Is retina MBA coming next week?

[Rakehellion]

Ditto. Got rMBP 13'' recently, but I really love the size

I got the 15" which hasn't been updated, so no refund for me.

 

[vi edit]

For people whining about the ports, this ain't 1995. File transfers, sync, and video are all things you can do wirelessly. I haven't used a USB stick since I discovered Dropbox.

And VGA? Really? You bought a $1300 Mac but you're still using granddad's CRT.

The dongle for the fitbit, SD card for my camera (or micro USB), iPhone, iPad, ect. All stuff I regularly plug into my MBA.

 

[paperwastage]

Do you have a source for that?

I'm waiting for Skylake anyway, but that would be another reason to wait.

most relevant block diagram says 2(muxed)-4 USB 3.0 ports... but it also says only one available x4 PCIe lane, but the intel ark sites says 12 lanes overall, 3 x4

http://semiaccurate.com/2014/09/05/intel-launches-broadwell-y-second-time/

http://ark.intel.com/products/84672

http://cdn3.wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Intel-Core-M-Broadwell-PCH.jpg

 

[ggadrian]

For people whining about the ports, this ain't 1995. File transfers, sync, and video are all things you can do wirelessly. I haven't used a USB stick since I discovered Dropbox.

And VGA? Really? You bought a $1300 Mac but you're still using granddad's CRT.

Oh yeah, wireless and stuff is great, until someone comes with an USB drive that has a file you need.

And you might not find yourself in the position to use VGA very often, but in my experience projectors in universities and business are usually VGA, and I've had to use them many times.

I really like the new macbook, and I was willing to buy one, but the lack of magsafe (seriously? it has saved my laptop many many times) and only having one USB port are deal killers. If it'd had a magsafe (it's not even that big of a connector) and a couple of USB it would have been different.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Amazing how Asus can put 3 full size USB ports on the UX305FA but Apple can only fit one usb type-c on the new macbook.

Apple laptop thickness: 13.1mm
Asus laptop thickness: 12.3mm

 

[Eug]

For people whining about the ports, this ain't 1995. File transfers, sync, and video are all things you can do wirelessly. I haven't used a USB stick since I discovered Dropbox.

And VGA? Really? You bought a $1300 Mac but you're still using granddad's CRT.

It is strange but I get this comment once in a while. I would think people on a tech board would know better. Really, you've never heard of people giving presentations away from home, using a client's or a school's or a conference centre's VGA business projector? Laptops are mobile computers after all. In fact if I had to choose one or the other, I'd choose VGA over HDMI for this usage.

 

[gus6464]

amazing how asus can put 3 full size usb ports on the ux305fa but apple can only fit one usb type-c on the new macbook.

Apple laptop thickness: 13.1mm
asus laptop thickness: 12.3mm

usb3 /= usb3.1

 

[Herr Kutz]

usb3 /= usb3.1

Your response makes no sense.

 

[lucia]

I got the 15" which hasn't been updated, so no refund for me.

15'' rMBP is the high-end

 

[thecoolnessrune]

usb3 /= usb3.1

You (should) be happy to know that the USB 3.1 Type-C connector is substantially smaller than any of its predecessors. Considering the thinner ASUS laptop manages 3 such full-size 3.0 ports, it's not much of an excuse on Apples part.

 

[JAG87]

It is strange but I get this comment once in a while. I would think people on a tech board would know better. Really, you've never heard of people giving presentations away from home, using a client's or a school's or a conference centre's VGA business projector? Laptops are mobile computers after all. In fact if I had to choose one or the other, I'd choose VGA over HDMI for this usage.

If you're in that kind of environment, you're also probably surrounded by idiot co-workers or co-students who still use USB sticks (or insert any other outdated technology here), then this obviously isn't the laptop for you at this moment in time.

I'm not sure why people are having such a hard time accepting this machine. It's not like Apple axed the MBP or even the MBA... they are just putting it out there to say "this is the future and we can offer it now". They are pushing people to simplify their set up, and not to be cliche, they are pushing people to think different.

Apple always gets criticized when they expose futuristic ideas way too early, but a few years later we all end up wondering who the hell is still using these things. Right now it may seem like USB and video ports are necessary, but in the near future almost all of that will be wireless. Hell, it already is if you have an Apple environment. It's called AirDrop and AirPlay. Yes they can both be quirky still, but the idea is there and when it works it's magnificent. If the Mac continues to pick up steam vs PCs, you can be assured that environments will adapt to Apple devices, not the other way around.

Long story short, business projectors and everything else in the near future will be wirelessly connected.

 

[Rakehellion]

You (should) be happy to know that the USB 3.1 Type-C connector is substantially smaller than any of its predecessors. Considering the thinner ASUS laptop manages 3 such full-size 3.0 ports, it's not much of an excuse on Apples part.

