A friend of mine just got the 11" MBA; it's nice and all, but the bezel is damn huge. Looks kinda ugly. I mean they could've fit a 13" screen in there.
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The bezel of the 11" MBA is huge
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goodtimes5
macrumors 6502a
Yes, i think they could have fit a larger screen in there.. . I don't think it looks ugly - though i would have preferred a black glass bezel like the macbook pros..
Of course Apple could have fit a 13" screen on the smaller Macbook Air, but if they did this they'd have to increase the costs of the smaller model, plus they'd have to release a 15" air as the second model also with an increased costs, as nobody would buy a larger model with the same 13" screen size.
In the future when Apple releases new versions of Airs, perhaps they'll release a model with a 13" screen in the smaller form factor currently known as the 11" model, and bump up the current 13" model to 15" screen. You can't expect Apple to do this now as it would mean less revenue for them.
Anyway, I don't find the bevel on the 11" model to be annoying at all, as I spend my time focused on the screen, and not the bezel that surrounds it.
In the future when Apple releases new versions of Airs, perhaps they'll release a model with a 13" screen in the smaller form factor currently known as the 11" model, and bump up the current 13" model to 15" screen. You can't expect Apple to do this now as it would mean less revenue for them.
Anyway, I don't find the bevel on the 11" model to be annoying at all, as I spend my time focused on the screen, and not the bezel that surrounds it.
tersono
macrumors 68000
Yes, but then it would be more expensive. The size of the computer is dictated by the size of the keyboard/trackpad. I currently have an Acer netbook that I use when I can't be bothered to lug the 17"MBP around - the big limitation with netbooks (other than low screen res) is the size of the keyboard and trackpad.
I'm glad Apple went the way they did - I'll be buying an 11" MBA before long.
I'm glad Apple went the way they did - I'll be buying an 11" MBA before long.
sinophilia
macrumors regular
The bezel on the 11" MBA is just the same as on Macbooks... it only looks larger compared to the smaller screen. It still looks gorgeous.
If you think that's a large bazel you should look at how larger the one on the Alienware m11x is. In my opinion it's more noticeable than the 11" MBA but man do I love mine to death 😀 but i digress... The bezel on the 11" isn't that bad.
I've actually measured and the bezel is larger than both the MBs and the 13" MBA.
Scottsdale
Suspended
Agreed but they need to fit a full-sized keyboard and a huge set of batteries in it. I did believe that the 13" MBA update would probably be the size of the 11" MBA only with a 13" display in it. This all comes down to too much battery, in MY opinion (notice this is my opinion only, so if yours differs, please do not be offended).
Why the 11.6" is not called a 12"
With that large bezel they could have fitted a real 12" screen but then there would not be sufficient difference between the 11" and the 13" ?
Anyhow, I just ordered the 11.6" full spec and will be gifting my little Acer to a cousin's daughter. Be interesting to see the size difference when the 11.6" eventually arrives.
With that large bezel they could have fitted a real 12" screen but then there would not be sufficient difference between the 11" and the 13" ?
Anyhow, I just ordered the 11.6" full spec and will be gifting my little Acer to a cousin's daughter. Be interesting to see the size difference when the 11.6" eventually arrives.
tubbymac
macrumors 65816
I can't stand how big the bezel is on the 11 inch MBA either. But I've never been a fan of notebook screens smaller than 13 inches so I wouldn't get it for other reasons anyway. I'm so used to the black bezel on my MBP now that whenever I use my MBA the silver bezel bugs me too. I understand why they can't get the black bezel with glass into the MBA but hopefully in the future they can find some way to at least make it black.
sinophilia
macrumors regular
It's a marketing decision...
11.6 is the standard screen made, 12" is no longer common... Granted, they could have put the 13" in there and just be done, have a great wow factor at their presentation, "we have reworked the air into an even smaller machine".
But that would have meant a downgrade in technology - they would have to go from the 1.8 to the 1.4 processors for the same price, which nobody would have considered - if 1.4 would have been the only offer, people would have freaked.
