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Apple to Debut Low-Cost MacBook Air With Retina Display, Revamped Pro-Focused Mac Mini in 2018
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Unless Apple is getting rid of the rMB. I don’t buy that either. They’d add a second USB-C port before they’d get rid of the product. And offering a retina MBA now is just going to have everyone saying why didn’t you do this 2 years ago? I think either Gurman was given misleading information or when he says retina it’s not the same screen as the rMB or rMBP. The 4th gen iPod touch has a “retina” screen but it’s not as good as the iPhone 4’s screen.
Clean up the line up in my eyes. The moniker "Air" doesn't really mean much anymore (it was considered extremely expensive at launch too). MacBook and MacBook Pro, similar to iPad/iPad Pro, iMac/iMac Pro - etc. The mini will likely just be called "Mac" - so you have Mac and Mac Pro.
I can see it now. Apple will do a reveal and tout how important the Mac lineup is because they've upgraded all their computers in the fall. And then they will continue to slow roll upgrades to half the lineup over another 4 yr period. Just more of the same unfortunately. The more and more they push out updates the more and more difficult it is to buy into their ecosystem.
I expect a mini replacement to be about the same price as the current mini. Today, the 8GB/256 SSD config is $899, and I don’t think that changes much.
Unfortunately, many in the “Mac mini is certainly coming” thread think that config should be $499. Their expectations are so ridiculous I gave up posting there.
Maybe the retina MacBook will be the one starting at $999 while the 13” new Air or whatever it’s called will be around $1,200, I’m guessing that both will have build to order options as well.
That seems pretty silly. If you want graphics capabilities, why not go with a machine that has them internally? Using eGPU means having 2 pieces of hardware on your desk, when it could be just 1. There's a point with a laptop, as it's still portable when the graphics power isn't needed but for a desktop machine that doesn't move, why go external?
Here's to hoping for Scissors and not Butterflies
I really don’t get why they don’t fix the MacBook line:
13inch MacBook, weight less than 1kg, priced like current MBA (thus aiming at continuing great MBA sales).
15inch MacBook, with the weight of the current MBA (1.20 kg) and a price around $1500-$2000, for users needing great displays with a low weight form factor.
15inch MacBook Pro (not as thin as the current MBP: no need to make it thin if you have the low weight 15inch model above). Current price for the 15inch MBP is correct, though.
Possible release of a 17inch MBP (as I don’t see a market for the 13inch if you offer good light weight MacBooks with that size).
In this way, the MacBook line would be clear and to the point.
13inch MacBook, weight less than 1kg, priced like current MBA (thus aiming at continuing great MBA sales).
15inch MacBook, with the weight of the current MBA (1.20 kg) and a price around $1500-$2000, for users needing great displays with a low weight form factor.
15inch MacBook Pro (not as thin as the current MBP: no need to make it thin if you have the low weight 15inch model above). Current price for the 15inch MBP is correct, though.
Possible release of a 17inch MBP (as I don’t see a market for the 13inch if you offer good light weight MacBooks with that size).
In this way, the MacBook line would be clear and to the point.
But if that's the only difference, why would anyone buy the non-TB MBP? Pay $300 more for a worse keyboard and fewer ports?
I moonlight as a developer and use a 2012 Mini to run Xcode. When I’m done using it, it will become a home server / continuous integration / testing server. A few folks I know use it for audio editing. Quite a few use it for home media servers - that role doesn’t require a lot of computing power to be honest.
I can almost guarantee the Mac Mini won't have a butterfly keyboard. Almost.
Who cares? Annual updates aren't needed anymore. Even Intel doesn't update their chips on an annual basis anymore. As long as the updates are material, they can wait 2-4 years in between and that is fine. No need for artificial SKU adjustments just to appease MR haters.
Apple has learned nothing.
Another paper thin MacBook air with no upgradability or airflow.
A new mac mini, with no upgradability or airflow, but it will cost more now. Ugh.
What a backwards direction a once great computer company has taken.
Another paper thin MacBook air with no upgradability or airflow.
A new mac mini, with no upgradability or airflow, but it will cost more now. Ugh.
What a backwards direction a once great computer company has taken.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Because this Air will be gimped in some other way or an upgraded rMB will have some added value features that Apple can spin to drive rationalizations. You know how this works. Apple never cuts their own throats. So this "cheaper Air" will be cheaper for an obvious reason (that is no longer retina screen) or a newer rMB will have added features that are desirable (and not available on this Air). See cheaper iPhone vs. "flagship." See cheaper iPad vs. Pro. See cheaper rMBp vs. loaded rMBp. Apple is quite good at picking & choosing to include or exclude features to motivate people to buy up.
Just because the name remains the same, doesn't mean the product is going to be the same.
Although, I hope they don't bloat it too much. There is a need in Apple's lineup for a low cost desktop!
