We knew in advance that there was a good chance Apple would be releasing a new laptop today. We had also heard rumours it would be Intel Core M-powered and have no fans. To see it announced was still somewhat spectacular though, thanks in no small part to that gold option Apple has introduced.
It's no secret that laptops need fans, so for Apple to do away with them is somewhat remarkable in itself. So how has it done that? Well, by using Intel's new 14nm processor. It's a techie number, but that 14nm is crucial, because it also brings with it a large reduction in power consumption along with lower operating temperatures. It's still very brave to stip out the fans, because if Apple hasn't tested the design properly, it will see a lot of broken laptops come in for repair.
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Also remarkable is the all-metal case. Why? Because it means you're putting your Wi-Fi aerial along with Bluetooth antennae into a metal box. Apple says it's nailed this, and it better have done because people won't put up with a laptop that struggles to get on Wi-Fi, especially as it has just one other connector.
That's right, the new MacBook has just a single USB-C connector. This is big news for a load of reasons. For one thing, this is the first time that a device can be charged over USB, but also send display signals and run other peripherals at the same time. Having just one output saves a massive amount of space, but it's a huge risk too. For one thing, it will mean that travelling will be something of a pain if you need two external devices. It's also likely to mean that we have to replace a load of stuff to use the new port.
Apple has also worked hard on its battery tech in the new MacBook. It's using a stepped design, which allows it to fill every piece of air in the Macbook case with battery. That's utterly crucial when you're dealing with a laptop that needs to run all day. Apple was already doing well with the Air, but this new machine is a lot thinner, so it's a real test of Apple's design chops. The company says the design gives a boost of 35% in power over a traditional battery.
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The trackpad is redesigned as well, now offering haptic feedback - which means it can give you information about what is happening on-screen. It's very new in a laptop, and an interesting, if unproven, feature. It's also pressure sensitive, which can be used to give you control over things like fast-forward video speeds and similar. It's also one of the things that's being added to the existing MacBook Pro range, with some update models announced.
Bringing the retina display to the MacBook was also somewhat expected, although Apple killing off the name "Air" on new machines wasn't, and will confuse for some time to come. The screen has a resolution of 2304x1440, but Apple is claiming that the LCD lets more light through, and uses 30% less power as a result.
Prices start at £1,049, which gets you a 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with turbo boost up to 2.4 GHz. You also get 8GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel HD Graphics 5300. For £1,299 you get a fractionally quicker processor at 1.2 GHz, which can turbo boost to 2.6 GHz. Memory is unchanged at 8GB, but you get 512GB of flash storage.
Here's something interesting to note though - the MacBook isn't quite as well-specced as the older Air. For example the Intel graphics are better on the Air - 6000 vs 5300 on the new machine. Also, the Facetime camera is a lot worse, just 480p vs 720p on the Air.
Even so, it's hard not to sound like a rabid Apple fan when it comes to this machine. Love it or hate it, it's a laptop first and it's sure to sell like hotcakes.
