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

Ugh! Port configuration.

(Yes, I know this is all hypothetical).


As much as I like small, if I need to carry around a pack of adaptors and splitters snap hubs to make it a useful product, they're not doing me any favors.

I've never used a MacBook and thought "Hey, you know what would be great? Less USB ports!!!!".

It won't use anything else I own, including Apple chargers. Unless I can charge it from a USB port this new connector is doing me no good at all. Didn't Apple just recently shrink the MagSafe connector (MagSafe2?). They weren't thinking this far ahead?!?

Personally, I'd like a SD slot my my 11 inch MB Air (I find that super convenient on my larger laptop).

A laptop is what some people use to charge their iPhone, iPad, Kindle, etc. when they travel. This would be an annoyance.

I can't even stick a thumb drive into the USB port?!?

I don't think I can compromise that much for this theoretical machine.

Gary
 
napabar said:
Apple is neither doing away with MagSafe or Thunderbolt on this model.

:rolleyes:


This rumor is BS.
Click to expand...

Don't think so. USB-C allows you to to hook up some sort of hub which will handle USB and Thunderbolt, this includes powering both the host device and those that are hooked up to the hub. The one conclusion that I can come up with is that the hub will be a part of the charging adapter, in which will be a hub/charging adapter.
 
cambookpro said:
Usually I'd agree, but Mark Gurman and 9to5Mac have a very, very good track record. I wouldn't be surprised if this was exactly what Apple showed us later this year, separated speakers and all.

9to5 were the ones who leaked 'artist's renditions' of iOS 7's new icons. Everyone scoffed at them, saying how horrid the gradients and simplified look looked like. Lo and behold...
Click to expand...

Ah, ok, didn't realize, thanks! We see so so many dubious things on this site, easy to miss when the "real(er) thing" comes up.
 
Wow, almost universal bitching and complaints plus dire predictions. That can only mean one thing... it will be an absolute blockbuster success.
 
garylapointe said:
(Yes, I know this is all hypothetical).


As much as I like small, if I need to carry around a pack of adaptors and splitters snap hubs to make it a useful product, they're not doing me any favors.

I've never used a MacBook and thought "Hey, you know what would be great? Less USB ports!!!!".

It won't use anything else I own, including Apple chargers. Unless I can charge it from a USB port this new connector is doing me no good at all. Didn't Apple just recently shrink the MagSafe connector (MagSafe2?). They weren't thinking this far ahead?!?

Personally, I'd like a SD slot my my 11 inch MB Air (I find that super convenient on my larger laptop).

A laptop is what some people use to charge their iPhone, iPad, Kindle, etc. when they travel. This would be an annoyance.

I can't even stick a thumb drive into the USB port?!?

I don't think I can compromise that much for this theoretical machine.

Gary
Click to expand...

Don't forget the Air was conceived as a wireless machine. They kind of let go of that philosophy with the current design, but they're bringing it back for the 3rd gen.

Back in 2007 it was a bold move, but with dropbox, continuous internet connection, AirPlay, Time Capsule, etc, it's not impossible to be productive without wires.
 
There comes a point where the obsession with thinness hurts the product in other areas. This would seem to be at that point.
 
I don't understand the point of this device.

2 failed products (the other being the Apple Watch) in 2015 is imminent.
 
Why Apple can't design something near bazel-less as this?

XPS+13_630_wide.jpg


What's the hold back?
 
If they want it thinner, they should keep the sides the same thickness to allow full size ports, but decrease/eliminate the curve on the bottom.
 
justinhu8 said:
Here's what I would say to Jony and Tim.
HOW THIN YOUR LAPTOP IS DOESN'T ****ING MATTER IF YOUR LAPTOP LITERALLY HAS ONE PORT.

Shakes them back and forward. God damit, so you can't charge with a USB device in? Or use a monitor?

Hopefully, hopefully. Fingers crossed. Just artists impression.
Click to expand...

No one said that they're dropping USB charging support or monitor support. Please get familiar with USB-C: http://www.cnet.com/news/usb-type-c-hands-on-its-here-and-its-great/

I personally think that either an add-on hub will be available, or the charging adapter could potentially be a hub hybrid as well.
 
Looks pretty interesting and it could work well as an entry level Mac, but I'll stick with my rMacBook Pro
 
I'd want to see an artist's rendition of the power brick. The thing already lets you interchange an extension or direct plug. Why not just have the I/O built into it. Instadock. Although I guess that doesn't help if you want to use the peripherals on the road. But then, if you're carrying peripherals, then what's the issue with carrying the dock?
 
If this thing ends up having only one USB/charge port, then it must be some kind of iOS hybrid machine. I'd love a Surface type device but made by Apple and switches between OS interfaces depending on whether it's docked into the base or not.
 
First glance, what about the ports?

Second glance, as long as there's some kind of power cable / hub arrangement (with perhaps three or four USB3 ports, ethernet, SD card slot and maybe HDMI or DP), then what's the problem?

I would prefer all the ports for things permanently attached to the desktop to be separate. Then as a desktop machine there's just one cable to attach for power, display, and external storage. I wouldn't need any of those things to be connected when I'm mobile.

So count me in, as long as the power button moves, and the battery life isn't too far from where it is currently on the Air.

Retina is everything
 
Wow - so many experts jumping to conclusions on this thread! Throw in one "artists rendition" and several speculations and everyone is out for blood!
 
I will be curious what the new focus will be once all devices get as thin as makes at least some amount of sense. I like the high resolution displays, however, phones are basically turning into just a spec war once you hit a high enough number. Laptops, tvs etc.. have a long way to go before we cannot see pixels.

Most devices are thin enough and would rather see everyone work with making even better battery life, power etc...
 
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