Eidorian
macrumors Penryn
I have to agree. Apple doesn't seem to have any direction with its product lines anymore. 😕
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15" MacBook Air Under Development?
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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
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.
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
macrumors 68040
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.
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.
Crazy isn't it.
No one needs a laptop thinner than 2".
hiptobesquare
macrumors regular
Who is it that is insane?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
A good idea
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.
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 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.
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
macrumors 68040
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 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.
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.
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.
macrumors 68040
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).
DHagan4755
macrumors 68020
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!
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!
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
macrumors 65816
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.
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.
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
macrumors 65816
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.
petermcphee
macrumors 6502a
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.
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.
