Apple's Confusing Mac Lineup: MacBook Air vs. MacBook

[recoil80]

The 12" Macbook is actually slightly smaller than the 11" Macbook Air. I worked with a couple people that loved their 11" MBA's... I suggested they get the 12" Macbook when it was time to upgrade... they were very happy. Lighter, thinner, faster, and a 1-inch larger retina display in basically the same-sized package. For these users, the ports were not an issue. However, they did miss Magsafe.

Magsafe is gone for good, unless they'll introduce a charging mechanism similar to the Pencil on future Macs.
I've used an 11'' MBA for 5 years, but 80% of the times it was in clamshell mode so I didn't care about the display, which was bad. If the goal is to have a portable machine the 12'' MB is way better than the old MBA thank so the retina display.

 

[BayouTiger]

This just isn’t meaningful testimony. Anecdotally or by classifying some unquantifiable group as “pro.” My hunch is the percentage of Apple customers who run a licensed copy of windows on a Mac is in the low single digits. And further, I think the idea that needing to run windows on a Mac as something that should hold back the move to an A processor on a macbook doesn’t hold water.

But regardless, you’ll still have the mbp and mba line to choose from so there will be no pain for this group for some time.

I think you underestimate the number of people that need Windows in their "pro" work. As usual, on this kind of board the assumption that "Pro" means creatives. Yes, the Mac user base has grown since 2006, but many seen to not remember that it was the move to Intel and the ability to run Windows was a huge factor in the increase in the Mac's popularity. The fact is that many, many folks using Macs in the workplace (my definition of "pro") must be able to use Windows when necessary. It might be because they are coding, or, like me, they have to use apps that just aren't available in OSX.

Sure they can and at some point likely will make an A1xx laptop, and I hope they do, but it will not be useful to many of us and would force many of us to move back to a PC. I think they consider the iPad Pro to be this platform.

 

[nt5672]

Good thing there isnt a finance guy making tech decisions.

Well one does not get put in charge of finance unless one thinks like a finance guy. One does not get put in charge of the supply chain unless one thinks like a finance guy. Both functions are about cost and profit, not design, not brand, and not technology!

 

[- rob -]

I think you underestimate the number of people that need Windows in their "pro" work. As usual, on this kind of board the assumption that "Pro" means creatives. Yes, the Mac user base has grown since 2006, but many seen to not remember that it was the move to Intel and the ability to run Windows was a huge factor in the increase in the Mac's popularity. The fact is that many, many folks using Macs in the workplace (my definition of "pro") must be able to use Windows when necessary. It might be because they are coding, or, like me, they have to use apps that just aren't available in OSX.

Sure they can and at some point likely will make an A1xx laptop, and I hope they do, but it will not be useful to many of us and would force many of us to move back to a PC. I think they consider the iPad Pro to be this platform.

I just don’t buy that people who use macs in the workplace and run windows in any way in their Mac hardware represent more than a small fraction of users. If they did you’d see a heck of a lot more content about this use case and as it is there is almost none on this site, or leading “pro” oriented sites like daring fireball.

Most importantly, if this was a majority use case for Apple business users you would see Apple at least discussing it, because it would sell more enterprise machines.

Out of curiousity, what languages are you coding in that don’t have native tools or IDEs that run on macOS?

 

[baryon]

On one table they had the laptop range laid out next to each other.

12” MacBook
13” MacBook Air
13” MacBook Pro
15” MacBook Pro

Smallest to biggest.
Lightest to heaviest.
Cheapest to most expensive.

If you’re confused by something as simple as that, then you’ve got some problems

The MacBook is actually more expensive than the MacBook Air, so it looks like you also got confused by it. That's the whole point of this article.

 

[Detnator]

The 12" Macbook is actually slightly smaller than the 11" Macbook Air. I worked with a couple people that loved their 11" MBA's... I suggested they get the 12" Macbook when it was time to upgrade... they were very happy. Lighter, thinner, faster, and a 1-inch larger retina display in basically the same-sized package. For these users, the ports were not an issue. However, they did miss Magsafe.

It's a significantly smaller package. Thinner as you say, lighter as you say, almost exactly the same depth, and almost a full inch less wide.

I just replaced my 2014 Air with the base model 2017 MB. Couldn't be happier.

 

[BayouTiger]

I just don’t buy that people who use macs in the workplace and run windows in any way in their Mac hardware represent more than a small fraction of users. If they did you’d see a heck of a lot more content about this use case and as it is there is almost none on this site, or leading “pro” oriented sites like daring fireball.

