...The iPad also browses the web and sends emails. For much less, in dollars, hassle, and weight.
I think Apple has that market more than covered.
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Apple's 12-Inch Retina MacBook Air Shown in Artist's Renditions
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...The iPad also browses the web and sends emails. For much less, in dollars, hassle, and weight.
I think Apple has that market more than covered.
Someone on eBay will sell an adaptor. Things change.
Eh, another adapter? In addition to the USB one we're going to need as well? No thanks. Maybe wireless headphones will eventually take over, but for now and the foreseeable future the minijack is standard. Apple isn't going to change that.
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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Expect Apple want to sell some new headphones
If they got rid of the minijack, they'd have space for another multifunctional and very useful USB port. Makes sense, yes?
This is the Macbook Air 2008 all over again. An amazing technical feat with very little practical appeal particularly for those who wish, or can only afford one computer. It wasn't until 2010 when Apple made the Macbook Air usable for real consumers (by increasing the number of ports and increasing the performance) that this line took off. And now they want to move backwards again.
A computer with this level of limited connectivity simply will not appeal to the same broad user base as the current Macbook Air. I suspect that Apple will keep the current 11 and 13" MBA around for a while (hopefully they can get a cosmetic refresh too?) so that they don't shoot themselves in the foot by not having an obvious upgrade path for the large number of current Macbook Air users.
Hopefully the 13" rMBP can be trimmed down to 3lbs by 2017 (when my current 2013 MBA will be due for an upgrade). I am so sooo happy that I have this computer so I can watch peacefully from the sidelines while Apple ruins their best laptop line to date (IMHO of course).
A computer with this level of limited connectivity simply will not appeal to the same broad user base as the current Macbook Air. I suspect that Apple will keep the current 11 and 13" MBA around for a while (hopefully they can get a cosmetic refresh too?) so that they don't shoot themselves in the foot by not having an obvious upgrade path for the large number of current Macbook Air users.
Hopefully the 13" rMBP can be trimmed down to 3lbs by 2017 (when my current 2013 MBA will be due for an upgrade). I am so sooo happy that I have this computer so I can watch peacefully from the sidelines while Apple ruins their best laptop line to date (IMHO of course).
I looked at that mockup and thought Eugh! That would never be the design, look how off-centred the trackpad looks when looking at the spacebar.
I then looked down at my current rMBP.
I retract the above statement. Things always DO look better in person, I guess
I then looked down at my current rMBP.
I retract the above statement. Things always DO look better in person, I guess
Apple is neither doing away with MagSafe or Thunderbolt on this model.
This rumor is BS.
Yep. Broadwell U is designed to drive 4K displays. These require Dispay Port 1.2, which is delivered over TB2.
If Apple in fact drops TB port from MBA (unlikely!) - they lost me.
Correct... but the iPad didn't have them and then removed them.
This is still a Macbook Air. It's the next step up from a tablet.
Look at how many devices are being announced at CES this week that rely on USB. It's still a thing... and will be for a long time.
You're right... this is just a fan render... not an official product launch. But this sounds like something Apple would do.
If you want to use "advanced" features like USB on a laptop... please buy one of our more expensive laptops.
I actually can imagine them doing that... and it's making people go bananas with just the thought.
It is a standard USB port, the Type C. It is new, so not common yet, but that has never stopped Apple.
The Type C has lots of advantages over the old Types A & B. Hopefully we will see the end of standard, mini, and micro versions of the connector. The Type C is useable on everything from desktop to mobile.
It is not a standard USB port. It doesn't work with any of the older ports and older cables won't work either.
So if this post article holds water, I am keeping my current maxed 2013 model for business full time as I use TB for external display and sub with MagSafe.
not liking the upgrade if this is true. Bummer if I have to pass. Was looking for 16g ram with the new chipset and retina.
not liking the upgrade if this is true. Bummer if I have to pass. Was looking for 16g ram with the new chipset and retina.
So, basically the MacBook Air eschews its own usefulness. Fan-freakin'-tastic. I'll be sure to snatch up the last of the current body style then and pray that these stupid changes do not permeate to the MacBook Pro line.
on my macbook pro, which I have for a year now, I only connected an iphone, power chord and sometimes an old keyboard for convenience (new ones are bluetooth).
So one connection, it's not that inconvenient or surprising.
Maybe they will sell a dock for this to charge with extra connections.
So one connection, it's not that inconvenient or surprising.
Maybe they will sell a dock for this to charge with extra connections.
Legitimate "lightest ever" , "smaller ever" ( smaller and lighter than MBA) news is likely one reason are getting this from Mac rumor sites ( wouldn't be surprising from some encouragement and pats on the head from Apple's informal Ministry of Information. )
Looks like major difference will be that Apple has thrown all the ports under to bus to get to metrics that are not too significantly different from those who didn't.
Regressing back to the flawed "one port" of the original MBA is rather puzzling. If ran out of space kick headphones jack to bluetooth ( go 'Air' on audio in/out) but leave with more than just one port.
I read it can also power the computer itself and drive displays. Truly a godsend for us minimalist types.
^^ Every weeping fanboy in this thread needs to read that over and over. The MBA is for sitting in bed responding to emails and browsing youtube. It's for the anti tablet crowd, of which I'm a part of. If you're trying to run CAD off a MBA, the problem isn't the MBA - it's you (and your apparently flimsy pocketbook). The point of the MBA is to have a slim, sleek and portable notebook - not a hub for you to plug in a million devices. Want to plug in a million devices? MBP, not MBA.
Personally I think the artist rendition at the top of this post looks pretty slick. I love the idea of an ultra minimalist notebook like this, keyboard and screen to the edges, extremely compact. Perfect.
Even the powerbook 12 has more ports!
Made in the time when Apple took their portable computer line seriously.
What's the difference between this, and say, an iPad with an external keyboard. MS wins on innovation with the Surface Pro series.
Made in the time when Apple took their portable computer line seriously.
What's the difference between this, and say, an iPad with an external keyboard. MS wins on innovation with the Surface Pro series.
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.
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.
If Apple went to the extreme of offering a laptop with NO expandability or ports in the name of 'thinness', then it's a joke of a company. I don't believe for a second it would ditch the MagSafe which has been one of THE most innovative inventions for laptops for years.