Retina screen sounds great. And i don't think a fanless Core M would be bad, because there is a need for a "lower cost" entry model. But the rest of this rumor is sadly in line with Apples useless thinness paradigm. I don't mind getting rid of bezels, or making internal hardware smaller. But removing basic elements for the sake of thinness is just beyond me. In my eyes they are heading in the wrong direction. The Air should offer basic functionality. Like some other posters said: this is actually a X86 iPad with a keyboard. Maybe physical limits of aluminum will finally stop them. The recent durability issues (6+ bending, Air 2 speaker/screen flickering) speak for themselves.
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Apple's 12-Inch Retina MacBook Air Shown in Artist's Renditions
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This is obviously made for the casual user market. Most of the time, what these light users need is a keyboard, and...that's it. Uploading images/songs/ apps/files from your iPad/iPhone to the laptop can be done through iCloud, or Bluetooth. This is a completely minimalist solution relying on cloud storage & wireless functionality. I like Apple's specialization here. Very cool product line if the rumor is true.
Don't worry, MBP Retina line will still be around for those who like more options, connections and ....holes.
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If I have my way, I would go even further and have a wireless battery charging system and this laptop will have only one port: the headphones jack.
Imagine the marketing campaign: "A brand new 12" laptop from Apple, with no string attached."
Of course not. And for the record the MacBook Pros in question only had around 2-3 hrs of battery life when they were brand new.
But I would prefer an otherwise perfectly functioning 5 yr old laptop not to get irreversibly bent out of shape because the battery suddenly becomes twice as thick. I get that you don't consider that a problem, though.
How will this not cut heavily into sales of the MBP?
And, one port? Wow... Talk about cheesey. Yikes.
And, one port? Wow... Talk about cheesey. Yikes.
slowly the Mac turns in to an iPad. kinda sad before you know it it will be just as hard to get files on and off the air just as it is on the iOS devices. forget the days of a simple usb stick.
They are not ditching the magsafe connector and coming back to a plug-in connector for charging.
This looks more like the Netbook everyone wanted Apple to release in 2009 than anything Apple would actually release. Looks kludgey and ugly to me. Hoping this render is almost nothing like what Apple will release.
MacBook Air is the low end price starting point for the MacBook lineup. Can't see that changing.
Apple could discontinue the 11" and 13" MBA, replace with one 12".
Lowest price model: non-retina 12" lowest price model
One up from the entry level: retina version with TB3, better GPU option, SDXC port).
Line up would then be 12" (r)MBA, 13" rMBP, 15" rMBP.
Or just go all retina and just have different SKUs with optional extra ports?
Do they need to compete with the Lenovo LaVie Z (lightest), and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (thinnest) too?
Apple could discontinue the 11" and 13" MBA, replace with one 12".
Lowest price model: non-retina 12" lowest price model
One up from the entry level: retina version with TB3, better GPU option, SDXC port).
Line up would then be 12" (r)MBA, 13" rMBP, 15" rMBP.
Or just go all retina and just have different SKUs with optional extra ports?
Do they need to compete with the Lenovo LaVie Z (lightest), and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (thinnest) too?
I meant the physical form factor is too big, not the resolution haha. I want the highest resolution I can possibly get, but in the form factor of the 11" air. A 12" Air would be that perfect middle ground. As everyone else said, they would just replace the 11" and 13" and only make the 12"
I do consider it a problem, but I'd rather stick with the 1% chance that it does and get a much more efficient battery. After all, chances of the bulging actually doing any permanent damage, is much, much lower.
In a perfect world the battery would never go bad, and last 10 years, but current technology just isn't there.
One USB port is clearly not sufficient for everyone.
Adapters are expensive to buy and cumbersome to use.
The (almost) all-wireless solution will at least force Apple to fix Bluetooth and WiFi. Both are broken more or less since the release of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.
Adapters are expensive to buy and cumbersome to use.
The (almost) all-wireless solution will at least force Apple to fix Bluetooth and WiFi. Both are broken more or less since the release of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.
It will. Hot air will always raise to the top and so these cooling/speaker grills on the top side will indeed help to emit heat.
Yes, junk the headphones port and microphones (neither of which I ever use)
and give me two USB-Cs instead (which I do). I can use bluetooth
for the audio or a USB-headphone adaptor.
Because 11 is just too small, and 13 is absolutely enormous.
i suspect it will have the 12" form factor with a thinner bezel, akin to how 15" is smaller than 15" non retina was. (and same for 13"), then when you have 12" retina macbook air, 11" is discontinued.
Apple is neither doing away with MagSafe or Thunderbolt on this model.
This rumor is BS.