Most importantly, if this was a majority use case for Apple business users you would see Apple at least discussing it, because it would sell more enterprise machines.

Out of curiousity, what languages are you coding in that don’t have native tools or IDEs that run on macOS?

I don't code, I work in Lighting. I work with architects and engineers and Revit rules the roost. As such, you either run it on a PC or you run a VM on the Mac, and many run it via VM. You won't find many of these users on this type of forum.

It is no accident that Parallels and Fusion are very much major titles in the Mac software world.

 

[lowkey]

I suppose if you count the 128GB SSD model it is by $50. But I’m pretty sure every manufacturer has a configuration of a 12” that is more expensive than one of their 13” models.

It’s a very simple choice to make when the 4 are laid out next to each other side by side at the Apple store.

The MacBook is actually more expensive than the MacBook Air, so it looks like you also got confused by it. That's the whole point of this article.

The MacBook is actually more expensive than the MacBook Air, so it looks like you also got confused by it. That's the whole point of this article.

[doublepost=1541627049][/doublepost]Our architecture firm uses Windows and Revit on iMacs. It’s actually a pretty common setup I’ve seen.

I’m the sole non Revit user and stick with OSX. But the rest are windows 10.

I just don’t buy that people who use macs in the workplace and run windows in any way in their Mac hardware represent more than a small fraction of users. If they did you’d see a heck of a lot more content about this use case and as it is there is almost none on this site, or leading “pro” oriented sites like daring fireball.

Most importantly, if this was a majority use case for Apple business users you would see Apple at least discussing it, because it would sell more enterprise machines.

Out of curiousity, what languages are you coding in that don’t have native tools or IDEs that run on macOS?

 

[- rob -]

I don't code, I work in Lighting. I work with architects and engineers and Revit rules the roost. As such, you either run it on a PC or you run a VM on the Mac, and many run it via VM. You won't find many of these users on this type of forum.

I suppose if you count the 128GB SSD model it is by $50. But I’m pretty sure every manufacturer has a configuration of a 12” that is more expensive than one of their 13” models.

[doublepost=1541627049][/doublepost]Our architecture firm uses Windows and Revit on iMacs. It’s actually a pretty common setup I’ve seen. I’m the sole non Revit user and stick with OSX. But the rest are windows 10.

This explains a lot to me. But frankly this sounds like something to take up with Autodesk. I was at Autodesk's new building in Portland, Oregon literally last week for a customer engagement meetup. From what i can tell that company is most focused on Fusion 360, which is cross-platform.

I'd wager there is a reason Autodesk doesn't offer a MacOS version of Revit.

Regardless, I don't think the architecture industry is a driving force among purchasing in mac mobile devices. I don't think offering an x86 throwback for this community of pro users would hold back Apple from moving to ARM in even the slightest way.

I do think it is cool the work you're doing though and sympathize that Autodesk hasn't deployed a cross platform version of the tool you guys use.

edit: i thought I'd add that I spoke with an autodesk software engineer at the meetup specifically about the fact that Fusion was cross platform. I asked how hard it was for them to offer crossplatform support on the tool and this person's feedback was that it was not difficult.

This person said the tool was written in C++ and for the most part they did not have to think about what they were building and how it would compile for Windows or MacOS.

So given that conversation alone, I think it is worth considering whether AutoDesk cares about mac users of Revit. Not Apple.

 

[sidewinder3000]

So you don't believe in "The Computer for the Rest of Us"? (© Steve Jobs)

https://www.irishtimes.com/business...mputing-possible-for-the-rest-of-us-1.1672329

I’m not sure of what point you’re trying to make. That article is about making a simple computer that people who weren’t computer experts could easily operate.

This article and all the hubbub is about a bunch of geeks and busybodies pretending to be product marketing experts, criticizing Apple’s lineup as if it were somehow a real problem.

 

[KenJr]

All this talk about how great the fingerprint ID is on the MacBook Air and more expensive MacBook Pros is worthy of mention. But if your OS is Mojave, you can log in using your Apple Watch (System Preferences > Security and Privacy > Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac).

 

[- rob -]

All this talk about how great the fingerprint ID is on the MacBook Air and more expensive MacBook Pros is worthy of mention. But if your OS is Mojave, you can log in using your Apple Watch (System Preferences > Security and Privacy > Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac).

