“Apple on Tuesday announced its new MacBook, which slots in as the middle step between the entry-level Apple MacBook Air and the high-end Apple MacBook Pro,” Joel Santo Domingo writes for PC Magazine. “Highlights include a 13.1mm thick chassis, 2-pound weight, and all-day battery life thanks to a Intel Core M processor and batteries that fill the slender case.”
“Open the lid, and you’ll see a much smaller bezel than the one on the 11-inch MacBook Air, as well as edge-to-edge glass covering a screen that is just as bright and clear as the ones on the Retina MacBook Pro,” Santo Domingo writes. “The new keyboard has full-size keys, but is a lot thinner than even the keyboard on the MacBook Air 11-inch. Key travel takes a few minutes to get used to, but feels a lot better and more responsive than the membrane keyboards on the Dell XPS 11 and Microsoft Surface Touch Cover.”
“Since the system weighs only 2 pounds (lighter than the 2.38-pound MacBook Air 11-inch), which is just a hair heavier than the original Apple iPad,” Santo Domingo writes. “I can see carrying this system everywhere, so you can have the full OS X compatibility with a system that weighs about as much as a tablet with a docking keyboard.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Hands-on with Apple’s One-port wonder, the amazing MacBook with 12-inch Retina display – March 9, 2015
Apple unveils all-new MacBook, the thinnest and lightest Mac ever made – March 9, 2015
After using one you’ll want to throw your Dell XPS 11 in the dumpster.
You can throw the Dell into the dumpster now, no need to wait.
That’s where I found mine. 🙂
I would replace my iPad with this one!
What is the difference between the dual core Intel M processor and the dual core i5 processor in the MBA?
The “M” processor is optimized for energy efficiency.
The unfortunate side effect being poor performance.
“Poor” depends on the user.
Is the i5 or M faster? I would guess if it’s optimized for energy then there is a tradeoff in lower performance. I’m trying to figure out whether to MBA or MB. To be honest I can’t tell what is the lower end model (performance-wise) out of the two, their laptop lineup seems kind of hard to figure out now. Before there was the MB and the ultra thin and light MBA. Now the MB is more portable than the MBA, so which one is faster/slower.
For pure performance, the i5 is likely to be faster for most activity. But a lot of things impact “performance,” not just the processor. Such as memory, graphics (including number of pixels being “pushed around”), access to data storage, etc. Or the type of activity being performed. If you’re writing an email, it won’t matter. If you are doing some video editing, it may matter.
I am even more curious about how close the Intel M compares to the Apple A8X (and the coming A9X) It seems I am now comparing this new MacBook with the hopefully coming iPad Pro…
Does make you wonder if they are effectively lowering the performance bar of Intel processors in their minimalist machines to soon be able to better it with heir own processors. Could be interesting.
The miniaturization of the logic board, shown in the presentation video, is amazing. And that new “Force Touch” trackpad, with tactile feedback without the need to click down; makes the old one seem archaic. And the “layered” battery, contoured to precisely fit all remaining “leftover” volume inside the case. Plus the gold choice. THIS is iPad tech in a MacBook.
The new MacBook doesn’t “slot-in” in the middle. It IS the new entry level MacBook in terms of both features and performance. Apple positions at the bottom of the line on their web site.
In terms of price it is the middle product.
MacBook Air’s start at $899
MacBook’s start at $1299
MacBook Pro’s also start at $1299 but go much higher
It is also in the middle spec wise, MacBook Airs do not have a Retina option. MacBook Pros have Retina and other higher end options that the MacBook does not.
Equally spec’d with RAM and SSD, the MBA and 13″ MBP cost exactly the same as the MacBook. The former lacks a retina display, the latter is physically larger and heavier.
You makes your choices and pays your money.
It’s not so much a ranking down to price or specs, it’s a horses for courses decision.
Do you need ultra portability with not much need for intense number crunching, graphic or video creation but still want to enjoy content? MB
Do you need a decent everyday machine that you can comfortably carry around but which gives you enough grunt to do most things without needing to natively view HD? MBA, especially if there’s a TB Display waiting for you at home to hook up to.
Do you need a desktop replacement that can handle pretty much anything you can throw at it and handle HD creation to boot? MBP
That’s only one flavour, there are no doubt lots of different use cases but in any case, it’s not about paying more to get more.
Damn!
I’d get one but I’m *already* totin’ around 12″…..
I hear ya, TT. Life’s a bitch carrying around that big 12″:
Last night I tried to tease her
I gave my love a little pinch
But she said, “Stop the bullshit
Won’t you whip out your big twelve inch?”
Record of the band that plays the blues
Well, the band that plays the blues
She just loved my big twelve inch
Record of her favorite blues
(with apologies to Aerosmith for the change in lyrics)
I remember when PCMag was a Windoze praise only Publication. Go figure!