Say what you will about the 12 inch MacBook, but it was very popular among people who traveled a lot and needed a fully functioning computer, as opposed to an iPad. Many of my clients preferred the 12” MacBook due to its light weight.
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Apple Discontinued the 12-Inch MacBook Three Years Ago Today
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Apple always seemed too proud to just admit that it failed with these MacBook keyboards. What a disaster.
It’s a gorgeous laptop (besides that dated looking bezel), but it was a terrible buy at the time. Definitely form over function and a futuristic vision of a very portable notebook where the technology just wasn’t yet there to match. 1 single usb-c port in the era of usb-a still dominating + AirPods not even existing yet, a faulty keyboard, and slow processors. It would definitely make more sense today with Apple Silicon, MagSafe, and better keyboards making a return, though the keyboards wouldn’t look as pretty as the very flat butterfly keyboard. I also find it disappointing Apple has removed colorful options like the Gold and Rose Gold pictured here for their laptops.
I understand that people like portability and I fully support everyone having more options, but I don’t understand how people can work off a screen this small for all their laptop needs. I understand you can use an external monitor, but a 12” screen pretty much limits you to one app at a time. Even on my 12.9” iPad Pro, the screen feels more cramped than I want it to be in multitasking, hence the reason why I have a 16” MBP.
I understand that people like portability and I fully support everyone having more options, but I don’t understand how people can work off a screen this small for all their laptop needs. I understand you can use an external monitor, but a 12” screen pretty much limits you to one app at a time. Even on my 12.9” iPad Pro, the screen feels more cramped than I want it to be in multitasking, hence the reason why I have a 16” MBP.
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I bought two of them… fantastic for those who are twice a week on a plane!!!
Normt a performer, but It did its work
Would buy again
Normt a performer, but It did its work
Would buy again
Worst MacBook ever. So terribly under powered. Especially the first one.
I still own one from the first release and it’s my main computer. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s the best laptop I’ve ever owned because of its size and weight. I hope they bring a new 12 inch MacBook so I can finally retire this one.
I also have the iPad Pro with magic keyboard and it feels like a brick compared to my 12” MacBook.
My use case for the MB and iPad are completely different and I don’t ever see the iPad filling the gap for a 12 inch size laptop.
Come on Apple, hurry up and bring back the 12 inch MacBook. My wallet isn’t opening up until then.
I also have the iPad Pro with magic keyboard and it feels like a brick compared to my 12” MacBook.
My use case for the MB and iPad are completely different and I don’t ever see the iPad filling the gap for a 12 inch size laptop.
Come on Apple, hurry up and bring back the 12 inch MacBook. My wallet isn’t opening up until then.
As a frequent traveller I loved this thing to begin with. At home it could quite happily display to an external monitor and my television via Apple TV Air Play, giving three screens. However, it is the one Apple product that ultimately left me feeling cheated. Having spent a small fortune on a supposedly premium product (high spec version), the keyboard failed and, even though the problem was well known, the store tried persuading me it must be my fault, and that I must have dropped a drink on it. I can't quite remember what happened then. I think I had to pay, but was eventually refunded months later. The battery fell to less than 80% within 18 months of normal use and after 24 months I had to buy a new one. That new one quickly deteriorated as well, and then the display went in the third year, basically displaying everything as if through a purple filter. In the end I sold it for peanuts on eBay "as seen" with these faults and, guess what... another couple of keys sticking. In the end it was simply a lemon machine on which I must have spent around £2,500 including a little collection of dongles.
Crazy that after all these years 8/256gb is still the base.
And we care about this anniversary because why?
It was a flawed product, the keyboard and thermal problems were not the only reasons why this didn't take off and we honestly ought to stop acting like they were.
It was a flawed product, the keyboard and thermal problems were not the only reasons why this didn't take off and we honestly ought to stop acting like they were.
I have one - a 8/512 GB Intel M, early 2015 model which I bought new with a rebate in early 2016, when the 2016 models were about to be announced. I used it almost exclusively for travel. It did its job - e-mail, web, some Word/Excel/basic Powerpoint and occasionally a movie.
