MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro: which laptop should you choose? The right choice of MacBook from Apple.
Fair, not overpriced and not underestimated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without asterisks, clear and detailed, where technically possible - as accurate and concise as possible.
If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website shows the approximate duration of any repair.
Warranty and responsibility
A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.
Half the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works directly with suppliers, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts for current models, so you don’t have to waste extra time.
This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you don't have to pay a penny for it, even if you don't repair the device based on its results.
Service repairs and delivery
Good service We value your time, which is why we offer free shipping. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: they can be done correctly and according to technology only in a prepared place.
Convenient schedule
If the Service works for you, and not for itself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00
The reputation of professionals consists of several points
Company age and experience
Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.
How many masters in areas
If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give to Macbook repair an expert in the field of Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices
Technical literacy
If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.
Very often, many users who want to buy a laptop from Apple ask themselves the question: “Which MacBook should I choose?” And indeed, everything is not as simple as it might seem. There are a lot of different models of Apple devices, and they are all very similar in their characteristics, but they differ noticeably in price. In today's material we will take a detailed look at some of the most interesting and best laptops from Apple that you can definitely buy.
Apple MacBook Air 13 (MMGF2)
The first model that comes to mind when asked “which MacBook to choose” is, of course, MacBook Air 13. This laptop can safely be called the most balanced and popular among all Apple devices in the budget segment of the company. Not only is it great for home use and work, but will also be an excellent device for trips and travel.
Delivery set and appearance
The laptop is delivered in a relatively small branded white box, which contains images of the model itself. The packaging also indicates the main characteristics of the device and key features. The delivery package is as follows: laptop user manual, warranty card, network cable with power supply, and, in fact, that’s all.
It’s difficult to find fault with the exterior, because it looks very cool and beautiful. The body is made of metal and has a pleasant texture to the touch. On the top cover there is traditionally the company logo in the form of an apple, which glows when turned on.
On the left side there is a USB 3.0 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a socket for the power cable. On the right side there is a card reader, another USB version 3 port and a Thunderbolt 2.0 connector.
As for the laptop screen, it has a diagonal of 13.3 inches and a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. The matrix type is TN+film, and the pixel density is 127.7ppi. Apple is very famous for its well-calibrated and tuned screens, so the picture quality here is excellent. Color rendition is good, correct, there is a reserve of brightness and contrast, and everything is in order with saturation. The only negative that is worth noting is the glossy finish of the display. Fingerprints remain on it, and they are visible to the naked eye.
Well, in conclusion, a little about the keyboard and touchpad. In principle, everything here is also more than standard for the company. The keyboard is “stripped down”, without a number pad, but the key layout is spacious and incredibly comfortable. The buttons have a not too large, but very clear stroke, and each press is accompanied by a pleasant click. In terms of ergonomics - a solid five. Those who work a lot with text will clearly be pleased.
The touchpad is also very interesting and convenient. The finger glides over the surface easily, there is support for gestures. The buttons are also easy and pleasant to press. Another advantage of the touchpad is its size - it is larger than in any other laptop, which makes the process of using it even more comfortable.
Characteristics
The MacBook runs on an Intel Core i5 5250U processor. The processor is dual-core, with a frequency of 1.6 GHz. There is an automatic overclocking mode in which the frequency increases to 2.7 GHz, which is quite good. The CPU also has a 3 MB L3 cache.
The laptop has 8 GB of memory, and there is no way to expand this volume. The RAM operates at a frequency of 1600 MHz. A 128 GB solid state hard drive (SSD) is used for storage.
Unfortunately, the laptop has an integrated video card, Intel HD 6000. It does not have its own video memory, so it will take up some part of the RAM.
Operating system Mac laptop OS X, not Windows, as many might mistakenly think. The fact is that Windows cannot be installed on a MacBook, that’s the policy Apple.
And finally, a little about autonomy. The laptop battery has a capacity of 4900 mAh. After fully charged The device can work up to 12 hours, which is an excellent indicator.
Reviews
Reviews about this laptop show that the MacBook Air is an excellent and balanced device in all its characteristics, with good speed and performance. Users especially note the high autonomy and excellent build quality of the model. The laptop has no shortcomings as such. Except that the screen is not Retina, and the price could be lower (75 thousand rubles).
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (MPXT2)
Continuing the topic "Which MacBook to choose", we move on to the next model - Apple MacBook Pro 13. This laptop is already considered a higher class than the previous one. There is a Retina display, a more powerful processor, and higher performance; in general, it is better in all respects, but it is more expensive.
