15" MacBook Air Under Development?

[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]

What about a Netbook

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"

 

[GoCubsGo]

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!

 

[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.