State of Macbooks (rant)

[tlab]

I would get a MB air if they had a 15" or 16"

13" is too small

So the only reason you said the MBA is a glorified Chromebook is the size of its screen? 🤦‍♂️

That said, there were rumours a few months ago of a 15” MBA. Don’t know whether they are still floating around now that the M2 mba has been released. However the M2’s screen is a bit bigger than 13” and getting close to the 14” MBP. It’s worth checking out in person.

 

[gpat]

15" MBA is coming sooner or later.
Actually I'd wish for sooner. The old MBA got me used to moving around my computer with only one hand, I'm still doing that with the latest 16" MBP, and now my wrists hurt constantly.
Still an awesome product, though.

 

[ProXMac]

15" MBA is coming sooner or later.
Actually I'd wish for sooner. The old MBA got me used to moving around my computer with only one hand, I'm still doing that with the latest 16" MBP, and now my wrists hurt constantly.
Still an awesome product, though.

ya this is the money right here, really hope this drops too.. though apple may realize less 16" MBP sales would occur lol.

 

[gpat]

ya this is the money right here, really hope this drops too.. though apple may realize less 16" MBP sales would occur lol.

It will definitely come, and it will also be crippled in some way to not hurt MBP sales too much.
For example with only 1 external display support.
Which would be a deal breaker for me, since I'm using 2 everyday.
But Apple knows they have to release something like this.

 

[TracerAnalog]

I really don't care for the current macbook pro offerings from Apple. 13in is way to small of a screen, 16in is better but its waaaayyyy overpriced. I like my current 15in 2016 with the task bar, but the chip architecture can't support a browser with 80 tabs open on chrome. The battery last about 2 hours or less using chrome. I wish the 16in had a taskbar or at least a touchscreen. I think a more reasonable price for it would be $999. Apple is always disappointing but what other choice do we have?? They need to lower prices or step up their game.

You lost me at 80 tabs of chrome…

 

[jchap]

The problem is that many people with 2 or 3 year old Mac's have Intel processor's and they aren't aging well compared to Apple silicon. Once you make the jump to Apple silicon you should be good for many years.

"Aging well"? Are we talking about a microprocessor, or a slice of fine cheese? 🤣

The joke aside, your point about Intel Macs vs. Apple silicon Macs seems mostly clear, but I'm not convinced that just jumping on any Apple silicon machine now is going to "do you good" for the next several years. We don't know what changes are coming up in the next decade in terms of processor speed, software and hardware. Apple keeps bumping up the required machine specs for each OS release, so eventually even the M1/M2 models will become unable to handle the "latest and greatest" software needs.

Good for now? Yep. Good for three or four years down the road? Possibly. Good for several years down the road? Hmm.

 

[jchap]

You lost me at 80 tabs of chrome…

I think the OP also lost the tab they were looking for, at 80 tabs of Chrome...

 

[Warped9]

I have only one real complaint about a 15 or 16 in. MacBook—such a large screen device should have a full keyboard with numeric keypad.

 

[leman]

I don’t know, it kind of sounds like OP is mostly complaining about Chrome But I too think that a 15” MacBook Air with base chip would be a good addition to the lineup. It could have an added benefit of alleviating the supply pressure on the more expensive prosumer chips, improving availability. Apple would sell fewer 14” and 16” models of course, but I doubt they are more profitable than an Air. Those displays and memory interfaces cost a fortune to make.

 

[cupcakes2000]

1st amendment

look it up

The internet isn't a country. Look it up.

 

[MajorFubar]

Edited cos superseded by my later reply

 

[Reggaenald]

The current 16“ isn’t overpriced (in some markets). If you’re from the US there is no rain to rant about the prices imo.
Find me a single comparable offering for $999 or less or quit your baseless claims.

 

[MajorFubar]

They basically do the same thing, internet browse etc

So does a fifty grand maxed out Mac Pro. What are you trying to argue? That internet browsing is all an M2 MBA is good for? The last time someone was so fundamentally mistaken is when Michael Jackson thought Boys II Men was a delivery service.

 

[playtech1]

I think the MacBook range is possibly the best it's ever been.

You get:

- Amazing value with the M1 MacBook Air (and a decent M2 Air option)

- Great value plus more performance and advanced features with the 14 inch MacBook Pro

- Decent value with the 16 inch MacBook Pro

Definitely room for a 15 inch MacBook Air and for an 11 or 12 inch ultraportable in the range, but what's there is the most enticing line-up for years. In fact I think things will get a bit worse before they get better with price rises for forthcoming minor upgrades.

 

[GuruZac]

I really don't care for the current macbook pro offerings from Apple. 13in is way to small of a screen, 16in is better but its waaaayyyy overpriced. I like my current 15in 2016 with the task bar, but the chip architecture can't support a browser with 80 tabs open on chrome. The battery last about 2 hours or less using chrome. I wish the 16in had a taskbar or at least a touchscreen. I think a more reasonable price for it would be $999. Apple is always disappointing but what other choice do we have?? They need to lower prices or step up their game.