Equipment and appearance
The laptop is sold in a small white branded box. Inside the package there is the following delivery kit: warranty card, instructions, MacBook Pro 13 laptop and network cable with power supply and plug.
Externally, the laptop looks very cool, even better than the Air version. The body is still made of metal and painted silver. On the bottom of the laptop you can only find rubber feet, and the lid, according to tradition, is decorated with the company logo.
The only jacks on the right side are 3.5mm for headphones. On the left are 2 USB port-C (Thunderbolt 3). As you can see, there are no classic USB 3 ports here, so to connect the same flash drives you will have to use third-party USB hubs.
Now you can go to the display. Just a minus for the glossy finish, which will always leave fingerprints. Fortunately, this is the only drawback of the screen. The Retina display has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a diagonal of 13.3. Pixel density - 227 ppi. Matrix type - IPS. There are no complaints at all regarding image quality. The picture is very clear, bright, rich, with rich colors, correct and natural color rendition. There is a reserve of brightness; there are no problems with contrast.
As for the keyboard, it is, as always, excellent. The layout is a little denser than the previous model, but there is still enough distance between the buttons to avoid pressing two keys at once. If we talk about the presses themselves, the buttons have a small, but very confident and clear stroke. The sound from touches is practically inaudible, which is certainly a plus.
The touchpad is much larger than in Air versions, making it virtually completely capable of replacing a mouse. There is huge support for gestures and combinations of presses to perform certain functions. Also, this touchpad implements Force Touch technology, which, in essence, is a rejection of conventional buttons. Instead, there are special sensors that measure the force of pressing and perform appropriate actions. It is very convenient and to some extent even better than a classic mouse.
Laptop Specifications
It's time to move on to the specifications. The processor here is from Intel, model i5 7360U with two cores and four threads. The clock frequency is 2.3 GHz, and in automatic overclocking mode - 3.6 GHz. There is a level 3 cache, its size is 4 MB.
The laptop has 8 GB of RAM, not expandable. It operates at a frequency of 2133 MHz, which is an excellent indicator.
Integrated video card - Intel Iris Plus 640, without its own dedicated memory.
The hard drive of the MacBook is solid state, 256 GB. Unfortunately, the opportunity to install another one is not provided, so the only option is to replace the drive with a more capacious one.
The OS is the proprietary Mac OS Sierra, which has many useful and interesting features, as well as excellent optimization.
To summarize the technical part, it is worth noting this: the system works very quickly, without any delays or slowdowns. The laptop's performance level is good - it is suitable not only for home use, but also as a device for video editing, working with photographs and even 3D graphics. In conclusion, a few words about autonomy. MacBook battery The Pro 13 has a capacity of 6580 mAh, which allows the laptop to work on a full charge for just over 10 hours. Considering the characteristics and capabilities of the model, this indicator can be considered very good.
Reviews about the laptop
Reviews about the laptop show that the MacBook Pro 13 model turned out to be very successful, interesting and with excellent characteristics, but it is not without its drawbacks. Thus, users note the lack of regular USB ports, only 2 USB-C ports, a scratchy screen coating, strong heating during prolonged use (an additional cooling pad is needed), lack of an HDMI port, not very successful charging technology and high price. Otherwise there are no complaints.
Apple MacBook Pro 15 (MPTU2)
Well, the last one for today is a laptop. MacBook Pro 15. Another representative of the Pro line that deserves attention. There's a bigger screen, even better performance and features, an incredibly high-quality screen, and more. More details below.
Laptop delivery set and appearance
There is no particular point in writing about the packaging, since it is the same as above, so you can go straight to the packaging. Inside the package, in addition to the MacBook Pro 15 itself, there is a network cable with a power supply, a plug, an instruction manual and a warranty card.
You also don’t have to dwell too much on the appearance and design, since this is almost the same laptop as the previous one, only slightly larger. The body is also metal, everything is assembled perfectly, the only thing is that the color is different - it is lighter.
As for the elements and their location, almost everything is unchanged. On the right side there are 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) and a 3.5mm headphone input. On the left side there are 2 more USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) and that's it. There is no disk drive, card reader or anything else additional here, as before.
The Retina screen has a diagonal of 15.4 inches with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels and a pixel density of 220 ppi. Type IPS matrices. There are no complaints about the quality of the display. The matrix is configured and calibrated very precisely. Colors are reproduced correctly, contrast, saturation and brightness are at a very high level. The display will definitely appeal to those who work with photographs or vector graphics. Unfortunately, the screen has a drawback - a glossy finish. Apple will probably never give it up. Anyway.
There is no point in talking too much about the keyboard and touchpad, since they are essentially the same as those of the previous model. The layout and layout are identical, the buttons have a short but clear stroke, which is accompanied by a click. The keyboard is comfortable to use and those who type a lot will definitely appreciate it.
