New MacBook 12-inch - hands-on test

[Kevin Lancaster]

New MacBook 12-inch hands-on

Apple’s new MacBook is a brilliant bit of engineering that the weak Rand has put completely out of reach.

 

[Bosvark@]

Those prices are crazy for what you get... and... Made in China

 

[backstreetboy]

Definitely not a case of you get what you pay for.

 

[rorz0r]

This will act like giant versions of those power balance armbands, showing off to the world that you're an idiot.

 

[skimread]

iPad Plus

 

[konfab]

Dell XPS 13 is orders of magnitude better than this. 11 inch body with a 13 inc screen.

 

[ginggs]

Worth keeping in mind is that the new MacBook has only a single USB Type-C port, which means that everyone who buys one is almost certainly going to need to buy a USB C-to-A adapter.

Local pricing for these adapters has not been announced.

From:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/06/apple_macbook_2015_review

USB-C Connectivity

Then, of course, there’s that solitary USB-C interface. It’s there primarily for charging the MacBook, which means saying goodbye to the popular Magsafe connector that has avoided many an unpleasant accident for MacBook owners over the years. If you want to connect any conventional USB devices to the MacBook then you’ll need to buy a suitable adaptor.

Most people will just sigh and cough up £15 (R275) for the basic USB-C to USB adaptor that Apple sells, but it really stings you on the price of its more useful Multiport adaptors. These include both USB-C and USB 3 interfaces, which means that you can charge the laptop and plug in a USB device at the same time. The Multiport adaptors also include either HDMI or VGA interfaces for an external monitor, but they cost £65 (R1195), which is pretty disgraceful given the high price of the MacBook to start off with.

 

[Jan]

From:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/06/apple_macbook_2015_review

I tend to be in agreement with El Reg. Will be interesting to see what the adapters will cost locally after duties and VAT are added on. At the moment it looks like Core is actually offering stuff for cheaper than if you just do a direct conversion (USD+VAT or GBP).

 

[bwana]

From:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/06/apple_macbook_2015_review

Anyone can make the adapters, including the power supplies provided they adhere to the USB power delivery specification, which is actually an improvement - well except for the loss of the magsafe of course.

 

[Sapphiron]

ASUS Zenbook UX305

same weight and size
even thinner
larger 13.3" screen
3 USB 3 ports
SD card slot
Micro HDMI
720p webcam
matt finish 1080p or 1800p screen
30 to 40% cheaper for same spec level.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I tend to be in agreement with El Reg. Will be interesting to see what the adapters will cost locally after duties and VAT are added on. At the moment it looks like Core is actually offering stuff for cheaper than if you just do a direct conversion (USD+VAT or GBP).

Crazy ****ing money.

I saw R1199 yesterday for the multi-out one.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Yup I wasn't crazy.

https://www.digicape.co.za/mac-accessories/apple-usbc-vga-multiport-adapter

And why is it on a cable? Why doesn't it slip needly in line with the Macbook? I mean if they made it from the same material I would sort of understand at least, but it doesn't even match.

Nothing on the Macbook is white...yet they've made white **** for years now.

 

[JerryMungo]

Price... LAWL.
And the size of that trackpad will be a problem unless they have some magic way to ignore your palms while you type.

 

[Jan]

Yup I wasn't crazy.

That's funny. The main listing says "POA", but the related products ticker below has the prices.

 

[Le^stat]

I'll stick with my little 13'' pro retina. I'm not impressed...

 

[HavocXphere]

Price... LAWL.
And the size of that trackpad will be a problem unless they have some magic way to ignore your palms while you type.

Some notebooks let you disable the trackpad with a keyboard shortcut iirc.

 

[Sapphiron]

trackpads have had palm rejection for the last decade or so. I can remember my 2005 Acer Travelmate 8200 having it.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Price... LAWL.
And the size of that trackpad will be a problem unless they have some magic way to ignore your palms while you type.

They do, always have.

Best trackpads in the world.

In fact nobody else even deserves to call theirs a trackpad.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I'll stick with my little 13'' pro retina. I'm not impressed...

Yeah its hard to figure out who this is for when they still have the Air alongside it.

I miss my 13-inch Retina.

This HP piece of **** is killing me. I would happily go buy my own Macbook if only they would let me.

 

[D tj]

I had a 13"MBPR and spilt wine over the keyboard> now the 13" Air, was holding out for this 12"MBPR, but just not for me...one port and very hard to replace the battery and lower spec, will go for 13" MBPR again at some stage.