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Apple Prepping 11.6'' MacBook Air and New iPod Touch with 3MP Camera
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I moved to an 11.6" ultraportable (netbook plus) when Apple didn't/couldn't get an i-series processor into their 13" MBs. I've been extremely happy with its portability and haven't had any problems with screen room. The space is as important as the weight when throwing things in my bag, since I have to elbow someone in the groin just to make it into the train in the morning. Would have to consider a smaller MBA depending on the price point.
I'm sure it will be underpowered, but so is this. And that would have native OSX.
I'm sure it will be underpowered, but so is this. And that would have native OSX.
Ah yes, true - I've used the figure so often I didn't mentally process my incorrect syntaxI don't mean to be pedantic, but for the MBA to be 50% lighter than the 13" MBP, it would have to weigh 2.25 lbs:
4.5lbs x .50 = 2.25lbs. As it stands, the 3lb MBA is 2/3 the weight of the 13" MBP, or 33% lighter.
The 13" MBP is, however, 50% heavier than the MBA:
3lbs x .50 = 1.5lbs. 3 lbs + 1.5lbs = 4.5lbs (13 MBP weight)
I'm curious to see how Apple positions this in terms of price and specs.
If they make it powerful, it seems like it'd be targeted towards business users who need power, but don't want to lug something heavy.
If it's more netbook like, there'd have to be other features (besides the light and small) to continue justifying the higher price tag.
I'd be really surprised if Apple dropped the price to approach netbook levels. If it's under a $1000, I'll eat my words.
If they make it powerful, it seems like it'd be targeted towards business users who need power, but don't want to lug something heavy.
If it's more netbook like, there'd have to be other features (besides the light and small) to continue justifying the higher price tag.
I'd be really surprised if Apple dropped the price to approach netbook levels. If it's under a $1000, I'll eat my words.
yes, except for a different CPU (+ Intel IGP), decreased weight and screen size, I don't think we will see major "changes"... if it gets thinner and lighter, how should have more features than the current MBAir while not excluding anything we have now? If they don't EOL the current MBAir, why would they introduce a "better specced", cheaper and thinner version (suppose it's cheaper)?
Of course apple could introduce the first touch-screen MAC with this "new" miniAir... but, I don't think so, although it would make MUCH more sense than a touch-screen iMac.. who wants to use his finger to control a PC attached to a 21-27" screen? 11,6" would be much more useable in this respect..
It's just too early to merge the iPad and the mac into a truly revolutionary product.. while people are getting more and more comfortable with touch-screen-devices, especially "older" people, are not that interested in touch-screens... (I just state that based on my experience)
I'm in shock! Sounds like an iPad with keyboard, but with an "i" processor?? I can't imagine the Air would have more than one size, but I can always hope. In my mind I was actually thinking they might bump the screen size up slightly to make for room for more ports etc.
Guess we'll wait and see.
Guess we'll wait and see.
This news of the 11.6 screen might really irk some lovers of the MBA if it did turn out to be true, but it places guys like myself right into the market now to buy an MBA - guys who wanted a portable with OS X and felt cheated by the iPad and didn't buy one.
Obviously I'd prefer Apple to have both 11.6 and 13inch MBAs to satisfy everyone and I think it won't be true because Apple should know that people with MBAs actually do work on them, they aren't a consumption device like the iPad and 11.6 is a tad on the small side for many of those users.
Obviously I'd prefer Apple to have both 11.6 and 13inch MBAs to satisfy everyone and I think it won't be true because Apple should know that people with MBAs actually do work on them, they aren't a consumption device like the iPad and 11.6 is a tad on the small side for many of those users.
Netbook??
I guess I don't get it. It was pretty clear when Jobs introduced the iPad in January that he has no interest in netbooks. I quote, "Netbooks aren't good at anything."
To me, it doesn't make any sense that Apple would go smaller because of all the compromises that would likely have to be made as we see in the current netbooks. IMHO, 13.3" screen is the minimum screen size Apple thinks is acceptable to the masses for a computer (I would agree. I used a 10" IBM Transnote for a while (touchscreen) and it was just too small to be satisfying and to do anything meaningful regardless of computer speed). The iPad has been billed by Jobs as filling the place in between the iPhone/iPod and ultra portables such as the Air.
As for the minimum size for a full size keyboard, I think the current aluminum keyboard that comes with iMacs & the Mac Pro is as small as you can go, minus the numeric keypad. There is about 1/4 inch on each side of the outside keys. When you take that into account, you get 11.25" wide, 4.5" high, and 11.75" diagonal. That dimension would easily fit with an 11.7" screen if that were to be the dimension.
I guess I don't get it. It was pretty clear when Jobs introduced the iPad in January that he has no interest in netbooks. I quote, "Netbooks aren't good at anything."
To me, it doesn't make any sense that Apple would go smaller because of all the compromises that would likely have to be made as we see in the current netbooks. IMHO, 13.3" screen is the minimum screen size Apple thinks is acceptable to the masses for a computer (I would agree. I used a 10" IBM Transnote for a while (touchscreen) and it was just too small to be satisfying and to do anything meaningful regardless of computer speed). The iPad has been billed by Jobs as filling the place in between the iPhone/iPod and ultra portables such as the Air.