As for the touchpad, it is still slightly larger than in laptop Pro 13, but made using the same Force Touch technology, with all its features, comfort and convenience.
The only other thing this model has is a touchbar, a strip above the top row of keyboard buttons. This touchbar is a small touchpad, on which, depending on the situation, appear various elements management. For example, when watching movies on the touchbar, a time bar is displayed, with which you can rewind. Useful thing.
MacBook Pro 15 Specifications
The device operates on the basis quad core processor Intel Core i7 7700HQ. In addition to 4 cores, there are also 8 threads, which will be a huge plus in applications for 3D graphics or video editing. Clock CPU frequency is 2.8 GHz, and in automatic overclocking mode - 3.8 GHz. The size of the second level cache has been increased to 1 MB, and the third level cache has a capacity of 6 MB.
The MacBook Pro 15 has as much as 16 GB of RAM. As always, there is no room for expansion. The RAM operates at a frequency of 2133 MHz.
The video card is finally discrete - AMD Radeon Pro 555 with 2 GB of memory on board. However, there is also a discrete video card here - this is an Intel HD 630, without its own memory.
The drive is traditionally installed as a solid-state one, but only 256 GB, and without the ability to add another drive. Expectations from a laptop of a higher class are somewhat different. I would, of course, like the SSD to be at least 500 GB, but alas, it is what it is.
The operating system of the model is the same as above - Mac OS Sierra. Everything works quickly, smoothly, without brakes or freezes.
In general, when it comes to overall performance, the laptop is simply excellent. It can be safely used to work in heavy applications, especially where multitasking is required.
If we talk about battery life, then everything is not bad here either. The battery has a capacity of 6320 mAh, which allows it to work for 5-6 hours on a full charge.
Instead of making life easier for the user, as Steve Jobs once advocated, Apple seems to be doing the opposite. Take, for example, the MacBook line - there are now three varieties of it (ultra-thin 12-inch, thin Air and powerful Pro), That's why potential buyer It's quite difficult to figure out which laptop to choose. If you are not well versed in grocery Apple line or you can’t make a choice, we will try to help you with this.
First, let's define the characteristics of Apple laptops:
- MacBook – 12-inch extra thin laptop(thickness varies from 0.35 cm to 1.31 cm), weight 0.92 kg.
- MacBook Air is a 13-inch thin laptop (thickness from 0.3 cm to 1.7 cm), weight 1.35 kg.
- MacBook Pro (in in this case we will talk about two versions of laptops at once) - a powerful productive laptop with a screen diagonal of 13 and 15 inches, a thickness of 1.49 cm and a weight of 1.37 kg.
Display
This is perhaps one of the most important points to pay attention to when choosing a model. The point is that the latter Apple laptops are equipped with excellent Retina displays, providing high-quality images with rich colors. The new MacBook screens are much better than most Windows competitors.
Simple arithmetic applies here - than bigger screen, the larger the work area, but the more you will have to carry, and weight can be critical.
The MacBook has a 12-inch diagonal screen with a resolution of 2304 x 1440 (16:10) and a density of 226 ppi. This is exactly what a Retina display is, you really won’t be able to see the pixels with the naked eye, and the picture quality will pleasantly surprise you.
The MacBook Air is available only as a model with a 13-inch display (the 11-inch model has been discontinued) with a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels (16:10) and a density of 128 ppi. This is a standard pixel density, and from a normal distance the “grain” of the screen is noticeable.
MacBook Pro comes in 13-inch with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels (16:10) and a density of 227 ppi, or 15-inch with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 (16:10) and a density of 220 ppi. Both screens are also Retina.
If we talk about the MacBook Pro 2016, they have a wider color gamut, so the colors look even brighter and more realistic. Other modifications use standard sRGB screens and display fewer colors than reality. MacBook Pro latest generations provide a wider P3 color gamut - the color space becomes 25% wider, and with big amount Image colors look brighter, more realistic and allow you to see even more details. If you take a photo taken on an iPhone and compare it to the exact same photo in HDR, you'll see what we're talking about.
- If you want a high-quality picture and don't need a large work area, feel free to choose a MacBook.
- For full work with graphics would be better suited any MacBook Pro.
- If color accuracy is a fundamental issue for you, then we recommend looking towards the MacBook Pro 2016.
External monitors
MacBooks are often used as a portable computer, to which external monitors can be connected if necessary. For example, at home or at work. And here too there are some nuances.
