12" rMB Owners Check In

[Koing]

One port is a no go for me.

I'm leaning towards maybe selling my 2014 13 rMBP 8GB, 512GB to 16GB ad 1TB but the extra from 512GB to 1TB is DISGUSTING considering how much cheaper SSD's are...

Koing

 

[FearoftheNight]

One port is a no go for me.

I'm leaning towards maybe selling my 2014 13 rMBP 8GB, 512GB to 16GB ad 1TB but the extra from 512GB to 1TB is DISGUSTING considering how much cheaper SSD's are...

Koing

that is a beast of a machine u got there. why sell? i got the OG rmbp and it's chugging along like a champ

 

[Koing]

that is a beast of a machine u got there. why sell? i got the OG rmbp and it's chugging along like a champ

It's fast but I should probably restart more often and it does boot up FAST. 16GB would be nicer as I don't end up restarting my machine often at all. The machines been up for 26 days...yeah I should restart then!

It is a lovely machine to use and the magsafe is an awesome design piece. They can surely build something like that for the 12 rMB?

Koing

 

[sxr7171]

Nice to find this thread. This forum has become iOS forum. That stuff should be separated out. Any thoughts on when gen 2 of the rMB might come out?

I've generally found Apple laptops to be weak compared to the top of line Windows laptops until this came out. I say this having owned several Macbook Air/Pro machines. This machine deserves so much more recognition than a silly iPad whatever.

First Macbook to go up against top Windows ultraportables. Next I would hope they make a 14" to compete with a Thinkpad X1 Carbon. Sadly I suppose we should be thankful for even this as these pads are all the rage now. Can't imagine using a floppy keyboard that falls off as I grab it.

Sorry about the rant, but this machine deserves a lot more attention than it gets and it was sad to see the Apple forum decline to iOS forum. I say this as a happy iOS user (iPhone).

 

[sxr7171]

The feel of Force Touch on the 12" MB is not as nice as either the old mechanical touch pads or Force Touch on the Retina Pros.

It's acceptable but noticeably different. IMHO that "different" also is "inferior" but others would disagree I'm sure.

The simple solution is to get used to "tap to touch". I haven't used actually clicked a touchpad in years. Two finger tap works great once you get used to it.

 

[Eug]

I've always hated tap to click.

 

[Tegeril]

I also hate tap to click. It amazes me how many people have trained themselves to suffer with it when they try to do it on computers I have.

 

[sxr7171]

I love it. I don't consider it suffering at all. I use it on Mac and Windows machines. It's quicker and less dependent on where you click considering the hinges are near the top and a physical click is much harder to do near the top than the bottom. Also it equalizes all the different hinge designs, because some are terrible.

Personally I didn't train myself to do it it just came naturally to me when I started using trackpad based laptops. Before that I was 100% Thinkpad X series pure trackpoint no trackpad machines. I still consider that eraser to be the ultimate considering it offers full control without moving your fingers from the home row of the keyboard. The amount of research IBM did to make that eraser driven cursor feel like a physical object is second only to iOS touch control.

I always set it to detect the very lightest of taps. On Windows you really have to configure the synaptics or elan driver. On Mac it comes out the box perfectly configured. If need be you can use "bettertouchtool" to configure Macbook touchpads or the magic touchpad.

Even text selection works great with taps for me. When I'm forced to use a click only machine I'm always using my thumb to click so I don't see how that is faster or less effort. JMHO.

 

[sxr7171]

I also hate tap to click. It amazes me how many people have trained themselves to suffer with it when they try to do it on computers I have.

I'm the opposite. When I use a machine at the Apple store and tap is not enabled I see it as some kind of anachronism. I say this as someone who drives a manual. There's a difference in that a manual transmission offers real feel (actually more the clutch does). The click of a trackpad is simply a tactile feeling you have trained yourself to need while it gives you no extra control.

So I submit people who need that click movement feeling are the ones who trained themselves to need it or started with machines where there was no alternative. I will admit Apple recognized that and developed the technology behind forcetouch at no small cost. A simulator of movement and feel. However the implementation on thinner machines doesn't seem to be up to the expectation. Let's face it machines are getting thinner and lighter. So that need to feel the "click" will be an anachronism sooner or later. Which is why I suggest people untrain themselves.

