Apple announced the all new MacBook yesterday. It is not a replacement for the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro, the new MacBook is an addition to the line of MacBooks, targeted at users looking for a compact, slim and light laptop with a ultra high resolution display. The new MacBook has a lot of segment firsts in terms of specs, features and design elements, so let's take a look at what the MacBook is all about. The new Apple MacBook starts at 1299$, yes that is a lot!
Core components
Let’s start with the basics. The new MacBook will be powered by an Intel Core M chip (14nm Broadwell platform). The Intel 1.1 GHz Core M processor used in the MacBook is made for hybrid devices and high performance tablets with fanless design, employing passive cooling techniques. The graphics on the MacBook is handled by Intel HD Graphics 5300, a very basic GPU that sits at the bottom of the latest Intel Core platform. The laptop comes with 8GB RAM by default and gives a choice between 256GB or 512GB of PCIe based flash storage.
Design
The new MacBook looks and like an extended version of the MacBook Air. Just that it's a lot thinner, smaller and lighter while offering the same unibody design. The laptop boasts a mere 13.1 mm in width and weighs 0.92Kg. This easy to carry laptop will be available in three colours: Silver, Gold and Space Grey. Just to put things in perspective, the MacBook Air 13 weighs 1.35 kilograms and is 17mm thick.
Build
The unibody MacBook is made out of machined aluminum, promising the same strength and durability as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Though, we'd reserve our judgment on the overall build quality till we review the device.
Display
Apple has squeezed a 12-inch display in a smaller 11.04-inch chassis. The 12-inch display boasts of 2304 x 1140 pixel resolution. It is a 16:10 aspect display, just like the MacBook Air and Pro screens. Apple claims to have achieved higher brightness levels while keeping the power consumption down by increasing the aperture of each pixel. Again, a claim that we shall surely test before believing it.
Keyboard
The new MacBook features a 'butterfly-style' keyboard mechanism, promising even feedback and response across the entire surface area of each key. Each key on the keyboard is illuminated by dedicated LED underneath every key, promising precise backlighting.
The 'Force Touch' trackpad
Apple has redesigned its glass trackpad, adding a haptic engine, which will send a tangible haptic feedback to the fingertips of users when they perform certain tasks. The touchpad now features Force touch sensors which will not only take into account a ‘tap’ but the pressure of the ‘tap’ as well.
Ports? What Ports? We just have a port!
Wireless & USB Type-C
With the new Macbook Apple is among the first companies to adopt the USB Type-C port. The laptop sacrifices all other regular ports like power, USB, Display, HDMI, VGA, for a single USB Type-C port. Apple is betting big on the use of wireless and customers would be required to buy suitable accessories. A headphone jack is included though. Seriously, just one port might turn off even the most hardcore Apple fan, especially when the port extending accessories cost you a bomb!
Smallest custom Motherboard, 'logicboard' in Apple's words
The new MacBook has one of the smallest motherboard ever developed. This was partly possible because of the tiny 14nm power efficient Intel Core M chip which does not require a fan to keep it cool. Besides saving space on the rotating fan, the moatherboard itself has been custom designed with highest density of components ever on a piece of PCB. The downside? If something fries, you gotta replace the entire logicboard, you can safely forget about getting this baby repaired!
Battery
The tiny motherboard was a deliberate attempt to levy a lot of space in the tiny chassis for battery packs (or shall we call them slices?). Apple has used a custom terraced battery cell over the traditional rectangular battery pack. Apple claims that the new design helps in 35% more battery capacity. Well, you certainly need all the wizardry to power that pixel monster 12-inch screen. So, yeah, a necessity rather than a feat. And, after all this, the MacBook promises 8-10 hour battery life, the same as the MacBook Air and Macbook Pro. Nothing exceptional, we'd say!
OSX
The traditional operating system of choice MacOS is present here as well. The new OS which was recently updated is highly integrated with iOS. OSX is easy to use and features many productivity apps.
Accessories
Since the MacBook features a single USB Type-C port, there already are half-a-dozen accessories available to extend its capabilities. Apple will be broadening this list further.
Apple also updated 13-inch MacBook Pro
Alongside the MacBook, Apple has silently updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro as well which is getting the new fifth-gen Intel Core processors (up to 3.1GHz), Intel HD 6100 graphics, faster flash drive storage with upto 10 to 12 hours of battery life. The laptop is also getting the Force Touch Trackpad. The updated 13-inch MacBook Pro already has India pricing, it starts at Rs. 94,900.
And, the MacBook Air also gets a tiny refresh.
Both MacBook Air, 11-inch and 13-inch are being updated with fifth gen Intel core processors (up to 2.2GHz), Intel HD Graphics 6000 and thunderbolt 2 port. Out of the two the 13-inch model gets refreshed with faster flash memory chips too. The Indian pricing for the updated MacBook Air starts from Rs. 65,900.