The Apple Discussion Thread

[otc]

I'm thinking more and more that it is just an ipad with a keyboard.
The CPU sounds underpowered to actually do anything...and I'd be concerned about longevity (in 2 years, will it be laggy as hell? especially trying to push anything to retina display levels?).
Odd choice for the retina resolution too. I am happy that they went 16:10 instead of 16:9. but the display isn't WQXGA (2560x1600)...instead it uses the 16:9 WQHD (2560x1440) vertical resolution, but trims the width to an odd 2304 pixels. Doesn't really matter...just seems odd.

After thinking about it, the single-port thing still irks me. They really couldn't put a second port on there? A lot of people's laptops are plugged in 24/7, so without 2 ports, you are stuck using a hub or their 2-1 charging/using adapter dongle. Good thing the breakout cable only costs you $79 (and you have to buy separate ones if you want VGA and HDMI).

The USB-C thing not as much...its a better plug, and they went with an industry standard instead of some stupid apple ****. Does this mean thunderbolt and lightening are dead? Luckily it is a standard, so you will probably be able to buy non-apple adapters/breakout cables for $5.

 

[Gus]

One thing that is very, very odd about the Apple watch is the whole idea of Apple offering an uber expensive gold version at $17K.

Until now, the appeal of Apple products was driven by the fact that they offered attainable design, style, function at a price that was a premium but doable for most. This shift to a prestige item based purely upon cost, gold and exclusivity seems to be a major cultural step in an all new direction. It doesn't sit right with me. It is Apple chasing rather than leading. I always thought Apple making the same high quality product available to all was one of their greatest strengths.

It will be fascinating to see how this plays out. For all I know maybe this is essential for the Asian market? And if so, perhaps it is a brilliant move, but we shall see.

 

[gomestar]

I see the gold as something being driven by Jony Ive, who seems to really like cool materials, and ceramic-hardened 18K yellow and rose gold is right in his wheelhouse.

I think the aluminum version will sell like crazy, the others so-so. $200+ bucks to upgrade to steel, and it's meh.


Personally, I'd go with (am going with) aluminum.

 

[GreenFrog]

The Chinese and Indians will gobble up the Edition watch like hot cakes.

I'm gonna go for the stainless steel version with the link bracelet.

 

[gomestar]

I wouldn't necessarily wear it to work. I'd never hear the end of it.


curses to the day where I wore light plaid wool pants, and out came the "oh hey, Don Cherry decided to join us today" (Note: I did NOT look like Don Cherry)

 

[GreenFrog]

I don't like the look of the brushed aluminum.

 

[lefty]

One thing that is very, very odd about the Apple watch is the whole idea of Apple offering an uber expensive gold version at $17K.

They have to get back the 70M they paid Ahrendts for her first year somehow.

lefty

 

[NaTionS]



I'd wait to gen two on the laptop. Let them work out the kinks and it will have a better processor.

I just don't see a 2nd gen Macbook coming out with a significant increase in processing power. The Core M processors have always been underpowered relative to the Core i series and this current generation broadwell Core M (that the Macbook is using) is already a "groundbreaking" upgrade from the previous generation.

That said I think it'll be fast enough for most people who just surf the web and do some word processing. I wonder how it handles video playback though, especially 1080P/4K since that's about half of what I use my computer for.

 

[GreenFrog]

iOS 8.2 is a godsend. All the annoying little bugs that tarnished my experience with iOS 8 have been squashed.

 

[catchh]

Typing this on my old laggy 2008 MBP(although I never had one problem with it with heavy usage all these years). I'm going to be buying the new macbook in space grey to replace it. I love the simplicity and minimal design of it. The lack of ports will take some getting used to, but eventually this is how I think it will be for most if not all Apple laptops, so why not adapt now. My only other concern is the power and speed of the processor, although I know it will be a lot faster than what I currently got now lol.

 

[otc]

Of course...the Dell XPS 13 is almost the same size (but with slightly bigger screen) and is a full powered core i* with lots of ports.

Your choice of a higher resolution touchscreen display for a little more than the macbook, or a lower resolution display for a lot less money.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/9/8177065/apple-macbook-specs-comparison-vs-pc-windows-dell

The more I read about it, the more this thing just seems hamstrung. When Jobs first pulled the macbook air out of a manilla envelope, it was so fricking cool because it was a full on computer in an unbelievably small package. The 2nd generation improved, but from the get-go, it was based on the intel Core architechture and built like a real computer.

This thing is cool looking...But with all of their design innovations, they only saved .08in (at the thickest point) in thickness despite eliminating all of the ports, switching to a sub-par CPU, using special tiered batteries, and creating a new type of keyboard spring? Half a pound lighter and an inch narrower than the Dell (but the dell has a bigger screen).

I get it--this isn't for everyone. The fanboys will say that if you want ports, or a card reader, or capable graphics, then you should have an MBP...but if you aren't supposed to use it for anything serious, then isn't it just an ipad with a keyboard for 2-3X the price? If the ipad could run real applications like the surface pro, then this is about what it would look like.

 

[Gus]



They have to get back the 70M they paid Ahrendts for her first year somehow.

lefty

I find it crazy to pay anybody who doesn't save my life 70 million in a pay package.

gus

 

[catchh]

Thing is (not trying to sound like a fanboy) but a Apple product just feels so much better to me than any other branded PC. Its not just the looks, its how everything preforms together and whats under the hood was made with just as much care as the outside(like our clothes and why we come to this forum). I used a PC for many many years before I got this 2008 MBP and after the first day of use I remember thinking I'm never switching back, kind of like how when I first discovered good quality clothes and came onto this forum and thinking there's no way I'm going back to lesser quality.

And I don't really get the argument that its a iPad with a keyboard. This is how thin and minimal all Apple laptops will be one day. If they can make all of them as thin and minimal as this one one day why wouldn't they? Or even unify the Macbook line into one and just offer different specs but the unibody would be the same. Either way I see their laptops to be very similar to this new macbook sooner or later in terms of thinness, the power and performance will only improve over time.

 

[Jr Mouse]

In context of shaving off weight of these already thin and light devices, 2.03 pounds versus the Dell's 2.8 pounds is a rather big difference. It's an advantage for Apple and one they were only able to achieve at the moment with the trade offs they made.

That being said, I think I would rather get the Pro over this.

 

[ethanm]

For 8.2, go to settings > privacy > motion & fitness to turn off the dumb battery eating "health" tracking.