15" MacBook Air Under Development?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/16/15-macbook-air-under-development/)

Taiwanese blog Apple.pro reports (http://tw.apple.pro/?uid-1-action-viewspace-itemid-1861) (Google translation (http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=&hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftw.apple.pro%2F%3Fuid-1-action-viewspace-itemid-1861&sl=zh-CN&tl=en)) that Apple is developing larger versions of the MacBook Air, speculating that a 15" version could be in the works. The report provides little information other than that the new MacBook Air would be based on new ultra-low voltage Core 2 processors from Intel, but they promise that more information will be forthcoming in the second half of this year.

Apple.pro's mixed track record includes genuine leaked photos of the current generation of the MacBook Pro (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/07/aluminum-macbook-pro-case-photo/) and MacBook (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/08/more-brick-macbook-case-images/), but their purported MacBook video leak (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/10/two-tone-macbooks-and-a-questionable-macbook-video/") was questionable at the time of posting and did turn out to be false.

Article Link: 15" MacBook Air Under Development? (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/16/15-macbook-air-under-development/)

[Tallest Skil]

To which we say:

WHY?! What's the point?!

The MacBook Air abysmally failed at being a really small, really thin computer, so now they're making it a really big, really thin computer?

I don't get it.

[twoodcc]

i hope this doesn't happen. the current macbook air is hard enough to sell, but a 15" one? if anything, they should make a smaller one, not a bigger one

[slicecom]

This is an even worse idea than the original Macbook Air.

[LeviG]

I can kind of see the logic in a 15" macbook air. If you take away the optical drive and have a sealed battery you could easily make it so the 15" could hit 8hours like the 17" and also as probably reduce the overall size a bit as well. I personally see the 15" screen as the ideal size for a presentation laptop when theres no projector etc.

They could probably keep all the ports (split onto both sides now though) and give it the macbook airs slanted shape or make it overall thinner (just :))

For me personally I hardly use the optical drive on my computers, most of my backups are on a server and I wouldn't mind the lack of it in a laptop if it gets me more battery life. I'm more than happy to carry a portable drive with me for the rare occasions its needed - I generally know when this is likely to happen anyways.

[puffnstuff]

i hope this doesn't happen. the current macbook air is hard enough to sell, but a 15" one? if anything, they should make a smaller one, not a bigger one

Agreed! WTF are they doing!?? It needs to be smaller and lighter. Not bigger and heavier! They should just call it the Macbook Stone.:eek:

[jessica.]

I would not call the Air a failure ... it seems to me that people who have never used it call it a failure. Having owned an Air now, I certainly love how light it is, how thin it is, and that I still get a nice bright 13" screen to work on if I'm on the road.

A 15" Air is a bad idea. A very very bad idea.

[KindredMAC]

I can kind of see the logic in a 15" macbook air. If you take away the optical drive and have a sealed battery you could easily make it so the 15" could hit 8hours like the 17" and also as probably reduce the overall size a bit as well. I personally see the 15" screen as the ideal size for a presentation laptop when theres no projector etc.

They could probably keep all the ports (split onto both sides now though) and give it the macbook airs slanted shape or make it overall thinner (just :))

For me personally I hardly use the optical drive on my computers, most of my backups are on a server and I wouldn't mind the lack of it in a laptop if it gets me more battery life. I'm more than happy to carry a portable drive with me for the rare occasions its needed - I generally know when this is likely to happen anyways.

But they don't have to take the optical drive out in order to reach 8 hours if it has a sealed battery. The 17" still has its Optical Drive....

I call this rumor as BS.

[qubex]

Personally, I'm irritated by the current MacBookAir (second generation) not being updated to the "Unibody" aesthetic. If they had updated it, I would've bough one.

But since it's inevitable that eventually they will update it, and then everybody with the old-looking model will obviously be a sucker, I'm waiting for them to update it again...

That's ridiculous. They should make an effort to uniform the current MacBookAir to the prevailing style of their laptop offerings, complete with black-bezel screen and buttonless trackpad.

Why they didn't is totally beyond me.

[Macmanus]

I would not call the Air a failure ... it seems to me that people who have never used it call it a failure. Having owned an Air now, I certainly love how light it is, how thin it is, and that I still get a nice bright 13" screen to work on if I'm on the road.

A 15" Air is a bad idea. A very very bad idea.

I would not call the 15" Air a bad idea ... it seems to me that people who have never used a "15 call it a failure. Having owned a 15" now, I certainly love how cool it is, how steady it is, and that I still get a nice bright 15" screen to work on if I'm on the road.

:)

For Apple, this forum is definitely not representative...

[plumbingandtech]

This is an even worse idea than the original Macbook Air.

:rolleyes:

Yah, sure. Whatever. The 15" may or may not be a good idea but the macbook air was certainly very useful to a subgroup of mobile users.

[Kilamite]

No chance.

If Apple do this - maybe it'll be better if Steve Jobs retired. These decisions are stupidity.

[puffnstuff]

I think Apple should come out with a 12" and 15" "Air" but erase the Air and just call it a macbook then drop the price by $800.

For the revamped Air lineup there should be a 9" widescreen, a 12" convertible tablet notebook, and a 13.3" . All under 3 LB :D

Call me when that happens! :apple:

[MrM]

Why in the world....

We want a new Mac Mini or mid-range tower. We don't need 15 different models of laptops.

[tosui]

I'm okay with this - how many computers do you need to buy? If you like a light, thin 15" then get it. If not, get the new, sweet, 15" MacBook Pro!

The good thing is, likely the 15" will sell for the current price of the 13", and the 13" will go down. (After all, the high price was mostly to cover R&D for the unibody production lines.)

I say, do it, and people will buy it if they want it!

[MrM]

The good thing is, likely the 15" will sell for the current price of the 13", and the 13" will go down. (After all, the high price was mostly to cover R&D for the unibody production lines.)


Highly doubtful. If they added an Air with a bigger screen it would be more expensive, and the 13" would stay the same. They (Apple) aren't that considerate. This is business, remember?

[LeviG]

But they don't have to take the optical drive out in order to reach 8 hours if it has a sealed battery. The 17" still has its Optical Drive....

I call this rumor as BS.
theres a difference in size in the 17" and 15", even removing the mechanism to remove the battery wouldn't allow enough space for an additional 3 hours, an hour maybe. Besides if they were going to seal in the 15" battery don't you think they would have done it already or maybe there second battery sales for the 15" are pretty high to keep it removeable.

Actually thinking about it, if they just removed the optical drive I reckon (maintaining the same size shell) they could hit closer to double the current battery life.

[bmcgrath]

I don't see any point in a 15" air type lappy. Kinda pointless IMHO.

[SimonTheSoundMa]

We need a 10-11 inch MBA. The current one is bad enough because it may be thin, but not very portable because of it width and depth dimensions.

If Apple release a new 10 inch MBA, with two USB, audio I/O and mini Diplay Port, and reasonably priced then they are onto a winner.

[k2spitfire88]

But they don't have to take the optical drive out in order to reach 8 hours if it has a sealed battery. The 17" still has its Optical Drive....

I call this rumor as BS.

Yes, but the 17" is no where near as thin or as light as the Air is. I think it has a possibility of being a truthful rumor. Time will tell.

[SimonTheSoundMa]

theres a difference in size in the 17" and 15", even removing the mechanism to remove the battery wouldn't allow enough space for an additional 3 hours, an hour maybe. Besides if they were going to seal in the 15" battery don't you think they would have done it already or maybe there second battery sales for the 15" are pretty high to keep it removeable.

Actually thinking about it, if they just removed the optical drive I reckon (maintaining the same size shell) they could hit closer to double the current battery life.

Perhaps, but when I went to a computer shop yesterday, they had over 30 different laptops on show, 2 or 3 none Macs and all the Macs didn't have Bluray. You can now buy a sub £400 laptop with Bluray drive that will even play BD movies at full resolution. That space is needed for a BD drive, or else Apple will be committing suicide.

[EmperorDarius]

It just needs to have more ports and be more powerful, not bigger. That would totally defeat it's purpose. But I doubt that's gonna happen. That's just stupid. Unless they do it while Jobs' curing himself.

[ltcol266845]

Well, it sounds good to me only because maybe then Apple won't have to castrate the 'real' MacBook Pro to make it thinner.

[amac4me]

I have to question this report as it would have the potential to disrupt the portable lineup.

- If one needs a very portable laptop, opt for the MacBook Air.
- If one needs a consumer level laptop, opt for the MacBook.
- If one needs a larger screen than what's available in either the MB or MBA, opt for the MacBook Pro.

The addition of a 15-inch MBA would simply disrupt the advantage of both the larger screen and features of the MBP and could undermine the 13-inch MBA. I think the MBA as it exists today is a strategic product that is able to meet the ultra portable requirement. A 15-inch simply wouldn't make sense in my view.

On the other hand, a smaller MBA would be more logical in my view but not likely.

[alexbates]

I would love to have a 15-inch that thin but it's not going to happen. Apple probably has made a prototype but it's not going to be for sale.

Apple just needs to work on making the current models thinner.

[PeterQC]

Apple Pro has some mixed sources. The leaks about the unibodies were rights, while the one from Appleowner.com were all falses (All aluminum Macbook lid, supposedly Macbook video). He also claimed that the Macbook event would come maybe in november if we are lucky (somewhere in his blog posts, don't know if it was posted here). Looking at Appleowner, there's nothing about a 15'' Macbook Air. Looking at how a lot of recents rumors become true (except about the introduction of the desktops) I wouldn't call fake too fast.

[chrissnv]

I think instead of going bigger on a Laptop they should go over to smaller. All the other sizes are covered by the Macbook and Macbook Pro.
Netbook Style would be the right answer here instead of 15" Macbook Air.
The Macbook Air is seriously overpriced compared to the other Macbooks, even though it is thin, light...