And this was good without Touch ID, but I’m finding Touch ID is now also great for unlocking one password and auth for system password. I’ve used it a bunch and it is way better than having to keep typing g these passwords in.

 

[mark wraith]

This. So much this. No heating, no noisy fan. And I can do my work just fine. People think because a Macbook doesn't fit their needs, then it's an awful bad macbook.

I've worked for two years everyday with my apple 12 and it has done its job more than great. Only froze once, due to a Wifi issue. ONCE. No weird errors or GPU issues. Love it.

This. I have a MacBook and use it every day for work. I could have chosen a MacBook Pro, but i'd rather have the MacBook as it's lighter, has no fan, and is fast enough for everything I do.

The one port thing is never an issue for me - I have never needed to connect two devices at the same time. Yes, carrying an adapter to HDMI/USB around with me for connecting to projectors/displays can be a bit of a pain, but that exists with the MacBook Pro anyway. I see people commenting about needing to plug in hard drives/USB sticks and it sounds backward to me. Just store your files to the cloud, it's more secure and easier to access.

 

[DWP1971]

Apple at its October event unveiled a new 2018 MacBook Air that's been entirely overhauled with a Retina display, Thunderbolt 3, a slimmed down design, a faster processor, and other hardware upgrades.

The new $1,199 machine is a great addition to the MacBook Pro, but there's just one problem - Apple already had a notebook with all of these features. The 2018 MacBook Air is very similar to the 12-inch MacBook, which did not receive a 2018 update.

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The 2018 MacBook Air, which Apple is selling for $1,199, is better in almost every way than the 12-inch MacBook, which is still priced at $1,299. It has a larger Retina display, a faster Amber Lake processor, upgraded Intel UHD Graphics 617, two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, up to 1.5TB of storage, Touch ID and T2 chip, better battery life, and it costs $100 less (though you're getting 128GB storage instead of 256GB with the base model).

At this point in time, with no update, all the MacBook has going for it is a slimmer body and a lighter weight, but even then, the difference is minute given the revamped design of the MacBook Air.

The 2018 MacBook Air measures in at 0.16 to 0.61 inches thick, compared to the MacBook, which comes in at 0.14 to 0.52 inches. It also weighs 2.75 pounds instead of the MacBook's 2 pounds, but those are really the only differentiating factors.

Right now, there is absolutely no good reason to purchase a MacBook over a MacBook Air, and anyone considering a new Apple notebook that's aiming for portability and good battery life should choose the MacBook Air.

You can get close to MacBook Air performance with the upgraded MacBook with a 1.4GHz Core M processor, but the MacBook Air is still going to beat it because it's using eighth-generation processors instead of seventh-generation and it costs $1,549 to upgrade to that higher-powered processor.

If and when Apple upgrades the MacBook with next-generation Intel chips, it's still going to be almost on par with the MacBook Air if there are no other changes to form factor or specifications, so it's a mystery why the MacBook is still in Apple's lineup and why Apple has opted to have two machines that are so similar.

Prior to the October update, Apple hadn't made significant changes to the MacBook Air since 2015, and it was believed that the machine, which was priced at $999, was sticking around as a low-cost option until component prices for the MacBook came down. With the launch of the new version, that's clearly no longer Apple's plan, and the future of the MacBook and MacBook Air is murkier than ever.

As for the MacBook Air vs. the MacBook Pro, things are a bit clearer. The MacBook Air is still the lower-cost lower-performance option that is ideal for lighter workloads that don't require high-powered software.

All MacBook Pro models, including the 2017 non-Touch Bar models, offer better performance than the MacBook Air's 7W Amber Lake processor, but with the base MacBook Air vs. the base non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro priced at $1,299, there's not a huge difference. When deciding between these two machines, it's going to come down to whether you prefer a smaller form factor and Touch ID or slightly better performance.

What do you think Apple is planning for the MacBook in the future? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple's Confusing Mac Lineup: MacBook Air vs. MacBook

 

[MisterK]

My theory:

Apple originally wanted to simplify their laptop lines to just MacBook and MacBook Pro as everyone – including me – have been asking for. A cheaper one and an expensive one. Simple... But this presented a problem: Premium/Luxury/Executive buyers of Apple laptops. An "entry level" laptop isn't what they're after, but neither is a "workhorse".

