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The MacBook is a line of Macintosh portable computers announced on March 9, 2015, by Apple Inc.^[1]

Described as an ultraportable notebook, it has a tapered design similar to that of the MacBook Air and is available in space gray, silver, and gold color options. Other features include a high-resolution Retina Display, a Force Touch trackpad, a redesigned keyboard, and just two ports: a headphone/microphone jack and a USB 3.1 Type-C (generation 1, up to 5 Gbit/s) port for charging, data transfer, and video output.^[1][2]

Design

Compared to earlier MacBooks, the 2015 model's keys have 17% more surface area and a 40% thinner key assembly. The keys use a "butterfly" mechanism that allows a more stable keystroke than traditional scissor-like mechanisms. The keyboard's backlight no longer consists of a row of LEDs and a light guide panel, but instead uses a single LED for each key that lights up only its letterform and not its periphery. The letters on the Macbook's keyboard are set in San Francisco, a typeface designed by Apple in 2014 and also used in Watch OS. All previous MacBooks used VAG Rounded.^[3]

The MacBook features the new Force Touch trackpad. The trackpad does not move physically when it is clicked but instead uses a tapic engine to simulate the motion of a click. The trackpad also supports multi-touch gestures like swiping and pinching.

The computer's Intel Core M processor requires no fans or heat pipe, reducing the size of the logic board by 67% (compared to the MacBook Air) and allowing the laptop to run silently but it can still run as fast as the MacBook Air. The screen is a Retina Display, with a resolution of 2304 × 1440 with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a pixel density of 226 ppi.^[4] This model omits the backlit Apple logo that appears on other models of MacBook Pro and Air. The device is 13.3mm at its thickest point and 3.5mm at its thinnest, making it thinner than the current MacBook Air at its thickest point, but thicker than the Air at its thinnest point.^[5]

Apple incorporated several features to make the MacBook more environmentally friendly. The MacBook does not include any beryllium, BFRs, or PVCs in its construction. The display is made from arsenic-free glass and contains no mercury. The MacBook is also made of recyclable materials like aluminum and glass. It meets Energy Star 6.1 standards and is rated EPEAT Gold.

The official model identifier of the MacBook is Macbook8,1, which stays consistent across all models of the new laptop (e.g. color and processor power).

Ports

The MacBook has only two ports: a 3.5mm headphone jack on the right and a data/charging USB 3.1 Type-C (generation 1, up to 5 Gbit/s) port on the left. Consequently, Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 devices that are not backwards compatible with USB 3.0, such as the Apple Thunderbolt Display, are unusable. The basic idea behind the change is that all processes should be completed using wireless means, including technologies such as AirDrop or Bluetooth. The lack of ports also allows for a slimmer overall design.

During its announcement of the 2015 MacBook, Apple also announced a US$79 adapter that allows the port to charge and simultaneously transfer data with one USB Type-A ports found on most devices, and one video output through Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA.^[1] Shortly thereafter, other companies began announcing cables and adapters for the USB Type-C port.^[6]

Reception

Reception for the new MacBook has been generally positive, with critics praising the design and overall quality of the product. The main criticism was the lack of a substantial number of ports and Apple's decision to leave out USB type-A ports, limiting data transfer capabilities and overall convenience.

Soon after the launch, the 2015 MacBook became the object of a humorous Ratones Coloraos interview meme, which version received its most attention. The video features a famous Spanish comedian El Risitas giving an interview in Jesús Quintero's show Ratones Coloraos. In the meme, El Risitas was subtitled as a designer who worked on the prototype of this MacBook. Within a month of its uploading, the video received over five million views on YouTube.^[7] The meme's impact has been compared to the one of the parodies of the Downfall movie.^[8]

Specifications

Some of these specifications are inferred, as the computer has not yet been released.

Notes:
¹ Apple states the processor specifications as "1.1 GHz, turbo boost 2.4 GHz ", "1.2 GHz, turbo boost 2.6 GHz", and "Configurable 1.3 GHz, turbo boost 2.9 GHz", but there are no Intel Core M processors that correspond to these specific specifications that have been publicly announced. It can be inferred that Apple adapts the newest Core M models launched in Q4'14, which support Configurable TDP. The Core M-5Y31 runs at a base frequency of 800 MHz, M-5Y51 at 1.1 GHz and M-5Y71 at 1.2 GHz, the clock speeds of which seem to have been raised up to 1.1 GHz, 1.2 GHz and 1.3 GHz, respectively. All of three models match the Max Turbo Frequency specification given by both Apple and Intel.

References

External links

• Official website