 

[Eug]

It's just personal preference. You love tap to click. We hate it.

BTW, I tried for about a month to like it when Apple first introduced it, but have always continued to hate it.

 

[sxr7171]

It's just personal preference. You love tap to click. We hate it.

BTW, I tried for about a month to like it when Apple first introduced it, but have always continued to hate it.

To each their own. Similarly someone will tell me manual transmission is an anachronism.

 

[Eug]

Manual transmission in mainstream cars is an anachronism. However, if you like it, that's fine.

 

[nerp]

How is the keyboard on these? I am a keyboard guru (I have no problem spending $300 on a Topre imported from Japan for my desktop) and I find the mac keyboards to be among the worst out there. I heard that the newest MacBook key travel is even narrower than the air. Very unfortunate.

 

[Eug]

How is the keyboard on these? I am a keyboard guru (I have no problem spending $300 on a Topre imported from Japan for my desktop) and I find the mac keyboards to be among the worst out there. I heard that the newest MacBook key travel is even narrower than the air. Very unfortunate.

It's noticeably shallower. It's another problem I have with the 12" Retina MacBook. Ironically, the 12" MacBook is the machine I've said for the last decade that Apple should be selling, and then when Retina appeared, I said it should be Retina too. So they finally release it and for the sake of thinness, they change the feel of the trackpad and the keyboard. So, at this point I'm still wondering if I'm going to go with a 12" Retina MacBook or a 13" MacBook Pro. I'm waiting for at least Kaby Lake anyway though, so perhaps Apple will release a new MacBook Pro form factor in the interim that might fit the bill.

BTW, I find the MacBook Pro keyboard better than average, but it doesn't have the feel of a mechanical desktop keyboard by any means. But that's actually preferably for me these days. Although I prefer the feel of mechanical keyboards, the clicking drives my wife nuts, and the added force required gives me carpal tunnel syndrome. The MacBook Pro keyboard is just right for me.

 

[Artdeco]

How is the keyboard on these? I am a keyboard guru (I have no problem spending $300 on a Topre imported from Japan for my desktop) and I find the mac keyboards to be among the worst out there. I heard that the newest MacBook key travel is even narrower than the air. Very unfortunate.

If you're particular about keyboards, you'll hate it. You definitely need to try one before you buy.

I'm still very happy with mine, best laptop I've owned, I like the keyboard personally, and love the trackpad, Apple laptops are the only ones I don't use with a mouse.

 

[Tegeril]

I'm the opposite. When I use a machine at the Apple store and tap is not enabled I see it as some kind of anachronism. I say this as someone who drives a manual. There's a difference in that a manual transmission offers real feel (actually more the clutch does). The click of a trackpad is simply a tactile feeling you have trained yourself to need while it gives you no extra control.

So I submit people who need that click movement feeling are the ones who trained themselves to need it or started with machines where there was no alternative. I will admit Apple recognized that and developed the technology behind forcetouch at no small cost. A simulator of movement and feel. However the implementation on thinner machines doesn't seem to be up to the expectation. Let's face it machines are getting thinner and lighter. So that need to feel the "click" will be an anachronism sooner or later. Which is why I suggest people untrain themselves.

But it does give you control. It reduces the chance of accidental input and provides confirmation when input should be expected.

 

[sxr7171]

But it does give you control. It reduces the chance of accidental input and provides confirmation when input should be expected.

I think that's debatable. I don't have accidental input issues. The software is good about determining the timing and force of a tap vs a touch or a brush. Besides I just don't have issues accidentally creating input. I think one would have to be extremely fat fingered or just jittery fingered to do that.

The feedback/confirmation is felt on the tip of my finger - the area second most sensitive to touch on the body after the lips. That's enough confirmation.

On the synaptics touchpad I'm using now the tap has to be pretty darn deliberate in timing. It's so easy to tap and select anything on this webpage. You hover your cursor on an element and tap the touchpad. I don't know how much more complicated than that it needs to get. You feel it on your fingertip. It just works. You don't need the thing to travel and click. You can do it on any part of the touchpad not just the bottom. Also you're not going to accidentally click into anything unless you are finger tap dancing on it.

