"MacBook Air" Whispers...

[aswitcher]

but what about the classic and nano?

Older cheaper tech can't expect to hold back progress ;)

[ckurowic]

What does this mean for the regular MacBook then? Is it going to be another model or a replacement?

Dude seriously, who knows. Why are you asking this question? None of us work for Apple, just calm down and we'll all see what they release.

Apple dosent registor domain names like that...

Not to sound mean man, but, do you work for Apple? How do you know this? Provide us with some statistics.

[Schnebar]

Not to sound mean man, but, do you work for Apple? How do you know this? Provide us with some statistics.

http://www.macbookpro.com

http://www.imac.com

[CWallace]

How do you know this? Provide us with some statistics.

WHOIS is a wonderful thing. It will show you who owns domains like www.macbookpro.com or www.macpro.org.

Also perusing Apple's own product pages shows how they prefer to structure their web presence when it comes to products.

And just visiting the domains themselves will show they either don't exist (www.macpro.org) or are commercial sites not affiliated with Apple (www.macbookpro.com). If Apple owned them, they'd re-direct back to Apple-controlled pages.

[ckurowic]

I'll tell you why I'd buy a MacBook Air or Thin or Light, and ideally it would be some tablet-style offspring/hybrid of a MacBook and iPhone...Medical Documentation. Here's (sort of) what we're using in my hospital now:
http://www.interiormall.com/images/cat/furn/COW20-CoverDW1_b.jpg
Except ours don't even look that elegant. It's called a "COW" for Computer On Wheels and it is the kludgiest most inconvenient way to move room to room and patient to patient. I can actually access our system by VNSea to my office computer from my hacked iPhone and get more reliable and consistent WiFi reception and UI than using these stupid Dell COWS. I'd buy a iPhoneMEGA or MacBooknano (iPad??!) to walk around with in a heartbeat. Even if the OS itself is limited, as long as it had some sort of Back To My Mac or VNC client on it, it would literally take the place of that ridiculous COW in my life.

I wish people would realize that tablet PC's died many years ago. There just was not a market for them. Who honestly uses a tablet PC besides Bill Gates?(Watch the all things digital interview). I can see why some people think that they would be cool, some people have an honest use for them, but just because a small number of people have a use for them doesn't mean Apple would waste their time on it. But, I could be wrong!! Lets find out in 1.5 days!

WHOIS is a wonderful thing. It will show you who owns domains like www.macbookpro.com or www.macpro.org.

Also perusing Apple's own product pages shows how they prefer to structure their web presence when it comes to products.

And just visiting the domains themselves will show they either don't exist (www.macpro.org) or are commercial sites not affiliated with Apple (www.macbookpro.com). If Apple owned them, they'd re-direct back to Apple-controlled pages.

Exactly my point. These are NOT Apple endorsed web pages.

[CWallace]

Who honestly uses a tablet PC besides Bill Gates?

We uses dozens in our company (public utility).

Mind you, I agree with those who say Apple will not be launching a tablet - at least on Tuesday.

[ckurowic]

We uses dozens in our company (public utility).

Mind you, I agree with those who say Apple will not be launching a tablet - at least on Tuesday.

Yeah, I mean like I said, some folks have uses for them. Its a great idea for some industries for sure. I just don't see Apple making them.

[Schnebar]

It is interesting though that

http://www.xserve.com

http://www.iphone.com

http://www.itunes.com

http://www.ipod.com

Do link to apple.

[ckurowic]

It is interesting though that

http://www.xserve.com

http://www.iphone.com

http://www.itunes.com

http://www.ipod.com

Do link to apple.

Thats true! But have we seen "new" items like Macbook Air link to Apple? When were the register dates? I'd be interested to know if they were after product releases or before. Everything hinges on the dates.

[lukenorris]

some loser bought macbookair.com before apple could.

LUKE

[DMann]

What does this mean for the regular MacBook then? Is it going to be another model or a replacement?

Interesting point. The new 'Thin' will likely be a Pro-model, designed to not cannibalize MacBook sales. This design will then likely be carried over to the next MacBook revision.