USB 3.1 is completely different from USB 3.0. It isn't just a different size. The ASUS is weighs more and uses a different chipset. A better comparison would be to the MacBook Air.

 

[Rakehellion]

If you're in that kind of environment, you're also probably surrounded by idiot co-workers or co-students who still use USB sticks (or insert any other outdated technology here), then this obviously isn't the laptop for you at this moment in time.

Exactly. Just get a $200 Dell and leave it in the car.

 

[Rakehellion]

15'' rMBP is the high-end

But it'll be low-end in the future!

 

[thecoolnessrune]

USB 3.1 is completely different from USB 3.0. It isn't just a different size.

Irrelevant. A customer can decide whether or not they want a single USB 3.1 Gen 1 (same speed as USB 3.0) port and nothing else, or if they want multiple USB 3.0 ports, direct video outs, card readers, and other fare. Just because they have decided to move forward with a singular port does not remove them from scrutiny. Given how Mac Sales tend to be, I don't think this will hurt them at all. The fact remains that they can't use chassis thickness as an excuse for a lack of full-size USB 3.0 ports. They can come up with nearly anything else, but chassis size isn't want of them.

The ASUS is weighs more

Yep, ~.6 pounds more. Definitely a valid comparison point. It's also .5mm thinner, and comes with a screen that is just a little taller but also has nearly 1.5" of extra width.

and uses a different chipset.

Completely false. The QHD UX305 uses the same 5Y71 SoC as the upper trim Macbook.

A better comparison would be to the MacBook Air.

Why? Or a better question, why not both?

 

[Spicedaddy]

If you're in that kind of environment, you're also probably surrounded by idiot co-workers or co-students who still use USB sticks (or insert any other outdated technology here), then this obviously isn't the laptop for you at this moment in time.

I'm not sure why people are having such a hard time accepting this machine. It's not like Apple axed the MBP or even the MBA... they are just putting it out there to say "this is the future and we can offer it now". They are pushing people to simplify their set up, and not to be cliche, they are pushing people to think different.

Apple always gets criticized when they expose futuristic ideas way too early, but a few years later we all end up wondering who the hell is still using these things. Right now it may seem like USB and video ports are necessary, but in the near future almost all of that will be wireless. Hell, it already is if you have an Apple environment. It's called AirDrop and AirPlay. Yes they can both be quirky still, but the idea is there and when it works it's magnificent. If the Mac continues to pick up steam vs PCs, you can be assured that environments will adapt to Apple devices, not the other way around.

Long story short, business projectors and everything else in the near future will be wirelessly connected.

Good luck with that. Wireless has been around for a long time now, but there's a reason why people and especially businesses still use wires. Like you said, wireless is "quirky", while cables work.

The new MacBook doesn't have ports because it looks better, saves weight, and costs less to make. So they save money making it, and Apple gets to sell 100$ dongles for everything. The other problem is it's using a Core-M cpu, so it's slower than the current Air.

 

[JAG87]

Irrelevant. A customer can decide whether or not they want a single USB 3.1 Gen 1 (same speed as USB 3.0) port and nothing else, or if they want multiple USB 3.0 ports, direct video outs, card readers, and other fare. Just because they have decided to move forward with a singular port does not remove them from scrutiny. Given how Mac Sales tend to be, I don't think this will hurt them at all. The fact remains that they can't use chassis thickness as an excuse for a lack of full-size USB 3.0 ports. They can come up with nearly anything else, but chassis size isn't want of them.



Yep, ~.6 pounds more. Definitely a valid comparison point. It's also .5mm thinner, and comes with a screen that is just a little taller but also has nearly 1.5" of extra width.

There's your .6 pounds.

Clearly apple did not want to go this route.

Good luck with that. Wireless has been around for a long time now, but there's a reason why people and especially businesses still use wires. Like you said, wireless is "quirky", while cables work.

The new MacBook doesn't have ports because it looks better, saves weight, and costs less to make. So they save money making it, and Apple gets to sell 100$ dongles for everything. The other problem is it's using a Core-M cpu, so it's slower than the current Air.

No, wireless is not quirky, those protocols are quirky. Two completely different things. Both Wifi and Bluetooth have evolved to the point that they can MORE than adequately replace cables, if the person who set up the network knows anything about RF. Businesses still use wires because they are too cheap to implement the latest technologies. VGA is a prime example of this.

Again, the point is not to make you buy the $100 dongle. The dongle is there should you need to use it for whatever reason, but the idea is that you can do without for 99% of your usage. If you can't, then you probably shouldn't be buying this machine. This machine is for those who can get most of their work done on an iPad, but would like a more powerful operating system, a larger screen, and a mouse cursor, but do not want to carry around a 3lb laptop.

