In March 2015, Apple announced the release of a range of revamped MacBook Air and MacBook Pro computers and a new model, the 12” MacBook. While you may be sat at home fondly loving your loyal MacBook with its fantastic reliability and long life-span, we’ve been busy putting together this handy and practical guide of reasons why we think this round of new MacBook computers is the best yet, and certainly something we’d recommend investing in. So if you don’t know your Pro from your Air, or you’re wondering whether an inch smaller really matters, read on to find out…
2015 13” MacBook Pro
Go for this if…
- You’re looking for a portable and more powerful MacBook with up to ten hours battery life.
- You loved the old MacBook Pro but wished it was lighter.
- You’re a creative professional working on the go, looking for a device capable of running processor intensive creative-applications like Adobe Creative Cloud and Avid software.
What’s new:
Firstly, it’s just the 13” MacBook Pro that’s had a refresh. But boy, does it look good. There’s a new fifth-generation Intel processor, faster RAM, better graphics and flash storage that’s up to twice as fast as the late 2013 model. Great if you work with a lot of data and need that bit of extra speed and power. The battery life has been extended and now gives you up to ten hours of running time (as apposed to the nine hours you got with the previous version), so you could catch the train from Southampton to Dundee, use your MacBook Pro for the entire journey and you’d still have a good hour of battery life left.
The trackpad is all-new too, and is now Force Touch-enabled. You can’t physically press down on it and hear and feel it click anymore, instead the trackpad picks up of the amount of pressure you apply and registers clicks when you increase the pressure. There’s also a new thing called ‘haptic feedback’ – a tactile response from the trackpad, which Apple tells us means “you don’t just see your content, you feel it”. Fancy.
Models and prices:
The newly refreshed MacBook Pro starts from £827 (£992.40 inc VAT) and is in stock and available to order right now.
2015 MacBook Air
Go for this if…
- You loved everything about the previous MacBook Air but wished it was quicker and more powerful.
- You need something more portable than a MacBook Pro, without having to compromise on processor speed.
- You aren’t fussed about a Retina display. (If you’re after a Retina display, we’d recommend either the MacBook Pro above or MacBook below.)
What’s new:
The MacBook Air is still as slim and sleek as it always was – the only thing Apple have really changed is that they’ve upgraded the flash memory. It’s now twice as fast as its previous generation. The MacBook Air comes with the new fifth generation Intel Core processor up to 2.2GHz, Intel HD Graphics 6000 and Thunderbolt 2 connectivity and is perfectly comfortable running the most frequently used business applications like Microsoft Office and iWork. There’s no optical disc drive (this can be said for all new MacBook computers), but you can combat this with an Apple SuperDrive.
Models and prices:
If you’re ready to upgrade your Mac to the 2015 MacBook Air, we’ve got plenty in stock over on our website, with prices starting from £619 (£742.80 inc VAT) for the 11” model and £702 (£842.40 inc VAT) for the 13” model.
The all new 12" MacBook
Go for this if…
- You’re after a portable, stylish laptop with a Retina display and choice of colour.
- You’re looking for an environmentally friendly MacBook and are intrigued by the new silent, fanless design.
What’s new:
The all-new MacBook will be available in just one size, a swanky 12” model. It’s the thinnest and lightest of all the MacBook computers available – so if size and weight are key to you, then this MacBook is a great choice. Complete with the new Intel Core M processor, you also get up to 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of flash storage, new Intel Graphics HD 5300, 10-hour battery life and a Retina display. While it’s not as powerful as the MacBook Pro and Air, it’s still speedy, and comes with built-in apps for creativity and productivity like iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
We like that the new MacBook has been designed with the environment in mind. It’s kitted out with the new Intel Core M processor, which runs on just five watts of power, requiring so little power that Apple have managed to do away with the fan to cool the computer. What we’re left with is a fanless, silent, and more energy efficient design, which won't leave you disappointed. With the new Intel HD Graphics 5300 you can expect incredibly sharp images, whether you’re editing video footage or working on a spreadsheet.
Like the new MacBook Pro, the MacBook also comes with the new Force Touch trackpad (the one that doesn’t click, but recognises finger pressure). Physically, the MacBook has a distinctive new look with its edge-to-edge keyboard design, and just a single USB type-C port and a headphone jack. If you have a preference for colour, you now also get the option to pick between silver, gold and space grey (much like iPhone and iPad).
Models and prices:
The new MacBook starts from £869 (£1042.80 inc VAT), and you can order yours over on our website now. We’ll have stock arriving very soon!
Mac repairs
In the unfortunate circumstance that something should go wrong with your Mac (they don't like being covered in Coke), we offer both in and out of warranty Mac repairs at our places in Nottingham, London and Manchester. If you'd like to book in for a Mac repair, you can do so here.
Want to talk to us about upgrading to a new MacBook? Give us a call on 03332 409 306 or email sales@Jigsaw24.com. For all the latest news and tips, follow @WeAreJigsaw24 on Twitter or ‘Like’ us on Facebook.