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Apple Prepping 11.6'' MacBook Air and New iPod Touch with 3MP Camera
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I want one and I want it now!
Where the heck did this rumour come from?
I think some folks must be forgetting Steve said Apple would never make a netbook!
If on the other hand this comes out before September I will be first in line at my local Apple store even if I have to fly there as for sure they wont have one in Portugal, always the poor relative!
11.6" screen and a similar form to the iPhone 4 would allow for a bigger battery, two usb ports and an sd card slot hooray!
Maybe it's just a rumour to divert folks attention away from the bad publicity iPhone 4 is getting?
Where the heck did this rumour come from?
I think some folks must be forgetting Steve said Apple would never make a netbook!
If on the other hand this comes out before September I will be first in line at my local Apple store even if I have to fly there as for sure they wont have one in Portugal, always the poor relative!
11.6" screen and a similar form to the iPhone 4 would allow for a bigger battery, two usb ports and an sd card slot hooray!
Maybe it's just a rumour to divert folks attention away from the bad publicity iPhone 4 is getting?
It's good news, bad news.
Let's assume it's true. It's good, obviously, seeing them continue to work on the Air. It's good that it might be even lighter. It's good that it will have a smaller form factor. It's good that they're differentiating the MBA more from the 13 inch MBP.
It's bad that I cannot imagine working on a screen that small. I cannot imagine getting a full size keyboard there. I cannot imagine the machine would be powerful enough to do any aspect of my job.
My main thought is that OSX won't work well on a screen that small. But iOS would.
I think the only sensible COA is to wait and withhold judgement. MacRumors has been wrong on the MBA update countless times now.
Bri
Let's assume it's true. It's good, obviously, seeing them continue to work on the Air. It's good that it might be even lighter. It's good that it will have a smaller form factor. It's good that they're differentiating the MBA more from the 13 inch MBP.
It's bad that I cannot imagine working on a screen that small. I cannot imagine getting a full size keyboard there. I cannot imagine the machine would be powerful enough to do any aspect of my job.
My main thought is that OSX won't work well on a screen that small. But iOS would.
I think the only sensible COA is to wait and withhold judgement. MacRumors has been wrong on the MBA update countless times now.
Bri
It's a strange crippled portable fight in the 11.6" arena unless you look at the M11x or the dm1. It's all Atom otherwise.
The iPod Touch w/camera has my interest. I haven't bought anything else this year besides my video card that's still shipping.
The iPod Touch w/camera has my interest. I haven't bought anything else this year besides my video card that's still shipping.
mmm an 11 inch MBA without a keyboard would be.. an...iPad+ ?
plus, didnt you know the keyboard is a built in stand to make watching movies easier?
Considering the iPad STARTS at $499, how could something like this even come close to that price point?
It's like the mini for $699 - the same level of performance in a PC is probably in the ballpark of $299-399 (if not lower). Apple's version of a netbook (with a bit better performance if they go with a core processor instead of atom or whatever) will be close to a grand, maybe over that.
I finally got to play around with a netbook - kind of a fun toy but the tiny screen made even web browsing painful. Seriously, they ship those things with a web browser that defaults to having button bars at the top that take up a third of the screen? I'm baffled that MS hasn't made a customized version of their browser for netbooks (probably easiest by a "netbook" preference or whatever) that makes the tools as tiny as possible to maximize the amount of screen for the web page itself.
And would the touch have one camera or two? I'm interested if it can do facetime.
It's like the mini for $699 - the same level of performance in a PC is probably in the ballpark of $299-399 (if not lower). Apple's version of a netbook (with a bit better performance if they go with a core processor instead of atom or whatever) will be close to a grand, maybe over that.
I finally got to play around with a netbook - kind of a fun toy but the tiny screen made even web browsing painful. Seriously, they ship those things with a web browser that defaults to having button bars at the top that take up a third of the screen? I'm baffled that MS hasn't made a customized version of their browser for netbooks (probably easiest by a "netbook" preference or whatever) that makes the tools as tiny as possible to maximize the amount of screen for the web page itself.
And would the touch have one camera or two? I'm interested if it can do facetime.
One of the first things to cross my mind. However iOS is very unlikely imo.
Except maybe if they're ramping up to 6th gear on closing all systems, I imagine PA Semi has been white-hot busy since Apple's takeover.
