Yes this is my very “basic”-looking desk
I just became aware of the new iterations Apple announced last night at their ‘Spring Forward’ keynote event this morning. Talks of new Macbooks and a newer version of the Apple Watch with features that are supposed to be its selling point. I could care less about the latter, it never appealed to me in the beginning. Never have, never will.
Since my Twitter is locked and I didn’t want to flood everyone’s timelines with my already-too-late reactions, I’ll just leave them here.
The new Macbooks, a much thinner model than last time. Plus! It comes in three colors now, too! It sounds like the next must-have accessory for everyone who just wants to get a laptop for the sake of being “in”, like the iPhone crowd. Before you rally around my fence, let me tell you that I am an iPhone user.. does that make me a hypocrite? Oops. How about this: I also have a Google Nexus phone. Now what? Move on. 😛
Anyway, I only know a handful of things about it. Sadly, they are things that are enough to turn me off and look the other way about it than gush and look forward to having my own “Space Grey Macbook” in the future.
- One USB port, of a new type that they unveiled last night: USB-C type
- Much lighter than the previous generation (don’t ask me about numbers, please)
- Available in three colors – sounds familiar
- “Fully equipped for a wireless world”
- Wait, I noticed the “Pro” is nowhere in the name. Did they drop the “Pro” line or this is just a Macbook like the entry-level kind of computer?
I know Apple is All. About. Change. but I think it’s stupid to disregard ALL ports in favor of one that’s not even a standard yet. What the hell is this USB-C type? I think I’m bothered that it had to be named as such, instead of a completely different name. Perhaps it has to comply by certain naming standards but I still see it as silly. In the next couple of months probably, no matter how much we resist to change and prefer to stick by old, tested standards (here’s me wishing more companies would stick to USB 2.0-3.0 and make it also backwards-compatible).. eventually the world will follow suit and before we know it, we’d be using USB-C compatible cables. Damn.
Then again, there might be hope because I remember they released Thunderbolt and put that in the older Macbook Pro models and we didn’t hear much about it. Some companies were still able to find ways to work around a USB port to it. Funny thing is the Thunderbolt port is nowhere to be seen in this new Macbook. Does that mean.. nah can’t be.
Why must it be available in more than one color, too? Isn’t the universally accepted silver color, enough? My train of thought about this is that 1) The color gold version is susceptible to getting stolen because gold! Gold is hot to the eyes. Gold + MBP value = Open season for snatchers; 2) Colors are so clique-y; 3) It doesn’t feel the same way as getting a computer – it feels like I’m buying a portable iPhone for some reason just because of these colors?; 4) I simply don’t see the point.
I may be the only one who isn’t 100% happy that this new Macbook is “fully equipped for a wireless world” because I’m the sort of person who still heavily relies on traditional media for backup storage. I still need and find purposes for Superdrives, USB ports, DVDs, etc. It’s not that I am anti-cloud storage but it’s just not what I prefer, maybe of security reasons too. That and because Internet here in the Philippines sucks. 😛 I did not buy plenty of external USB ports for nothing. I thought that if I have many of it, I wouldn’t have problems w/ the lack of it from my laptop. It has been very helpful to me in the long run, tbh, this external USB port.
Their statement ‘Fully Equipped For a Wireless World’ explains the following and made things more clearer to me now: Why there’s only one port, and why everything on the inside has been turned into nano-size and the battery literally took over the computer. It can last to an entire day now, Apple claims.
I very much doubt that, to the point that I don’t even buy that sales talk anymore. Sure, it will last a day in the first few months but eventually its performance quality will deteriorate.
From the looks of how thin this is, I think this Macbook is not friendly to people who want to teardown laptops such as myself. 😆 Well then, if I can’t open you, then I see no purpose in having one of these.
Some people are concerned about two things w/ this laptop: 1) With the introduction of USB-C, will everyone else follow and what is the future of USB 2.0, 3.0? 2) Is this even worth buying?
Personally I don’t like the new USB. Companies will follow if there’s a demand for it, but I hope the option for the older versions will always be made available too. I won’t bite in to temptation and get this laptop.. doesn’t interest me. I am, however, looking forward to the price slash of the current line of Macbook Pros/Airs.
Latest does not always mean greatest: I find that the older and current versions of their computers are more reasonable to buy and not a fashion statement piece, hence it’s more useful to what I do. The newer Macbook looks like a fashion accessory to my eyes. It’s too.. flash-y.
