That was the basic question I asked myself when reviewing Apple’s latest Mac, which bravely sports just one USB-C port to handle power, data input and output, accessories and display connections. It also has an Intel Core M processor, which lets the MacBook sip power and drop fans entirely, but comes at the cost of processing muscle. Apple took some risks, for sure, but the MacBook might just be my favorite portable Mac ever.
Basics
12-inch, 2304×1440 display, 226 PPI
1.1GHz Intel Core M dual-core processor with Turbo Boost to 2.4GHz
Intel HD Graphics 5300
8GB of RAM
256GB PCIe-based flash storage
480p FaceTime camera
802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
Single USB-C port for data I/O, display, networking and power
3.5mm stereo audio in/out port
Force Touch trackpad
39.7-watt-hour battery offers 9 hours web browsing, 10 hours offline iTunes movie playback
MSRP: $1,299 (as tested)
On sale Friday, April 10 starting at 12 AM PT/3 AM ET
Product info page
Pros
Amazingly portable
Gorgeous display
Cons
Single port
Design
Without question, this is the best notebook available in terms of pure design appeal. That sleek aluminum shell, with its all-metal hinge and three distinct color options, is simply the best looking portable computer currently on the market. No one who’s seen my tester has not instantly wanted one, based just on its outward appearance. My review unit is the space gray model, and the color alone makes all other older MacBooks seem bland by comparison.
I’d almost be happy to leave the design discussion there, if not for the stunning details you find when you examine every inch of this computer. The all-aluminum hinge, for instance, replaces the plastic one found on previous metal unibody Mac notebooks. That seems like a small change, but it truly elevates the design, making the MacBook seem even more like a computer magically hidden away inside a slab of perfectly machined metal.
This is the best notebook available in terms of pure design appeal.
The lack of external holes in the case also add to this effect. Say what you will about the functional validity of including just one USB-C and one 3.5mm audio port – it definitely increases the aesthetics of the outside case. It makes you yearn for the day when they can drop physical ports altogether, in fact.
Apple’s MacBook is remarkable, too, in just how much computer is packed into so little space. The case is only 13.1mm thin at its thickest point, and it weighs just 2 lbs. That’s only half a pound heavier than the original iPad, and under 3mm thicker (at the MacBook’s thickest point). When I first picked it up, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it actually had more in common physically with the iPad lineup than with Apple’s notebooks, a sentiment enhanced by the fact that it fit easily inside the tablet pocket in the backpack I primarily used to tote it around.
Other elements of the design that stand out include the keyboard backlights, which are now supplied by individual LEDs for each keycap , and which look much better than their predecessors. The smaller black bezel surrounding that 12-inch Retina display is also a big improvement in terms of overall charm, and the groove Apple uses to let you lift the lid when the clamshell is closed is surprising in that it doesn’t seem to make it any more difficult than previous models to open one-handed, which you’d probably expect from a lighter machine.
Keyboard
Apple had to redesign the MacBook’s keyboard, just like they did the trackpad , in order to make that incredibly shallow case. They did so by replacing the traditional scissor-based keyboard switches with a new butterfly mechanism, which saves 40 percent thickness per key. That means that you get less travel with each press, but Apple also points out that there’s greater stability across the key, meaning keys don’t ‘lean’ to whatever corner you’re exerting the most pressure on which keystroke.
As with the Force Touch trackpad, the new keyboard takes some time to get accustomed to. The travel is quite a bit shallower than it has been even on MacBooks past. And while I’d say that the adjustment period required to get comfortable typing on the new MacBook’s keyboard is longer than the one required to get used to the new trackpad , I still found that it was very quickly a non-issue.
Apple has delivered a full-sized keyboard here, despite the size constraints in place thanks to the extremely small overall case design. While it’s hard to ascribe an exact benefit value to the new butterfly mechanisms and that more even key press, I’d wager that the new mechanisms have something to do with how quickly I became comfortable typing on the new MacBook.
I now feel just as at home with the new MacBook as I have with any other Apple notebooks.
This isn’t at all the same as having to get used to working with one of the myriad iPad keyboard cases – it’s just a matter of recognizing that you aren’t going to have to hammer away as you would with older Mac keyboards, and as a touch typist I now feel just as at home with the new MacBook as I have with any other Apple notebooks.
The key backlights are a big improvement, with their one LED per key design, offering just as much visibility in dark environments but with a much more pleasing overall look and light that seems more focused on you, the user, and therefore less likely to distract or catch the attention of onlookers.
Single USB-C Port
Despite brand new input hardware in the form of re-engineered keyboard and trackpad, the MacBook’s most dramatic change, at least from a user interaction standpoint, might actually be the use of just one data and power port. The single USB-C port on the MacBook’s left flank was a contentious topic at its debut, and was consequently something I paid close attention to during testing.
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