Wondering how powerful the Macbook 12 is

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Level 1

46 points

Wondering how powerful the Macbook 12 is

I currently have a macbook air 2011 1.8 GhZ i7. If the new Macbook 2015 12" is as powerful as this, then I'll be happy enough. Has anyone tried pushing the Macbook 12"? I typically run Word, Acrobat DC, Endnote, Safari, Mail (I teach at the university level, so this is my workhorse machine) plus on and off Photoshop, Aperture or Lightroom, and other programs that are not very CPU intensive.

I plan to travel quite a bit, but if I can't get my essential apps to run or run smoothly on the Macbook I'll be forced to update to a new Air, a pound heavier (but with other strong benefits). Ideally I'd wait for the next gen. Macbook, but I don't think I can wait.

First-hand experienced users' feedback would be appreciated. I sense that Macbook is not a popular machine so the community of users is going to be small. thanks.

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Aug 1, 2015 12:00 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

sparkydugan

Level 1

10 points

Aug 5, 2015 7:46 PM in response to jinet

I, too, am university faculty and my new MacBook 12" (1 month old) is not a suitable machine. The processor is woefully inadequate for pretty much all of the applications you've listed. If you add in even the slightest whiff of multimedia editing/processing....well, the word "molasses" comes to mind.

My previous laptop (2011 macbook pro 15") was a fantastic machine- utterly reliable, fast as lightning, could multitask like Beyonce in Dream Girls. This new MacBook is the opposite (rosie o'donnell singing the national anthem? I know, not exactly a great analogy, but you get my point). I highly recommend you take a pass.

Luckily, I've found a colleague upon whom to unload this $1300 brick. I have disclosed fully (I am a jerk; but not an unethical jerk) my assessment- he still wants it. Sigh. This is why I'm tenured and he's not.

MacBook 12" is a supermodel: all looks, no substance.

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Answer 2

jinet Author

Level 1

46 points

Aug 5, 2015 10:17 PM in response to jinet

At last, a real live eye-witness. Thanks tons for sparing me further agony. This basic level of information shouldn't be so hard to find as it turns out to be. Thanks for sharing. I had strong suspicions that the Macbook was essentially a concept-car, not one for driving. Now I know. Good luck with your replacement.

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