Their approach to mitigating this before the Air refresh was to make the entry level MacBook a little more premium and the MacBook Pro more luxurious. This caused issues with both by making the pricing of the entry level too high and leading to the wrong tradeoffs for the MacBook Pro.

What I'm hoping is that A) my theory is right and B) The introduction of the Air as an actual entry level laptop frees the MacBook to become the "luxury" laptop, which frees the MacBook Pro to become a truer workhorse.

The naming across the line feels wrong again, unfortunately. It should probably have been MacBook as entry level, MacBook Pro as the workhorse, and a MacBook Edition (or something) as the premium "I don't need lots of power, but I'm happy to pay more for the nicest, thinnest, coolest laptop Apple can make".

 

[iPodClassic1]

This. I have a MacBook and use it every day for work. I could have chosen a MacBook Pro, but i'd rather have the MacBook as it's lighter, has no fan, and is fast enough for everything I do.

The one port thing is never an issue for me - I have never needed to connect two devices at the same time. Yes, carrying an adapter to HDMI/USB around with me for connecting to projectors/displays can be a bit of a pain, but that exists with the MacBook Pro anyway. I see people commenting about needing to plug in hard drives/USB sticks and it sounds backward to me. Just store your files to the cloud, it's more secure and easier to access.

Exactly. Also most online cloud services allow playback of media online, you don't even need to download files or anything.

 

[saytheenay]

A Mac using ARM will be a dismal failure, just like it has been for Microsoft--remember Windows RT, now renamed Windows S (for Sucker)? It's not just about performance, it's also about software compatibility. I can't use a Mac without Intel--x86 compatible VMs (Windows and Linux) are a daily necessity for all Mac users at work.

I agree with a previous poster that said to make the gimmick bar a BTO option--if they did that on the 13 and 15 inch pros, they would sell like hot cakes.

I had a 13" MBA--15 hour battery life and it performed great. I got a 2015 13" MBP in 2016 when the rumors came out about the keyboard, port removal and non MagSafe. Best choice I could have made and no regrets. I have a 2017 15" MBP at work; no sticky keys but I still get stares in meetings when I type--very glad I didn't spend my own money on it.

 

[Detnator]

I agree with a previous poster that said to make the gimmick bar a BTO option--if they did that on the 13 and 15 inch pros, they would sell like hot cakes.

They already sell like hot cakes. Which suggests all the issues all us geeks here complain about aren’t really issues for normal users. But yeah. I agree the Touch Bar really should be optional. It’s great for some things but so not great for other things. And all of what I do falls in the “other things” category. So it should be an option.

I could see them going either way with this. They might have an agenda to push this. Steve famously hated function keys and so this Touch Bar would have been a dream come true for him. But sometimes they listen and admit when they screwed up. Let’s hope it’s the latter.

 

[jhclouse]

Are you all really that confused? No wonder Apple doesn't want more than a few options available to people.

No one is confused about what products are available. We’re confused about Apple’s strategy.

The idea that the MacBook might be sticking around as the experimental beachhead for ARM makes some sense. There’s no other reason I can see for keeping it around.
[doublepost=1541870856][/doublepost]

That's pretty much what I think will happen and why it's been kept around. its an ideal candidate to be the first laptop to get an ARM processor IMO.

As to the current one, some people want the lightest, most portable laptop - whilst the article days there's nothing in it, there seems to be 0.75 pounds in it, which does make the MacBook noticeably lighter if you're carrying it around all day.

And the iPad Pro is even lighter still. Apple clearly wants it to look like a laptop replacement, which seems perfect for that market. Except that it isn’t a laptop replacement.

It really feels like no one at Apple has sat down and started from scratch with this product strategy. It’s growing in all directions at once with no coordination or planning.

 

[TechFounder]

I don’t know what you guys are arguing over. As I said earlier, Cook and friends screwed up. That’s why the lineup is as confusing and stupid as it is. What else is there to discuss?

 

[IowaLynn]

A Mac using ARM will be a dismal failure, just like it has been for Microsoft--remember Windows RT, now renamed Windows S (for Sucker)? It's not just about performance, it's also about software compatibility. I can't use a Mac without Intel--x86 compatible VMs (Windows and Linux) are a daily necessity for all Mac users at work.

I agree with a previous poster that said to make the gimmick bar a BTO option--if they did that on the 13 and 15 inch pros, they would sell like hot cakes.

