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Is this laptop aimed for the high-end Macbook Pro users, or is it poised as the spiritual successor to the Macbook Air? According to the tech specs, this has t

by gcr 12y ago

Is this laptop aimed for the high-end Macbook Pro users, or is it poised as the spiritual successor to the Macbook Air? According to the tech specs, this has the slowest processor (1.1 Ghz Intel Core M) of all of their models and the oldest graphics card (Intel HD Graphics 5300). Granted -- I know I shouldn't commit the cardinal sin of "The number is lower so it's worse." My words aren't meaningful. I guess I'm just confused about who this product is aimed for. EDIT: After looking around, this machine seems less powerful than the Air. I'm guessing it's aimed for those who want something more stylish with pizzazz at the expense of higher specs. The target user wants to own a machine that feels futuristic and magical. This machine is just certainly not targeted toward my needs. In terms of specs, it's This machine < Air < MBP. In terms of style, it's this machine > Air > MBP (?). In terms of price, it's Air < this machine < MBP.

bobbles 12y ago
As a non-mac owner, this and the 5K retina imac are the first machines to really make me consider the switch.
- gcr 12y ago
  Interesting! What qualities won you over?
  - bobbles 12y ago
    I have a work laptop (chunky ass dell from 2010 '1366x768') and a gaming rig at home (built early 2012 '1920x1080'). Both are on windows 7. There are a few things: * I've had iPhones since they came out, love them, but nothing has compelled me to go to the Mac. (also have retina ipad mini) * I don't want to upgrade one of my main machines to retina if my other machines don't have it. It's bad enough switching back from the phone/tablet. * I've also just recently gotten into photography and video editing. I've been waiting for a laptop to be 'good enough'. The retina macbook pros are excellent machines, but if I upgraded I really wanted it to be to an air-like device. My main tasks for the laptop are using the web, using skype and using email. (& I might add, carrying it ALL THE TIME) As my main 'need' for my desktop has essentially transitioned from gaming into photography / video.. the 5K iMac is just.. i mean.. have you seen the screen in person? Goddam its nice. The games I would play will run on it at 1440 with no problem whatsoever. I have seen the scaling issues on windows at 4K and am just not interested in dealing with that crap these days. OSX Pre-Yosemite just never appealed to me. (although I had used macs previously at various jobs) It feels like the OS and the Hardware have each now hit their point where the effort of switching is going to pay off much sooner than any time prior. I have a feeling the mac market is going to continue growing, as there will be more and more people in a similar position (main PCs need an upgrade, etc) that will finally be saying 'time for a mac'
macintux 12y ago
It seems clear the Air is doomed, although it'll take another couple of years. It'll be this for most users, MBP for those that really need more RAM, more ports, etc.
deveac 12y ago
>Is this laptop aimed for the high-end Macbook Pro users, or is it poised as the spiritual successor to the Macbook Air? I think it's clearly the latter. They're pushing the boundaries of portability on a machine with a full sized keyboard. The port decision is clearly the future, but as with the original MBA, the market isn't quite ready to make the leap re: the tradeoffs. It's incredibly thin, light, and amazing looking machine with no compromises where it truly matters most, -the keyboard and the screen. The basic premise is in place. It feels to me like the Air will yield to this once the difference in value from the remaining tradeoffs (battery life, price, etc) shrinks a bit.

by gcr 12y ago

bobbles 12y ago

As a non-mac owner, this and the 5K retina imac are the first machines to really make me consider the switch.

gcr 12y ago
Interesting! What qualities won you over?
- bobbles 12y ago
  I have a work laptop (chunky ass dell from 2010 '1366x768') and a gaming rig at home (built early 2012 '1920x1080'). Both are on windows 7. There are a few things: * I've had iPhones since they came out, love them, but nothing has compelled me to go to the Mac. (also have retina ipad mini) * I don't want to upgrade one of my main machines to retina if my other machines don't have it. It's bad enough switching back from the phone/tablet. * I've also just recently gotten into photography and video editing. I've been waiting for a laptop to be 'good enough'. The retina macbook pros are excellent machines, but if I upgraded I really wanted it to be to an air-like device. My main tasks for the laptop are using the web, using skype and using email. (& I might add, carrying it ALL THE TIME) As my main 'need' for my desktop has essentially transitioned from gaming into photography / video.. the 5K iMac is just.. i mean.. have you seen the screen in person? Goddam its nice. The games I would play will run on it at 1440 with no problem whatsoever. I have seen the scaling issues on windows at 4K and am just not interested in dealing with that crap these days. OSX Pre-Yosemite just never appealed to me. (although I had used macs previously at various jobs) It feels like the OS and the Hardware have each now hit their point where the effort of switching is going to pay off much sooner than any time prior. I have a feeling the mac market is going to continue growing, as there will be more and more people in a similar position (main PCs need an upgrade, etc) that will finally be saying 'time for a mac'

macintux 12y ago

It seems clear the Air is doomed, although it'll take another couple of years. It'll be this for most users, MBP for those that really need more RAM, more ports, etc.

deveac 12y ago

>Is this laptop aimed for the high-end Macbook Pro users, or is it poised as the spiritual successor to the Macbook Air? I think it's clearly the latter. They're pushing the boundaries of portability on a machine with a full sized keyboard. The port decision is clearly the future, but as with the original MBA, the market isn't quite ready to make the leap re: the tradeoffs. It's incredibly thin, light, and amazing looking machine with no compromises where it truly matters most, -the keyboard and the screen. The basic premise is in place. It feels to me like the Air will yield to this once the difference in value from the remaining tradeoffs (battery life, price, etc) shrinks a bit.