The MacBook can be connected to the monitor via USB-C or via HDMI (if an adapter is available). Here it should be immediately noted that at the same time you will not be able to charge the laptop, since it only has one connector. You can connect a monitor with a resolution of up to 3840 x 2160 pixels (30 Hz), or up to 4096 x 2160 pixels (24 Hz).
MacBook Air only works with Thunderbolt monitors with a resolution of up to 3840x2160 pixels.
The capabilities of the MacBook Pro are much wider: a monitor with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels is connected using Thunderbolt (you can have two at once), but if you bought a top-end package (with AMD Radeon R9 M370X), you can connect a monitor of 5120x2880 pixels (60 Hz). "Proshka" also works with displays with resolutions of 1920x1080 (60 Hz), 3840x2160 (30 Hz) and 4096x2160 (24 Hz).
The 13-inch MacBook Pro 2016 supports connecting one monitor with a resolution of 5120x2880 (5K), but the 15-inch works with two such screens at once. So if you plan to use two external monitors, you should choose a MacBook Pro.
Camera
Perhaps one of the few elements in Apple laptops that requires serious improvement. The company allows you to use FaceTime video calling not only on the iPhone, but also on the MacBook, and video calls in general do not lose their relevance.
The 12-inch MacBook has a 480p camera, which is, to put it mildly, rather weak. The remaining models use a camera that shoots in 720p resolution. Even the newest MacBook Pro is 1080p front cameras laptop computers Apple is not supported. Actually, the choice here is simple - if you want high-quality video shooting, buy additional camera with USB connection.
CPU
The processor is the second important point that you should pay attention to when choosing a MacBook. Hardware affects performance, and we need to understand for what tasks we are buying a laptop.
MacBook is considered the most weak laptop in terms of performance. The 12-inch model is based on Intel Core M chips with Skylake architecture, which are significantly weaker than Core i5 or i7. On the plus side, this processor doesn't require a fan, and the smallest MacBook is completely silent. Apple offers configurations with M3, M5 or M7 chips - they differ in performance, but not much.
The MacBook Air uses an outdated chip with Broadwell architecture, but this is a proven Intel Core i5 or i7, depending on the configuration. This laptop is more powerful than the previous one, although it is worth remembering about weak displays.
The MacBook Pro runs on Skylake (13-inch), the 15-inch version runs on Broadwell. Both laptops, depending on the diagonal, are equipped with a Core i5 (2.7 GHz and 2.8 GHz) or Core i7 (3.1 GHz and 2.8 GHz) processor.
MacBook Pro 2016 runs on Skylake with almost identical parameters: 13 inches – Core i5 (2.0 GHz), Core i7 (2.4 GHz); 15 inches – Core i7 (2.6 GHz, 2.7 GHz, 2.9 GHz); Version with Touch Bar – Core i5 (2.9 GHz, 3.1 GHz), Core i7 (3.3 GHz)
- If you want a thin and beautiful laptop but with decent performance, choose the M7-based MacBook.
- If you need a portable machine, but with better performance– MacBook Air.
- If you need a powerful laptop for everyday use– your choice is MacBook Pro.
- If you need a top-end laptop to solve complex tasks like video rendering, you'll have to fork out for a 15-inch MacBook Pro 2016 and forget about upgrading for three years.
Graphic arts
Apple laptops don't have super-powerful graphics, and you're unlikely to be able to fully play video games on a MacBook. Again, a lot depends on the configuration - the GPU power may not be enough for comfortable game games rich in 3D graphics, but Apple laptops can handle complex multimedia content quite well.
The MacBook uses the simplest Intel HD Graphics 515, which is enough to work on one Retina screen. The MacBook Air runs on HD Graphics 6000, which is better than the MacBook, but still may not be enough to handle complex processes.
The 2015 MacBook Pro is equipped with an Intel HD Graphics 6100 chip, which is slightly more powerful integrated graphics than the MacBook Air. The top version provides a fairly powerful AMD video card Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB GDDR5 memory.
13-inch MacBook Pro 2016 received Intel Iris Graphics 540 (model without Touch Bar) and Intel Iris Graphics 550 (with Touch Bar) upgradable to Radeon Pro 450 / 460. The 15-inch has Intel HD Graphics 530 and discrete graphics Radeon Pro 455 / 460.
The choice here is obvious - to work with multimedia content, you should take a closer look at the MacBook Pro 2015 or MacBook Pro 2016.
Autonomy
Everyone understands how important time is battery life laptops. Whether you are flying on a plane, traveling on a train or bus, or even just sitting with a laptop in the park - usually these “last” 15-20 minutes are not enough to finish an important report, finish a presentation, or watch interesting video. Wherever we need a working computer, and there are no sockets nearby, an additional plus to the laptop’s autonomy will not be out of place.