Perhaps in a year or two, once an ULV next generation 32nm processor is ready, they will drop the two laptop scheme... But unlikely... considering that it's already introduced and it sells like this... It's ultimately a marketing scheme and decision... A product for everybody at every pricepoint...
11.6 is the standard screen made, 12" is no longer common... Granted, they could have put the 13" in there and just be done, have a great wow factor at their presentation, "we have reworked the air into an even smaller machine".
But that would have meant a downgrade in technology - they would have to go from the 1.8 to the 1.4 processors for the same price, which nobody would have considered - if 1.4 would have been the only offer, people would have freaked.
Perhaps in a year or two, once an ULV next generation 32nm processor is ready, they will drop the two laptop scheme... But unlikely... considering that it's already introduced and it sells like this... It's ultimately a marketing scheme and decision... A product for everybody at every pricepoint...
iRun26.2
macrumors 68020
I suspect that a larger bezel is necessary to provide extra mechanical strength for the new ultra-thin display. A thin bezel might allow the screen to flex too much... and possibly crack.
I think the larger bezel improves screen support for such a thin laptop lid. I don't think that the designers at Apple suddenly forgot what they were doing with respect to esthetics, there is likely a structural reason as well.
snorkelman
Cancelled
aye, bezel and lid are bigger than they have to be for an 11.6 because retaining f/s keyboard dictates overall width of the machine.
shoehorning the 13.3 in there is going to be a non-starter, if we work on basis that when it came to designing the 13.3 they already gave that model as little bezel as structurally neccessary.
the only other option would be to go with a panel that falls between 11.6 and 13.3 to fill out the available space slightly more. However those two are mass produced sizes, whereas something intermediate built solely for the MBA would end up much more expensive
On plus side you do get a narrower keyboard surround than on the 13.3 🙂
Closer to .1 inch. 11" MBA is .75 inches on each side, 13" MBA is .65 inches.
EDIT: Did a little photoshopping. First one is the same size screen, smaller bezel. Second one is bigger screen, same bezel. Didn't photoshop the reflection on the iPad.
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I've heard this argument before and wonder if it is true. Somebody in another forum showed an image of the 15" MBP bezel pried off that revealed a thick sturdy band beneath the thin silver bezel, apparently to add structural support. Unfortunately there is no photo of what's below the bezel in the Airs on iFixit.
The bezel has always been thick, I wish apple would revert back to the g4 period of slim bezels.
iBookG4user
macrumors 604
I'm actually of the exact opposite opinion. The black bezel of the glossy MacBook Pros bugs me to no end (not counting the reflections) because I'm so used to the nice silver bezel of my non-unibody MacBook Pro. I'm glad that they kept the bezel on the new MacBook Airs silver, I think it looks more stylish that way 🙂
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It's probably not as eye pleasing as it could be, but I am still
Thinking of getting one. It would be a great line if the eventually offered a 11, 13, 15.
It's probably not as eye pleasing as it could be, but I am still
Thinking of getting one. It would be a great line if the eventually offered a 11, 13, 15.
Lenovo is using a 12" screen in their X201, which is quite good. And it's more or less the same price of the MBA (depends on your config).
The bezel is so obvious on the 11" since the screen is relatively small. I mean what's the screen:bezel ratio? I've read somewhere that the iPad's is 63:37 or so. I think the 11" MBA's is around that figure.
I just ordered a maxed out 11" MBA anyway; iPad is way too limited for me. A simple example is when I want to browse and chat with some friends on Gtalk. That would be a nightmare to do on the iPad.
The bezel is so obvious on the 11" since the screen is relatively small. I mean what's the screen:bezel ratio? I've read somewhere that the iPad's is 63:37 or so. I think the 11" MBA's is around that figure.
I just ordered a maxed out 11" MBA anyway; iPad is way too limited for me. A simple example is when I want to browse and chat with some friends on Gtalk. That would be a nightmare to do on the iPad.
As someone that switched to the Air from the MBP, I really like the bezel. I think it looks great.