piano — insists on a minimum recommended 2GHz dual-core processor. While the new Macbook might have been up to the task I felt I couldn’t risk it, what with multiple staves each playing a different high-quality virtual instrument, so I bought a new 13″ Macbook Pro instead. I wish it had the Macbook’s keyboard which I absolutely love, but at least I have the Force Touch trackpad which makes the placement of notes on the staff very easy.
Where is the link to these performance videos?
So iMovie would be fine?
I’ve been using the new Macbook for work for a few days, quite intensively. I find it is MUCH better than my 13″ Macbook Air — it’s smaller and, most important, has a much better screen. The combination of size and screen (not mentioned by the reviewer) is what makes this a compelling machine for everyday use, imo.
Finally, someone that actually uses one. Mine’s on order. Looks like the perfect road warrior machine.
Hi, are you still satisfied 4months after your purchase? Need a Macbook which can handle occasional video editing along with more mundane tasks…
I can’t believe that it is possible to charge the Macbook twice with a 13.000 mAh Powerbank.
Those Powerbanks usally have a Battery with 3.7Volts inside. So it has 48Wh (3,7V*13Ah) and the Macbook has a Battery with 39Wh.
I agree, ampere hours are misleading because it depends on voltage. Anker says the above 13000 mAh (48 Wh) external battery will charge an iPad Air 1 time (32.4 Wh), an iPad mini 1.5 times (I’m guessing retina, because it has a 24.5 Wh battery, iPad mini is 16.5 Wh), so it won’t charge the MacBook’s 39.7 Wh battery. It appears to transfer 2/3 of its capacity, so the 16000 mAh (59 Wh) version probably will charge it, or come close. I have an OXA 30000 mAh battery (111 Wh) which should let me charge the MacBook 1.8-1.9 times, twice if I don’t run it all the way down.
Inspired by the comments here, I did a test of the Macbook 12″ with two different external battery packs. I found one that is suitable for $30. But do question the utility. Read the full review and test here: http://biztechsherpa.com/2015/07/charging-macbook-with-an-external-battery-pack/
I went and tried one out at the Apple Store, and even though I was well aware of the trackpad beforehand, I had to ask the employee “is this actually clicking? It feels like it depresses!!” I fully understood how it worked once I continued to press hard and got a second “click” feedback. It’s a really cool computer
Your finger does squish down as you press, even though the trackpad itself does not move. It’s a constant delight.
Technically the trackpad bows slightly with force (understandably), but obviously that wouldn’t produce a clickable feeling. If it’s turned off you feel nothing. It is incredibly awesome feeling. I am so excited to see what else they do with this haptic tech they have.
I think the macbook is perfect for those who have a desktop. I have a cylinder mac pro at home but did a lot of writing and emails on an old macbook air. It was great but the battery was pretty bad. When I upgraded to the new macbook I was aware that there was probably going to be no speed upgrade but I was fine with that. Retina screen, 4x battery life, smaller, awesome keyboard, new trackpad… I was nervous… but now I love my decision.
I’ll note that I wasn’t really worried about the one port but everyone else made me worries about the one port so I ordered the $80 adaptor. Of course its backordered and I still haven’t gotten it.. but it doesn’t matter. I’m using a free dropbox account for all my files and I haven’t once said “oh I need to plug in USB”. Okay maybe I did that one time when I was in a coffee shop using my phone as a wifi hotspot and the battery was dropping like a rock. But that was it.
Sorry for the long post but I’m sick of people saying there is absolutely no use for the computer. There may not be a use for you but don’t get carried away and think that you are everyone. Just simply state how it isn’t right for you and why. That is more helpful because there are a fair amount of people who this laptop is perfect for and you aren’t helping them.
I feel like this headline is speaking to a totally unfounded concern that some people have.
Am I the only one who was still getting work done on much slower Macs than this only a few short years ago? If I could work on those (and those before them), I can certainly work on this.
Its not going to replace my Retina iMac, but it would certainly be my mobile-Mac of choice when on the road or away from my desk.
This is absolutely correct. I’ve been using the rMB for five days now, coming from mid-2011 and mid-2012 Macs (two with spinning disks and one with an SSD; all with 4GB RAM) that I’ve used for Photoshop work, DVD ripping, etc. With the rMB’s faster SSD and 8GB RAM, I’ve only noticed better overall performance, and it’s never occurred to me that there’s something I can’t do on it.
