The new Apple Macbook : overpriced and inferior to competition

The biggest talking point of the new Macbook is the lack of any ports except one USB-C type port and a 3.5mm audio port. There is no other port. No regular USB, no display port, no thunderbolt, nothing! Apple says that the future is wireless and that they expect users to use Wi-FI, AirPlay etc to connect to storage drives and displays. I, among many feel really irritated by the sheer number of cables that I have to deal with day-in day-out as I connect three different drives (one for photos and videos that I take, one for Time Machine backup and one for old data that I want to get rid of). I hate switching the HDMI cable between the mac mini and the Xbox One and I don’t want to add another device to switch between the inputs (KVM switch). But, wireless hard drivers cost too much (a 2TB cost atleast 9,000 INR) and the wireless display thingie is yet to take shape. To use AirPlay, I need to pay north of 5,000 rupees for 3rd generation Apple TV and that is again, another device that still uses HDMI cable. In short, there is no particular alternate way to go fully wireless yet. Apple fans may say that no other notebook can be compared to the Macbook’s design and built quality. Well, that is true but in today’s world where buyers look for more bang for the buck, thin is not everything.

Lets say that in the near future, Intel’s Wireless Display will come into wide use and also we will see hard drives with built-in wireless for much cheaper prices and that we can start utilizing the Macbook to its full potential. But, the built-in 1.1GHz Core M micro processor is not exactly a power house and as with my Mac Mini, the Macbook WILL get slower as the OS is updated and new versions come out. Other drawbacks include a 480p FaceTime camera when we are seeing much better 720p cameras widely used, lack of touchscreen display, no magsafe adapter. Worst part is that the new Macbook costs as much as the 13” MacBook Pro which is much more powerful and feature rich and will also come with new trackpad. There is one particular laptop from Dell that I think trumps the new Macbook in every aspect, including design and that is the new XPS 13.

Dell XPS 13 dimensions are 11.98 x 7.88 x 0.33-0.60 (in) while 2015 Macbook has 11.04 x 7.74 x 0.14-0.52 (in). Dell has managed to pack a 13.3” display in a 11” form factor and this is a bigger design innovation than Apple reducing the thickness of the laptop. The frameless display lid gives the XPS 13 stunning look. The display panel also trumps the one on Macbook. XPS 13 has a 3,200 x 1,800 pixel resolution (QHD+) UltraSharp touch screen display that scream quality and pales Apple’s 2,304 x 1,440 non-touch 12” display. The chassis is made of single block of machined aluminum and this makes it an absolutely sturdy and durable chassis. Dell has used carbon fiber in few areas to keep the laptop lightweight and strong (like the palm rest which feels strong like aluminum but stays cooler to touch). The display panel is protected by Gorilla Glass NBT layer of glass that is 10 times more scratch resistant than soda lime glass. The video camera supports 720p resolution that delivers better and clear video, the CPU is more powerful, the GPU is better, there is wide array of ports (USB, card reader, mini display port, 3.5mm audio etc).

I have been using OS X and Windows 8 for a while and I can confidently say that both have their own merits. While Windows 8 is definitely the better looking among the two, OS X has better touchpad gestures support. But area where Windows 8 really trumps OS X is in support for touch screens. The touchscreen gestures (charms) add lot of value. OS X’s notifications and Continuity (Yosemite only) add lot of value but some of these can be implemented on Windows +Android with specific applications like AirDroid (not as feature rich as Continuity). With Xbox One gameplay streaming and Windows Phone like Action Center (notifications) coming to Windows 10, its only going to get better and better for notebooks like XPS 13 that run Windows OS. As of now, Windows 10 has a tiny upper hand over Yosemite. Do note that Microsoft is way behind Apple w.r.t cloud and phone integration features and when they get closer, Windows 10 can be a clear winner. Dell XPS 13 also makes it easier for users to install alternate operating system (Linux, Unix, Solaris etc) while installing (natively) anything other than Windows is a headache for Macbook.

Coming to the price, Dell XPS 13 costs 100$ more than the new Macbook and given the better overall specs, we do highly recommend that you take a look at this ultrabook before going for the new Macbook. Some of the features like butterfly mechanism for keyboard keys, individual LED for each key, new touchpad with forcetouch are innovative, they are not disruptive. In fact, these are minor enhancements to user experience and need lot of polish. If you are a die hard fan of Apple, stick to the Macbook Pro for now as we strongly feel that the new Macbook is seriously overpriced and is ahead of its time. Wait for a year or two to get more devices compatible with Apple’s AirPlay and USB-C and then you can think of moving to the Macbook like devices.