Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple to Reportedly Launch Thinner MacBook by End of 2015

eezacque said:
The rMBP is already impossible to repair, being a monolithic lump of glue and soldering, and because it cannot properly dissipate its heat, it is not lasting longer than its Applecare. I'd rather see a thicker laptop that lasts, including the decent service apparatus that Apple used to be years ago...
Click to expand...

Even my early-2011 17", with moderate-to-high use, lasted just about outside it's Applecare.

This has been true for a while, Macs don't last like they used to. I had a G5 that lasted 7 years with HEAVY use before I sold it and a 17" PowerBook that lasted 5 years before it was sold too, both in full working order.

I've gone through 3 27" iMacs , 3 MBPs (all sizes), between 2009 and 2014.

A simple search will show that it is a trend, as I discovered when researching my latest MBP troubles.
 
I have been using the Macbook Air at work for a few years. I liked it so much that I purchased (2014 13 in for $750 at BB) one a few months ago for home use, and its been great.

The only thing I would change is a smaller footprint by reducing the size of the bezel. I don't think the MBA can get much thinner, since the size of the ports are a limiting factor.

Retina display would be nice, but I would not want to compromise other attributes of the MBA for retina. For example, I wouldn't want to sacrifice battery life, cost, weight, or thickness for retina display.....just not worth it to me.

Likewise, I would not compromise any of the above for a touch screen on my laptop. The keyboard and trackpad are the perfect UI for OSX. The idea of reaching up and knocking over my laptop whilst trying to hit icons not designed for the touch UI seems absolutely crazy to me.
 
Dilster3k said:
Retina Air 12''
Retina Pro 13''
Retina Air 14''
Retina Pro 15''
Click to expand...

My initial thought is that makes no sense from a man who prides himself on supply chain optimization. Going from three screen sizes to four? And then on top of it your only making them 1" apart? Yeah, that's going to cause A LOT of consumer confusion. Trying to explain the screen size is different, but one is a "pro" and the other is "consumer"? Try it on your parents or your non tech friends and see how that goes.
 
You've hit on a great new name - MacBook Vapour
Though I prefer MacBook Waffle
:)

alexgowers said:
wow that was a baseless waffle rumour!

12 inch macair has been vapour for over a year now. Seems like no one actually knows when it'll arrive.
Click to expand...
 
maflynn said:
A thinner air - really? Wow, its both impressive and sad at the same time. Impressive technically wise but sad since they seem to be so obsessed with thinness. I think a better display, i.e., retina would go a long way instead of slimming the laptop down any further.
Click to expand...

Read the blob of text below the title ;)
 
Naimfan said:
Yep!

Great machine, and I think it unfortunate that Apple hasn't updated the processor and integrated graphics. Some of my work requires ethernet and optical drive, and it's a nuisance having to use dongles. That, to me, defeats the purpose of having an all-in-one laptop.
Click to expand...

An cMBP with Haswell would be a week one purchase for me. I've got a 2011 with maxed memory, a big SSD and bigger HDD. I do miss USB 3, but other than that I prefer my 2011 to their latest crippled rMBP. I normally replace my laptop ever 2-3 years, but I'll be using this one until it breaks beyond repair. And I'm actually pretty tempted to buy a 2012 and keep it new in the box as a backup in case this one does break.
 
All I want in a laptop right now is my current MBA 11" (awesome battery life and great portability) with a retina display and perhaps a thinner bezel. It's definitely thin and light enough already.
 
Last edited:
ironsienna said:
I really question the future of MacBook Air... As the the Pro is approaching in thickness the only reason for the air to stay in the market is to be MUCH cheaper aiming just on people that need to write some text and surf the web....
Click to expand...

Isn't this the largest part of the market? The MacBook Pro is definitely the way to go now because of the Retina screen. But absent that difference, the lighter Air is easily powerful enough for the majority of laptop usage.
 
alexgowers said:
wow that was a baseless waffle rumour!

12 inch macair has been vapour for over a year now. Seems like no one actually knows when it'll arrive.
Click to expand...

It's not really vapor-ware because Apple hasn't promised anything. It's either a really early or really baseless rumor.
 
nnNNNOOOOOOO!

Keep it the same thickness. Make the keyboard replaceable for less than $330 and put the A team on cooling design.
 
MacSince1990 said:
Um. Long distance runners are lanky, weak and sad.
Click to expand...

