Obsolete seems like a strong word to use for a new Mac that has features no Macs have ever had before. But that’s the price of progress. What’s new today is old tomorrow.
An unfortunate set of events has made it clear that all of Apple’s new MacBooks– the 12-inch MacBook, and both 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models– are already behind the times; great machines, yes, but behind the curve of technology changes despite the advances Apple is touting.
Wait. But Not Forever!
Many of us in the tech industry know the true story behind technology advances. Three words: Wait six months. Six months from now whatever gadget you were planning to buy today will be better, improved, more powerful, less expensive, have new features.
Of course, the problem with that thinking is that you’d never buy anything at all because there’s always something new and better coming down the line.
That’s the case with Apple’s new MacBook lineup.
All three models feature high resolution Retina displays, they’re lighter and faster than ever, use Apple’s cool new Force Touch trackpad technology, and the MacBook, at barely two pounds is an ultra, ultra light– and it sports the new and future connectivity standard, USB Type-C connector.
So, how is it that all that is outdated already?
Apparently, Apple couldn’t wait for Intel to deliver the new Broadwell CPUs (smaller, more powerful, faster, less energy consumption), so the new 15-inch MacBook Pro model is saddled with older Haswell technology, and Broadwell CPUs are interim at best. That’s not Apple’s fault. Intel was very slow to deliver Broadwell chips, and promises that the next generation, Skylake, might show up before the end of the year.
Worse, Intel has adopted the new USB Type-C reversible connector for Thunderbolt 3. Think twice as fast as Thunderbolt 2 which is used in the current Mac line. The newer technology is here, and it’ll show up on future Macs and Mac notebooks, but that brand new MacBook is saddled with the worst of Broadwell, and the high end MacBook Pro model still runs the best of yesterday’s technology.
As nice as these new machines truly are, and they’re a jump over previous models, each can only be described as an interim Mac, just waiting for Apple’s next big Mac upgrade which will include faster Skylake CPUs, Thunderbolt 3, and USB Type-C connectors. They may show up in six months, so if you wait six months all you’ll need to do is wait another six months for the latest technology. Or, you could just wait yet another six months and get the latest Macs with improved… oh, wait. That never ends, does it?
Eric says
So true, I’ve resisted purchasing anything Apple until the Skylake CPU’s and Thunderbolt 3 are incorporated into the lineup – buying a mac today only insures an obsolete computer sooner rather than later…
Sanjay says
Spot on. ‘Obsolete’ is a bit strong, as stated, but the premise is spot on. If something new is coming down the road in 6 months, waiting 6 months will get us something new and better, right? But that attitude has no upside as we’d all be waiting forever to get something new.
As to Apple’s being behind Intel’s curve, so is every other PC manufacturer. The 12″ MacBook uses the Core M Broadwell, anemic at best. The new MacBook Pro line DOES NOT have Broadwell CPUs. They’re still Haswell as the article states.
From Ars Technica:
Ron In says
The new 12″ retina MacBooks use the Core M Broadwell – not Haswell – CPU. Latest and greatest. The premise of your editorial is incorrect.
Willy says
It seems to me that the premise– new Macs are obsolete– is perfectly correct. Everyone knows that what you buy today is already outdated. Even the author indicated that ‘obsolete’ is a bit strong, but only internet Dicks would take issue with it (a Dilbert reference).
Mike says
Yes, the “premise” of the article – i.e. that something newer and better will likely be coming down the road in the next year – has merit. But that has been true for every computer that any PC-maker, including Apple, has ever made. Why write an article about it? You might as well write about how sun is going to set this evening, just like it always does.
Woz says
Why grumble about something that is factually correct? You remind me of ‘Dick from the Internet’ in Dilbert.
Which, if my memory is correct, and the words I read are correct, is EXACTLY what the writer of the article said. Find something more important to complain about.
Mike says
The MacBook and the 13″ rMBP both have Broadwell CPUs. Not sure where you’re getting your information, but it’s wrong. I don’t think there’s even such a thing as a Haswell Core M processor (the MacBook’s CPU).
cal worthington says
Maybe you should read the entire article before commenting. The article states Broadwell vs. Haswell correctly.
Judge Judy says
Let me set the record straight on these new Macs.
• The 12-inch MacBook is a Broadwell CPU, Core M
• The 13-inch MacBook Pro is a Broadwell dual-core CPU
• The 15-inch MacBook Pro is a Haswell quad-core CPU
All have Force Touch, faster SSDs, but don’t blaze much new ground since the Broadwell CPU has been delayed by about a year, and Skylake has already been announced by Intel as shipping later in 2015.
Jack seems to have hit the nail on the head. ‘Obsolete‘ is a bit strong, of course, but only internet morons don’t understand the reference to how fast technology changes to ‘obsolete‘ last year’s technology.
Darwin says
Broadwell is hardly different from Haswell and can’t be produced in quantity for some time which Apple knows. No way Skylake will be available by end of year.
Meanwhile SSD is twice as fast and gpu much faster plus force touch which you don’t mention at all.
Darwin says
12″ MacBook and 13″ rMBP are both using Broadwell chips. The author is completely wrong except on the 15″ rMBP.
Ben says
The 12-inch MacBook with Retina display uses the Broadwell Core M CPU, with performance about the same as the older Haswell CPUs. The 15″ rMBP uses Haswell. Both stated as such by the article. I haven’t read anything about Broadwell being in the 13″ rMBP.
Fitzpatrick says
Jack has pointed out what should be obvious– all three of Apple’s new Mac notebooks (12″ MacBook, 13″ MBP, 15″ MBP) are interim models, to fill in the line until Skylake CPUs ship later this year. Apple just couldn’t wait any longer. How else do you explain the anemic Core M in the MacBook, or the two-year-old quad-core Haswell CPU in the 15″ MBP?
The telling feature is USB Type-C which is only in the MacBook. Apple’s new line of MBP models will be thinner, lighter, faster and have good battery life– and the Skylake CPU. Why didn’t Apple wait another six months? Intel cannot be depended upon to deliver when they say they’ll deliver.
But note that all three new Mac notebooks have screaming fast SSDs and Force Touch, so obsolete they are not (but I understand the reference).