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Apple Said to Release New Entry-Level 13-inch MacBook This Year, Likely Replacing MacBook Air

soanis said:
Can experts enlighten us as to why in 2018 we're not talking about OLED laptops (Macbooks) yet?
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It's due to burn in - computer displays have large amounts of the image that is static over long periods (menu bar, dock etc) which would lead to pretty severe burn-in on OLED panels. Manufacturing capability is there (and a lot more coming in 2018), but currently little demand due to burn in.
 
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You know what could make a 13.3” Retina Macbook with FaceID hit entry level Air price points?
A last year apple processor (A11 or A11X).
Yet another reason to never allow thunderbolt on the Retina Macbook series btw. And only allow a single port. It would all fit with typical iDevice I/O capabilities.
 
Appleaker said:
Kind of expected, and a very good move.
And it’s needed, even more so than it has been in the past 18 months, with the 13” MacBook Pros being quad-core, there is more space for this MacBook in the lineup.

While the Air certainly isn’t just selling well because of the price, this will probably take off despite the slightly higher pricing.
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The MacBook Air branding is dead. If there is any truth to this rumor it’s probably the MacBook line becoming cheaper. Or an entry level to that line.
 
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PickUrPoison said:
iPad isn’t relevant to Mac just because of similar screen sizes. They’re completely different products. There’s a 12.9” iPad, but that doesn’t affect the 12” MacBook or 13” MacBook Pro in the slightest.
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Tell Tim Cook that. He would probably argue that the iPad Pro is vastly more versatile.
 
can they just update 15"-ers toi7-8700HQ hexacore already instead and add 16gb ram? shouldn't be that hard from 7700HQ to 8700HQ...
same socket, same power requirements.
 
manu chao said:
In what way would a new 13" MB differ from the no-Touchbar 13" MBP? Same specs but cheaper, thinner, and longer battery life?
That last phrase could be applied almost any technology product.
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A MacBook is different to a MacBook Pro. Gripe as we may about the MBP but that "Pro" bit enables creatives.

The fact is most people don't realy create anything. They consume. They type. They browse. They store.

For them, a Macbook would be perfect - I have a friend who just picked up an MBP and honestly, I have no idea why. They have zero need for it. But a 13" Macbook would have been perfect.

Not same specs, it doesn't need to fly like that. The form factor, I'd argue they may just slim it down like the 12" Macbook, not sure. I think they would basically either enlarge the 12" and make it a bit better, or do a cross between the MBA and the 13" MBP.

Whatever they do, it makes sense. There's a middle ground which isn't being catered to properly. Also the Macbook keyboard sucks.
 
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Kabeyun said:
While simplifying the laptop line would be okay, Hardwick’s article doesn’t at all discuss the real rumor here: “Touch panel maker General Interface Solution...” Anyone know if GIC makes a non-touch panel display? If not, this would be huge news.
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It already does - GIS makes some of the displays for the MacBooks that Apple currently sells.
 
eddjedi said:
I really think they have missed a trick killing off the 11" MacBook Air. I don't think they realise how many people loved that form factor. By today's standards the 13" MBA is no longer a small laptop, and the 12" Macbook is too expensive and under powered. The i7 11" MBA was a very capable little thing.
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It was and still is. I bought a 13" MacBook Pro when they came out in 2016, but kept my 2011 11" Air. I still use it for word processing, light surfing, and email, and it runs High Sierra. Probably the best Apple laptop I've ever had.
 
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MacRumors said:


Apple is also reportedly looking into using ARM-based core processor chips for future MacBooks, which would reduce the company's dependence on Intel, especially given the recent Spectre and Meltdown troubles. Apple's interest in building its own core processors for notebooks could also enable it to control next-generation display technology and some related key components, according to sources, which would further differentiate the company's computers from others on the market.

Article Link: Apple to Release New Entry-Level 13-inch MacBook This Year, Likely Replacing MacBook Air
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Hello MacRumors. Spectre and Meltdown have also affected ARM on iOS devices!
 
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Dave245 said:
But what can they do with a 13" MacBook that they can't do with a 12" one? it seems a bit to close at least the 15" MacBook Pro has more powerful processors and graphics compared to the 13" MacBook Pro.
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I was questioning the need for a MacBook in anything other than a 12" size too.

I'd say the 12" is meant to be ultra portable, the 13" models are dual core work horses and need more ports, while the 15" models are for power users.

For me, as of next year you'd have 3 sizes, each with 2 or 3 SKUs within.

12": 128Gb, 256Gb, 512Gb
14" non touch bar: 128Gb, 256Gb
14" touch bar: 256Gb, 512Gb
16" size: 512Gb, 1Tb
 
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I think Retina display, 8 GB RAM @ 1866 and a 128 GB SSD. Probably not as slim as the 13" MBP. Will definitely have USB-C but probably no TB3 nor Force Touch. They have to cut costs somewhere. It won't be something that will hurt sales of the 12" MacBook nor the $1299 MBP.
 
MacBook Air is a great laptop The 13-inch MacBook Air, even with its older CPU and lower price, is still faster than the 12-inch fanless MacBook. I think the only advantage to the 12-inch MacBook is the Retina display. The MacBook Air even includes a fancy magnetic charging cable to help prevent damage from the cable getting tripped on or from the user forgetting to unplug it before trying to walk away with it. MagSafe is the best charging cable ever. Meanwhile the 12-inch MacBook has only a single USB port. MacBook Air sells great because it's a top-tier computer.
 
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Dave245 said:
But what can they do with a 13" MacBook that they can't do with a 12" one? it seems a bit to close at least the 15" MacBook Pro has more powerful processors and graphics compared to the 13" MacBook Pro.
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What are the odds that Apple actually kills off the existing 12” MacBook and replaced it with a 13” MacBook intended to hit the $999 price range?
 
JaySoul said:
A MacBook is different to a MacBook Pro. Gripe as we may about the MBP but that "Pro" bit enables creatives.

The fact is most people don't realy create anything. They consume. They type. They browse. They store.

For them, a Macbook would be perfect - I have a friend who just picked up an MBP and honestly, I have no idea why. They have zero need for it. But a 13" Macbook would have been perfect.

Not same specs, it doesn't need to fly like that. The form factor, I'd argue they may just slim it down like the 12" Macbook, not sure. I think they would basically either enlarge the 12" and make it a bit better, or do a cross between the MBA and the 13" MBP.

Whatever they do, it makes sense. There's a middle ground which isn't being catered to properly. Also the Macbook keyboard sucks.
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I would agree with you but you left a big detail out of your analysis. The MacBook Air currently has a bettter FaceTime camera than the MacBook. That is a something the majority of casual users use.

Why does the MacBook does not have an HD FaceTime camera in 2018 is beyond me. Just for that fact alone, I would buy a pro.
 
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JaySoul said:
A MacBook is different to a MacBook Pro. Gripe as we may about the MBP but that "Pro" bit enables creatives.

The fact is most people don't realy create anything. They consume. They type. They browse. They store.

For them, a Macbook would be perfect - I have a friend who just picked up an MBP and honestly, I have no idea why. They have zero need for it. But a 13" Macbook would have been perfect.

Not same specs, it doesn't need to fly like that. The form factor, I'd argue they may just slim it down like the 12" Macbook, not sure. I think they would basically either enlarge the 12" and make it a bit better, or do a cross between the MBA and the 13" MBP.

Whatever they do, it makes sense. There's a middle ground which isn't being catered to properly. Also the Macbook keyboard sucks.
Click to expand...
Surely the nTB and arguably even the TB are basically glorified ultrabooks anyway though? The nTB is even aimed at the MBA market.
 
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