The New Macbook
Discussion
well where it started was "macs are too expensive", and that was the trigger. Not sure why that has to happen on every thread either. I feel quite sure if there was a happy discussion going on in the prestige car forums, and someone blurted in saying "porsches are expensive" they'd be laughed at. It doesn't need saying - of course they are more money, but you get more for it. For some reason with IT and gadgets, it never goes away.
Maybe it never goes away because at no point does any windows user acknowledge - yea windows and the laptops built to run it are all varying degrees of s
t, but I don't want to spend more money, so there we go. That would be literally be the end of the whole debate.
Why isn't everyone using Hudls now anyway, if cheap is best?
Maybe it never goes away because at no point does any windows user acknowledge - yea windows and the laptops built to run it are all varying degrees of s
t, but I don't want to spend more money, so there we go. That would be literally be the end of the whole debate. Why isn't everyone using Hudls now anyway, if cheap is best?
I'm an Apple person but I've been impressed with the high end Windows based stuff I've tried over the last couple of years. I've never really thought Windows was especially bad either but then I do think you have to be a little more computer literate to get it and keep it running smoothly. I just happen to prefer OSX, I'm also shamelessly materialistic and love the way Apple design things. Just my opinion and seeing as I'm not really an IT bod myself I can't claim it's any more 'right' than anyone elses.
As bhstewie said, why can't people just use the one they like? Preferably without slagging off the other?
Back on topic, the new MacBook looks pretty good to me. It looks very limited but then I assume it's aimed at people where this doesn't matter so much. The one port is a little disappointing though, especially seeing as it looks like they could have fitted another one in next to it.
How does it compare to the windows based competition? IS there actually any competition? I would have thought the higher end Chromebooks are somewhat of a competitor?
As b
hstewie said, why can't people just use the one they like? Preferably without slagging off the other?Back on topic, the new MacBook looks pretty good to me. It looks very limited but then I assume it's aimed at people where this doesn't matter so much. The one port is a little disappointing though, especially seeing as it looks like they could have fitted another one in next to it.
How does it compare to the windows based competition? IS there actually any competition? I would have thought the higher end Chromebooks are somewhat of a competitor?
leglessAlex said:
How does it compare to the windows based competition? IS there actually any competition? I would have thought the higher end Chromebooks are somewhat of a competitor?
New Chromebook Pixel is i5 or i7 and chunkier, but does use USB-C (it gets two ports though). Windows machines with Core M processors are mostly tablets or hybrids like the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, and I've not seen a fanless one yet. Asus Zenbook UX305 uses Core M in a regular laptop format, it's £650 but heavier, 1080p 13" screen, and it sits on the edge of its screen (not the rubber feet) with the screen open. Good value on a budget but cheap-feeling build.
Rawwr said:
Blown2CV said:
yea windows and the laptops built to run it are all varying degrees of st, but I don't want to spend more money, so there we go.
Amazing.t, but I don't want to spend more money, so there we go. t, it's a pretty fking common belief. No smoke without fire, even if you think I am wrong.Anyway, I'm ending my participation in it there, as clearly we were never going to solve it.
You'll doubtlessly think that's amazing too.
leglessAlex said:
How does it compare to the windows based competition? IS there actually any competition? I would have thought the higher end Chromebooks are somewhat of a competitor?
As usual it comes down to price really. For about the same price, you can have a Surface Pro 3 which has a much faster processor, has a touch screen and pen, and humorously a single USB port 
Its also lighter, thinner, and has about the same battery life according to Engadget (SP3 7:08, NMB 7:47 in video rundown tests). The only downside for the SP3 is that a keyboard is an extra 100 quid or so. The build quality on both is phenomenal.You'd have to hate Windows a real lot to go with the new MacBook. Its ill conceived and a bit of a rip off.
Polariz said:
As usual it comes down to price really. For about the same price, you can have a Surface Pro 3 which has a much faster processor, has a touch screen and pen, and humorously a single USB port Its also lighter, thinner, and has about the same battery life according to Engadget (SP3 7:08, NMB 7:47 in video rundown tests). The only downside for the SP3 is that a keyboard is an extra 100 quid or so. The build quality on both is phenomenal.
You'd have to hate Windows a real lot to go with the new MacBook. Its ill conceived and a bit of a rip off.
