Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
New Retina MacBook Now Available to Order on Apple's Online Store
Along with accepting pre-orders for the Apple Watch, Apple has also begun accepting orders for the new 12-inch Retina MacBook through its online store. Orders are available through the website and through the Apple Store app.
Shipping estimates for most pre-configured MacBook models are currently at one to three days, while custom configurations will ship in three to four weeks. Shipping estimates for the high-end gold MacBook have slipped to three to four weeks.
The 12-inch Retina MacBook features Apple's latest technology, with an ultra thin chassis that's 0.31mm thick (a half-inch), a Retina display, a Force Touch trackpad that enables a range of new gestures, a thinner keyboard with larger keys stabilized by a new butterfly design, a single USB-C port, and a low-power Core M processor that lets it operate without a fan for silent performance.
Reviews of the new MacBook came out on Thursday morning and are worth a read before purchasing the new MacBook. Many reviewers have compared it to the first-generation MacBook Air, praising its cutting-edge design while highlighting some of the performance compromises compared to the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.
The machine's Core M processor lags behind the more powerful Intel-based processors available in Apple's other notebooks, but it runs all modern apps (including those like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro). It is, however, noticeably slower, which may be a concern for users who use system intensive tasks on a regular basis. For day to day use, many reviewers found it more than adequate, but there was a general consensus suggesting that it's somewhat impractical in its current incarnation, given the price to performance ratio.
The Retina MacBook is available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray. It's available in two configurations at two price points. The entry-level model ships with a 1.1GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 256GB of flash storage for $1,299. The higher-end model includes a 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 512GB of flash storage for $1,599.
Both models offer an optional processor upgrade, boosting the 1.1GHz processor to 1.2 or 1.3GHz, and boosting the 1.2GHz processor to 1.3GHz.
Shipping estimates for most pre-configured MacBook models are currently at one to three days, while custom configurations will ship in three to four weeks. Shipping estimates for the high-end gold MacBook have slipped to three to four weeks.
The 12-inch Retina MacBook features Apple's latest technology, with an ultra thin chassis that's 0.31mm thick (a half-inch), a Retina display, a Force Touch trackpad that enables a range of new gestures, a thinner keyboard with larger keys stabilized by a new butterfly design, a single USB-C port, and a low-power Core M processor that lets it operate without a fan for silent performance.
Reviews of the new MacBook came out on Thursday morning and are worth a read before purchasing the new MacBook. Many reviewers have compared it to the first-generation MacBook Air, praising its cutting-edge design while highlighting some of the performance compromises compared to the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.
The machine's Core M processor lags behind the more powerful Intel-based processors available in Apple's other notebooks, but it runs all modern apps (including those like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro). It is, however, noticeably slower, which may be a concern for users who use system intensive tasks on a regular basis. For day to day use, many reviewers found it more than adequate, but there was a general consensus suggesting that it's somewhat impractical in its current incarnation, given the price to performance ratio.
The Retina MacBook is available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray. It's available in two configurations at two price points. The entry-level model ships with a 1.1GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 256GB of flash storage for $1,299. The higher-end model includes a 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 512GB of flash storage for $1,599.
Both models offer an optional processor upgrade, boosting the 1.1GHz processor to 1.2 or 1.3GHz, and boosting the 1.2GHz processor to 1.3GHz.
Buyer's Guide: MacBook (Don't Buy)
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Top Rated Comments
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57 months ago
Backed off.
Got to the cart with the 512GB model and applecare. Saw it was just about $2k. Decided that was $500 too much for too many compromises.
Bought an Apple Watch instead.
Got to the cart with the 512GB model and applecare. Saw it was just about $2k. Decided that was $500 too much for too many compromises.
Bought an Apple Watch instead.
57 months ago
To clarify - it's 31mm, not 0.31mm. Even Apple's not THAT good... Yet.
Actually, try 13mm. 31mm would be quite unimpressive (over an inch)
57 months ago
I'm not going to be a negative Nancy here, there's enough of that. But I am a little bit surprised that upgrading the processor gets you shipping, at the earliest, three weeks out. I could be wrong, but it sounds like they have not manufactured many of them; certainly not enough to be comfortable improving shipping times. I expected upgrades to take somewhere around a week or so, but not 3 to 4 weeks right off the bat.