Any idea how the new MacBook would compare to a mid-2012 MacBook Air 11-inch, with 2GHz Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000?
Basically, I’d like to buy one but I’m worried I’ll find it too slow.
Exactly! This is a replacement for my late 2010 11-inch MacBook Air — itself still an excellent workhorse for most of my business needs. Last year’s MacBook Airs are an unrealistic point of comparison, because very few users replace their laptops every year. My new Space Gray 12-inch MacBook (the 1.3GHz edition with 512GB storage) is a stunning improvement over the 2010 MBA11 in every way — and it will fit my needs for at least another three or four years.
Nice review. At this point its hard to see how this computer fits in over-all Mac product line. I’d wager to say that Apple will eventually discontinue Mac Air as the new M chip will get more power. It will also have to take Mac Air’s current price. Right now for the price of MacBook you can buy MacBook Pro! We are also expecting iPad pro with same screen size. This makes the existence of MacBook even more confusing. I am assuming that with iPad pro, Apple will finally introduce multi-screen apps to iOS. I think it will be exclusive to that model to position it as a productivity device. With this feature, it would almost make IPad a replacement for Mac Air/MacBook. I think iPad Pro will cost as much as entry level Mac Air.
Very useful review Zac.
Apple has enough overlapping options for many of us that reviews like yours which discuss the overlap (iPad Air vs MacBook) are useful in helping us decide if a computer like this would be a useful purchase.
I really like carrying around my iPad Air 2 but any time I need to do more than trivial text editing iOS confounds me. Adding a bluetooth keyboard doesn’t really solve the issue, it’s an iOS thing.
If one had an iMac or some other powerful Mac the new MacBook is a natural. For me with a relatively new 15″ Retina MacBook Pro it’s a tougher decision.
I own one, been using it since Thursday. Light video editing, light photo editing and TONS of word processing. But everyone is different. I went from a retina 13″ to this one.
Great review and spot on. I have the new MacBook and it’s great at all the basics. Scrolling in Safari is very smooth and all the other non-Pro software is snappy. I haven’t tried any pro software, but I don’t use them to begin with. The keyboard takes a little getting used to but it’s very nice once you do.
The comparisons in many other reviews to the original MacBook Air are very unfair. The original MacBook Air was wholly underpowered and couldn’t even run YouTube videos without major hiccups! It really felt more like a prototype.
The MacBook is a solid, well-designed machine with no design flaws, unlike the original MacBook Air. It has compromises that some users might not want to make, but that’s different from flaws.
This machine is a winner for people who only need the basics (email, browsing, writing, photos, etc.).
Precisely, like 98-99% of computer users in the world.
This is some kind of lifestyle toy. I moved to a Dell XPS13 lately. Last november I traded my MacBook Pro15 Retina for a Dell Precision M3800. Still have my Mac Pro (Late 2013), but I guess I’m done with Apple.
Every time I use Windows I have to go and wash my hands. To each their own.
Cool story.
Congrats. Go get that work done!! The other 99% of the world will use this laptop which is the best laptop in the world when speaking from the standpoint that it is capable of doing what 99% of the world’s computer users do, and it’s mobility and design destroy any other laptop.
Good for you, now go wait for your morning Widows update that accidentally reboots your computer forcing you to start your work over
My MacBook Air with BootCamp is the best Windows laptop I have ever used….
Interesting that you’re here reading and commenting. Maybe you’re NOT done with Apple? :)
Whenever I read a “review” with the phrases “Ripping and encoding a DVD in HandBrake…” which you reportedly don’t do even on your desktop…and hooking it up to a external display, or doing 50k column and row spreadsheets, my eyes roll back in their sockets and say to myself ‘Is this really about a “laptop'” or a review of a desktop substitute? For my two cents please review laptops with out all the desktop accouterments! Displays, external storage, external burners, satellite dishes, and washing machines. If you have a axe to grind so be it on the Opinion page but a review should be about a machine IMHO.
Next review???? will be that the Apple Watch will not run multiple displays and a ice cream machine at the same time, but Samsungs will…. s/
Did you review a 1.1 Ghz or 1.2 Ghz?
Base model so 1.1. I’m not sure a lot of people will upgrade to the other models unless for added storage.
