Apple Reportedly Beginning Production of Next-Generation MacBook Air Models

[jclardy]

THE MAIN reason to buy the MacBook Air 11.6-inch is NOT because it is cheaper, but because it is lighter and smaller. Apple should make an even lighter (400 to 600 g) and smaller (7-inch) MacBook Air.

No way. Something that small would require a reduced size keyboard which is terrible. I have a 8.9" netbook with a reduced size keyboard and it is easier and faster to type on my iPad.

If they do anything with the 11.6" they should either reduce the screen bezel or increase the screen size in the same size frame.

 

[Eggtastic]

alright, so if mass production is to start this month... what would be a good estimate to determine when they go on sale?

i know its a guessing game, but anyone with knowledge of production-to-sale time frames of other apple products feel like weighing in on this?

 

[ten-oak-druid]

I worry that Apple is pushing the industry in a direction of selling the cloud at the expense of internal storage.

Apple has to do this of course. The price for large capacity SSD isn't dropping fast enough. In order to promote consumption of media and the MBA, Apple can't wait for the SSD to develop. The cloud is the answer.

Apple isn't alone in promoting cloud service. But if Apple is successful at making the standard be low storage capacity laptops utilizing cloud services, I worry that future development of HD and SSD will slow down. What will be the incentive to get TB SSD for current HD prices? Will there be a large demand for 2TB laptop HD anytime soon?

I hope the cloud is a success but I hope it isn't at the expense of cheap large capacity drives of the future.

As for 7" MBA I think that is for the future when the MBA is the only Apple laptop. I think when Apple faltered back in the late 90's it was in part due to too many simultaneous product lines. There were multiple powerPC models and the benefits of each were not clear. I think consolidation is better. Don't increase the number of MBA models with so many competing MBP models. At least fold the MB and MBP into one line first.

 

[johneaston]

So when would the new MBA come out? July?

If they are producing them now, when would they be released?

Anyone fancy making an educated guess at this?

 

[Ijustfarted]

The future of Macbook Pro is to become a Macbook Air. By 2015 all Macbooks will be in that form factor. That was the grand vision all along.

think you got it the other way around. the future of Macbook Air is to become a Macbook. The pro will remain the pro. Remember, the air is the future of the standard notebook, and a Macbook should be the standard according to Jobs.

 

[kiljoy616]

THE MAIN reason to buy the MacBook Air 11.6-inch is NOT because it is cheaper, but because it is lighter and smaller. Apple should make an even lighter (400 to 600 g) and smaller (7-inch) MacBook Air.

Its called an ipad 2 and its 9-inch or so.

 

[Haribokart]

If they do anything with the 11.6" they should either reduce the screen bezel or increase the screen size in the same size frame.

This guy/girl knows what they are talking about. The bezel on the 11" is crazy, even if it was the same as the 13" has it would allow a much larger screen.

I'm really hoping for a backlit keyboard/longer battery life in this coming update.

 

[kiljoy616]

Anyone fancy making an educated guess at this?

Lets see from my massive knowledge about all things Apple I would say when ever Apple wants to. Apple and timeline are not synonymous and I for one have no problem with this.

 

[Optimus Frag]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Backlit keyboard

And Junipr wins the race to be first to say it!!

 

[scottsjack]

I worry that Apple is pushing the industry in a direction of selling the cloud at the expense of internal storage.

Apple has to do this of course. The price for large capacity SSD isn't dropping fast enough. In order to promote consumption of media and the MBA, Apple can't wait for the SSD to develop. The cloud is the answer.

Apple isn't alone in promoting cloud service. But if Apple is successful at making the standard be low storage capacity laptops utilizing cloud services, I worry that future development of HD and SSD will slow down. What will be the incentive to get TB SSD for current HD prices? Will there be a large demand for 2TB laptop HD anytime soon?

I hope the cloud is a success but I hope it isn't at the expense of cheap large capacity drives of the future.

Hopefully there are a lot of people like you and me. My MP has five internal 2TB drives plus a few more by FW. My MBP has the highest capacity 7200 RPM drive available, a WD Black.

I have no interest in the cloud other than Internet, software downloads and an occasional song or movie from iTunes. I think that's what we used to refer to as "on line" before everybody tried to become all cool and hip by using the word "cloud". I really like having my private data confined to the privacy of my own equipment.

 

[lcm123]

Mba

MBA 11", 13", 15" and 17"; that's what I want to see, come on Apple.

And for myself, MBA 17" with 256GB SSD, super cooling material, solid-as-a-rock unibody, multi-touch, heck, why not an iPad 17" running Lion, YES!!!

 

[KPOM]

Sounds good. Hopefully there's more than just replacing the Core 2 Duo/NVIDIA 320m with the Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt. I'd like to see a 256GB SSD option in the 11.6" model.

 

[PDE]

All I want in this update for the 13", in order of importance (in addition to the new processor and thunderbolt):

1. 4GB ram
2. Backlit keyboard
3. Larger drives

I've gradually moved from 15" MBP to 13" MBP and now I'm ready to take the next step!

 

[Adidas Addict]

I'll be skipping this if they continue to use the awful screen in the current model and skip backlit KB again. My 2010 13" MBA made way for a 2011 13" MBP and the screen is 100% better on the MBP, slightly lower res is worth it not to have awful viewing angles & pale colours.

 

[kiljoy616]

I worry that Apple is pushing the industry in a direction of selling the cloud at the expense of internal storage.