I was discussing this whole hullabaloo with a friend this morning. She then showed me a post from an article, and there’s this part that I think would summarize all my ramble into a few words:
This new MacBook doesn’t exist to be a powerhouse or an all-day workhorse for the geeks. Not at all; it exists to be the go-to device for people that lug around their laptops all day and don’t care about specs as long as their computer does what they want it to do. (via)
It’s true. I’m definitely not part of its target market that’s why I am very iffy and uninterested about it, that I saw more reasons not to like it than love it. So uninterested, I just let Keynote night pass me by. I feel that I’m more of a heavy duty laptop user and would always need a machine with specs for an intermediate user, but not necessarily a better screen (so that’s why I don’t really care for retina screens either).
On the other hand, thanks for calling me a geek, thus confirming that I am one, Owen Williams.
Also, Yosemite does not work with Viber. That and other things I found during my spontaneous upgrade to Yosemite last month convinced me to go back a few steps to OS X Mountain Lion. It’s going back, settling down, being.. basic(?). Totally different from how I was with things a few years ago. I was all about upgrade, upgrade, upgrade! Nowadays, I try to just do with what I really need. Half of the features of Yosemite I don’t use anyway, and the one thing I’d want to use isn’t compatible with my Macbook model. So, there’s that.
While everyone will go gaga over this new Macbook, probably enthusiasts and people who are on-the-go and need a lighter laptop, as the article says, I would be busy future-proofing my 4 year old Macbook Pro and going to take care of it so it reaches many more years. Hopefully 10 years? 😛 I’ve also done a couple of DIY fixes to it over the years, so I’m pretty proud of my small accomplishments with it, too. Haha!
My black Macbook is still working, btw. It’s slow, only operates on AC power now (forgot where I put the bloated battery that I can’t use anyway) but it can still read/write/burn data to its respective media and I can browse the internet and pretty much do light task on it. Perhaps if I reformatted it, it could work as a new computer – but I’d like to keep my data of yesteryears. 😉 Physically, it looks aged (lol), in a way that the plastic has chipped off the top case but easily replaceable w/ a new one if one is willing to spend that much for a very old computer, and the LCD screen is yellowish from it being old.
Sorry, Apple. Sorry, everyone. I have been loyal to you since 2005, hehe, but you’re heading too soon into the future for me, I am simply not ready. Or maybe I just really don’t see the need for this. Maybe Steve Jobs would have thought the same thing too.
It’s a no for me.
Glad I’m not the only one who disliked the new macbook 🙁 I feel like Apple is going backwards and the new macbook is just sub par.
I laughed at the ” Gold + MBP value = Open season for snatchers” HAHAHA. If they are so excited about the “Gold” laptop why not just buy a Macbook Air and a Gold case right?
I did a similar post about this topic on my blog cause I was so baffled about this “latest innovation” of Apple.
OT: Where did you buy that mouse? <3
I believe they really are going backwards instead of the other way around. In the next 5 years I feel like the whole Apple product line will look like.. a bunch of fashion accessories than useful gadgets. 🙁
re: MBA w/ gold case: Yep, and that would have been cheaper too! Hahahaha. Checking out your post now and will comment on that, too!
I bought my mouse from Octagon computer shop in one SM branch hehe 🙂
yey thanks 🙂 was looking for a wireless mouse for a while.
Kahit bagong Macbook user ako, the new upgrade doesn’t interest me rin. Spell contented. Haha! I’m just so happy that I can reach you for help when my MBA starts messing up with me which I hope isn’t anytime soon!
This post is very spot on about the subject! Good job, Anna!
Yes, I’d love to help out whenever I can to fellow Mac users! 😀 Thank you. It feels good to write when you’re very passionate about the topic, it comes out easy. Or maybe I am mistaking passion for frustration and anger. Loljk.
Totally agree with you on this. 🙂 I ask this question in my head, If Steve Jobs were alive today, will he be happy?
My gut feel says Steve would not have done things this way if he were still alive. The laptops look like a recycled idea, right? He was all about innovation.
Thanks for dropping by 😀
Woohoo! I totally agree with you with everything; the ports (that was my main concern too) the specs, pretty much all points that you’ve touched. Apparently, they sacrificed everything else just for the new macbook to look ~flashy~ and ~trendy~. ALTHOUGH, I really like the colors (come onnnnn they look cute). I’m currently using an ASUS laptop, and I wouldn’t trade my sturdy and reliable laptop just because a newer, flashier, but definitely not user friendly laptop is out and about.
