Woo!!! These stories are the reason I got into reading MacRumors to begin with. Classic product release rumors are just more interesting than "Steve said this" or "Apple acquired this". Not to say that these other rumors aren't interesting; I just prefer stories that give me an actual feel for a potential product.
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11.6-Inch 'MacBook' Headed to Manufacturing?
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If this actually comes out it would replace my Dell Mini 9 in a heartbeat. I'm sure the typing experience would be phenomenal compare to the Mini 9.
Wow, U-Turn from Steve on the whole netbook think eh
On a serious note, if they go edge to edge on a 16:9 or 16:10 11.6" they could fit a full size keyboard and glass trackpad. Core i3-330UM & i5-430UM with integrated or BTO HD4570 should fit ok.
On a serious note, if they go edge to edge on a 16:9 or 16:10 11.6" they could fit a full size keyboard and glass trackpad. Core i3-330UM & i5-430UM with integrated or BTO HD4570 should fit ok.
Amd???
It will be interesting to see what processor Apple uses. If Apple were to produce an 11.6" notebook/netbook, they could use the new Zacate APU from AMD. The Zacate APU is designed for netbooks and its performance compares favorably with the Intel i5-520M, even performing better than the latter in some cases, and only draws around 18W.
It will be interesting to see what processor Apple uses. If Apple were to produce an 11.6" notebook/netbook, they could use the new Zacate APU from AMD. The Zacate APU is designed for netbooks and its performance compares favorably with the Intel i5-520M, even performing better than the latter in some cases, and only draws around 18W.
Please do skimp the optical drive
Fully agree! Why in the world does *must* (nearly) every notebook include an optical drive, when physical media isn't as important as it once was. The iPad and the MBA prove you don't *need* a dedicated (in-device) optical drive.
This size without optical would definitely capture my interest.
Except, if this exists, it won't be a netbook.
It will more likely be a MacBook Pro or Air, and priced accordingly.
To join in with the speculations: I believe that Apple will keep the Air alive with this new model. It could feature a Core i7-680UM ULV CPU in combination with nVidia GT415M dedicated graphics. The combined TDP of the CPU and GPU would be 30W, roughly the same as the current MBA (17W CPU + 12W IGP). A newly designed unibody case and improved thermal design would make it an amazing machine.
I don't believe that the rumored 'MacBook' will be a smaller MB or MBP since that may cannibalise the iPad and possible even the 13" models because of the inevitably lower price point. Therefore I doubt Apple would have any incentive to release such a model.
Instead, I think that Apple must be interested in offering a model in the ultra-portable niche at a high price point and it is necessary to shrink and improve the Air because the 13" MBP has developed to be a serious competitor.
This, in part, has not happened until now because the technology just hasn't been available yet and/or Apple has not managed to design a new machine superior enough to the 13" MBP in terms of specs, weight, battery life etc. to justify a $1499+ price point. For instance, the Core i5/i7 ULV hasn't been available in sufficient numbers and previous GeForce M series did not offer dedicated graphics with a low TDP performing significantly better than the 9400M.
I assume that Apple will announce the update together with an updated MBP line for the holidays, featuring Core iX CPUs at higher frequencies scheduled to be released in Q4 2010 (there has never been an update without improving the CPU since the switch to Intel) as well the GeForce GT 415M for the MBA and 13" MBP, and the GT 435M for the 15" and 17" MBP.
I don't believe that the rumored 'MacBook' will be a smaller MB or MBP since that may cannibalise the iPad and possible even the 13" models because of the inevitably lower price point. Therefore I doubt Apple would have any incentive to release such a model.
Instead, I think that Apple must be interested in offering a model in the ultra-portable niche at a high price point and it is necessary to shrink and improve the Air because the 13" MBP has developed to be a serious competitor.
This, in part, has not happened until now because the technology just hasn't been available yet and/or Apple has not managed to design a new machine superior enough to the 13" MBP in terms of specs, weight, battery life etc. to justify a $1499+ price point. For instance, the Core i5/i7 ULV hasn't been available in sufficient numbers and previous GeForce M series did not offer dedicated graphics with a low TDP performing significantly better than the 9400M.
I assume that Apple will announce the update together with an updated MBP line for the holidays, featuring Core iX CPUs at higher frequencies scheduled to be released in Q4 2010 (there has never been an update without improving the CPU since the switch to Intel) as well the GeForce GT 415M for the MBA and 13" MBP, and the GT 435M for the 15" and 17" MBP.
I was thinking about how neat it would be for this to have a Retina Display. So I worked the numbers, and it apparently would have to have (for 16:9) something like 3292x1825 or thereabouts.