Just release a Macbook Net in Uni-body Alumiunium...

[rjheys]

Personally, I'm irritated by the current MacBookAir (second generation) not being updated to the "Unibody" aesthetic. If they had updated it, I would've bough one.

The MacBook Air is "Unibody"

[jessica.]

Well, it sounds good to me only because maybe then Apple won't have to castrate the 'real' MacBook Pro to make it thinner.

Interesting choice of words and mildly fitting. ;)

[zedsdead]

The MacBook Air is "Unibody"

Yes. The Macbooks that were just released were based on the Macbook Air. I would have upgraded mine had they incorporated the new trackpad and screen bezel, but I imagine both are coming in the next update. Also really looking for built in 3g.

[Eric S.]

To which we say:

WHY?! What's the point?!

The MacBook Air abysmally failed at being a really small, really thin computer, so now they're making it a really big, really thin computer?

I don't get it.

Exactly correct, IMO. About the only advantage that I can see (as opposed to many disadvantages) for the MBA is that it saved 1.5 pounds over a MB. With this they'd just be adding the weight back.

[NewSc2]

I would like an 11" Macbook Air...

[lifeinhd]

Personally, I'd rather see a 9" MacBook Air for, oh, I don't know, $600?

[coupdetat]

I dunno. I'd like a 15" MBA. Even the current MBA almost has enough extra bezel space to accommodate a 15" screen. People who think the MBA is supposed to be a netbook are missing the point. It's supposed to provide all of the performance and usability of a full-size notebook in a much easier-to-carry package.

I can carry my MBA around with me all day, but when I need to get real work done, I just flip it open and I'm comfortable enough to work for hours. It's not meant to be a 10" email device.

That said, I doubt the market will understand a 15" MBA, because many think their e-penis is measured in number of ports and drives. I'd be excited if Apple continued with its MBA design philosophy, but they seem to have become a prettier version of Dell these days.

[LeviG]

Perhaps, but when I went to a computer shop yesterday, they had over 30 different laptops on show, 2 or 3 none Macs and all the Macs didn't have Bluray. You can now buy a sub £400 laptop with Bluray drive that will even play BD movies at full resolution. That space is needed for a BD drive, or else Apple will be committing suicide.

I wouldn't expect the pro (optical drive) to be discontinued, I would expect the 15" air to be another model catering for a different market to those wanting blu-ray, hell os-x doesn't even fully support blu-ray yet and apples after the next market for movies etc ie downloads so the air range is a logical platform for this target. Look at how apple is gradually transitioning everything into a network based environment rather than firewire/usb and you can kind of see where apple is heading (or atleast I can).

As to the netbook market, yes its a nice idea but I would expect something similar to the sony vaio p to be produced which is very very overpriced for what it is. Even if apple went plastic the likely cheapest price would be around £600 which is a tad on the high side even for apple.

[KindredMAC]

I really would like a 12.8" MacBook Air. 13.3" is just too big.

[soft]

Wehoo.
I can see the future notebook.
MacBook Air 15" - SSD, No CD and yet great performance.

I own an Air now and I love it and wouldnt exchange it for a higher end one.

[nick9191]

Personally, I'm irritated by the current MacBookAir (second generation) not being updated to the "Unibody" aesthetic. If they had updated it, I would've bough one.

It is, and always has been Unibody.

Also why are people assuming that the Air was a failure? It sells very well.

[LeviG]

It is, and always has been Unibody.

Also why are people assuming that the Air was a failure? It sells very well.

probably on about the glass trackpad, which to be honest is the bit I want to see on the macbook air, but I'm not sure if its thin enough.

[Mykbibby]

HAHAHAHA.

I got an idea! How about an 8 inch MacBook Air! That would work good!

[puffnstuff]

HAHAHAHA.

I got an idea! How about an 8 inch MacBook Air! That would work good!

As long as they do not put that massive bezel around the screen like so many other companies do

[kockgunner]

I would love to have a 15-inch that thin but it's not going to happen. Apple probably has made a prototype but it's boy goi g to be for sale.

Apple just needs to work on making the current models thinner.

Wow, is 0.95" not thin enough for you already? If anything, they should make their laptops lighter.

[bob_hearn]

I would be on this in a minute. I was really hoping the 2nd-gen Air would up the screen size... but no.

There's room even in the current form factor for a bigger screen. It wouldn't have to be a lot bigger for a 15" screen. 13" is just too small.

Now, putting the optical drive back in it... well that would sort of defeat the purpose, wouldn't it??

[hayduke]

Personally, I'm irritated by the current MacBookAir (second generation) not being updated to the "Unibody" aesthetic. If they had updated it, I would've bough one.

But since it's inevitable that eventually they will update it, and then everybody with the old-looking model will obviously be a sucker, I'm waiting for them to update it again...

That's ridiculous. They should make an effort to uniform the current MacBookAir to the prevailing style of their laptop offerings, complete with black-bezel screen and buttonless trackpad.

Why they didn't is totally beyond me.

Huh? It is unibody! I agree that the trackpad should have been updated. There is debate (obviously) about the bezel design.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air?cid=OAS-US-KWG-CPUBrandTerms-US

Regardless, a 15" MBA doesn't make sense. Take the current on. Shrink the bezel and the keyboard base, make it 4GB ram, add an external battery level indicator...

[hayduke]

I would like an 11" Macbook Air...

That really would be a nice machine to have!!!!!!!!

[miggitymac]

Personally, I'm irritated by the current MacBookAir (second generation) not being updated to the "Unibody" aesthetic. If they had updated it, I would've bough one.


The MacBook Air is "Unibody"

LOL

Good try.

Now on to the next excuse for not getting one! :D

[harrison1000]

I agree I think it would be a great move for apple to introduce a 15" air I have the new unibody pro and if the air screen was the same I would buy it along with the new amex blu-ray apple style portable drive. I very rarely use the drive hence it would be great to literally have a pro in a air body of course it's not going to perform as the pro but like most other folk who buy pro's it's not for the performance it's usually all about it's looks and screen size, I'm a good example as I mostly just use it to check my mail and bank account etc but if i'm away I would like to be able to watch an odd movie which I've almost completely replaced my collection with blu-ray discs. my money is waiting apple, produce a 15" Air and I'll be among the first to buy it




I can kind of see the logic in a 15" macbook air. If you take away the optical drive and have a sealed battery you could easily make it so the 15" could hit 8hours like the 17" and also as probably reduce the overall size a bit as well. I personally see the 15" screen as the ideal size for a presentation laptop when theres no projector etc.

They could probably keep all the ports (split onto both sides now though) and give it the macbook airs slanted shape or make it overall thinner (just :))

For me personally I hardly use the optical drive on my computers, most of my backups are on a server and I wouldn't mind the lack of it in a laptop if it gets me more battery life. I'm more than happy to carry a portable drive with me for the rare occasions its needed - I generally know when this is likely to happen anyways.

[djellison]

A 15" Air would be actual insanity. Seriously - how wrong can you get portability by making a laptop so thin, but so big.

Doug

[dissdnt]

The only reason i didn't get that air was because of the 13 inch screen. It sucks, it's way to small to even operate. A 15 with a nice hi res screen would be nice. Plus the extra room i bet they could fit in a side slot optical drive maybe if it was made specifically for it.

Honestly the AIR is the future of the macbook line. If they can pack all the features in the AIR why would you want something more bulky?

I can see this happening and future revisions until it matches specs with the macbook line.

[JackSYi]

The rumor seems bogus to me. Their product line is well rounded. Only thing I could ask for is a small form factor netbook.

[Eidorian]

To which we say:

WHY?! What's the point?!

The MacBook Air abysmally failed at being a really small, really thin computer, so now they're making it a really big, really thin computer?

I don't get it.I have to agree. Apple doesn't seem to have any direction with its product lines anymore. :confused:

[harrison1000]

The only reason i didn't get that air was because of the 13 inch screen. It sucks, it's way to small to even operate. A 15 with a nice hi res screen would be nice. Plus the extra room i bet they could fit in a side slot optical drive maybe if it was made specifically for it.

Honestly the AIR is the future of the macbook line. If they can pack all the features in the AIR why would you want something more bulky?

I can see this happening and future revisions until it matches specs with the macbook line.

I totally agree, I have the new pro and had the macbook prior and I can't remember the last time I had a need for the drive other then to install something and even at that I mostly downloaded. It would be great to have my current pro with the new screen bezel, trackpad etc in a Air body. I would probably also buy the new Amex blu-ray apple style portable usb powered drive just in case I fancied watching a movie while away. I have almost replaced my whole dvd collection to blu-ray now

[iVoid]

And maybe they'll put a DVD drive in it as well... and some more ports... and... oh, wait they already have the 15" MBP.

The Air is thin, but it needs to be smaller in depth and width. Stick a 10 inch screen and reduce the size of the keyboard a bit and you got a very portable machine. Thinness is nice, but the air needed to lose some size in the other dimensions to be a machine I'd buy. Making it bigger is pointless.

[elppa]

Huh? It is unibody? I agree that the trackpad should have been updated. There is debate (obviously) about the bezel design.

Ives clearly states the MacBook Air was the first computer to use the unibody construction the the Notebook event last October.

Apple just haven't used the term in their marketing before then, hence people don't associate it with the Air.

The only reason i didn't get that air was because of the 13 inch screen. It sucks, it's way to small to even operate.

Even though it features a 1280x800 resolution, bigger than the 1024x768 resolution screens often attached to desktops that people used to operate for years just fine.


A 15" Air would be actual insanity. Seriously - how wrong can you get portability by making a laptop so thin, but so big.

Doug

Crazy isn't it.

No one needs a laptop thinner than 2".

[hiptobesquare]

One group or another is insane.

Either the rumors lately are completely off their rockers,

Or Apple has taken a walk off a map.