I agree. Every mac you buy can *only* be expanded by thunderbolt, even all the desktops. they completely unified their computers and peripherals for them. Why would they break that now with an entry level laptop is beyond me.
Seems like there's enough space to thin the wedge down to a more rectangular shape of old, maybe even seom iPhone 6 style curves? Is the fan truly an issue in minimising the height of the MBA? Hard to see on the iFixit teardown of the wedge shaped body of the MBA.
Wouldn't Apple want to provide equal or better options if they're taking away things like MagSafe?
Curious to see at CES SuperMHL has been announced - so there's HDMI, Displayport, Thunderbolt and SuperMHL now?
Wouldn't Apple want to provide equal or better options if they're taking away things like MagSafe?
Curious to see at CES SuperMHL has been announced - so there's HDMI, Displayport, Thunderbolt and SuperMHL now?
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Remember: it's just a guess....here's mine.
First: remember, this is an artist's rendering. Nothing more than some sort of guess. The only appropriate speculation is how much of a guess it is.
Having said this, perhaps Apple set the following requirements:
Build a consumer focussed product, like the iPad, that is
1. Intel Based
2. Mac OS X Based, therefore keyboard & pointer
They sell a bunch of iPads that have the same amount of external connections: headphone, mic and 1 charging/data port. But I believe that this rendering has it wrong. I'm betting on 1 type C USB port and a Lightning connector, but that's it.
I'm still betting that this will be part of an "either/or" introduction that will see 2 new devices, this one and the mythical 12" iPad. Essentially the same screen, but the iOS version will be pure iPad & a touchscreen. The Mac version will have a keyboard and trackpad. My hunch is that these 2 new devices will have the all the same ports and accessories, the only differentiator is the OS and therefore the input/navigation "stuff". Maybe, just maybe cellular data will be an option on this new Macbook...that'd be pretty cool.
Price range? It'd be nifty to think that Apple will make a low cost/value play, but that is not their style. The lowest 11" MBA is $899 USD, the most expensive iPad Air 2 is $699 USD. Gotta believe that's about where this new tandem will live, call it $799 USD for a 128GB, 12" device, your choice on OS decides the form factor. 2 more storage bumps (256GB & 512GB) and wifi/cellular and pick your color. That's it.
First: remember, this is an artist's rendering. Nothing more than some sort of guess. The only appropriate speculation is how much of a guess it is.
Having said this, perhaps Apple set the following requirements:
Build a consumer focussed product, like the iPad, that is
1. Intel Based
2. Mac OS X Based, therefore keyboard & pointer
They sell a bunch of iPads that have the same amount of external connections: headphone, mic and 1 charging/data port. But I believe that this rendering has it wrong. I'm betting on 1 type C USB port and a Lightning connector, but that's it.
I'm still betting that this will be part of an "either/or" introduction that will see 2 new devices, this one and the mythical 12" iPad. Essentially the same screen, but the iOS version will be pure iPad & a touchscreen. The Mac version will have a keyboard and trackpad. My hunch is that these 2 new devices will have the all the same ports and accessories, the only differentiator is the OS and therefore the input/navigation "stuff". Maybe, just maybe cellular data will be an option on this new Macbook...that'd be pretty cool.
Price range? It'd be nifty to think that Apple will make a low cost/value play, but that is not their style. The lowest 11" MBA is $899 USD, the most expensive iPad Air 2 is $699 USD. Gotta believe that's about where this new tandem will live, call it $799 USD for a 128GB, 12" device, your choice on OS decides the form factor. 2 more storage bumps (256GB & 512GB) and wifi/cellular and pick your color. That's it.
How did they screw up the camera? My 6 takes better pictures than any previous phone. And the tiny bulge is hardly noticeable, especially when using a case.
Existing Thunderbolt devices can connect to USB 3.1 ports if Apple includes the PCI Express Alternate Mode.
Apple doing this has several advantages over Thunderbolt 2.0:
1. Thunderbolt shares 20Gbit between video and data (Mac Pro further shares it across two ports), USB 3.1 dedicates 10Gbit to each port.
2. Thunderbolt 2.0 carried over the USB 3.1 ports still works at 20Gbit/s and has the same daisy chaining capabilities
2. Thunderbolt cannot drive a 27" Retina Display
3. Thunderbolt cannot power an external display
4. Thunderbolt cannot charge a MacBook
Thunderbolt 3.0 appears to use the USB Type C connector anyway. Thunderbolt 3.0 ports will be compatible with USB devices, just as Thunderbolt 1/2 ports are compatible with DisplayPort devices.
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That cheap?
Knowing Apple the USB dongle will be sold for $89 and us suckers will buy it.