Fortunately, the MacBook has no problems with this - all models work without recharging for a very long time.
- MacBook: 10 hours of browsing, 11 hours of video playback, 30 days of standby time.
- MacBook Air: 12 hours browsing, 12 hours video playback, 30 days standby time.
- MacBook Pro 13 inches: 10 hours of browsing, 12 hours of video playback, 30 days of standby time.
- MacBook Pro 15 inches: 9 hours of browsing, 9 hours of video playback, 30 days of standby time.
- MacBook Pro 2016: 10 hours of browsing, 10 hours of video playback, 30 days of standby time.
If battery life is a key factor for you, the 13-inch MacBook Air is worth a look.
RAM
The more RAM in a laptop, the more apps you can run simultaneously without reducing performance, process photos or videos.
The MacBook only offers one option: 8GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 memory
The 13-inch MacBook Air also only comes with 8GB of RAM.
MacBook Pro 2015: 8 or 16 GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM for the 13-inch version. The 15-inch MacBook Pro 2015 has 16 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L memory.
MacBook Pro 2016: 8 GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM for the model without Touch Bar, upgradeable to 16 GB. The 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar comes with 8GB or 16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory. The 15-inch model is offered with 16 GB of 2133 MHz LPDDR3 memory.
- If RAM is important to you, choose the MacBook Pro.
SSD drive
MacBook: 256GB PCIe SSD, upgradeable to 512GB.
MacBook Air: 128 GB, expandable to 256 GB or 512 GB.
MacBook Pro 2015: 13-inch – 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB; 15-inch – 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB.
MacBook Pro 2016: 13-inch – 256 GB, 1 TB; 15-inch – 256 GB, 512 GB, 2 TB.
Ports
MacBook: one USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack.
MacBook Air: two USB ports, one Thunderbolt 2 port, SD card slot, and 3.5mm audio jack.
MacBook Pro 2015: two USB ports, two Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, an SD slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
MacBook Pro 2016: two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports for the version without Touch Bar, four Thunderbolt 3 ports for the version with Touch Bar, while on the 13-inch model two of them do not work at full capacity.
Force Touch trackpad and keyboard
Force Touch technology allows you to press with force. To do this, you need to press the trackpad, and then attach extra effort. In this way you can activate additional features of many programs and system functions Mac. The Force Touch trackpad is available on MacBook and MacBook Pro.
Laptop keyboards are different - the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 2015 are equipped with conventional keyboards with a mechanism called “scissors”, which has one significant drawback - the keys are slightly loose around the edges. If you press such a key closer to the edge, it may hit the bottom before the mechanism registers the press.
Applies to MacBook and MacBook Pro 2016 new keyboard, which uses a butterfly mechanism. It is a solid element made of more rigid materials with a larger support area. Thanks to this, the keys are more stable, respond more accurately to pressing and at the same time take up less space in height.
Colors
MacBooks are available in different color options. MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 2015 are available in silver; the MacBook is available in four shades (silver, gold, space gray, pink gold), MacBook Pro 2016 is available in two colors (silver, space gray).
conclusions
The MacBook is perfect for managers and travelers who need the thinnest and lightest laptop with modern technologies For comfortable work.
MacBook Air will be the choice for those who need the most affordable laptop from Apple - the device still has almost all the necessary ports, but the model itself is quite outdated.
MacBook Pro 2015 is a good and high-quality laptop with all ports, it is suitable as an alternative desktop computer almost any user. Although it is not very convenient for travel.
Well, if you need the most advanced and productive laptop, choose the MacBook Pro 2016 (but remember that the “apple” no longer lights up there, if this is important to you).
What is the difference between a MacBook and a laptop? Question from the authors: how does an iPhone differ from a smartphone... However, people in whose minds this kind of dilemma arises can be understood. The Apple company, which produces these devices, is guilty of naming gadgets based on the name of the product class - smartphone/iPhone, MacBook/laptop - this creates confusion.
In fact, there is no fundamental difference between a Macbook and any other laptop. Even so, a MacBook is a laptop. And yet, the Apple laptop has quite a few differences from the classic one. In this article we will look at these differences.
However, before talking about how a Macbook differs from any other classic laptop, it is necessary to say what types of the first exist.
Apple laptop for a long time was represented by two lines - Macbook Pro (Pro) and Macbook Air (Air, Air, Air), but more recently it appeared New episode with a simple and concise name - Macbook - no prefixes or additions.
