New MacBook Is Gorgeous, But Lacks Ports: Review Roundup

Apple's new MacBook is on the cutting edge of design, but ultimately suffers from its dependency on dongles. That's what critics are saying about the 12-inch MacBook, released Friday amid the Apple fanfare over that other Apple launch -- the Apple Watch.

This MacBook, slightly lighter and thinner than the MacBook Air, has a $1,300-and-up price tag and sports Retina display (2,304-x-1,440) and, most notably, a USB-C port. Despite criticism over its ultra-Spartan chassis, the laptop is receiving positive reviews when it comes to its "stunning" sleek design.

The 12-inch MacBook is available with either 1.1GHz or 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M processors and 8 GB RAM with Intel HD Graphics 5300 featured in both. Each MacBook SKU ships with a minimum of 256 GB storage and has an advertised battery life of 9 hours.The MacBook is available in silver, gold and "space grey."

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Critics Biggest Beef - Single USB-C Port

The MacBook, which is 24 percent thinner than the 11-inch MacBook Air and weighs just 2 pounds, manages to achieve this impressive diminutive design by removing all but two ports -- one for power and accessories and the other a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Nearly all reviewers point out that the reliance on a single USB Type-C connection for charging, wired Ethernet connectivity and any accessory one might need to plug into the MacBook, doesn’t offer owners enough flexibility. They note the reliance on one single USB port puts too much pressure on the user to either have to choose power over a competing accessory and forces MacBook owners to invest heavily in dongles.

"It feels like it came from the future, and didn't bring its ecosystem with it. With its single USB-C port for both charging and peripherals, it's unlike any Mac previously made. It's the smallest, lightest Mac laptop ever, offers a Retina display, and yet it boasts all-day battery life. Using it alone will be a pleasure, but trying to plug it in to all your existing technology will be a pain.’ - Jason Snell, Macworld.

Reviews, including Harry McCracken of Fast Company, point out that one can expect to spend over $100 in buying a la carte adapters for HDMI, VGA and SDXC card slot adapters that range in price from $20 to $80 a piece.

MacBook: 'Crazy Svelte' And 'Sturdy'

What the new MacBook lacks in ports it makes up for in its design, according to a majority of reviewers. Joanna Stern, reviewer at the Wall Street Journal, said the new notebook "feels more like an iPad with a crazy svelte keyboard. The all-metal machine feels quite sturdy."

Another win, according to critics, is the Retina display, which by comparison to the MacBook Air with 1,366-x-768 resolutions, is beautiful.

"The 12-inch Retina display adds to the overall beauty. With the 2304x1440-pixel screen, photos look like they were painted on, and even boring text is nice to look at. Prepare for your eyes to be spoiled. Now when I go back to my MacBook Air’s lower-res display, everything looks pixelated," wrote Stern.

Keyboard And Trackpad

"When it comes to the MacBook's keyboard, reviews are split," Wired' s David Pierce writes of the MacBook keyboard:

"It's a cross between a mechanical keyboard and tapping on glass. There's very little clack as you type, and only the slightest travel. Suddenly I understand what typewriter aficionados are always droning on about: There's something wonderful about hitting a key and having something happen. That feeling gets lost here."

An opposing viewpoint from Re-Code's Katherine Boehret gripes: "At first, this new keyboard felt kind of cheap compared to the cushiony support under the MacBook Air or wireless Apple keyboards. But after a few days, I was typing faster with it."

When it comes to the trackpad, Apple is using its newest input method called Force Touch, also used in the new Apple Watch. In a nutshell, Force Touch relies on tiny electrodes to distinguish between a light tap and a deep press that can trigger a range of mouse-specific controls.

"The terrific trackpad has seen fewer changes. You might not notice the difference unless you find yourself leaning just a little too hard on its glassy surface. Then a Wikipedia page might pop up, or you might be looking at all your open Safari windows," Pierce wrote.

Bottom Line Consensus

If you are adverse to dongles and don't want to tote around a bag full of accessories, this MacBook is not for you. But if you are a fan of Apple's forward-thinking Spartan design ethos, this laptop will not let you down.

"I think this MacBook is too extreme -- and too expensive -- for a lot of people right now," Boehret wrote.

"This is a laptop that will serve its audience well. That audience is one that prioritizes size, weight, and stylishness over compatibility and ports and computing power," Snell wrote.

PUBLISHED APRIL 13, 2015