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The new MacBook

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Re: The new MacBook

#231

Post by joshvm »

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…

It also looks like (finally) the complete modularisation of the power supply. You should be able to have a localised wall cable, power brick and separate USB cable to the computer. In principle this should mean an end to ridiculously overpriced power supplies (currently north of £60). It's even more galling given that they realised the cables were so poorly made that US customers have a special return program for fraying while the rest of the world doesn't - hooray for litigation culture?

The new 29W brick currently costs £40 and the 2m USB-C cable £25. Typically it's not the brick that fails, it's the poor strain relief on the laptop cable. Being able to replace just the cable with (probably) an aftermarket product is a massive step up.

Re: The new MacBook

#232

Post by chockablock »

Xylakant wrote: post #156
jowiar wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Battery life is long enough such that MagSafe isn't as necessary as it used to be. Back when you had to haul your power cord to meetings, coffeeshops, and the like, cord tripping was a serious problem. Now? Far less so.

Have kids and/or pets run around in the same area where your computer is plugged in. Sooner or later one is going to tear on the cord - heck, even I do manage from time to time. And the connector looks so flimsy I'm afraid one time is all it's going to take. Nah, macsafe was the best invention ever in terms of charging.

parent's point is that your laptop now spends far less time plugged in during use.

I bet consumer behavior has changed, and that laptops with 10+hr battery life probably get charged more like phones: overnight and in a safe location.

Re: The new MacBook

#233

Post by rsynnott »

higherpurpose wrote: post #42

They messed up the resolution. No more "4x the resolution" as "retina" anymore for Apple devices, it seems. It's the end of that, as we've seen with the new iPhones. So now developers will have to target those resolutions exactly as they are. No more "elegant scaling" and whatnot.

> So now developers will have to target those resolutions exactly as they are.

People writing MacOS software do not typically target a particular number of pixels; it's a windowed operating system. One point will be 2x2 pixels, as on the retina MBP and iMac, and on all retina iOS devices except the big iPhone (where one point is 3x3 pixels).

Re: The new MacBook

#234

Post by olso »

sauere wrote: post #176

If i was to buy a new MacBook today it would definitely be the 13" Air or Pro. It's a cool device, but not for anyone doing serious dev work. The DO-IT-ALL-USB-C might be a neat idea, but it practice it means that i have to carry a ton of (expensive!) adapters around with me for the next few years. And then there is performance. I can live with 1,5GHz /w Turbo or whatever.... but 1,1GHz? That is painful.

I want to buy the updated 13". How much RAM does Yosemite take up? Not sure if I should go for the 16 GB version.

Re: The new MacBook

#235

Post by to3m »

skrowl wrote: post #167
throwawaymsft wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Doesn't run Mac OS, so it's not going to be much fun if you're upgrading from a previous Mac. It's also probably going to be a bit more of a pain to keep it working (there were lots of things I didn't like about Mac OS X but one thing it was pretty good at was being plug'n'play and generally not fucking up - the latter being something Windows is not so good at).

baaaaaaa

Re: The new MacBook

#236

Post by noobiemcfoob »

PhasmaFelis wrote: post #79
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…

My only regret is that MagSafe is actually really cool. I think I'd have to say it's worth it for full standards-compliance, though.

Couldn't you simply build an adapter to get that magnetic ability? I'm envisioning a standard connector to laptop, bit of cord, proprietary connector with built-in magnetics but maintaing USB 3.1 compliance out to a female USB-C connector.

If USB-C becomes the go-to port for charging, I can't imagine something like this not being far behind.

Re: The new MacBook

#237

Post by chacham15 »

tjl wrote: post #227
jrochkind1 wrote: post #196

Do I understand right that it's got one port, which can be used for either power or USB, but not both at once? Man, that's the future? I was hoping they'd give it two USB ports, if it was supposed to serve as the new full powered macbook. It never occured to me they'd actually take away a port, and give you charging or USB peripheral but not both at once. Bah humbug.

You can do both at once over the port, you'd just need a hub. It's not really the new "full powered" MacBook. Look at the processors it uses. It's intended to a a good performance, lightweight laptop. Realistically, they can't support 2 USB-C ports as it's unlikely it could support a full power draw on both ports (100W each).

> Realistically, they can't support 2 USB-C ports as it's unlikely it could support a full power draw on both ports (100W each).

Its not uncommon for machines to have only one usb controller with multiple ports (i.e. a usb controller + hub which connects externally)

Re: The new MacBook

#238

Post by [deleted] »

rsynnott wrote: post #224
thesimon wrote: post #28

1.2Ghz processor seems like a dealbreaker for professional applications (Coding, Video editing) but for applications the Air was used before it actually seems okay.

I have a 1.7GHz 2012 MBA, and have used the more recent 1.3GHz Haswell version, which is a little faster (clock speed is not everything). It's fine for programming, though it does perhaps push Scala compile times into annoying territory. Now, that said, this is a Core M; it may end up a little slower than the current Macbook Air.

[deleted]

Re: The new MacBook

#239

Post by twright »

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?

> that vibrating trackpad gizmo feels like a couple of innovations away from true touch feedback on an iPhone?

I could see this being a new setting in iOS. There's a "Vibrate on touch" setting in Android (Settings > Sound > Vibrate on Touch), the device vibrates very slightly when typing and when you press navigation bar buttons.

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