No more doors please! It really is anti apple to add more moving parts isn't it? I would put less bevel into the sides allowing for the ports to come flush out to the sides like the newer designed MBPs.. my $.02
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2010 Macbook air Design
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No more doors please! It really is anti apple to add more moving parts isn't it? I would put less bevel into the sides allowing for the ports to come flush out to the sides like the newer designed MBPs.. my $.02
This vid kinda sold the air with ssd as an option for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PqD_ULy-TM
I think the door is fine... maybe add another... it's the hinges that need work!
Honestly though, There is no reason the next air should be more than 10mm thick (like the Adamo XPS). Right now the thickest thing inside the case that can't be made thinner is the hard drive at 5mm. add a mm to each side of that for the outer casing, and that gets us to 7mm. That means the screen has to be 3mm or less (LG revealed a 6.9mm thick HUGE LED TV at CES... they should be able to make a 3mm thick 13" screen). I bet if it were 10mm uniform thickness, it would have even more space inside than the current air.
The next question is the CPU, ram, and GPU, but those have all been discussed thoroughly.
Making the Air uniform in thickness or taking some of its tapered bezel away just isnt going to happen. One of the key design elements of the Air is the way it seems to levitate and look even thinner then it actually is when sitting on a flat surface. That is entirely due to the tapered shape of the chassis. Take that away and you have an Adamo. Apple doesnt make Adamos.
New feature in MBA will be 'keyboard'
The new MBA will differ from the current one primarily not in CPU, RAM specs as most people already mentioned, but in form size and human-computer-interaction:
a) Smaller overall laptop size by trimming a bit from left and right of the keyboard and screen. 13" Screen size will remain because is optimal both in terms of size and screen real estate (12" is simply too small for any usable computer).
b) Now, the biggest difference will be in the keyboard, or the lack of it! The new MBA will use a touch sensitive interface as keyboard ala iPhone. This will allow people to use different keyboard types and/or key spacing, move keys around etc. A patent application from apple surfaced some time ago, that described how to implement "micro-bumps" on a touch sensitive area. They might use it for this MBA incarnation or for a later one, but it seems clear that such a patent is directed toward a keyboard interface in mind.
c) High-res screen is almost sure.
Hope this helps.
The new MBA will differ from the current one primarily not in CPU, RAM specs as most people already mentioned, but in form size and human-computer-interaction:
a) Smaller overall laptop size by trimming a bit from left and right of the keyboard and screen. 13" Screen size will remain because is optimal both in terms of size and screen real estate (12" is simply too small for any usable computer).
b) Now, the biggest difference will be in the keyboard, or the lack of it! The new MBA will use a touch sensitive interface as keyboard ala iPhone. This will allow people to use different keyboard types and/or key spacing, move keys around etc. A patent application from apple surfaced some time ago, that described how to implement "micro-bumps" on a touch sensitive area. They might use it for this MBA incarnation or for a later one, but it seems clear that such a patent is directed toward a keyboard interface in mind.
c) High-res screen is almost sure.
Hope this helps.
Yes, I agree, but does the whole thing have to be a wedge? If they kept a uniform thickness until about 3cm from the edge and tapered it there, the whole thing could be thinner overall and still look like it's floating.
I thought the touch keyboard with active bumps was slated for the tablet? It would make sense to use it for the air, but then why not just make it a larger tablet? If the keyboard is already like a touchscreen, why not go all the way?
Yes, I agree with you. The keyboard mentioned will be the technology used in the tablet. The MBA needs to be workable as a primary computer. Many people need not just the tactile feedback but also the actual keys themselves to touch their fingers on continually to ensure proper key positioning. In addition, it makes no sense on the MBA, NONE. The MBA has space for a keyboard, whereas the tablet will need the space that's the keyboard for the display also.
I believe the next "new feature" on the MBA will be an incredible display. It will be either OLED, HD (higher resolution), or 3D.
Let's say the display is not the next great new feature on the MBA, what do you think it might be? Black aluminum? Carbon fiber? Smaller form factor? Aluminum capped keys? 8-hour battery? Dedicated graphics? 2/4 Ram slots? What else??? What are your ideas??? What will be the one defining new feature???
Given the 3D at CES, I don't see how. A big part to non-active 3D has to do with light and the quality of active 3D isn't that great. Also, the costs would be ridiculous.
Wouldn't stop them from the 3D BTO option, just like the cost of the initial MBA SSDs
Yes, I don't see such a display as necessarily standard. I do believe that the displays are the next logical evolution item in Macs. Sure they're nice with LED but they aren't advanced compared to competitor displays. In addition, the MBA has a poor quality display compared to the MBPs. Since the MBA is targeting the premium market, an advanced display seems reasonable.