15" MacBook AIR? are you kidding? How redundant does the laptop line need to get? They can afford to design another computer model, but they couldn't put Firewire of any kind on the MacBook? And they refuse to make a netbook or multi-touch tablet of ~10 inches, give or take?

And the previous rumor of a Ion-based Mac Mini that is smaller, less powerful, and less versatile than the current one that is 500+ days, and several hundred dollars out of date? And they refuse to build a mainstream headless versatile desktop computer.

Either the rumors are WRONG by A LOT...

OR

Apple has lost it's mind, and is about to repeat history of the last time Steve Jobs left the helm at Apple... But this time SJ has been at the helm up until now...

Apple has done some amazing things, but nobody is indestructible... They need to regain their focus on reality, at the very least.

[SirOmega]

Why its a good idea

1. More battery room (using those prismatic Li-Polymer batteries), so better battery life.
2. More area for a heatsink for the CPU/GPU.

Intel is coming out with the 2.13GHz LV CPU in Q2 this year (April-June) that are in the MBAir right now. So its not entirely impossible Apple would have a 1.86Ghz 13" MBAir and a 15" 2.13Ghz MBAir.

[louden]

Here's what I'd rather have than a 15" MBA:

- a 15" MBP with 1920x1200 resolution. It would be great!
- an option to skip the optical driver for a second hard drive, or two ssds

Let's go Apple.

[Perro]

Well I just said to a friend at work: "My perfect computer would be a 15" MBA". I log onto macrumors and find this. Some seriously negative comments out there. Here is why I would like it:

- larger battery would likely result in ~8 hours of battery life, somewhat akin to the 17" MBP (considering the lower power usage of this unit)
- the 15" MBP, which I currently own, is heavy to lug around - I'm sick of the shoulder pain
- for all the purported extra connectivity options of the MBP what most people need is an ethernet port and 2-3 usb. These have got to be in 15". Forget firewire; it's dying the death; get over it. Yeah yeah, firewire does this Blah blah blah better than USB..USB is the industry standard and with future updates will do it all better anyway
- a couple of years from now and cameras and other peripherals will all be connecting wirelessly to the laptop anyway; this is the way of the future
- couldn't care less about the loss of optical drive, hardly ever use it and I have a desktop at home in the unlikely event I do

What I hate compromising on is keyboard size, and screen size. A 15" MBA would compromise on neither. I can't see the point of a smaller MBA.

Anyway, there is at least one potential buyer out there.

[iMacmatician]

Taiwanese blog Apple.pro reports (http://tw.apple.pro/?uid-1-action-viewspace-itemid-1861) (Google translation (http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=&hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftw.apple.pro%2F%3Fuid-1-action-viewspace-itemid-1861&sl=zh-CN&tl=en)) that Apple is developing larger versions of the MacBook Air, speculating that a 15" version could be in the works. I sorta expected a larger MacBook Air, but then again I thought there might be a 11" version soon. A 15" MacBook Air may be the start of the MacBook Air line replacing the MacBook. I always thought the MacBook Air was the notebook version of the iMac.

If Apple lowers the price of the 13" to MacBook prices, the 15" would be about where the current 13" is now. Then Apple might raise the MacBook Pro prices (like they did with the Mac Pro) and slowly ignore and phase out the MacBook. That'll take many years though.

The report provides little information other than that the new MacBook Air would be based on new ultra-low voltage Core 2 processors from Intel, but they promise that more information will be forthcoming in the second half of this year.ULV CPUs? So Apple's increasing the display size and moving from LV CPUs to ULVs? Doesn't make much sense. If anything, I'd expect slightly warmer CPUs, due to the larger case.

[elppa]

Well I just said to a friend at work: "My perfect computer would be a 15" MBA". I log onto macrumors and find this. Some seriously negative comments out there. Here is why I would like it:

- larger battery would likely result in ~8 hours of battery life, somewhat akin to the 17" MBP (considering the lower power usage of this unit)
- the 15" MBP, which I currently own, is heavy to lug around - I'm sick of the shoulder pain
- for all the purported extra connectivity options of the MBP what most people need is an ethernet port and 2-3 usb. These have got to be in 15". Forget firewire; it's dying the death; get over it. Yeah yeah, firewire does this Blah blah blah better than USB..USB is the industry standard and with future updates will do it all better anyway
- a couple of years from now and cameras and other peripherals will all be connecting wirelessly to the laptop anyway; this is the way of the future
- couldn't care less about the loss of optical drive, hardly ever use it and I have a desktop at home in the unlikely event I do

What I hate compromising on is keyboard size, and screen size. A 15" MBA would compromise on neither. I can't see the point of a smaller MBA.

Anyway, there is at least one potential buyer out there.

I don't think you alone in these thoughts.

There are plenty of others — many of whom probably haven't realised it

I don't think this is an example of Apple losing their way, rather it is an example of Apple's mantra of skating to where the puck is going to be.

[theGoodLife]

I would probably trade my 15" Unibody in for one of these. Given a processor near 2GHz, 4GB of RAM, tacking on a Firewire 800 port and the 17"ers battery, all of which are very realistic, this would be a very capable prosumer machine. Drop the 13" machine a few hundred dollars, place this one at the current price, and you would have a very successful product.

The one thing that would remain in question on a machine like this would be the GPU... I'm not sure that I need the power of the one in the Pro laptops right now, but with Snow Leopard, they may become quite a bit more useful.

[iMacmatician]

I don't think you alone in these thoughts.

There are plenty of others — many of whom probably haven't realised it

I don't think this is an example of Apple losing their way, rather it is an example of Apple's mantra of skating to where the puck is going to be.I definitely agree, if a 15" MacBook Air was released with better specs than the 13", I would take a long hard look at it. I don't need an optical drive or a bunch of ports, and I'd like a light laptop.

And the rumor says more info will be given later this year, that means the release is likely to be late this year or maybe even early next year.

Intel might make a custom 21 W 2.4 GHz (or so) CPU for Apple, and that coupled with 4 GB RAM and a GPU that isn't underclocked like the current MacBook might not be too bad. The HD would be a limitation though.

[Eric S.]

A 15" MacBook Air may be the start of the MacBook Air line replacing the MacBook. I always thought the MacBook Air was the notebook version of the iMac.

If Apple lowers the price of the 13" to MacBook prices, the 15" would be about where the current 13" is now. Then Apple might raise the MacBook Pro prices (like they did with the Mac Pro) and slowly ignore and phase out the MacBook. That'll take many years though.

A lot of people were predicting something like this last fall before the laptop event. I said then, and I say now, that I just don't see this happening. The MB and the MBA address different market segments. The MB is an entry-level product. The MBA is marketed as a second system for professionals who do their main work on some other system and want a "prestige" mobile platform (and don't mind considerably overpaying for the MBA's capabilities).

[xDYLANx]

I might get chastised for this but I think the MBA should get the bezel.

also the glass trackpad

[kjs862]

I would def go for one of these. I own the current 15 mpb and it just too big and akward

[DHagan4755]

The MacBook Air, Rev. A, is the best Mac that I have ever used. I have an uptime on it right now of 122 days. In that timespan I have thrown just about every program at it and it hasn't slowed down! Thumbs way up for Apple QC! It's not the fastest Mac but it's no slouch either.

The 15-inch rumor is plausible, but the way I see it is this: The MacBook Air is too pricy for what you get from a computing standpoint. It's slower than the less expensive MacBook. I would like to see the 13-inch MacBook Air take over in the price point currently occupied by the white MacBook. The 15-inch MacBook Air would take the current 13-inch Air's price point.

Apple doesn't need a 10-inch Air. It needs a unibody 12-inch MacBook Pro to replace the beloved 12-inch PowerBook G4!

[coupdetat]

Apple doesn't need a 10-inch Air. It needs a unibody 12-inch MacBook Pro to replace the beloved 12-inch PowerBook G4!

QFT

[bobertoq]

I can kind of see the logic in a 15" macbook air. If you take away the optical drive and have a sealed battery you could easily make it so the 15" could hit 8hours like the 17" and also as probably reduce the overall size a bit as well. I personally see the 15" screen as the ideal size for a presentation laptop when theres no projector etc.

They could probably keep all the ports (split onto both sides now though) and give it the macbook airs slanted shape or make it overall thinner (just :))

For me personally I hardly use the optical drive on my computers, most of my backups are on a server and I wouldn't mind the lack of it in a laptop if it gets me more battery life. I'm more than happy to carry a portable drive with me for the rare occasions its needed - I generally know when this is likely to happen anyways.I see what you're saying, but in my opinion a 15" MacBook Air with a non-removable battery and no optical drive should be the standard MacBook Pro, not a MacBook Air. This is just my opinion, though.

If Apple really wants to make another MacBook Air, they need to make an 11" or smaller. I don't think anyone actually bought a MacBook Air for its thinness. I wouldn't, anyway. I would buy one for its weight and size. Considering the current 15" MacBook Pro is extremely small and light already, why make another one? Make a "netbook"!

There's no way Apple is making a 15" MacBook Air.

[Quillz]

A 15'' MacBook Air is a terrible idea. What they need is to make a true successor the 12'' PowerBook from six years ago. Really, they should start with 12'' and go smaller. Basically, Apple needs a netbook.

Right now, I'm leaning towards a Sony Vaio P netbook. It's not cheap, but it's also the best netbook I've seen. That's what Apple needs to do. Build a netbook with a good resolution, strong construction and get it somewhere between $299 and $899. That would be a hot seller. After all, like Apple or not, I think most would agree their hardware is among the best in the industry. An Apple-quality netbook would be huge, I think.

[ventro]

Apple is losing to the netbook market like they lost to the flash mp3 player market before releasing the iPod mini. I hope that new marketshare data that sees them losing ground is a big wake up call for them. It's time to make the iPod mini of computers.

[alexbates]

A 15'' MacBook Air is a terrible idea. What they need is to make a true successor the 12'' PowerBook from six years ago. Really, they should start with 12'' and go smaller. Basically, Apple needs a netbook.

