The Revival of the MacBook: A Valuable Option at $700

It's been three years since I first saw the initial release of the 2015 MacBook, with its staggering starting price of $1300. At that time, I was less than impressed with the laptop, considering it as a high-end ultrabook that failed to deliver in terms of power and functionality compared to other options on the market. However, after depreciation took its toll, and the MacBook became available for around $700, my interest was piqued.

The original MacBook's positioning as a high-end ultrabook was quite misleading, especially when compared to other laptops like the Dell XPS 13, which offered more functionality and power at a lower price point. However, at $700, the MacBook starts to become more comparable to an iPad Pro, but with some significant advantages of its own. For instance, the MacBook's 12-inch screen is similar in size to the iPad Pro's, but it features a clamshell design that makes it just as portable and convenient to use.

One of the key differences between the MacBook and the iPad Pro is their operating systems. While the iPad Pro is optimized for iOS, which is designed specifically for tablets, the MacBook runs full-fat macOS, which provides a much more traditional computing experience. This is particularly appealing to those who prefer typing documents or watching movies, as they can do so on a laptop with ease and without the distractions of a tablet.

The MacBook's design and technology also make it stand out from other laptops on the market. It was one of the first laptops to feature no fan, making it completely silent and passively cooled. The butterfly keyboard is another notable innovation, as it became standard across the MacBook lineup. Additionally, the force touch trackpad was designed specifically for this laptop, providing a unique user experience. The tiered battery system also offers extra capacity, and the all-metal design makes it look sleek and premium.

In terms of its place in Apple's product lineup, the MacBook is often seen as one of the company's most innovative products in recent years. Its long list of firsts includes features like USBC ports, a space-gray color option, and an all-aluminum design that replaces the plastic hinge cover. This attention to detail and commitment to innovation make the MacBook a standout product in Apple's lineup.