Macbook Pro is a line of powerful Apple laptops. The most advanced hardware and Retina displays in recent versions allow devices in this line to easily replace full-fledged computers for home and work tasks. Moreover, when we say “workers,” we do not mean only classic office programs, such as typing and presentation utilities. Macbook Pro will satisfy even the most demanding graphic designer or design engineer, in general, users whose profession involves working in heavy programs - Photoshop, Autocad, etc.
Macbook Air is a more universal series. Laptops in this line are slightly less powerful, but at the same time they are thinner and lighter, and also show record autonomy. In short, the Macbook Air is the perfect mobile laptop for... daily tasks, unless, of course, working in Photoshop is not your daily task. No, of course, this device will easily open this and any other heavy program and allow you to work in it, but only the Macbook Pro will demonstrate lightning-fast, lag-free operation when working with these types of applications.
And finally, just a Macbook. This series is relatively new and it is difficult to say how Apple sees its future. We’ll just note that this device (the line is currently represented by one device) is a kind of lightweight version of the Air.
Macbook is the most beautiful in the world
Well, now let's talk about the differences. And the first thing that catches your eye is the design - impeccable, no matter how you look at it. No laptop - and this is recognized by both Apple fans and critics - can boast such a perfect design as the Macbook.
Both Air and Pro version very similar. There are differences, of course, but they are minimal and insignificant within the scope of this review. What do the models of all lines of Apple laptops have in common? All-metal thin aluminum body, minimalistic design, elegant “apple” on the lid, noble colors of the body, and generally incredibly high-quality and neat execution.
In short, if you are one of those for whom image is everything and thirst is nothing, then for you the difference between a Macbook and a traditional laptop is obvious already at the first stage of comparison.
Mac OS is my faithful friend
If you think that appearance in technology it’s not the main thing and everything is determined by productivity, then we move on. We have already talked about the power of Macbooks above, but the above information requires additions.
An Apple laptop, especially if we are talking about a current model listed on official sale, is a powerful thing. However, a device with powerful filling can be found from another manufacturer. That’s right, but only the Macbook can boast of an optimal combination - hardware + platform. And this, in fact, is very important, this is the very reason why a Macbook freezes and slows down extremely rarely, even if it was purchased several years ago. Agree, a classic Windows laptop can only dream of this. What's the matter?
The fact is that Apple itself creates devices and writes the Mac OS platform for them. With laptops from other companies, everything is different - the manufacturer designs the device and installs a ready-made Windows platform, written by Microsoft. And here the same story begins as in the eternal confrontation between iPhone and iOS vs any other smartphone and Android. When the platform is optimally adjusted with all other hardware being equal, you can achieve more in all respects - performance, autonomy, etc.
Enough for a long time
Another difference between a MacBook and a classic laptop is autonomy. Here again the Macbook stands out positively. Macbook Air is a real unique product - productive and thin, but at the same time capable of working in quiet office mode for up to 12 hours without recharging! This is generally an impressive figure for a laptop, not to mention an ultra-thin and powerful device. The Macbook Pro is a little behind in battery life, because it is more powerful and equipped with a Retina display, but the figure is still good - 10 hours.
In standby mode, Apple laptops can last up to 30 days! And by the way, getting back to the lightning-fast response and fast response - the Macbook wakes up from standby mode almost instantly, that is, you literally open the lid and the next second you can continue working. Even if you haven’t approached the device for a couple of weeks, it will still react with lightning speed.
A few words about the display
We are all already accustomed to high-definition displays in flagship smartphones, but laptops have a large diagonal and this kind of screen, as they say, costs a pretty penny. And yet, in the latest Macbooks Pro Apple I finally decided to install Retina displays, which no matter how much you look at, you can’t see an individual pixel. This, of course, is another advantageous difference from classic laptops.
However, Air laptops also do not have Retina displays, but, in fairness, it is worth saying that not everything comes down to clarity. Apple uses Hi-tech in the design of screens, so in fact the display of any Macbook compares favorably with most classic laptops.
Important pleasant little things
In fact, the complex of all the pleasant little things can only be appreciated once you start using a Macbook, but some catch your eye right away. Firstly, there is a huge trackpad that is a pleasure to operate. Secondly, comfortable keyboard— the buttons and the distance between them are not small even on compact Macbooks. Thirdly, the keyboard backlight is a great addition when working in low light conditions.
However, Apple laptops, of course, are not ideal - they also have some unpleasant little things. The Apple giant, for example, really doesn’t like to make holes in its equipment, and therefore the set of connectors in the Macbook is minimal. In addition, as a rule, Apple laptops are equipped with a small amount of built-in memory, and although it can be expanded, what matters is what you have initially. And finally, the price. Like any product from the Apple giant, the Macbook is not cheap - the minimum price for current model- about 60 thousand rubles, and for the cool Pro versions you will have to pay all 200 thousand!
