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15" MacBook Air
- Thread starter mrsir2009
- Start date
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I think it would likely be too heavy. I would prefer a "lighter" MBA... and for me that would be going in the wrong direction.
It is actually quite amazing how much difference the lighter weight of a MBA makes over a MBP. Once you are using one, I think it is hard for most people to go to a heavier machine.
I feel the same way about the desire for longer battery life. Personally, I am happy with the battery life in the current MBA. If the new machines are more energy efficient, I would rather have a lower weight than longer battery life.
Obviously, others would make different tradeoffs than I would. Still, I am clear to what I would want.
/Jim
TuffLuffJimmy
macrumors G3
Yeah! And they could make it a little thicker and put in a proper video card! Of course they should add a firewire 800 port and SD card slot some audio ports and of course a disc drive.
AAPLaday
Guest
No thicker thanks, the thinness of it rocks! And a 320m would suit it fine. After all its no MBP 😉
The MBA has been going in the right direction:
larger SSD, longer battery life and better graphics.
Keep it going Steve and lower the cost 😉
larger SSD, longer battery life and better graphics.
Keep it going Steve and lower the cost 😉
cleric
macrumors 6502a
I have good news for all of you they make a MacBook air that is a little thicker has more ports and a 15" screen! They even throw in a SuperDrive it's called a Macbook Pro.
If you think they need to add more ports or make it bigger you've missed the point. If anything they should be experimenting with 11 and 12" displays.
If you think they need to add more ports or make it bigger you've missed the point. If anything they should be experimenting with 11 and 12" displays.
Scottsdale
Suspended
I imagine a 15" MBA that has a footprint only slightly larger than the current 13.3" MBA. Imagine completely eliminating the bezel down to a thin 1/4" thick bead of aluminum. I don't understand all of the wasted space with the bezel anyways. We could get a 15" MBA that is only slightly larger than the 13.3" MBA. In addition, we could get a 13.3" MBA that basically just removes the space around the keyboard and eliminate bezel to reduce footprint of 13" MBA.
Maybe this is what SJ has in mind when he says taking the Macs to the next level? Seriously, I didn't see one bit of innovation in the new MBPs. Perhaps Apple will use the MBA to introduce change on a grand scale. There is no reason Apple cannot give us two MBAs that weigh 2.5 to 3.5 lb. that eliminate optical drives and bezels and wasted space around keyboards and tapering and just got down to the actual display, keyboard and trackpad... with just enough space for components under the keyboard. I envision an MBA that looks more like the iPad from the sides. A complete reduction in tapering to an MBA that's about 1/2" all the way across. It would eliminate wasted space in current MBAs.
I don't see any reason Apple couldn't decide to use the MBA to introduce a new line of Mac notebooks that focuses on ultraportability for all of us that want a better experience, don't want the weight of extra bezel, don't want weight and thickness of 10-hour batteries, just want a minimalistic MBA in 13" and 15" varieties. Maybe this revolution will start at WWDC? Maybe Apple does have real innovation awaiting us in new Macs? Maybe the MBP and MB got left out in the innovation department because Apple was working on a smaller footprint 13" MBA that weighs less, and a 15" MBA that looks like the current 13" MBA? We shouldn't give up on Apple just yet. Apple did introduce the v 2,1 MBA only eight months after the original disastrous MBA. Apple could learn and see that all users don't have the same desires as MBP users.
I really hope WWDC brings the "REAL" Mac transformation taking it to the "next level." It will surely be disappointing if Apple proves it hasn't innovated Mac notebooks at all for a year! There has been nothing in terms of innovation in Mac notebooks for over a year. Surely Apple hasn't truly forgotten about all of its Mac notebook users when it more than ever is deciding it's a mobility consumer electronics company. The iPad brought a new level of beyond smartphone, maybe the new MBA will bring a new level of ultraportability in the mobility future of Apple's Macs. Maybe we just need to expect more of Apple and give it until WWDC to deliver. Maybe this is the Mac of the future in an MBA that is mobility in real Mac computing?
Maybe this is what SJ has in mind when he says taking the Macs to the next level? Seriously, I didn't see one bit of innovation in the new MBPs. Perhaps Apple will use the MBA to introduce change on a grand scale. There is no reason Apple cannot give us two MBAs that weigh 2.5 to 3.5 lb. that eliminate optical drives and bezels and wasted space around keyboards and tapering and just got down to the actual display, keyboard and trackpad... with just enough space for components under the keyboard. I envision an MBA that looks more like the iPad from the sides. A complete reduction in tapering to an MBA that's about 1/2" all the way across. It would eliminate wasted space in current MBAs.