[BabyFaceMagee]

some loser bought macbookair.com before apple could.

LUKE

That's a ridiculous statement. If Apple had any intention of purchasing the domain name for macbookair.com they would have done it long long ag before we were approaching the release of the product and started their advertising campaign for it already with the 'something is in the air' lines. The domain was only bought 2 days ago. I'm sure all of Apple's marketing has been planned out for months.

[DMann]

That's a ridiculous statement. If Apple had any intention of purchasing the domain name for macbookair.com they would have done it long long ag before we were approaching the release of the product and started their advertising campaign for it already with the 'something is in the air' lines. The domain was only bought 2 days ago. I'm sure all of Apple's marketing has been planned out for months.

Two days ago, what a coincidence! - just in time to set off these rumors!!

[goldenlotus]

Interesting point. The new 'Thin' will likely be a Pro-model, designed to not cannibalize MacBook sales. This design will then likely be carried over to the next MacBook revision.

I don't think Apple is worried about cannibalizing sales from their other products. They are still a minority os and thier main goal is to grab as large a marketshare as possible. New Mac "switchers" in the coming years will make macbook cannibalization pretty irrelevant, in my opinion.

[DMann]

I don't think Apple is worried about cannibalizing sales from their other products. They are still a minority os and thier main goal is to grab as large a marketshare as possible. New Mac "switchers" in the coming years will make macbook cannibalization pretty irrelevant, in my opinion.

Good point. However, they do not want to get stuck with a surplus of Macbooks which would have to be liquidated at a loss.

[goldenlotus]

Good point. However, they do not want to get stuck with a surplus of Macbooks which would have to be liquidated at a loss.

True but I'd reckon this thin Mac or whatever it will be called, is going to be a new product and the macbooks will still be sold, possibly even refreshed.

[Bigewilson]

I heard about a solar powered model called sage. It will even charge your Iphone, and a watch nano with total bluetooth, Nike was in on it. The second gen plans for the watch make it a phone with vid in. The third gen has wirelessly powered contacts that aside from changing your eye color can act as a high res screen. The really cool stuff is coming from a company Russia that can use two coupled 8 cores to map what life does to the growing progress of fish from pools in nicaragua. There's another company in Fresno, CA that hacked myspace and facebook as a sociology experiment not just to piss people off with slutty invites but to see the success factors in every encounter. The should be classified part, is that some of these encounters not only stylistically (vocab, dress habit, etc.) but subetly physically change people as well (non controlled facial muscle tensioning like a stable version of a quivering lower lip). The research was sadly halted by idiot Bush before the outcome, at a damn near chemical level, could show everything God would tell you to do like a map to you future of choice. The goal of course is to arrive together. But once in a while live without what you believe and go with what you feel.

and that fish was this big

[tom1234]

macbook air no

air mac -sounds better

macbook nano -has a ring to it

[DMann]

True but I'd reckon this thin Mac or whatever it will be called, is going to be a new product and the macbooks will still be sold, possibly even refreshed.

Good point - Apple did overshadow the iPod mini with the Nano when it was first introduced.

[chuckiej]

Name or no, I completely agree with this. If the word "Air" isn't part of a product (and given the ad hook, it most likely is) expect Jobs to repeatedly use "Air" throughout the keynote.

Not so... the smallest iPod is the iPod Shuffle not the iPod Random! (Life is Random campaign)

[DMann]

Name or no, I completely agree with this. If the word "Air" isn't part of a product (and given the ad hook, it most likely is) expect Jobs to repeatedly use "Air" throughout the keynote.

Not so... the smallest iPod is the iPod Shuffle not the iPod Random! (Life is Random campaign)

Actually, Steve will likely speak of 'clouds' more than air.... he seems to like describing Wi-Fi and Data transfer as in the 'clouds.' If 'air' does turn out to be associated with a product name, this will be a first when a banner blurb has the potential of spoiling a surprise product title.

[Mal]

Good point - Apple did overshadow the iPod mini with the Nano when it was first introduced.