I hated that ****** keyboard though. And I hated the single USB-C port. I spent a small fortune on dongles and other adapters to make it halfway viable for offsite presentations. But I loved its lightweight and beautiful form factor. It's still in pristine condition.
Alas, its successor is already on its way (MBA M2), I'll miss its elegance and light weight, but I guess it's the end of my story with this cute little fella.
I hated that ****** keyboard though. And I hated the single USB-C port. I spent a small fortune on dongles and other adapters to make it halfway viable for offsite presentations. But I loved its lightweight and beautiful form factor. It's still in pristine condition.
Alas, its successor is already on its way (MBA M2), I'll miss its elegance and light weight, but I guess it's the end of my story with this cute little fella.
Because it's a good talking point, and the fact that some here still would like Apple to make smaller laptops then the 13" MBA. Smaller/lighter mobile computing devices doesn't need to be a exclusive to iPads only IMHO.
Apple should give another go at something this small and light now that they have AS.
A.k.a. the MacBook Adorable.
A colleague of mine still uses theirs, a 2016 model, I believe, as their main machine for professional work doing molecular simulations. It’s not as fast as our dedicated servers but it gets the job done for testing things out.
A colleague of mine still uses theirs, a 2016 model, I believe, as their main machine for professional work doing molecular simulations. It’s not as fast as our dedicated servers but it gets the job done for testing things out.
I sincerely don’t know why this piece was published. It definitely isn’t a forward looking rumor, which is why most of us are even here.
A couple things here:
1. Chatter about the 12" MacBook, whether I agree with it or not, makes sense. Commemorating the date of the discontinuation - when, to those that didn't like it, it doesn't matter - and when, to those that did like it, was a sad occasion - seems like you're either inviting apathy or sadness on what is otherwise not that important of a marker of time either way. THAT is what doesn't make sense.
2. The vast majority of users disagreed and so the product was discontinued. I'm personally bummed about the iPod touch getting discontinued, but even I can't debate with the fact that the majority ruled and I wasn't on that side of the fence. Furthermore, having used both the 12" MacBook and the 12.9" iPad with the Smart Keyboard, there's no comparing which was the more comfortable experience. Also, the M1 Air and the 12" MacBook really aren't THAT different in size or weight; which is probably why Apple nixed the latter.
3. Again, it bears repeating, the product had multiple things going against it. No one thing was enough to tank it, nor is the reversal of the lame keyboard, or the poor thermals enough to resurrect it to the point where it'll actually succeed.
Writing this post for a 2017 MacBook... still going strong. Knock on wood, no issues with the keyboard or anything else. Absolutely love the design and the portability. Spent a lot of time on planes, and this was the right machine for all my needs. I don't need heavy computing. Basic file management, MS Office and internet access. Works like a charm and I'd buy all over again.
What did they think, offering a paltry 256GB SSD and just 8GB RAM in the base model in 2015. That’s what I had on my MacBook in 2011!
Oh wait…
Oh wait…
The reason I say that is M2 has been reported throttling in M2 MBP with active cooling when under heavy load. Given that 12” body is thinner and smaller, heat dissipation would be even more challenging, plus current scissor keyboard would make the space inside even smaller, further impacting its ability to exchange heat. Yes, full metal body. But I seriously doubt it can tame M2 when it’s running in full power. Not to mention apple will charge that 12” body an absolute premium, so down-clocking M2 would cause pushback.
I can easily make my M1 iPad Pro warm by playing demanding games. I don’t believe M2 would survive the same in that 12” body under even moderate load without throttling.
Hardly. I've been using one for close to 10 years now and it's been one hell of a workhorse. The 12" MB was a Jonny Ive vanity project as others have said
I would buy one for sure. Unfortunately, I don't think our wishful thinking will come to fruition.
Thats against the past MBA example by Apple, it really doesn't relate to what they can accomplished by using todays ARM/AS technology.
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Again, the thermals (relating to the processor) and keyboard are not the only things that caused it to flop.Thats against the past MBA example by Apple, it really doesn't relate to what they can accomplished by using todays ARM/AS technology.
You never would have hacked it in the 68K and PPC days. Look up the Powerbook Duo or 2400C if you want a small screen. 😁