$999? For a 15” MacBook Pro with the hardware they have. What are you smoking mate?

 

[e1me5]

A real Ferrari should be priced the same as a cast model as both have four wheels and they are red.

 

[Warped9]

The fact that most if not all other “small” laptops on the market are 14in. argues Apple is rather lagging here. Yeah, they have the 14in. MacBook Pro, but thats not a mainstream consumer device. I think Apple would be better served with a 14in. mainstream laptop—what I think the M2 MacBook Air should have been.

 

[maflynn]

Here's my $.02 being a Mac and PC user.

13in is way to small of a screen, 16in is better but its waaaayyyy overpriced.

Personal preference regarding sizes. I agree 13" is too small, and the 16" while larger is so much better on the eyes. Btw, I have a 14" and I'm struggling a bit with the smaller fonts. My kids love, absolutely love the 14"

As for the price, while expensive, and the apple tax is real, I do believe you get what you pay for. I own a Razer laptop and they're literally just as expensive as Macs. You want a beautifully designed, product using high end parts with unsurpassed quality - well then expect to pay top dollar.

I like my current 15in 2016 with the task bar, but the chip architecture can't support a browser with 80 tabs open on chrome.

Have you considered buying a 2020 MBP that is still on the intel platform, and the chipset/memory set up will give you what you want.

Let me also say that 80 tabs is simply too much, chrome and safari were not designed to easily work with so many tabs and streamlining your workflow to use less tabs may be beneficial for you both hardware wise but also efficiency wise.

Apple is always disappointing but what other choice do we have??

I have to disagree, while there have been times where I feel Apple laid an egg, i.e., butterfly keyboard, touch bar, they produce some really great products. I may be disappointed once in a while, and if you are ALWAYS disappointed then Apple products are not for you. For laptops, there are so many options available for you, Whether we're talking Razer, Asus, Lenovo. You can find a well built machine that has the specs at a price you're willing to pay. Granted you'll have to be using windows, or use Linux but that's what life is about - weighing the pros and cons for each decision ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Good luck, but its not as bleak as you think it is. You do have options

 

[usagora]

A real Ferrari should be priced the same as a cast model as both have four wheels and they are red.

Yeah, I mean they can both go from one place to another, right? Therefore they must be equivalent in every way. Heck, if you pull it fast enough, the cast model can achieve the same 0-60 time 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[Uddername]

As others have mentioned, if you look at the funds over a period of time, it's not too bad. I think it's definitely achievable to buy a MacBook and for it to last 5 years (longer if you're not requiring the machine to do too much). So over 5 years - £2400 turns into £480 a year or £40 a month (Similar to a phone contract) or £1.31 a day.

 

[rgwebb]

I really don't care for the current macbook pro offerings from Apple. 13in is way to small of a screen, 16in is better but its waaaayyyy overpriced. I like my current 15in 2016 with the task bar, but the chip architecture can't support a browser with 80 tabs open on chrome. The battery last about 2 hours or less using chrome. I wish the 16in had a taskbar or at least a touchscreen. I think a more reasonable price for it would be $999. Apple is always disappointing but what other choice do we have?? They need to lower prices or step up their game.

Good point, I wish the 2000 dollar computer was actually a 1000 dollar computer.

 

[Mainsail]

Rather than a Chromebook, I would buy an M1 MBA on sale. You can find them at big box stores for between $750-$799. It would make a great computer for a college student on a tight budget. I would hate to go through 4 years of undergrad with nothing but a plastic Chromebook. Our local school district bought a bunch of Chromebooks for middle and high school, and many of them were falling apart before the end of the first year. As a result, kids were showing up to class with the school issued Chromebook plus a laptop of their own (usually a hand-me-down MacBook of some type).

 

[MayaUser]

Guys, like title says its a RANT topic
So he clearly likes everything that Apple does, nothing new here to see

 

[GMShadow]

The fact that most if not all other “small” laptops on the market are 14in. argues Apple is rather lagging here. Yeah, they have the 14in. MacBook Pro, but thats not a mainstream consumer device. I think Apple would be better served with a 14in. mainstream laptop—what I think the M2 MacBook Air should have been.

I'm hoping the 15" MBA rumors pan out, honestly. That's more of what I need vs a 16" Pro.

 

[MayaUser]

Good point, I wish the 2000 dollar computer was actually a 1000 dollar computer.

and others wants that 1000 dollar computer to be 100 dollar computer...and in one year at most that company that offers you that is out of business and after your computer is obsolete in 5-6-7 years you have to buy again an 2000 dollar computer
101 business ..teenagers always wants stuff for free and dont care about what could mean for the companies