Right now, I'm leaning towards a Sony Vaio P netbook. It's not cheap, but it's also the best netbook I've seen. That's what Apple needs to do. Build a netbook with a good resolution, strong construction and get it somewhere between $299 and $899. That would be a hot seller. After all, like Apple or not, I think most would agree their hardware is among the best in the industry. An Apple-quality netbook would be huge, I think.

In my opinion, anything under 12" is not going to happen as a netbook. In the near future, we might see some kind of 5" touch-screen Mac (larger version of the iPhone) running a similar OS to the iPhone. It might even be something like the Sony VAIO UX180P but just thinner.

I still think the idea of a 15-in MacBook Air Pro is a possibility though. Anything like that would be expensive, but well worth it.

This sort of relates back to the idea of a netbook. Apple is trying to come out with the best possible product at a reasonable price. If you have a 10 or 12" laptop, the odds are that it will be the best that a company can make. Apple is trying to stay away from everything that can ruin their reputation of making high-quality products that are both expensive and top-of-the-line.

Another thing is as a screen gets smaller, there will probably be less space for a keyboard to fit in. If, we remember back to the 12-in iBooks, the keyboards went right to both edges of the laptop, requiring the laptop to be thicker, so all of the ports can fit below it. If the 12-in happened to come back one day, it would probably have a touch screen. Most likely, they would come out with something that is 10" or smaller so it could run an all new OS with a different user interface to accompany the touch screen.

I predict that the 12" is gone forever unless there will one day be a MacBook Touch Pro. A 15-in MBA sounds like a great idea for people who travel a lot, need something with a lot of power like the new 17" Unibody, and love how thin the current 13" MBA is now. Even though a 15-in MBA is not what I am hoping for, it could still be a possibility for the future.

[applevinci]

MBA 15"? Sorry but in my opinion it's very stupid idea. I'm waiting for MBA 12", not 15" ;)

[petermcphee]

MBA 15"? Sorry but in my opinion it's very stupid idea. I'm waiting for MBA 12", not 15" ;)

A 12" MBA would be interesting. I don't know if that small of a difference would be enough, though. What about a 10"? I'd consider that for sure.

[BRLawyer]

To which we say:

WHY?! What's the point?!

The MacBook Air abysmally failed at being a really small, really thin computer, so now they're making it a really big, really thin computer?

I don't get it.

Failed where? The MBA is the best machine in its niche, and sells well for the market it's targeted for.

But I have to agree that this rumor is NONSENSE. The MBA is SUPPOSED to have a smaller screen, but not to the point of a puny netbook (the latest trendy crap); 15" models are more than well covered by the MB and the MBP. This rumor has no bearing in reality and is just a page filler.

[Ryox]

A bigger one?
This wont happen.
They need a smaller one if anything!

[Parky]

No chance.

If Apple do this - maybe it'll be better if Steve Jobs retired. These decisions are stupidity.

Why? Just because you don't want one?

When you are the CEO of a computer company maybe someone will listen to you!

[Parky]

I don't see any point in a 15" air type lappy. Kinda pointless IMHO.

Then it is not for you! Do you see the point of everything that is on sale in the world?

[hayduke]

Ives clearly states the MacBook Air was the first computer to use the unibody construction the the Notebook event last October.

Apple just haven't used the term in their marketing before then, hence people don't associate it with the Air.

That was the point of my post, but my punctuation was incorrect (now edited). The link shows that Apple refers to all the Alum machines as unibody.

[Tallest Skil]

Then it is not for you! Do you see the point of everything that is on sale in the world?

Do you?

http://asia.cnet.com/i/r/2004/gb/oct/noodlestrainer_b1.jpg

It's a USB noodle strainer.

[MacFever]

I'd like to see it.

maybe it will have more ports...although I prefer the size of the 13" one.

why not make a netbook of similar style? 9 or 10" screen

[Digital Skunk]

To which we say:

WHY?! What's the point?!

The MacBook Air abysmally failed at being a really small, really thin computer, so now they're making it a really big, really thin computer?

I don't get it.

I agree with you and Eidorian on this one. Where the hell is Apple's roadmap for laptops or even desktops which right about now Apple fails at?

I don't see this rumor coming to fruition but I do know that a lot of tech junkies that don't do much with their machines but check Facebook will love to have a $2300 15" MBA with one USB port and a 1.6GHz processor.

But they don't have to take the optical drive out in order to reach 8 hours if it has a sealed battery. The 17" still has its Optical Drive....

I call this rumor as BS.

Not to mention that Sony has already destroyed the concept of the Air by producing an 11.1" notebook that is lighter than the Air and still totes an optional Blu-Ray disc drive.

Maxed out, it will be heavier than the Air and cost $4000, but you get TWO SSD, two USB, HDMI, media card reader, Blu-Ray, 3G/WiFi, LED backlit display and up to 7.5 hours of battery life.

Apple has yet to compete with that type of machine but considers putting out a 15" Air????? :confused:

Glad that's it's a rumor and has no possibility of coming true.

p.s. AND FIREWIRE!

[iMacmatician]

why not make a netbook of similar style? 9 or 10" screenApple is probably releasing the mini-tablet instead. 7"~9" display, extended iPhone OS.

[Yr Blues]

The Air is as dead as the Cube.

The Cube resurrected into an affordable Mini, and the Air should resurrect into an affordable Netbook.

[CalCanuck]

I think it would be a great idea. I'd buy one.

I'm just waiting for the release of Snow Leopard before pick up a MBAir but if they come out with a 15" version I'd definitely take that over the 13" assuming they can make it as thin and light.

I don't need any more ports than what the current one has but stereo speakers would be nice addition.

[alexbates]

Apple is probably releasing the mini-tablet instead. 7"~9" display, extended iPhone OS.

Yep, there's not much of a chance of seeing a new MacBook Air anytime soon. I think we will see either a tablet or netbook, just like rumors are saying.

[Tallest Skil]

The Air is as dead as the Cube.

The Cube resurrected into the Mini, and the Air should resurrect into a Netbook.

Yeah... and look what is happening to the Mini... :rolleyes::p

Anyway, the Air isn't dead. The Air failed to be a netbook... because it isn't a netbook. Apple is testing a new genre of computer; they're meshing the best of both worlds.

They've made a thin computer to match the netbooks, but they know that tiny keyboards and tiny screens suck, so they made them full size.

It's a test, and they did better than most companies on their first shot. Apple needs to shave the bezel. If they make a really, really tiny bezel, the MacBook Air becomes a true ultraportable.

[Eric S.]

Failed where? The MBA is the best machine in its niche, and sells well for the market it's targeted for.

But I have to agree that this rumor is NONSENSE. The MBA is SUPPOSED to have a smaller screen, but not to the point of a puny netbook (the latest trendy crap); 15" models are more than well covered by the MB and the MBP. This rumor has no bearing in reality and is just a page filler.

The MBA is not a failure because it sells well, but netbooks that sell well are "trendy crap"? I'd say reverse that - if anything is trendy crap it's the MBA. Overpriced, underpowered, lack of features. But it looks slashy and swoopy.

[Kilamite]

Why? Just because you don't want one?

When you are the CEO of a computer company maybe someone will listen to you!

Why would anyone want a 15" MacBook Air?

[Eric S.]

Apple is probably releasing the mini-tablet instead. 7"~9" display, extended iPhone OS.

Why do you say that?

[coupdetat]

Why would anyone want a 15" MacBook Air?

Why would anyone need more than 640k of RAM?

Why would anyone want an LCD screen?

Why would anyone want a computer with no floppy drive?

Why would anyone need a GUI?

etc. etc. etc.

[Digital Skunk]

Why would anyone need more than 640k of RAM?

Why would anyone want an LCD screen?

Why would anyone want a computer with no floppy drive?

Why would anyone need a GUI?

etc. etc. etc.

I like this guy....

I say the same thing for my 17" power house desktop replacement with quad core and 4 DIMM slots and dual HDDs. As a matter of fact, Apple should just go to Dell and copy all of the specs of the Covet which blows away any other machine spec wise, and price wise :(

Then when the consumer whiners that just d!ck around with their 15" Air ask why anyone would want a heavy computer that actually replaces the desktop and is a portable powerhouse for on location multi-stream HD editing coupdetat will have my back.

No, I am not being sarcastic. I want that machine from Apple more than anyone would want a 15" Air.

[APPLENEWBIE]

I would not call the Air a failure ... it seems to me that people who have never used it call it a failure. Having owned an Air now, I certainly love how light it is, how thin it is, and that I still get a nice bright 13" screen to work on if I'm on the road.

A 15" Air is a bad idea. A very very bad idea.


Exactly.

[apsterling]

A 15" Air would defeat the goal of the Air.

[funkboy]

A few observations:

- The benchmark for portability is an A4/Letter size sheet of paper; that's what people have been carrying around for decades. If Apple can shrink the bezel gap of a 15" MBA to the point where the machine's not much bigger than the existing 13" MBA, then I think they'd ship it.

- I really don't think that Apple will make a MBA that weighs much more than the existing 3 lb unit. If they come up with some way to make a 15" widescreen MBA weigh insignificantly more than the existing unit (I dunno, magnesium case parts, polymer screen instead of glass, new lighter battery from 17" MBP, etc. Who knows...), then they'll greenlight the product.

- Steve has commented publicly that they're not interested in making a machine that has the reduced usability of a netbook (small screen, crappy keyboard, etc) & they're certainly not interested in competing in the netbook market based on price. If Apple released a NetMac or something even vaguely trying to target the netbook market, it would certainly cost at least $700 or so, and netbook buyers would snub them because of the price, regardless of how good the machine was. Apple's student machine is the plastic MacBook, which sells like crazy and is an amortized product for them; they have no reason to replace it with something cheaper for a long time.