Very cool. I have a 1.1 and I’m pretty happy with it so far, though it seems a little pokey in a few odd places. The 10.10.4 update helped disk IO quite a bit. I ordered the 1.3 Ghz as well, with a 512 GB Flash to boot, just to compare.
Good review! Thanks!
Currently tossing up between this and the 13″ MacBook Air.. Leaning towards the Air as I use USB drives a lot and the one USB-C port just wouldn’t meet my needs – and I don’t really like the idea of spending an extra $100 on an adapter. Hope Apple improve on this design for the next generation.
The one test you didn’t do is the most important to me for someone to answer. What happens if you jog past the table the new MacBook is sitting on and trip over the USB-C power cord? I think Mac users, myself included, have forgotten the phenomenon of flying laptops because of the luxury we’ve had in MagSafe power adapters.
LOL! But a serious point…
I would love to see Xcode ran on this thing, not necessarily the coding but the building and compiling!
How can the MacBook be used for TimeMachine or periodic backups if the existing devices are USB3 or FireWire? I am not going to also invest in some kind of wifi scheme. So convenient now to have multiple ports on my iMac.
Wired backups are convenient for a desktop, but a pretty bad solution for a laptop. You have defeated portability. What’s wrong with TimeCapsule type system? I’ve used that for years.
Space Gray looks awesome, gold is to snobbish, silver is classic.
I realized a few years ago that shy of video editing and high volume RAW photo editing, most “serious work” can be done on a MacBook Air. I am a heavy user of AI, moderate user of PS and ID, and I felt no serious lag going from a 15″ MBP (w/ HDD) to the original 13″ MBA w/ SSD. In fact, many things felt snappier because of the SSD. I’m back on a 15″ MBP because I had to have retina, but now I’m very happy to go back to the 12″ MacBook.
Will I occasionally miss my MBP? Sure, but no worries, I have a 18×2 core Xeon 96GB / 512GBx2 / 3TBx6 beast at home. But if history is any indicator, the beast will probably be neglected as my old Mac Pros have in the past.
Is it really safe to use an Anker 13000 battery to charge a MacBook? I thought those were only intended for charging 2.4-Volt and lower devices (i.e., smartphones and tablets). If the MacBook uses a 29-Watt wall block, isn’t it likely more than 5 Volts? What risk would I be taking using a portable USB external battery?
It’s fine since they both operate at the same voltage. It’ll charge the MacBook at a slower rate (2.4 amps instead of about 6 amps). So no risk at all. You will probably only end up with 50-75% charge using a power bank unless its some huge 22,000 mAh battery bank.
Reblogged this on HOOKD.in and commented:
Is the new MacBook suitable for work? That’s the questions I’ve been asking since the day it was announced. With only one port (USB-C) to do all your charging, data transferring, etc., a low powered Intel chip, and less space for batteries, will the new MacBook be a good solution for work professionals?
The answered seemed obvious to me, but Zac Hall from 9to5Mac took an in-depth look at what features are, and aren’t acceptable for work use, and which type of professional should stay away from the new beauty altogether.
great article very on point, as an owner of the macbook i agree with pretty much everything. if you are good with storing things in the cloud, and you dont use intense programs (video editing etc), then this macbook is so perfect. new keyboard is amazing after you get used to it really just feels awesome.
Can I use it? – oh yes. All my Mac apps are working fine. Same for Parallels running Win8 and WinXP and my DOS emulator for running Open Access (circa 1985) – 30 years of apps and data running on a tiny machine. Wifi connection seems to be faster than a rMBP. Airplay video to an Apple TV is as good as any other Mac.
Zach Hall: Did you have the same backlight uneveness on the gold Macbook as well or just Space Grey?
Another pointless Apple product, like they don’t make enough notebooks already.
One of the great things with the Macbooks was the Magsafe connector, now no longer fitted, instead one combined port that is harder to take out.
Am I missing something here?
Wasn’t the spiel from Apple about the Magsafe that it was a safety feature? That from now on no one will be tripping over charging cables, and no Macbook would be thrown to the floor when some imbecile trips on the cable?
What’s changed that great piece of innovative thinking? Selling yet another product to the iSheeple?
With my MBP I have USB devices such as a Time Machine backup or perhaps a printer at a remote site with no wifi, these sit happily on my workspace -wherever that is- usually tucked just behind the display. The Magsafe is great, it is the only cable that anyone can possible snag or trip over, and even if they do, the MBP stays on the work space.
