Considering the new Macbook (non-pro)...what do you think?

First things first.

The surfaces aren't viable options for many reasons:

  • Less powerful internals than touchbar rMBP 13" (surface devices use the same line-up of 15W chips found on non touchbar rMBP 13", Macbook Airs, Dells XPS13 and so on);

  • You only get NVMe storage on the most expensive configurations;

  • Their screens are a few generations behind of what you find in modern Macs, despite the high resolution.

  • Lower quality components, like speakers, trackpads, keyboards and so on.

  • Other components are atrocious, like their Alcantara accessories that will be useless garbage in few months.

  • No modern IO whatsoever.

  • The good, bad and ugly of windows only.

Those "i5" and "i7" models are the exact same line-up as "core m", Intel just decided to stop calling them "m5" and "m7". Still, they are good, and that's how the surface pro can be fanless with a new "i5" config.

Now, what do I think about the new Macbooks? I think that for anyone that isn't "heavy" on games or tasks that demand heavy, sustained, CPU performance (basically anyone that would even consider a Surface or a 13" nontouchbar rMBP and be happy with them) it is by far the laptop form factor, perfected.

Insane build quality and quality of the capability of the components. The highest bin Intel chips, fantastic display, fanless and for me the best keyboard ever made for a laptop (personal opinion. If mechanical/lot's of travel is your thing, than this isn't it), best in class speakers, track-pad and really solid battery life that never disappoints.

However, I think you could do something smarter. Hear me out.

Go to an Apple Store and check the 15" models. They are way smaller and lighter than Razer's blade 14", occupy less volume than a surface book, and are best in class on almost every single component. The screen, for example, is by far the best you can find in a laptop and has tremendous improvements over your new machine. It also weighs less than 4 pounds. Crazy. This is as light as previous 13" rMBP.

So why don't you sell your 2013 solid beast (you could get more than 1000$ for it) and use the money you would use for a new computer and just buy a new 15" rMBP?

/r/apple Thread