- I think about the smallest laptop they'd make would use the existing keyboard size (maybe scrunched up a bit, but not by much), big(ish) trackpad, and an edge-to-edge screen. Probably in fact still a 13" or so screen (certainly not smaller than 12" widescreen), but with a lot less bezel gap around it.

- There's been a rumor recently that they'd be using NVidia's ION platform for the mac mini. I could see them using it in the AppleTV as it fits that product perfectly, but speaking as someone owning a netbook with Leopard on it I don't think that Atom (even dual-core) will run their apps the way they want it to. Now, maybe Apple's seen a next-generation Atom that will do what they want it to, but I think it's more likely that the next Mini (if it's ever released) will have a 9400M and MacBook-grade guts.

[iMacmatician]

- I really don't think that Apple will make a MBA that weighs much more than the existing 3 lb unit. If they come up with some way to make a 15" widescreen MBA weigh insignificantly more than the existing unit (I dunno, magnesium case parts, polymer screen instead of glass, new lighter battery from 17" MBP, etc. Who knows...), then they'll greenlight the product.AppleInsider had a MacBook Air carbon fiber rumor not long ago. Maybe it's for the 15" MacBook Air too?

- Steve has commented publicly that they're not interested in making a machine that has the reduced usability of a netbook (small screen, crappy keyboard, etc) & they're certainly not interested in competing in the netbook market based on price. I would say that a properly done 7"~9" iPhone OS mini-tablet would have better usability than a Mac OS X netbook.

If Apple released a NetMac or something even vaguely trying to target the netbook market, it would certainly cost at least $700 or so, and netbook buyers would snub them because of the price, regardless of how good the machine was. It might cost even more because Apple would want to make it as thin as possible, giving it worse components for higher prices.

- There's been a rumor recently that they'd be using NVidia's ION platform for the mac mini. I could see them using it in the AppleTV as it fits that product perfectly, but speaking as someone owning a netbook with Leopard on it I don't think that Atom (even dual-core) will run their apps the way they want it to.I have a G4 and Keynote runs slow at times. If that's how an Atom Mac will be like, then I completely agree with you.

[Yr Blues]

Is the Air doing as well as you fanboys are saying?

Not to me. I have never seen an Air in the wild. I've seen a bunch of the new MacBooks, but never an Air.

I've been buying Mac since the bondi-blue iMac. Now that was a success!

[Eric S.]

I would say that a properly done 7"~9" iPhone OS mini-tablet would have better usability than a Mac OS X netbook.

To me a product like that combines the worst of both worlds: painfully small for real work, and too awkward and bulky to carry easily.

[Digital Skunk]

To me a product like that combines the worst of both worlds: painfully small for real work, and too awkward and bulky to carry easily.

That's true. Like combining the worst parts of a niche product and widely used one.

Not to mention the price that it would be.

[mogzieee]

This, I would like to see.

[Kilamite]

Why would anyone need more than 640k of RAM?

Why would anyone want an LCD screen?

Why would anyone want a computer with no floppy drive?

Why would anyone need a GUI?

etc. etc. etc.

What on earth..?

The MacBook Air is an ultra portable laptop. Make it a 15" and you are carrying a big foot print but really underpowered for what you could get for a little bit more thickness of the 15" MBP.

It isn't a "why would anyone want an LCD screen" question, don't know what your smoking to think that is relevant, it just is pointless.

Make it 15" and it isn't an ultra portable laptop.

Thin isn't that good a thing..

[coupdetat]

What on earth..?

The MacBook Air is an ultra portable laptop. Make it a 15" and you are carrying a big foot print but really underpowered for what you could get for a little bit more thickness of the 15" MBP.

It isn't a "why would anyone want an LCD screen" question, don't know what your smoking to think that is relevant, it just is pointless.

Make it 15" and it isn't an ultra portable laptop.

Thin isn't that good a thing..

Back when the CRT was king, people could not understand why I spent $400 on a 15" LCD. There were many techies who insisted that LCD's had inferior picture quality, too expensive, and so on. Now look where we are. Maybe you are too young to remember, or too young to understand my point. Basically, don't dismiss anything that you can't easily wrap your mind around.

[Digital Skunk]

Back when the CRT was king, people could not understand why I spent $400 on a 15" LCD. There were many techies who insisted that LCD's had inferior picture quality, too expensive, and so on. Now look where we are. Maybe you are too young to remember, or too young to understand my point. Basically, don't dismiss anything that you can't easily wrap your mind around.

I agree with you, but back then the LCD wasn't as good as the CRT. That only happened recently actually, and in some cases a CRT is still preferred.

[coupdetat]

I agree with you, but back then the LCD wasn't as good as the CRT. That only happened recently actually, and in some cases a CRT is still preferred.

Yeah.. but you're missing the point. I give up.

[elppa]

(I dunno, magnesium case parts, polymer screen instead of glass, new lighter battery from 17" MBP, etc. Who knows...), then they'll greenlight the product.

There was a story about Apple using carbon fibre (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/11/apple_may_turn_to_carbon_fiber_for_lighter_macbook_air.html) for the base in order to remove weight. About 10% of the current weight could be shaved off.

For strength and weight very little beats carbon fibre. Unfortunately it wouldn't fir very well with Apple's current green initiatives.

If your interested, this is the current breakdown of the 13" MacBook Air:

http://images.appleinsider.com/mbairweightchart-081111.gif

Courtesy iFixit via AppleInsider (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/11/apple_may_turn_to_carbon_fiber_for_lighter_macbook_air.html).

[Digital Skunk]

Yeah.. but you're missing the point. I give up.

NO, I get you, just taking a side note on the CRT thing.

I got you a few pages ago.

I completely understand.

[Kilamite]

Back when the CRT was king, people could not understand why I spent $400 on a 15" LCD. There were many techies who insisted that LCD's had inferior picture quality, too expensive, and so on. Now look where we are. Maybe you are too young to remember, or too young to understand my point. Basically, don't dismiss anything that you can't easily wrap your mind around.

Seriously, what are you going on about? You've shot off on a tangent and aren't even talking about anything relevant to this thread or my point. We're not comparing LCD's to CRT's or anything in that concept.

I'm comparing a 13" MacBook Air to a 15" MacBook Air, thinness against power and why a 15" MacBook Air would be pointless in that the foot print is too big for it to be an "ultra portable" and the Pro is still really thin, plus a hell of a lot more powerful. A bigger screen on a thin laptop, why? Thinness isn't everything.

Apple has a reputation for form over function, and this would be a good example of that. It'll be a rip off computer that is very thin, and for probably the same price, you could get a Pro that slightly heavier and thicker but not even in the same league in terms of power.

Maybe you're too old to understand my point ;)

[econoline06]

Why in the world....

We want a new Mac Mini or mid-range tower. We don't need 15 different models of laptops.

Of course you are a marketing expert. The reason why Apple is so big on laptops is that they are the only computers that are seeing growth. Laptops outsold desktops for the first time EVER this year, and the trend is continuing. Also the MBA was NOT a failure, it is a fantastic machine. If you don't have one you don't have the right to comment on it.

[Pika]

A 15 inch macbook air would kill the purpose of the 13 inch macbook.

[jackiecanev2]

Apple touts luxuries like a full-sized keyboard and screen, while retaining portability. Increasing those thigs arbitrarily would be pointless. I could see a 15" MB before a 15" MBA. And I don't see a 15" MB coming anytime soon.

[Scottsdale]

I think Apple should come out with a 12" and 15" "Air" but erase the Air and just call it a macbook then drop the price by $800.

For the revamped Air lineup there should be a 9" widescreen, a 12" convertible tablet notebook, and a 13.3" . All under 3 LB :D

Call me when that happens! :apple:

I sorta agree. From all of Apple's greatness when it comes to the Mac Notebook lineup, they are really missing the mark. I believe the article doesn't state a 15" just says another size. It could very well be smaller. Just the interpretation may be off. I believe they could have taken the current $1799 MBA, called it the MB, sold 20 million of them this year for $1299. Would probably double the stock price. If they made that many at that price, and called it the MB, everyone would buy it and due to such a large scale, they could make a fortune on it! Seriously, the current MBA isn't much different than a MB other than the ports and the thickness.

I just don't get Apple's business decisions. I cannot believe the stock hasn't tanked further... selling the same Mac Mini for 1.5 years. leaving out whole segments of the market... the NETBOOKS! And in this economy, it just isn't going to fly to continue with more of the same. A year from now, we may be seeing $40 per share of AAPL - it's truly SAD!

[dubhe]

The Macbooks that were just released were based on the Macbook Air. I would have upgraded mine had they incorporated the new trackpad and screen bezel, but I imagine both are coming in the next update. Also really looking for built in 3g.

I think the MBA needs a little individuality, I also prefer having a button on my trackpad, and you can not say the thin bar at the bottom of the trackpad on the Air gets in the way. If anything you have the best of both worlds.

The Air is as dead as the Cube.

The Cube resurrected into an affordable Mini, and the Air should resurrect into an affordable Netbook.

No, it is not meant to be affordable, it is meant to be cutting edge. The MBA is for those that want something that isn't mainstream, something that has been built to do the job, not meet a price point.

The MBA is not a failure because it sells well, but netbooks that sell well are "trendy crap"? I'd say reverse that - if anything is trendy crap it's the MBA. Overpriced, underpowered, lack of features. But it looks slashy and swoopy.

Lack of some features, but by doing that it gains others, size, weight etc.

A 15" Air would defeat the goal of the Air.

Exactly.

I am reading these threads as I am about to trade up to a MBA from my previous gen BlackBook. I need a portable Mac with great screen that can be also used in the dark (backlit keyboard). Ok, I could buy the new MB but I don't need DVD, 2 USBs or a removable battery. OK, I also don't need to spend £1750, but, it wouldn't kill me to do so, and finally I might be able to part with my 12" PB, which I fell in love with 5 years ago! I love that machine because it still looks great now and it still works well (as a sofa surfer). I hope if I buy a MBA this spring I will still be using it in 4 or 5 years time and be proud to be doing so.