Surely an iPad and keyboard would be a rip off? I left windows years ago. I got fed up of constantly maintaining the machines. They always ended up running like s Its also lighter, thinner, and has about the same battery life according to Engadget (SP3 7:08, NMB 7:47 in video rundown tests). The only downside for the SP3 is that a keyboard is an extra 100 quid or so. The build quality on both is phenomenal.You'd have to hate Windows a real lot to go with the new MacBook. Its ill conceived and a bit of a rip off.
te after a year then needed a reformat to make it run well again. Every now and again I have to use my in-laws machine. Vastly better spec'd than my Air and running like ste.I like the look on the new macbook and will most probably buy one. You could say I'm an apple fan but I'm not one bit interested in the iPhone 6 and won't be buying one.
BTW do you get apple fans on Microsoft threads b
hing? Genuine question as I don't even open any threads relating to windows powered machines. I may make the leap back one day but only when apple don't make machines that suit me. Polariz said:
leglessAlex said:
How does it compare to the windows based competition? IS there actually any competition? I would have thought the higher end Chromebooks are somewhat of a competitor?
As usual it comes down to price really. For about the same price, you can have a Surface Pro 3 which has a much faster processor, has a touch screen and pen, and humorously a single USB port Its also lighter, thinner, and has about the same battery life according to Engadget (SP3 7:08, NMB 7:47 in video rundown tests). The only downside for the SP3 is that a keyboard is an extra 100 quid or so. The build quality on both is phenomenal.You'd have to hate Windows a real lot to go with the new MacBook. Its ill conceived and a bit of a rip off.
The spec looked fine, but it's awkwardly big as a tablet and touch friendly apps are few and far between. As a laptop the crap keybaord attachment and kick stand make it far less useable than a proper laptop/ultrabook. Also, all of the weight/size specs are based on the tablet alone. Once you add the keyboard cover you are in MacBook air / ultrabook territory.
The pen is ok for Photoshop, but pretty useless for most other things and the touchpad on the clip on keyboard cover is woeful.
Screen is pretty nice though.
RobDickinson said:
Sp3 might only have a single USB but you can charge it and connect another monitor without using it.
Technically true, but the SP3 has a mini displayport. In the past 5 years at presenting at conferences, offices and other venues I have yet to be offered anytning but VGA or (more recently) HDMI connections. I've always needed a dongle for my SP3 as a result.whoami said:
Polariz said:
Its ill conceived and a bit of a rip off.
In what way?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6qLab-xuA
Honestly though, aside from the obvious USB port/can't charge and plug things in malarkey, I don't understand why they thought that the market needed this product. I'm not convinced I'd buy this over an Air.
survivalist said:
Polariz said:
leglessAlex said:
How does it compare to the windows based competition? IS there actually any competition? I would have thought the higher end Chromebooks are somewhat of a competitor?
As usual it comes down to price really. For about the same price, you can have a Surface Pro 3 which has a much faster processor, has a touch screen and pen, and humorously a single USB port Its also lighter, thinner, and has about the same battery life according to Engadget (SP3 7:08, NMB 7:47 in video rundown tests). The only downside for the SP3 is that a keyboard is an extra 100 quid or so. The build quality on both is phenomenal.You'd have to hate Windows a real lot to go with the new MacBook. Its ill conceived and a bit of a rip off.
The spec looked fine, but it's awkwardly big as a tablet and touch friendly apps are few and far between. As a laptop the crap keybaord attachment and kick stand make it far less useable than a proper laptop/ultrabook. Also, all of the weight/size specs are based on the tablet alone. Once you add the keyboard cover you are in MacBook air / ultrabook territory.
The pen is ok for Photoshop, but pretty useless for most other things and the touchpad on the clip on keyboard cover is woeful.
Screen is pretty nice though.
I've owned the Air, the Surface Pro 2, and 3, iPads and whatever else. I wouldn't say I was a fan boy of either and I'm an "on the fence" participant of this conversation. I'm a fan of common sense and value for money. I think personally that if I bought the new MacBook, I'd be thinking that it too was too compromised - I wish the CPU was faster, or the keyboard was better, or I had more than one port, or the battery life was better. Let's be blunt, it's a netbook with a posh screen.
I'd have wished I'd have bought the Air.