Oh good Lord. Some of you guys really need to turn off the TV and visit real life for change. Some distance runners are lanky -- weak? I'm a short run (5-10K) guy. I wish I had the endurance to run a full marathon. Sad? Rather personal, I think. I def. don't see how you classify everyone that runs a marathon, or even half, as sad.

Honestly I don't see lanky, weak, or sad below except maybe the guy in the extreme background. Plenty of other non-pro marathon finishers on Google but too high res to post. But feel free to take a look. But for G-ds sake, get off your chair and get outside.

happyfinish1j-boston12500.jpg
 
dannyyankou said:
So it may launch by the end of this year, or by the end of 2015. In other words, no one knows what the hell they're talking about.
Click to expand...

Correct, but rumors of Apple making something new (which is what the company does for a living) are somehow interesting. Keeping up with the
Appledashians?

Tim Cook is rumored to be going to lunch!
 
a.roden said:
I wish people would stop complaining about Apple going thin. I for one appreciate the work that goes into devices that are easier to use because of their lightness and thinness. I went from a 2008 MacBook Air to a 2013 Macbook Pro Retina and the Macbook Pro is so much heavier, its almost a chore to pickup compared to the MBA. Ok you pay a price for the power of the rMBP, but my next laptop will be an Air I think
Click to expand...

I don't mind thin as long as there are other options that have real ports and speed that one needs in order to be productive in a traveling or remote work environment. That means being able to connect VGA/HDMI, firewire/usb 3, and ethernet RJ-45 at the same time. One thunderbolt won't do it for us. If I have to carry a thunderbolt hub of some sort, then why have a thin laptop?

Sure, if all you are doing is checking your email, tweeting, and skyping, then you don't need much. But some of us use our laptop for more intensive applications that need to be portable, connectable, and powerful, regardless of the weight.

Oh, and we could really use 17 inch retina.
 
themikedshaffer said:
1. This new 12" retina MacBook, closer to the size of the current 11" MBA, with a skinnier bezel and a new design language. (I'm guessing this screen will also be used in the alleged iPad Pro.) I bet this will push the boundaries of what ports a consumer laptop has...SD card? maybe not. Lightning instead of Magsafe/Thunderbolt? Only 1 USB? What about a second Lightning rather than audio out/in? The product seems queued up for late 2014/early 2015. I bet it'll initially live next to the current MBA lineup, until.....

2. A similarly styled 14" retina Macbook, more "Pro", probably not discreet graphics but Thunderbolt so it'd be a bit thicker than the 12" above. Size wize it'll be close to the 13" MBP and MBA, replacing them both but thin like the 12". At this time Apple will end the 11" MBA and hang on to the 13" MBA as the value machine. Let's guess mid 2015 on this guy, WWDC time frame.

3. Released at the same time, a 16" retina Macbook, replaces the 15" in size and yet gives the 83 or so people out there clamoring for the return of the 17" something to praise. This one would be the most Pro...but still thin and light. Again, WWDC time frame.

So by middle of 2015, all current MBA's & MBP's are obsoleted, replaced by this new thin and sexy Macbook something, all retina, 12", 14" & 16". All Intel inside regardless of how tempting an A8 based machine might sound.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think the lineup could look something like this:

12" screen = 11" form factor (MBA)
14" screen = 13" form factor (MBA and MBP; 2 different lines in same size)
16" screen = 15" form factor (MBP; 2 versions in same size, 1 iGPU, 1 dGPU)

MBA will still be distinguished from MBP by CPU, GPU, storage, etc., but move to hi-DPI screens. In this way, Apple will unify form and solidify hi-DPI screens across its mobile platform.
 
maflynn said:
A thinner air - really? Wow, its both impressive and sad at the same time. Impressive technically wise but sad since they seem to be so obsessed with thinness. I think a better display, i.e., retina would go a long way instead of slimming the laptop down any further.
Click to expand...

That's assuming Apple can't do both. Eventually we will have paper thin computers; at least Apple is helping the industry move along towards that.
 
It's probably already been said but Apple will launch an (even) thinner MacBook by end of 2016.
Only this time to get it thinner, they will reportedly remove the keyboard.




...

(They will reportedly also sell a magic screen-cover since there won't be any lid to close anymore).
 
Last edited:
ISurface

A thinner MacBook... only by a detachable keyboard and a touch screen, so please welcome the all new iSurface device, the "MacBook Air"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back