[mks_dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”” txt_color=”#000000″]T[/mks_dropcap]oday at Apple’s Spring Forward event we didn’t expect a new product lineup other then the Apple Watch but, we did expect a 12in Macbook Air.
Apple decided to create a new product line called the “Macbook” – It’s not branded as the “Macbook Pro” or the “Macbook Air” it’s just the Macbook. The new Macbook (as you will see) is for it’s looks not for how it performs or the price of the laptop.
Something “different” about this new laptop is that It has a USB-C port (other then the 3.5mm headphone jack) which is used for Charging, USB Ports, Display Output. Since there is only one port you can only do one of these functions at the same time until you get at first or third party adapter that can convert this port to one that you need to use. As of now Apple has a $79 adapter that allows you to charge the laptop, use a USB device and a external display. Even though with a adapter you still get USB 3.0 speeds.
RELATED – This new USB-C port is also on the new Chromebook Pixel.
Apple has confirmed that there will be third part adapters.
This compromise was made because, the laptop is only 13.1 mm at it’s thickest. That’s now the only compromise that had to be made – There is also a new “Butterfly” Keyboard and a “Force Touch” Tracpad.
The “Butterfly” keyboard extends the full width of the laptop and with this new keyboard it takes less space and feel the space on any part of the key.
The “Force Touch” tracpad is also not like the traditional mechanical Tracpad. Basically – It’s a touch pad with vibrating moter that “simulates” the feel of a traditional click. This new tracpad can also detect pressure so, for example, you can deep press on a address in a safari or mail window and it show you it on a map.
Another example is If you deep press on a file it will open it in preview.
As far as the other specs go:
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| $1299 | $1599 | |
| Processer | 1.1GHz Dual-Core Intel Core M | 1.2GHz Dual-Core Intel Core M |
|
2.4GHzHH | 2.6GHz |
|
4MB Shared L3 | 4MB Shared L3 |
| Storage | 256GB PCIe-Based Onboard Flash | 512GB PCIe-Based Onboard Flash |
| Memory | 8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 onboard | |
| Graphics | Intel HD 5300 – Internal | |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi – 802.11ac a/b/g/n Bluetooth 4.0 | |
| Camera | 480p FaceTime Camera | |
| Input Device(s) | “Butterfly” Keyboard & “Force Touch” Tracpad | |
| Battery | Built-In 39.7-Watt-Hour Lithium-Polymer Battery | |
|
9 Hrs. Web Browsing 10 Hrs. Video Playback | |
| CONFIGURABLE: 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor (Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz) with 4MB shared L3 cache | ||
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UPDATE: Mar. 11 15 8:00 PM EST
These are the accessories available as of now:
Adapters
Check the Apple site often for more adapters in the future.
