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Apple Ramping Up Production of 12-Inch MacBook Air for Q1 2015 Delivery
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Members of this forum would call you a "pro" user for requiring this advanced functionality and tell you to buy a MBP.
To where and from where?
There are a myriad of cloud storage options available that allows for this type of functionality to be done without having to physically transfer anything.
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Also, if you notice there is a still a USB-C port. I assume flash drives will keep up with new standard port tech.
There's also the ever-popular "just email it to yourself" option.
We'll probably be seeing the first February event in a very long time. Or March event. I feel like they have more to review on the Apple Watch and the new MacBook deserves a formal introduction. But then again I wouldn't be surprised if everything was "just released." It's just that they left a very smokey ending to the Apple Watch. Like as if there was more to go over at a later time.
Watch and wait. All I want is stable hardware and software now. If Apple expects me to plunk down my hard earned $ going forward, they have to invest in function again.
How many OS X apps run on ARM? Zero. That's one reason why. Apple could spend money on a emulator stack, but if Intel's chips can do the job at a price point that Apple can afford to pay.... why bother? They aren't winning anything long term.
Cheaper MBA (because A8X's are cheaper than Core Ms) ? More than necessary cannibalism with the iOS devices is just as unlikely as more than necessary cannibalism between Mac products.
At the top tier general CPU computation demands I haven't seen alot of proof that the A8X performs in the same league as Core M. Even less when multiple apps are in flight.
Geekbench in single user , single app mode isn't particularly a good real world metric for OS X. It is useful to compare one generation of Macs against another. Or multiple Macs in a same architecture generation, but for broad spectrum workload evaluation.... it isn't a broad spectrum workload.
Take A8X with running multiple substantive apps at the same time with only 2GB of memory and watch what happens. I'm not knocking the A8X but it is very targeted implementation. It is built for iOS and its limitations. That is one reason Apple gets their ARM implementation to market a bit faster than the other ARM implementers that are aimed at broader usage/usefulness markets. Likewise Core M isn't optimized for sub 2GB contexts where primarily run just one app at a time. (that would be the Bay Trail and the other "Atom" space processors ).
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No traditional ports, no deal!
I am so tired of Apple's "make it thinner" cr^p!
This, I will move to the next redesigned pro if this is the case. I can handle USB C, if there are two of them, and some way to drive an external display at least. The very minimum I can work with is
Mag Safe
One USB
Display Port
Don't get too excited.
These mockups always look better than the actual product Apple creates. Makes you wonder about the hiring strategy in the design dept at Apple.
These mockups always look better than the actual product Apple creates. Makes you wonder about the hiring strategy in the design dept at Apple.
The 11" model now is actually 11.6" so they could have an unchanged screen size or slightly larger, 11.9" at 16x10and call it 12" instead of 11"....
I have had the 11" model as my main computer for almost 4 years now and am extremely happy with it. I do executive level finance work, accounting, business and management report creation and analysis, CRM, etc. on it. It has handled these professional tasks expertly and buttery smooth from Lion all the way through to Yosemite, but is now finally starting to show its age, and I am in the market for a replacement as soon as this machine comes out and the update for the retina MacBook Pro's is made. None of these tasks are graphics intensive, but are core pro business and number crunching productivity tools.
My only concern with this new machine is the ports. I don't think this is meant to be a tablet-like experience at all, but a laptop experience. I can't see them taking away the thunderbolt/mini display port, as it takes away the ability to connect an external monitor easily, connect to a wired Ethernet network, external thunderbolt peripherals, etc. I'm not well versed in the capabilities of the USB type C port, but I'm assuming it is a USB 3.0 standard? This would make it quick enough to a lot of the things that Thunderbolt does, but it would probably mark the beginning of the end for Thunderbolt if Apple goes that route.
Regardless, I would expect there to be one USB type C port on each side, with our without a Thunderbolt port.
One of the most common uses of the smaller Air is to use it connected to a large external monitor. I hope that this ability is not taken away. It offered a best of both worlds experience with unmatched portability and excellent productivity.
If this new machine can handle multiple simultaneous Numbers and Keynotes files (8-10 of each), 10-12 Safari tabs, several PDF's, Mail App with 4 busy email accounts, and a handful of Excel files open all at the same time better than my current 11" Air, and has a minimum of 2 USB type C ports, with available Ethernet adapter and external monitor capabilities, then it will be mine in as powerful a configuration as it can be had BTO.
Otherwise an updated 13" MBPr is in my future. I really hope the former is the case, as I really appreciate the portability of my current machine. I can fit an iPad 2 (my 2nd screen via an iOS app called Duet), an iPad Air 2, and my MBA,
Along with all required cables and accessories, plus my passports and other necessary travel stuff all in an 11" InCase bag made for the 11" MBA. Would hate to have to give that up...