[winterspan]

I think the Macbook Air is the perfect size... It doesn't need another model, what it needs is some real functionality. If it had a Firewire or eSATA port, and an Expresscard/34 slot, it would be PERFECT! They could even take out two birds with one stone AND save space by using a combination ethernet/FW800 port. Similarly, they could instead add a combination USB/eSATA port like some Toshiba/Panasonic ultraportables have.. I refuse to hook up external drives with USB!!

The expresscard slot is important for not only adding 3G broadband without needing a USB dongle hanging off your computer (many don't even fit in the Air's recessed USB port), but it allows you to add Firewire 400/800, eSATA, TV Tuner, or anything else with a tiny card. In addition, both USB3 and Firewire 3200 will be out in 12-18 months.. Once you get used to that, USB or WiFi file transfer will REALLY seem like torture..

Heres an idea of what I'm talking about, check out this comparison...

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1619/sonyttvsmacbookairxq5.png

[jackiecanev2]

But at .93" you're back up to the thickness (but not the weight) of the MB.

[Srai-W]

I think Apple should come out with a 12" and 15" "Air" but erase the Air and just call it a macbook then drop the price by $800.

For the revamped Air lineup there should be a 9" widescreen, a 12" convertible tablet notebook, and a 13.3" . All under 3 LB :D

Call me when that happens! :apple:

Call me too! I was reading an article on netbooks the other day. It was saying about how all the major computer makers, except :apple: have released netbooks... As has been mentioned before - they should get in now. I would mind a line-up like the above. My wife wants me to replace the 12" Powerbook G4, so she could get the new 12" model and I could then get a 9" (or a 10" I'd prefer!!!). Or of course the mac Mini I've been hanging out for... Be patient!!!! :rolleyes:

[fteoath64]

I think this is their chance of building a real Pro machines for the real Pro users. We see that the MBP 15 seems to "drift" into the mainstream higher-end users. The Pro users are feeling edged to the Pro17 but to many, they size and weight are the main hinderance as with the sub-Pro quality of screen amongst others (at least for the price, not that price matters a heck of a lot to these target segments). So I see these features being mandatory:
- A really good screen with 110% NTSC color gamut (matte option please),
- Bezeless display. Take the black bezel away and leave the 2 mm aluminum lining (this brings MBP to be same size or slightly smaller than PB167).
{I was pretty upset when I found out my MBP15 was almost half inch wider!}
- Ditch the CD, instead give more ports on that size. 2 more USB, second FW800 and eSata (leave our ExpressCard for something else!)
- Separate audio out ports (ie dedicated SP/IF)
- Dual bay SATA disk. (add a 1.8inch 8mm support for SSD, standard 2.5inch/9.5mm for HDD or optional second SSD)
- Target 4.2 lbs weight maximum
- 10 hours of battery usage.
- Price target $2699 (4GB DDR3 standard, 64GB-SSD, 320G HDD):apple:

[funkboy]

I have a G4 and Keynote runs slow at times. If that's how an Atom Mac will be like, then I completely agree with you.

Well, my Atom machines are not as slow as my pbg4 1.33 (in fact they're pretty responsive) but they just don't have the floating-point performance of the core2-based machines (even the slowest ones) to do stuff like intensive photo editing and video transcoding in a timely manner. I'd say that a dual-core Atom 330 is about like an original 1.6ghz core solo mac mini (more or less).

[thoshino]

Why in the world....

We want a new Mac Mini or mid-range tower. We don't need 15 different models of laptops.

Reading all these posts, IMHO above quoted post is all but the only one who really gets it. Why talk about more laptops? Sure, Apple laptops could have Blu-Ray or 15" screens or for that sake 24" CRT (see above) screens that weigh 60 pounds and don't fit into a large size Samsonite.

Point is, more laptops doesn't make desktop users happy (even if mini's and iMacs use laptop hardware). I'm still trying to figure out why Apple is leaving us with a mini that's worse at Aperture than the old G4 mini, an iMac that boasts yesterdays technology today and a big gap between said models and a "Pro" computer that is so professional it needs at minimum a $400 memory upgrade before it's useful even for hobbyists.

[Full of Win]

I think this is their chance of building a real Pro machines for the real Pro users. We see that the MBP 15 seems to "drift" into the mainstream higher-end users. The Pro users are feeling edged to the Pro17 but to many, they size and weight are the main hinderance as with the sub-Pro quality of screen amongst others (at least for the price, not that price matters a heck of a lot to these target segments). So I see these features being mandatory:
- A really good screen with 110% NTSC color gamut (matte option please),
- Bezeless display. Take the black bezel away and leave the 2 mm aluminum lining (this brings MBP to be same size or slightly smaller than PB167).
{I was pretty upset when I found out my MBP15 was almost half inch wider!}
- Ditch the CD, instead give more ports on that size. 2 more USB, second FW800 and eSata (leave our ExpressCard for something else!)
- Separate audio out ports (ie dedicated SP/IF)
- Dual bay SATA disk. (add a 1.8inch 8mm support for SSD, standard 2.5inch/9.5mm for HDD or optional second SSD)
- Target 4.2 lbs weight maximum
- 10 hours of battery usage.
- Price target $2699 (4GB DDR3 standard, 64GB-SSD, 320G HDD):apple:

I do believe that I saw Elvis riding on a unicorn with one of these computers you describe the other day. If my memory serves me, I do think he was sending Jimmy Hoffa a Facebook friend request...don't know if Jimmy accepted, since he has plenty of friends on Moon Base Alpha.

Seriously, that is a lot of stuff to cram into 4.2 pounds.

[darklighter]

Lower the price of the Macbook air to $1099 and give it a 12-inch screen with unibody aesthetics. It would sell very well.

[mhnajjar]

I would take that 15" MBA over the current one anytime. I also wish that they can beat the specs of the Vaio TT on that one :D

Steve Jobs said that the MBA is the Apple product to beat the Vaio TZ at the time. Unfortunately, Apple failed to do any of that with revA, and even revB cannot really compete with the TT now.

[tosui]

A 15 inch macbook air would kill the purpose of the 13 inch macbook.

Well, no - the 13" is king at any university. As long as students' (read: their parents) have money, the 13" is a cashcow for Apple.

Imho, the 13" & 15" MBA will be great, and probably replace the current 13" & 15" once their CPUs get up to speed. The 17" will be the workhorse for professional artists, as it currently is.

Again, imho, there will be *no* smaller "MBA". However, there will be the new MacPad (or whatever), and will be decidedly different from a notebook (probably closer to a large iPod Touch).

[metroid87706]

Mockup:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r20/metroid87706/MacBook_Air_15in.png

Speakers possible?
Glass trackpad possible?

Modded from: http://images.apple.com/macbookair/images/design_keyboardair20080115.jpg

I was bored. I don't think it will happen, but I wanted to see what it could look like.

[petermcphee]

Mockup:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r20/metroid87706/MacBook_Air_15in.png

Speakers possible?
Glass trackpad possible?

Modded from: http://images.apple.com/macbookair/images/design_keyboardair20080115.jpg

I was bored. I don't think it will happen, but I wanted to see what it could look like.

It's a fine mockup. I guess I am with most of the other folks here in the "I don't see the point" camp.

[dubhe]

Nice speakers, but call me old fashioned, I like having a trackpad button.

[dvdhsu]

I would love to have a 15-inch that thin but it's not going to happen. Apple probably has made a prototype but it's not going to be for sale.

Apple just needs to work on making the current models thinner.

Maybe I can get one of those off eBay!:)

[seedster2]

i had a MBA and it was a horrid performer.

I would like to know where people get their information that it sold extremely well. Even the salespeople will deter you from buying it. Anyone with numbers?

Apple's marketing has done a brilliant job. They have successfully changed the discussion from size and weight to thinness. I really rather have a thicker computer that could stay cool and not sacrifice ports.

[jessica.]

i had a MBA and it was a horrid performer.

I would like to know where people get their information that it sold extremely well. Even the salespeople will deter you from buying it. Anyone with numbers?

Apple's marketing has done a brilliant job. They have successfully changed the discussion from size and weight to thinness. I really rather have a thicker computer that could stay cool and not sacrifice ports.

My Rev B usually doesn't peak above 55ºC while watching things like streaming video and such. It is much cooler than Rev A.

[LeviG]

My Rev B usually doesn't peak above 55ºC while watching things like streaming video and such. It is much cooler than Rev A.

which just goes with the normal saying of don't buy a revision a apple product :D

[alexlovesmacs]

Make it smaller like 8" and sell it at $500:rolleyes:

[pdxflint]

Apple touts luxuries like a full-sized keyboard and screen, while retaining portability. Increasing those thigs arbitrarily would be pointless. I could see a 15" MB before a 15" MBA. And I don't see a 15" MB coming anytime soon.

It's called the MBP. ;)

[freddiecable]

the original was a bad idea!? i love mine...fits my needs perfectly :confused:

This is an even worse idea than the original Macbook Air.

[thejadedmonkey]

The rumor seems bogus to me. Their product line is well rounded. Only thing I could ask for is a small form factor netbook.

I see Apple as having two distinct product lines, the thin and light lineup, and the macbook lineup.

Apple is missing a smaller macbook that has all the ports, yet is still small - It used to be called the 12" PowerBook.

Apple is also missing a small and large "thin-and-light". They need a 15" version (this rumor) and a smaller (netbook-esque) 11". I can see Apple putting an atom processor into the 13" air, introduces a $500 11" air, and a Core 2 Duo into a 15" Air model.

[iMacmatician]

I see Apple as having two distinct product lines, the thin and light lineup, and the macbook lineup.That's my other, more likely, thought (besides the one in an early post in this thread). The design (trackpad, bezel) differences may be related to this too.