While the MacBook may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those who prefer gaming laptops or more powerful devices, it is an excellent option for those looking for a portable and convenient laptop experience. At $700, it provides a great balance of quality and affordability, making it worth considering for anyone in need of a reliable device for work or personal use.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwhen the new MacBook was first introduced in 2015 I was a little bit suspicious but now three years later let's take a look at the original MacBook well not not the original but like the first of like when they can't did it again you know what I mean since Apple discontinued the white plastic MacBook you had three options for Mac notebooks the MacBook Air the MacBook Pro 13 inch and the MacBook Pro 15 inch as you who watch my channel regularly will know I am heavily partial to the 15-inch MacBook Pro but I do see the merits of the 13-inch MacBook Pro on the other hand I have an irrational hatred for the MacBook Air I I can't explain it I just loathe its smugly thick bezels it's ridiculously outdated design last updated more than six years ago it's low but still too high price I absolutely detest the thing and now that I've run out of synonyms for hate let's look at what I thought was the MacBook Air of the future the MacBook was supposed to be everything the MacBook Air isn't a cheap Mac with a nice design a small size and the job is done but know as soon as Tim Cook showed that startling starting price of $1300 I shoved the MacBook to the back of my mind who in their right mind would shell out that kind of cash for a low powered high-priced modern netbook for Apple shills made of money and working out of a Starbucks where reputation and success is determined by which laptop you buy well me apparently it's been three years since that day and depreciation has taken its toll on the first gen second gen MacBook you can now pick these up for about 700 bucks and that was enough to spark my interests see at $1300 the MacBook is positioned as a high-end ultrabook and that it most certainly fails for third hundred dollars I can pick up a very nicely SPECT Dell XPS 13 that's arguably more functional and certainly more powerful however at $700 the MacBook seems more comparable to an iPad pro and this is where the magic happens at least for me see the MacBook is actually kind of similar to the iPad pro it's thin its fanless its light and it has a 12 inch screen but see the iPad pro starts at $799 and that only gets you 64 gigs of storage my MacBook which was only $700 has a half terabyte to get that kind of storage in an iPad pro you'd be good for eleven hundred and fifty dollars add to that that I think the MacBook is just as portable as an iPad pro with a keyboard attachment if not more due to its convenient clamshell design furthermore as much as Apple has tried to pump up iPad functionality in iOS I still don't see a comparison to full fat mac OS the MacBook is objectively more functional than an iPad C well an iPad can do things that are optimized for an iPad so iOS games or apps that are specifically made for it the MacBook is more versatile in that it has an OS that things just work on if I were typing a document or watching media content I prefer to do it on a laptop than a tablet now that may be partly due to me being a bit of an old-fashioned kind of guy and I really prefer traditional laptops and desktops to funky tablets and to and ones I never really got on that bandwagon so for me a full operating system just has more appeal I'm sure there are a lot of people that will disagree with me and think the iPad is more functional and really it depends on what you need it for but if you're someone who's looking for a secondary device but you don't really like the idea of a tablet I think the MacBook is a pretty good option in addition the MacBook has a long laundry list of firsts for Apple in terms of their new technologies and design first of all it has no fan this is a completely silent passively cooled MacBook it is also the first to feature a butterfly keyboard which is becoming standard across the MacBook lineup the force touch trackpad was designed for this specific Mac it's the first and still the only macbook to feature tiered batteries for extra capacity it's also the first macbook to go all USBC if you like that it's the first macbook to ditch the plastic hinge cover and glowing plastic apple logo in favor of an all-metal design and it's also the first macbook to come in space grey and gold you know pretty much anything other than silver this MacBook is actually quite the little achievement from a technology perspective and that huge list of firsts is very impressive whether you like it or not this I think is one of the only truly innovative Apple products that's come out in recent years and if you look past its low powered internals and see the MacBook for what it is a brilliantly designed Ultrabook I think it's actually really useful in handy I found it perfect for notes for watching movies in bed or on the train and I personally prefer the traditional laptop feel too tacky two-in-ones and flip around convertibles or tablets with chintzy keyboard attachments as I said this does not suit everyone's needs there are a lot of people that for $700 would rather get a gaming laptop or an iPad pro or something along those lines but that's the whole point of the technology world there's options at $1,300 I didn't personally see the MacBook as a viable option it was just too expensive for what it is but now that it's down in price to $700 I think this is a valuable option if you're someone who is looking to buy an iPad but you don't really like the tablet experience the MacBook is a great option if you're someone who is looking to get work done you need the thinnest the lightest and something that's not absurdly expensive but still nice and quality the MacBook is a great option I'm not saying that this is the best but I am saying that it's worth considering just not at its original sticker pricewhen the new MacBook was first introduced in 2015 I was a little bit suspicious but now three years later let's take a look at the original MacBook well not not the original but like the first of like when they can't did it again you know what I mean since Apple discontinued the white plastic MacBook you had three options for Mac notebooks the MacBook Air the MacBook Pro 13 inch and the MacBook Pro 15 inch as you who watch my channel regularly will know I am heavily partial to the 15-inch MacBook Pro but I do see the merits of the 13-inch MacBook Pro on the other hand I have an irrational hatred for the MacBook Air I I can't explain it I just loathe its smugly thick bezels it's ridiculously outdated design last updated more than six years ago it's low but still too high price I absolutely detest the thing and now that I've run out of synonyms for hate let's look at what I thought was the MacBook Air of the future the MacBook was supposed to be everything the MacBook Air isn't a cheap Mac with a nice design a small size and the job is done but know as soon as Tim Cook showed that startling starting price of $1300 I shoved the MacBook to the back of my mind who in their right mind would shell out that kind of cash for a low powered high-priced modern netbook for Apple shills made of money and working out of a Starbucks where reputation and success is determined by which laptop you buy well me apparently it's been three years since that day and depreciation has taken its toll on the first gen second gen MacBook you can now pick these up for about 700 bucks and that was enough to spark my interests see at $1300 the MacBook is positioned as a high-end ultrabook and that it most certainly fails for third hundred dollars I can pick up a very nicely SPECT Dell XPS 13 that's arguably more functional and certainly more powerful however at $700 the MacBook seems more comparable to an iPad pro and this is where the magic happens at least for me see the MacBook is actually kind of similar to the iPad pro it's thin its fanless its light and it has a 12 inch screen but see the iPad pro starts at $799 and that only gets you 64 gigs of storage my MacBook which was only $700 has a half terabyte to get that kind of storage in an iPad pro you'd be good for eleven hundred and fifty dollars add to that that I think the MacBook is just as portable as an iPad pro with a keyboard attachment if not more due to its convenient clamshell design furthermore as much as Apple has tried to pump up iPad functionality in iOS I still don't see a comparison to full fat mac OS the MacBook is objectively more functional than an iPad C well an iPad can do things that are optimized for an iPad so iOS games or apps that are specifically made for it the MacBook is more versatile in that it has an OS that things just work on if I were typing a document or watching media content I prefer to do it on a laptop than a tablet now that may be partly due to me being a bit of an old-fashioned kind of guy and I really prefer traditional laptops and desktops to funky tablets and to and ones I never really got on that bandwagon so for me a full operating system just has more appeal I'm sure there are a lot of people that will disagree with me and think the iPad is more functional and really it depends on what you need it for but if you're someone who's looking for a secondary device but you don't really like the idea of a tablet I think the MacBook is a pretty good option in addition the MacBook has a long laundry list of firsts for Apple in terms of their new technologies and design first of all it has no fan this is a completely silent passively cooled MacBook it is also the first to feature a butterfly keyboard which is becoming standard across the MacBook lineup the force touch trackpad was designed for this specific Mac it's the first and still the only macbook to feature tiered batteries for extra capacity it's also the first macbook to go all USBC if you like that it's the first macbook to ditch the plastic hinge cover and glowing plastic apple logo in favor of an all-metal design and it's also the first macbook to come in space grey and gold you know pretty much anything other than silver this MacBook is actually quite the little achievement from a technology perspective and that huge list of firsts is very impressive whether you like it or not this I think is one of the only truly innovative Apple products that's come out in recent years and if you look past its low powered internals and see the MacBook for what it is a brilliantly designed Ultrabook I think it's actually really useful in handy I found it perfect for notes for watching movies in bed or on the train and I personally prefer the traditional laptop feel too tacky two-in-ones and flip around convertibles or tablets with chintzy keyboard attachments as I said this does not suit everyone's needs there are a lot of people that for $700 would rather get a gaming laptop or an iPad pro or something along those lines but that's the whole point of the technology world there's options at $1,300 I didn't personally see the MacBook as a viable option it was just too expensive for what it is but now that it's down in price to $700 I think this is a valuable option if you're someone who is looking to buy an iPad but you don't really like the tablet experience the MacBook is a great option if you're someone who is looking to get work done you need the thinnest the lightest and something that's not absurdly expensive but still nice and quality the MacBook is a great option I'm not saying that this is the best but I am saying that it's worth considering just not at its original sticker price\n"