I had a 13" MBA--15 hour battery life and it performed great. I got a 2015 13" MBP in 2016 when the rumors came out about the keyboard, port removal and non MagSafe. Best choice I could have made and no regrets. I have a 2017 15" MBP at work; no sticky keys but I still get stares in meetings when I type--very glad I didn't spend my own money on it.

MS wanted to put a SnapDragon in the SG but Intel lowered their price to keep them, for now. But the SnapDragon 1000 will end up in laptops. So will ARM. And already I can run DeX with Galaxy S9+ with Pie it my Note 9, both benefit from having 6GB.

assume that will mean Android software will be available rather than limited to what is offered in the MS Store. It will usher in 20+ hours battery life. And rumors are Apple wants in-house chip ARM to move away from being dependent upon Intel. MacBook's future?

IPP - MacBook - Surface Go - iPhone X - along with multiple Samsung phones. Former RT and Surface Pro (2017)

 

[555gallardo]

OMG No! I've been using Macs since 1995 and to me, the 12" MacBook is my favourite Mac of all time. I use mine for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. I travel the world with my marketing business. This is my only computer. I edit 4K 60fps video daily in FCPX. It's absolutely superb.
I've alway hated the MacBook Air and this new one has nothing great going for it. I certainly do not agree with you that it's the finest in any way. It's a copy of the 12" MacBook but it growing larger, it loses its design and it's more expensive. The TB MacBook Pro is only £350 more but with P3 Wide Colour Gamut display, touch bar, better processor. I honest cannot see who would buy the Air given its huge price. I hate it.

Air is actually cheaper than MacBook 12" and, when compared to non-TouchBar versions of MacBook Pro, it also features Touch ID which is really great. Well, if you're happy with the 12" MacBook, then nice. Not sure if I would edit 4K60 there though.

 

[GalileoSeven]

My theory:

Apple originally wanted to simplify their laptop lines to just MacBook and MacBook Pro as everyone – including me – have been asking for. A cheaper one and an expensive one. Simple... But this presented a problem: Premium/Luxury/Executive buyers of Apple laptops. An "entry level" laptop isn't what they're after, but neither is a "workhorse".

Their approach to mitigating this before the Air refresh was to make the entry level MacBook a little more premium and the MacBook Pro more luxurious. This caused issues with both by making the pricing of the entry level too high and leading to the wrong tradeoffs for the MacBook Pro.

What I'm hoping is that A) my theory is right and B) The introduction of the Air as an actual entry level laptop frees the MacBook to become the "luxury" laptop, which frees the MacBook Pro to become a truer workhorse.

The naming across the line feels wrong again, unfortunately. It should probably have been MacBook as entry level, MacBook Pro as the workhorse, and a MacBook Edition (or something) as the premium "I don't need lots of power, but I'm happy to pay more for the nicest, thinnest, coolest laptop Apple can make".

Assuming this is true........Apple screwed themselves when they introduced the 11" MacBook Air. My mid-2013 model (4GB RAM, 128GB SSD) had a sticker of $799 and I ended up paying close to $840 after taxes & such from my local retailer.

Yes, that was a perfect 'entry level' laptop at a palatable price point. Thing is though, both the size and the price were and still are entirely out of step with Apple's ecosystem. There's never been a product like that at that price before and there will never be one again.

So the principal problem is you have legions of people who got sucked into the ecosystem and conditioned to expect the best from Apple at those same reasonable prices. And unless they're true believers that can rationalize shelling out hundreds of dollars more for a marginally improved product with middling workmanship and no value, Apple won't be able to convert them and suck more money out of their wallets

 

[benedictify]

Keeping the old MacBook Air at the same price, considering inflation even over a few years, is effectively reducing the price gradually.

 

[KI45]

The Macbook shouldn't have been discontinued, it should have been the budget option, they could have improved it by adding an extra port & a 720P camera, improved the keyboard and gave it the specs they gave the air.

IDEAL LINEUP

MacBook 12"
i5 Dual Core
8GB RAM
256GB
1.3K$

For 1.8 - 2K u should be able to get an i7, 16GB and 512GB

MacBook Pro 13.3
i5 Quad Core
16GB Ram
256SSD

for around 2.5K u should get i7, 32GB and 512SSD

The Macbook should have replaced the air as it being the first laptop option and have it without the fan. IF they had marketing issues or the AIR name was stronger for some reason they should have made the 13 inch air the new Macbook and still have it with no fan, thats the best feature of the MacBook.

EDIT

Can a mod delete this post? i posted it in another thread but also in this thread by mistake