It's just a selection method, it's not that much of a big deal. Tap, click, whatever. Neither will change your life or the world.

 

[nerp]

I actually am random and will tap, sometimes I click. Tapping has always worked well for me and I rarely if ever get errant clicks when I'm scrolling around. It can happen but not nearly as often as say on a very cheap toshiba or something.

About the KB - the keyboard issue is a huge deal breaker for me. I'm a writer and I am hammering away ALL DAY every day on a KB. When I'm on the road, I need something decent. My aging MacBook Pro unibody isn't great but I can deal with it just fine but it's as shallow as I can handle. I'd love to buy another Apple machine when it comes time to finally replace my MacBook Pro but I'm increasingly leaning toward something like the Surface Book or better yet, a Thinkpad.

 

[sxr7171]

I actually am random and will tap, sometimes I click. Tapping has always worked well for me and I rarely if ever get errant clicks when I'm scrolling around. It can happen but not nearly as often as say on a very cheap toshiba or something.

About the KB - the keyboard issue is a huge deal breaker for me. I'm a writer and I am hammering away ALL DAY every day on a KB. When I'm on the road, I need something decent. My aging MacBook Pro unibody isn't great but I can deal with it just fine but it's as shallow as I can handle. I'd love to buy another Apple machine when it comes time to finally replace my MacBook Pro but I'm increasingly leaning toward something like the Surface Book or better yet, a Thinkpad.

I agree. A bad keyboard is far more of an issue. In your shoes I would order a Thinkpad X1 Carbon from the MS store - which comes free of all bloatware. And they have a very generous return policy. In fact when I called them and complained about their not having the worlds lightest 14" laptop on display at their stores they said just order it, try it at home and return it if you don't like it. Also the phone reps have the power to discount or sweeten the deal to make a sale.

 

[nerp]

I have been eyeing that X1 Carbon. It is a sweet machine. And yeah, the MS store is the place to go.

 

[Eug]

I now thinking the 12" MacBook was built specifically with 10 nm CPUs in mind.

The 12" MacBook and the new rumoured ultra-thin MacBook Pros coming this year are going to be very sweet with 10 nm Cannonlake.

 

[Eug]

In the meantime, (long) before 10 nm Cannonlake arrives:

https://pikeralpha.wordpress.com

New MacBook9,1 frequency data found
I did some digging in OS X 10.11.4 and found additional information about the new and yet to be released MacBook9,1 / Mac-9AE82516C7C6B903 in the FrequencyVectors, suggesting that Apple will be using the following Intel processors:

Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.20 GHz)

Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.70 GHz)

Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75 Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)

 

[TheStu]

In the meantime, (long) before 10 nm Cannonlake arrives:

https://pikeralpha.wordpress.com

New MacBook9,1 frequency data found
I did some digging in OS X 10.11.4 and found additional information about the new and yet to be released MacBook9,1 / Mac-9AE82516C7C6B903 in the FrequencyVectors, suggesting that Apple will be using the following Intel processors:

Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.20 GHz)

Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.70 GHz)

Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75 Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)

I'd be surprised if they ended up using the m3, as they've never used the i3 in the MacBooks Air. I think they all have the same GPU though, so that might have been the limiting factor with the i3s in the past.

 

[Eug]

I'd be surprised if they ended up using the m3, as they've never used the i3 in the MacBooks Air. I think they all have the same GPU though, so that might have been the limiting factor with the i3s in the past.

This is the Skylake Core M lineup:

In that context, Core m3 makes sense, as it is the direct replacement for Core M-5Y31, which Apple already uses in the MacBook.

BTW, I find it curious that 6Y30, 6Y54 and 6Y57 have the exact same list price.

 

[Essence_of_War]

BTW, I find it curious that 6Y30, 6Y54 and 6Y57 have the exact same list price.

Yeah, but those numbers are largely meaningless aren't they? Apple certainly isn't paying that, and even if they were, that price similarity is highly unlikely to be reflected in the price of a macbook to the end user. Ordinary consumers won't be ordering them in batches of 1000, and any other OEM has their own deals worked out with Intel like Apple does.