And yet under his leadership, we had a MacBook, 2 sizes of MBA, and 3 sizes of MBP 🤔
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Apple May Still Be Planning to Reintroduce 12-Inch MacBook
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A 12" Macbook needs to be priced higher than a 13" MBA because making a significantly smaller laptop actually costs more money. You need to be more precise, use smaller components, and optimize space better which will lead to a more expensive laptop.
So people need to stop thinking that a 12" MB should cost less than a 13" MBA. It didn't cost less before, it's not going to cost less in the future.
I can't see it coming back any time soon as it would be far too similar to the still available M1 based 13" MacBook Air which is the "budget" MacBook.
That is the issue and is why I am leaning toward betting Apple probably will NOT putting out a 12” MacBook as this is just a rumor for click-bait.
It would need to cost about $999 for the base model that would include probably old tech and a M1 chip. Doesn’t look like the road map, but just guessing..
If supply chains see 12” screens, it is probably and iPad..
I am with you this one. Apple's MacBook lineup has to be the easiest lineup that makes sense, unlike for instance iPad. They have 3 sizes for PRO's - 13, 14 and 16 and 2 13" AIR models for price conscious general public - $999 and $1199.
12" and 15" AIR or whatever they would call it makes sense. Their new lines up could be as follow. Apple could continue to use AIR for all their non-PRO models and that would indicate that the laptops are for instance have less power, less powers and slightly worse screens etc.
I would see Apple sticking with something like this
MacBook Pro - 13, 14 and 16 inch for PRO consumers
MacBook Air - 12, 13 and 15 inch for general public
If they introduce 12", they simply could replace and kill the existing M1 Air and that would nicely fit into the lineup - offer it at $999, then 13" at current $1199 and then new 15" and $1499.
Apple could also kill the AIR name all together and just rebrand all non-PRO models to simply MacBook.
I'm still using my 2016 model. It's a beautiful little computer that is powerful enough for my writing and research work. Not powerful for graphics, but that's not what I use it for anyway. I love it. In fact, I think I'd definitely upgrade if they release it with M2.
I think if apple bring back the 12” MacBook it’s likely going to be an entry level device, replacing the M1 Air, this will brig the MB line up in line with the iPad… (iPad > iPad Air > iPad Pro… MacBook > MacBook Air > MacBook Pro)
It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s the colourful white bezelled MacBook we saw rumoured that they originally wanted to launch, and possibly the reason for the delay is because the M1 iMac in its current design hasn’t sold as well as expected (possibly due to people not being overly keen on the design language).
With the upcoming 15” Air coming there won’t be a need for a device in between the Air and Pro IMO…
It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s the colourful white bezelled MacBook we saw rumoured that they originally wanted to launch, and possibly the reason for the delay is because the M1 iMac in its current design hasn’t sold as well as expected (possibly due to people not being overly keen on the design language).
With the upcoming 15” Air coming there won’t be a need for a device in between the Air and Pro IMO…
I’d be happy if they just release the 12 inch in the old chassis with a newest chip and call it MacBook SE and keep the price low. the original 12 inch had a small board but I don’t think they’ll have problem putting the whole apple silicon architecture on it
My thoughts is that they will repurpose the previous MBA form factor into the MacBook SE and give it periodic updates while retaining the ~ $999 price tag. I really don't see them creating a whole new form/design for an entry point MacBook. They will repurpose older designs like they did for the Apple Watch SEs, the iPhone SEs, the Mac mini and even the base iPads for years for their entry points.
That’s a possibility as well. That’s exactly the second scenario I had in my head 😁 MacBook SE, MacBook, the. MacBook Pro.
Personally it seems to me that at certain latitudes you have some psychological limit to associate ‘small sizes’ with ‘great prices’. It could be an age problem, that is, young people who have never seen miniaturized technology cost more than the big one, but it is not so, because many are elderly, maybe not of technology, and weigh a kilo of technology like a kilo of potatoes: 2 kilos is “better” than a kilo.
MacBook 12” is not and will not be a cheap laptop, that's why there are the Air, which from light laptop to presentation has become in a few years the entry level laptop. A new 12-inch MacBook could cost little if it recycled screens and parts of other devices, Mac or iPad, but so it is not and it cannot be because there are no screens, keyboards, cases to be recovered ready for that type of operation, as happened for Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple TV.
