What ’s lighter than Air?The all - new MacBook . Apple ’s new , goldest laptop computer is lighter and thin than the MacBook Air , and sports a gorgeous Retina video display like the top - of - the - stock MacBook Pros . But this is n’t an Air or a Pro . It ’s just a MacBook , and yet … it changes everything .
The first affair I noticed during my hand - on time is the MacBook ’s screen . The color are bright and lifelike , and the 2304×1440 resolution shows all the contingent you ’re used to escort on a Retina display . The bezel around the screen has shrunk significantly . The screen does n’t go completely edge to edge , but it ’s middling darn closely .
The MacBook ’s fragile bezel seems to blow over out as you await at the gorgeous Retina display .
The laptop is implausibly thin and light , but keyboard actual estate does n’t suffer . Apple put a full - sizing keyboard on the new MacBook , and even decreased the place between the keys a minuscule bit — the keys themselves are really 17 percent big than those on current Mac laptops . My fingers did n’t feel strangle like they do when using a keyboard that ’s sized for the iPad , for example .
Apple replaced the scissor - switch key mechanism deployed in current MacBooks with a new kind of switch the company calls the butterfly mechanism . With this new hardware , your key go directly up and down no matter where on the key you public press . Conversely , on a scissor electric switch keyboard , if you bechance to tapdance the edge or the corner of a key , you may feel the primal “ skimpy ” that way .
A small laptop does n’t stand for a cramped keyboard . The keys on this novel MacBook are more or less larger than on my 13 - inch MacBook Air , and project for wanton , faster typewriting .
But the new MacBook ’s keys feel the same no thing where your fingers strike them . The keyboard is backlit , but each headstone gets its own LED igniter , so they ’ll all have the same brightness level .
Speaking of LED , the Apple logotype on the MacBook does n’t get off up . I be intimate , I ’m a little bummed too . But the novel MacBook is still capable of turning fountainhead since it ’s the first Apple laptop available in amber — you know , to match the gold - toned iPad and iPhone . ( And who knows , perchance Apple will bring back the light - up logo in a succeeding iteration . )
Force Trackpad
The MacBook ’s trackpad has some cool advancements too . The trackpad on existing Apple laptop hinges at the top , so a physical click at the top of the trackpad feel different than a click at the bottom . But on the new MacBook , there ’s no flexible joint , so no matter where you chatter , it feels the same .
OK , this variety sound pretty small-scale , but the hinge - less design enables the trackpad to have a new Force Click gesture . you may tap or dawn something to take it as normal , but when you push down hard on the fully force per unit area - sensitive trackpad , you initiate a Force Click , which is a shortcut to novel capableness .
The trackpad ’s Force Click is software package controlled , so you’re able to tweak the sensitivity in System Preferences .
For object lesson , you may Force get through a Mail attachment to Quick Look at it instead of flick to select it , and then tapping the distance taproom . you may Force Click an computer address to see it on a map . you may Force tick a date and time to create a young calendar result . And you could Force Click a Holy Scripture to calculate it up on Wikipedia . I find this to be super ready to hand — and faster than right - clicking and digging through contextual menus . It ’ll save MacBook owners a lot of prison term .
Just one port
remember of all the larboard you ’ve used on your Apple laptops through the years : MagSafe and its little brother MagSafe 2 . FireWire 400 back in the Clarence Day . USB 2 and USB 3 ( which was only added to the Mac card inJune 2012 ) . And Thunderbolt . Oh , misfortunate Thunderbolt . Those are all function . The new MacBook does n’t even have an SD card slot . It ’s only get one porthole . One . Port .
OK , OK , two port . you could plug in your headphones .
See ? phone embrasure on the right side . ( And an always - dark Apple logo on the back . )
But the single port you ’ll use foreverything elseis call USB - C , and it holds some telling engineering — we’ll have a deep nosedive as we can get our ( many ) questions answer . What we know so far is that it replace MagSafe for charging , USB for connecting computer peripheral , and HDMI , VGA , and DisplayPort for connecting external screen . What ’s missing from that list?Yup , Thunderbolt . Every single other Mac has a Thunderbolt port , so if you ’ve made the investment inThunderbolt devices , this may not be the MacBook for you .
manifestly , you ’ll ask an transcriber — you ca n’t squeeze a big honkin ’ HDMI overseas telegram into the diminutive USB - C port . Apple is deal aUSB arranger for $ 19so you’re able to stop up in exactly one USB twist . Two Multiport adapters are also on offer for $ 79 each . TheUSB - C VGA Multiport Adapterhas a pass - through USB - light speed port for your charging cable system , plus standard USB 3.1 and VGA . TheUSB - C Digital AV Multiport Adapterhas USB - C passthrough for send , plus HDMI and received USB 3.1 . A DisplayPort adapter is coming later .
The USB - C embrasure is all by itself on the odd side of the Modern MacBook .
If that sounds confusing … well , this MacBook is meant to fly solo . Free as a snort . Unencumbered by wires . I use my trusty 13 - inch MacBook Air as my everyday machine , and almost all of its ports see daily enjoyment . I connect to a Thunderbolt Display , a USB surd drive for Time Machine , and even a four - porthole USB hub to keep all my widget charge . The MacBook is easily suit for masses who want the lightest machine possible — and who can mostly list on wireless connection methods like AirPlay , AirDrop , Bluetooth , and Wi - Fi . involve more interface ? Look to the other machines . ( Or perhaps a third - company dock — sounds likeHengehasplans to build one . )
Hands on impressions
With a neat keyboard , a beautiful covert , and a time - saving trackpad , the unexampled MacBook has a mickle going for it . Some may obtain it a struggle to adapt ( no pun intended ) to a undivided - port life-style , but if that does n’t sound like a big deal , your reward is a slick , golden laptop that only count two itty - bitty pounds . As much as I think I necessitate all the ports on my 2.96 - hammer MacBook Air , I could in all likelihood deal with transcriber to get the exercising weight down that far . My header says no , but my back and shoulders say yes .