Edited by Polariz on Monday 13th April 07:25
Polariz said:
I certainly see where you're coming from. The SP3 is a bit of a marmite device because it's compromised in many ways and I did debate about whether using it as a comparison because it stirs up a bit of a hornet's nest. Turning up in an Apple thread and introducing a Microsoft device always gets the usual short shrift from the fanbois, so I'm just looking at this objectively.
I've owned the Air, the Surface Pro 2, and 3, iPads and whatever else. I wouldn't say I was a fan boy of either and I'm an "on the fence" participant of this conversation. I'm a fan of common sense and value for money. I think personally that if I bought the new MacBook, I'd be thinking that it too was too compromised - I wish the CPU was faster, or the keyboard was better, or I had more than one port, or the battery life was better. Let's be blunt, it's a netbook with a posh screen.
I'd have wished I'd have bought the Air.
Actually, I think it's quite a good comparison as as you say the SP3 is a compromised device as well. On paper, apart from the processor (i5/i7 vs Core-M), it has many of the same compromises as the new MacBook. I say on paper, as without actually using it I'm not sure the keyboard will be rubbish and for most office productivity stuff will likely be fine on the Core-M. Not sure price is even relevant as the equivalent SP3 is about £1300 RRP (8Gb RAM, 256GB SSD). The real shame is that Apple don't seem to actually have any MacBooks available - even as demo units in their stores. I've owned the Air, the Surface Pro 2, and 3, iPads and whatever else. I wouldn't say I was a fan boy of either and I'm an "on the fence" participant of this conversation. I'm a fan of common sense and value for money. I think personally that if I bought the new MacBook, I'd be thinking that it too was too compromised - I wish the CPU was faster, or the keyboard was better, or I had more than one port, or the battery life was better. Let's be blunt, it's a netbook with a posh screen.
I'd have wished I'd have bought the Air.
Edited by Polariz on Monday 13th April 07:25
What does wind me up is the hoards of idiots saying that a mac is a rip off because you can get an huge, plastic Windows Laptop running on a spinning disk riddled with crapware for £300. Like for like the cost of a MacBook Air and Ultrabook are pretty similar and it's the same for the new MacBook.
Actually, there have been plenty of moans from SP3 users about CPU throttling too. The i7 models are particularly bad - it doesn't take a lot of heavy lifting for the fan to go ballistic, keep going and it aggressively throttles CPU speed to keep the temperature manageable.
There isn't really any magic here - there's been small, steady improvements to battery technology and CPU efficiency, but the main reason why laptops have gone from 2 hours to 9+ on a charge is with much better power management.
If you're hoping for a very thin, light device for CPU-intensive tasks that will last all day while doing them - well, good luck with your search.
There isn't really any magic here - there's been small, steady improvements to battery technology and CPU efficiency, but the main reason why laptops have gone from 2 hours to 9+ on a charge is with much better power management.
If you're hoping for a very thin, light device for CPU-intensive tasks that will last all day while doing them - well, good luck with your search.
survivalist said:
RobDickinson said:
Sp3 might only have a single USB but you can charge it and connect another monitor without using it.
Technically true, but the SP3 has a mini displayport. In the past 5 years at presenting at conferences, offices and other venues I have yet to be offered anytning but VGA or (more recently) HDMI connections. I've always needed a dongle for my SP3 as a result.Anyone care to comment from a purely technical perspective as to the merits/downsides of OSX over Windows?
I've seen this thread (variants of) for many years - at the end of the day, there is a personal decision involved and - judging by the ongoing existence - clearly a market for both,
I've become an apple convert over the years as, in my personal experience, stuff just tends to 'work' a bit better - am no fanboy as have had a few issues particularly at the moment with the structure of Iphoto (thread here if anyone can help out on that note....)
Incidentally, i just ordered a re-furbed MBP from these guys rather than a new macbook as, to my eye, it looked like better value for money. (no affiliation etc.)
horses for courses
:-)
I've seen this thread (variants of) for many years - at the end of the day, there is a personal decision involved and - judging by the ongoing existence - clearly a market for both,
I've become an apple convert over the years as, in my personal experience, stuff just tends to 'work' a bit better - am no fanboy as have had a few issues particularly at the moment with the structure of Iphoto (thread here if anyone can help out on that note....)
Incidentally, i just ordered a re-furbed MBP from these guys rather than a new macbook as, to my eye, it looked like better value for money. (no affiliation etc.)
horses for courses
:-)
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