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Apple's 12-Inch Retina MacBook Air Shown in Artist's Renditions

MvdM said:
Hope the renditions are wrong this time, but I'm afraid Apple really is stupid enough to not use the normal USB ports. Ugly keyboard layout with that big power button and speaker grills. But I wouldn't be surprised is this is going to be the real product. Same with the bands on the iPhone 6 and 6+. Really ugly, we all thought these were prototypes, but unfortunately they were not.
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I don't mind them switching to USB-C, as it's destined to be the standard going forward anyway. Having only one on the computer is problematic though. Even if they do the hub idea as some have suggested, that's a lot of things to run through one port.

Also, would Apple really be willing to give up on Thunderbolt this soon?
 
MacNut said:
What is with Apple's fetish for things so thin that they become useless.
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This is a comp for the everyday consumer. I don't know anyone that plugs anything into their computers anymore unless they're a professional. In which case they're better served with an MBP anyway.

People have been moaning and groaning since Apple started removing floppy drives with the first iMac.

This trend isn't going to end guys, and if history has anything to say about it, Apple is successful for making these bold moves.
 
This is a laptop basically aimed for my mum - VERY simple, no 'confusing' ports and as portable and light as an iPad whilst making some tasks easier/more practical than on a tablet. And likely a humongous battery life.
 
Eventually this miniaturization of the notebook/macbook will make a full circle, and then we will start seeing again 22" and larger Notebooks become extremely popular. (just like it happened to the cell phone).
 
Michael Scrip said:
I'd like to see the bag that the current "fat" Macbook Air cannot fit into. :D
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People said the same thing about the original MacBook Air vs the MacBook. I carry a Windows notebook for work, and sometimes like to travel with my personal Mac. Since I'm not getting a thinner Windows PC any time soon, I'd like as thin a Mac as I can get if it has a Retina display.
 
Amazing Iceman said:
Eventually this miniaturization of the notebook/macbook will make a full circle, and then we will start seeing again 22" and larger Notebooks become extremely popular. (just like it happened to the cell phone).
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Eh, I don't think so. Larger phones became popular because they could replace a tablet. Laptops are already viable desktop replacements, especially since they can hook up to an external display.


As for the placement of that power button... Oh boy... I can see myself hitting that by accident A LOT. (As would anyone who has been conditioned to hitting of the ESC button I think)
 
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dugbug said:
Some more info over on 9to5:
http://9to5mac.com/2014/09/22/new-r...ok-will-offer-full-displayport-functionality/

The usb-c can drive an external display by carrying displayport. So since it also can power the computer apple sees an opportunity for convergence (hence no thunderbolt). I still say they need another USB-C somewhere.
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Either the charger or the monitor will double as USB hub (and the monitor will double as charger). So you only need one cable that either provides (1) only power, or (2) power + USB, or (3) power + USB + video.

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gavroche said:
Question: if you had to choose between two computers that had the exact same footprint size/chassis.... one had a 11in screen with larger bezels.... the other had 12in screen with smaller bezels...
are you saying you would choose the 11in?
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No, I think what people are saying is: Don't take away a 13" version that costs less than the 13" retina (and is lighter/thinner).
 
justinhu8 said:
Without a hub, you have one port. One port. One port. And of course the hub will be extra. Has anybody complained about the current thickness of the Air? No. And to shave off a few millimeters, you are shaving off two USB ports, SD card slot and Thunderbolt.

And does anyone want to carry around a hub just to plug in one thumb drive? Ask yourself how often you have to you your USB ports. Of course the hub will be extra. You do live in the Apple world afterall.

BTW, I wasn't talking about USB charging. I was talking about how you could either charge or use a USB device but not either without a bulky hub.
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As a rMBP user, I find myself carrying my charger on my bag to work. I also find myself not using those ports unless 1. I need to charge my phone or 2. I need to use an external display/Wacom tablet at work.

Remember, this is a laptop, it's meant to be lightweight and portable. I find the MBP quite heavy while in the Caltrain or at home in my lap. If done right, I could see the charger/hub being a great solution since those ports Offer no value when traveling.
 
dBeats said:
Judging from the comments here, I'm gonna guess people don't realize this is not actually a real Apple product. It's an artist rendition of some sketchy rumors about a product we're not even sure will run OS X or iOS.

But heck, why not just make up some stuff and put it up for people who don't read to comment about it.
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Judging from your comment, I'm gonna guess you don't realize this is MacRUMORS forum and people talk about rumors ABOUT APPLE.

don't like it? Well, you can always visit Apple.com
 
Aetles said:
Honestly, how many of the current millions and millions of MacBook Air owners would you guess have ever used their Thunderbolt port? I wager that almost all of them are completely unused. Sure, someone will miss them, but they are this tiny tiny minority.
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I would guess more than 60%. Everyone I know who owns MacBook Air connects it to a high-resolution monitor, which requires TB port.. or even thinks like connecting MBA to a projector or wired Ethernet - all require use of TB port.