If I were insane enough to replace my MBP with this new abortion, I’d need an adaptor that allows me to both charge and use the ONE USB-C port, reminds of when the first MBPs came out with no DVD drive, and folks who need one -like me- then had to buy one., and by all accounts the new USB-C port isn’t as safe as the Magsafe -it is more of a trip hazard. Well, that’s clever Apple, I was always completely unconcerned with my power cable because I knew that no damage to human nor MBP could occur.
Because Mac Os X is crap, I back up all the time, so if I am working at a site for any length of time I’ll have a Time Machine drive backing up all the while, and every time there’s a critical piece of data changed, I’ll throw in a USB stick; the MBP has two ports, what do I do with this latest piece of crap? Carry a USB hub with me as well as DVD drive, USB-C adaptor etc?
Apple keep getting feedback, and then ignore it, they keep telling the customer what they want all the time. Folks were asking for more connectivity after the 2012 MBP range dropped DVD drive, Ethernet, Firewire 400, Firewire 800 and they gave us? A whole new Macbook with ONE port to do everything.
What happens if the port dies? USB ports can and do die, at least the other models have a ‘spare’ one.
It is amusing to see the fanboys defending yet another silly piece of pointless innovation.
Apple has definitely lost its way since Jobs passed on, and I am done with them.
I really thought this was not for me. I moved away from MacBooks/iMacs in a complete cycle towards Windows touch based laptops and tablets and with a few tweaks Windows 8 was perfectly fine for me. I kept looking for the holy grail of a sleek windows tablet to double as work portable PC.
You see I use my company hosted work PC via VMware and I can install that on anything including tablets.
I also only used tablets for reading and couldn’t justify the high priced finicky Samsung tablets despite their emphasis on screen and specs and being able to load apps like XBMC etc and use a mouse etc for a laptopesque solution.
Bottomline, this is kind of perfect for me. I can combine my personal laptop, work laptop and tablet reading needs into one and the price actually seems cheap all of a sudden.
Here are the main points –
I can interact with people by texting from the computer for work and personal use. I have a company iPhone so it works great together with the Handoff feature. This is a BIG deal to be able to send docs images and type long texts to ANYONE not just iMessage
I have Parallels on it for full Windows 8 experience as a back up for Windows specific apps and windows only software as needed and honestly just for the coolness of a second full OS.
The multi desktop switches around easily from one to another.
The universal charging capability for this machine using my portable charger with the USB/USB-C cable is a BIG deal for portability and that I can use high powered multi USB outlets on trips to charge everything.
The $79 adapter is kind of needed to allow for power passthrough but leaving it as part of the main charging cable is not that bad and allows a USB port available which is the same as SP3 anyways ( I have never used Thunderbolt)
Just one USB 3.0 port would have made this the Holy Grail of all devices.
I have tried all the Windows competitors.
SP3 is not a clam shell laptop and you will have to plan an area to set up to use it as one all the time. Also limited ports.
Dell XPS 13 is small but heavy and the matte screen on the FHD is a turnoff and the over pricy QHD will make Windows hard to use AND my VMWARE hosted PC unbearably small. The MACBOOK keeps the resolutions perfectly usable and a pleasure to actually do work!
Asus $699 model is really plum color first of all and it still large like the Air 13 and heavy so its not ideal as being touted and also non touch anyways and Core M.
I have tried them all and a used 2013 Air 11 was going to be my workhorse for sure ($600 on CL) but that screen….is…so…ancient….that was the only rub and I read a lot so that was a lot of strain.
I am not an Apple fanboy and I HATE the oversized iPods called iPads. I kept trying to think I could use one for a Mac-ish experience but no Mouse and no non Apple apps in the wild make it useless and a pricey toy for me.
I don’t care for iMacs and would rather stick to the Windows multi user environment with kids on their own accounts using touch etc.
I am only on Day 3 and in the Honeymoon phase but I really didn’t think I would like it and made fun of it for a while but the new Macbook really does handle everything I need just fine so far including a VM and browsing. I might add more tasks to it like Slacker radio etc but I doubt it will stutter. An occasional ripping of a DVD does not take away from it and I am not sure about iMovie yet which thanks to the pretty screen I might start doing short kids video edits since it now seems fun.