I don't see any reason Apple couldn't decide to use the MBA to introduce a new line of Mac notebooks that focuses on ultraportability for all of us that want a better experience, don't want the weight of extra bezel, don't want weight and thickness of 10-hour batteries, just want a minimalistic MBA in 13" and 15" varieties. Maybe this revolution will start at WWDC? Maybe Apple does have real innovation awaiting us in new Macs? Maybe the MBP and MB got left out in the innovation department because Apple was working on a smaller footprint 13" MBA that weighs less, and a 15" MBA that looks like the current 13" MBA? We shouldn't give up on Apple just yet. Apple did introduce the v 2,1 MBA only eight months after the original disastrous MBA. Apple could learn and see that all users don't have the same desires as MBP users.
I really hope WWDC brings the "REAL" Mac transformation taking it to the "next level." It will surely be disappointing if Apple proves it hasn't innovated Mac notebooks at all for a year! There has been nothing in terms of innovation in Mac notebooks for over a year. Surely Apple hasn't truly forgotten about all of its Mac notebook users when it more than ever is deciding it's a mobility consumer electronics company. The iPad brought a new level of beyond smartphone, maybe the new MBA will bring a new level of ultraportability in the mobility future of Apple's Macs. Maybe we just need to expect more of Apple and give it until WWDC to deliver. Maybe this is the Mac of the future in an MBA that is mobility in real Mac computing?
Ya see, they'd make the 15" Air NO thicker than the current one. They WOULDN'T add a superdrive either. That ruins the concept. I reckon the main things they should upgrade is the battery, the hard drive and maybe the processor. And they could increase the battery life greatly if there was no superdrive. And isn't that the point? Just make the features the Air already has greater! I'm sure they could also manage another USB port too😀
Yes, the battery should be the main thing they should work of if making a bigger MacBook Air. These are the changes I reckon should happen:
1. Bigger/better battery.
2. An extra USB port.
3. More powerful processor.
4. Glass multitouch trackpad (just like MBP)
5. Bigger/Better SSD.
If all those changes were made I'd buy a 15" Model in a second!😀
I have a different priority order:
1) Lighter
2) 4GB of memory
3) Larger SSD
I certainly do not care about more ports, superdrives, etc. I am glad that it has one USB port, because it does come in handy from time to time. Buying the superdrive was a waste for me... I never use it.
4GB of memory is just more contemporary now, and should be included.
To the extent that battery performance, or energy efficiency improves... I'll take lighter weight over longer battery life.
/Jim
I certainly don't care about the superdrive. I have one in my MBP and I barely ever use it. One thing though: How do you install iWork on a MacBook Air? Because on my MacBook Pro it came on a DVD 😕
Scottsdale
Suspended
My priorities differ further.
I want to take a 3 lb. MBA. Maximize the performance capabilities around a 3 lb. MBA that gets a solid 4 hours between charges. I don't want ANY of the weight to go towards extra battery life as it adds weight and thickness I would rarely benefit from. I don't want a 7-hour battery at 3 lb. because it means we give up performance capabilities.
So I make priorities within the given constraints of weight and thickness. I am willing to accept an MBA that is .75" thick throughout or .5" thick but that weighs not an ounce over 3 lb. Finally, determine that it would be extremely RARE that I would ever need more than a 4-hour battery (I imagine 95% of all Mac notebook users don't need more than a 4-hour battery). Use all of these parameters to give me the ultimate performance possible from this MBA's weight, size/thickness, and required battery results.
Order of priority
1. 2+ GHz CPU (I recommend Core i7-640LM at 2.13 GHz [boost 2.93 GHz])
2. Nvidia 320m or discrete GPU (I recommend ATI 5430 at 7W)
3. 4 GB RAM or two RAM slots (I recommend BTO 8 GB RAM)
4. 256 GB SSD or 160 GB Intel SSD (I recommend Intel 160 GB SSD)
5. IPS HD Display
6. Glass Trackpad
7. USB 3.0/LightPeak
8. Intel Wireless Display Technology
9. Aluminum-capped Keyboard
This is how I would make the MBA. Take the thickness resrictions, weight limitation, and ONLY whatever it takes for a 4-hour battery. Add all of the desired priorities and give us the best MBA possible at 3 lb. with 4-hour battery.
Anyone that wants a 10-hour battery can buy an extended battery that adds another pound and another 1/2" thickness via an external bottom mount battery device. Basically like Dell or Sony or other batteries that are thicker and make entire laptop measure thicker if want extended capabilities. This would just plug into the bottom and add weight and thickness for those who actually want to bog down their MBA with a 10-hour battery when the vast majority of us would never use such an "option."
No thanks on the 15" screen. All the MBA really needs is 4GB of RAM and the 320M. Everything else takes Apple's best notebook out of the lightweight/ultraportable class.
Nitrocide
macrumors 6502
http://www.apple.com/iwork/download-trial/
I doubt the full version came on the disc with your MBP unless you bought iWork when you ordered the MBP? If that is the case though im sure you can fish out the installer package from the macbook pro installation dvd.