Apple has to do this of course. The price for large capacity SSD isn't dropping fast enough. In order to promote consumption of media and the MBA, Apple can't wait for the SSD to develop. The cloud is the answer.

Your right about the SSD just not coming down, sure they are making faster and faster ones but price is just not there. Right now anything over 120 or so is not consumer grade prices. Anyone has any idea is it that expensive to make them or are they just expensive because their new to the industry?

 

[djrod]

I worry that Apple is pushing the industry in a direction of selling the cloud at the expense of internal storage.

Apple has to do this of course. The price for large capacity SSD isn't dropping fast enough. In order to promote consumption of media and the MBA, Apple can't wait for the SSD to develop. The cloud is the answer.

Apple isn't alone in promoting cloud service. But if Apple is successful at making the standard be low storage capacity laptops utilizing cloud services, I worry that future development of HD and SSD will slow down. What will be the incentive to get TB SSD for current HD prices? Will there be a large demand for 2TB laptop HD anytime soon?

I hope the cloud is a success but I hope it isn't at the expense of cheap large capacity drives of the future.

As for 7" MBA I think that is for the future when the MBA is the only Apple laptop. I think when Apple faltered back in the late 90's it was in part due to too many simultaneous product lines. There were multiple powerPC models and the benefits of each were not clear. I think consolidation is better. Don't increase the number of MBA models with so many competing MBP models. At least fold the MB and MBP into one line first.

Apple's cloud is not for storage but for sync across devices

 

[cvaldes]

So when would the new MBA come out? July?

If they are producing them now, when would they be released?

Early July sounds about right. Four week production ramp to build sufficient inventory for launch plus time to distribute to channel partners and their own retail store network.

One might expect Apple to give or take a week, but not much more. It's not like they're going to ship on Tuesday. Not enough time to build enough inventory. And they're not going to wait until September. They don't want to carry huge inventory.

 

[kiljoy616]

MBA 11", 13", 15" and 17"; that's what I want to see, come on Apple.

Wait how heavy would a 17" MBA be, seem to be counter productive.

I think your missing the reason for the Air?

That would be like having a 15 inch iPad which would kind of defeat the purpose of the ipad.

Sure a subgroup would like this but how many would actually sell.

Apple's cloud is not for storage but for sync across devices

I think some people are missing the point about Apple and the iCloud. Well said.

Remember what Steve said, not just another hard drive or something to that effect.

 

[lcm123]

Wait how heavy would a 17" MBA be, seem to be counter productive.

I think your missing the reason for the Air?

That would be like having a 15 inch iPad which would kind of defeat the purpose of the ipad.

Sure a subgroup would like this but how many would actually sell.

A 17" MBA would still be lighter than 17" Macbook Pro cause that's what I need, a large screen size and as light as possible.
A lot of professionals use the 17" Macbook Pro, which is why Apple still sell them, so making them lighter would surely be a welcome change.

 

[42streetsdown]

Highly unlikely, but please have 3G connectivity built in!

3G and improved battery life are at the top of my priority list. Thunderbolt and a larger SSD are a close second.

i doubt they'll release 3G connectivity. and if they plan to, it'll only be after a world phone chip is present in their phones.

 

[ten-oak-druid]

Apple's cloud is not for storage but for sync across devices

Yes but think about it. You purchase a movie, watch it and delete it. You can always download later. Without the cloud you have to be careful what you delete and back it up.

(Right now it works for music only. But the same will be true for your movies later.)

In other words you will be able to buy all the movie and TV shows you want with only a 200GB drive and have no worry about storage for it all.

So in fact it is for storage. Just not for everything.

But some of us want larger drives. I'm concerned as I said that the changes coming will slow development

I think some people are missing the point about Apple and the iCloud. Well said.

Remember what Steve said, not just another hard drive or something to that effect.

Not missing the point at all. Read my comments above. The cloud allows you to re-download your purchases and not store them all locally. This makes the MBA more attractive with smaller drive size.

For most people, the need for larger drives is due to media.

 

[kiljoy616]

I'd like to see a 256GB SSD option in the 11.6" model.

Not sure they have the price for that. Would be nice but price is also important to sell to the masses.

 

[ten-oak-druid]

Hopefully there are a lot of people like you and me. My MP has five internal 2TB drives plus a few more by FW. My MBP has the highest capacity 7200 RPM drive available, a WD Black.

I have no interest in the cloud other than Internet, software downloads and an occasional song or movie from iTunes. I think that's what we used to refer to as "on line" before everybody tried to become all cool and hip by using the word "cloud". I really like having my private data confined to the privacy of my own equipment.

I just ordered their 750GB drive myself on Amazon. I have a couple WD brand drives and I'm starting to like their brand.

Your right about the SSD just not coming down, sure they are making faster and faster ones but price is just not there. Right now anything over 120 or so is not consumer grade prices. Anyone has any idea is it that expensive to make them or are they just expensive because their new to the industry?

It does seem like the price isn't coming down as fast as it does for other technology. I also wonder why.

 

[kdimitt]

This has been the only thing holding me back from buying a MBA

I would love a backlit keyboard as much as the the rest of you, but really? The lack of a backlit keyboard is the lacking feature that has driven you away among every qualm with the air? I find that to be slightly asinine....

 

[KPOM]

Not sure they have the price for that. Would be nice but price is also important to sell to the masses.

That's why it would be a CTO model, like it is in the 13". 64 and 128GB are fine for base models, but with the Sandy Bridge chip, these will be powerful enough (from the CPU perspective) to be primary devices. The extra storage, even if it's a $300 upgrade from the 128GB model, would be nice.