I agree with the Core M being sub par, but that's all we have right now that can run in such a small chassis without a fan. When you think about it, it's performance is pretty remarkable actually... But I do agree that looking towards the future, it's graphics performance is a little weak.

 

[Spicedaddy]

No, wireless is not quirky, those protocols are quirky. Two completely different things. Both Wifi and Bluetooth have evolved to the point that they can MORE than adequately replace cables, if the person who set up the network knows anything about RF. Businesses still use wires because they are too cheap to implement the latest technologies. VGA is a prime example of this.

Wireless is used for convenience/cost reasons (you do realize it's cheaper to build a WiFi network than a wired one?), while cables are more reliable. Debate it all you want, it's simple physics.

 

[vi edit]

Well, I will sit back and see how it does against the larger screened, better configured, $300 cheaper MacBook air or the 13" Pro that's the same price.

 

[Eug]

If you're in that kind of environment, you're also probably surrounded by idiot co-workers or co-students who still use USB sticks (or insert any other outdated technology here), then this obviously isn't the laptop for you at this moment in time.

If I got this laptop, it'd be with the dongle, which includes USB 3.

I'm not sure why people are having such a hard time accepting this machine. It's not like Apple axed the MBP or even the MBA... they are just putting it out there to say "this is the future and we can offer it now". They are pushing people to simplify their set up, and not to be cliche, they are pushing people to think different.

Apple always gets criticized when they expose futuristic ideas way too early, but a few years later we all end up wondering who the hell is still using these things. Right now it may seem like USB and video ports are necessary, but in the near future almost all of that will be wireless. Hell, it already is if you have an Apple environment. It's called AirDrop and AirPlay. Yes they can both be quirky still, but the idea is there and when it works it's magnificent. If the Mac continues to pick up steam vs PCs, you can be assured that environments will adapt to Apple devices, not the other way around.

Long story short, business projectors and everything else in the near future will be wirelessly connected.

I never use AirPlay. I hate it, and I have lots of AirPlay-capable devices.

 

[JAG87]

Wireless is used for convenience/cost reasons (you do realize it's cheaper to build a WiFi network than a wired one?), while cables are more reliable. Debate it all you want, it's simple physics.

I'm not going to debate about this because we're talking about different things.

You're talking about network infrastructure where reliability is paramount, and I'm talking about user equipment, where mobility, convenience, and ease of use trumps reliability big time. Not that reliability is not important, but it takes a back seat, and once it's "good enough", that's all that matters.

Just ask anybody who's ever gone into a board room for a presentation, only to find that the Ethernet or HDMI cable jack is broken because the last idiot picked up his laptop without disconnecting first. Or that the TV/projector uses HDMI and his laptop only has DP. Hmm, looks like you need an adapter after all!

A wireless implementation dodges all of these issues, and Apple sees from today that's where we're headed.

If I got this laptop, it'd be with the dongle, which includes USB 3.


I never use AirPlay. I hate it, and I have lots of AirPlay-capable devices.

Yes, I would have to get the dongle too because I need HDMI out every day right now. Hence this laptop is not currently for me, but I can see it in my future.

That's too bad that you don't use AirPlay. I stream music from my phone all the time. I don't use it for video, but that's because I have dedicated equipment for that. However if I was frequently presenting, I would find it invaluable.

 

[Eug]

I was referring specifically to video. For music it's fine. For video it sucks.

 

[Koing]

No magsafe is a big negative IMO. One USB port?! No HDMI? wtf?

The form factor looks great as well as the weight. The lack of 16GB of ram isn't ideal for me either. Well maybe it isn't so important as I'm not using my rMBP for as much productivity anymore.

The bezel also looks quite big still. I saw a dell XPS13 in person a few weeks ago and that thin bezel looked immense.

Koing

 

[thecoolnessrune]

There's your .6 pounds.

Clearly apple did not want to go this route.

Exactly, which is why these are being compared.

 

[Rakehellion]

Irrelevant. A customer can decide whether or not they want a single USB 3.1 Gen 1 (same speed as USB 3.0) port and nothing else, or if they want multiple USB 3.0 ports, direct video outs, card readers, and other fare. Just because they have decided to move forward with a singular port does not remove them from scrutiny

Quite relevant. How many USB ports, card readers, and video out ports does the ASUS have?

Given how Mac Sales tend to be, I don't think this will hurt them at all. The fact remains that they can't use chassis thickness as an excuse for a lack of full-size USB 3.0 ports. They can come up with nearly anything else, but chassis size isn't want of them.

The best reason is you don't need them because you can do all of those things wirelessly. If you can't, then get an older computer with older technology. Or you can just complain about things that have no effect on you whatsoever.