This is a very usable computer guys and the pricing was built on eliminating your tablet and secondary PC in one shot for those not into touch apps and gaming (like me).
The virtually unlimited charging from the power bank is a big deal like the new Surface 3 which I bought before this (and returned…again no clamshell and tablet still too sparse on apps and bulky)
This is a FUN machine that can do WORK.
I love my new macbook, and it is lightening fast (*I did upgrade the processor to the faster coreM and got 16gb memory) although, honestly, i don’t know if this even matters… I’ve heard the base model is great, but i wanted the storage for future, photos/videos, music, etc.
Re this one port thing.I’m still undecided. I do worry about the charger being a bit flimsy and would not be shocked if it fell apart after significant use. This is a bigger deal than with my phone or iPad, for which i have charger cords everywhere, as the other end is hardwired into the plug and cannot be replaced without buying a whole new cord.
My other concern is that it’s almost TOO light. I love that it’s almost as light as like an iPad with a cover (and with a lot more capability) but I can also see it getting easily knocked over, or bumped off my couch, or bed if i’m not careful as i’ve got small dogs and a 7 year old boy, all of whom are clumsy and jump up everywhere. This is especially true if it’s open as the screen is as heavy as the base, making it somewhat unbalanced if opened anywhere past a right angle. This new MACbook also seems very fragile, as if it would just fracture into pieces if it was ever dropped. Moving from a near 5lb laptop, that has gotten banged around and works/looks like new, this is for sure a concern with this $1800 investment.
Until this review, i didn’t notice the sc light lacking, seeing the esc when in the dark, but sure-enuf, its there. That leads me to my next concern, which is that with individually lit keys, i worry that one or two keys will end up losing illumination. certainly it looks nicer this way, but how reliable are these single lights?? The keyboard is comfy now that I’m used to it, and finally figured out the Mac’s can delete and backspace sending the curser both ways to edit text! That was a huge deal for me, I must say! (fn+delete sends it removing characters int he opposite direction). I also hit the caps lock often, when i intend to hit shift. but I’m getting more used to it every day. One big plus is that i’ve noticed that with long periods of use, by back does not hurt/shoulders don’t get all hard and bunched up, like on my other laptop or a desktop setup. maybe its bc you can put this thing in any position that’s comfortable because of its size.
I did come to realize that for what i do, which is mostly web surfing, email, texts, social media, and document creation with light photo editing and playing lots of music, (and often all at once) my needs do not require a terabyte hd, 32gb ram, and a CoreI7 processor. i’m no techie-actually very far from it – So i thought these are the things that make what i do faster. But i must say, i cannot tell a difference in speed of opening programs, multi-tasking, or anything else i do. So, either the CoreM is faster than expected with these ultralight machines, or that is not even what makes these things run swiftly! i have not a clue! I did have a couple of instances of Safari freezing on me, but my research seems to suggest that is a problem with safari, not the hardware. And re the new port, well, I’ve not had to use the adapter once! I guess you can really do most things wirelessly.
Despite all this, I continue to keep in mind that I now only have 2 days until I’ve reached the point of no return(literally, mac has a 14 day Ret/policy) For some reason, I continue to ponder whether the macbook PrO Retina would be a better choice. The 13.3 inch Retina Pro does seem to have a significantly bigger screen; and while definitely heavier, it seems sturdier too. Although it would prob cost another 400 to get the same hard drive and memory.Maybe its just the Apple guy in my head, who i just assume has the best familiarity with all the Macs.He asked me WHY, at this price point, I wasn’t I getting the pro? for me it came down to weight/ portability, personalization (ok, i like the gold!), and the fact that this new macbook is a true feat of engineering. Yet, with all the great things about this machine, I’m still not sure! So, I am watching the clock to decide if I made the right choice as the hours tick by to the point of no return….literally!
Anyone have experience with both? LMK
What did you end up doing?! I’m in the same boat this year considering getting the rose gold MacBook instead of the 13″ MacBook Pro. It’s so light, so easy to carry and use…
Thanks for the review.
I have the new MacBook on order and it seems it will meet all my criteria:
1. Needs to be a MacBook
2. Needs to be the thinnest and lightest
3. Needs to have a Retina display
4. Needs to be completely silent (no fan noise) except for sounds I want it to make
5. Needs to handle document-type programs well: word processing, Scrivener, journaling, spreadsheets, email and moderate photography, post-processing
6. Needs to have reasonable battery life for work involving application listed in Item 5.
Excellent and fair review. I agree with all the conclusions drawn.
