Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Mobile Laptop IF You Understand The Macbook's Limitations Before Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2015
I am a Windows person. But I can like the Macbook, too.
I actually got this from Apple, but you will notice the "Verified Purchase" on the review. There's a reason, and it isn't so that I can post a fake review. Quick story is that I tried to buy another one of these from a 3rd Party Seller, who had no intention of actually selling, and I had to file an A-Z claim against them. So, this is an actual review of the Apple Macbook 12".
Why did I buy this?
I saw that Apple had released a new product that included no cooling fans. I looked into it and found that what they had done was quite ingenious, like what Microsoft did with their Surface Pro line: something new and very interesting. So, I purchased it from Apple.
Would I buy this again?
Yes. I even tried to. (At a too-good-to-be-true price.)
What is it?
I own the Macbook 12" Gold with 256GB SSD and the 1.3GHz processor. It could be said that this is the chromebook equivalent for macs. (Chromebook functionality and mass with Apple's price tags.) It is an internet dependent machine, requiring wi-fi access to take advantage of the utility of the device. It is an extremely mobile laptop, lighter than the Air series and lighter than almost every other laptop on the market as of its release.
What do I like?
Here's where I start gushing. I really like the fanless design. Yes, this means that it gets pretty warm at high usage, but not too hot to touch. It runs completely silently, with the only sound coming from the keyboard or speakers. The screen is a delightful Retina display, brilliant in color and resolution. Fast wi-fi connects with my a/ac/b/g/n network at home and gets great speeds. Keyboard took a moment to get used to, but is now one of the true assets of the device. I get the tactile response I need to type well on an ultra-thin keyboard. Backlit keys offer little light bleed, making nighttime use much easier on the eyes. I adore the fact that I can recharge the battery with a mobile battery pack (I use the Anker 26000Amp charger. Feels like it doubles the battery life.). I learned how to use OSX specifically so I could use this laptop, and it was time well spent. Even at the lower end of the capacity chain at 256GB, I still have plenty of room for all that I need to do with the computer. Runs most applications smoothly, and I can do voice recordings with ease straight to the computer. Since it operates without fans, the Macbook is not a sound one has to edit out and can be brought into the recording studio without fear of hums. There's a lot to like.
What do I dislike?
As with everyone else on the planet, the restriction to one USB-C port is a negative. However, it's not such a hinderance with one USB-C hub and one USB hub attached to that. It would be nice if 3rd party USB-C hubs allowed for daisy chaining of upstream charging (or, on some, allowed to charging at all.... you know who you are.). If you are buying this computer, then you should already know about that restriction. Battery life does not quite reach Apple's claims. More like 6-7 hours of continuous use. Outside of that, very few things about this computer I actually dislike. It does not have the processing power I'm used to, but going from a recently constructed home built desktop to a laptop, this is going to happen. Requiring purchase of additional items for backward compatibility for USB devices (such as storage or peripherals) is a disadvantage, too. Overpriced for what you get, but that's the cost of doing business with Apple.
What did I give it 5 Stars?
The flaws, which are a known quantity, are not hinderances to utility. A hurdle, sure, but not one with a high bar. The fact is this is an amazing machine. It's not a gaming laptop, does not provide the power for most games, though it can run some (I was surprised it could run realMyst at all, even if not well). But it doesn't pretend to be. This laptop is for those wishing to experience web-based services wherever they are. It provides a brilliant display for streaming. The strengths greatly outweigh the disadvantages for me. I absolutely love it.
Who might like this?
Anyone on the go who has lots of wifi access. Those who need to have access to a computer wherever they are will find great value in this computer. With lots of hard drive space for a mac, this is also for people who like to use specific applications anywhere: whether at home, at a friends, at work, on the train, on the bus or on a plane.
Who might dislike this?
Someone who needs processing power or works with video editing. Great for viewing videos, but not so great at editing. It is about at the level of 2011/2012 average processing. (I base this on what I got out of my 2010 Sony Vaio, which this outclasses.) Someone who runs multiple large programs may find issues with this computer.
Other thoughts?
I am not a Mac fan. This computer is actually the first Mac I've ever kept for more than 10 days. I strongly stand behind this purchase, expensive as it was. I've begun to use it daily in favor of the desktop I built. I don't play games on the Macbook, but then, I don't need to. I'm not a Mac convert yet, but I'm appreciating them a lot more than before.