Let's summarize
In a broad sense Macbook words- this is a laptop. But if you look closer... Compared to classic laptop The Apple product has a lot of advantages, however, they all fade when you find out what the cost of a Macbook is. However, if you call a Macbook a premium laptop (and this, it seems to us, is the best epithet for this device), then everything will fall into place. And a lot of advantageous differences, and the price become logical.
IN general outline a laptop can be described as a portable computer with its own monitor and keyboard, capable of working for some time without external source nutrition. There are two main classifications of these devices, dividing them by screen size and performance. At the same time, laptop computers manufactured by Apple are taken into account as a separate category. Let's figure out what a MacBook is and how a PC with an apple on the lid differs from laptops from other manufacturers.
Absolutely all modern MacBook models are produced in an aluminum case manufactured using Unibody technology. Until recently, color design was not done. All models had a natural color similar to silver. Since 2015, the buildings have been colored. The 12-inch model received the maximum colors.
The “Pro” version, as a more “serious” version, is available in a traditional silver shade and “Space Gray” coloring. The Air model has received only hardware updates in recent years and is the only one that has not acquired a colored body.
The lineup
In 2018, the Apple laptop lineup includes the following models:
Screen diagonal 13.3 inches. Since its release in 2008, Air has long been positioned as the thinnest and lightest laptop. It has a characteristic, easily recognizable body, beveled towards the trackpad. The thickness in this place is only 0.3 mm.
Of all the MacBooks, it is the only one that does not have a Retina display with high image fidelity. The standard screen resolution is 1440x900 pixels. With a fully charged battery, it can work for 12 hours, eliminating the need for its owner to carry a power adapter.
Has a screen high definition with a diagonal of 12 inches and a standard resolution of 2304x1440 pixels. Equipped with a single universal port USB Type C, which is used for charging and connecting peripheral devices.
The first of Apple's laptops to feature passive cooling no fans. It is inferior in size to the iPad Pro and is actually slightly smaller than a standard sheet of paper. The device weighs 920 grams, is equipped with an Intel processor and runs on a full-fledged, not mobile OS. A full battery charge lasts for 10 hours of active use.
As the name suggests, this is the most advanced, professional model. Available with 13 and 15 inch screens. In older versions, the Touch Bar is installed instead of function keys. Depending on the application you are using, it displays buttons for quick access to its functions.
The technical solution is very original and looks much better than Microsoft technology with “finger” control. Not all users like to work with a screen stained with fingerprints. The younger 13-inch model is equipped with a traditional set of physical buttons.
All models are of high quality Retina display. For comparison, here are the numbers: the 15-inch model has standard definition 2880x1800, and the high-definition television standard is 1920x1080. The professional series is additionally equipped with a discrete video card with its own memory up to 4 GB. When performing everyday tasks, the built-in Intel HD Graphics is used. Switching video modes occurs automatically when working with complex graphics.
General characteristics
In all MacBooks as hard drive SSDs are used. The speed of reading/writing information on them exceeds the most fast HDD with a frequency of 7200 rpm 12 times. In the minimum configuration, the drive size is 128, and in the maximum – 512 GB.
All MacBooks come standard with 8GB of RAM. The 15-inch “Pro” comes with 16 GB. A few years ago, Apple completely abandoned the Ethernet connector. Connect MacBook to wired network It is possible, but using a special adapter. The company bet on high mobility And using Wi-Fi. As a result, any Mac easily connects to wireless networks, including high-speed, operating at a frequency of 5 GHz.
All versions are equipped with a camera built into the lid for video communication. In addition to laptops, Apple's product line includes Aimak all-in-one computers and workstations Mac mini And Mac Pro. Decorates the top of the model tree with a monoblock iMac Pro- the most powerful computer developed in Cupertino.
operating system
Well-chosen hardware housed in an ideal case is complemented by operating system allowing full use of its power. Like mobile devices, Apple laptops run on their own OS developed by Apple. A new version macOS is released annually and, in addition to the number, has its own code name. The last one is called High Sierra.
Being UNIX-like macOS system is extremely stable. It is not capable of freezing or slowing down at the most necessary moment like Windows. In addition, macOS is virtually virus-free. Over the entire period, no more than a few thousand of them have been recorded, while in Windows their number has long exceeded 100,000.
The point here is not only in the percentage of operating systems, but also in their architecture. You can infect a Mac with a virus only by manually installing it. The system is designed in such a way that it will ask for an administrator password to make any major changes.