Umm, the Nano replaced the Mini, they didn't coexist. That's not expected to be the case here.

jW

[DMann]

Umm, the Nano replaced the Mini, they didn't coexist. That's not expected to be the case here.

jW

And this is why I believe that the new laptop will be introduced as a pro-model, so as not to cannibalize sales of Macbooks.

[jasonnorm]

Geez, it's not that difficult people. The "air" refers to wireless distribution of media, whether that be movie, song, etc.

They are going to announce the iTunes Movie Rental Service which is available "wirelessly" via the iPhone, iPod Touch, and a new AppleTV

They are working hard w/ the movie companies to gain the ability to provide rentals. These eat away at the movie industries profits as no one "buys" the physical disk ($1.00 to make, $20.00 to sell). Other rental services (such as Netflix etc.) still buys the physical disk. So, Apple would have to "give" something here. That would be the availability of a BluRay DVD drive in the new AppleTV so customers that want HD media can PURCHASE the DVD's to play in their new AppleTV and rent other movies (I am hoping via HD) from iTunes.

Now you might say, that would be too expensive! A $600 AppleTV - No thank you! Well, Apple is going to make all of it's $$ on all of the rentals (not only from the new AppleTV, but also iPhone, iPod Touch etc.) so this will be barely over cost. My prediction is $399 w/ BluRay and 1080p video out and 7.1 Dolby Digital audio out.

That will be their MAJOR announcement - aka the marketing hype. Ton's of $$ to be made here and will revamp the iTunes video business.

Other announcements will be minor - new iPhone update to handle the rentals, some info on iPhone SDK. New leopard and iTunes build etc..

If I had to bet, that's what I would bet on.

The Macbook Air is probably the stupidest thing I have heard of.

[DMann]

My prediction is $399 w/ BluRay and 1080p video out and 7.1 Dolby Digital audio out.

That will be their MAJOR announcement - aka the marketing hype. Ton's of $$ to be made here and will revamp the iTunes video business.

Other announcements will be minor - new iPhone update to handle the rentals, some info on iPhone SDK. New leopard and iTunes build etc..

If I had to bet, that's what I would bet on.

This will be the tipping point for consumers grabbing an :apple:TV. If this is true, it'll be Christmas all over again.

[rwc101010]

Based on the evidence and discussion, I would guess that this is what's in store for Macworld tomorrow . . .

All the next rev Apple products (except for the low end iPods - though these low end devices may still get wireless sync of some sort) will have Wifi, WiMax and EVDO connectivity provided by Sprint (yes Sprint, not AT&T).

What's in the air, is a foundation for a wireless sync and content distribution network for Apple products and service. With wireless broadband involved (WiMax and EVDO), think iTunes store everywhere - this may mean a wireless iTunes store on the AppleTV, iPod Touch, iPhone, the entire line of Macintosh computers, etc without being connected to a home or public WiFi hotspot.

As for the MacBook Air (If that's what it's really called), this may be the flagship product to ship with the Wifi/WiMax/EVDO connectivity. The external superdrive that's been discussed will likely be connected via some high-bandwidth wireless technology (more stuff "in the air"). The Superdrive will likely house the ports that are missing from the thin laptop, but still required for backward compatibility with existing devices (hardwired USB, Firewire, Ethernet, etc). Think of it as a docking station with a virtual dock. Another killer function that I would love to see, a wireless HDMI/DVI connector dongle that plugs into the back of the monitor to output a signal to the display device, without having to plug ANYTHING into the MacBook Air.

Over the long term, we may see Sprint go up for sale, likely buyers, Apple and Google. Sprint has the largest holding of spectrum useful for such a wireless distribution service. When you bring Sprint's spectrum together with a significant purchase in the coming spectrum auction, you have the makings of a new 800lb gorilla in the wireless space - one that CAN take on the incumbent wireless carriers. One that even appears to have incentive to keep the network open to new products and services.

We may even see a wireless device with voice capability running on the Sprint network . . . just don't call it an iPhone! AT&T might get upset...

9am can't come fast enough!

[DMann]

Based on the evidence and discussion, I would guess that this is what's in store for Macworld tomorrow . . .