So I'd say you pulled your "tiny minority" estimate straight out of your arse..

If Apple provides equivalent functionality via USB 3.1 port - fine. However, USB 3.1 has 50% of bandwidth capacity of TB2, so I don't see how this is not a step backwards in terms of capability. I am likely to go with Broadwell refresh of 13" MPB, if this rumor becomes true.
 
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Thinking more about this, and the promise of Broadwell in general, I'm realizing it might not make much sense to look at this machine in a vacuum.

No, I'm thinking this machine makes more sense when we think about the future of the Retina Macbook Pro line.

Broadwell should allow the Pros to get thinner than they are today. Now I'm wondering if they might get close to the thinness of today's Macbook Air line.

Which would make this more like a Macbook Air mini, and the Pros of tomorrow are really more of an Air in and of themselves.

With that vision in mind, it's going to be really painful to make a purchasing decision if this thing comes out before the new Pros... :(
 
Needs USB ports

I have and travel a lot with my MBA. I also take with me a USB hard drive as they are so cheap and small to have a 2 TB drives. This has extra files and my Time Machine back up. If you remove the USB port then you need a hub. his then starts to defeat small and portable. If you have to carry more equipment then you remove the portability.
 
ctyrider said:
I would guess more than 60%. Everyone I know who owns MacBook Air connects it to a high-resolution monitor, which requires TB port.. or even thinks like connecting MBA to a projector or wired Ethernet - all require use of TB port.

So I'd say you pulled your "tiny minority" estimate straight out of your arse..

If Apple provides equivalent functionality via USB 3.1 port - fine. However, USB 3.1 has 50% of bandwidth cabbagy of TB2, so I don't see how this is not a step backwards in terms of capability. I am likely to go with Broadwell refresh of 13" MPB, if this rumor becomes true.
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More like 30%. You data is flawed. Most people in my technological field of study or general public have never used a TB port . . . or wired Ethernet for that matter.
Roughly 70% of the student at my college use Macbook Air or Macbook Pro yet find better use of AirPlay and mini-DVI ports.
Even my report doesn't meet the majority of Mac Users.

Spare me your accusations. Give us better data that actually proves it :p.

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Aetles said:
I don't get the hate for this. Ok, this is MacRumors Forums and a lot of you are just here to hate on every news (and complain about the choice of news).

But think of it. Really, try to think and not only make knee jerk reactions. It makes a lot of sense have the "Air" model going for absolutely the lightest, thinnest possible and keeping ports and performance for the "Pro" serie. That is what benefits most of its users.

This will also make the difference between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro clearer than it is today.

You (who complain) all sounded the same when the original MacBook Air was released. "Who would want this?" and then they sold a ton of them and the costumers loved them even though 1st gen was expensive and underperforming. You just don't get that other people may have other priorities.

Honestly, how many of the current millions and millions of MacBook Air owners would you guess have ever used their Thunderbolt port? I wager that almost all of them are completely unused. Sure, someone will miss them, but they are this tiny tiny minority.
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Thank you! That's what I thought about the 1st gen Macbook Air.
 
Quick (and honest) question: what on earth would be gained by moving the power button to where the Escape key has been since the dawn of the PC keyboard?
 
gugy said:
Damn, looks ugly this rendition.
Just afraid this laptop will only be suitable for email/web surfing/media viewing/word processing.
Casual graphic work on it looks like is an afterthought. I'll pass.
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You're judging it's ability to do "casual graphics work" on the way that it looks? And an artist's rendition at that? Hmm.

Looks good to me and I'd plan to work it to death like every other laptop I've had. But I don't do graphics work.
 
TMRJIJ said:
More like 30%. You data is flawed. Most people in my technological field of study or general public have never used a TB port . . . or wired Ethernet for that matter.
Roughly 70% of the student at my college use Macbook Air or Macbook Pro yet find better use of AirPlay and mini-DVI ports.
Even my report doesn't meet the majority of Mac Users.
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I find it hard to believe most people never used a device with wired ethernet. As for Mini-DVI, I don't think I have ever seen anyone use that in the last 5 or 6 years.
 
cfedu said:
I find it hard to believe most people never used a device with wired ethernet. As for Mini-DVI, I don't think I have ever seen anyone use that in the last 5 or 6 years.
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I was talking about for the Macbook line. I seen Ethernet cables going through iMacs and Mac Mini in computer labs but not for the MBP or MBA.
A lot of students I seen so far have older models and use mini-DVI. If newer, it's straight to AirPlay since there are Apple TVs and airplay supported hardware everywhere. Don't know why but that what I see in my setting. I don't know about yours.
There is also a decrease in USB thumb drives, I get a much of referrals on Dropbox now. :confused:
 
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