So, probably not, but nice to wish for, anyway.
So, probably not, but nice to wish for, anyway.
Sure going to be a disappointment for those waiting/wanting a now 13" MBA to replace their dated MBA's.
Will be interesting to see how this one goes, not everything Apple puts out is going to be a hit ...
Considering the MBA is enjoyed mostly by business users and exec's for doing work many will agree as I do that a 13" screen is the absolute minimum screen size for doing any serious work ...
Now add an 11" MBA and drop the 13" MBP by a full pound then we're talking ... who cares about thin, thinness should be secondary to weight.
Steve J likely has something up his sleeve unless this is another move in the direction of abandoning business users....
Wonder if it will have a mirror gloss screen like the rest of the bunch, better be an AG option on that one or the Sony's and Lenovo's are going to get the ultra portable dollars from business users imo....
Will be interesting to see how this one goes, not everything Apple puts out is going to be a hit ...
Considering the MBA is enjoyed mostly by business users and exec's for doing work many will agree as I do that a 13" screen is the absolute minimum screen size for doing any serious work ...
Now add an 11" MBA and drop the 13" MBP by a full pound then we're talking ... who cares about thin, thinness should be secondary to weight.
Steve J likely has something up his sleeve unless this is another move in the direction of abandoning business users....
Wonder if it will have a mirror gloss screen like the rest of the bunch, better be an AG option on that one or the Sony's and Lenovo's are going to get the ultra portable dollars from business users imo....
But Apple's not interested in netbooks, aren't they?
I remembered Jobs saying so on the day he announced iPad.
And 11.6"-laptop, with its cramped and scaled-down keyboard--according to my understanding--can be no other thing apart from a netbook.
I'm not against this new lineup, if someone asks, but why a product that they once looked down on?
I remembered Jobs saying so on the day he announced iPad.
And 11.6"-laptop, with its cramped and scaled-down keyboard--according to my understanding--can be no other thing apart from a netbook.
I'm not against this new lineup, if someone asks, but why a product that they once looked down on?
I am excited about a 11.6 MBA in the $1000-1500 price range (with 4GB, SSD, 6h+ battery, i5 or i7 UM and ideally BTO discrete graphics card).
Question: if Apple were to release a 11.6" MBA, would you still be interested in a 13" MBA?
The 11.6 would beat it in portability and the 13" MBP in performance. Do you think Apple will release both or just a 11.6 MBA and discontinue the 13?
Question: if Apple were to release a 11.6" MBA, would you still be interested in a 13" MBA?
The 11.6 would beat it in portability and the 13" MBP in performance. Do you think Apple will release both or just a 11.6 MBA and discontinue the 13?
Doesn't seem likely. One, not sure how they will "improve the thermal design" while making the case smaller. Using hotter parts in a smaller case is the opposite of improving thermal design. Apple doesn't have magical, physics defying mechanisms for dissipating heat.
Two, there is no space to put redundant GPUs into the MBA. A discrete GPU part means you have to add VRAM in addition to the GPU. There is no room for that. Even if try to leverage a integrated GPU the RAM in a MBA is laid out flat ( horizontal) so sucks up lots of room. Again if going to shrink the case, there is not much excess space to play with. [ Although, the MBA doesn't have the optical drive the MBP 13" has, there is still space dedicated to making it thinner than blows away the space needs to remaining parts. So the MBA is in same boat as MBP 13" as far as getting a 'extra' discrete GPU to make up the difference. Either you get good enough GPU with the combo chip or just don't bother getting of the C2D. Which is exactly the state the MBA is in. ]
If going with an Intel option it would make more sense to wait until the Sandy Bridge mobiles arrive. The GPU is substantially better and can get by without sticking a redundant one in there. The upcoming i7-680UM isn't all that much better than the i7-660UM or 640UM that has been out for many months. Apple was sitting around all this time for a speed bump ?
Otherwise if going with "good enough" CPU and decent GPU and want to launch in Q4 .... AMD is a better choice.
Price point doesn't have t be lower just because smaller. Nor does the performance need to match that of a MB/MPB 13". If want to stick a relatively high price CPU in there it will be higher though. If has the upcoming AMD offering though that would be a push for a lower price point. It could survive against a MBP 13 since would have less "omph" and more cramped screen. So could be around same price point. ( It already is. the "better" MPB 13' is $1499. the MBA is $1499 ). They could drop the lower powered MBA to $1199 or $999 without impinging on the iPad price range.
It should be smaller if they shrink the screen. The objective is to loose weight. Unless make the case and screen glass smaller, it isn't going to weigh that much less. it will be differentiated from iPad by keyboard (and heavier).