However, I ordered a Grey 1.2Ghz model in the UK and it was 3-4 weeks on every model, configuration and colour I chose. I was not a slouch on getting online either.
My feeling is they made relatively few MB's for quick dispatch and are primarily focusing on the Apple Watch logistically and will split distribution on a supply and demand basis.
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You could have also not done AppleCare and dropped 200 bucks off the price for the rMB.
Seriously…?
No product care on a 1st Gen prototype product, with no known track record?
Hmmm, I suppose I could have also crossed the road to my car without looking this morning. Then I could have driven to work without my seatbelt on and jumped every red light and still made it to work in one piece.
But I did not think it was worth the risk..
57 months ago
Backed off.
Got to the cart with the 512GB model and applecare. Saw it was just about $2k. Decided that was $500 too much for too many compromises.
Bought an Apple Watch instead.
Yes, I backed off too. I have spent weeks thinking, "shall I / shan't I". I thought I had come down on the side of shall, but then the 3-4 weeks shipping estimate on the purchase page was the final straw. Although I can afford it, it is a rip off machine, and when they say it is to be released on 10th April, why should I then wait a month? I feel Apple is just taking the **** more and more. I'm going to give it a year and see where they are at. My 2013 11" MBA could go on for many years yet!
I am definitely not getting the Apple Watch. I think the battery in version 1 is not nearly good enough (18 hours' average use is bound to compute to 12 hours on the days I really use the thing, not least as the battery will degrade with time). It is also clunky as hell. Technology cannot yet physically deliver what they really have in mind for this, I think. When it is half as thick and the battery lasts an average of 72 hours, I might consider it.
57 months ago
Core M is Intel based too.
I read it as, "compared to the other processors that are also Intel based" as opposed to their arm stuff like the iphone/iPad.
Poor wording IMO but still sorta made sense.
----------
Backed off.
Got to the cart with the 512GB model and applecare. Saw it was just about $2k. Decided that was $500 too much for too many compromises.
Bought an Apple Watch instead.
Ya :-/ I'd just rather have either the MBA or retina MBP.
I'm sure it'll appeal to some people but it misses the sweat spot for me. Little bit embarrassing when you move towards the MBA for more power.
57 months ago
I'm amused that at current count, this thread is on 46 posts but the one for the watch is at 492- almost ten times the demand.
My customised Air is brilliant. More powerful, much longer battery life, better connectivity. I think I'd save my money and stick with that rather than go for this. Maybe in a few versions time I may consider, perhaps.
My customised Air is brilliant. More powerful, much longer battery life, better connectivity. I think I'd save my money and stick with that rather than go for this. Maybe in a few versions time I may consider, perhaps.
57 months ago
The 12-inch Retina MacBook features Apple's latest technology, with an ultra thin chassis that's 0.31mm thick (a half-inch)
To clarify - it's 13mm, not 0.31mm. Even Apple's not THAT good... Yet.
57 months ago
To clarify - it's 31mm, not 0.31mm. Even Apple's not THAT good... Yet.
They'll get there. Eject the battery, keyboard and screen and sell what's left as a Macbook Nano for the same kind of pricing, "thinnest & lightest Macbook ever".
I joke (but probably not).
57 months ago
Backed off.
Got to the cart with the 512GB model and applecare. Saw it was just about $2k. Decided that was $500 too much for too many compromises.
Bought an Apple Watch instead.
Probably a good choice if you need something with a little more power. If I get one I'm waiting a couple years. People forget that the original MacBook Air in 2008 only had one USB port, no SSD (80GB HDD) and started at $1799, or $1961 in 2015 dollars. The current model starts at $899, has two USB 3.0 ports and a Thunderbolt port, or for $999 you can get the 13" model which adds an SD card slot.
The base model MacBook starts at $1299, so already a lot cheaper than the first MacBook Air. I'm excited to see this thing grow up. I think as things mature, Apple will simplify their Macs to be something like this:
MacBook 12", MacBook Pro 15", iMac 4/5K 22/24", iMac 8K 30/32", Mac Pro
So they'd remove the Mac Mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13", and bump up their iMacs, possibly with reduced bezels. Only reason I threw in 8K was because of that rumor the other day, but certainly something like that must be far off—unless they increase the screen size which could make room to run dual graphics cards?
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