Despite initial reservations due to reading reviews focused on benchmarks I finally downsized from a 15″ CTO MBP and replaced it with a 1.2 ghz MacBook. It has proven perfectly acceptable for my work, (MS Office aps, Creative Cloud, light editing in AutoCad LT, Merlin project management etc).
The one port was also a pre-purchase concern but this has proven not to be an issue. At my desk I have a 28″ 4K monitor attached via HDMI and a Macally 4 port HUB connected to the USB C Digital AV adaptor, The Macally 4 port hub is used for a USB-Ethernet adaptor, a 6TB HD for archive storage and TimeMachine, an Apogee DAC for some quality music and has the spare slot for iPhone syncing. To date I have not observed any annoyingly slow performance, slower than a MBP for sure but not annoyingly so. The real joy is the portability. I no longer carry an iPad to work to take meeting notes, just bring the notebook to the meeting.
This is a great notebook for the majority of Mac users. Power users or creative professionals need to wait for a while until Apple incorporates the design enhancements across its Pro line.
David, thanks for your contribution.
I’m looking to buy a super portable backup computer, probably a MAC (as opposed to my main Windows machine).
I intend to open several chrome tabs in addition to 2-3 Excel spreadsheets, and my main concern is that the CPU is not strong enough.
My Excel work is relatively light, but still..
Do you still feel the same way today?
I currently have a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) and (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, Mid 2009), the tech specs can be found here. https://support.apple.com/kb/sp544?locale=en_US
Basically I inherited this model from my brother when he upgraded to the first retina MacBook Pro in 2012, and have been using it mainly to complete university assignments, listen to music, streaming / browsing the internet – nothing too taxing. However, I have come to notice how slow it has become and think it is time to upgrade to a newer device.
I am absolutely sold on the MacBook’s design and though performance-wise it doesn’t seem to represent value for money when a 13 inch retina MacBook Pro can be bought at the same price, I am nevertheless willing to lay that aside so long as it is a significant upgrade on my current device’s performance. Can I expect it to be? Thanks (PS Apologies for my technological ignorance)
Any actual users of the New Macbook 2015 who can guide me regarding the performance of the machine? Are you satisfied after your purchase? Need a Macbook which can handle occasional video editing along with more mundane tasks…
I like the Macbook air which I’m finally switching to from a windows pc. Yet I cannot figure out how to view two Word documents side by side which is an essential operation for all serious word processing applications. I’m surprised that apple as made it so hard to do. Has anyone figured out how to do this with the air book?
On PC if I want to view two word docs side-by-side, I can open the 1st doc., then the 2nd, and size the windows how I like while viewing both at the same time. That way I can cut-paste from one to the other easily. I do it the *exact* same way on my iMac. I do it the *exact* same way on my Macbook. I’m not sure why you’re having difficulty viewing two documents side-by-side. You can do it exactly the same way with two pdf(s) by opening multiples in Acrobat, etc… or practically any program for that matter.
Eric, I realize that you posted months ago, but there is an old-fashioned work around. Simply open up two documents and resize their windows! Word also has had for a long time a spiffy feature whereby you select “New Window” and it will show you the same document but in another window. That’s useful, for example, if you want notes, bibliography, a later section, etc. visible in one window pane, and the text you’re working on visible in another.
Also, if you double-click the green light, it sends Word into full screen mode– from there, you can do the 3 finger trackpad maneuver to slide from one document to another– or, from one program to another.
Anybody have any appreciations about performance of the AirPlay hd playback movies from the new MacBook 2015? It’s the only feature I need besides browsing, I need to stream hd 720p+ movies (mkv,MP4) without lag, any ideas if it’s possible? Thanks a lot for your help.
I picked up the new 12inch Macbook $300 off at Bestbuy, which brought it down to a price where it blows the Macbook Air 11″ away in terms of value.
I love the device size, weight and screen. The keyboard is OK once you get used to it. The device has a MAJOR ISSUE THIS REVIEW MISSED, the camera is junk, it is only 0.3Mpix (640×480) and doesn’t handle any low light at all, meaning it is basically useless. If you want to use Facetime, Skype, etc, wait for the next release with a camera that wasn’t designed in 1990 in it!
