One of the biggest questions from the Spring Forward event held by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in March had nothing to do with the Apple Watch.
It was about the surprise announcement, the new and crazy thin MacBook. Specifically, would a laptop so thin and lightweight –with only a single port and a keyboard with virtually no space for the keys to move– actually be usable?
Apple fans don’t seem to care about any limitations or the hefty $1299 starting price. After going on pre-order, the gold version of the new MacBook was quickly backordered and shipping times are slipping for other models.
Should you consider buying a new MacBook? Read our 2015 MacBook review for our thoughts on the matter.
MacBook Review (2015): Impressive Build, New Standard for Thin
There’s no avoiding the fact that the new MacBook is not only an impressive feat of engineering, it’s also an incredibly attractive piece of gear.
Apple designers managed to deliver a laptop with a 12-inch, high-resolution (Retina in Apple-speak) display and full-sized keyboard in a package that’s just a hair over two pounds and only 0.52 inches at its thickest point.
The display is impressive — sharp and colorful — and while it doesn’t have the edge-to-edge “infinity” effect of Dell’s XPS 13 Ultrabook, the bezels on the MacBook are black glass so they seem less pronounced than on other Apple laptops.
With three colors to choose from and that incredibly thin form factor, the new MacBook is clearly meant to appeal not just to Apple fans, but to anyone who doesn’t mind paying more for an extremely portable and beautifully designed laptop.
MacBook Review (2015): Keyboard is Usable but Battery Life, Expandability a Concern
Apple engineers had to come up with a new keyboard design since even the chiclet keys found in the MacBook Air were too high to fit in the new MacBook case. The resulting keyboard is so thin, there was concern that typing would be similar to a virtual keyboard experience — which is to say, bad.
As it turns out, the company knows its stuff. The keys are full-sized and individually backlit, and while typing may not be as satisfying as on a traditional laptop keyboard, it’s easy to go full-speed for extended periods on this one.
The new Force Touch trackpad is responsive and adds a new pressure-based gesture. It works well, although not all apps currently make use of the feature.
Less successful were the space-saving choices of processor and connectivity.
The Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Core M processor Apple chose lets the company get away without a cooling fan. It also takes up less room than the Core i5 in even the base model MacBook Air and offers greater power efficiency.
But it’s less powerful, and when you start using software that pushes the processor, performance can get sluggish and battery life takes a hit.
The choice to go with a single USB-C port on the MacBook is probably the most controversial decision Apple made, and it quickly comes into play.
Since that port is used for power, if you want to plug any USB accessory (or an external monitor) into the new MacBook while connected to a wall outlet, you have to spend $79 for a dongle that splits the port and adds an HDMI connector.
This big chunk of white plastic hanging off the port ruins Apple’s design aesthetic. Want to plug in a USB thumb drive? Finding one with a USB-C connector is pretty tough at the moment.
MacBook Review (2015): Specs
- 12-inch LED backlit Retina display (2304 x 1440 resolution)
- 1.1 GHz dual core Intel Core M processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB PCIe Flash storage
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- 1x USB-C
- 480p FaceTime camera
- Headphone port, dual microphones, stereo speakers
- Full-sized, backlit keyboard
- Force Touch trackpad
- Battery rated at up to 9 hours web browsing
- 11.04 x 7.74 x 0.14-0.52 inches, weighs 2.03 pounds
- Runs OS X Yosemite
- MSRP $1299
Note: Specs are shown are for a base model Macbook review model; CPU and storage upgrades are available.
MacBook Review (2015): Conclusion
Apple’s new MacBook seems to be off to a good start so far as pre-orders are concerned. And most MacBook review sites agree that it’s a beautifully designed device.
However, I still have a hard time figuring out if Apple is going to find a real market for this laptop.
Anyone who does actual work on the go will find the MacBook Air is much more powerful, lasts longer on battery, doesn’t have the issue with plugging in accessories and costs less. And it’s not all that much larger than the new MacBook.
By offering a Retina display for the new MacBook and not the latest MacBook Air, Apple is forcing many buyers to choose between a higher resolution display or a more capable notebook.
For those who want something a little more convenient than an iPad stuffed in a keyboard case, then the new MacBook is a real upgrade. It’s also going to play a role as the notebook to be seen with, especially that gold version.
Anyone in the market for an Apple laptop for frequent use would probably be better served by a MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro, or holding off for the next generation of MacBook. By that time Apple may have relented on the single port stance and might offer a more robust CPU option.
As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