It's interesting how Apple's keeping display sizes reasonably consistent between the MacBook and the Air lines. I would have expected a 11" MacBook Air.

Who thinks there will be a 17" MacBook Air? :p

[puffnstuff]

I would have expected a 11" MacBook Air.


Yeah I was shocked when he said 13.3" during the release. Wha?:eek:

What it lacks in smallness they could have made up with in weight they could get it under 3LB

[iMaggot]

Soo.........why not just get a 15" MBP ??. lol

[dopey220]

... I still want a 13" MBP.

(I realize the unibody macbooks come really close. I mean, I want a 13" notebook with dedicated grahics and firewire. I know it'll never happen, but I can still dream.)

[fteoath64]

The MacBook Air, Rev. A, is the best Mac that I have ever used. I have an uptime on it right now of 122 days.

Apple doesn't need a 10-inch Air. It needs a unibody 12-inch MacBook Pro to replace the beloved 12-inch PowerBook G4!

Partly agree. I got the Rev A AIR and liked it but I prefer the MBP15 better due to its screen an power/capacity. I think the 12-inch replacement for PB is going to be MBP AIR15 as it should be a real Pro machine with superb (matte) screen , good port selection 4GB DDR3 and DUAL SSD support. Videographers and musicians will loved these as they are using MBA Rev B to do theot job now. So its a heck of an upgrade. But base price will start at $2.7K :apple: { This is really Apple territory, if it is not for you, kindly go buy something else please}:):apple::apple:

[fteoath64]

... I still want a 13" MBP.

(I realize the unibody macbooks come really close. I mean, I want a 13" notebook with dedicated grahics and firewire. I know it'll never happen, but I can still dream.)
The new White MB fits this best at $999. Go get it and sell your SR old generation MacBook :D.

Invest your spare cash in 4GB RAM and a 500GB disk upgrade and you have a great machine, way faster than SR 2.2 with X3100. Lets see CPU maybe a lot slower in exact Ghz but 1066GHZ FSB will close the gap. Graphics is 5X faster and new disk is 40% faster. You are way ahead!:D

[fteoath64]

A 15 inch macbook air would kill the purpose of the 13 inch macbook.
Not really because the price point will be different. Like the $400 difference between MB 2.4Gh Backlit to MBP2.4 is causing people to seriously think which way to go.

MBP15AIR will more likely get the MBA Rev B SSD more competition. I suspect the Rev B people will switch their standard MBP main machine for the MBP15AIR. I know I would if the price is not more than $2800 for twin drive capability (ie Raid 0 SSD).:)

[Cheffy Dave]

I'm in, I love my 13 BMB, but the screen real estate on our new 15" MBP is to die for, to have that, as well as the new glass trackpad, on a 15" THIN MBA?
Oh friggin yeah, I'll take TWO:eek:, OK honey,One:p

[iAthena]

I think the jury is still out on whether a larger or smaller Mac Air is a good idea. I don't think enough potential users of this type of model have been exposed to it. You wouldn't believe the number of people that come up to me and ask what kind of Dell my MacBook Pro is despite the glowing Apple on the lid.

[iMacmatician]

Soo.........why not just get a 15" MBP ??. lolFor similar reasons why people choose the 13" MacBook Air over the MacBook.

[puffnstuff]

For similar reasons why people choose the 13" MacBook Air over the MacBook.
Thinner?

[benthewraith]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/16/15-macbook-air-under-development/)

Taiwanese blog Apple.pro reports (http://tw.apple.pro/?uid-1-action-viewspace-itemid-1861) (Google translation (http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=&hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftw.apple.pro%2F%3Fuid-1-action-viewspace-itemid-1861&sl=zh-CN&tl=en)) that Apple is developing larger versions of the MacBook Air, speculating that a 15" version could be in the works. The report provides little information other than that the new MacBook Air would be based on new ultra-low voltage Core 2 processors from Intel, but they promise that more information will be forthcoming in the second half of this year.

Apple.pro's mixed track record includes genuine leaked photos of the current generation of the MacBook Pro (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/07/aluminum-macbook-pro-case-photo/) and MacBook (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/08/more-brick-macbook-case-images/), but their purported MacBook video leak (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/10/two-tone-macbooks-and-a-questionable-macbook-video/") was questionable at the time of posting and did turn out to be false.

Article Link: 15" MacBook Air Under Development? (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/16/15-macbook-air-under-development/)

Meh, I'd rather have a 13.3" Macbook Pro than a 15" Macbook Air personally.

[yegon]

I laid down close to £2k yesterday on a spiffy 15" MBP - me happy - and I'm consistently amazed that roughly the same price buys you a massively lower specced SSD MBA. Yeah yeah, different target audience, that price includes an SSD but still....Gawd only knows what a mythical 15" would cost!

Otoh, refurbed MBA's are a lot more palatable, and if they'd release a sub 12" one, sign me up.

[macbook123]

I've been waiting for a portable form of the 15" MBP for 3 years now. Given the thickness of the Air's bezel, they wouldn't even have to give it a much larger footprint to fit a larger screen in there (as long as the bezel is thinner than in the current Air and the Unibody MBP, where it is humongous). I'd immediately sell all my other computers and buy a 15 inch Air (as long as it has 4 GB or RAM and a thin bezel, as well as hopefully better resolution than the current MBP) if it were available.

[iMacmatician]

I think the 12-inch replacement for PB is going to be MBP AIR15 as it should be a real Pro machine with superb (matte) screen , good port selection 4GB DDR3 and DUAL SSD support. Hope for the dual drives, since the 1.8" HDDs are quite limiting. But knowing Apple, they'll only have one (and still one USB port).

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

i had a MBA and it was a horrid performer.
Why do people think netbooks are so great? If a 1.6 or 1.8GHz CPU doesn't cut it, how will an Atom processor or other slower CPU be acceptable?
Is it the HD? Are the 1.8" HDDs holding it back?

I like the current MBP unibody design (although I don't have one, I have the original Intel MBP which I love except he battery life).

Hmmmm... Battery life. That's what I'd like to see improved. Even if unremovable.

[Mactagonist]

This is an absurd idea. Why are people so insistent on making the MBA into something it isnt? It is a minimalist computer. Apple makes MBP and MB machines for people who need more ports and larger screens.

[iMacmatician]

Why do people think netbooks are so great? If a 1.6 or 1.8GHz CPU doesn't cut it, how will an Atom processor or other slower CPU be acceptable?Then it wouldn't. At least not for Mac OS X and its apps.

Is it the HD? Are the 1.8" HDDs holding it back?Looking at this from the netbook point, a netbook would have one of those at best, so things won't help there.

This is an absurd idea. Why are people so insistent on making the MBA into something it isnt? It is a minimalist computer. It could be argued that the MacBook Air was never "minimalist" because it has a 13" display and not a 11" or so.

Although my view differs from that. I like to think of the MacBook Air as a very thin (and light) notebook, and a 4.0 lb 15" MacBook Air is still lighter than the MacBook.

[Mactagonist]

Then it wouldn't. At least not for Mac OS X and its apps.

Looking at this from the netbook point, a netbook would have one of those at best, so things won't help there.

It could be argued that the MacBook Air was never "minimalist" because it has a 13" display and not a 11" or so.

Although my view differs from that. I like to think of the MacBook Air as a very thin (and light) notebook, and a 4.0 lb 15" MacBook Air is still lighter than the MacBook.

It has a 13.3" display because Jobs doesnt think anything smaller then that is usable.

The minimalism comes in the limited I/O options and overall uncluttered look.

[WindowsDivorcer]

I call false but it has an apple-funny sort of logic to it.

Forget about smaller but thicker (aka most sub-notebooks & netbooks) apple's design decision for this part of its portfolio is thin at all costs. I kinda like that move, there's a reason why the Eee's original publicity shot had a model lying face-down on the beach with her head close up to the screen; put a netbook on an airline tray when you're sat upright and you're craning your neck forward like mad to see any detail. (I've used several sub-notebooks back in the day before the netbooks existed: toshiba librettos, sony PC1 picturebooks, etc)

If you accept apple's reasoning (why have something small & chunky at the top of your backpack on top of your other stuff, when you can have something larger but vr.thin slotted down its whole length alongside your other stuff) then a 15'' model makes sorta sense. It gives more room to rearrange the guts, either to put in a long-running, long-life battery (like the new 17'' MBP) or reclaim space for some more ports or even an optical drive if a new smaller motherboard is available. Both of these should improve market-share as they seem to be the trade-off aspects of the MBA that most people complain about, even over and above any views on the form factor.

[JohnnyLemonhead]

I just want a Mac Mini with a flip up LCD on top and small keyboard right under the LCD. That's all I want. Leave out the optical drive to make it thinner. At home I can use it as a desktop with an external screen and when I need to I can take it with me.

[teejaysplace24]

I'll say this - whatever form the MacBook Air comes in, it's a much better idea than I first gave it credit for. In 2008, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why anyone would spring for an underpowered, feature-light, extremely high priced laptop. After buying a MacBook Pro, however, and toting the thing around on my back for the past several weeks, I totally understand. I spent several hours surveying it the Apple Store and compared to the unibody MacBooks, it's really quite a thing site to behold. When they first game out, Walt Mossberg said that it was "impossible to convey in words just how pleasing and surprising this computer feels in the hand." I must say he was right. For a laptop, it's a totally different experience. If I could get away with using one full time, I totally would.

[Eric S.]

The Macbook is a much better purchase than the MBA, way more capability for much less cost. It's only a pound and a half heavier than the MBA (and if the next MBA is 15" it won't even have that advantage).

[Digital Skunk]

The Macbook is a much better purchase than the MBA, way more capability for much less cost. It's only a pound and a half heavier than the MBA (and if the next MBA is 15" it won't even have that advantage).