Basic software MacBooks allow the user to immediately get to work. Included as standard office suite, mail client, Software for working with video and sound.
Additional software is available in the App Store. If desired, the user can allow installation from other sources by entering a password to remove security restrictions. The choice of software is very wide. Almost all programs that you have worked with before have a version for Mac or an equally functional equivalent.
For a user accustomed to Windows interface, macOS will have to change the way it interacts with windows. Their controls are located not in the right, but in the upper left corner. Functionality the buttons will also differ. The system supports multi-workspace mode. You can create several virtual desktops by placing applications on them in the desired order and switch between them as needed. To a similar Microsoft system only came to Windows 10.
To top it off, instead of the usual taskbar, MacBooks use the Dock. Traditionally, it is located at the bottom of the screen. Any installed application is fixed in it for quick access.
The full capabilities of macOS are revealed when a user uses multiple Apple devices. Any application that has a mobile counterpart allows you to start working on the iPad and continue it on the MacBook using the “Continuity” function. By customizing the system for yourself, you can answer phone calls or SMS from your MacBook without interrupting your current tasks. High Sierra supports copying data between devices using a Bluetooth channel for communication.
Having selected a picture on your iPhone, you can immediately transfer it to your laptop and paste it into a presentation or text editor. Apple Watch in this combination allows the owner not to enter an access password. The MacBook “recognizes” its owner by independently establishing a connection with the smart watch.
Windows support
Apple laptops work well with Windows OS. The built-in Boot Camp utility allows you to install it as a second operating system. Switching between them is done by rebooting.
Users who have to work with specific software may find this feature useful. Once you install Windows, you can choose at boot time which OS you want to use on your MacBook.
The required set of drivers is downloaded from the Apple website and is fully adapted to the hardware configuration. The amount of RAM in any Mac is enough for comfortable work in Windows environment. Not all regular laptops can boast presence of SSD and 8 GB of RAM.
Partitioning the disk and installing it is done using Assistant Boot Camp in automatic mode. The user only needs to specify the size to be allocated and the distribution of the desired version of Windows.
Keyboard and trackpad
The Apple keyboard is slightly different from the standard one. There is no Win keys, instead of it there is a Command button with similar functionality. Alt, which is practically not used on Windows, plays the role of a modifier on Mac. By clicking on it, the user in almost any system menu opens Extra options management.
The top row of function keys is designed to control the backlight modes of the keyboard, display, multimedia capabilities of the laptop, windows and workspaces.
The gesture control function allows you to completely abandon the use of a mouse using a trackpad. The latest modifications of “Force Touch” are able to recognize the force of pressing. The function is familiar to users from the mobile version of iOS and is the desktop analogue of 3D Touch.
Flexible settings allow you to make control convenient, customizing it to the needs and habits of a particular user.
Choice
The MacBook is not a cheap device, so before purchasing it is worth correctly assessing the tasks that will be solved with its help. For work in resource-intensive applications that involve extensive graphic modeling, video or sound editing, it is well suited Pro model. Equipped with a significant amount of RAM and a discrete graphics card, this MacBook will easily cope with the task.
The model is equipped with four USB-C ports. They differ from the standard one by a “mirror” connector that can be connected to either side. Peripherals such as printers or scanners are mostly equipped with old USB, so for direct connection you will need to use an additional adapter.
The choice between Air and 12-inch Retina will be more difficult. Both laptops are compact and lightweight. Here you will also have to take into account working with peripheral devices. The Air has two USB 3 ports and one Thunderbolt. You can connect an SD card to it using the built-in connector. In addition, it has a traditional cooling system and a faster Core i5 processor with clock frequency 1.8 GHz.
The compact Retina in the maximum configuration is equipped with a similar CPU, but operates at a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Another criterion for choosing between them will be the quality of the display. Advice in this area will not help. The devices must be assessed visually by comparing their pictures.
In the App Store, a separate section is reserved for gaming applications. In it you can find all the popular games common on Windows. If you plan to use your MacBook for this type of entertainment, you should pay attention to the Pro series models. IN game mode the laptop will switch to discrete video card. As a last resort, you can always install Windows as a second system and use it.
Finally
Permanent maximalism allows Apple to make its devices unique and easily recognizable in the world, setting the direction for the development of the industry. For example, the release of the lightweight Aira marked the beginning of the development of ultrabooks. Taking its design as a basis, other manufacturers have developed similar products.
Thus, the company played the role of an engine, pushing the progress of laptops towards compactness and high autonomy. If you are interested in everything MacBook specifications, they can be studied on the official Apple website.
Video instruction
In the videos below you can watch detailed reviews of the current versions of MacBooks.