I obviously consider the OLED to be most possible, while HD is very possible, and 3D would be a stretch. I just think it would make sense for Apple to leverage its LG display contract to get a revolutionary display. I think the MBA is Apple's test platform. And OLED is now very possible as the technology is ready and large production could reduce costs to within the range needed for an MBA (even if it's just the high-end or BTO option).
Sure 3D is unlikely, but I don't know that the costs are out of line for the MBA?
Anyone else wondering if the MBA will get an update at all? It has been 7.5 months since we have seen an update on the MBA and MBP, so it seems likely based on the past updates. However, I sure don't like the lack of MBA rumors. I think the update could be a silent one if the MBA retains its form factor. If Apple waits to show it off at the 27th mobility event, it's probably going to be a big deal.
EIGHT DAYS AND COUNTING...
I think the MBA will definitely see an update this year. Its a niche machine but sales have been pretty strong given that. Not sure the media Event later this month will include that announcement.
If the new Air is released early this year I would expect a processor speed bump, possibly more Ram, slightly more more storage (160gb), a battery life tweak, and maybe an improved trackpad (touch sensitive but plastic like the new mouse).
If the release is later this year we may see new CPU/Graphics. I'm afraid thats about all I see in this economy. No screen resolution change, no OLED, no complete redesign. Evolutionary not revolutionary.
That said, if most of those evolutionary changes appeared I'd upgrade. And I'd happily eat crow if Apple does manage a full redesign or something revolutionary in the AIR.
agreed, and what i am saying is simply bring the bevel out to the sides more for the ports not remove the bevel. There are two ways it bevels, from the side to the bottom center and from the front to the back. Does that make sense?
Nah, they'res no way Apple will remove optical drives in the MacBook Pro line for at least 5 years, a "Pro" computer has to be able to be compatible with all kinds of storage, however a Carbon fiber 13" MB, MBP or MB Air would be supercool
When I first got a MBA I wondered if for the sake of advertising "worlds thinnest notebook" Apple made too many design compromises. I wondered if tapering it a bit less would have allowed for better cooling, more standardized parts, more battery life, more ports etc.
But the MBA is by far my all time favorite notebook for mobility. Nothing else even comes close. And I wonder if they had made it differently if this would be the case.
Maybe we'll find out in the next major redesign of the MBA!
like most everyone else - longer battery life and more memory would be nice.
that said, everything else is perfect imho.
my Rev C with the ssd is light, powerful and impressive performance
yet if Apple change design, screen, ports, bezel, whatever I'll still flip out the card on the day of release and buy one.
for my use it's ideal and the only time the fan kicks in is either when I've too many Safari windows open or am importing/ripping from my external LaCie dvd
other than that the heat generated is acceptable and warms the lap on cooler mornings
that said, everything else is perfect imho.
my Rev C with the ssd is light, powerful and impressive performance
yet if Apple change design, screen, ports, bezel, whatever I'll still flip out the card on the day of release and buy one.
for my use it's ideal and the only time the fan kicks in is either when I've too many Safari windows open or am importing/ripping from my external LaCie dvd
other than that the heat generated is acceptable and warms the lap on cooler mornings
Air wishlist
Those were my thoughts too. I see keyboards disappear on all Apple products over time. So I'd expect two screens, the one in the position of the keyboard has touch, the other "real" display has high resolution graphics. The keyboard could be application-dependant. A game would provide different controls than a word processor. Numbers might display a numeric keypad at the press of a virtual button, etceteras. No more internationalisation problems either (here in Europe there are many languages to support, with different keyboards).
But the answer to the question is certainly shaped by whatever Apple introduces on the 27th. Supposing that "iSlate" is ARM based tablet, and if it also has touch-based iWorks, then I would expect the Air to evolve to be the missing link between the slate and the macbook pro, providing a nice continuum of products from iPod to MacBook Pro.
Filip
Those were my thoughts too. I see keyboards disappear on all Apple products over time. So I'd expect two screens, the one in the position of the keyboard has touch, the other "real" display has high resolution graphics. The keyboard could be application-dependant. A game would provide different controls than a word processor. Numbers might display a numeric keypad at the press of a virtual button, etceteras. No more internationalisation problems either (here in Europe there are many languages to support, with different keyboards).
But the answer to the question is certainly shaped by whatever Apple introduces on the 27th. Supposing that "iSlate" is ARM based tablet, and if it also has touch-based iWorks, then I would expect the Air to evolve to be the missing link between the slate and the macbook pro, providing a nice continuum of products from iPod to MacBook Pro.