I've had 2 Macbook Air's and have passed them down to my kids, so to say I'm not in the market...? I'm not talking about increasing the screen size to 16". From a marketing standpoint (and Apple is all about marketing), the number 14 would attract a lot more buyers than 13.3. If it's thinner, it doesn't even have to be any heavier.
As far as "if you need more ports, you're not in the market for an Air", yet one of the biggest complaint about the Air is the lack of...
Again... not sure on the logic to "smaller makes sense", but I've seen a lot of Air's in boardrooms. It'll be painful to watch them pressing their nose against the screen reading there spreadsheets etc. The Air was once marketed as the "executives laptop".
Maybe elaborate on why 11.6 makes sense...please.
Apple isn't just about making things smaller and lighter. They're about selling numbers and making money. Make no mistake!
iedd said it for me. I love my dell mini 9 hackintosh. it's great, and if this little hybrid macair/ipad/itouch comes out, i'm flingin it like a saucer and will pony up the bucks to buy the mac.
I have the ipad 3g, and it has been a great traveling companion. But you just have to jump thru too many hoops to file share, print etc.
long live the mac whatever it is
I have the ipad 3g, and it has been a great traveling companion. But you just have to jump thru too many hoops to file share, print etc.
long live the mac whatever it is
I can't see an 11" screen on an MBA. A BIG feature of the MBA is it's full size screen and keyboard take that away and you're taking away the main reason many executives purchased the MBA.
11" not for me for sure.
11" not for me for sure.
I just hope Apple doesn't EOL the 13.3" MacBook Air. A year ago there were rumors about a 15" MBA. One of the main reasons the MBA is so wonderful is the full-sized keyboard and 13.3" display. If Apple takes that away, it's essentially making a netbook and a competitor to its iPad. This makes zero sense.
I really hope this just means Apple sees room to grow the MBA market by offering multiple sized MBAs. Otherwise, I see this as bad news. And I feel like people are completely jumping to the wrong conclusion if they think Apple is going to sell this computer for anywhere near $500. I would be shocked if it's less than $1299.
I really hope this just means Apple sees room to grow the MBA market by offering multiple sized MBAs. Otherwise, I see this as bad news. And I feel like people are completely jumping to the wrong conclusion if they think Apple is going to sell this computer for anywhere near $500. I would be shocked if it's less than $1299.
The target audience for the MBA is the business traveller, but given that they put iWorks on the iPad, I'm not sure how relevant a netbook sized MBA would be?
I'd be surprised if Apple decided to launch a 11.6 inch MBA. If anything, they would minimise the frame of the current screen and keyboard, but it would result in a smaller trackpad. Maybe that is what that external trackpad (see a few month ago) were about.
Phil
I'd be surprised if Apple decided to launch a 11.6 inch MBA. If anything, they would minimise the frame of the current screen and keyboard, but it would result in a smaller trackpad. Maybe that is what that external trackpad (see a few month ago) were about.
Phil
This may be a stupid question but what is the smallest that a "full size" keyboard can be ?
12" PowerBook
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Drool. You had me at Sandy Bridge. 13.3" would be my breaking point though. idk if i could handle the 12" (that's what she said) and maybe an SDXC slot A-la Mac Mini
I don't believe that a 11.6" MBA means the 13.3" MBA is going away. I sincerely believe Apple sees an opportunity with the MBA to sell more to iPad owners who are new to the Apple marketplace. What this probably means is going in the wrong way in terms of premium or luxury price points. However, Apple can easily bring back BTO to allow a nice range of components allowing the base price to serve one market and the fully-loaded MBA to serve the high-end market. I have been asking for this for a long time.
Imagine $999 11.6" and $1299 13.3" MBAs. Now give them component options of faster CPUs, larger SSDs, more RAM, higher grade display, and maybe even some battery options adding weight. Allow price points from $999 all the way up to $2999 for the differently loaded MBAs. This strategy could make a lot more MBA fans happy and make Apple a lot more money selling MBAs.
I am not giving up on a "real" MBA update... this is definitely great news considering most of us were considering the MBA to not be updated this cycle. As long as the 13.3" MBA doesn't go away.
Now here's the next possibility. What does Apple do about C2D and Core i-series CPUs? What does Apple do about the GPU problem? Does Apple go IPS for the displays? Does Apple really get rid of the 13.3" MBA just to go with an 11.6" MBA? I have a lot of questions... and this raises a heck of a lot more positive ideas in my head for the MBA.
