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First look: Hands-on with Apple's all new 12" MacBook with Retina display

Last updated

Following the redesigned 12-inch MacBook's unveiling on Monday, AppleInsider was on hand to take a first look at Apple's latest thin-and-light, which comes in three colors including gold.

Announced earlier today, the all new MacBook is the lightest and thinnest Mac Apple has ever made, weighing in at only two pounds and measuring 13.1 millimeters at its thickest point.

A bright 12-inch Retina display is featured front and center, with Apple touting the panel as the thinnest and most efficient ever used in a Mac.

The MacBook is a departure from Apple's most recent laptop designs in that it eschews the MagSafe protocol, as well as other input and output ports, for a single USB Type C connector located on the left side of the device. On the opposite side is a single headphone jack and dual mics for FaceTime and dictation duties.

Another new feature is the MacBook's keys, which use a new butterfly type mechanism for a more solid typing experience. Prior MacBook Air and Pro models used scissor type keys that are more susceptible to flexing and bending when pressed near a key's edge.

Like Apple's iPhone offerings, the new MacBook will come in three different colors: silver, Space Gray and gold.

Apple's redesigned MacBook is slated to hit store shelves on April 10 at a base price of $1,299.



101 Comments

sflocal 16 Years · 6138 comments

They're beautiful laptops for sure. I'm going to miss the safety of a mag-safe connector for sure. In the end, less ports means less parts, less need for space and a smaller, more reliable design. I really wonder how that fanless design is going to work in the real world for those that push the performance limits of the new MBA. It's why I finally went to a MBP a six months ago after being a die-hard MBA user. The heat got to be too much. Great product though. I look forward to seeing one in person. I'm sure Samsung is firing up their photo-copy machine as we speak!

gadgetcanadav2 11 Years · 691 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by sflocal 

They're beautiful laptops for sure. I'm going to miss the safety of a mag-safe connector for sure. In the end, less ports means less parts, less need for space and a smaller, more reliable design. I really wonder how that fanless design is going to work in the real world for those that push the performance limits of the new MBA. It's why I finally went to a MBP a six months ago after being a die-hard MBA user. The heat got to be too much.

Great product though. I look forward to seeing one in person.

I'm sure Samsung is firing up their photo-copy machine as we speak!


I hope Apple patented the crap out of that keyboard design. It's very well designed. In fact, the whole thing is very well designed. I'm getting the space grey top-end model for my daughter for college. For me, I'm more than happy with my 15" rMBP which does not need to be as portable.

 

AI, can we have some feedback as to the feel of the new keyboard and trackpad?

ds92jz 10 Years · 90 comments

Single USB-C port ($80 for an adapter LOL) and Intel M processor is a fail.

christopher126 16 Years · 4366 comments

I was wondering when the "gold" finish would make it to the Mac line.  Probably will make me get the laptop. Very beautiful. Well done! :)

 

Best.

christopher126 16 Years · 4366 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by GadgetCanadaV2 
 


I hope Apple patented the crap out of that keyboard design. It's very well designed. In fact, the whole thing is very well designed. I'm getting the space grey top-end model for my daughter for college. For me, I'm more than happy with my 15" rMBP which does not need to be as portable.

 

AI, can we have some feedback as to the feel of the new keyboard and trackpad?

If she's anything like my daughter, consider the gold finish. :)

 

Either way, great call. :)