The MBA would get product separation if it went on a heavy diet. Right now the MBP 13" and MBA differ in wieght by an amount equal to a full power cord/brick. That isn't much. There a Sony's that way much less. Much closer to iPad weight.
The catch-22 that Apple has is that if they want to stick with the all metal casing they are going to have to make a smaller case to shed weight. That is where the bigger weight saving bang for the buck comes from.
The 420M isn't exactly stellar.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-420M.35837.0.html
TDP around 30W all by itself. Where did you get 420M TDP numbers from?
Nvidia hasn't come out with a highly effective perf/watt GPU part in long time.
If Apple comes out with a 7" iPad, as an alternative,
I think it would be cool if Apple released an 11.6 inch diagonal high res IPS screen simultaneously in a big iPad, and a small, thin laptop. Not at the same price, but based around a common IPS LED screen.
iPad running iOS, and MacBook Air running full Mac OS 10.6.x with Keyboard and USB, etc.
Naturally they would not sell to the same people, but would offer options to DIFFERENT users who both want a device of that size class.
For the one who types a lot, and generates content on the fly, the full Mac OS MacBook Air is a fully-featured PC, in a small, light, modest power package that is very portable.
For the ones who want to take connectivity various places, or who want a touch interface to receive content, the iPad 11.6" screen would offer nicely readable, abundant screen real-estate, and a simple, thin, portable package, without un-needed folding, and a ready-to-run interface and long battery life, and a myriad of other tablet uses, with direct screen manipulation, and orientation-sensing control, and other iOS device features.
Unless they can properly engineer a way to dock an iPad onto a hinge and keyboard/cpu/gpu assembly that would up-rate the performance, and transition from iOS to Mac OS functionality. Something more than just adding a bluetooth keyboard and a folding case that turns an iPad into a laptop wanna-be.
Other folks have put 98-99% keyboards on 12" notebooks. Remember that is the diagonal measurement and these are 16:9 screens so they are wide. There is also some space around the keyboard "bowl" that they could possible strip off with some design changes.
Another challenge though would be getting that supersize trackpad if shrink the depth more.
If look at the gap between keyboard and trackpad there isn't much of one now. If you shave 0.8-1.0 inches off the depth that is more than that gap.
It is doable, since the trackpad wasn't always this big but it will be yet another trade-off making just for a smaller, lighter form factor.
The current 13 MBA doesn't sell nearly well enough to consider two sizes, does it? Especially with as thin and nice as the 13" MBP is. It isn't a behemoth, itself.
11" seems like a nice little niche for MBA to occupy.
But I am not sure how you figure your stats would work out.
What you describe wouldn't fit in an 11" case as thin or possibly thinner than the current MBA.
A discrete graphics card? not likely something that space-limited. That is MacBook Pro territory, anyway.
4GB of RAM isn't bad, especially if they consolidate it as one 4GB module, for space consideration.
SSD also makes sense, for space considerations.
Battery capacity depends on available volume, but the more complex, the more expensive.
i7 is likely far too hot and power hungry for such a thin, compactly packaged machine.
And all of that is likely FAR more expensive than 1000$, when the cost of the shell, screen, and every other component are added.
An intel ULV processor, or i3, maybe i5 BTO is more likely.
1280x800 resolution, full OS X, Minidisplay port, backlit keyboard. If all these are there, this is my new computer.
You don't hold a 11.6" laptop 12" away from your face. As such, the required PPI to qualify for a "retina" display would be much lower than iPhone.
Retina Display is not a technical term nor is it really an indication of anything tangible. It was invented by Apple Marketing to describe a screen with no discernable pixels at normal viewing distances, which was established at 300 ppi for a 3.5" screen you hold at a normal distance for a smartphone.
I really wish Apple wouldn't have invented a term like that, now every thread someone says "Hey, imagine this with a retina display" without any hint of sarcasm in their post... *sigh*.
You don't hold a 11.6" laptop 12" away from your face. As such, the required PPI to qualify for a "retina" display would be much lower than iPhone.
Retina Display is not a technical term nor is it really an indication of anything tangible. It was invented by Apple Marketing to describe a screen with no discernable pixels at normal viewing distances, which was established at 300 ppi for a 3.5" screen you hold at a normal distance for a smartphone.
I really wish Apple wouldn't have invented a term like that, now every thread someone says "Hey, imagine this with a retina display" without any hint of sarcasm in their post... *sigh*.
I would definitely be interested, but the question is: will it support 4+ GB of RAM so I can still run Win 7 and MS Office under VMware Fusion? This will be the deciding factor.