We'll see how it unfolds!
I love these kinds of threads; they're so entertaining. Most posters here unsurprisingly sport blinders and do not have the ability to see past what is right in front of their faces.
Apple's designers are so far ahead of anyone (on this forum, and otherwise) in terms of their thinking. They are conjuring what 5, 10, 20 years into the future about the shape computing will take, and are designing based on those forward-thinking notions. They are filling in the gaps between what we think of now as acceptable and those transparent VR screens you see in sci-fi movies.
They are ahead of the game, ahead of the industry, and way ahead of "consumers." For this reason, they lead the pack in terms of design and the design/functionality tradeoff, and others will always continue to follow and imitate.
Apple's designers are so far ahead of anyone (on this forum, and otherwise) in terms of their thinking. They are conjuring what 5, 10, 20 years into the future about the shape computing will take, and are designing based on those forward-thinking notions. They are filling in the gaps between what we think of now as acceptable and those transparent VR screens you see in sci-fi movies.
They are ahead of the game, ahead of the industry, and way ahead of "consumers." For this reason, they lead the pack in terms of design and the design/functionality tradeoff, and others will always continue to follow and imitate.
No traditional ports, no deal!
I am so tired of Apple's "make it thinner" cr^p!
I think that's the best part about this is that it doesn't have stuff that most people don't need. If you going to use this as a laptop with wifi, most people don't need more than just a USB (or multiple USB ports).
I am not sure this model will be the best model for business, but it seems great for most personal users... At least from what is being speculated. I don't use an external monitor or keyboard. Just a wireless mouse for me, I welcome this.
Ah, I understand now. And yes, I can see your point, although I'm thinking that 25 bucks for a keyboard wouldn't get you a very good one. I'll concede that if you're only going for what you can do, then yes, clearly the iPad has been good enough for me for three years, and it'd still be good enough.
That said, at least for me, I've found that the iPad is limiting in some ways in this use-case. I'd like better than "good enough". Some software packages (scrivener springs to mind) don't have an iPad version, or the iOS versions are a joke (Daedalus springs to mind in the case of Ulysses). It'd be very nice to have a OS X version with iPad portability. I think that most of us want a laptop if we're going with a keyboard. From day one, the logitech keyboard, while functional, seemed clugy to me. I can't tell you how often I see managers in meeting where all they need is a laptop and a video out of some kind. Maybe this is more of an enterprise solution? I dunno. Babbling now.
I know, I'm using the MBA with a TB -> Ethernet adapter every day all day at work. But while doing this, I still have 2 usb ports free, and...charging it at the same time.
Agreed, given that the 13" with its current features remains on the field and does not become obsolete.
That would be a potential workaround, yes. I can imagine a hub including usb ports, tb, and maybe an ethernet port as well. But a workaround, nevertheless. I mean that the current TB -> Ethernet adapter is just a tiny thing, working as an extension to the ethernet cable. I'd imagine a port hub to be much bigger and uncomfortable under specific situations (e.g. when having to keep the laptop on your lap/knees).
Spot on, Apple is consumed beyond any acceptable point, on the thin/flat form factor. But there's a difference now. MBA was getting slimmer, but stronger in every iteration. Now seems that thin/flat is the only thing Apple targets towards, sacrificing everything else in the process.
Regardless, I still cannot see how the removal of mainstream ports used by lots of people (and not by others of course) will attract a broader spectrum of potential buyers.
Yes, that's what they said because the comparison was against heavier non-MBA laptops. But this is the first time MBA makes a step backwards, compared to the previous MBA, leading to a potential new model much less featured than the current one. How can anyone consider this an evolution of MBA ?
That's a probability but let's not forget that if this model has a retina display, the screen will require more battery as well. I just hope that they will not sacrifice all this computer functionality for the shake of a retina display.
Apple seems to have chosen a weird road, during the last few years that makes me worry, as a computer user.
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It sounds like we will get one port that does it all with a hub, even charging!
I am sure you will be able to do what you want but it will reguire some proprietary hub to accomplish it. I like small but am not willing to pay that penalty, back to MBPro before I bought this.
All of this just so Apple can make it thinner!!
For simple stuff this may work. In my job using cloud services is not allowed. Also there is not everywhere a wifi network you are allowed to use.
The lack of an USB port is one of the main reasons why I'm not using the iPad for anything useful (aka work related). If the MBA goes in the same direction it's not the notebook I need or want.
However looking at the thinness obsession of Apple the 13"MB pro will soon be similar to the 13" MBA with more CPU power and the ncessary ports. If this is the strategy (making the MBA like a tablet and making the 13"MBP like a MBA) then I'm fine with it.
