Apple Ramping Up Production of 12-Inch MacBook Air for Q1 2015 Delivery

[MacRumors]

Apple supplier Quanta Computer has begun ramping up production of the upcoming 12-inch MacBook Air ahead of a release during the first quarter of 2015, reports Digitimes.

The company has stepped up its efforts to recruit more workers for its production efforts on the notebook, and is looking to bring in a total of 30,000 workers during the quarter to also help with the Apple Watch. Sources close to Quanta further note that the 12-inch MacBook Air will replace the existing 11-inch MacBook Air, with Apple choosing to keep the 13-inch MacBook Air.

Rendering of 12-inch MacBook Air done by Martin Hajek​

​

The next-generation MacBook Air is expected to feature a high-resolution Retina display and a new Broadwell Core M processor that will enable a thin, fanless design. Other reports have also claimed that the 12-inch MacBook Air will do away with nearly all of the ports found on Apple's current line of MacBook Airs and contain a headphone jack, a pair of microphones, and a USB Type-C port that may handle both connectivity and charging.

Article Link: Apple Ramping Up Production of 12-Inch MacBook Air for Q1 2015 Delivery

 

[farewelwilliams]

and ramping down the battery life.

 

[BCWorld]

Another 2008 MacBook Air in 2015? No thanks.

 

[redheeler]

Another 2008 MacBook Air in 2015? No thanks.

Nah, the 2008 has more ports.

 

[dilbert99]

$$$

And what if you want to use a mouse that has a dongle plugged in to the single port and want to charge at the same time? Apple has a dongle for that...

 

[barkmonster]

So it's the worthless netbook the MacBook Air originally replaced as a concept years ago but with a faster (but not by today's standards) CPU/GPU? Might as well be a tablet.

 

[kugino]

i wants one. it it's seriously crippled, though, i guess a refreshed 13" will be in my future. interested to see what connectivity options they'll provide with that usb type c port...

 

[ron7624]

This... is what I've been saving my pennies for.

 

[shenan1982]

And what if you want to use a mouse that has a dongle plugged in to the single port and want to charge at the same time? Apple has a dongle for that...

Good point. I use a logitech mx anywhere mouse.... this would be an issue for me if true.

I don't understand what the issue is with keeping the existing frame size, but increasing the size of the screen (getting rid of the hideous huge bezel), and going retina and using the existing acceptable size to house a battery that's still appropriate (which any thinner will lessen battery life)..... ugh

I'm all for technology progression, but when the logic to creating thinner sacrifices usability for the sake of being thin, it somewhat lowers the product.

 

[prother1]

and ramping down the battery life.

Nope.

 

[quackers82]

I do hope the keeping the 13" Macbook Air is correct as thats my favourite of all the Mac's they have it just right with that one.

 

[MH01]

If these rumors are true this is no 12" pro people were hoping for, might as well be a tablet, if it indeed comes with no ports, it's worthlessbto me. This fascination with thinness is becoming annoying and resulting in gimped products. Maybe Apple needs some new design talent that still thinks of practical application over how thin they can make something

Hope he rumours are wrong and we get an air pro.

 

[bluush]

This is the logical device for the anti-tablet crowd (hi).

This is a nightstand computer, a coffee shop computer. An email, youtube, browsing computer. It's not for CAD renderings and editing movies. If you want to attach a bunch of accessories, this isn't that computer. The concept is ease of use portability, which doesn't entail dragging along your mouse and external hard drives and all your other gadgets. That's not what's going on here.

Amazing how people are fine with no ports on an ipad, but give a slim notebook the same treatment and everyone loses their minds.

 

[AlecZ]

And what if you want to use a mouse that has a dongle plugged in to the single port and want to charge at the same time? Apple has a dongle for that...

To be fair, there are Bluetooth mice and keyboards available. I'd be most worried about connecting an iPhone or iPad to it. This thing won't even work with Apple's own products without a dongle.

 

[Steve121178]

I'm really interested to see how this turns out.

However, OS X looks a dated mess next to Windows 10 so whilst I really would like an ultra skinny MacBook, some of the machines displayed at CES last week show how the competition hasn't stood still. For me, Apple are going to need to do more than shave off a bit of weight to make this a "must have" notebook. I wonder what hardware innovations it will bring apart from being ridiculously slim & light?

 

[AlecZ]

and ramping down the battery life.

I don't see any fan vents, so this might not be true.

 

[Architect4122]

What I find interesting ... or would like to know about ... is the screen. As the rumor states it's supposed to be retina I wonder if they'll use the same screen as the rumored iPad Pro.

It's an interesting thought. I see a lot of folks at school use the Logitech keyboard/clam shell case for notes during class. To some degree this is the same concept, except it's running OS X.

As a professional who needs a powerful computer for drafting and rendering and Adobe software: AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, Rhino, VRay, PS, Illustrator, to give an idea of power/software my MacBook Pro is amazing to turn to. [I also shoot, and I still haven't pulled the trigger (ha!) and switched over to Lightroom].

That's a pro machine for high-end software that demands multitasking, speed, and power.

This 12-Inch MacBook Air, however, is not meant for that. I need a mouse for the software I use, but if I'm just using my computer for non-work tasks (researching something, or watching something on the go) then I prefer the trackpad (of course, to each their own).

I think if you're in school and you need something for notes, papers, and day-to-day, this is a wonderful (albeit these are renderings) and beautiful machine. Because I already had the MBPr as the workhorse, I actually took my iPad to class for notes and even used it to study if I was on the go.

So yeah, to each their own. Personally, this is a slick machine. I just love how close this is going to be to the iPad Pro (again, all assuming).

But right now ... I'd enjoy a new TB Display

 

[Peace]

Good point. I use a logitech mx anywhere mouse.... this would be an issue for me if true.

I don't understand what the issue is with keeping the existing frame size, but increasing the size of the screen (getting rid of the hideous huge bezel), and going retina and using the existing acceptable size to house a battery that's still appropriate (which any thinner will lessen battery life)..... ugh

I'm all for technology progression, but when the logic to creating thinner sacrifices usability for the sake of being thin, it somewhat lowers the product.

Without a fan they can put in a thinner yet more powerful battery. That and the missing ports will save battery life also.

 

[polterbyte]

Once again Apple puts its mantra to the test: paradigms die hard, but die they must if we want to move forward.

Here's hoping they're right once more.

 

[Supermule]

Nice. Please "ramp" a 13-inch version as well!

 

[odedia]

I just bought a 2014 MacBook air so this must be true.

 

[thekeyring]

Battery life shouldn't suffer: look at the iPad Air 2. It's so thin you could fill one iPad Air 2 with Mac parts, another completely with battery, put them together and they're still thinner than the current MacBook air!

The current design of the MacBook Airs were announced in 2010 and have had internal upgrades since. We've gone from the iPad 1 to the Air 2 in that time, to Apple has obviously learned a lot about making things thin.

 

[DonRivella]

I just want a Macbook Air with a better quality and higher resolution display and a 10 hour battery life. I don't really care if it is 11, 12 or 13 inches and I am not too worried about the number of USB ports.

 

[MacHead84]

Amazing how people are fine with no ports on an ipad, but give a slim notebook the same treatment and everyone loses their minds.

 

[gpat]

Please, no bezel and glass covered screen like MBP.