The new MacBook • Hacker News Board

Re: The new MacBook

#161

Post by gress » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:49 PM UTC

DannyBee wrote: post #91

madeofpalk wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm glad apple picked this up after so many others pushed it forward :) To be fair, Apple had a lot of people on the USB-C standards... 'committee', second only to Intel. Source: http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/6/7505187/apple-macbook-2015-...

Not to denigrate their work, but this happened very very late in the type-C game. (Look at who attended what meetings, and where it was proposed, how far it was along when it was proposed, and then when apple started showing up. It looks like they saw the writing on the wall, and joined in to make sure they weren't going to get left behind)

Actually you are just denigrating their work with innuendo.

Re: The new MacBook

#162

Post by Grazester » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:49 PM UTC

swalsh wrote: post #142

mmastrac wrote: post #2

USB-C as the "one connector to rule them all" is the big news. That's the end of MagSafe and the exploding era of USB-C docking stations that work for multiple devices. I think we'll start to see an era of expandable computing coming up soon: USB-C is a perfect connector to push your data and state into a larger desktop experience. Why not carry around your laptop in tablet form when you are mobile? [1] [1] https://g…

I wonder if the iPhone 6S will have a usb-c port that lets you dock the phone and use it for work.

That is not going to happen. Apple licenses out the use of its connectors for docking stations and other accessory usage. If they just drop the lightening connector on the iphone this soon after implementing it, I dont think manufacturers of these accessories would very happy about that.

Re: The new MacBook

#163

Post by dntrkv » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:50 PM UTC

jkot wrote: post #30

I am bit disappointed. Dell has similar sized laptop, with bigger display, smaller bezel and higher resolution. http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-13-9343-laptop/pd

If you're looking purely at specs, Windows laptops always were the better deal. But only when you use those alternatives do you realize how much further ahead Apple is.

Re: The new MacBook

#164

Post by shabadoop » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:50 PM UTC

acomjean wrote: post #26

mdeslaur wrote: post #11

Seriously? Couldn't they have put _two_ ports in it so you can plug something in while it's being charged without lugging around a usb hub?

This won't work well when using an air to do presentations and you can't switch between a monitor and power.... The slightly cynical me tends to think the thunderbolt port was great and on every mac. now new adapters...

It has 10 hours of battery life, so I think the idea is that you don't plug it in as often.

Re: The new MacBook

#165

Post by tgcordell » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:51 PM UTC

nijiko wrote: post #148

bergie wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

9h of battery life means you don't have to be constantly plugged in -- just charge it at night, like you do with a phone

It will probably be closer to 6h of actual usage.

Apple's battery tests are much more real world than I have to translate for other companies.

Re: The new MacBook

#166

Post by selectodude » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:51 PM UTC

captaincrowbar wrote: post #100

baddox wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not an uncommon practice. I believe there was a non-Retina Macbook Pro in the product line for quite a while after the introduction of the Retina Macbook Pro.

The non-retina MBP is still available. Or at least it was up to a few minutes ago; they've just taken the store page down for updating, I wouldn't be surprised if the old MBP is gone when it returns. Although you'll probably still be able to buy one until the stock runs out.

Still there.

Re: The new MacBook

#167

Post by skrowl » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:51 PM UTC

throwawaymsft wrote: post #98

jkot wrote: post #30

I am bit disappointed. Dell has similar sized laptop, with bigger display, smaller bezel and higher resolution. http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-13-9343-laptop/pd

The intended audience is deciding between the various MacBooks, not between a Dell and a MacBook.

THIS.

You're forgetting this is an Apple product. The iSheep don't even consider competitors, regardless of specs or price advantage.

Re: The new MacBook

#168

Post by higherpurpose » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:51 PM UTC

jkot wrote: post #17

mmastrac wrote: post #2

USB-C as the "one connector to rule them all" is the big news. That's the end of MagSafe and the exploding era of USB-C docking stations that work for multiple devices. I think we'll start to see an era of expandable computing coming up soon: USB-C is a perfect connector to push your data and state into a larger desktop experience. Why not carry around your laptop in tablet form when you are mobile? [1] [1] https://g…

I am not too happy about that. HP already has USB charger for laptop, and it had bunch of problems, including fire hazard. That was just ARM chromebook, not sure how it will on 'full' mac. EDIT: there are physical limitations how electric current is transferred. USB contacts do not have good shape and will probably deteriorate more quickly.

That happened with the old USB connector, which can't support too much power going through it. USB-C can support a lot more.

Re: The new MacBook

#169

Post by Tiksi » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:52 PM UTC

proggR wrote: post #94

jkot wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aluminum is not best material either, it bends too easily. EDIT: aluminium bends too easily compared to other material. It does not have best structural integrity for its weight. Magnesium alloy, carbon fiber reinforced plastic or titanium composite usually has better parameters for weight. But I am not saying that polished aluminium is bad or looks bad.

I just tossed my Macbook Pro across the room the other day by accident (didn't check that my backpack was closed...). It did indeed bend the metal a bit, and the display cracked in the corner, but having seen plastic machines make the same tumble I think it would have fared significantly worse if it weren't aluminum. The force that bent the metal would have surely cracked the plastic into pieces and the display would…

When I lived in college dorms a few years back, my thinkpad would fall ~6ft out of my bed onto tile a few times a week. Occasionally I had to pop the battery back in.

Plastic can flex to absorb the stress without permanently deforming, aluminum not so much. Even the panasonic toughbooks are plastic, and those are probably the most durable laptops I know of by a large margin.

Re: The new MacBook

#170

Post by gress » Mon, Mar 09, 2015, 6:52 PM UTC

drzaiusapelord wrote: post #133

colinramsay wrote: post #8

Are there things here where Apple is significantly further ahead than the competition? Innovating on keyboards, trackpad, battery life, power usage and form factor - there just seem to be innovating simultaneously on more levels than the competition. Another thing - that vibrating trackpad gizmo feels like a couple of innovations away from true touch feedback on an iPhone? Any thoughts?

I'd say they're more progressive than innovative. A solitary USB-C port is kinda ugly. Now your charger shares the same port as everything else. For business use this can be annoying especially for those who give presentations or just need an easy to to plug in USB thumb drive port. Or a dongle for a third-party mouse or trackball. Also, do we consider price anymore? I tend to buy machines at most $500. An $800-1200…

Apple considers price. If you want a $500 laptops there is a wide range of competing options and there is no need for them to involve themselves with that.