Imagine $999 11.6" and $1299 13.3" MBAs. Now give them component options of faster CPUs, larger SSDs, more RAM, higher grade display, and maybe even some battery options adding weight. Allow price points from $999 all the way up to $2999 for the differently loaded MBAs. This strategy could make a lot more MBA fans happy and make Apple a lot more money selling MBAs.
I am not giving up on a "real" MBA update... this is definitely great news considering most of us were considering the MBA to not be updated this cycle. As long as the 13.3" MBA doesn't go away.
Now here's the next possibility. What does Apple do about C2D and Core i-series CPUs? What does Apple do about the GPU problem? Does Apple go IPS for the displays? Does Apple really get rid of the 13.3" MBA just to go with an 11.6" MBA? I have a lot of questions... and this raises a heck of a lot more positive ideas in my head for the MBA.
Interesting. I heard that they were initially looking at revamping the Air and releasing different sizes, including a 15" sometime in 2011, but that they did away with the idea after the iPad's success and instead were looking at different iPad sizes.
Apple could just wait for Sandy Bridge as it will have a lot better IGP compared to the current one and better CPU overall. Current iX wouldn't be that great update as it's either slower CPU and better GPU (C2D + 320M) or good CPU and bad GPU (i7 + IGP). Another issue with i7 is that LM series should be used and it's little hotter than the current C2Ds (25W vs 17W IIRC) although it integrates Northbridge and GPU to the same chip but still needs Southbridge while 9400M had both bridges, so it's 25W (CPU) + 3.5W (Southbridge TDP IIRC) and total of 28.5W or 17W (CPU) and 12W (9400M) and total of 29W so in the end, LM version of i7 ain't impossible but then the GPU is worse.
Just typing because I'm bored, these have been said zillion times already
I'm looking forward on Sandy Bridge as its IGP is actually an upgrade, not downgrade
Apple is better off just discontinuing the Air. Its a completely useless machine vs. the rest of the Macbook line and it's way overpriced and honestly just a waste of time and waste of money. I had one for a year and that was the longest year of my life with it as I used it for business, glad I got rid of it for a real Apple notebook. Again, it's just a waste.
I hope Apple never makes it's Macbook Pro line any thinner. We are already suffering with run-of-the-mill tech and specs in a machine that's been deemed a professional grade machine.
Even the 17" MBP being toted around as a "desktop replacement" is a joke.
Keep them at 1" thickness, and leave the thin and light stuff to the 13.3" and smaller screens.
Hmm, I wrote a whole post then thought I wanted to play around in photoshop for 5 minutes to illustrate my thoughts better:
Premium indicates extra features / more desirable form factor.
Edit: also Premium price
Double edit: The main gist of the diagram is meant to indicate different form factor option that offers the same power. the OSX iPad was there to fill out a spot.
Premium indicates extra features / more desirable form factor.
Edit: also Premium price
Double edit: The main gist of the diagram is meant to indicate different form factor option that offers the same power. the OSX iPad was there to fill out a spot.
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I adore my MacBook Air.
The light weight and thin design are brilliant for traveling, and the keyboard alone is why an iPad is NOT a good replacement. (But: can I run Aperture on an iPad? NO.)
Perhaps the smaller screen will boast a Retina display. That might compensate for the loss of real estate. And a card reader would be a huge convenience.
I have been waiting and hoping for an update that will meet my needs. I'd actually rather not have a smaller screen, and some graphics oomph is a must. With the iPad at the bottom end of the performance/price grid, I'd rather see the MBA positioned further up the scale.
The light weight and thin design are brilliant for traveling, and the keyboard alone is why an iPad is NOT a good replacement. (But: can I run Aperture on an iPad? NO.)
Perhaps the smaller screen will boast a Retina display. That might compensate for the loss of real estate. And a card reader would be a huge convenience.
I have been waiting and hoping for an update that will meet my needs. I'd actually rather not have a smaller screen, and some graphics oomph is a must. With the iPad at the bottom end of the performance/price grid, I'd rather see the MBA positioned further up the scale.
How about a new Mac Pro...
Take your rant to the Mac Pro forum. I just hate when people hijack threads complaining about other products that have nothing to do with the discussion. I wish the mods would do something about this.