Apple MacBook (2015)

Right from the PowerBook G4 went away almost 10 years ago, Apple fans clamored for a premium laptop that emphasizes portability, but still has the computing power of a full-size Mac. The new Apple MacBook ($ 1,299 as tested) is a high-quality candidates to fill that gap, because it weighs just under 2 pounds, but packs a bright 12-inch Retina Display and power-efficient, capable of Intel Core M processor. This is one of the most desirable laptop Mac yet, but you will have to make some sacrifices if you get one, including having to do without many options, save the USB- C port, and begins to use the new keyboard and the Force Touch trackpad. For the same price, the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro, Choice high-end our editors' ultraportable laptop, perform better than the MacBook in most of our tests, and more importantly, its port was more abundant .

For the first time in an aluminum Apple laptop, the MacBook is available in a choice of finishes: silver, gold, or gray space, like our review unit. The match hues of the latest Apple iPad Air $ 439.00 on Amazon and iPhone 6 $ 199.00 to Verizon, a boon if you're in color coordination. Such as the Apple iPad, the new laptop has opaque logos, instead of the white backlit Apple sees the latest MacBook Air $ 729.00 on Amazon and MacBook Pro models.

This MacBook is about portability. Measuring 0.52 by 11 by 7.75 inches (HWD) and weighs in at 1.98 pounds, it's a featherweight, compared with the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is pretty heavy at £ 3.41. MacBook fits easily in backpacks and shoulder bags made for 10-inch or 13-inch tablet Ultrabooks. MacBook sitting on top of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 $ 1,143.00 on Amazon, you'll see it shorter and narrower, although the latter is thinner at its Type Cover $ 129.99 at Best Buy is removed.

The new keyboard what Apple calls butterfly switches (compared to traditional scissor switch keyboard laptop). It is not as bouncy or forgiving as a standard keyboard, but it is certainly very solid. The keycaps and spacing full size, and thanks to the slightly concave keys, it is more comfortable to use than the Surface Pro Cover Type 3, and certainly faster to type than the membrane keyboard of Dell XPS 11. Some third-party keyboards like the ZAGG iPad rugged Book $ 121.15 at Amazon tout steel plate to prevent distortion, but felt more solid the MacBook keyboard and showed zero keyboard flex while the antenna type during the trial period.

Instead of using the traditional rectangular battery pack or pack made of cylindrical cells, Apple installs Lithium polymer thin plates. The plates are of different lengths and stacked, so they will fit tapered chassis with a star-terrace. Fill these cases more evenly, there are hardly any gaps, that would be a waste of space. They help the MacBook achieve an unprecedented battery life for such a thin laptop: up to 14 hours by our measures (more on that later).