I agree, but those users that think going from the 15" MBP to the 17" MBP is WAY TOO MUCH WEIGHT will be the ones that buy a MBA over the MB.

[pdxflint]

I'll say this - whatever form the MacBook Air comes in, it's a much better idea than I first gave it credit for. In 2008, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why anyone would spring for an underpowered, feature-light, extremely high priced laptop. After buying a MacBook Pro, however, and toting the thing around on my back for the past several weeks, I totally understand. I spent several hours surveying it the Apple Store and compared to the unibody MacBooks, it's really quite a thing site to behold. When they first game out, Walt Mossberg said that it was "impossible to convey in words just how pleasing and surprising this computer feels in the hand." I must say he was right. For a laptop, it's a totally different experience. If I could get away with using one full time, I totally would.

I agree completely. A couple of weeks ago I actually spent an hour seriously playing with a MBA, and found it's build quality impressive, even compared to the new unibody models. It just feels quality, like Snap-on wrenches compared to lesser stuff, and when it's closed it's just so much easier to haul around. I'm definitely getting one (probably a refurb) to augment my MBP, and it might eventually move me toward getting a MacPro for the desk, and using the MBA for mobile stuff. It's just the perfect machine for my girlfriend, who doesn't need any extra bells and whistles, just something durable, light and reliable running OSX. I honestly think this model will go down as a classic Apple design in the years ahead, even when it's replaced.

The new MBPs...MBs... didn't really grab me that much, I kept going back to the Air.

[eVolcre]

why do all the "angry professionals" assume that the only pro usersin the world are either artists, musicians, film makers or photographers? Why are all MBA purchases assumed to be executive posers or deluded buyers who are either MB "consumers" or MBP "pros"?

Im a professional, a CORPORATE professional. I need a good screen to work on multiple excel sheets, docs, presetentations and all the other normal things including serious multitasking. I also travel a lot and need to give presentations where projectors may not be available.

MB doesn't cut it. I can't stand the screen and resolution. MBP is way too much power size and weight. I'm about to pick up an iMac for the home and an MBA for my work but don't think I can work productively on such a small screen. So I'm definitely a PRO. What do I buy?

A 15" MBA meets my needs perfectly. I also wanted an apple netbook but my iPhone has met those needs lately. iPhone as my netbook, an iMac or PRO for the house and something light, portable, uncluttered and yes powerful and stylish for my personal work machine.

This is a powerful professional laptop. Different kind of power for a different kind of professional.

eV

Typing this on my iPhone netbook from a remote spot in the deserts of Kuwait on GPRS so pardon language or spelling errors.

[eVolcre]

Further,

I'm slowly becoming a fan of a dual computer household. The family computer for photos, HD movie editing, media server etc and a personal computer bases on your profile and needs which could be either an iPhone, iPod touch, MBA or MBP. I've left the low end consumer MB and the high end professional MBP17 as laptops catering to (for example) college kids or artists that can do double duty with a screen attached. For the rest of us, it's inconvenient to have the family and home computer be the same as the personal one.


In terms of lineup my opinion is that the 13"MB and MBA could be the SAME price and not cannibalize each other. Different sets of buyers. Similar idea for a 15" MBP and MBA. Cater to two types of professionals.

There's certainly some overlap in both ideas but the strategy still works.

eV

[longball11]

Imagine the cost of a 15'' MBA. It would probably be underpowered as well.

[eVolcre]

How do you define "underpowered"? It's subjective. As long as a computer has enough power to meet the target demographics needs, then it has sufficient power.

Try this. I define power as a great screen, thin and portable to. (assuming I own this mythical 15 MBA). Per MY definition the MB is underpowered in terms of screen and the MBP is underpowered because of weight/size. I don't need the features that make them powerful to OTHER users

Price is an issue but if you make the MBA13 200 more than the MB and the MBA15 200 more than the MBP15, they'd still sell with no canibilisation. Heck , keep them the same price as the fat :) equivalent. Different users, different needs.

EV

[aleni]

all i need is macbook air 13" with 1680x1280 resolution.

[Eric S.]

How do you define "underpowered"? It's subjective.

It's not subjective. Anyone can compare the MBA's tech specs to the MB and see that the MBA is underpowered.

[iParis]

This wouldn't be bad if it was optional had a 160GB HDD, and a 2GHz processor.
Isn't think kinda straying away from what a lot of people have been wanting, a 9 inch Apple netbook?

Now that I think about that, it would be completely unproportional!

[eVolcre]

The tech specs that make the MB More powerful don't matter to me or your average consumer so it is subjective. Look I'm on this sure and care about FireWire, graphic cards etc. Most people don't and for the ones that do, buy what you need, right? If I care about a good screen and light weight, the MVA is more powerul for ME.

I think the market thinks in terms of small medium and bug when it comes to laptops. Let's leave the enthusiasts out. Small is MB or MBA, medium is MBP or MBA 15 and large and superpowerful is the 17inch.

iPhone is the netbook. Maybe add a 8 inch iPod touch and there's an easy lineup

eV

[Eric S.]

The tech specs that make the MB More powerful don't matter to me or your average consumer so it is subjective.

That it doesn't matter to you doesn't make it subjective, it just means that it doesn't matter to you. That the MBA's specs are underpowered compared to a MB is an easily demonstrable fact. You find other factors persuasive enough to buy an underpowered laptop, that's all.

[eVolcre]

We're quibbling and that isn't my intention. Perhaps someone else can help explain what I'm getting at. Power or specs are variables that make a laptop under or over powered by your definition. Thinking out of the box ... Add weight and portability to the variables in addition to ports, drives, graphic cards etc. The equation changes.

Once you add different consumers with different needs to the mix, the equation changes even more and over or under powered IS subjective based on an individuals perspective.

But again, we're quibbling over details. I do see the point of the 15 inch MBA and would be one of many buying it.

eV

[Digital Skunk]

Once you add different consumers with different needs to the mix, the equation changes even more and over or under powered IS subjective based on an individuals perspective.

I agree, that saying it's underpowered may be subjective and at the mercy of the user, but the same goes for anything. Like the MBP being too heavy or too much power for you.

I think the MBP is underpowered compared to other machine out there, especially the 17" MBP. The Air may be just what you need, but when you look at the rest of the tech world it is an underpowered machine. For you, myself, and others that have a need for it it's just what we need, but it is overpowered.

The same thing goes for the Mac Pro. It's an overpowered machine, especially given that a good deal of professional graphics and video software can be run on an iMac. But having that "overpowered" tower means more than just having a faster machine. Just like having an underpowered Air means more than having a machine that's clocked slower than a machine almost twice it's weight.

I apologize for the rambling.

[pdxflint]

I guess the guy who shoveled a 350 cubic inch 350 hp v-8 into a Ford Focus figured it was underpowered... Of course it now can do the quarter-mile much quicker, minus the comfort, handling, economy and reliability... :rolleyes:

Sure, I'll get all the comments about the Focus being crap... etc. but then there's the guy who did something similar to his Honda Accord... and we could go on and on... Whether something has enough power all depends on what you're going to do with it... otherwise how much is actually enough? There's always something bigger and more powerful, but does it really matter?

I'd jump on a MBA 15" if they came out with one... it's more "powerful" than an iPhone..;)

[PracticalMac]

To which we say:

WHY?! What's the point?!

The MacBook Air abysmally failed at being a really small, really thin computer, so now they're making it a really big, really thin computer?

I don't get it.

I agree with you here.

I would not call it a failure, but it was too minimalist.

And yes, while I think FireWire should have been included (and would have been a much better solution for the external SuperDrive and TargetDisk mode), the point was a small, light, netbook-like product.

[Digital Skunk]

I agree with you here.

I would not call it a failure, but it was too minimalist.

And yes, while I think FireWire should have been included (and would have been a much better solution for the external SuperDrive and TargetDisk mode), the point was a small, light, netbook-like product.

Firewire just wouldn't have worked for the MBA. It was 1 USB, 2 USBs, or nothing at all. I'd rather it have an extra USB than a FW400 port, and by this current revision we'd have lost it anyway.

[PracticalMac]

Firewire just wouldn't have worked for the MBA. It was 1 USB, 2 USBs, or nothing at all. I'd rather it have an extra USB than a FW400 port, and by this current revision we'd have lost it anyway.

If the MBA OS is corrupted, you are totally screwed, literally.
You have to take it apart to fix.

If it had FW, even the tiny iLink 4 pin connector, you are good to go!

[lifeinhd]

If the MBA OS is corrupted, you are totally screwed, literally.

Figuratively ;)

[Veinticinco]

If the MBA OS is corrupted, you are totally screwed, literally.
You have to take it apart to fix.

If it had FW, even the tiny iLink 4 pin connector, you are good to go!

This is very true. I like having the reassurance of a FW port, as TDM has saved my bacon numerous times in the past. Also nice as I still have several FW mobile HDDs.

As for a 15" MBA, I'd just prefer a decent 13" MBA, you know one that supports more than 2GB of RAM, has the option of a 256GB SSD, the same 7-hour battery tech of the 13" MBP, and has a screen unplagued by papyrus-like lines. Is that asking too much of Apple? Apparently so.

[marioman38]

Personally, I'm irritated by the current MacBookAir (second generation) not being updated to the "Unibody" aesthetic. If they had updated it, I would've bough one.

But since it's inevitable that eventually they will update it, and then everybody with the old-looking model will obviously be a sucker, I'm waiting for them to update it again...

That's ridiculous. They should make an effort to uniform the current MacBookAir to the prevailing style of their laptop offerings, complete with black-bezel screen and buttonless trackpad.

Why they didn't is totally beyond me.

I'm about to buy my first unibody. Having said that, I actually prefer the airs design! The matching aluminum bezel, and a normal trackpad FTW!

[iTzChasE]

I'd buy a 10" air.... Never a 15" one.