As for the minimum size for a full size keyboard, I think the current aluminum keyboard that comes with iMacs & the Mac Pro is as small as you can go, minus the numeric keypad. There is about 1/4 inch on each side of the outside keys. When you take that into account, you get 11.25" wide, 4.5" high, and 11.75" diagonal. That dimension would easily fit with an 11.7" screen if that were to be the dimension.
If you REALLY need more ports, you're not really in the market for an Air. And if you increase the screen size to something bigger than 13,3", you increase the weight too, assuming they keep the current hardware configuration. Apple is all about making everything thinner and lighter (which is great in effect) AND differentiation between their products... this is another reason why I think a decrease in screen size makes sense.
What are the compromises? Except for the screen resolution (1280 x 800 vs. 1280 x 786) and the nice CPU, what does the MBAir have that most netbooks don't?(Aside from the "DESIGN" including thinness etc.). ASUS EeePCs have great keyboards (those that are bigger than 10"), more USB ports etc..
IF apple is about to release a 11,6" Mac, it will have everything the current Air has + X .... because less ports really make it unusable (1 USB, Audio in/out, + some way to connect to external screen is a minimum!)...
I'm in shock! Sounds like an iPad with keyboard, but with an "i" processor?? I can't imagine the Air would have more than one size, but I can always hope. In my mind I was actually thinking they might bump the screen size up slightly to make for room for a ports etc.
Guess we'll wait and see.
What are the compromises? Except for the screen resolution (1280 x 800 vs. 1280 x 786) and the nice CPU, what does the MBAir have that most netbooks don't?(Aside from the "DESIGN" including thinness etc.). ASUS EeePCs have great keyboards (those that are bigger than 10"), more USB ports etc..
IF apple is about to release a 11,6" Mac, it will have everything the current Air has + X .... because less ports really make it unusable (1 USB, Audio in/out, + some way to connect to external screen is a minimum!)...
Hooray if this is real! The 11.6 form factor would be awesome for anyone who uses their laptop as a portable the minority of the time. A 24" LCD goes for under $200 these days, so for students, attorneys, executives, etc, who aren't media/design professionals, having a tiny laptop for travel and full-size screen at office/home/dorm is an ideal setup.
I'm guessing I'm not the only one who felt the 12" iBook & powerbook had a better form factor than the 13" MBA. For those of you who NEED a 13" screen, Apple already has the 13" MBP and the 13" MB. It makes sense for Apple to further differentiate the MBA from those by making it smaller. I hope they've found a way to increase the battery life a little, add an SD slot and 4GB of RAM.
Now if only Apple would rename it the 11.6" Macbook Air Duo and sell a full dock with optical drive, full ports, bigger speakers, and an optional built-in HD for Time Machine...
I'm guessing I'm not the only one who felt the 12" iBook & powerbook had a better form factor than the 13" MBA. For those of you who NEED a 13" screen, Apple already has the 13" MBP and the 13" MB. It makes sense for Apple to further differentiate the MBA from those by making it smaller. I hope they've found a way to increase the battery life a little, add an SD slot and 4GB of RAM.
Now if only Apple would rename it the 11.6" Macbook Air Duo and sell a full dock with optical drive, full ports, bigger speakers, and an optional built-in HD for Time Machine...
I see now. Some people DO do graphics work with magnifying glasses.
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My gosh. I really hope Jony I've is not behind the design of this. If so, I may have to wait for Rev.2. I want it ASAP but I can't risk it if he designed it.
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To be fair, Ives didn't have an epic fail on any other product that I know about, just the iPhone 4.
Too small, unless ...
To those saying 11.6 inch screen would be too small to work with, that would be true ... unless it's a retina display.
Think about it: by packing that many pixels into a display, Apple could afford to make a smaller sized Macbook screen without sacrificing quality. This will also let it keep its premium pricing for the Air, because it comes with a premium feature that netbooks don't have.
As for typing on an 11.6 machine, Apple's proven a software keyboard on the 9 inch iPad is serviceable. I'm sure they can design a decent physical one within the constraints of the 11.6.
To those saying 11.6 inch screen would be too small to work with, that would be true ... unless it's a retina display.
Think about it: by packing that many pixels into a display, Apple could afford to make a smaller sized Macbook screen without sacrificing quality. This will also let it keep its premium pricing for the Air, because it comes with a premium feature that netbooks don't have.
As for typing on an 11.6 machine, Apple's proven a software keyboard on the 9 inch iPad is serviceable. I'm sure they can design a decent physical one within the constraints of the 11.6.
As a VAIO X owner I can tell you it wouldn't be difficult to compete with. Terrible screen. Terrible graphics. Non-existant battery life with the stock battery. Too thin and light for its own good. The one good thing is that 1366x768 on a 11.1 screen is fine. I didn't think it would be but it is.
13.3" screen and full size keyboard are 'features' of the MBA ... going to 11" is useless for 'real work' ... at 13" is the absolute minimum for many people's needs including myself.