All the next rev Apple products (except for the low end iPods - though these low end devices may still get wireless sync of some sort) will have Wifi, WiMax and EVDO connectivity provided by Sprint (yes Sprint, not AT&T).

What's in the air, is a foundation for a wireless sync and content distribution network for Apple products and service. With wireless broadband involved (WiMax and EVDO), think iTunes store everywhere - this may mean a wireless iTunes store on the AppleTV, iPod Touch, iPhone, the entire line of Macintosh computers, etc without being connected to a home or public WiFi hotspot.

As for the MacBook Air (If that's what it's really called), this may be the flagship product to ship with the Wifi/WiMax/EVDO connectivity. The external superdrive that's been discussed will likely be connected via some high-bandwidth wireless technology (more stuff "in the air"). The Superdrive will likely house the ports that are missing from the thin laptop, but still required for backward compatibility with existing devices (hardwired USB, Firewire, Ethernet, etc). Think of it as a docking station with a virtual dock. Another killer function that I would love to see, a wireless HDMI/DVI connector dongle that plugs into the back of the monitor to output a signal to the display device, without having to plug ANYTHING into the MacBook Air.

Over the long term, we may see Sprint go up for sale, likely buyers, Apple and Google. Sprint has the largest holding of spectrum useful for such a wireless distribution service. When you bring Sprint's spectrum together with a significant purchase in the coming spectrum auction, you have the makings of a new 800lb gorilla in the wireless space - one that CAN take on the incumbent wireless carriers. One that even appears to have incentive to keep the network open to new products and services.

We may even see a wireless device with voice capability running on the Sprint network . . . just don't call it an iPhone! AT&T might get upset...

9am can't come fast enough!

Excellent predictions, by the way. If Apple were to buy Sprint, this would bring Apple to extreme heights in regard to communications/media/data management. Apple, then, would become the king of 'Digital Hubs.'

[MrMaverick]

You know what would be even funnier than watching the look on all your faces when tomorrow it's announced that the air campaign has everything to do with wireless connectivity and downloads and nothing to do with an ultra-portable notebook?.... Not announcing an ultra-portable notebook!! haha

[DMann]

You know what would be even funnier than watching the look on all your faces when tomorrow it's announced that the air campaign has everything to do with wireless connectivity and downloads and nothing to do with an ultra-portable notebook?.... Not announcing an ultra-portable notebook!! haha

Come to think of it....... that would suck.

[epesola]

People, look for "In The Air Tonight" to blare as Steve brings out this newest Mac laptop model...:D:D

[fiftydollarshoe]

People, look for "In The Air Tonight" to blare as Steve brings out this newest Mac laptop model...:D:D


People, look for "In The Air Tonight" to blare as Steve brings out this newest iPod shuffle...:D:D

[cullcull132]

There is no way that apple would leak anything like that, especially by accident they have so many people to keep that stuff secret!

[FetalSage]

I don't know who started this stupid "Macbook Air", but I personally think it's the most idiotic name for a product, especially coming from Apple. Just because a banner has a certain word in it, does it mean that it's "Product 'word in sentence'"? You might as well say:

MacBook There's
MacBook Something

Hell, even MacBook In.

In any case, I think these 'rumors' should stop about the new MacBook (if there is one) being called MacBook Air.

[iDAG]

People, look for "In The Air Tonight" to blare as Steve brings out this newest iPod shuffle...:D:D

It would have to been unbelievably thin and small or he would get booed off the stage then Phil would come up and introduce the new Mac!!! :cool:

[saltrack25]

hahahaha.


i highly highly doubt they are calling it the "macbook air." that's borderline laughable. i am willing to bet the phase "there's something in the air" is referring to the soon to be announced rental service, not a piece of hardware. apple is making an obvious attempt to eliminate physical mediums altogether, first cds with mp3s and now dvds with downloadable vids (both via the itunes music store). everything will be available "in the air" or "up in the cloud," if you will. i'll be damned if they name their next product the "macbook air." c'mon people...

[dapenguin64]

no its been confirmed there shipping them out in 2 weeks http://www.apple.com/macbookair/?sr=hotnews :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D