You are probably right on a theoretical level. But I don't think the MACBOOK AIR is really the computer for those types of workloads. As long as Apple continues to sell a Macbook Pro, with ports and additional power and battery life, then the folks who use their computer for work really shouldn't complain too much about the Air being super slim and limited.
The Air got unnecessarily powerful and Apple is now returning it to its roots as the thinnest and lightest full power computer. So not a chromebook at all. But also not a PRO machine. There is only a $200 difference between the current Air and the comparable Pro with Retina. So if you are buying the computer for processor intensive visits to clients, then you should be able to afford the Pro.
But Apple may have skimped again the battery size to get to this form factor. So maybe this device won't have great battery life. That would be a mistake if that is the case. We need to move past battery life being an issue. The iPad achieved this early on. The current laptops form Apple have achieved this. The current iPhone 6+ is basically there as well.
All I want to do is charge my laptop and iPhone off my laptop at the same time. Golly, I guess I'm one of those "power users" who are asking too much of an ultraportable...
Discussing this rumored option is a moot point anyway, no company is retarded enough to take their best-selling laptop and cripple it in the name of thinness.
My guess is that Apple will provide a solution in the box for this, at least for the first generation. The original MacBook Air came with miniature video-out ports but with adapters in the box. Heck, they ship their best selling product (the iPhone) with a standard USB cable, so will need to do something to accommodate.
The original MBA was a dog performance what relative to the previous Mac lpatops. It is in part because Apple moved before the technology was fully mature. It was enabled enough to make a product but not a fully mainstream product.
This is likely another generational shift that is built far more so around what is coming over the next 3 years out of Intel's pipeline than component products that come out 3 years ago. The MBA 4-6 years ago was priming the pump for the MBA 2013-2014 models. So thing is likely happening here.
The whole thing about "Air" was about dumping ports. The connectivity was suppose to shift to "over the Air" that's why Air is in the name. Wifi is faster more widely useful now ( e.g., Display over Wifi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiDi ). Bluetooth is faster and more widely useful now (e.g., point-to-point ad hoc high sped networks is what makes Continuity work) . Those factors are going to get weaved into the models that are pushing the 'Air' concept.
It think you have it backwards to an extent. The last couple of years the MBA, especially the 11" model, actually took up the position of the MacBook/PowerBook. Entry level (affordable) laptop that comes with a couple of compromises but can get basic jobs done (maybe with alittle help from externals). That is really the what want. Not what the Air was originally.
This "as slim as possible" is actually going to back to the Air roots that the MBA has been drifting from. It probably won't be the "most affordable" Mac laptop anymore. It would help if Apple just retagged the products.
MBA 13" --( logical broadwell update ) ----> Macbook
MBA 11" --- ( via upscale to Retina and even slimmer diet) --> 'next tech evolution ' Air model. MBA 12"
Over time the "horsepower" will come back as the SoC (CPU+GPU+Chipset) technology incrementally moves forward. Same thing happened last time as Flash and "lower voltage" tech incrementally moved forward.
The display is only incrementally more and the Core M is incrementally less. The chipset and radios are less. There are no 100W ports to power. [ I wouldn't be surprised if port can't do higher than base USB 3.0 spec power charging if the high charge ports move off to the power brick. ]
Most computer users don't wander to client sites and can only connect with Ethernet. The issue is that these "I need to use 3-4 ports at the same time" users are a relatively shrinking set of the market. It isn't that they don't exist, it is just that they don't dominate the market. All the more so in the markets that Apple sells into. Apple isn't trying to sell to the same fixed, limited subset of customers forever. That's never been the company's core mission.
Most mainstream workloads probably can run off of internal battery only for a whole day's worth of work ( 7-8 work day). iPhone can be charged with handy external battery pack that is far more portable than any laptop (even if don't get phone charging power brick with new model ). Huge swaths of folks just use Wifi. Another huge chunk use wireless headsets. Collaborate data sharing over web services ... more than a few use every day.
Free the port from power , display (why paying extra to Retina if not using it most of the time?), and TCP/IP traffic the one port left over can hold a dongle for a legacy USB device.
Apple's jihad against wires had drawn more than a few "wire haters" to them. Neatness, simpler seekers ( if don't consider the RF spectrum). This whole nuke ports thing is hardly new either. Apple pushed Thunderbolt adoption by going wholesale into port adoption. Likewise with move to Lightning. Suspect same thing will happen with USB Type C over slightly longer product rollout schedule ( 2 years rather than just one. )
They've had prototype MBP's with 3G radios in them for years and years. I dont know why it's never brought to market.