I purchased this exact 12″ gold Macbook in July of 2015, and I am a junior in undergrad. I beg to differ regarding any commentary saying its not feasible for students. Yes, perhaps if your field of study requires certain software, then perhaps IOS will not be compatible, but for a Political Science major, it does a fantastic job. The light weight is probably the best feature–I can carry it with my fingers. Besides its gorgeous, chic look, it serves me perfectly fine. This is my first ever Macbook- I have owned iPad’s and always used an iPhone, but this purchase was one I do not regret. Of course, it has a price tag, but I guarantee that you are paying for the quality.
Also, just a side note- one of the keys on the keyboards was being a little weird a few months after I purchased it, so I took it to Apple. They literally replaced it with a brand new one. So, you’re paying the price, and the service is awesome too.
Great write-up! Any chance of adding information about the actual size of the screen, that is, of the display area?!
That’s a piece of data that Apple doesn’t provide and that most reviewers, if nearly all, do NOT provide, either.
Yet, in trying to compare laptops (or laptops and iPads), the overall display area does matter!
The actual “size” of the screen has been mentioned to death across the web; it has also been directly compared to the Macbook Air and Macbook pro and iPad by putting those machines side-by-side to the 12″ Macbook. But since you want superlatives, I’ll give you a pretty accurate surface area you can work with 26 x 16.2 centimeters (or 421.20 square centimeters) ; the actual “usable” screen area.
There have been problems with the keys “sticking” and I’ve had keys on mine replaced twice, (including the entire keyboard being replaced.) The butterfly design is beautiful but the design is poor. Apple has spent nearly $500 on my Mackbook for no other reason than sticky keys due to the poor design. It’s about to go back again. That said, my experience with Apple over the decades has been far better than dealing with having to call Microsoft, Toshiba, HP or the like, and often having to talk to someone with a thick accent in the Philippines (Toshiba), etc.. Apple is just so much easier for *me* to deal with based on *my* experiences spanning back to the 1980’s using both platforms. The Macbook with it’s lovely display is hands down better to look at over the two Macbook Airs (i7, 8gig, 512…) that I also regularly use (use to connect to several Cintique 22HD, etc..)
There are reasons to have an iPad (I have them), but for the typical individual the Macbook is far more versatile and powerful and offers better connectivity, etc..
Appreciate the reply! Could you point me to even *one* review where the screen *dimensions* were reported– that is, the height and width of the display (not the laptop itself) or the actual area or square inches of the viewing area were stated? I’d really like to see a comparison table of the screen areas of the 9.7″ iPad, 11.6″ MBA, 12″ MacBook, 13.3″ MBA, 13.3″ MBP, and the 15″ MacBook Pro. I’ve searched (and searched) and never found one.
Simply stating, as reviewers do, that one screen is 12″ and another 13″ (though actually 13.3″) doesn’t help very much unless one knows the actual dimensions of the screen! Think about it– a 13″ long pencil-sized screen, very thin, could be identified as a 13″ screen, but has little actual viewing area.
It’s the same issue with smartphones– just saying that one of them is 4″ and another 4.7″ or 5.5″ tells us only a little about the actual display area. Apple’s smartphones are taller and narrow– and, hence, do not have as much viewing area as compared to 4″ or 4.7″ (or 5.5″) from many other manufacturers. (And, I write that as an iPhone owner!)
(Note: I actually measured the 13.3″ MBP and 13.3″ MBA screens and discovered that their dimensions are not the same!)
Certainly not looking for “superlatives” (not sure where that comment came from!), but rather “specifications”. (Or, did you type “specifications” and Apple’s infamous auto-correct converted it into “superlatives” due to a typo or two?! :-)
I just came across a deal on this MacBook, for $650, I could have this model. But I will be coming from a 2013 Lenovo Yoga 11.6″ with the 500GB HDD, 4GB of Ram, and the Intel Pentium N3530. The screen size isn’t an issue for me, but the lack of ports might be. I am constantly charging my Yoga, I generally have an SD card in it, and when I’m at home, I generally have an external display plugged in via HDMI. So do adapters exist that allow me to do this all at once? I would need to get a singular Type C to SD card adapter, but I will need to be able to charge it when I am doing content creation on. I am a YouTuber, and I plan on using this as my main video and graphic design computer. Can this handle itself with Sony Vegas Pro 14 and Photoshop CC?