Filip
11'' anyone?
Maybe it's just me, but to me the whole point of the MBA should be that it's a machine that is powerful yet so thin, light and small that you forget you're carrying it. As it is currently, I find it still too big for travelling or using in cramped areas. Yet I don't want a netbook: I love it that the MBA runs on a good processor and is well built. And I want MacOS of course!
If they could release an MBA with an 11'' screen as well as FW I would buy one immediately.
Maybe it's just me, but to me the whole point of the MBA should be that it's a machine that is powerful yet so thin, light and small that you forget you're carrying it. As it is currently, I find it still too big for travelling or using in cramped areas. Yet I don't want a netbook: I love it that the MBA runs on a good processor and is well built. And I want MacOS of course!
If they could release an MBA with an 11'' screen as well as FW I would buy one immediately.
I suppose the tablet will be Apple's way to further revolutionize user input technology. We know Apple has done well with it in the iPhone, and it would make all the sense in the world to have it on a tablet (as space shouldn't be wasted for a physical keyboard.
The problems with removing the keyboard from MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pros are that users still need the best method of input that is possible. For fast typing, the typer needs to have a physical place to rest their fingers. I don't see how the computer will not accept resting one's fingers on the board as typing and input. Over time, voice technology and input recognition using voices has gotten much better. However, I don't think either method will replace the keyboard on machines that are meant PRIMARILY for tasking functions. Is one going to be able to type their term paper as quickly on a keyless panel? More importantly, and the reason most computers are purchased, will the user be able to perform their workload on the computer as quickly with the keyless panel?
The tablet will be okay without the keyboard as the majority of function is to entertain, surf the web, read the paper, check email, reply with short messages, and etc. The Mac still has to function as a computer.
I see alternative keyboards being "OPTIONS" for iMacs and sold individually long before it's standard on a Mac notebook. I see user input evolving over time, but not as fast as you see it. Over time, I am sure the tablet will become powerful enough for the average home user/consumer to do all their computing tasks better. But even it will change to slowly incorporate features of input advances. At first, it appears Apple wants to make it "feel" like a keyboard, so surely the "feel" should go away as it's unnecessary but learned.
Alvi said:
I would take a bet on that. Five years? I see optical drives gone long before the keyboard. The only thing that has saved the optical drive might be Blu Ray. And if Apple has its way, Blu Ray will NEVER see the Mac notebook! Apple wants everything to be digitally deliverable over the Internet. Even software can be distributed very easily on much faster USB flash drives. The problem is lowering costs to the $0.10 that the CD/DVD cost to manufacture. I have seen a few apps that come on a flash USB drive already.
absolutely - don't be surprised to see an SD card slot squeezed into the Air in the future thus doing away with the need for an optical drive altogether.
between that, the new usb3 and net downloads, all media can be delivered/accessed.
(flash and SD cards are costing bugger-all to manufacture these days - my local Post Office is retailing 4gb usb sticks for $10 so the mfg cost would have to be sub-$1; possibly as low as 50 cents even now)
I'm thinking Mac OSX startup discs will be a thing of the past soonish, with a wee SD card arriving in the ever-decreasing Mac packaging
That's a very good idea.
I keep wondering if Apple will something totally off-beat like they did with integrating the ram into the logic board and having intel manufacture custom CPUs for it.
Perhaps the 1.8" drive will be replaced with a proprietary SSD that is thin and flat. Perhaps they will have a charging pad that it just sits on instead of the magsafe. Perhaps they will have a transparent OLED display???
There are a lot of emerging technologies that could be showcased in the next revision of the MBA... Apple only NEEDS to choose one to make it the 'must have' notebook.
Prediction: incremental upgrade
- won't happen until after the iPad 3G
- i3 with Intel GMA - worse graphics performance
- more RAM
- glass trackpad
that's it
I would like:
- SSD with TRIM. please, i'm begging you.
- better hinge. this won't happen until the design refresh, next year at minimum
- keep Nvidia graphics. maybe they will come to Arrandale someday.
- matte screen. i'm doubtful this will come to any 13" display
I'm going to revisit this list when the new MBAs come out to see how I did.
- won't happen until after the iPad 3G
- i3 with Intel GMA - worse graphics performance
- more RAM
- glass trackpad
that's it
I would like:
- SSD with TRIM. please, i'm begging you.
- better hinge. this won't happen until the design refresh, next year at minimum
- keep Nvidia graphics. maybe they will come to Arrandale someday.
- matte screen. i'm doubtful this will come to any 13" display
I'm going to revisit this list when the new MBAs come out to see how I did.