The iMac is all about the screen, but the MacBook Go is the complete opposite – it’s all keyboard. It has its own built-in DLP projector, making it an all-in-one solution for working anywhere. Just find a blank wall, pair it with a Magic Mouse for added convenience, and you’re good to go. This keyboard-shaped device is actually a full-fledged computer, powered by Apple’s own silicon. Who needs spatial computing when you can have a computer right in your keyboard!?
Created by Pablo Rubio, the MacBook Go reimagines computing with a unique approach. It combines a projector and keyboard into a surprisingly compact design, offering a fresh way to take your workstation on the go without a screen. Instead, the keyboard projects a high-resolution, smooth 120Hz display onto any surface you choose. Forget about multiple screens; now you have one massive screen that can accommodate all your windows and tabs.
Externally, the MacBook Go closely resembles a MacBook but without the screen. It retains all the features of the MacBook’s keyboard, including the function keys at the top and the TouchID key in the upper right corner, as well as large speakers on each side. However, under the surface, the keyboard houses a complete Mac computer with its own projector. This projector can automatically adjust, align, and focus the screen, saving you time and hassle. One thing it doesn’t have at first glance is a kickstand for height adjustment, but that’s probably just nitpicking.
The MacBook Go’s thicker design allows for plenty of ports, including more powerful speakers with larger drivers. It offers various video outputs like HDMI and DisplayPort, along with two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a Micro-SD card slot, and a 10-Gig Ethernet port, ensuring versatile connectivity. Plus, it includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, catering to both traditionalists and professionals who rely on dependable audio connections.
So, what does this mean for the traditional workstation? Well, the trend in many fields, including design, is moving from bulky CPU towers to sleek, powerful laptops. Some might argue that the Vision Pro is the natural successor to the MacBook, but I’d probably disagree. The MacBook Go feels like a unique in-between step. Although portable projectors for work haven’t really caught on, the MacBook Go offers unparalleled portability and flexibility by sacrificing a stationary display. Instead, it gives you a massive projected screen, freeing you from the constraints of a 13 or 15-inch laptop display. This shift has significant implications, especially for professionals who are always on the move.
Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time someone has squeezed a whole computer into a keyboard. Just a few years ago, Pentaform put a full Windows 10 PC into their Abacus Basic keyboard, with 4 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and an eco-friendly bioplastic body. Apple probably wouldn’t use plastic for their devices, so the MacBook Go doesn’t have that feature. But it does have a projector lens, which the Abacus Basic keyboard didn’t have.