They are more likely not to produce it rather than make it cheap.
And I close, because I got tired of trying to make people think who speak out of prejudice, because if we were talking about an 18” MacBook no one would have to complain, coincidentally.
I repeat, weigh technology like vegetables, there is something really bizarre about this approach, which is the same as “let’s delete the iPhone mini for a cheap Max, everyone would like it!” instead it sells less than the mini that you have so ridiculed and hated. In life it also takes acumen, fortunately many abound.
My mom uses a MacBook 12 and I just got an Air 13. Not sure how they would differentiate the two devices other than display size. I suppose they could eliminate the "feet" on the Air 13 design to make it even thinner.
I think people are really under estimating the size difference between the MacBook 12 and the Air 13. This is the best picture I could find that shows off the difference.
I had the MacBook Air 11" and loved the form factor. I've had a 13" MacBook Air now for a number of years, but I miss the ultra-portability. I would purchase a new MacBook Air 12" on day 1.
True, but it's an absolute non issue for me because both my iPad and MacBook tether to my iPhone.... one contract, one monthly fee and one piece of hardware to depreciate... I will NEVER pay Apple TWICE for a redundant modem or SoftBank TWICE for two separate contracts when I have one in my main daily device: my iPhone.
But it was distinct products lines with screen options to match. Why would I buy a 12" MacBook vs a 13" Air? Or a 13" MacBook Pro over a 15" Air? It gets even more confusing when you mix in all the different variations of Mx chips. In the iBook/PowerBook days and even the first Intel decade, you had defined classes that didn't overlap as much. Consumer notebook, Ultra portable, Pro notebook.
No. this is no longer the case. The iPad AIR is already ENTIRELY capable of running Mac OS at a lower price point than the MacBook Air... Tim just chose not to let it so as not to cannibalise MacBook sales.
It would not be hard to house the battery and gubbins behind a 75% keyboard and have the screen on a hinged lid and could still be done well below the cost point of the MacBook Air. You pay more for size of screen, materials used, storage space, weight and subsequent transport costs than reductions in size causing price increases in precision.
In the iPhone you are paying more for the cellular device and the top quality stainless steel and glass construction than for compactness... Not to mention the camera is increasingly expensive, year after year.
After all, the Pro Max costs more than the Pro, costs more than the regular, costs more than the Mini... So your smaller is pricier argument doesn't hold much water.
Heck, the iPad MINI could be made a palm top running Mac OS since it's TOTAL BOM is only about $200 so with a hinge and keyboard would still be well below $300.
Anything with an M1 could be made a fully fledged device at the drop of a hat, but CrippleOS and the Stockholm App Store make Tim too much money to open it all up.
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Distinct product lines
You're assuming the M2 MBP stays in the line-up. Unlikely.
The MacBook lineup came with multiple Intel chips even within distinct product lines before the Mx chips.
Actually with the current capabilities of the new silicon based chip M1-M2 ( M3 later this year?). It would sell like hot cakes (depending on the price ) here in Japan. Here with all the subways-train commuting up and down everywhere. An 12” inch MacBook (at least 2 usb-c please) it will be so light. It would sale like hotdogs, when it came out even with all the complains and issues it was selling here in Japan. The most you can carry here is a 14” tops , a 16” no one wants one. Not even with all the features. Here is about how much you can carry back and forth . An M chip based 12” inch MacBook with all current colors like the iMac would be a sure hit!
You're right, I went at it as if the thinnest part of the rMB was its overall thickness, but the tappered "trick" used also means Apple reduces the thickness where it can because there's nothing requiring more space - while the current MBA (which looks a lot like the current MBPs) appears boxier due to the even thickness.
Right. And it seems that there are a lot of people who don't quite get that. If one travels a lot every once matters.
Tbh, I think that you're probably right.
The iPad Pro 11 inch is basically the MacBook 12 inch. The only thing holding it back, is Apple's inability to make iPadOS far more powerful.
I don't think that there's a conspiracy theory about this - it's obvious that all hands are on deck for the VR product and there's just no focus on the next significant evolutionary steps for iPadOS.
My evidence for this? Stage Manager.
I have my doubts about a 12" MacBook returning. Apple wants to keep the MacBook line as simple as possible and there should be only two MacBook Air and two MacBook Pro models available by this summer.