Sure, it’s all about wireless technology (cloud storage et al), but something that modern can’t be used here in the PH because as you’ve pointed out, we have extremely crappy internet service. What’s the use of purchasing it if you can’t use its full potential?
Wait, it just dawned to me that there’s literally just one port hole in the laptop?? I thought there would be two? One for the power, one for the USB-C? What. Ah ok says here the port is for charging and transferring. Cool.. but still, pass!
Colors are cool, but not so useful to me because if I were to buy one, I would get the black one. :)) Sounds counterproductive, right?
I agree w/ this laptop being useless in the PH because it won’t be able to take advantage of its full potential since it relies on cloud storage and wireless technology.
Because our internet SUX BALLZ that’s why it will never workout! Haha! But who knows, you might actually see a bunch of people sporting this mac soon because they are ~cool~ like that hehe
And yes, there is only one port for EVERYTHING — including the charger — so what the heck.
I would just want to see it in person, use it for like 5 minutes, and yun na! Haha. But the Power Mac Center stores are there for that reason.. 😀
Go Ms. Techie! :)))
As for me, I really couldn’t relate with all the Apple buzz and whatnot because I’ve never been an Apple user (except during the time I owned an iPod Nano 6th Gen, which I just won and didn’t even buy). I like Apple because of its clean design, but it’s so expensive as heck for its features and functions. I don’t know if I’ll ever give in to Apple one day. But I doubt. 😛
If you told me these things years ago I would have defended Apple with all that I can.. but now.. meh nalang ako.
Will put it to ‘each to their own’ thinking now. When it comes to phones, I’d prefer iPhones hands down, but since trying a Nexus.. I’ve come to appreciate it too. Both brands have their own pros and cons and it really boils down to user preference. 🙂
Apple is expensive, I agree, and annoyingly they move forward too fast.. so whatever expensive item you bought from them, will be obsolete faster before u can finish saving up for the new gadget. Hmph.
Yup, just MacBook. No Air or Pro in the title.
Before switching to Mac, I had this pink laptop. I never bought a case because 1) it’s pink, 2) I got a transparent film protector and 3) the materials were thick enough to withstand minor scratch and bumps. But if you have a laptop this thin with that price tag, you would want to cover it up with something thick. Gold is gorgeous but having colors doesn’t make sense with these models.
I hope my Pro can live longer. It needs a new battery, but I’m gonna invest on a brand new SSD for my Air first. So I can travel light~
Yosemite is awful. I downgraded back to Mavericks because startup was slow. There were instances that I’d get stuck with the white screen for more than 30 minutes. There were a few more bugs, but that was really the dealbreaker. I almost thought I was going to lose my files.
Ironically, the prettier and more premium the gadget looks.. the more you want to cover it up to protect from scratches/bumps and dents. You’ll hardly see the gold in a gold laptop by then. Haha. I’m guessing the pink laptop was a Vaio?
I downgraded to Mountain Lion just so I can get Viber to work on desktop, ha ha ha! The hassles we have to live with Macs.. and yet we still buy them. :))
I’m no Mac user, but when I heard they’re only doing one port for everything I thought, “will they supply accessories for that port or will we have to fork extra out for it?”
I think the problem is that they only have one port. Ergo, if I have to use a USB drive (and I assume there will, probably, soon be USB-C ports, or at least USB-C to USb adaptors) I will have to unplug my laptop. Yeah, too reliant on the “wireless”, and we live in a country with shit Internet and even shittier data caps that completely kill the idea of the cloud and data mobility and all those buzzwords.
But, to defend Apple, they’ve always been in the best position to introduce something and make the rest of the world follow. Thus their whole-hearted embrace of USB-C. They’re looking at this to set trends. But you’re right. Too far ahead.
(Also, the Apple website suggests the Pro is still around. So this, the Pro, the Air.)
On another note, I like this piece, Anna. And I totally didn’t expect it. Or I haven’t seen enough of your entries.
Yeah, I saw a third party company announcing they will adapt to the USB-C system. Funny, it was from Android I think. The next Nexus phone or something. I forgot.. basta from Android.
Yup, you haven’t seen enough of my entries. I usually just leave these things on Twitter but I thought it deserved its own post bec it’s too long.